Decadent Red Autumn Tablescape for DAR Tea - Laden with Scones,Tea Sandwiches, Tassies and Cream Puffs

The Host Committee - Lui Pauley, Jo Ann Birmingham, Vickie Collins, Josephine Murphy and Valeta Marcom

Dr. Larry Ray and Mary Cowan stepped in the day before the event when the designer became ill. With a few roses, lilies and snapdraggons, he mixed fall foliage such as bittersweet, ivy and oak leaf hydrangea, along with pomegrantes and pears to create the spectacular tablescape. Three antique British wine coolers centered the banquet table with a runner of embroidered ivory vintage silk. They implemented Bill Holland's designs and we all continue to pray for Bill's complete and speedy recovery. Another gorgeous antique wine cooler which belonged to Mary's mother held flowers on the punch table. An antique silver bowl centered the table in the entrance which held the party favors of AT HOME TENNESSEE magazines which featured the renovation of the Tennessee Governor's Mansion. Leah Ashby, a member of Opera Memphis, sang the National Anthem and then provided background music on the baby grand. I'd say this was a twirl!

Jane Roe reaches the buffet

Jo Ann Birmingham welcomes guests and Valeta Marcum ladles punch

My aunts, then my mother joined the DAR and took me with them. I have to admit that I am not an active member, but I do respect the organization and the work they do. Last Saturday, they held the Founders Day Tea to honor the four women who founded this non profit in 1890.
So I volunteered to help my mother with their special day. The committee went all out and had almost a hundred guests, a gorgeous tablescape, a formal tea, live music, and even re-enactors as greeters and to serve the tea.
The ladies had fun planning their event, watching others marvel at their efforts, and welcoming state officers who usually don’t attend such functions. They welcomed over twenty new members which is unheard of with small town DAR chapters.
Oh they were so dressed up, many wore hats, a few sported medals and sashes, favorite fragrances filled the air and the blue skies were crisp with an autumn breeze. They held their event in a gorgeous mansion once known as Chevy Chase, but is now the Memorial Hall of First Presbyterian Church. The banquet table and sideboard in the dining room were resplendent in shades of red. Silver trays, punch bowls, and wine coolers of flowers were polished and appropriate for this gathering.
It was wonderful to see my mother and her friends have so much fun, even if they were all exhausted at day’s end. As the members left, you heard over and over, “I’ve never seen anything like this since I’ve been a member.” Oh well, anything worth doing, is worth doing Over The Top if it makes your mama happy!

My mother, Josephine Murphy

Teresa Murphy with her mother-in-law, Josephine Murphy
Jamie and Evelyn Keele, re-enactors

New member, Mary Jo Middlebrooks is welcomed by Jackie Utley, Regent, Jackson-Madison Chapter TSDAR

Nelly Shearer (Mrs. James) Honorary State Regent, Tennessee Society NSDAR

The Daughters of the American Revolution, founded in 1890 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a non-profit, non-political volunteer women's service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America's future through better education for children.
DAR members volunteer more than 60,000 hours annually to veteran patients, award over $150,000 in scholarships and financial aid each year to students, and support schools for the underprivileged with annual donations exceeding one million dollars.
As one of the most inclusive genealogical societies in the country, DAR boasts 165,000 members in 3,000 chapters across the United States and internationally. Any woman 18 years or older-regardless of race, religion, or ethnic background-who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution, is eligible for membership.
Encompassing an entire downtown city block, DAR National Headquarters houses one of the nation's premier genealogical libraries, one of the foremost collections of pre-industrial American decorative arts, Washington's largest concert hall, and an extensive collection of early American manuscripts and imprints.

M E N U

Tea Sandwiches of
Cucumber Chive
Country Ham & Fig Sauce
Roquefort Butter & Red Pear
Egg Salad with Watercress
Smoked Turkey and Apple Butter
Salmon Mousse with Water Crackers
Queen’s Scones
Devonshire Cream & Strawberry Preserves
Cream Puffs
Sweet Potato Tassies
Petit Fours
Earl Grey Tea & Memorial Punch

Cream Puffs
1 cup water;1/2 cup butter; 1 cup sifted all-purpose flour;1/4 teaspoon salt;2 tablespoons cornstarch;4 large eggs;Vanilla custard
Bring the water and butter to a boil in a medium-size saucepan. While it is heating sift together the flour, salt, and cornstarch. Add the flour mixture to the boiling water all at once, stirring quickly and constantly with a wooden spoon until the mixture forms a ball around the spoon. Remove from the heat.
Add the eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition, to form a smooth, stiff, glossy dough. Drop the dough by heaping tablespoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets, about 2" apart. Bake in a preheated 375°oven until light golden brown and firm, 25 to 35 minutes. Cool thoroughly.
Cut the puffs in half horizontally and fill the bottoms with about 1 tablespoon of vanilla custard. Replace the tops. Makes about 24 mini cream puffs.
For more information about DAR visit www.dar.org
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