There is a tiny town way down south called Welsh, LA. It is surrounded by rice fields and lonely country roads and cannot boast a Wal-Mart or McDonald's; but it does boast some of the nicest friends a girl could have and whom I love dearly.
Last week us girls had an Advent Tea at the home of one of those Welsh friends who has truly taught me the fine art of hospitality and warmth and attentiveness to small details. 
I told my husband that those Welsh women (as I call them) don't bring chips and dip when you tell them to "bring snacks". They bring chicken and artichoke dip that would make Paula Deen proud. They bring delicious pizza-cut deli sandwiches thick with slabs of meat and cheese and other things that are finger licking good. Completing the buffet was bright red festive punch and all kinds of special holiday teas, but I believe most of us southern ladies drank more eggnog than tea. Karen's husband still insists that he's missing his whiskey bottle but I swore to him it wasn't us!
While having fun, we enjoyed a little show-and-tell of all the Christmas Mosaic books and two other new books on the market.
My newest friend Alice and her daughter (my Chelsea's newest friend) were able to join us as well as my wonderful friend Kimberly and her daughter Keegan. It was a blissful, joyful, carefree evening with friends.
Talented Alice talked about her new book Tea and Cake with the Saints and her artwork.
Kimberly, a mother who says she has always had a heart for adoption, discussed her and her husband's experience with infertility after the birth of their first two children and their adoption journey which led to the blessing of Kellyn and the writing of her new book Everytime You Call Me Mommy-An Adoption Blessing.
We shared the "Orange Snowball" cookies (found in Christmas Mosaic) contributed by Dawn and
featured in An Orange for Frankie. The children proclaimed them some of the best cookies they'd ever tasted and Annie made me promise to make some for her upcoming birthday party.
Alice shared yummy Molasses and Ginger Cookies that are found on page 92 of Tea and Cake with the Saints and many of the ladies wrapped some in napkins to take home to have with their morning coffee. I greedily wrapped up three cookies and I really wish I had wrapped up three more because I had to share them the next morning.
Before calling it a night we had a real-life Cake Book Walk. In a more matronly, dignified manner, we passed around a huge bell ornament while the Christmas music played. When it stopped, the bell-ringer received a book kindly donated by Loyola Press including:
- The Modern Magi by Carol Lynn Pearson
- St. Francis Celebrates Christmas by Helen Caswell
- One Winter's Night by John Herman
- Autographed copy of Christmas Mosaic
Christmas time with friends has got to be the most beautiful time of the year.
How wonderful, you southerners do know hospitality!!!!!
Posted by: molly mcgovern | December 08, 2007 at 04:46 PM
Oh, it looked like a beautiful day! I wish I could have made it. Maybe next year......
Posted by: marcie | December 08, 2007 at 05:06 PM
Oh, now I'm all jealous...thou shal not covet thy neighbor's cookies and tea.....
Posted by: Colleen | December 08, 2007 at 06:34 PM
You are right Cay, celebrating with precious friends is what makes the holidays even more special. Thank you for inviting me and ALWAYS making me feel welcome.
Sorry we had to leave before the eggnog! And we missed the tea. Sigh. There is always another time.
Kimberly
Posted by: Kimberly | December 08, 2007 at 07:37 PM
It looked like a truly beautiful day!!
Posted by: Meredith | December 09, 2007 at 09:54 AM
It does sound wonderful.
Posted by: MaryM | December 09, 2007 at 05:06 PM
Oh Cay! What a fun time! And I know just what you mean about those "Welch women"....one of my dearest friends in the whole world is from Welch. :)))
Posted by: Cheryl M. | December 09, 2007 at 05:22 PM
What a lovely evening, Cay! And I'm so glad the kids liked the cookies! :)
Posted by: Dawn | December 10, 2007 at 06:25 AM
I wish I could have been there. It's sounds like fun!
Posted by: Cheryl | December 10, 2007 at 12:04 PM
Ohhhhhh, I'm so jealous! Although, I actually felt like I was THERE, you wrote about it so well and did the necessary documentation of pictures for the rest of us!!!!! So glad y'all had such a wonderful time!
Posted by: SuzanneG | December 11, 2007 at 11:52 PM
Lol!!! You used my favorite photo of the 3 of us!!!;-)
Posted by: Alice C | December 13, 2007 at 01:37 PM
Alice,
I told you I would and I always keep my word. :)
Posted by: Cay | December 13, 2007 at 02:18 PM
"but it does boast some of the nicest friends a girl could have and whom I love dearly."
as well as the infamous Father (Archamandrite) Herbert May.
Posted by: Matthew | December 28, 2007 at 09:13 PM