Tea on Tuesday

It's Tuesday, and tea time again - what to talk about, what to talk about...........................hhmmmm.

Guess I'll just show pics.

Here's a new rooisbos tea I'll be trying - smells lovely! African Autumn - a perfect title for the season.

I am sitting at my fall decorated dining room table (new runner and mats courtesy of my daughter), looking out the window at "my" deer. There were 14 of them here the other morning.I was worried, not having seen them around- there was a neighbor and others, illegally killing them for a time. Bow hunting season is now upon us, and fortunately, I think the deer are fully aware of that. They avoid my husband's tree stand, but have started showing up again, out front,  at the crack of early, to graze and play. This photo was taken with the telephoto- they are about 900 feet away, at the beginning of our driveway, behind the church. The first morning of bow season, my brother, who was visiting, took an early morning walk, and ran into several deer. The last one, he came face to face with - they calmly contemplated each other for a while- then he spoke to her - and told her, that he should be the last human that she comes in contact with - because today is the beginning of hunting season. Apparently, she took heed, and spread the word to her friends and family!

I picked what it probably the last harvest from my garden- and turned it into my breakfast today, along with some locally laid eggs, and a hunk of wonderful bread left over from brunch at Panera's yesterday!

And Tea on Tuesday wouldn't be complete, without showing some fab thrift store tea finds (thanks, Linda!)

A violet theme chocolate(?) pot with matching cup, a lovely teapot (who cares if the lid is cracked!) another china cup and matching plate for the collection, and this vintage lily of the valley plate- my favorite flower!

As always, we welcome anyone to join us for Tea on Tuesdays - just read, or comment, or write a post of your own on your blog. Visit Kimmie and see links to other ToT participants on her sidebar.

Tea on Tuesday

I decided today's post would be a more light hearted look at the world of tea!
I follow a blog called Teapotsteapotsteapots Andy is an artist (there is a link to his own art blog in his sidebar) and he features tea related art in each of his posts.

The following links are some that I found scrolling thru his posts and sidebar.

One of his posts was about an adorable new book called Steampotville, where animals dress up and live in a town filled with teapot houses. It is touted as a book for kids and adults alike.  Gotta get this book!!!

Another art blog, from across the pond, has created a beautiful and bright teapot poster. He gets his inspiration, at times, from teapots he sees on teapotsteapotsteapots!

And for a clever and distorted look at teapots,tea infusers, and gravy boats- check out the metalwork of Mister Clarke!

Last, but not least, join the Tea Appreciation Society blog. A modern take on tea- one of the recent posts is about a woman who saves, dries, and dates all her teabags, with a little note saying where, when, and with whom she shared that cuppa!!! She has 32,000(!) teabags stored in 3 suitcases!!!

Today's tea is the good old fashioned powdered kind from the supermarket- surprisingly good! It makes a great iced tea, with a sprig of mint, fresh from the garden. A teaspoon of my lavender syrup makes it that much more special! Granted, a loose leaf green tea, steeped and then iced would be the right and proper way to do it. But, if you are short on time - this is a tasty alternative!

Some of the freshly picked lavender above, and a few of the lavender wands/bottles I've been making. The pile is much bigger now!!!

Please visit all our other tea partiers, and join us if you like! All are welcome!! Drop by Kim's blog for a list of all the participants.

Tea on Tuesday- Texas Tea

Today, my tea post is not on the cheery side, and I do apologize for that. But, it is one that needs to be brought up - especially for us who like to have clean water available for our tea!!

Remember the old Beverly Hillbillies tv show - the Clampetts made their way to Beverly Hills and a huge mansion thru the discovery of oil on their property - Texas Tea, as it was called in the theme song.

In the shadow of the never ending BP debacle, another oil controversy is emerging. This one is in danger of "attacking" where I live.

Hydraulic fracturing, or hydrofracking- digging for oil in the shale below ground. We here in Va, have the fortune, or misfortune, in this case, of living over the tip of the Marcellus Shale.

Several months ago, there was a meeting in the next town, discussing the pros and cons (mostly cons) of allowing the big companies in to establish wells in the fields and forests right here. I did not take much notice, not realizing the enormity of the situation.

Now, I do realize the necessity of oil in our lives. What I don't agree with, is the lying, cheating, and misinformation, and resulting damage to the earth, that gets that oil into our lives.  Something has to change!

Last night, I watched a documentary on HBO - Gaslands. What an eye opener that was!!! If watching the tap water coming out of a kitchen faucet shooting up in a huge flame when a match is put to it doesn't get ya', seeing film of desecrated land, animals dying, horses losing their hair, people becoming ill from the invisible pollution from the digging, fracking chemicals, and condensation tank emissions, might just cause you to think a minute.

On today's to do list, is to send an email to the local organizers, to find out the status of the applications to drill. Better late to the party, than never attending!

 The North Fork of the Shenandoah River is downstream for the proposed drilling site. That's "my" river below.

If you want to learn more about this, and to see if you live in an area that might be affected some day, watch the film Gaslands by Josh Fox  Another film that was shown locally, and I missed seeing, is Split Estate.
Also, google, hydraulic fracturing, hydrofracking, Halliburton loophole, gas drilling and its effect on the watershed. One link will lead you to another, and another, and another.............

