Why Be In A Hurry?

Did you have a nice holiday weekend?

Hot dogs and hamburgers?

No hot dogs here, but I did have a turkey burger 

and some delicious macaroni salad and a beer (or two).
I watched the 4th of July festivities on TV .. beautiful!
How do people stand being out in the heat??!!

I have taken the red, white and blue buntings off of the balcony.

The Uncle Sam windsock has been replaced by a bright red flag

with a large sun, cactus and red pepper ...

a colorful message that the HOT summer has arrived! 

**

TeaVivre sent me samples of their Spring Green Teas.
I love the TeaVivre packaging ... really sealed!
The first one I tried is La Shan Yun Wu.
Opening the package I could immediately smell the tea ...
sort of a roasted spinach odor.

The dried leaves have an interesting texture.
Really dark green.




I like brewing the TeaVivre samples in my little red pot.
Perfect size for the sample and it has its own strainer.
I can lift it out, drink the tea, and steep another pot if I like.






I brewed the tea for 5 minutes.
Such a pretty light green color.

It has a chestnut flavor ... not overpowering and slightly sweet.

I haven't put up all the indoor holiday decorations yet. 
Why be in a hurry?!

You can see what the leaves look like after one brew.

Still delicate looking, but they really open up. 

TeaVivre said this was a good large mug tea,

so I got out one of my new mugs.

This is one from a set of four given to me on my birthday

 by another of my sisters-by-choice.

She knows how I love my tea and the birds!

I have a tea quote for you:

“As far as her mom was concerned, tea fixed everything. 

Have a cold? Have some tea. 

Broken bones? There's a tea for that too. 

Somewhere in her mother's pantry, Laurel suspected, 

was a box of tea that said, 

'In case of Armageddon, steep three to five minutes'.” 

― Aprilynne Pike, Illusions

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

Thank you to the hosts of:

Mosaic Monday

Teatime Tuesday
Teacup Tuesday

Friends Sharing Tea

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Share Your Cup Thursday

Tea With A Lady

Let me introduce you to Lady Carlyle by Royal Albert.
She was a gift from one of my sisters (by choice).

A classic example of the romantic, floral tradition of Royal Albert,

Lady Carlyle draws inspiration from the extravagant rococo styles of the 18th century.

The Lady is decorated with a highly stylized floral design,

a deep pink border and elaborate gold scrollwork

I've paired her with a teapot with roses by Grace.

I made a pot of Harney and Sons Chinese Flower tea.

Chinese Flower is a beautiful blend of hand plucked green tea with flowers and citrus.
There is a light aroma of orange and flowers.
One sachet makes two cups of tea.
A real delight with Lady Carlyle.

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

I'm joining some tea parties in the Land of Blog:
Teatime Tuesday
Teacup Tuesday

Friends Sharing Tea

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Share Your Cup Thursday

Well Rounded

All the Christmas decorations are down and packed away waiting for next year.
All except the Snowmen.
After all, it is still winter!

Snowmen are well-rounded

just like my favorite handmade, hand thrown teapot.

I know it looks funny, especially with its stubby spout,

but it pours beautifully and has a strainer that can be removed.

I can do multiple brewings just by lifting out the strainer.

The design on the exterior has an Asian feel.

The last of the yummy Snowmen sugar cookies.

I'll be sorry to see them go as I'm sure they've helped in keeping me

well-rounded!

The teacup is from Bentley.

Bentley put out a collection of teas several years ago and included the teacup.

It's become a favorite.

The little watercolor is one of mine 

and part of a series of snowmen I'm doing.

I seem to have to do a series ... one isn't enough!

My little snowman would like to remind you:

Be a jolly, happy soul.

Spend time outdoors.

Stay cool.

It’s okay to be a little bottom heavy.

Avoid meltdowns.

Be well-rounded.

Live well, life is short. 

Enjoy sugar cookies! 

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

I'm joining several parties today:

Tea Time Tuesday

where Sandi is having a party to celebrate Tea Time Tuesday's 5th Anniversary.

Teacup Tuesday

Friends Sharing Tea

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Share Your Cup Thursday

Happy Tea to Me!

This holiday season Santa and his elves supplied me with tea
just in time to celebrate the month of January as Hot Tea Month!

I had a big surprise when I won a Yixing teapot from Tea Time Magazine.

They were celebrating Christmas on Face Book with a few give-a-ways.

I have several Yixing teapots and this tiny beauty will be a nice addition to the collection.

While we are talking about Yixing teapots, here's some information from a Tea Time article:

"The most delicate of teapots are likely the Yixing pots often used for steeping oolongs. These Chinese clay pots are porous, and over time, the clay retains the flavors of the tea. A tragic tea faux pas would be to steep Earl Grey in one of these because it would mean that every tea steeped from that point forward would be tainted by the flavor of oil of bergamot.

Yixing pots have for centuries been used for only one specific tea. An Asian tea drinker might keep one teapot for a Taiwanese Bao Zhong, one for a Chinese Big Red Robe, and another for a Chinese Ti Kwan Yin. Soap is never used to clean these revered utensils. They are simply rinsed and allowed to air-dry. It is said that some ancient Yixing pots could make tea today simply by having hot water poured into them. The accumulated flavors of past steepings would add their flavor to the water, and tea would magically appear!"

*

The god-kids sent tea from Tin Roof Teas in Raleigh, NC.

Tin Roof is on my list to visit when I get to Raleigh.

I made a promise to myself -- I can't open any new tea until I finish the 

wonderful Harney and Sons Cranberry Autumn.

Soon I'll open Tin Roof's Cloud Catcher.

Isn't that a great name?!

It is a fruit tea: apple pieces, freeze-dried kiwi, sour cherries, cranberry slices, coconut flakes and natural flavor. 

Sounds like fun!

*

And, lastly, a gift to myself from Crop Circle Clay

a handmade, wheel thrown "Believe" mug.

Cloud Catcher tea in a "Believe" mug sounds like the perfect pair!

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

I'm joining several parties today:

Tea Time Tuesday

Teacup Tuesday

Friends Sharing Tea

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Share Your Cup Thursday

Happy New Year!