Back To School Tradition

Kathy & Erica Burwell April 27, 2003

Erica was turning eight years old.

Kathy & Erica Burwell August 2009

Mother/Daughter Lunch

We have a back-to-school tradition at A Spot For Tea

Moms and daughters come and have lunch or Queen's Tea

before starting back to school.

Kathy and Erica have been making this tradition since she had

her eighth birthday tea party with us in 2003.

It is such a treat for me to see these girls grow into ladies.

It is like I turn around and they are all grown up.

Thanks for letting me be apart of your lives.

Wall of Gratitude

Close-up of thank you notes on the Wall of Gratitude at A Spot For Tea.

Upstairs our Wall of Gratitude by the lighted cases.

Thank you note that we received from Holy Trinity Catholic Schools for our donation.

The Hunnicutt family sent this after their 50th Wedding Anniversary Party.

We received this email from Gina after she attended a baby shower in the Red Room.

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.

It turns what we have into enough, and more.

It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity.

It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.

Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today,

and creates a vision for tomorrow.

- Melody Beattie

Gratitude in the heart's memory.

-French Proverb

At A Spot For Tea we are listening
and we appreciate your kind notes and your thankful hearts.

We have a special place where your thank you notes go and it means the world to us and to our staff that work so hard to make your celebrations special.

What Is A Scone Anyway?

Declicious Pecan Scones

Heart Shaped Pecan Scone

What is a Scone Anyway?

A scone is a cross between a biscuit and a piece of cake. They are a perfect accompaniment to teatime. Light, moist and buttery mouthfuls, cones are typically served with Devonshire cream, lemon curd and jam.

When I trained with Magnolia & Ivy, Kay and Teresa taught me how to make scones Southern style with self-rising flour and cut with a biscuit cutter. English scones are much larger and sometimes triangular in shape. Scones can be rolled, shaped, or dropped.

The story is that Victoria Magazine sponsored a First Ladies Tea Party at the Four Seasons Hotel in November 1996 and Rosalyn Carter asked Magnolia & Ivy to submit their scone recipe. If it is good enough for the former first lady then we carry on the tradition of Southern scones at A Spot For Tea.

Having been born in Covington, Geogia while my father attended seminary at Emory University in Atlanta. I'm a true Georgia Peach and very fond of Southern baking. One of my earliest memories is my mom and Willie Margaret, a dear friend of our family, rolling our biscuits for breakfast in the morning. It only seems right to make scones the Southern way in honor of my heritage!

Scone baking tips: Make sure your oven is very hot, if not they will spread instead of rise! Place close together on the baking sheet. Us only shiny cookie sheets. Dark ones burn the bottoms. Story in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat wrapped in aluminum foil at 350 degrees for 5-7 minutes. They do freeze well, but they never last that long!

Excerpt taken from Tea Time Scrumptious cookbook

A Collection of Favorite Tea Time Recipes from A Spot For Tea

Retail: $12.99 each

Daniella's Tearoom Visit

Daniella Franklin having a tea party for her 9th birthday - March 3, 2001

Daniella with her mom and dad and her best friend Janna Clare - March 3, 2001.

Daniella and Tammy at A Spot For Tea August 2009
Daniella is now 17 years old.

The day I had Daniella's tea party I wrote in my journal the following entry:

March 3, 2001

Today I gave a tea party for a very special 9 year old named Daniella. She has Down Syndrome. I have been teary every since I got in my car to drive home. What a blessing this business is to me and what a joy and privilege to get to be a part of these children's lives. She was beautiful and precious and her four friends that were there seemed to embrace her uniqueness and the special way God created her and I am humbled at God's extraordinary ways that are so way beyond our understanding and comprehension. Her mother and father were grateful and kind and I am in awe of the capacity for goodness in some people and how God uses us all if we will just surrender into His greater plans for our lives. I am thankful Lord that you have allowed me to be your instrument in making joyous celebrations special. Thank you God for not giving up on me. Thank you God for opening my eyes to the possibility of aligning myself to your purpose for my life.

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things that you do not know - Jeremiah 33:3

Keep Climbing

In the book Keep Climbing by Gail MacDonald there is a story I love about the traditional life of the Swiss village baker.

Why does a young man rise at such early hours six days a week? What motivates him to work as long as sixteen hours each day for a relatively modest income? And what does his wife Norma, gain from a life-style in which work virtually consumes the best part of every day?

Hans Rudi and Norma are purpose driven. Hans Rudi saw his role in the community as far more significant than the mere baking of a two-kilo loaf of dark bread.

The people of the valley can get along without meat. They can live without milk and other dairy products and they can forgo their vegetables for a while. But the one thing every Swiss family needs every day is bread. I must have the bread ready every morning.

The baker is sometimes the community chaplain. Many times, I will see a man or a woman linger behind the rest of those who have come to buy my bread. I know what is probably going to happen. They want to talk about a family problem or a personal matter that they do not feel they can share with the pastor. They think I'll understand. After all, I'm the baker, and I know about everybody's problems. I never talk about what I hear. They are sure I'll keep their secrets.

When asked about visiting America they shake their heads, perhaps in twenty years, but now we could not leave the bakery. The people of the valley need us to much and there is no one to take our place for many days. This is a couple who lives by purpose - one that far exceeds running a bakery business or selling the max number of breads. It marks their marriage. It dominates their choices. It says much about their sense of significance in life.

"But this one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." - Phillipians 3:13,14

It's not just a job to Eric and I - it's our purpose to be a sanctuary to our community in the disguise of tearoom.

