A TEA for THEE

"A Tea for Thee" has certain qualifiers---it's done for the right reasons. To honor Him and to serve others.
Certainly today's Silver Tea did just that. The residents and their guests of the KDS Home can testify to that. (Matthew 25:40)

A panoply of beautiful tabletops were admired and delicious "tea" food was enjoyed as young pianists provided music to delight all.

A perfect Sunday afternoon "Tea for Thee" as it was done In His Name. (Philippians 4:20)

Holiday Humili-TEA

Humili-TEA---a great cuppa to serve for the holiday.

Humility is the "tea" of our souls which nourishes and enriches others.

Humili-TEA, anytime of year is a great cuppa to serve others but especially during the Christmas Season as it personifies our Savior.

"Afternoon Tea"

Then our mouth was filled with laughter and our tongue with shouts of joy. (Psalm 126:2, RSV)

"Afternoon Tea" is, by tradition, a time for reflecting on one's day while recouping a little energy and possibly chatting with a friend----or, as in this instance, a daughter.
Conversation steeping over a hot pot of tea, A ceylon black tea for me and Buckingham Palace tea for her.  Sugar for both of us---nothing artificial here.

No cream to mask the flavor, just a hint of milk. No lemon either---we save that tartness for sweet tea, the iced variety, that has NO place at a British inspired teatime. No verbal raspberries, sour grapes or tartness, even in our conversation, just lots of sharing and laughter.

Tiers of savories and sweets, from tea sandwiches and cheese straws to scones with clotted cream and jam (Even spiced almonds and a little meat shaped ball on that tier) along with tea cookies and chocolate covered strawberries.  

A genteel time. A time of being, not doing. No electronic devices needed, except to show a few pictures. No interruptions.

So similar to my quiet times of conversations with the Lord. An uninterrupted time. A time of true sweetness, nothing artificial----the milk and meat of the word at my fingertips. A time to "be" in His Presence.
A time to taste and see that the Lord is good. (Psalm 34:8)

Tea With Thee---a TEA-rrific way to spend a morning.

High Tea*---a tea-lightful way to spend an afternoon with "my" daughter. Both are refreshing!

*Memphis version of a more formal afternoon tea---a yearly Mother's Day event at  the Woman's Exchange

TEA & TOUR

9/12/13 Great event at "The Brooks"-(Memphis Brooks Museum of Art)----the tour of the  Carroll Cloar exhibit---artworks of the American South, which was made even better because of "relationships" and tea. Of course, a cuppa always makes good things even much better. Attending with friends, Ann & Janice, made it special but when our docent turned out to be the mom of David and Michael whom I taught  at the Children's School 40 years ago, "better" became great. Barbara L. was an EXCELLENT docent, a tremendously gifted guide. Plus, I got to catch up a little on her boys. It was fun to share memories and to remember my "teacher" visit to their house on Rich Rd. Once again my recall is much sharper concerning "by-gone days. Fun memories for a former pre-school/kindergarten teacher.

Of course, culminating with tea and scones and other goodies at the Brushmark---actually in the board room, made the entire time ranked in the "best" category.

NO photography allowed at the exhibit BUT this print hangs in the hallway that leads to the chemo room at Jones clinic so I have seen it often. The original is in the exhibit. I wonder if the girl sitting on the can on a lonely afternoon is  Charlie Mae, an African American acquaintance from Cloar's childhood, who appears in many of his pictures. Exhibit ends in 3 days (9/15/13) so I'll need to return quickly if I hope to find the answer.

"MO" TEA but "SLO" TEA

3/10/10 Yesterday, I had a real sinking spell in the wet, drizzly afternoon and just wanted to crawl under a heap of quilts with a cup of hot tea and a good book----finishing the last chapters of Without Reservations, travels of an independent woman. I love what C. S. Lewis said about that. “You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.” My kind of man----at least, my kind of thoughts.

The aforementioned activity would have lead to a nap----another of my favorite activities though not advisable when my work life necessitates an 8:30 bedtime. I knew that it was time to pull in for a spiritual teatime for needed rejuvenation though it couldn’t be one with caffeine or then I’d have trouble sleeping later. So many restrictions for this “scheduled” woman.

