<p>And when this is all over, please come to San Francisco and have high tea at The Sheraton Palace Hotel. A beautiful historic hotel and the Garden Court room you have tea in has the most stunning stained glass ceiling.
Pricey but just stay the afternoon sipping away! It is a holiday tradition for us!</p>
<p>ilovedcollege, the Garden Court looks wonderful! I can see why you have made it a holiday tradition.Have only been to San Francisco once many years ago but it is a city I have always wanted to go back to. Maybe we’ll hear about some other great places to have a great tea! The William Penn Hotel in Pittsburgh is very nice.</p>
<p>I’m still campaigning for my scone recipe to be used!!!</p>
<p>(a few years ago, Wms Sonoma was selling frozen scone dough for …well, alot more than it would cost you to make up the dough and drag it to Pittsburgh!!)</p>
<p>You’re welcome. My pleasure. You’re a great sister, and your plans sound wonderful.</p>
<p>Someday, DH and I will be able to afford a non-camping vacation in Victoria, BC. For now, I can only drool at the Afternoon Tea menu:</p>
<p>[Afternoon</a> Tea in Victoria](<a href=“Fairmont Empress - Luxury Hotel in Victoria (Canada)”>Fairmont Empress - Luxury Hotel in Victoria (Canada))</p>
<p>[Afternoon</a> tea menu](<a href=“http://www.fairmont.com/NR/rdonlyres/B787E974-18D2-4D1A-9D51-9A38B7B1225F/0/EMP_Afternoon_Tea_Sep10.pdf]Afternoon”>http://www.fairmont.com/NR/rdonlyres/B787E974-18D2-4D1A-9D51-9A38B7B1225F/0/EMP_Afternoon_Tea_Sep10.pdf)</p>
<p>I second mythmom- your sister is so lucky to have you as a sibling!</p>
<p>I am lucky to have her as a sister! She is very generous and has been a great aunt. She and I took my sons on many trips over the years(without my husband)-to Maine, coast of NC, a couple of cruises, Disney,etc. She has helped both boys with college tuition as well. One of the things that is tough now is that she and I used to love to take trips together but now my mother is at the point that we cannot do that. One of us needs to be with her as she is 86 and still at home with my sister but is declining. But back to the scones. My sister’s neighbor just emailed to say that she will call the local bakery about miniature scones and a birthday cake. She is being a big help in this. She says she has 5 different teapots we can use as she is a big collector! I hope to make those scones someday, memphismom! That tea in Victoria sounds great, BunsenBurner.</p>
<p>One of the things I appreciate at a tea is the little details, like the teacups, pretty linens, and other doo-dads like that. I remember having pretty decorated sugar cubes at several teas. They look like this, and might add a nice touch:</p>
<p>[Decorated</a> Sugar Cubes - Southern Serenade](<a href=“http://www.southernserenade.com/SugarCubes.aspx?CategoryID=24]Decorated”>Decorated Sugar Cubes – Southern Serenade)</p>
<p>Thanks,anothermom-w-q. Great idea about the details and will have to look at the linens again when I get there. My sister has lots of linens but not sure how they will coordinate with all of her neighbor’s china. I ordered a couple of jars of clotted cream on Amazon to be delivered to Pittsburgh(I know not like homemade but it had a 5 star rating from reviews so hope it will do). Ehow has instructions on making your own decorated sugar cubes if anyone may be interested in trying it. Since I have a feeling that many of you following this thread probably like nice things, maybe garden stuff,food gifts- New York Botanical Gardens website is having a free shipping promo for orders over $50 ( you also get 12 months free subscription to Martha Stewart-if you already subscribe, it will extend your subscription). You have to be sure to check the “APPLY the promo” button and check that you want the subscription. I got my sister a Celia Birtwell watering can and matching garden tools(I think I’ll let the garden tools be from my mother). She has lots of little pots on her front porch and just uses an old plastic watering can now.I saved $13.95 in shipping. Also, got her the new Tom Jones CD from Amazon(he was on CBS This Morning on Sunday and she remarked how much she still liked him-the CD has gotten great reviews and has a gospel vibe for any Tom Jones fans out there). Also, got her a Cuispro herb keeper for her basil so I am done with the gifts now!</p>
<p>Hello,Just wanted to thank everyone again for all the helpful suggestions and provide an update. The tea was yesterday , 10 people , and very successful. The table looked lovely with all the beautiful spray roses, fine china, and linen. Everyone seemed to really enjoy the food, teas, and punch and everyone also seemed to have a great time. My sister was really touched by it all. Thanks again to all for the help and support!</p>
<p>So glad it was a success. I’m sure your sister, along with the guests, could see the amount of thought and preparation that you put into her celebration. Time together is worth more than any gift.
Cheers! :)</p>
<p>so glad all went well!</p>
<p>Happy to hear that it all went well!</p>
<p>Sounds like a great event; I’m sure your sister was touched by your thoughtfulness.</p>
<p>This is one time when I wish you could post pics on cc! I’m sure your tablescape was lovely! Congratulations on a successful tea party!</p>
<p>It was such fun to hear about it and think about it.</p>
<p>Sevmom, so nice of you to check in and tell us about the tea! I am sure your sister appreciates you and the event. It sounds lovely.</p>
<p>So…what did you serve?</p>
<p>I’m a bit late, but what about French macarons?</p>
<p>[url=<a href=“http://www.laduree.fr/public_en/produits/macarons_accueil.htm]Bienvenue”>http://www.laduree.fr/public_en/produits/macarons_accueil.htm]Bienvenue</a> sur le site de LADUR</p>
<p>Thanks to all! mafool,I served everything on my sister’s neighbor’s collection of fine china. She has quite a collection of china, teapots,etc. and I like that it was all from many different patterns . We used my sister’s silver for the spoons for the tea. We had scones(some cranberry, some orange which we got from a local bakery) with clotted cream and strawberry jam, chicken salad (from Costco!) on small buns,strawberries, cucumber and watercress tea sandwiches I made on Pepperidge Farm thin white bread ,little Nancy’s quiches, cheese souffles, and crab appetizers, French chocolate truffles from Costco which everyone loved, little creme puffs, punch, tea. A Lady Baltimore cake for her birthday cake. I think I’m forgetting a couple of things but everything was tasty and my sister’s neighbor was a very big help in making sure the table was properly set and that the china, silver, and flowers all were nicely arranged. It was fun and my sister really enjoyed herself, which was what counted. Her friend from kindergarten and the friend’s young adult daughter came as did 3 friends she has dinner with regularly that she met years ago through work. She did not know they were coming so it was a fun surprise. There were ten of us, just the right amount since the house is small. I am so glad and relieved that it went well.</p>
<p>Congrats! I sounds lovely and I am glad your sister was happy.</p>
<p>Oh, it sounds so nice! well done!</p>