TOC TEAS UP

Two things are sure indicators of Spring: ‘pits’ and legs need shaving again and Tea Parties dot the landscape. This year I was a guest of a friend at the Daffodil Tea over on Mare Island at the old Navy base. This venerable old base has a number of buildings and a wonderful little church on the premises that are worth preserving. The Daffodil Tea is one of their biggest fundraisers of the year.



http://www.stpeterschapel.org/
















The chapel--which is now the oldest Navy chapel in the country--houses a nice little pipe organ and around two dozen Tiffany stained glass windows. On this day it was filled with tea revelers and the Red Hat Ladies who seem to show up everywhere.



















After the presentation we were subjected to a political commercial that drew my ire. It was only by focusing on the memorial to the brave submariners who perished on the Thresher that I was able to hold my peace.
Some woman actually told the assembly that since the City of Vallejo(which owns Mare Island) is bankrupt and California is nearly bankrupt as well, there are no funds for restoring the stained glass. And what should we do? We should write to our useless California senators et al and try and get more bailout money for that project!! Why in the world should the people of the other 49 states be ponying up their hard-earned bucks for a private project in California? Where did this nanny state of mind come from? Listen up, Lady--raise the money privately! I'll drink your tea--and gladly. But keep your sticky fingers out of my wallet. My poor friend had her hands full keeping me from leaping out of the pew and demanding equal time under the Unfairness Doctrine.


After the chapel tour we rode in a horse-drawn carriage to one of the grand old homes on Captain's Row where we were seated for our tea. The house was filled with daffodils, lace, tea pots and more hats. We consumed pot after pot of tea and good spirits were soon restored.










We were free to explore the wonderful house complete with its set of back stairs, high ceilings, leaded glass and glorious wraparound porch with thick columns. It was fun to pretend to be back in a more elegant era.




Heading back home through the vineyards with our purses stuffed full of extra scones the kitchen staff insisted we take, I reflected on how fortunate I was to be back living in the beauty of Sonoma County with the company of old friends. I gave the afternoon 5 out of 5 raised pinkies.