Mothers, daughters gather at Roberts House

Two sisters took their mom to a Mother's Day tea at the Roberts House Museum on Sunday afternoon. All from Minden, they joined the Roberts House tea regulars, informally known as the "Royal Queens of Tea."

"I just love the camaraderie of all the girls who put this together," said mom, Sharon Fiori. Her daughters, Adrienne Weintz and Cheri Mariani, were discussing Longaberger baskets with a few of the female tea monarchs over chocolate-dipped strawberries, finger sandwiches and pecan tassie cookies.

"These are not your Chinese, $1.98 baskets, no," said Paula Cannon. She showed the women an upstairs display of the hand-crafted, maple-wood Longabergers.

"Each one is signed and dated by the person who made it," she said.

The guests at the tea also enjoyed fresh-baked scones with lemon curd or Devonshire Cream.

"Or you can eat them with both like I do," said Cannon with a giggle.

Teas are held about twice a month at the museum, built in Washoe City by Pyramid Indian War veteran James D. Roberts in 1859. The home was moved to Carson City on a Virginia & Truckee Railroad car in 1873 and acquired by the city in 1969.

The teas have a loose Victorian theme.

"We prefer people don't come looking like they just cleaned up the dustiest, dirtiest garage in Northern Nevada," said Cannon. "But we've had them come looking like they're going to church - and that's fine, or even in shorts - and that's fine too."

If you do attend a Roberts House tea in a Victorian dress, she recommends you not wear one with hoops.

The teas are fund-raisers for the proposed two-story carriage house the Carson City Historical Society wants to build east of the Roberts House. The carriage house, modeled after one seen in photographs of the Roberts House at its original location in Washoe Valley, would serve as an archive, display, office and gift shop.

The next tea fund-raiser is scheduled for Saturday, June 5 at 11:30 a.m. Another is planned for June 27 at noon.

Sharon Barclay drives down from Sparks for the teas. She's been friends with fellow tea queen Patty Temple for more than 40 years.

"She didn't even like tea back then," said Temple. "But we made a little tea lady out of her. She even has several tea pots."

"It's just fun to get together with the ladies," Barclay said.

After tea, Sharon Fiori left with her daughters to join her son, Melvin Rodela, for a Mother's Day afternoon barbecue.

"He came to my house early this morning and mowed my lawn," she said with a smile.

For details on Roberts House teas or the Carson City Historical Society, call Cannon at 887-8865.

Contact Karl Horeis at khoreis@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1219.