Books: Tea With Friends

Tea with Friends is a great little book, chock full of seasonal and themed tea party ideas.

Divided into months of the year, each month's tea party has a theme set to correspond with either a holiday or the season.  February hosts the Not-for-Lovers-Only Dessert Tea. May's tea party has a Mother Goose theme.  December's offering is the St. Nicholas Brunch Tea, of course.  My personal favorite is November (my birth month) and the Victorian Afternoon Tea.

Some great features:

• Complete menus and recipes for each tea party
• Suggestions for music, decoration and "setting the scene"
• Activities for party guests
• History blurbettes and factoids peppered throughout

For such a small book, there's a LOT of stuff packed in here.  I really have only one complaint.  No photos.  The book is nicely illustrated with watercolors by Carolyn Bucha, but I prefer photographs, especially where food/recipes are concerned.  Sorry Carolyn!  I'd really rather see a book devoted just to your tea artwork.  That would be enjoyable in itself.  But if you're looking for ideas for your tea party, this is a must-have for your Tea Party Lady bookshelf.