Fancy Hat Tea Party

This afternoon, the Women's Institute in Sable River held a fancy hat tea party as a fundraiser for Breast Cancer research from 2:00-4:00PM. It was a Free Will Offering event.

I drove over to Little Harbour to my friend Louise's house - she had just come back from Barrington having picked up a choice of "fancy hats" from other friends (Rita and Pat). Louise chose a navy blue number with an upswept brim on one side. She also wore a long skirt and a $3.00 fur stole, courtesy of Frenchys. My choice was a small black velvet hat, with veil and a glitzy silver and rhinestone pin on the side which read "Get Hooked" - very Ritaish - she calls herself a "tame crow" because of her love of shiny baubles and clothes. I also sported an elegant multi-coloured shawl wrap.

We drove up to Sable River, about 15 minutes from Little Harbour and discovered a large crowd in attendance and some truly remarkable hats, feather boas, peacock feathers, fake flowers, leaves, pins and broaches. By the time the tea officially started every seat in the community hall was filled. The array of tea-time desserts was awesome - I finally quit after sampling about 15 different items and there were several I didn't get to. Tea (or coffee - but it was a TEA party) was served at your table by members of the WI in lovely tea cup and saucer pairs provided by members.

3 ladies who neglected to wear hats were coerced into judging the entries for most humourous (a large pile of flowers with assorted toys hanging down/peaking out), most elegant (Gina's straw derby with several dozen pieces of shiny jewelery attached) and most colourful (a broad brimmed hat completely covered in shocking pink feathers).

After we had tea, the guest speaker was introduced - Mary Richardson. I knew her slightly before-hand as an excellent quilter. I assumed she would speak about quilting or perhaps about Breast Cancer because of the occasion. However, to the delight of the crowd, she gave a humourous account of life as a female lobsterperson - for the last 15 years she has accompanied her husband during lobster season (late November to the end of May in District 33) and it is her responsibility to band the lobster claws. She brought along the assortment of clothes she wears to show us and the banding tool so we could try our hand at it (on blocks of wood - not live lobsters). She explained the system they used for their traps, told us about storms at sea, toileting problems, and the hauling in and sorting of the catch.

Certainly the most unique tea party that I have had the pleasure to attend.