The first week of May is a special one here in Kentucky because the eyes of the world are watching the historic Kentucky Derby. The 2 Seasons is hosting a Derby Week Event featuring our favorite Kentucky bloggers. Each day one of us will be posting a blog highlighting horses and Kentucky. Be sure to stop by next week and learn about what makes Kentucky and the Derby great.
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Regular readers of our blog know that I love a good afternoon tea. I wrote about afternoon teas that Jordan and I enjoyed here and here, and I am going to write about another afternoon tea again today.
I have been taking art classes since last October, and the classes are taught by my talented neighbor in her studio. Her school is called The Twelve, and we are divided into three sessions, each held on a different day. My little class only has three students now with a new student already committed to join us soon. I thought it would be fun to organize a tea for us to enjoy one day after class.
Since there would just be four of us, I decided to serve tea around the coffee table (an antique wormy chestnut chest)in the great room. Two of us sat on the sofa, and two sat on chairs brought in from the dining area.
At first I was going to use my vintage green jadeite plates, cups and saucers.
Then I decided to switch it up and use these little floral dessert plates that I bought at the Brimfield, MA antique show a few years ago.
I don’t think they have any real value, but they sure are cute.
The delicate little napkins once belonged to Mr. Autumn’s aunt.
Since I would have very little time between the end of class and their arrival, I prepared the tea tray that morning. (The tea in the cup is staged for this photo. I made fresh, hot tea)!!!
The menu was somewhat simple. The savories were cucumber sandwiches and pimento cheese sandwiches. The sweets were madeleines and brownies. I baked the sweets and made the pimento cheese and cut the cukes in the morning before class. I also trimmed the crusts from the bread then so that it would just take me a few minutes to assemble the tea finger sandwiches and plate them. We drank decaf English breakfast tea, my favorite.
Everything looked pretty and tasted great. I served the tea sandwiches on the tray I wrote about here. We had a relaxing visit and decided that afternoon tea is a very civilized way to pass some time.
Be sure to come back tomorrow because I’m sharing the madeleine recipe that I used.
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A decorating dilemma of mine is being featured today over at The Waffler. Stop in and give your opinion.
Take care.
Linking to 
I can’t wait to read your Kentucky Derby series!!
Love the jadeite cups and your old chest turned coffee (tea) table is beautiful!
Kelly
What a great series to come…can’t wait!!
Love your jadeite as I have the same dishes….What a beautiful setting for your tea…and the wormy chestnut chest is beautiful…I have an antique chest that I used to use in my family room…it was
great as the “boys” could put their feet on it, etc. and one more ding would not make a difference,
rather enhance it!!…I so love the beauty of Kentucky…it is one of my favorite states to travel through!
This is just simply beautiful! Wonderful tea!
Love your Jadite dishes! And what a sweet idea to have a “tea”, and use those adorable little napkins!
Wonderful tea setting you prepared … the madeleine treats look so yummy!!! Happy TT ..xo HHL
Gorgeous chestnut chest! Beautiful table for tea. Thanks for sharing.
Hope to see you on my blog:)
I love afternoon tea, would have liked to stop by for yours, lovely. Laura
Beautiful tea setting, I love your jadeite!
Have a lovely day!
Aledia @ Plum Perfect
LOOKS LIKE FUN. I wish I was there now. pretty napkins.
Your dishes are all lovely…especially the Jadite dishes! The Kentucky Derby is such a wonderful tradition! We love beautiful horses!
What an interesting time you have next week. I can’t wait to read and know about that famous derby.
Your tea set is absolutely gorgeous. Very calm and inviting in your home.
Happy TS…
Greetings from a rainy Stockholm,
/CC
How wonderful to be a Mother & Daughter team… I LOVE your setting. I have been NEED/WANTING a small set of jadeitte cups and saucers AND MAYBE a few cake dishes too. I think the coloring in them goes SO BEAUTIFULLY with so many of our pretty dishes. I LOVE contrast!
I look forward to your writing. I was JUST posting pictures of the GORGEOUS HATS the ladies wear to the derby! LOVE THAT!
If you get a chance, I’d love you to peek into my Land of Blog… My Kettle is on for tea!
Have a fun week,
Donna
Beautiful tea! How special everybody must have felt. Love the jadeite, but totally love those pretty english plates.. xo marlis
What a beautiful tea! I love the calming colors. I love your chest and your vintage silver.
Isn’t Jadeite just so special….and to think that it was used as humble restaurant ware. I have a set of the Jadeite “Alice” dinner plates, and I love to mix them with other patterns. Your tea setting is delightful. Thanks for inviting us for a peak. Cherry Kay
Lovely, everything 🙂
Debbie