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| Sharing a cup of tea with old and new friends for a good cause (both Barbs wearing red hats) |
Tasty tea, delicious food, scenic views. giveaways, festive decor and a good cause - could a Holiday Splendor tea get any better? Well, yes - if you add sharing the whole event with "old" and new friends and I was fortunate to do just that!
Last week, I was a patron of the Holiday Splendor Tea, a fundraiser for Farmington's
Warner Mansion, held at Pine Lake Country Club in West Bloomfield. My friend, Barb Tabb told me about the event back in the summer and invited me to join her table. Lucky for me, she stays on top of things and sent me follow-up texts to make sure I got my ticket when I got back from vacation in October.
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| With Phyllis B. and Linda Pudlik, Tea Lady Extraordinaire |
The tea event was hosted by "Tea Lady Extraordinaire", Linda Pudlik. (I must say, she, too, had sent me an email notification back in early Fall).
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| Grand staircase at Pine Lake Country Club greets guests with the holiday spirit |
The venue was spectacular. The grand staircase in the Country Club's lobby was festooned with fresh green garland, ornaments and red ribbons and welcomed guests with the holiday spirit right from the front door.
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| Beautiful views of tablescapes and Pine Lake |
The dining area was filled with scenic views as well, from the tables donning white linen tablecloths accented with bright red napkins to the panoramic views of Pine Lake visible from the walls of windows that line the room.
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| Festive tea courtesy Mary Jones (seated at the far right) |
The yummy menu items included butternut squash soup, Asiago chicken and (what I live for!) dessert surprise. It was a mini chocolate bombe, beautifully decorated and absolutely scrumptious. All of this was accompanied by bottomless cups of "Christmas Sparrow Tea", a delicious black tea spice blend courtesy Mary Jones (also in attendance).
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| Menu and Agenda for the Holiday Splendor Tea |
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| We started with butternut squash soup. . . |
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| . . . and ended with dessert surprise! |
In a gathering of friends, brought together through shared passions, Linda Pudlik's opening remarks rang true. She reminded us how we have all come together through our common bond of tea. I looked to my own table and around the room, and in this wonderful world of tea enthusiasts, I have, indeed, met some of the most amazing women.
Despite a chilly Michigan mid-week afternoon, when holiday obligations have us pulled in all directions, (not to mention all the work piling up at the office and home), we came together to share a cup of hot tea and to support not only a good cause, but each other.
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| Linda Shewbridge won two gift baskets! |
As if that wasn't enough, there were raffles and a Silent Auction with incredible items. Several guests won gift baskets and Barb T. hit the jackpot with an Amish-made quilt.
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| Barb T. shows off her silent auction win. |
All guests received a party favor courtesy the Left/Right game, so everyone went home a winner. But, we all knew that when we arrived. To take time out, in the busiest month of the year, to share a cup of tea with old and new friends - well, it just doesn't get any better than that.
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