When I was only four years old, I received a porcelain china tea set for Christmas. The pattern was the famous Blue Willow design. Nothing could have been more exciting for a four-year-old me than a real tea party! I had acquired the perfect tea set and a little maple table with two chairs. 

My first guest was Aunt Ruth. Even at four, I recognized a major problem: I didn't actually like tea. At my request, Mother filled the little teapot with coffee instead, softened with plenty of milk and sugar. But as I began to pour, I realized another dilemma—there were only two chairs for three people. Oh dear! My maple table and chairs were child-sized, and adding a tall dining chair from the "big" table was out of the question. I was determined that everyone must be seated for a proper tea party, even if it meant sharing my tiny chair. It simply had to work, or the whole afternoon would be ruined.

I remember nothing about the food or the conversation. I do remember my aunt sitting directly across the table, sipping her warm coffee from the little teacup, and me sitting on the right side of my chair, patting the tiny spot beside me and asking my mom to share my chair. Good thing Mom and Aunt Ruth were both petite! 

I still have my Blue Willow china tea set and will always remember the excitement and joy of that moment in my life. 

The First Tea Party in Edinburgh

When we moved to Edinburgh twenty-five years ago, I found a new way to share my love for tea. My neighbor’s daughter was still getting to know the local children, so I decided to host a tea party at the clubhouse for girls aged six to ten. It was a proper afternoon tea, complete with crisp white linens, a few gentle etiquette tips for handling sugar cubes, and a fun project the guests could enjoy.

That first gathering blossomed into an annual tradition. Starting in 2007, I hosted yearly themed parties for my five sweet young neighbors. Each spring, they would excitedly ask, "Hi Ms. Fran, what is our tea party going to be this year?" We traveled the world through tea; one year featured a trip to "Paris" along a brick path to the back porch, complete with passports and Eiffel Tower T-shirts. Another year was a Victorian tea, where every girl received a linen-and-lace pinafore to wear. From Japanese tea ceremonies to "Princess" parties with real tiaras, every event was filled with crafts, laughter, and Ms. Fran’s egg salad finger sandwiches. I will always treasure these early friendship memories here in Edinburgh.

In 2017, my passion for community grew. I joined forces with a neighbor to form an HOA welcome committee, delivering gift baskets to new residents. Eventually, I requested the board’s permission to establish an annual afternoon tea for the entire community. With the help of many wonderful volunteers, it has been my absolute pleasure to continue this tradition for all of Edinburgh.