Ms Vanessa's Mad' Tea Party or Aunt Thelma, the Peacocks and a Dude in a Hat...

Hello Blog friends!
Hurray!!!  Today is the day of Vanessa's tea party from A Fanciful Twist!  To see her lovely soiree as well as what all her devoted fans are serving click on the link here or on her banner the side bar.   You will see that she has kindly linked us all up so it is really one big crazy, mad tea party I tell ya!  I am also happy to say that if you sign up as a follower on my blog and leave me a comment (preferably a nice one if possible)  at the end of the month I will choose by the process of "cats paw" (tune in later to see what that is...) a winner and send you this beautiful tea cup!

It is a delicate vintage piece and if your comment is particularly kind I will include some lovely tea as well... no "herbs or mushrooms though, just tea leaves".

So my dears... sit down and fortify yourself with a cuppa (or two or three)  and read all about the shenanigans of our wacky, totally gone round the bend, mad as any hatter and loonier than a blue Dodo bird on caffeine...  Our favorite and decidedly eccentric Aunts...

Aunt Louise and Aunt Thelma

As the story unfolds we find Aunt Thelma in the garden moping about and randomly munching on a few of the herbs and mushrooms which they grow all tangled in with the flowers.  Much to Aunt Thelma's dismay Aunt Louise has gone off to visit their dear friends Sally and Jilly and poor Aunt Thelma was left home alone.

It is at this point that I will ask the Peacocks to tell the story as they are partly responsible for what happened.

"Well as it happens...  I was also in the garden, pecking away for various seeds and grubs when Aunt Thelma walked up behind me."

I knew she was a bit lonely so I though that a visit to this crazy chap in a chapeau whom I knew, 

might cheer her up. 

I wrangled the rest of my flock (we actually call ourselves an ostentation) and told them of my plans..."

"Follow me Aunt Thelma..."

"Keep up now..."

"Mr Peacock... where did you go?"

"I think he went in here, into the bushes..."

"Hmmm...  there seems to be a tunnel of some sorts...

"Oh dear!"

"Now what have we here?  This is not my garden..."

"My... what a large mushroom...  and is that a... hat?!"

"Well... what have we here...?

"It looks like a...  well...  I'm not sure...  I've never seen anything like this!  Is it a haberdashery or a clothing emporium?  And what is it doing in the middle of my garden?"

"What a handsome gentleman...?"

 "So Aunt Thelma came out of the tunnel into this magical place, cautiously approaching the dapper man".

"He was playing his mandolin and singing a silly tune.  So far he hadn't notice her presence..."

"She stepped on a branch which made a loud 'crack' and slowly he raised his head..."

"Oh dear... I am so sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you...  You see I was following a beautiful blue peacock and fell down a hole.  I seem to have stumbled into your....  err what actually is this place?"

"Hah!  Welcome you silly girl!...  I've been expecting you Alice..."

 "It's Thelma actually...  Aunt Thelma"   

"Well, Aunt Thelma-Alice... I've been expecting you none-the-less.  Welcome to my Wonderland of clothing and chapeaus for the most discriminating mad, round-the-bend and totally bonkers clientele.  

I'll let you in on a secret...  I serve only the very best folks here! 

 I am called 'Hatter'".

"Please let me adorn you"

"Well...  I'm not sure really...  everything is so...  colorful Hatter, and it's just Thelma... Aunt Thelma"

"Yes...  we are a colorful lot here is Wonderland, it's the only way to be Aunt Thelma-Alice..."

"We have several beautiful outfits to choose from..."

"And hats to suit any occasion..."

"Hey... that hat looks familiar..."

"We have treasure troves of sparkly baubles..."

"And of course we mustn't forget a lovely pair of slippers for you toes..."

"Hatter, why does your clock have no hands?"

  "Because we don't use time here in Wonderland."

"Then why do you have a clock?"

"Because we don't need one!"

"Oh...  err... I see."

"Here my dear Aunt Thelma-Alice, try this one on..."

"Hmmmmmm..."

"Hatter...  it's Thelma, just Aunt Thelma..."

"Yes, dear...Now do try this on Aunt Thelma-Alice..."

"Hmmm...  There is something not quite right Aunt Thelma-Alice, not enough 'muchness"

"Hah!  I learned all about 'muchness' on one of my last adventures...  let me give it a try..."

"I think this will do nicely..."

"Here, you take this one Hatter."

"Yes..."

"No Aunt Thelma-Alice... definitely not!"

"Well Hatter, I do know a thing or two about 'muchness'  what about this?"

"Oh here, here!  I think we are onto something!"

"No Hatter...  it is still not right, not enough 'muchieness"

"Yes, my dear Aunt Thelma-Alice, I couldn't agree more.  Try this on."

"And now this charming hat."

"Oh my dear Alice...  It's lovely!"

"Here... the perfect additional note of 'muchieness'

Wah La!  The ideal Wonderland, totally bonkers, round-the-bend, 

much, muchy muchness... adornment!"

"You forgot one thing Hatter...  These are my most wonderful 'muchness' stockings...  Now I'm set... and its Thelma, Aunt Thelma!"

"Ah hem...  Of course dear Thelma-Alice, whatever you want...  now what was I doing?... 

 I feel a bit distracted...  ah yes...

 I almost forgot... one more thing, 

your own set of looking glasses..."

"Oh Hatter!!  Everything is so sparkly and rosy!"

"It feels like magic!"

"And now my dear...  off to tea we must go...  The Dodo bird has been kind enough to allow us to use his nest.  We mustn't be late!"

"But Hatter...  I thought there was no time here in Wonderland."

"There isn't, it is just something a silly white rabbit keeps running around saying..."

"Oh look Hatter!  A beautiful table... in... a nest?!"

"After you my dear Aunt Thelma-Alice"

"Ah hem...  what was I saying Alice?"  I seem to be so distracted of late...  I can't imagine why..."

"What a scrumptious looking tea..."

"A toast! To dear Alice... the loveliest lady in Wonderland"

*sigh*   "Why thank you "Hatter"

"Do try these berries Alice... they really are delicious!"

"And you must try these blue cupcakes!  The Dodo made them especially for us!"

"Hatter that was simply the best tea ever!  Everything tasted so yummy!  I had the worst case of the munchies ever!  I guess that would go along with the muchness of Wonderland!"

"Yes my dear Alice, shall we head back to my chair? I will sing you a song."

"But first come and have a seat on my lap...

"Hmmmmm..."

"You know Hatter...  I do rather like the name Alice..."

"I thought you might dear Thelma...  Alice "

"And that is the end of the story my friends!

"Aunt Thelma hasn't been seen since!  Occasionally I hear music coming from the direction of the hole and lots and lots of laughter.  I think when Aunt Louise gets back we might have to lead her down the merry path as well.... hmmm I wonder if Hatter has a friend..." 

THE END

Well, extra cupcakes and a swig of something a bit stronger for you if you actually made it all the way through the story.  The Aunts are from a different era where stories slowly unfolded and there is great joy in a tale well told.  Hopefully you enjoyed yourself.  Don't forget to sign up as a follower and leave a comment if you would like a chance to win the tea cup.  I would love to send it to you!
Have the best time visiting all the wacky parties out there in blog land...  if you see Aunt Louise let her know that Aunt Thelma may not be returning home any time soon...

I also would like to thank the "Hatter" Vince Chafin,  himself not only for being a good sport but for being my sweet love and a rockin editor.  He actually cropped and played with each photo above.  He is as cool in real life!