It was on one of these lazy afternoons in the tea room last summer when we were given a little excitement between our lunch crowd and our Afternoon Tea reservations. My ten year old son, Charlie, was upstairs enjoying the company of a friend. I was downstairs changing linens and resetting tables when strobe lights and blaring alarms began going off! The blare could be heard for blocks! You would have thought we had an imminent nuclear attack!

I knew what the problem was- "CHARLIE! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?" I screamed upstairs! The two boys practically hurled themselves head first down the steep back stair case! "All we were doing was playing with bang rocks!" Charlie cried with tears filling his eyes. His friend quickly told me at least 100 times, "I swear, I didn't do anything!"

"Bang rocks? What the heck are those?" I asked, my voice shaking with anger. "Are you sure there isn't a fire upstairs?" Charlie quickly showed me the bang rocks that when you strike them together, produce a sulphur odor and loud noise. "Where did you get those?" I asked, clearly angry and nervous as the approach of sirens drew closer. My heart was beating a million miles per minute, my face flushing crimson! 

Charlie explained he was given them at a friends house. "You stay right here!" I told him. "I want you to show these to the fireman."

It was at that point that three large Johnson City fire engines pulled up, lights flashing, sirens blaring, men fully outfitted in oxygen tanks with hatchets, ready to put out the fire! I quickly ran out and jokingly said, "Hey fellas! Have you come for tea?" The Fire Marshall didn't think that comment was funny. He inspected the entire house top to bottom just sure the bang rocks could have not set off the alarm. While he conducted his inspection, five of the guys hung out in the foyer in their gear and equipment- just in case! My guests were beginning to pull up for Afternoon Tea!

"Look who's come for tea!" I said with perspiration streaming down my shirt! I hoped they wouldn't notice how ruffled I was! I went ahead and seated them. We had by that time got the strobe lights off and the blaring alarm to quit.

It ended up being a good lesson for Charlie. The Fire Marshall patiently explained to him that anything that makes a loud noise and sulphur fumes contains flint and could have easily made a fire. Charlie's eyes were as big as saucers. He muttered a lot of "Yes Sirs!" and "I am sorry, Mommy!" His friend kept chirping every few minutes, "I swear, I didn't do anything!"

Later that week we have a reservation for four ladies for lunch. "This is my first time here," one newcomer told me. "Oh, welcome!" I said. "How did you hear about us?"

"From my husband. Here was here earlier this week with the fire department!" I couldn't help but laugh!

Charlie didn't do much laughing for a while. He got grounded for not showing me what he had brought home. But, he has learned to respect the importance of not playing with matches or anything flammable. It was a hard lesson for him.

Just a few weeks ago, I was lighting a single candle, just a little touch to make the tea room smell great! The strobe lights went off, the alarm blared and shrieked! There goes my heart again! This time they radioed five trucks. How am I going to explain this one?

I hope your summer has been full of lots of "uneventful days!" We are eagerly anticipating Fall and all the glorious colors of the mountains, the clear blue skies, the warm days and cool nights, the high school football games and most of all, adding some Fall flavor to our menu! We will be serving our very much requested Pumpkin Bisque as well as our Sweet Potato scones along with our other tea room favorites on our lunch menu.

We are already taking reservations for groups for December, some who booked as early as last Christmas, so get together with your friends and pick your dates early! WE LOVE PRIVATE PARTIES AND CAN ACCOMODATE AS MANY AS 48 GUESTS! If you need to schedule an event after hours, we can work with you! Groups of 15 or more are welcome any day or evening of the week. You may select our Afternoon Tea Menu or order from our Lunch Menu for your event. We can also prepare a Brunch Menu for early risers! Please call (423) 926-0123 to schedule your event!

Gas prices got you down? Tired of filling up all the time? We have a way to make your shopping easier for all your Christmas lists this year! Check out our online store at www.MissMelaniesGiftBaskets.com for our "Gone With The Wind" themed tea baskets as well as our Exclusive Bath & Body Products made with TEA in Blood Orange, Earl Grey and Gardener's Fresh Herb! We also carry tea pots and our entire selection of loose gourmet teas! Drop by the tea room for a  wonderful lunch and browse all we have to offer in our gift shop! We are now taking orders for Corporate gift baskets for the holidays!

Lily, "The Tea Room Porch Kitty," apparantly has quite a fan club! Not only did she patiently allow the children for our Cooking Camps to lovingly pet her and pull her tail, she has had a lot of response from our newsletter about how she adopted us! She has become quite the "feline phenom" and we decided to let her have the lime light, so we added "Lily's Blog" to our webpages. Read to see what she's been into lately! We think it's a lively addition to our latest happenings, all from a porch kitty's perspective. She even has a ranking of Miss Melanie's Favorite Summer Books, giving four and a half paws to her favorite for the mention of Cat Nip.You can subscribe to Lily's blog by visiting blog.missmelaniestearoom.com or visiting our webpage!

Take time to go to a highschool football game, Take time to visit a pumpkin patch, and always remember to "Take Time For Tea!" I will see you soon!

Fondly,

Melanie O'Hara-Salyers

Owner, "Miss Melanie's Tea Room"*123 East Unaka Avenue*Johnson City*Tennessee*37601

(423)926-0123*www.missmelaniestearoom.com 

UPCOMING TEA ROOM EVENTS!

*Our Third Anniversary, November 17th!

*"Jingle Bell Tea With Mrs. Claus-" By Reservation. This is our most popular event for young and young at heart and fills quickly! Join Mrs. Claus at a special Christmas Tea featuring North Pole Candy Cane Sundaes, Christmas mice, and so much more! A commerative picture with Mrs. Claus and an ornament are included.

AFTERNOON TEA AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE PARTIES OF 10- 45  ANY DAY OR EVENING OF THE WEEK! 

WE ARE ANITCIPATING A BUSIER THAN USUAL HOLIDAY SEASON, SO MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS FOR YOUR GROUP'S CHRISTMAS PARTY EARLY THIS YEAR. WE WILL BE HAPPY TO HOST YOUR GROUP OF 10-45 FEATURING OUR LUNCH MENU OR VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS TEA MENU. PLEASE CALL MELANIE FOR DETAILS AT (423)926-0123!
 
Our North Pole Work Shop is at full steam getting tea gift basket orders ready for the holidays.
Order early to avoid the rush. Corporate orders are welcome. Visit our online store at www.MissMelaniesGiftBaskets.com or click on the "Our Store" button at the top left of this page. To avoid shipping charges for local orders, call Melanie at (423) 926-0123 to place your order for pick up!

Make plans to join me at White Stone Country Inn in Kingston, Tennessee on March 19th, 2009 for a day of tea and tea cuisine. "A Day With Miss Melanie's Tea Room"  will explore the history of tea and unlock it's health benefits as well as learning about the hottest new trend- tea as a main ingredient in cooking. White Stone's Chefs will prepare a special luncheon featuring a tea inspired menu. An intensive tea tasting will follow lunch. The cost for this event is $50.00 and tea seminar participants will receive 50% off their accomodations at this four diamond inn, voted one of the top ten most romantic inns in the U.S. For more information, visit www.whitestoneinn.com.