Christmas Tea
December 16, 2003

      All women deserve time to treat themselves the week before Christmas after the shopping and decorating is done, and what an exquisite place to spend an enjoyable afternoon!

Below is a picture of the lovely group of ladies who attended the Afternoon Tea at Cushing Manor Bed & Breakfast and Tea Room.  

First on the agenda was a tour of this magnificent home located on West Washington Street, in the Historical District of South Bend, Indiana.  The history and background of this home was given by Susan Kessler, home owner and innkeeper, pictured below wearing the hat.

Below, Susan Kessler talks about the second floor bedrooms and weddings that have been held at the inn before going up to explore the lovely accommodations.

Below are random pictures taken in the bedrooms.

The floral designs on the walls in the above pictures is not wallpaper - it is all hand painted.

The 3 pictures below were taken on the third floor, which can be used as an apartment setting or by small groups on a retreat.

Below is the servants' stairway between the kitchen and the second floor.

For the finale, we came back downstairs to the Tea Room for Afternoon Tea.  A wonderful array of savories and sweets were served, including sandwiches, pastries with fresh fruit fillings, scones with 3 toppings, including lemon curd, and 3 kinds of tea, all of which we had to sample.

Below, Susan explains each tasty item before we served ourselves.

Below, Tara, our server, tends to Lil Mauro.

Meleah Ladd gave a presentation of her wonderful winter hat collection, many of which have been passed down to her from her family and her husband's family.  I am so very sorry to say that we did not take pictures of Meleah's very interesting presentation, which was given during the Tea.  Becky must have been too busy tasting, rather than doing her picture duties.  <G>

12/19/03 - You have provided enjoyment for many people who otherwise would not have come out of their homes to enjoy this great land we live in.  May the lord help you prosper and fulfill all your dreams in the coming years.        Leilani H.

12/19/03 - I had a great time at the tea. Thank you for everything. 
Love, Sandy W.