On July 5th, I taught tea etiquette & manners to a group of 5 year olds at an elaborate tea party.

July 19th was such a wonderful day. I was the guest speaker at Paris in a Cup in Orange, CA. There were 40 guests for the morning talk and book signing and 40 more guests in the afternoon seating. Everyone was so kind and gracious to me and the tearoom itself is all about Paris. Cheryl, the owner isn't able to fly due to an inner ear problem, so she brought Paris to southern california. Both her tea room and Tea Graces was featured in the August edition of Victorian Homes. That was quite an honor as well as humbling. The Graceful Art of Tea book is among other books available in the gift section of the tearoom.

July 23rd was a meeting of the Royal Ladies Tea Society at the Tea Gardens in Santa Clarita, CA. This tearoom has been open just over a year and is doing very well. Not your typical phoo-phoo decor, but more european. The menu has a nice variety of food choices as well as a huge selection of teas. Elda, the owner does a nice job of displaying the gift area and The Graceful Art of Tea book adorns some of the shelves.

I have the privilege of teaching at some of the local community colleges in the Los Angeles area and on July 26th there was a 3 hour class presented at Glendale Comm. College. I meet some of the neatest women at these events and they are usually very enthuastic about the world of tea.

Tea is a huge industry, world wide. Each year there is a World Tea Expo displaying everything related to tea in Las Vegas, NV. Because of its growth, many sections of the country have their own tea associations. The first meeting of Western Tea Business Association was held at The Gilded Rose Manor in Northridge, CA on July 28th. This will be a group of tea business's coming together for encouraging one another, serving one another, and networking. It is quite a long and arduous project to get a non-profit association going.

On August 23rd, I left with my friend, my two granddaughters ages 12 and 15 for a five day cruise to the Mexican Riviera. It was a wonderful relaxing time and the girls really enjoyed their time. In Ensenada we shopped and bargained for a lower price on several items. Sometimes it worked and other times the vendor was firm on his price. When we arrived in Cabo San Lucas the girls and Susan went snorkling and took underwater pictures. While they were gone I went on the hunt for a particular semiprecious white stone. After much searching, I finally came upon what I went after, it is absoultly beautiful, mounted in sterling silver with an unusual shape . The shop owner called it a White Onyx and it makes a lovely necklace. Yes, I did bargain and was pleased with the price I wound up with, and have special memories of the trip.

September 21st I taught a 3 hour private tea class in Redlands, CA. It was held in a corner of Aladdin's Tearoom with 11 guests present. The ladies were so interested in the ceremony of tea and all that it entails.

A local newspaper, The Signal, called me Tuesday and wants to do a special feature on Tea Graces next Wednesday, October 1st. We will be meeting at The Tea Gardens for the interview and there will be a photographer from the paper as well. I am very excited about all of the publicity my little tea business is stirring up.

The second video will soon be available. We are shooting on October 7th on how to prepare tea sandwiches and ending with a real live tea party. It is something to look forward to in the near future. You can be sure you will be notified when it is available for purchase.

October 17th, 18th, and 19th I will be doing talks and book signings at three tearooms in central California. Lisa's Tea Treasures in Campbell, The English Rose in Pleasanton, and The August Tearoom in Livermoore. Visit my website http://www.teagraces.com/ for location and times.

Hello Friends:

I am new at this blogging thing and hope to become an expert before too long.

Starting in the middle of the year, I'll begin with a calendar of events starting June 5, 2008. At noon the Royal Ladies Tea Society had a tea luncheon at the Masters College. This is such a lovely grouyp of ladies. In the evening after dinner a Red Hat group had me speak on Social Tea Graces and Etiquette.

On June 19th, my granddaughters and I had tea at my favorite tea room, in Temecula, CA called Truffles and Lace. Everything about this tearoom is above and beyond ones imagination. First, the ambiance is lovely with cut glass windows covered with lace valances and tin ceilings. The wait staff is gracious beyond measure and the food portions are generous as well as tasteful to the palate. This tearoom is a two hour drive from my home, but I visit it as often as possible

Sugar Cubes

Here is a short blub on how to easily decorate your sugar cubes for a nice presentation.