Kentucky Derby Tea Time

Well, what a very busy weekend!

Did anyone attend the Kentucky Derby this year?

I did not get to go, as I attended my annual civic women's club

 Spring Fling Ladies Brunch and Style Show.

However, I made up for not being there in great style!

I recently won a wonderful tea giveaway

from Linda at her blog called FRIENDSHIP TEA.

She gifted me TWO large containers of the most wonderful

Black and Green Teas which she explains in detail 

on her giveaway post here.

They came in those wonderful nylon pyramid sachets, 

and both are so very tasty!

I had a whirlwind weekend -  had an out-of-state tea sister

 come in late on Friday for a fast overnight stay.

 She was in town to attend her daughter's

smaller local second bridal shower in our area.

 Then the next day she was gone by 9am to attend

 her daughter's final dress fitting (bought locally) for the wedding.

Then my husband grabbed my 7th grade niece while I got ready

to take her to the ladies brunch and style show by 10 am.

(We had a wonderful time! Such a good time I took no pics.)

After we finished there we came back to our house and 

put together a pretty planter and homemade card for her

mother (my younger sister) for Mother's Day.

A bit later we three attended Mass, and I sang in choir for the

Saturday evening service - as traditionally the little ones sing

for the mothers on Mother's Day sunday.

THEN we hurried over to our favorite local pub and got a nice meal

and watched the derby on all the large flat screens.

SUCH FUN! Such yelling! 

Good job there, Nyquist!

By the way, my little sister is a University of Kentucky graduate.

She loves The Derby and I will never forget the first time 

she went - with her sorority sisters (Pi Beta Phi.)

As we are true Yankees, it was quite a surprise for her to discover

at the Derby (and at all the school ball games) one can always

catch a whiff of Kentucky Bourbon in the air.  ♥

My sister didn't go this year because she was one of the organizers

 for a huge gala for the  Free to Smile Foundation philanthropy.

She organized the donations to help that wonderful cause. 

This annual event was hosted at the awesome

"Party Barn" at the Les Wexner residence. 

(These are the well-known Wexners who own The Limited.)

So between my busy sister and my busy self 

we had to celebrate the Derby the best we could this year.

So in honor of the Derby, and to happily

enjoy my own win - I baked white chocolate cookies,

brownies, oatmeal jam bars, and pecan chocolate chip cookies

and well enjoyed tea time yesterday.

Sipping on Elwood's Bourbon Tea was extra special.

Elmwood Inn

From Wikipedia on the net

Elmwood Inn in historic Perryville, Kentucky is nationally known because its signature facade is featured on thousands of tins of tea and recipe books that ship every day under the banner of Elmwood Inn Fine Teas company. Built in 1842 by local merchant John Burton, the Greek Revival mansion was used as a makeshift hospital during the 1862 Battle of Perryville in the American Civil War. The handsome building served as boarding school from 1896 until 1924 under the care of headmaster Thomas Poynter.

Elmwood was rescued by preservationists in 1974, placed on the National Register of Historic Places, and designated as a Kentucky landmark by Governor Wendell Ford. It served as a regional restaurant until 1989. Noted guests during that time included Ronald Reagan and KFC founder Colonel Harland Sanders. The inn was transformed into one of America's best-known tea houses in 1990 under the ownership of Bruce and Shelley Richardson. In 2002, Elmwood Inn was named by the UK Tea Council as the first American tea room to be included in their prestigious publication "Best Tea Places."

Elmwood Inn closed to the public in 2004 and the grand house is now the private residence of the owners.

Elmwood Inn Fine Teas began importing, blending and packaging specialty teas in 1993 and now supplies teas to tea rooms, restaurants and gift shops in every state. Elmwood Inn's publishing division, Benjamin Press, is the publisher of over 17 books, mainly on the subject of tea.

The Elmwood Inn Fine Teas and Benjamin Press offices, blending and packaging operation is located at 135 North Second Street in Danville, Kentucky. A tea shop for retail and wholesale customers is located in that downtown facility.

• 

One more thing I also had to miss this past weekend

 was our family's annual Cancer Walk.

Here is a cute pic of just a few of our family's "Mob" 

walking for a cure and making a difference, one step at a time.

Rest in Peace, Pop Patrick, we love you. ♥

Sunday my husband Michael, and the girls and their husbands
all took me to The Worthington Inn for a Mother's Day brunch.

I ate so much I nearly needed a nap, it was so delish!

~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~

So - thank you, again, Linda, for helping me so enjoy

a little taste of your Kentucky at this special time of year.

I appreciate trying new teas, and these did not disappoint!

Linda is quite knowledeable and ALL about tea and travel.

 Be sure to stop by her blog for a visit soon!

FRIENDSHIP TEA BLOG.

As always, thank you all for your visit!

♥

~Michele

Linking:

No Place Like Home   *  BTTCG  *   Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Foodie Friday