Colbert Group Makes Time For Tea Annual Gathering Gives Women Time To Sit Down, Talk

They staggered in like soldiers from the trenches. Some had green hands from painting Christmas trees all day. Others had woeful tales of glitter spilled in childrens’ hair, on tables and all over the floor.

But once they crossed the threshold and stepped into the welcoming home of JoAnn Verhey, all the worries of the day dissipated and were lost among the spicy scent of tea, soft music and laughter of fellow teachers.

For seven years, Verhey has been hosting a Christmas tea for female teachers and staff at Colbert Elementary School.

“People don’t tend to have time to sit, relax and visit,” she said. “This is a chance for them to be waited on and pampered a little.”

Verhey’s tea tradition started several years ago with a Peter Rabbit tea set for two. She thought it would be fun to have tea parties with her granddaughter, then 2. The parties became a bright spot for both of them.

The following year, Verhey took a year off and found she had extra time on her hands. She received a book called “If Teacups Could Talk,” which contains information about a Christmas tea, and started planning.

“I thought, `Christmas is so hectic at school - with plays, concerts and making gifts. Why not have a tea for them?”’ Verhey remembered.

She posted an invitation to all Colbert’s female teachers and staff, and asked recently retired teachers to help with the preparation.

The tea was a hit.

“Everyone came in, there was music playing and the tea smell - you could see people sit down and just sigh,” she said. “It was fun to watch them relax and enjoy themselves.”

The guests wondered hopefully if Verhey would make the tea a yearly happening. And so a tradition was born.

Verhey starts planning for the Christmas tea in October. She likes to give each guest an ornament as a parting gift, so she starts collecting those first. Then, she chooses her co-hostesses and invites them to breakfast or lunch so they can discuss the menu - usually all finger foods.

Last week, her dining room table was crowded with tiny quiches, stuffed mushrooms, a meat and cheese platter, thumbprint cookies, an apricot-nut torte, Russian tea cakes, lemon bars and chocolate-raspberry truffle bars.

Verhey always provides a few treats and the hot spiced tea herself. The tea is a special recipe that’s not brewed, which makes it easier for her to have enough on hand for all the guests as they drain their teacups.

But since Verhey plans to retire this year, everyone was wondering if this year’s tea would be the last.

“They look forward to it every year,” Verhey said. “I don’t know if I can ever not have it.”

This sidebar appeared with the story: TEA PARTY Hot spiced tea

Here is JoAnn Verhey’s hot spiced tea recipe:

2 cups Tang

2 cups instant tea

1-1/2 cups sugar

2/3 cup lemonade mix

1-1/2 t. cinnamon

1-1/2 t. cloves

1-1/2 t. allspice

Mix everything together. Use 2 t. per cup of hot water. Sprinkle with cinnamon candies, if desired.