Friday, August 22, 2008

VICTORIAN TEA SOCIETY

One day I was searching on the Internet for places near me that perhaps I didn't even know existed. Turns out there were several places I've never heard about.

One happened to be the Centennial Heritage Museum that was only about 3 miles from where I lived.

As I read more I found out they had a Victorian Tea Society that meets there and often have Tea Parties as a form of a fund raiser. They were going to have a Tea Party that was free. It was their yearly way of opening up the group in hopes of getting new members.

I made reservations for not only me, but my two sisters also. I thought it would be fun if you wanted to come along too. So, let's go.

Wow! There it is. I never even knew this place was around. Where have I been?


Here is the Kellogg house. Not the cereal Kellogg but the fertilizer Kellogg.

Turns out the Centennial Heritage Museum bought it for only $1.00 from Mr. Kellogg. Can you believe it! They did have to move it to their property though so I guess that cost a pretty penny.

We ran out of time so we couldn't go through the house. But, I'll be back to take a tour inside.

This place is big! They even have their own orange groves.


Oh, look. There is the sign. Guess we should go this way to the tea.

I love gazebos. Don't you?


Check out that big tree. Looks like they are having the tea outside in the shade. We sure are lucky the weather is nice today.


OK, this is the right place. Everyone is starting to take their seats. But, we still have a little bit of time so let's go check out more of the surrounding property.

What a pretty entrance into the rose garden. I love roses so of course I want to walk through here.

Roses everywhere! Smells good too.

Looks like just about every color of roses can be found here.

Ooh! Pink roses. My favorite.


Although these yellow ones are beautiful too.

Looks like the young girls are lined up getting ready to wait on us.


Don't you love the costumes they wore. Sure puts you in the mood.

Of course a lot of the Victorian Tea Society members were dressed up in Victorian dresses and hats. They love to dress up for all the tea parties. How fun!

These ladies looked like they were enjoying themselves. The lady standing was the president.


There were so many pretty hats. I loved seeing all of them.


This lady was so cute in her dress and hat. She brought her granddaughters with her.


These two women wore full Civil War dresses. Very cute!

Each table was set up with different china cups and saucers.


We started out with little tea sandwiches and chicken wings. I didn't eat the chicken or the sandwiches with meat. Well, I really only ate the cucumber sandwich and gave the others to my sisters.


But desserts were great! Homemade cookies, little apple butter tarts, frosted grapes and homemade ice cream dipped in chocolate.

After we ate an actress came dressed up and did a portrayal of Laura Ingalls Wilder. The author of the Little House on the Prairie books. They were my favorite books as a child.

She really knew her stuff. If you didn't know better you would think she really was Laura! She knew all the facts and told great stories, sung songs and showed pictures.

The one she is showing here is Laura's husband and child.


This is her real Pa and Ma.

She spoke for about an hour and then took questions. No one could stump her either. She knew it all. Just as if she lived the life herself.

They ended with a raffle drawing for these great baskets filled with all sorts of tea things, Victorian items and great gifts that anyone would be thrilled to get.

Nope, we didn't win.

Well, my sister, Maureen and I loved this so much, we signed up to join. My other sister, Patty, on the other hand couldn't wait to get out and go home. She said she felt like she was in a living nightmare. She couldn't understand why grown women would get dressed up and play pretend.

Maureen and I were all excited and were talking about getting dresses and hats and gloves. We are looking forward to our next Tea with the Victorian ladies.

How about you? Would you ever join a group like this and play dress up and have tea parties? Or, would something like this be a nightmare for you?

Hope you enjoyed your Tea Party.

Hugs,
Joanne

30 comments:

Ms. Tee said...

What a fun outing! I do like gazebos and I really like that scroll-y chalkboard that pointed the way to the party. :)

candy said...

Dear Joanne,
Yes, I would be one who would sign up for that type of thing for sure! How fun!!

I *love* the dress of the lady who acted like Laura Ingalls Wilder!!!
And I *love* the full civil war dresses as well!!
I would totally love to wear those types of dresses every single day in real life, not pretend LOL
I would. If only I could sew.. :)

Catherine said...

What fun! No, not a nightmare for me. I did get a laugh over your sister`s comment though. What a great day and great pictures!

Sometimes It's Good said...

Oh, Joanne, It sounds like fun to me. I love dressing up for any reason. Tea parties are so much fun!

I also want to thank you for my Play It Forward giveaway. I love the pretty apron, vintage postcards and red necklace. Red is one of my favorite colors! I just inherited my husband's digital camera and I'll try to take pictures this weekend and post about your gift. Thanks again!
Hugs, Susan

Anonymous said...

Many moons ago I hung out with a gal who belonged to the Art Deco Society in CA. I went once with her and her husband and it was a blast dressing in that era and driving to Oakland (I think it was Oakland) in his restored 1933 Pierce Arrow that was a pale yellow with maroon upholstery. That era is my favorite...thanks for sharing and bringing back a moment.

Cottagecheap said...

Very cool....not a nightmare, but I probably woudn't join, just because I would rather be out riding my horse. LOL

Something I might consider when I am done raisin' babies.

Anonymous said...

I would have gone straight to the fabric shop to look for stuff to make my clothes! I loved being there with you. Thanks for taking us along! Hopefully you can take some pictures of the inside of the museum/house one day.

