Chillicothe Newcomers Club Tea

    This evening I had the pleasure of hosting the Chillicothe Newcomers Club's end-of-the year dessert and tea meeting.  I had been looking forward to this meeting for weeks!  I always enjoy hosting dinners, parties, and whatnot, and having not had a party here since December it was about time!  Now truth be told, the end of the year meeting isn't really a meeting.  Well, it is...for about 15 minutes.  The rest of the time is spent visiting with each other, eating, talking, and eating.  Did I mention there was food?
    I had a wonderful time with this group of ladies and will miss seeing many of them for a few months.  Summer means a break in Club activities, but we'll get back together again in September.  If you are new to the Chillicothe and Ross County area, or even if you aren't super new, you really need to check this club out.  I found them when I moved to Chillicothe years ago.  They were a beacon in the fog of not knowing what was around or what to do with myself.  
    I wanted to show you how I set up for the tea.  Mother Nature was flip flopping between what she wanted to do with the weather, but by 3:00 I knew she was going to be kind, and the wind that was still whipping around was eventually going to die down, so I got the kids out there with me to get things set up.  Decorating for a party doesn't have to be expensive.  See those lights I made?  They're canning jars.  Good golly I felt like Martha Stewart making them.  I wrapped wire around the jars, put a votive candle in a glass holder in there, and put some glass beads I had in there between the candle holder and jar.  Then I tied fishing line around the wire, looped them over the tree branches, and there you go.  No, I will not tell you what I used to get that fishing line over the branches because I'd have to put a disclaimer on here to not do what I did.  You'll have to figure out your own method.  Anyway...instant ambiance!  I also used table clothes I have here, along with other various kitchen things to set on the table.  Over the years I have collected entirely too much kitchen gadgetry.  I cut some small wildflowers that were growing around the place and put them in little vases I've had for years and set them on the table.  No, those sunflowers are not mine.  I cannot take credit for them.  My flower garden has gone to the wayside what with a little bunny determined to eat the tender baby plants and turkeys using it as a dust bath.
    So, there you have it.  An excellent time was had by all.  When the ladies left my troops converged and polished off what was left of the food.  After they were fed and happy I gave them the news to get to work and help me tear down the party.  Before we did that, though, I just had to take a picture of it lit up so you can see what a little strategic lighting can do to make it a happy place in the dark...that picture is below because the website is being headstrong and won't let me post one more picture on here without having fits.  Remember, summer is here.  Have yourself a nice little get together with some friends.  It doesn't have to be an expensive thing.  Use what you have around the house to gussie it up some.  You'll be amazed at the things you come up with!  Smiling & Waving, Sharon

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