Agreeable hour

There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.  

-Henry James

Afternoon tea was carefully made with ice water to turn the little color-changing cups dark purple from their normal light pink hue.  The oilcloth mat was carefully set with paper napkins and the little spoons that accompanied the set.

They sat cross-legged {which is custom at an afternoon tea in the middle of the kitchen floor} as we passed the tea around.  We sipped our tea like proper ladies until the little one insisted on pouring.

After ice-water was dumped a few too many times, they danced like natives.  They giggled and stomped  and  sat and poured more.

   Dress-up heels were kicked off and tea cups were purposely tumped over.  Water puddles glistened in the kitchen light like little puddles in the street do after a heavy downpour.  

They scurried away after their clothes were soaked and decided an afternoon in a play tent might just be the perfect end to an afternoon tea.

It was indeed a most-agreeable hour.

summer tea

My big girl attended a little tea party recently at Pottery Barn Kids.  A sweet friend told me about the event and we thought there could be nothing better on a Friday afternoon {when the heat index is above 115} than the cool air-conditioned mall.  We went not really knowing what to expect.  The kids were suppose to bring along their favorite doll or stuffed animal to accompany them to tea.  

My girl was extremely excited to attend this little event because it meant that her sister, who is not yet old enough, would not be coming.  It meant a little mom and daughter time, alone.

The kids were seated at little tables and given apple-juice and a wonderfully whimsical frosted cookie.  They listened to a few stories and then made a little craft.  They were given old PBK magazines and then taught to accordion fold the paper into a little butterfly. The addition of a pipe-cleaner made the craft all the more desirable by the 12 children seated at the little tables in the back of the store.

The summer tea was a big hit and offered a great opportunity to discuss manners at a tea-party with my girl.  

PBK regularly holds free activities and events for children.  You can get on their mailing list to get them emailed to you OR you can just check their website.  I highly recommend it if you are looking for something different and fun to fill the last of these hot summer days.