Heart Story submitted by Margaret Keyser

Margaret Keyser on the right having tea.

Jordan Dickey's Party - August 2003

Taylor Dickey's Party - March 2000


Morgan Dickey's Party - December 2006

Friendship Tea at Peggy Pyle's home - October 2000

I believe in God and I believe in Tammy Seibert. I have been her mentor for 13 years. We have shared our thoughts and prayed for one another through many obstacles. I also own a business and have encouraged her with each step. I believe that's been the key to our relationship. I would always remind her of how God is good and how He had great plans for her life

and A Spot For Tea.

I helped Tammy get started with her tea parties. My granddaughter Taylor was one of her first parties in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Next, Tammy took her trailer to my friend Peggy's home in Cushing, Oklahoma - set up table and chairs, beautiful dresses, shoes, gloves, etc. Taylor's friends and Peggy's granddaughters were the life of the party. I have another granddaughter Jordan whose party was in the Rose Cottage at the antique mall. There we had a sweet time with friends and family. Finally, we gave our third granddaughter Morgan a tea party in the new place where she is now located. Tammy has done lovely parties for me as well. She catered my husband's birthday dinner and special Christmas dinner at my home.

We've been friends tied with God's purpose. She will always be a part of my life. Thank you Tammy for your friendship.

"Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him." Psalms 127:3

Heart Story by Ann Simonton & Sherry Sloan

Sisters Ann & Sherry have been on staff at the tearoom since 2003.

They are a big part of our tea family.

Cristi and Zachary

As many of you know, for the last three years whe have hosted a Gingerbread Tea in December that benefits The Children's Center in downtown Bethany. In addition to the monetary donations we also collect personal hygiene items for the children.

For more information on the center and their services you can visit their website at http://www.tccokc.org/

Little did we know that our own tea family would be needing The Children's Center facility.

On Monday, May 18th, ten year old Zachary was rushed to the hospital and was diagnosed with meningitis. He was very ill and became unconscious. He remained in ICU for six weeks with little change.

Zachary is the grandson of Sherry Sloan and the great nephew of Ann Simonton. He also is the brother of Candace, one of our hostesses that helps on Saturdays.

On Monday, June 29th, Zachary's family was told he had a muted chromosome (#15) which affected his ability to produce energy. This deficiency seemed to be the reason he couldn't wake up, his body didn't have enough energy. The doctors said that he may never wake-up or if he did wake-up, he could be anywhere from 0 - 100% himself.

On Wednesday, July 1st, Zachary received a trachea and a feeding tube. That evening, following surgery, he opened his eyes, smiled and seemed to know his family.

From that last day forward, he has made progress. He knows his name, his family, his pets and he DEFINITELY KNOWS that OU is #1!

He is currently experiencing rehab where he gets to go to gym, music and classes. He will be soon be going home (he actually got to go home on Tuesday, August 11th).

Many of you have been praying for Zachary and his family. We want to thank you for all of your prayers. We have truly witnessed a miracle!

Thank you God for answered prayers!

For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.

- Jeremiah 29:11

Summer Where Have You Gone?

Highlights of Summer 2009 - slipping through our hands.

Cicadas are singing an end of summer song.

Brock proudly wearing his first cast...second son with broken left arm.

Nease Family Reunion at Coles Garden July 2009.
Over 100 family members joined together for 2 days of festivities.


Our immediate family...

Oh Man!
There is no planet, sun, or star could hold you,
if you but knew what you are.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thunder Baseball....Blake's team playing summer ball.

Blake #8

The Three B's (Blake, Benjamin & Brock) swimming...this is what it's all about.

If you want to feel rich,

just count all the things you have that money can't buy.

- Anonymous

Snow Cones and so many flavors to choose.

Benjamin and mom sitting on a picnic table

One filled with joy preaches without preaching.

- Mother Teresa

If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy,

if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you,

if the simple things of nature have a message that you understand,

rejoice, for your soul is alive.

-Eleanora Duse

All four of my guys having an afternoon of golf.

All we have in life is what we notice.

-Richard Baker-Roshi

Eric, Brock and Benjamin in the golf cart.

Eric and Blake...my son is now taller than me.

Our niece (Cierra) and nephews (Tanner, Cache & Tate) and 3 boys for a

day at the Oklahoma Zoo.

Two brother bears frolicking in the cool water.

Visiting the new Oklahoma Trails.

Buffalo Bison...roaming in the Oklahoma Trails.

Earth with her thousand voices praises God.

-Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Summer is ending...we say farewell until next year.

Coles Garden Bridal Show 2009

Coles Garden hosts Oklahoma Bridal Show

July 26, 2009

1:00-5:00pm

visit www.okbride.com

Brides-to-be and their friends waiting in line to enter the gates.

Happy faces lined up.

Lets get this party started.

A Spot For Tea had a fruit cascade with cream cheese wraps for the brides to taste.

We also served our fiesta cheeseball...a crowd pleaser!

Cut cheese on a marble cutting board.

A Spot For Tea handed out tasting brochures!

Dominion House had a booth at the show!

Many vendors...they do a great job with the show.

The Red Carpet Bridal Show...like no other.

The arch filled with flowers leading down the aisle.

The view in the other direction.

Chocolate fountain...yum!

Susan with Sweet Connections...made the beautiful cake and cupcakes.

Ideas In Ice made the punch bowl.

My mom, Charlotte Nease, at the Coles Garden booth!