High Tea Bridal Shower

Yesterday I threw our cousin's fiancee a High Tea Bridal Shower. With only two weeks notice and no budget, I think that it worked out well =)

Here are the results (remember that if you would like to see a larger image of any below, just click on it):

Table cloths from our local thrift store...one was even a lace curtain panel that was large enough to act as a nice table covering.

My Grandmother's China. Pattern: Ye Old Curiosity Shop

I asked guests to bring a picture from their own wedding to display as centerpieces. Unfortunately just about everyone forgot, but at least we had a few.

Menu:

Iced Tea

Lime Spa Water

Various Hot Teas

Cucumber Tea Sandwiches

Tarragon Chicken Salad Sandwiches

Egg Salad Sandwiches

Iced Tea Cupcakes

Various Cookies & Candies

And the Bride's Favorite: Cinnamon Gummy Bears

The Dessert Station

The Iced Tea Cupcakes

Side Note: I thought that they could have used a bit less of the instant iced tea mix, but everyone seemed to like them. Not such a big gamble for an untried recipe!

The Sandwich Station (during the guest rush)

The Beverage Station

Tea Cup Party Favors with four different varieties of teas as well as two tea mixes in addition to a lovely poem about tea and friendship. Tea cups were from the thrift  store and the tea was from our ample supply in the cupboards.

Side Note: I have been trying to find this quote for the last ten minutes online so you have the full version, but for the life of me, I can't find it anywhere!

We played a few games found on this site and had a toilet paper wedding dress competition.

All in all I think that everyone enjoyed their time in our backyard...the weather was perfect and the light breeze helped cool everyone off =)

Remembering Victor

My father lost his partner a couple of weeks ago. It was sort of expected, but sudden all the same. We made a quick trip up to OR to be there for my dad and to pay our respects to Victor. True, we didn't have a strong bond with Victor due to distance and also due to the age at which they started their relationship, but I did respect him and their love. Victor was a Vietnam Veteran...he was also an elementary school teacher, father of four, an avid gardener, and someone who loved my father with all his heart and soul. He was someone I could rely on to tell me if my Dad needed me even if Dad was trying to protect me.

His service was full Military Honors up at Willamette National Cemetery. I've never been to a military funeral before even though many of those in my family who have already passed on could have had those honors at their services. Hearing TAPS and those gun shots was fairly emotional. I wasn't sure that I would cry, but seeing my Dad suffer, seeing his internal struggle to stay strong even though he lost a part of his heart was so terrifyingly horrible. To know that there is nothing you can say or do to make that person feel whole again...it was hard. But I know that Dad is strong and resilient. And I know that he was grateful that we were there for him.

I know that my dad is stronger than he looks...and that he will be ok.

It made me think about my own mortality as well as those around me. It made me think about making plans for the future, since we do not know what will happen at any given second of any given day. I know that as soon as this happened, Dave and I had several in depth conversations about what we want, and made the decision that as soon as we do cross that threshold into pre-parenthood (ie pregnancy) we will be sitting down to write out our wills and last wishes/requests. Not so morbid, but more of a planning session...and for someone who desperately needs to plan things out, even if things don't necessarily follow that plan, it has to happen.