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by Katie Chapman, 18, and Michele Rebant, 19, Shelby Township, Michigan

The Avonlea Traditions Chronicle, Issue No. 29, Autumn 1999.

That afternoon shone forever in Anne's memory with a golden light. She tasted ice cream for the first time in her entire life, an experience she could only describe in one word: 'sublime.' But best of all, she met her longed-for bosom friend at last. ~THE ANNE OF GREEN GABLES STORYBOOK.

On March 7, 1999, four college students gathered together for a party during their spring break. But this was not what you would expect of a typical college party.

Emily Hoepfner and Kelly Wiegard attended high school with us, but once college began, we went our separate ways. However, one thing holding us together is our love of Anne. In order to bring our kindred spirits together again, we decided to host an Anne of Green Gables tea party.

First we sent out invitations for our party, using Anne of Green Gables tea party postcards from Avonlea Traditions. We decided to do something a little different by each taking on a character's name from the novel Anne of Green Gables. Katie had to be Anne, not only because of her red hair, but for her stubborn, yet romantic nature. Emily was a perfect Diana, with her raven hair and love of anything social and proper. Michele mirrored practical, studious and quiet Jane Andrews, while Kelly was just like flirtatious, talkative Ruby Gillis.

For our guests, we ordered some small gifts from the Avonlea Traditions catalogue. We placed Anne pencils and stickers in gift bags along with sachets and bookmarks we'd fashioned ourselves. We also served Blackberry tea as the crowning touch to the meal.

The day before the party, we prepared some of the recipes. The Anne of Green Gables Treasury and The Anne of Green Gables Cookbook aided us in the preparation of jelly tart cookies, tea biscuits, and raspberry cordial. We were surprised to find out how easy raspberry cordial was to make, and were even more delighted when our guests liked it as much as Diana Barry did.

The next day we got up early to make plum puffs, chicken salad sandwiches, fruit kabobs and tea before Emily and Kelly arrived. As we finished putting the last oranges, pineapples and cherries on the skewers and had cut out the last sandwich into a star shape, we were almost sad that the food preparation was over, because the recipes were so much fun to make. Then we set the table using our best china, giving the spread an elegant and refined look.

When Emily and Kelly arrived, they were ushered into the parlour and we all chatted happily before heading for the dining room to enjoy the delicacies. We served them in courses as suggested in The Anne of Green Gables Treasury, in order to savour the moment. It was just like in Anne of Avonlea when "The girls sat down by the roots and did full justice to Anne's dainties, even the unpoetical sandwiches being greatly appreciated by hearty, unspoiled appetites sharpened by all the fresh air and exercise they had enjoyed." (CHAPTER XIII)

Although the party lasted only five hours, the memories we have of that day live on in our hearts. Because of this, we plan to have yearly Anne-themed parties. We discovered that despite the fast-paced world we live in, true friendship is much more important than meeting a deadline or getting through rush hour, and that "There is so much in the world for us all if we only have the eyes to see it." (ANNE OF THE ISLAND, CHAPTER XXXVII) Sometimes all it takes is a nice cup of tea and a chat with old friends to realize the truly important things in life.

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