How a "Small Party Edition" Tea Time Looks Like

We picked our spots (and hurriedly cleaned them!) and boiled water for our tea pots.  Some of us found flowers for the table, while some covered up the school desk...I mean, dining table with a pretty table cloth.

Some of us had guests, and some of us, after overcoming the technical difficulties, were able to reach out and virtually clink teacups with our friends.

Sr. Eneyda gave us a beautiful speech, reminding us of God's response to Job, giving us hope through the difficulties of the lockdowns.  "Trust! God gives us the grace that we need for this journey."

It was a small party, and made us look forward to the day when we can clink, and hear the tea cups touch.  Until then, we managed beautifully, like the intrepid homeschoolers that we are!

 

Clink!

 

Photo by Kelly Neil on Unsplash

2:30 p.m.  WELCOME

2:45 p.m.  Time for a group photo! Gather 'round your camera and smile :-)

2:55 p.m.  Divine Mercy Chaplet

3:15 p.m.  Talk by Sr. Eneyda (while we all sip tea and munch on scones)

3:40 p.m.  A reading of Scroll #1 The Tea Cup

3:45 p.m.  Closing prayer (then we Clink! and raise our teacups for another group photo before we say goodbye--then you can enjoy the sweet and savory delights of your tea party!)

Please note that there will be a Zoom administrator, who will assist you with technical questions.  Use the chat feature in Zoom to ask for help.

How a Homeschooler Prepares for a Tea Party

Everything is a lesson plan.  Or a life plan.  Either way, we approach our days as opportunities to teach and learn.  So we have a tea party coming up? That can mean a brand-new rabbit trail to learn about Camellia sinensis and the Japanese tea ceremony and the British tradition of high tea!  

But perhaps you would prefer to go the hospitality route and explore creating tablescapes, decorating party spaces, embroidering tea linens.  Then there's the "etiquette" route--table manners, kind words, beautiful attire.  Because we are homeschoolers, we thrive in these many possibilities!  

We only have a few weeks to our tea party and though we long for that year-long project of teaching hospitality, history, and how herbal tea isn't real tea (it doesn't come from the Camellia sinensis plant), we know that we can still have a fun and elegant time.

You don't really need a pretty tablecloth--

Know that a scented candle will change the ambiance easily--

And really, it doesn't need to be anything floral at all!

Wherever you decide to serve tea on the 10th of April, do join us at three o'clock and we can 'clink' our tea cups virtually and have a great time.

Small Party = Cozy Party

 Our invitation says it all---

Our annual Mother & Daughter Tea may look and feel different but it will still be that special time that we set aside to celebrate each other.  There will be treats and tea, good company, and hopefully, great conversation after we hear a special talk from our speaker.

The afternoon will begin with the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3:00, and an opening prayer to our tea.  We will have time to wave and say hello to our friends before this year's speaker is introduced.  We will close the virtual portion of our tea with a reading of our first tea scroll, The Tea Cup.

So find a special spot to spend with your daughter (and send the other kids to the basement during tea time!) Go to a park or garden and have a picnic tea. Ask another homeschooling family (or two) to join you.  Although we all have approached this year differently, we hope that this tea time will be a refreshing break, a lovely new tradition, and a chance to customize the tea for your own household! 

Afternoon Tea is a good excuse to take a break on any day but for this year, we choose to make our small tea party into a big celebration even as we are forced to restrict our gatherings.  Whether you choose to have tea with your daughter in a quiet nook at your home, or to pack up a picnic basket with your daughter's Algebra classmates and their moms, this year's tea will be special.  

It will also be an Easter Saturday to remember.

 

You are Invited!