{"id":10722,"date":"2015-08-07T14:42:46","date_gmt":"2015-08-07T18:42:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/beginnersheart\/?p=10722"},"modified":"2015-08-07T14:42:46","modified_gmt":"2015-08-07T18:42:46","slug":"tea-parties-for-no-reason","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/beginnersheart\/2015\/08\/tea-parties-for-no-reason.html","title":{"rendered":"tea parties (for no reason)…"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"the<\/a>
the author’s<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We all know how I L\u2764\ufe0fVE tea parties. But today’s post is to remind you just\u00a0why<\/em> you may want to have a tea party, or comparable celebration.<\/p>\n

Because today.<\/p>\n

Seriously — life is worth celebrating, even when it feels like it’s not. Right now — even as I write — we are trying to move my dearest mother-in-law into a more secure Alzheimer’s facility. She’s not doing well. The move, however (despite how good it will be for her long-term) is no small thing: paperwork, doctors, state orgs, insurance, fee structures… It will make you crazy, I promise. At least short-term.<\/p>\n

Hence tea parties.<\/p>\n

\"the<\/a>
the author’s<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I invited my two local sisters, and a niece w\/ accompanying infant to tea, to visit with my sister-in-law & me. My sister-in-law is in to help settle Mom, obviously. And a tea party was probably not on her very hectic agenda. But she humoured me. The adorable baby helped… \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

I made bruschetta, scones, and hummus — it was, after all, high tea. Americans think all afternoon teas are ‘high’ teas, but a high tea subs for supper. It’s not the lacy dainty fare of afternoon (or cream) teas. I bought lemon, chocolate chip, & almond tea cookies (they are sooo good!). I picked up toasties for the bruschetta & hummus, as well as veggies. And meat pasties, too! (Really Cuban meat pies, but they\u00a0look<\/em> like pasties…)<\/p>\n

I made two kinds of tea — my niece’s fave (the house Panyang Congou) — and a Madagascar vanilla I like. There was Devon double cream, and honey, & two kinds of jam. It was heaven!<\/p>\n

And it forced everyone to take time from their days — in our case, not such pleasant days, lately — and breathe. Savour tea, scones. Nibble crisp, buttery cookies. Stoke the energy embers w\/ protein (pasties & hummus!) and eat summer tomatoes.<\/p>\n

\"2011-05-30<\/a>
the author’s<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

You need to do this, folks. Celebrate this summer, this day, without the company\u00a0of drugs or alcohol — something Americans aren’t so good at. We think celebrations need alcohol, at the very least. Champagne, summer margaritas. And sure — those can be fun too. But then there’s the inevitable\u00a0who’s driving?<\/em> et al. With tea, it meant sister 2 talked to sister 3 all night, practically (she’s not used to drinking tea at 5 p.m.!). No problem, a little sleepy. And there was plenty of extra food to take home for guys who didn’t make it.<\/p>\n

Here’s your day, today. And there is tea, or coffee, or lemonade. If you have time, home-made is cheaper and great. If not? Buy some Oreos! Or whatever rings your celebration bells. Just don’t forget: this is all we have for sure, folks — this day, this now. And if you take the time to breathe? Drink some tea? It’s more than enough. I promise.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We all know how I L\u2764\ufe0fVE tea parties. But today’s post is to remind you just\u00a0why you may want to have a tea party, or comparable celebration. Because today. Seriously — life is worth celebrating, even when it feels like it’s not. Right now — even as I write — we are trying to move…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":398,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[576,37,41,1080,7],"tags":[11,1181,1187,262,1308,1195,1182],"class_list":["post-10722","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-everyday-living","category-family","category-food","category-summer","category-tea","tag-beginners-heart","tag-britton-gildersleeve","tag-buddhism","tag-buddhist-blogs","tag-everyday-living","tag-family","tag-tea"],"yoast_head":"\ntea parties (for no reason)... - Beginner's Heart<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"We all know how I L\u2764\ufe0fVE tea parties. But today's post is to remind you just\u00a0why you may want to have a tea party, or comparable celebration. 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