On a Saturday afternoon in November, it was gray and blustery outside.
Inside, four good friends were perfectly warm and content in their own little world of conversation as they sat sipping tea and eating sandwiches and sweets from antique china.
The four women were having a Victorian tea party at Beautiful Antiques in Pequot Lakes.
"I've always done teas in my own home for friends for the holidays," said Karen Struve, who owns Beautiful Antiques with her husband, George Johnson. "I thought, we have all the china and tea cups. It'd be nice to do this in the store."
So Struve began offering Holiday Victorian Teas on Nov. 10, and will continue until Dec. 22. Teas are offered from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Reservations must be made at least 48 hours in advance; cost is $15.98 per person prepaid.
Besides being surrounded by antiques and using fine china and antique dishes, tea-goers dine on petite sandwiches, cakes, cookies, nuts and mints. They have their choice of five teas, including ginger peach, holiday spice or honey ginseng.
Desserts include delicacies like lady fingers with raspberries, lemon cake and cherry chocolate cake.
"It's been really received beautifully by the community," Struve said. "They're eating in Victorian elegance and can look at all the beautiful crystal and china."
The tea sandwiches are from King's Catering in Pequot Lakes. The sweet treats are from Rachel's Bakery in Nisswa.
Though so far no men have participated in a tea, Struve said men are welcome. The teas are wonderful for families, daughters, grandmothers, book clubs, civic groups and church groups, Struve said.
"I just thought it would be fun for the holidays and bring people to Pequot Lakes," she said.
"This is a time for joy and good spirits.