In "The Portrait of a Lady," poet Henry James said, "There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.” I agree but I didn’t have energy for creating “ambiance”---I just needed a lift. Sotto voice sermons wouldn’t work nor would hymns of old---I needed to crank up something more along the lines of “Stayin’ Alive” to help me stay awake.

I tried watching Jeopardy---that’s actually a “thrill” for me. That was a positive action because they had a “Dance” category and I was able to answer them all----even the $1,000 one. Actually, they were so easy, any one over 50 could have answered them. Still made me feel good---but that only lasts 30 minutes.

I finally got off the couch, brewed a cup of Typhoo decaf, (“slo” tea) located my iPodTouch and opened up my “Dance” playlist. And I was off (to dance and pack for Texas).………still having trouble keeping those earbuds in my “bum” ear, but I had it loud enough that it didn’t matter. Soon there was a real cacophony at 1152 as I “sang” (that’s using the term loosely) with Chris Rice. Did I read scripture? No. Did I pray? No, not conventionally anyway. Was it spiritual? Yes.

O, and when the love spills over,
And music fills the night, (my late afternoon)
And when you can't contain you joy inside... then

Dance for Jesus,
Dance for Jesus,
Dance for Jesus and live

……….or in my case. “Dance with Jesus and stay awake.”

Tea and Comfort

3/3/09 Teatime
Afternoon tea with friends----there’s nothing quite like it. I have been served by waiters in black vests at a “Victorian tea” at the Empress in Victoria, BC, had tea at Tea and Sympathy in Greenwich Village (served with bangers and mash), attended a bridal tea for Day at Serendipity in Bartlett though the Serendipity 3 in NYC is still on my bucket list----I’ll take my pot of English Teatime with a $22 outrageous banana split. Larry wants the frozen hot chocolate. I have had a “spot of tea” at the Greenbrier, high tea at Crown City Tea Parlor just around the corner from Hotel Del where I had morning tea, and “knock the chill off” tea at both The Beehive in Salt Lake City and le lapin boulè in Quebec with my amigas. Every summer when I travel with my T-Cup friends we always schedule a special tea whether we’re in AR, KY, GA, LA, MO, MS or TN. I have even celebrated a friend's 50th with tea at the Ritz in London, seated beside the famous nymph fountain in the spectacular Palm Court. Pots of tea and crustless finger sandwiches were served on blue and white china followed by scones and clotted cream (which I could eat my weight in) and those scrumptious pastries………….oh my!
I have had morning tea by candlelight at the Empress of Little Rock and this morning I had tea on the window seat between the bookcases that house my travel books, autographed books and my computer. I didn’t have it in a Wedgewood tea cup, though I could have done that. I chose my own blue and white tea cup, special to me because of the memory of running through the rain in Cambridge to a tea shoppe where I purchased said cup after having a steaming cuppa with Larry and dear friends. I didn’t have this morning’s repast with a scone, though I could have----I had it with a piece of delicious pound cake, made by the hands of a loving friend----if clotted cream had been available, I would have slathered it in that. There was no waiter, no ceremony, no server dressed in morning coat (cutaway in American English) or frilly apron----just a kind hubby who had my cuppa sitting on the kitchen counter ready for me to take upstairs to my “nest.”
Though, as you can tell from all the aforementioned ramblings, I find it pure joy to share a cup of tea with those whom I love the most. I also find great comfort in tea times with friends---there’s a great intimacy and acceptance that comes with sharing a “cuppa.” That’s why this morning I’m sharing it with my best friend----just me with Him in quietness.

Isaiah 30: 15 In quietness and trust is your strength.
I cherish the time I have had these past few weeks in fellowship with the Lord---and it’s usually with a cup of tea in hand. As I look to Him, joyfully expectant of His presence, Jesus meets me there---even if it’s on a book strewn window seat. My prayer is that these peaceful moments of listening to Him will spill over into the lives of those whose paths I cross---whether on Longreen, in cyberspace, or “soon to be” in Dallas---our world desperately needs His love.