Dragon Pearls

Dragons collect jewels
and this dragon collects tea!
From the moment I opened the package
I was entranced by the pearl shape of the tea and the wonderful jasmine scent.
A real treasure for the senses.

Pearls of tea with obvious silver tips

hand-rolled into the pearl shape.

Brewed for one minute.

The tea is a very pale green.

The jasmine taste and aroma is strong, but not overwhelming.

Brewed for two minutes

the color of the tea is darker

and the jasmine is lighter.

Brewed for three minutes

the green tea is taking over

with hints of jasmine.

 A full-bodied yet simple tea.

Elegant and complex taste.

Watching the tea leaves unfurl is half of the fun!

I continued to brew tea from these leaves.

Increasing the brewing time and the heat of the water (careful!). 

With each brewing, the jasmine was weaker and the green tea stronger,

but never bitter.

A good jasmine tea is hard to find

and Teavivre produces one of the best.

I think I'm in love!

I've had it with and without food.

I have never added anything to the tea.

It's perfect the way it is.

You can read more about the handcrafting of Dragon Pearls at Teavivre.

I'm joining several tea parties:

Tea Time Tuesday

Teacup Tuesday

Friends Sharing Tea

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Share Your Cup Thursday

Wishing YOU well, much joy and a wonderful cup of tea!

This and That

It's been cold
and then it's been like spring.

Today it's cold, but the sun is shining.
Mina is always good at finding a sun puddle.

The college baseball season is off to a fast start.

The Rice Owl baseball team started off with four games against the

University of Texas.

There's nothing like the sound of the bat hitting the ball

Or eating a hotdog at a ball game. 

Photo From Rice Sports Information

Meanwhile,

back at home in the garden

the camellias are blooming.

Last, but not least,

the Burpee catalog arrived.

I'm making a list.

Burpee is a Non-GMO company.

Something I really appreciate.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Thanks, Kim.

Thanks to Karen for hosting Sun Lit Sunday.

On the Second New Moon After the Winter Solstice

On the second new moon after the winter solstice
we celebrate the Lunar New Year.

This year the new cycle also falls on the same date as
Losar, the Tibetan New Year.

Known as the Sheep, Goat or Ram, it is considered the most feminine sign of the zodiac and corresponds in may ways to the sign of Cancer in western astrology.

This astrology system interprets how the five elements -- or the alchemical forces of nature
affect our human experience. This year, Yin Wood mingles with the Yin Earth of Sheep.

In honor of the Lunar New Year, I'm having a Lunar New Year tea.
It's a great excuse to share another of my YiXing tea pots.
This one is very special.

It is carved to look like a flowering tree ... complete with knobs and flowers!

I'm brewing superfine Jasmine Downy Dragon Pearls Green Tea by Teavivre.
This is a delicious, slightly sweet tasting tea.
I love the reflection in the cup!

The cup is one I found at the Glassell Art School student sale.
I love the feel in my hands ... the interesting shape.

The more kind and compassionate heart of the Sheep offers an opening for us to recognize how interconnected we really are, and cheers humanity on to choose peace over separation.

Now is the time to clean out whatever needs clearing, whether it's letting go of negative mental and emotional patterns, doing a physical cleanse, jettisoning clutter, or a major space clearing of your environment.

In the Tibetan tradition, the next to the last day of the old year is a most powerful time to purify any negative energies in our homes and bodies from the previous year.

I've shared bits about the Year of the Sheep from an Elephant Journal article.
You can find more there.

I'm joining several tea parties:

Tea Time Tuesday 

Teacup Tuesday

Friends Sharing Tea

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Share Your Cup Thursday

Wishing YOU well, much joy and a delightful cup of tea!

Happy 4712!

On This Date

Four years ago today,

the LOVE of my life,

My Knight in Shining Armor, 

left this earthly home and traveled on to the stars.

We were together over 30 years.

I think I miss him more with each passing day.

Life goes on.

With love ---

Cherries, Chocolate and Tea

Valentine's Day is just around the corner.
How do I love Valentine's Day?
Let me count the ways!!!!

It's time to pull out my Emma Bridgewater heart teapot

and heart shaped crochet hot-pads that I made last year.

The trio is from The English Table.

I love the flowers.

A bird on one side of the cup and

flowers on the other.

I'm going to fill my teacup with

Cherry Chocolate Tea

A Cuppa Romance Tea from The Republic of Tea.

Fine black tea blended with sweet blackberry leaves

natural cherry and chocolate flavoring.

Time for chocolate covered cherry fudge.

Delicious but oh, so rich. 

Heart shaped sugar cookies.

Don't like fudge?

How about chocolate cake?

Remember:

"Seven days without chocolate makes one weak."

~unknown

I'm joining several parties today:

Sandi is having her Valentine Party at

Tea Time Tuesday 

Teacup Tuesday

Friends Sharing Tea

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Share Your Cup Thursday

Wishing YOU well, much joy and a wonderful cup of tea!

Hyacinths For The Soul

If of thy mortal goods thou art bereft

And of thy simple store two loaves of bread alone are left

Sell one, and with the dole,

Buy hyacinths to feed the soul.  

~ Sa’di

In one brief period of sunshine, I caught the sun before it disappeared again.

Warmth, peace and calm inside.

Wishing YOU well and much joy.

Thanks, Kim!

A big thank you to Karen for hosting Sun Lit Sunday.