Sisters at Tea [Hickory Portraits]

Fifteen years ago (my, how time flies), Alex and I pulled the trunk of flowery, frilly, pink-and-pearl dress up clothes from the basement into my bedroom. (My walls, by the way, were bubble gum pink. No exaggeration.)  A couple hours later, my room was decorated in frilly outfits — and so were we (the cleanup probably took more time than the assembly of fashion). We’d  picked out the perfect outfits for ourselves, then let our little sisters (there were three of them, between us) use the extra dresses– yes, we were that generous; they got leftovers.  I’m pretty sure we fought over the tulle underskirt that transformed any outfit into a ballgown, and everyone wanted the lace gloves that created a masterpiece when paired with any outfit.  One sister got to wear the pink prairie bonnet that all the cool girls from Little House on the Prairie would wear. And we even had authentic outfits from India to give it an international flare.

Then, it was time: time for tea.

It involved perfectly arched pinkie fingers, water instead of tea, elegant finger sandwiches (which were, of course, made of Ritz crackers and American cheese), and the obligatory sisterly spat which probably resulted in motherly caresses after an outburst of tears.

But — all told — it was our favorite activity: dress up + tea party.

I am pleased to report that these sisters didn’t have any outbursts of tears or sisterly spats — in fact, this was fun…ALL fun. And despite the heat, the threatening rain, and the spilled cupcakes (icing plus dirt plus grass does not equal yum), this was one tea party we won’t soon forget.