By Staff
A CUP OF TEA Joyce Patton, left, Renee Weiler and Barbara Wells sample a few of the sandwiches and enjoy a cup of tea that will be served at the June 14 Red, White and Blue Tea Party at Merrehope. Photo by Penny Randall / The Meridian Star
By Penny Randall / staff writer
May 21, 2003
Tea and scones, anyone?
What a better way to celebrate Flag Day on June 14 than with a red, white and blue tea party benefiting Meridian's historic home Merrehope.
The tea will be the second Saturday in June from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. at Merrehope. The afternoon gathering will include three courses of food and a short program.
The first course will be a sampling of homemade scones served with strawberry butter. The second, an assortment of finger sandwiches including red radish, olive walnut, cucumber dill and pineapple cheese.
But save room for dessert. The third course will offer a red, white and blue blueberry cake with whipped topping and blueberries or cheesecake squares topped with strawberry sauce.
Weiler said the afternoon tea is a gathering that dates back to the Old South when ladies dressed in their best outfits, slipped on white gloves and wore their Sunday hats.
Keeping with that tradition, Weiler encourages ladies to wear their favorite hat or even create a one-of-a-kind hat for the event.
Ribbons will be awarded for the funniest hat, most patriotic hat and most creative hat. Ken Storms, Meridian's chief administrative officer, will be on hand to judge the hats.
Serving the tea and sandwiches will be local girls.
The tea is one of several events planned throughout the year to raise funds for upkeep and maintenance on the Merrehope and the F.W. Williams home.
Fonda Rush, president of the Meridian Restorations Foundation, said the tea is also special in another way. The foundation owns and maintains Merrehope and the F.W. Williams home.
Flag Day became an official holiday after World War II.
GET INVOLVED
If you or your organization would like to sponsor and decorate a table for four using your own china and lines, just give Merrehope a call at 483-8439. The cost is $60 per table or $15 a person. There will also be one table that seats 12 for $180.
Here's the items you will need:
Four napkins
One table cloth to fit card table
Table topper, no centerpiece, optional
Four teacups and four saucers
Four diner plates to be used as a charger
Four dessert forks
Four teaspoons
One sugar bowl with sugar or sugar cubs
One sugar spoon
One dish for strawberry butter
One butter knife
One teapot
One small dish with lemon slices
One small fork/pick for lemon slices
One cream pitcher with milk
Sweet-N-Low
Place cards, optional