Tea with Juliette OR How we became involved with the Girl Scouts

May 16^th

“What is a tea party without a little harp music?”  

Billy posed this question to Sebrina Crowe after reading the flyer for a Daisy Girl Scout event while waiting for a hair cut.  You see Billy’s mission for the morning was a hair cut at Crowe’s Barber Shop.  Fortunate for me, Sebrina had time to trim my hair which gave Billy time to consider the tea.  Sebrina and her daughter are active in the Girl Scouts and want to share this opportunity with other girls. Before we left the shop sporting smart cuts we volunteered to play for the upcoming Daisy Tea Party. 

Now, the harp has taken a back seat to banjo and fiddle lately so we needed to practice the tunes.  Our nightly practice sessions drew campers to our fire pit for listening sessions.  Before we realized it the old tunes were back in the hands and heads, some with revised words for this event.  Who would have though The TomBigbee River would be a perfect Girl Scout song for this area? 

     Tom Bigbee ==> Tuckasegee

     Gum tree canoe ==> Girl Scout canoe

     Jacob ==> Juliette (for Juliette Gordon Low, the Girl Scout’s founder)

Of course the set would not be complete without a couple of Don Grooms’ songs which tell meaningful stories of Cherokee and his family.  More important, his words mirror the Girl Scout philosophy. 

Well, May 16^th arrives and we drive to Bryson City for the event.  The first person we meet is Karen Bartlett (regional director) who greets us with a big smile.  Then Karen introduces her daughter (who later plays Juliette), her granddaughter, and several others who are decorating the tables.  

Karen Bartlett, Girl Scout coordinator

Parents and children arrive as we set chairs in a circle to organize a playing area. 

Girls singing along

As the girls arrive they are directed towards our circle where the select a chair and join in with the music.  We engage the girls with conversation, music, stories, and songs.  Most are shy about singing but are happy to listen to our offerings.  One girl begins to dance joyously as we play a few reels, her dancing is infectious and soon all the girls, “Juliette”, and several parents join into a circle for several tunes. 

Juliette Gordon Low supervising Karen

Eventually it is time for other activities, paper dolls followed by tea and finally a romp in the playground.  The event is well received and fun for the girls as Karen and Sebrina understand organizing for young girls. 

Closing Circle with leaders and Juliette

Thank you to the Girl Scouts peaks to the piedmont for the opportunity to share our talents.

For membership information you may contact Karen Bartlett at 828-736-3385