A New Favorite Tea

The clock says it is 2:40 p.m., but it might as well just read T-E-A for me.  You see I have become quite accustomed to fixing myself a hot cup of tea around this time of day.  I'm not certain if this is close to the official "tea time" (my friends from England can educate me on that), but it is certainly my tea time.  Typically I just grab any tea that I might have; however, recently I have discovered a new tea that I only save for times when I know that I can sit down and drink every drop.  It really is that good (well, at least in my opinion).  I even go so far as to contemplate what just might happen in the minutes to come; because if there is any chance I might not be able to finish my cup, then I just prepare any of my regular teas.  Pouring this tea down the drain after it gets cold just seems wrong somehow.  As far as I know I can't even find it locally, but purchase it in a nearby city. 

This is the only flavor I have tried so far, but it has won my heart.  Now, if you will excuse me, I need to go finish my tea.

A Vintage Tea Set

When I was first married I didn't own a teapot ... a thought I can hardly even contemplate now.  After receiving my first teapot, I decided it would be kind of fun to have a variety to choose from.  I must have mentioned it around my grandmother, because the next time she came for a visit, she brought me this most delightful tea set.  She didn't use it any longer, and thought I might like it.  Obviously, it is not a typical pattern for a tea set, and I'm thinking it must be a product of the 1960's.  But don't you agree that it is just plain fun.

An Every Day Teapot

When my grandmother was first married, the only teapot that she had was a beautiful china one with gold trim.  My very practical great grandmother (her mother-in-law) did not think it was a good idea for her to use such a beautiful teapot every day.  So she bought her a more practical one, and told her to put the other away for special occasions.  My grandmother decided that she really didn't think anyone else should be able to tell her which teapot she could use on a daily basis (a bit of a stubborn streak I'm thinking), and put the new one away, and continued using her beautiful teapot.  After my mom was married, my grandma gave her the unused, more practical teapot since she didn't have one.  I grew up with that being my mom's only teapot, and she used it all of the time.  My sister, Kass, is now in possession of it, and it is so nice to visit her, and be poured a cup of tea from such a beautiful (but practical) teapot.

Recently, I was attending a sale just kind of looking around at all of the fun items.  My eyes were just wandering when all of a sudden they came to a complete stop.  There was a teapot identical to my mom's teapot .... except without the lid.  I just had to buy it, especially since the price was only $6.00.  Now I have my very own "practical" teapot, except without the lid I have come up with another use for it:

And just in case you were wondering, my grandma's "fancy" teapot sits in a place of honor in my mom's china cabinet, and you never would have known it had been used on a daily basis for so many years.

A Weekly Tea Party

A couple of weeks ago, on a cloudy January afternoon, I asked my daughters if they wanted to have tea with me. We quickly put together a spur-of-the-moment tea party. I had some special paper plates that I had originally purchased to use on Valentine's Day; but decided they just seemed appropriate for this little party. I pulled a box of "special" cookies out of the pantry that I had been saving for a special tea party; and my daughters gathered up some other fun little treats. We decided that we should make it a weekly tradition. Last week we followed suit, and another tea party is scheduled for this afternoon. I can hardly wait.

Time for Tea

There is something special about drinking tea from pretty teacups. It seems to make the experience just all that more enjoyable. Drinking from a mug just doesn't compare by any means. Our entire demeanor seems to change simply by pouring that morning cup of tea into something as pretty as this:

A New Teapot

My daughters know me very well. They know I like the color red, and they know I just love teapots. So recently they came across this gem, and bought it for me. My day couldn't start out any more cheerful than after pouring a cup of tea from this beautiful teapot.

Tea

I love tea. In fact at this very moment I have a mug filled with hot tea beside me. There is just something special about beginning a morning with a nice cup of tea. Sometimes I drink it out of a mug. Other times I drink it out of a china teacup. But there is always some thought put into which vessel I want to begin my day with. This morning it is a mug. But I did make an entire pot of tea today so that I can continue to enjoy it throughout the morning. No, I don't actually drink the entire pot of tea; but it is quite common for me to drink part of my tea while it is hot, and then the rest of the tea gets cold while I am tending to something else. When this happens, I can just pitch the cold tea, and refill my cup with hot tea from the teapot. Sometimes though when I reach for a mug to use, I see this ugly tea stain that has been left behind. That isn't any fun. But my daughter told me of a great way to get rid of those tea stains. It only takes a couple of minutes, and your favorite mug will be as good as new. Just put some baking soda in the bottom of the mug or cup and add some vinegar. It will begin to fizz briefly. After the fizzing stops, just scrub the inside of the mug with a sponge or dishcloth, and the stain is gone. Having a shiny clean mug or teacup to pour your tea into makes the ritual all that more pleasant.