Not everyone can say they have tea parlors in their home and the exterior of their home is painted pink.
Jackie Long has lived in a Victorian Home at 1306 Meadow Lane, Warsaw, since 1993, with her husband Jerry.
Long offers tea parties in the three-story home.
Long owns Chocolate Café & Boutique in downtown Warsaw where tea times also are held.
Long said she decided to paint the home pink and blue because they are Victorian colors.
She said, in 1995 she started offering tea parties in her home.
She has a Victorian style table set up with china and a sideboard where she stores the china.
"I got the idea to offer tea parties in my home after traveling to other states such as Mississippi and Michigan to Victorian Homes where tea parties were offered," Long said. "Tea takes people back to another time, it's very relaxing and time to get together with friends and talk."
Long said she and her husband became empty nested and she wanted to begin offering tea in her home.
She said she didn't begin drinking tea until she was an adult.
The home is set up with two tea parlors on the lower level of the home.
Long said she has collected china for the tea parties from antique stores in Michigan.
She inherited a set of china she uses for the tea parties from her mother, Luella Hawk, who passed away.
She has offered Mystery Tea parties and invited Red Hat Ladies groups, and birthday and bridal shower parties into her home for the tea parties.
She also hopes to offer a Jane Austen tea for high school girls to discuss the book over tea and come dressed in that time period.
She said tea parties would be good ideas for the upcoming Mother's Day and Easter holidays.
There are a minimum of eight people required for tea parties in her home, and a maximum of 20 people.
The cost is $15 per person, and people can choose four items from a menu including soup, salad, a main dish and desert along with chocolate raspberry coffee or tea.
The tea is cinnamon plum and comes from Republic of Tea, based in California.
Long also offers tea on the second level of the Chocolate Café & Boutique, 102 E. Center St., Warsaw.
People are advised to reserve one week ahead and pay at the time of tea. To reserve a time for a tea party in Long's home, call her at 574-267-3050.
