Hello hello, and welcome to Episode 54 of Life On the Brink, and the finale of Season Two!
I love picnics, that’s established. And I love afternoon tea (don’t we all?).
So for my 26th birthday this past week I combined the two and threw myself the picnic/tea/birthday/garden party of my dreams. It was quite a bit of work and involved some real planning, but I was so, so happy with the result! It was such a wonderful time, and I’ve also learned some things in the process, so I’m sharing it all with you for this special episode and season finale!
What’s in my teacup? The Republic of Teas’ “Celebrate with a Cuppa Cake”
I really recommend listening to the audio of this episode (or reading the transcript here) LINK so you can get the whole history and thought process of the making of this tea, but I will be sure to list the menu and all the supplies I used below.
Check “garden party” “tea party” “regency spring dream” and “lavender”**
THE DREAM
I wanted to evoke the feeling I get whenever I watch the Box Hill picnic scene from “Emma”. Relaxed elegance, reposed but aesthetic. So the location was the trickiest thing.
I ended up choosing the Hermitage Museum and Gardens in Norfolk, VA because it provided: -free access to the gardens and grounds
-actual restrooms
-Plus it was possible for us to feel secluded in the woods (i.e. not looking or visible from a parking lot) and…
-without a super long haul from the car.
No matter where you live, though, I would just think about those same parameters and narrow down a spot accordingly.
I kept the group fairly small, ending up with a group of ten. I feel like if it was any bigger it might have entered another level of preparation (perhaps a grander project down the line). I didn’t have a strict dress code, but encouraged everyone to “let whimsy be their guide” and generally get into the tea party vibe. My sister Sarah bought a bonnet for the occasion.
THE MENU
Tea. I had three varieties and served them all chilled:
-Harney and Sons Paris blend
-a jasmine oolong (like this)
-The Republic of Teas’ “Celebrate with a Cuppa Cake” (lemon, coconut, vanilla)
Sandwiches. Again, three types:
-cucumber
-chicken salad (w some spinach and arugula)
-Caprese
Other munchies:
-strawberries and sliced apple
-scones (w/ jam, honey, and clotted cream)
-prosciutto and salami
-cheese (I had a havarti with dill and a gruyere)
-olives and extra cucumbers
Sweets:
-brownies
-a birthday cupcake
(Also, Josh had the foresight to bring a huge jug of water)
THE GEAR
A complete list of everything I brought from home:
-3 teapots
-9 teacups and saucers
- cream dish
-1 large and 1 small cake stand
-a three-tiered stand with plates
-a small vase with dried flowers
-4 small condiment cups
-3 ramekins
-a set of cheese knives
-a knife and butter knife
-2 pretty porcelain plates
-lots of little spoons
-a small cup with toothpicks
-cute paper plates
-cute napkins
-2 white tablecloths
-3 picnic blankets
-a wooden crate
-a small table
-3 trays
More random and transport-y, but I also packed:
-a bluetooth speaker
-empty resealable bags
-trash bags
-a big crate and a literal wagon
-a big cooler with ice
-lots of bottles filled with tea
THE ITINERARY
Traffic caused some delay in the schedule, but once we set up the picnic we essentially had 2 full hours to enjoy. We chatted, laughed, and caught up, and then I transitioned us to the Event:
I asked everyone ahead of time to prepare a reading. Something to recite or read aloud for the group, whether it be a poem, a story, or perhaps an elaborate joke. I thought it was a great way to introduce people to each other a bit better, and to enjoy some fine-ish art in such a pretty setting. I was so pleased with what everyone shared, from original poems to online articles to book passages to songs to favorite memories. I highly recommend tasking your guests with this challenge.
We, of course, sang Happy Birthday and shared a little cake, then had to pack up before we got kicked off the grounds.
FOR NEXT TIME…
1. In the future, I’d like to plan a bit more time for myself so I can actually set up the picnic before guests arrive. That was my original plan, but I hadn’t budgeted enough time for traffic.
2. I did enjoy the iced tea, though if somehow down the line I can come up with a way to have hot tea I am DOWN.
3. I think I’d like to thrift around and see if I can get together a little collection of plates for things like this. I could use my own silverware and glasses, depending on the number of guests.
4. The reading/recitation was so enjoyable, perhaps for certain occasions I could “theme” these passages somehow. Like if it’s for a holiday or for a birthday, tailor your selections to the occasion.
5. Also, I’m interested in adding perhaps a game or other activity in time.
6. I should probably delegate more and ask people to bring more stuff. I was very particular about how this first party would look, but I trust my friends to make things aesthetic.
7. Maybe paper invitations. It sets the attitude from the very beginning.
8. Most importantly, I would simply like more time. Because the location I chose (for the use of free, secluded grounds with actual bathrooms) closed to the public promptly at 5:00, if I were to go plan for that space again I would definitely schedule for earlier in the day.
**Dream Scenario: I’d like to own a home where the backyard faces woods or water or anything scenic and not someone else’s backyard. Then, over time, I’d like to carefully landscape and create a lush garden with space to entertain and picnic and do all that within my own home. Hot tea and bathrooms are non-issues in this scenario, and I can make them an ongoing part of my life.**
Overall, I was so pleased with the way the party turned out and it made for a very special birthday! I can’t wait to throw more teas and picnics and combinations therein, so if you have an idea or story of your own, leave me a comment below with your suggestions!
This Week’s Little Joy: I’m really trying to make walking more of a habit in my life, and I feel like springtime is just the perfect time to walk outdoors. This week I’ve been on several walks with Josh and we’ve seen some adorable spring content. Over the weekend we went to the farmer’s market in Williamsburg and had a walk around to see the new baby lambs and foals, along with the gorgeous azaleas this season. Then this week we had a simple walk close to home and ended up following a little family of geese and little goslings for a while; just so, so insanely cute!
What I’ve Been Listening To: Here’s the playlist I played during the party. I may have shared it in the past, but I added and updated it so it’s now a full 2 hours long. You can play in order or on shuffle, I’ll let you decide. If I do say so myself, it’s the perfect mix of soundtracks and classical pieces that isn’t too invasive but sets the mood just right.
Thank you for listening to this episode, and thank you so much for an amazing second season! I look forward to an even more delicious Season Three, which will begin on June 9th.
If you’re new here, feel free to use the month of May to catch up on previous episodes, and be sure to subscribe to the free newsletter to get all the updates and extra Little Joys.
With that, I’ll be back very soon and have a lovely month of May!