| Chirp-A-Tea Chirp
Dear Tea Friend,
My sister and I recently visited The
Rose Garden Tea Room in Newberry, South Carolina. It was a trip
to remember, not just for the tearoom, but for the entire town,
which possesses the warmth and hospitality of a by-gone era. The
tearoom is located inside The Lamplighter Gallery, a shop with a
delightful array of gifts, books, and cards. When you enter the
door, the shop is arranged with "booths" of merchandise to the left
and right, creating a long central corridor flanked by eye-catching
treasures. The corridor opens to the beautifully appointed tearoom
atop a stage-like platform a few steps up. Yet, instead of a theatrically
overdone Victorian décor, Don and Beverly Ringer, the owners, have
created an elegant atmosphere suggestive of the era. All of the
food was homemade and delicious, and classical music played in the
background. Even with only the two of them manning both the shop
and the tearoom, the atmosphere was serene. Our lunch there was
the perfect conclusion of the morning, which had been spent meeting
such kind people as Mary Sue Clary. Mary Sue gave us a wonderful
tour of the renovated Opera
House, complete with sometimes funny, sometimes touching tales
of the visiting stars and backstage happenings. From the Opera
House, we made the roughly 3-mile trip outside town to tour
the greenhouses of Carter
and Holmes Orchids. There, we shared a tour with the members
of JOY (Just Older Youth) from a Lutheran church in Pickens, SC.
And it was a joy to spend time with this friendly group of people.
Back in town we had our tea lunch and later, while browsing in The
Lamplighter Gallery, we talked with ladies who had come from Lexington
to have tea in Newberry in celebration of a birthday. Newberry seemed
to wash away the inhibitions of all who visited, and striking up
conversations with complete strangers, once a common practice in
the South, but now a dying social custom, came easily. In every
shop we entered as we strolled Main Street, the shopkeepers greeted
us with, "Hey". Then promptly asked, "where are ya'll from," clearly
accustomed to visitors. And there in lies the secret of the beauty
of Newberry; we were received as visitors, not tourists. May it
ever be so.
RECIPE
 Vanilla comes from an orchid plant. While visiting the
Carter and Holmes Orchids greenhouses, we did not get to see the
species from which vanilla is derived, so the orchid pictured is
not the vanilla bean plant, but is one of the many species grown
at Carter and Holmes. However, viewing all those orchids put me
in the mood for vanilla. I hope you enjoy this month's Vanilla Nut
Cookies. The recipe is from Tea Time in Old Pendleton and
is used with permission. To purchase the cookbook or schedule a
tour of either Ashtabula or Woodburn, the foundations two museum
homes in Pendleton, SC, call (864) 653-8051. Pendleton is another
of South Carolina's beautiful historic towns and is also well worth
a visit.
Vanilla Nut Cookies
1 1/3 cups brown sugar
1 stick butter
2 ¼ cups flour
1 egg, beaten thoroughly
1 teaspoon soda
¼ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 cup chopped nuts
Sift flour and add soda and salt. Sift again. Cream butter
and sugar, add egg. Blend in dry ingredients and nuts. Roll up
in 3 rolls. Chill 6 hours, or overnight. Cut in 1/8 inch slices.
Bake on ungreased baking sheet at 400 degrees until lightly browned.
Tea Tip
Try adding a little vanilla to any unflavored black tea.
Etiquette Reminder
Hospitality is about making people feel welcome. Opening
your home to others is certainly a wonderful way to practice hospitality,
but hospitality can also be shown by promptly introducing yourself
to newcomers to your church, club, organization, or even your town.
After you have introduced yourself, be sure to introduce them to
others as well. |
