Clamming & Tea Parties

This morning started at 4am for Chris and the boys. Yesterday crabbing, today clamming. Again the weather on the beach was lovely but the clams weren't showing much and it took a long time to limit out. Eventually they all got their bag o' clams and headed back to church for the Ladies' Mother's Day Tea.

packing up for home

Andy's bag o' clams

While they were busy pulling shellfish out of the sand, me and a lovely bunch of very gracious and patient women worked on getting things ready for the tea. As usual, I learned a lot from the experience about what to do and not to do if we do it again. I was very grateful that they all put up with my frantic and moody rush to get everything done by 11:00! Thanks everyone!

The best part of the tea for me was that Chris and the boys came straight from hunting clams, changed into "church" clothes and helped wait tables, make tea, and plate dainty little foods for about 35 women when they hadn't eaten a thing all day! You guys are AWESOME!!! And they had to serve all that wonderful food and not eat it.

Menu

Scones, jam & Devonshire cream

Fresh fruit & tea sandwiches

egg salad

cashew chicken salad

cream chesse & cucumber

p.b. & j

Dessert

shortbread cookies

boiled raisin cookies

lemon bars

thumbprint cookies

Chocolate

mini eclairs

mini Oreo cheesecakes

chocolate-dipped cheesecakes

Susie's devotional on 1 John 3 & mothers

Lily slept through her first Mother's Day tea

Elaina playing the violin

But the tea was lovely! Everyone's tables looked beautiful (I am so sad that in the rush I didn't get any pictures of all the tables) and we all had a wonderful time. Susie gave a wonderful devotional that she wrote herself and Elaina played a piece on both the piano and the violin. Maybe this will be our 1st Annual Mother's Day Tea???

Bonnie's table

Susie's table

Renee's table

Judy's table

My mom's table

Lila's table

Elaina won the centerpiece from her table

cleanin' up

Thanks Chris for doing ALL THOSE DISHES!