I’ve known about tea – well, forever.  My mom used to enjoy an occasional cup of tea.  It’s what the fancy ladies used to serve at their Ladie’s Aid meetings.  Tea with milk and sugar, tiny treats such as rolls with butter, a dainty chicken salad, and a beautiful dessert.  I used to go along with my mom and hide my eyes in her lap when ladies would talk to me.  I was a lot more shy then.

I remember that the lady sitting in the metal folding chairs right in front of us usually had a fur stole around her shoulders.  There were a couple of animals – flat of course – attached together head to tail.  I don’t know what they were – mink, fox, who knows? They had beady little eyes, ears, and whole pelts attached.  I told my mom “That lady has kitties around her neck”.  Today we would be appalled – who would wear that?  But apparently in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in the late 50’s, it was haute couture.

My daughter bought me a scarf two Christmases ago – I laughed out loud when I saw it!  I had told her the story of the fur collar many times, and she bought me a “Faux Scarf” from ETSY!  It looks like a fox, but is hand-knitted.  I love it!

My mom would set a beautiful table.  She had “good dishes” that were used just for company.  My Uncle was a china salesman, so my mom had a beautiful set of china.  This was very precious to her because although we lived simply but nice, my mom’s best things were ones she purchased with her hard-earned money after saving every penny until she could afford them.  She sewed for people and the paltry amounts she got for hems and alterations were saved up until she had a little money to pay for things.  These things were usually piano lessons for us kids or things that she wanted for our family, not necessarily for her.

Back to tea.  A few years ago, I offered an e-term seminar at the charter school where I worked.  I invited Heather Goodrich from Dassel to join us and teach us about tea and things experienced in England during WWII where she grew up.  She taught us how to make proper tea and the great little treats the English are famous for.  We boiled water in a tea kettle, pre-warmed our teapot and real cups and saucers, and brewed P.B. Tips for precisely 4 minutes.  We added a little sugar and milk as the English do, and it was delicious!

This past weekend I had the pleasure of enjoying tea again at Heirlooms Tea Room in Hutchinson.  It was a delightful treat with 3 types of tea, delicious savory and sweet treats, and precious conversation with good friends.  I’m going to make more tea.  It’s a way to slow down and savor the day and memories from the past.  We all need to do more of that.