Remember, Texas Tea is NOT the kind of tea you want in your water...........................

"

For more light hearted Tea on Tuesdays, please visit Patty and Kimmie for a list of other participants. Be sure to check out Kimmie's beautiful art work, depicting wildlife who are effected by the BP oil spill.

Please feel free to join us for Tea on Tuesdays- the more, the merrier!!

Back to Our Regularly Scheduled Programming - Tea on Tuesday

I have not been drinking too much tea of late - except for some sweet southern tea with my lavender syrup!!!

I recently purchased a Health Master blender - this is the GREATEST thing ever!! It could probably blend concrete if need be! I have been having smoothies every day. I prefer the ones with tons of fruits, but my daughter made one the other day, from a recipe in the Health Master book.

It is made with green tea- and is kind of yummy!! Here's the recipe - and I'm sure it is doable with just an average blender or juicer, if you slice up the fruit in small pieces.


GREEN TEA MELON COOLER

2 cups green tea cold
1/4 honey dew melon ( we have substituted mango - equally good)
1/2 cucumber
1 apple cored and peeled
1 cup ice
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In keeping with tea on Tuesday - a friend found me this vintage tin and a teapot drip catcher at the thrift store- thanks, Linda!!!

Be sure to visit out other ToT participants- see Kim's blog for a list- and please join us every Tuesday - all are welcome!!!!

****And, be sure to drop in to Jane Monk's blog for a birthday month giveaway of a fab zentangle travel mug- perfect for tea!!!*****

Tea Swap Numero Dos

I just wanted to share what I received in the second teabag swap. Anne was worried her "stuff" wouldn't up to snuff.

Well, let me tell you, she has definitely raised the bar for me!!!!
What a lovely piece of "happy mail" I received, when I opened this swap!!!

Anne created a beautiful tea wallet- with a hidden magnet snap closure. Everything was beautifully presented in clear bags, put together to look like teabags!!!! A rock candy stirrer for my tea, an assortment of Stash teas in the multi pocket wallet and in another bag! She included a tiny green leaf teabag rest. This was above and beyond and I love every bit of it!!!Oh, and biscotti - there was BISCOTTI!!!!
These photos do not do these justice. It's something you just have to see in person!!!
This will make me step up my game in the next swap I participate in!!!LOL
As I write this, I am trying to recall if I posted about tea swap #1- I will have to go back over my posts!! I have been involved in a few swaps of different kinds- and am trying to keep up!!! In tea swap #1, I received a beautiful fabric tea wallet, that I have been carrying in my purse!! Can't remember from who sent it!!! I'm sorry - I will look it up and give credit where credit is due!!!!

We might have to do another teabag swap very soon................................

Snowy Tea Tuesday!!!!

Patty's snow/tea post was quite lovely - and I would love to take my tea cup/mug outside - but balance being a rather tricky feat these days, with snow slick driveways and 3 foot snow drifts- my tea remains indoors!!!

With my rubber soled boots (the better for traction, my dear)my thermals, down vest, waterproof long drover's coat, and mismatched barn gloves, I totter out to the barn, aiming my path down the tire tread tracks left by the tractor. "The ol' man's" warm mash is hugged to my chest. It's hard enough keeping that warm on the trek to the barn - hot tea wouldn't have a chance!!!

But, once back inside, and shed of those extra outer layers, it becomes a TO-TEA-LY TEA-Riffic day! The kettle is always on, and I bounce between S. African Rooisbos, Jasmine Pearls (sent to me in a surprise packie from Judy :>) ) and some goji berry tea.
Another dear friend-also a Judy- sent me a tiny tea book - 365 Things Every Tea Lover Should Know! It is full of quotes, recipes, and tea info. I love it!!

Did you know: "a regular part of Tibetan life is to drink butter tea-made from black tea leave, yak butter and salt."!! MMMMM!!!

In the book is a timely quote from Menicus: "With melted snow I boil fragrant tea." Gee, that is something I could do with all that we have piled outside!!!!

Now, I am off to find my favorite taza de te- and fill it to the brim!!!!

Please feel free to join us for tea every Tuesday- snow or shine!!! Visit Kimmie or Patty for links to other ToT participants!

Tea on a Snowy Tuesday

These pictures are not from today - but they very well could be........the weatherman is telling us we are getting MORE snow this afternoon!!!!

I awoke the other day to snow gently cascading down. I had to pull the curtain aside for a better look - I had just gotten used to having the grass under my feet/boots, and the occasional warm day!

It snowed for 12 hours straight, leaving about 10 inches, a bit easier to accept than the 2 feet we got last time!!!

As I sipped my hot Lemon Zinger- I gazed out at the fluffed up little birds who depend on me for breakfast early every morning. They were down in the field, finishing up the last of the cracked corn that the deer left behind. I put out their breakfast and then sat back as they flew back to "join" me for tea!

