TeaFestPDX

July 21st has now come and gone.

TeaFestPDX was a smashing success.
The day before we realized our cups would not be here,
they were stuck in customs.
So we labeled about 4000 paper cups while we waited
for the tents and tables to be set up.

 My involvement was the British Tea Tent.
Early Saturday morning the tent was made ready for 6 events in the tent.
There was room for 25 to sit at tablecloth covered tables.

Flowers were put out.
Magazines donated by Tea Time Magazine were ready to hand out.
Tea donated by Harney and Sons was also ready in the bowl
and in the teapots.

 Once ready, I took a quick walk around the grounds.
There were several potters with beautiful teaware.

 OK, I must get back to the tent, time to begin.
Our first presenter was Brenda Burg, the owner of Newberg Bakery,
giving a demo on making scones.

The second event was a cream tea with Newberg Bakery scones served.
Jini O'Flynn played her Celtic harp as we nibbled on delicious scones
and sipped tea.

The volunteers did an amazing job this year.
Michele came in her Victorian dress and hat just to serve tea in the tent.

 Others dressed for the occasion.
We couldn't have asked for better weather.
It was not too hot or too cold, but just right for a day of sipping tea.

And sipping tea was being done all around the festival
from vendor booths, classes, and tea rooms set up on the grounds.

Wouldn't this be a beautiful place just to sit and sip?

 The big tent was kept busy all day long.

 Then back to my tent where the next event was
Dressing the Regency Woman for Tea with Nora Azevedo.

More costumed attendees.

Stephanie Wilson was my 4th event in the tent.

She talked on British history and etiquette of tea.

And then Susan Patterson (aka Earlene Grey) gave a poetry reading
for the second cream tea in the tent.

I didn't get a picture of me for the final event.
I spoke on Tips for Doing a Tea Party.
Once I was finished I again visited other places on the grounds.
Here were examples in processing tea by Minto Island Farms.

Minto Island Farms grows tea about an hour south of Portland in Salem, Oregon.  They also were selling beautifully boxed tea and tea plants.

 I caught this group from The Tao of Tea ready to pour tea.
It was late in the day and they had a moment with no pouring.

Another nook just for drinking tea.

 I showed this place earlier, but now there were people in there drinking more tea.

 Everywhere was people enjoying the day and sipping tea.

And what can I say about this cute couple!
Norwood Pratt and his lovely wife, Valerie!
It was so good to see them come from San Francisco
to do a book signing.
His books are the ultimate in learning about tea
and what was recommended to me when I got into this world of tea.
I must say his hugs are the very best.

 So we can say the second TeaFestPDX is a wrap.
It was a good one!
We greeted friends, sipped tea, and enjoyed each moment.
There were many happy faces.