Tea with our local Matuska and lovely ladies

After a Lenten hiatus we had another

tea and stitch with our local Matuska,

where we enjoy tea, goodies, knitting and conversation.

I hosted it again this time

and had such fun getting it all together! 

For the savory part of the tea,

I made the chicken salad that I just love,

recipe here.

I put out Trader Joe's chocolates,

Butter Cookies we had in a lovely tin, 

three pots of tea

(a citrus black from Paris done by Russians, 

a herbal tea, Simplici-Tea from St. Elizabeth's Skete,

and my Christmas Chai.)

Lovely ButterHorn pastries were brought 

by our Matuska, some no bake chocolate cheesecake

bars were delicious but I failed to photograph them... 

And the raspberry lemon cake made it's first

appearance!

It was a very enjoyable time!!! 

I am so thankful for the community that I am

finding here and each person is a delight to me

and a joy to host. 

We are hoping to do more teas in mid-to late summer!

On the 7th day of Christmas...

A gift basket from my parents-in-law for Christmas came!

It's official: 

I think will all the wonderful goodies given to us I could

open a tea store :)

We are so thankful!!! 

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We had our seconds Ladies tea with Matushka...

and our dear friend, the mother of Mr. Husband and I's 

goddaugher was there for one of the last times....

Lovely tea.

Lovely desserts.

Beautiful. 

Delicious. 

We gave our dear friend an icon of

St. Alexander Hotovitzky as 

he founded our parish here in NJ.

*

It was a very special 7th day of Christmas,

on which the world finally heard that 

Elder Paisios is now Saint Paisios!

May we have his blessing!

*

And May God bless each of us during these holy days.