Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Tea bloggers to purchase Spelling Manor!


Los Angeles (Not AP) — Los Angeles real estate agents today announced that despite the bad economy, Candy Spelling, widow of TV icon Aaron Spelling, has managed to sell her $150 million home, The Spelling Manor, in under a week—and to a surprise buyer, a group of American tea bloggers!

A tea blogger in Georgia, Angela McRae, said it was her idea to drum up financing for the group to purchase the 56,500-square-foot, French chateau-style property. “I’d always dreamed of opening a tea room,” said McRae, “and then it hit me: why not the country’s first tea ‘mansion’ as a little different twist on the idea?”

McRae said she immediately contacted a tea blogger friend up north, Steph, who was initially concerned about the massive price tag but soon got on board with the project. “Angela pointed out that if she gave up eBay for a month, we’d have the downpayment covered,” Steph said. “What really got me excited, though, was the idea of overseeing the organic garden for our tea mansion. We’re going to grow all our own produce and bake our own breads! And of course the waterfall, pool and spa didn’t hurt.”

Also on board with the project is a Charleston woman who goes by the name Tea Lover Denise, a Certified London Destination Specialist who has previously led tea tours to London. “Now I’m moving to California where I’ll lead tours of the tea mansion instead!” Denise said. “I’m going to offer five-, seven- and ten-day packages, depending on how many of the rooms a traveler wants to see.”

Two of the tea bloggers — ParTea Lady and Marilyn — are quilting aficionados, so they have agreed to head up the new “Make a Teapot Quilt in a Week” program at the tea mansion, which plans to offer retreats by early summer. Someone who goes by the name “Frivolitea” will expand the artistic offerings with classes in tea-themed jewelry making, beading and collage, while a woman with a blog titled “The Sewing Room” will add to the mansion’s needlework offerings by hosting knitting retreats where visitors learn to make teapot and cup cozies.

Marilyn, it turns out, is also a whiz at making tea-flavored jams and will be the sole supplier of jams and marmalades at the tea mansion, all under the exclusive Marmalady’s label. “It’s going to be a challenge to balance all that quilting and jam-making, but I’m going to give it my best shot!” she said. She will be aided in this enterprise by Teresa of Southern Touch Catering, who has agreed to serve as chef and head of food services at the tea mansion.

Tea blogger Bernideen, newly-named head of retail development at the tea mansion, was initially concerned about leaving her beloved tea shop in Colorado Springs, Colo., but it seems engineers have figured out a way to move the entire shop, intact, to California. Tentative plans call for it to be housed in the mansion’s humidity-controlled silver room. “I have lots of pretty silver pieces anyway, so this is really a perfect fit for me!” Bernideen said.

The group seems to have thought of everything. Linda, a young grandmother in Kentucky who has a blog called Friendship Tea, will be in charge of children’s programming at the tea mansion, and her entire extended family will be moving into one wing of the mansion. “I knew all those trips to Walt Disney World were going to come in handy one day!” Linda said. “In fact, I’ve already spoken with Steph about making sure the topiaries on the property include a giant teapot for the kids to enjoy. We’re also talking about refurbishing the pool and fountains with giant cup and saucer sprinklers, and I’m trying to find out if it’s practical to turn the tennis court into a teapot shape.”

While the new staff of the tea mansion isn't quite ready to accept employment applications just yet, McRae said interested parties may send their resumes to angela@newnan.com, with the subject heading “HAPPY APRIL FOOL’S DAY!!!”

(Photo courtesy of Atwater Village Newbie on Flickr)

27 comments:

  1. wonderful way to start my day angela! you just made april fools day 2009 for me lady!! big hugs!!! now excuse me why i go change my panties from laughing so loud! :)

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  2. Angela, I love this post! What an ingenius use of your great sense of humor and a fun way to include your readers.

    How did you know that my first quilt was teapots? Have a great April Fools Day.

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  3. There was this part of me that wanted it to be true! I was picturing myself quilting away whilst sipping a cuppa and just enjoying a delightful week!

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  4. My application is on the way!
    I truly enjoyed every word. That is a much better way to celebrate April Fool's Day than nasty pranks!

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  5. If it were only true....(sigh)
    LOL...thanks for my first laugh on April Fool's Day! Susan T.

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  6. What a wonderful "article"! I would be beating down the door to be first in line.

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  7. OK, you had me for a second. VERY well done!!!!!!! :-)

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  8. Here you got me all worked up, and now you say it's not true??? We NEED that mansion!

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  9. Wouldn't it be something if they had!

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  10. This was the best joke ever. Me & my sister were packing our bags with mom in tow!

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  11. Out of curiosity. . .that "little" house in the right upper hand corner. . .do you happen to know if that is a guest house, the servants' quarters, or rather, are those the neighbors?

    It seems like such a good buy. . .why do you suppose they are selling?

    Before signing the contract, would it be a good idea to "Meet the Neighbors"?

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  12. OH MAN, you got me good. I kept thinking this is too good to be true!!! hahaha. Awesome Post!!

    I got the "Eggs in Purgatory" book in the mail today! And the tea packets! Thank you so much! I'm off to blog about it for tomorrow!! Can't wait to get started reading on this!! :)

    Hugs!
    Sheri~~Prim Rose Hill

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  13. Too funny but I almost wish it was TRUE

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  14. Gwendol, I don't know who the neighbors are, but I did read that Candy Spelling is downsizing to a $47 million condo. It would have to get lonely in that manor!

    And I am so heartened by everyone's responses to this post, maybe this idea is *not* such a joke after all. Hmm ...

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  15. Yes, very funny! I loved it! Marmlady's would love to be a part of that venture. Just today I drove by a store that went out of business recently and thought of a Tea Dance Pavillion, But a mansion is even better.

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  16. That's great! Had me reading with interest.

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  17. PS - I'm particularly impressed with how you played out everyone's personality so accurately!

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  18. Dear Angela- Seems like a very profitable venture, not a 'joke.' Very, very funny & someday, when you open a tea facility, you can include that blog "in a frame, along with your 1st dollar bill earned." Great story, Joanie

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  19. Classy!
    Esme (A friend of Steph's) I hope she'll invite me!

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  20. Angela, you bad girl! You really had me going!!! I was packing my bags the whole time I was reading your blog... and then I got to the last line!!! HAHAHAHA!!!

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  21. Absolutely BRILLIANT writing, Angela and like Steph says, you captured our personalities/specialities PERFECTLY! A PURE JOY to read! Love it, love it, love it!

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  22. Fantastic post!! It was fun to be included.

    I have been in Pigeon Forge, TN this week (spring break) "researching" go cart riding, arcade games, easy mountain trail hiking, and other grandchildren's entertainment.

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  23. I enjoyed your post so much! Your writing was fabulous..I think you have a new career ahead of you!
    Thanks for making me smile! I was ready to plan my 5 day trip!

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