This is the second year Barb and I have done this and we learned a lot last year! So, by the morning of the tea the baked goods were done (and had been).
While we started baking and preparing sandwich fillings before the tea, the day before was devoted largely to set-up, carefully choosing cups from Barb's teacup collection!
I had printed a menu and the take away favors were a handmade bookmark that served as a place card...
... and a small bouquet of roses and spring flowers at each place.
Our menu included Marilyn Miller's astounding scones, Ina Garten raspberry bars, my favorite lemon shortbread and lemon bread recipes and pumpkin bread sandwiches with an apricot butter.
The chocolate mousse tarts were prepared the night before.
But before dessert, savories! We enjoyed an open-faced pimento cheese sandwich, an egg salad on white with chives on the edge, cucumber (of course!), ham and cheese fingers with pickle and a salmon salad sandwich.
Barb makes great fillings and thanks to Kate for helping us pull them together the morning of the tea, we even had time to relax on the porch and take in the morning air before guests arrived!
After we got people started on their scarf projects, we slipped upstairs to finish dressing the table and putting out the sandwiches and sweets. We also had (though not pictured) delicious fruit skewers.
And of course, tea was readied!
Time to sit down and enjoy lunch!
After we were stuffed it was time for a walk! Barb has mowed a seven-ring labyrinth in her yard and the group walked out in back, following its meditative path!
But before we said goodbye to the guests, here's another group photo! (This time I'm the photographer!)
It couldn't have been a happier day!
This post is being shared with Elizabeth's T-day posts on Tuesday, Talk of the Town on Wednesday, Thoughts of Home on Thursday, Share Your Cup on Friday and Pink Saturday on -- wait for it -- Saturday! And special thanks to Beverly for featuring the Gypsy's Edible Hanging Basket from Southern Exposure last week! What a treat! (I was in the Land of No Internet and haven't been able to catch up with all the P.S. people yet -- but I will!)