The amazing resurrection of the late Queen Victoria

Patricia who kindly invited us to join her, collected us, drove us
and came back to the house afterwards for a well earned glass of wine or two...

A Victorian Tea Party at Calvert, north of College Station.  The tea was held on the lawn of a large house which occupied an entire block.  Many ladies and gentlemen came in Victorian costume.  As you can see we did not go that far.   Tea included sandwiches, cakes, scones, cream and jam.   On the way we picked up Fran whom we assumed was a close friend of Patricia's.  Fran talked non-stop about everything and anything.  Her family were founders of Bryan (the town at the north end of College Station) and she knew who had lived in every house.

The extraordinary woman, Fran, who came with us.
She reminded me of  Helena Bonham Carter playing Elizabeth Taylor.
This picture taken before the sandwiches and cakes arrived.

We arrived early at the house and took our seats.  There were about seven tables which slowly filled up.   We sipped our tea and ate our sandwiches and cakes and heard Fran's life story while a quartet played gently in the gazebo.

After Queen Victoria arrived there was a parade of hats and prizes and then a royal trivia quiz!!  No, we didn't win any prizes.   The questions were so obvious we assumed they were trick questions!

Ladies at the next table.

Victorians arrive...

Queen Victoria arrives...

Genteel conversation

Judging the hats

We set off back to Bryan to drop off Fran, but she insisted on a detour round Hearne to show us a restaurant, a grave and a house or two.  We arrived back in Bryan but before we stopped at her house, she ordered Patricia to drive here and there in order to point out businesses and houses that had been owned by her family or forebears.  Eventually, she allowed us to stop at her house.  When she shut the car door we could see Patricia visibly relax - almost crumble!  Turns out it was the first time she had met Fran!!  She's the friend of a friend and Patricia had offered to take her today.  Apparently it's a Texan thing...instant familiarity.  Anyway, she completely exhausted us all!