Victorian Ladies 07-21-10

A VERY long day today. Starting with the periodontist, stops at office of my G.P. and the Auto Club. Then I deserved a special treat and went to "Paris in a Cup" for lunch. These ladies came in about when I had finished my baked potato soup, tea sandwiches and cookies, but I was still sipping my tea.

I explained to them that a few weeks ago the Book Group had been seated at 'their' table and told them how elegant they all were. The lady in the center with her eyes closed was wearing the perfect hat for the shape of her face, her lovely dark hair and a dress that looked more Edwardian to me. Most elegant. The soup of the day was chilled
Strawberry -Peach. I avoided the strawberries and had the Baked Potato offering.

The lady on the left was most helpful in telling me about the group they belong to: "The Victorian Tea Society" which is associated with the Centennial Heritage Museum on Santa Ana, CA.. Although these ladies were having an independent tea date, the group hosts special afternoon tea several times a year. The lady on the right, who looks as though she must be related to the Queen (so elegant) provided a business card from the Society so I can check it out further. http://www.centennialmuseum.org/vts/index.htm

They thought it would be appropriate, since I was be-hatted, to have a group picture including a lady in a very modern colored hat. This was taken by Shanna our waitress, who also served the Book Group last month.

It was a nice break in my day as I had an afternoon appointment with my dentist, had my haircut (two weeks late for my once a month vow), stopped for gas, shopped at Trader Joe's and came home for a nap. Too long a day for this old girl. And now I am up prowling in the middle of the night again. I may try for a visit to the Quilt Festival in Long Beach tomorrow (well, later today, Thursday, would be more accurate).

Tea at "Paris in a Cup" 06-19-10

The Book Group I have belonged to for decades went to afternoon tea today - the first time in several years. It just takes someone to set a date and make a reservation - it was my turn and I found this lovely tea room in Orange, CA, "Paris in a Cup" ( http://www.parisinacupteasalon.com/home ) almost directly across the street from one we went to long ago and it turns out that the same ladies own this new place. We had a great time today.

There was a sign "Max Occupancy 48" and that is really squeezing in the tables. We had a separate area for the seven of us with the Eiffel Tower in the background. I took this picture after we had eaten.

I sat at the end of one side beside this French door looking into the main part of the room.

Here is more of the room with all the ladies (and two gents) dressed special for tea. There were a couple young women in costume - sort of the rabbit's tea party in Alice in Wonderland/Through the Looking Glass.

Here are six of us - Marlita, Ann, Carol, Nancy, Verna, Teresa. Kathy is in Maine this week.

Here is a shot with me, Marlita and Ann. Teresa was an obliging stand-in photographer.

The seven of us chose five different plates - some with soup. This was the roasted red pepper soup with "Paris" inscribed in Creme Provence which came with a few crackers and a croissant with chicken salad filling.

I had the Baked Potato soup with a rectangular turkey sandwich, one shaped like a flower with creme Provence and a cucumber slice and a croissant filled with yummy chicken salad.

Various little cakes and cookies were served - a tiny lemon tart, a three stack chocolate cake, lovely colorful traditional French macarons . I had a meringue escargot on my plate but no orchid!

There were two versions of this spout drip stopper ("anti-dripper"?), the lemon slice and also a lady bug in red. the outer ring is some sort of hard material and glued to that the inner ring which is like a 'scrunchy' that kids wear in their hair. It has elastic inside to hold it tightly to the spout. Clever - and they sell them in the shop for about four dollars.

The shop is full of lovely and funny things. I was so busy looking that I didn't take a single picture. I was especially taken with salt/pepper shakers shaped like poodles - one white, one black - that had magnets in their noses so the could kiss. Aw-w-w-w-w!