Glenda said...

Oh course I'd dress up. I like having tea's. We have a Tea house here in my area, that is based on the founder of the local town and old seaman. It in an old Victorian Home that was restored. I've been there a couple of times and had a wonderful time.

Thanks for your tour.

Ciao

Judy said...

What a wonderful day you had. Everything was beautiful. I probably would not have joined but it did look like fun.

Kim's Treasures said...

Wow how fun! I bet you have a great time looking for something to wear to the next tea! Thanks for sharing!!
Kim

~Becca~Bluebird Rose said...

It looks delightful! I'm glad you found it, and I'm glad you shared it with us!
:)

Beth Ann said...

I would so join too! I am going to look and see if we have one like that here in my area! LOL Thanks for taking me along!


Beth Ann

Lindsay-ann said...

Your Tea Party day looked fantastic. I love the house and the gazebo. You are so lucky living near there. Glad you joined - I would have too.
Lindsay

Donna Lynn said...

Yes, I would join Joanne, in a heartbeat, how fun would that be??

I love teas, my church in Alaska used to put on the best tea, each hostess would have their own table and set it with her own china etc. I loved doing it each year! The centerpieces were sold to the highest bidders, and the money went to the church's food pantry to help families out...LOADS OF FUN!
Hope you and Maureen will love being a part of that group!

Take care and have a great weekend!
XO,
Donna Lynn

Tracy said...

How fun!! Those costumes are to die for! I wish someone would throw a tea party like that down here in California! Maybe I will have to!

Tracy said...

Okay, that is really funny because I just now saw that you are in California! I can't believe you found a party like that down here!

Gone said...

Oh, how fun!!! I would love to go to a DRESS-UP TEA PARTY!! To any TEA PARTY!!! I love our tea parties here...but a REAL one would be so much fun again!

*writing note to self: schedule a couples tea party for October*

~Blessings,
Jan

Flower said...

That little personal tour to the tea party was great!! I love all the fuss and detail! Would I dress up....not sure but I'd go, for sure!! It takes a lot of work to do a tea like that!! I will be looking forward to your further stories!
Laura Ingalls Wilder is a favorite! I just watch Little House rerun this afternoon!! :)

Lorilee said...

Oh, it looked like such fun. A museum about an hours drive from me had one too! I wasn't able to go. I love all the outfits. Oh, and I have a tiered serving tray like the one pictured. I think it is so neat. It folds up when not in use.
Blessings,
Lorilee

Cottage Rose said...

I just loved the tea party, and I would join in a minute. I think having tea parties and getting all dressed up would be so much fun. Thank you for taking us all with you had a great time. Next tea party make sure someone takes your photo in your dress up clothes.
Have a great weekend.
Hugs;
Alaura

Celestina Marie said...

Hi Joanne, so nice to meet you. I so enjoyed this post of the wonderful tea party. Seeing all the hats, dresses and the lovely grounds is lovely. I know you had a great time.
So enjoyed your lovely blog.

Thank you for stopping by my anniversary post and your kind comment. So sweet of you to link my giveaway too. Thank you bunches.
Hope to see you again soon.
Have a great weekend.
Hugs, Celestina
la rea rose

Anonymous said...

It sounds like fun to me!! I would love to get dressed up and pretend!! Guess I never outgrew it!

Melissa Lester said...

As I was reading this, I thought it sounded like heaven to me! Start to finish, it sounds like a great afternoon.

Unknown said...

Hi, Joanne!
Wanted to let you know that I got my Pay it Forward package today and I LOVE it! Did you make that apron?
I will blog about it soon!

Esther said...

Oh, absolutely! I love dressing up. When I was 16, my mum made me a set of old fashioned underwear - pantaloons and camisole. I used to wear the pantaloons under my school skirt secretly, just so I could have that bit of old-fashioned flavour with me all the time. I guess I wasn't your average teenager. I still on a rare occasion pull out my prairie dress I made and wear it at home, if I want to feel like a lady. It would be fun to have a reason to wear it out in public.

Susan said...

What a fun post! A couple of years ago we put on a high tea at the lovely retirement community where I work. Some of the ladies wore beautiful hats and all of the staff (me included) wore vintage hats. It was a very memorable day...and SO well attended.

Sounds like you've found your niche.

Jillian's Bella Rosa Antiques said...

What a neat tea! It was so pretty, you were lucky to have such great weather. Love the costumes.

Jillian

Cindy said...

That looks like fun! I may have joined too! I'm in a supper club and I'm getting ready to go eat Ethiopian food tonight but I would rather be at a tea like that!

Cindy@Cutepinkstuff said...

Well, I think I would like to be a little bird in a tree rather than a guest! I'm somewhere between you and your sister, Patty! I wouldn't want to dress up and attend, but I wouldn't think it was necessarily a living nightmare. My sister is like Patty and would laugh at me for even considering attending! Glad you had fun!

Mary Ellen said...

Joanne, you just keep amazing me....this sounds like fun and I certainly enjoyed visiting there via your pictures and sharing. I cracked up about your one sister wanting to head out fast and quick.....love the honesty.....me I would think about joining if it fit into my grandchildren's schedule........especially wearing the hat......ooooo, love those hats. Not sure if I could come up with the clothes tho'....wonder how much is on a bolt of material.......tee hee...