Christmas Tea at Surreybrooke Cabin

The Take Joy Society had their 2023 Christmas Tea at Surreybrooke's rental cabin.  I've written about Surreybrooke gardens several times.  Look for those posts under Surreybrooke in the Archives in the sidebar if you want to see more about this magical place in Middletown, Maryland. . .

If you enjoyed the music on the slide show, play it again while you read the rest of this post!

Edie and her husband moved to the Northern Neck of Virginia in 2020.  Because they have family in Maryland they rented the cabin for 4 days for celebrating Christmas with them.  The Take Joy Society was graced with an afternoon yesterday at the cabin to celebrate together.  Edie made scones and tea and Chris surprised us with tea sandwiches and various appetizers on toast and more scones. . .

We began in the lower-level kitchen with all the delicious foods. . .

Then we gathered in the cabin's main room to open our gifts. . .

Several gifts were handmade, like these paintings from our resident artist, Cindy.  Each of us received a painting of somewhere that held significance for us. . .

....along with hand-made ornaments. . . 

Edie's gift was a quilted mat she made for each of us. . .

....along with a calendar of the photos she and her husband took on their Mediterranean cruise this year.  The card was the watercolor painting her friend did for the cover of her latest book "That Smudge of Smoke". . . 

Carol gave us lovely bags with a gift of powder scented with Lavender from the Williamsburg shops. . .

...as well as a glass ornament. . .

Chris made us Damson jam from plums from her garden and a garland made with osage oranges also from her garden.  The anise stars smell wonderful. . .

I gave everyone a JOY ornament and a Gratitude Journal by Krithika Kannan.  It has wonderful prompts to help us remember there is much good in our lives despite the many difficulties. . .

It is my hope that you will experience the true Joy of Christmas not only this Christmas but throughout the year!

• ★ Merry ★* 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

•。★ Christmas 。* 。

° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚

˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛  

˚ ˛ •˛• ˚｜ 田田 ｜門｜ ˚And a Happy New Year  

* Joy to all! ♫•*¨* Peace on Earth ♪♫•*¨*

•*¨`*•. ☆ .•*¨`*•

Take Joy!

Cathy