I drank ALOT of tea this weekend - keeping warm inside most of the time,making more teacup bird feeders and sewing up wool and yo-yo pin cushions. I also made a yo-yo brooch for a swap - but can't show that one yet!! I kind of like the way they turned out - I have not made yo-yo's in a really long time!!! The yellow pincushion is much more vibrantly colored than the picture shows.I have a very tiny stash of hand dyed wool, that really needs to be used up! Not sure where these two pin cushions will end up - on Etsy,or as a surprise in the mail to someone...............

Here is a pic of a wonderful thrift store find- a ceramic tea caddy - a Williamsburg reproduction from their Tea Time Collection. This piece was adapted from mid to late 18th century tea wares. So cute!!

I know I promised to write more of what I learned in my tea class, but I will save that for another Tuesday.
Please feel free to join us- see Kimmie or Patty for links to other T.o.T-ers! And welcome to Mary Helen, who is joining us for tea!!

Tea on Tuesday

I am actually on time, and early today, in posting my Tea on Tuesday!! Yay!!! I am sipping a lovely mug of Arizona Pomegranate Acai tea, while awaiting our next blast of snow!!!

If it snows, the perfect thing to do, would be to sit in front of the fire, with a hot cuppa tea, and Jason's new tea book to keep you warm!

I discovered Jason Witt's tea blog shortly before he closed it down!! But, now, we can have more of Jason, because he's the author of a new book!

Here is his bio and a little about the book- courtesy of Jason:


***********************************************************************************

Tea is God’s Blessing for your mind, body, and

spirit. The three are inseparable and none is most

important; tea is God’s Gift to your whole person. It

will first give you Peace of Mind, reducing the stress

that could kill you at a young age, and grant you

better focus.



Then tea keeps you young as the Fountain of

Youth. Stress would otherwise age you, along with a

number of other factors, ending with the major

diseases. Tea is known to potentially prevent all that.

And it is spiritual virtue to come to God like a child

(who doesn’t age.) It’s worthy of Paradise .



Finally tea is revealed as the Tree of Life. It’s

the healing Food of Heaven, now available here on

earth for these current generations. And pu-erh tea

shows itself enlightening as a particularly spiritual

tea, a blessing upon those who enjoy it faithfully.





Bio:



Jason Witt…has God as his Significant Other.

Jason…is an expert on the Spirituality of Tea (with a Western perspective.)

he…likes tea-themed music of all eras.

…is a good listener.

…eats a low-calorie diet.

…has overcome a lot of addictions, including to wine and women.

…doesn't ever want to own a car again or buy his own house (so he's also

green.)

…lives the simple life without gathering many possessions.

…nevertheless drinks a lot of tea.

…now resides in Saint Paul , Minnesota , USA .

*******************************************************************************

Jason would like everyone to know his new book is now available on Amazon and he has a website, Spirituality of Tea



Please join us for tea on Tuesdays - visit Patty and Kimmie for a list of participants- we hope to see you next week!

Tea on Tuesdays

Fabulous "new" website - new to me anyway!! You need to check this one out!

Today, (actually, it was yesterday- I am a day late in posting!) I am enjoying a cup of Stash Goji Berry Green Tea. This was courtesy of my teacup swap partner- very yummy!!!Stash is one of my fav brands, and I am hoping I can find this Goji tea locally!

I thought I would share one of my vintage thrift shop finds - tea related, of course!!!! I love this little potholder - it still had the little price tag attached - remember when stores attached price tags with tiny straight pins???!!! Back when honesty was the best policy.............

Please visit Kimmie, if you haven't already, to join her for tea and see a list of the rest of the tea party!

Tea on Tuesday

In a previous post, I showed the teacup I sent to my tea swap partner. Just in time for Tea on Tuesday- there in my mailbox was my swap from her! Woohoo!!!

As I peeled back beautifully wrapped layers, first was an original card, followed by 2 vintage napkins, several types of tea (decaf, no less-yay!) wrapped in a sleeve with a Mary Engelbreit teapot sticker. At the bottom, securely encased in bubble paper, was a beautiful and dainty floral cup and saucer-made in Czechoslovakia.

Thank you Wanda - I hope you enjoy yours, as much as I will enjoy mine!!! Be sure to stop by and visit Wanda's blog and shop.
Also see Kimmie, Patty, Judy for Tea on Tuesday!! Join us!!!!

Teacup Exchange!!

Doesn't that sound like fun???

When I read on Judy's blog about a teacup exchange she had participated in, I thought it might be fun to do online.

So, run on over to "see" Judy, read all about it and join in on the fun!!! The more, the merrier!!!!

Tea on Tuesday

Well, here I am, in the garden, at the crack of early, before the heat rolls in.

I'm having a mug of tea, in another thrift store mug, that was actually made by the local Broadway Pottery!
Today's tea is Tulsi tea - which has 2 kinds of Indian basil in it - good for what ails ya'!!!
My other favorite tea of late, is one my friend picked up for me while in Japan.
It is called Mugi-cha, a roasted barley tea. It is delicious, hot or cold, and is what is called a summer tea.
Please join us, Kimmie, Pat, and Patty,for tea on Tuesdays!!! Tell us your favorite of the day, with a link to your blog!!!