Wednesday, January 25, 2012

THE PLEASURES OF TEA

If you are cold tea will warm you;
if you are depressed it will cheer you;
if you are excited it will calm you.

WILLIAM GLADSTONE
(1809 - 1898)

Making  a good pot of tea requires filling the kettle with cold water.

I chose English Breakfast Tea for our tea today.
I use the old fashion plan in making the pot of tea;
allow one teaspoonful for each person and one over.


As soon as your water comes to a rolling boil pour
it over your tea leaves; covering pot with lid and letting it steep.

This is the transformative moment when the oxygen of the boiling water allows the tea leaf to release its flavor.
"The leaves  may appear tormented and miserable, like autumn leaves in a storm, but they may also look
dancing and fanciful, " writes Helen Gustafson.

You need to warm your teapot you will be serving the steeped tea in with boiling water, allowing to warm for a minute or two.

After the tea has steeped for five or so minutes you can strain it into your warm teapot.

Look how the tea leaves puffed up!

Pouring Cindy Lou a "cuppa".

Cindy Lou


We are drinking our tea the English way, with a little sugar and milk.

Now for a Tea Party!
I have set the table the night before.


These are the fruits I will be using for our "sweets" and finger sandwiches.

The cucumber tea sandwich is my favorite!

Lemon Curd waiting patiently in the refrigerator.

Gwynn and Darby

Lemon Curd tarts!


I'm holding little cream puffs filled with
strawberries and cream.




"Somehow, taking tea together encourages an atmoshere of intimacy when you slip off
 the timepiece in your mind and cast your fate to a delight of tasty tea, tiny foods,
and thoughtful conversation".  - Gail Greco





It was a delightful afternoon!

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Finally....Snow!

January 18th and we finally wake up to snow. We knew it was coming and were pretty excited about it. I know it can cause some problems and you really have to pre-plan to navigate it. Not as much fun for the commute. But it is so pretty and magical when it's falling, and then to wake up and have everything blanketed in white, well, surely a day or two is doable hmmm? I know I enjoyed ours!




The husband made the best of it too. Doesn't everyone cool off their breakfast chops this way?


A good indicator of inches!


 I love how it clings to the branches.







So this is why I have no signal. Blast. I did get up there with my broom and sweep the snow off! Cindy and her grand snow adventures.


My fourth of July flags really stand out in the snow!


Heading to the park to check out the pond and trees and ducks and just....nature and beauty! Our snow is quite fleeting you know!


There they are. The faithful postal carrier! Chugging along in those little rinky dink overgrown golf carts.  Their motto was " Neither rain, nor snow, nor death of the night, can keep us from our duty". This motto is believed to be taken in part from a motto dating back to ancient times. Among the most popular variation is "Through rain or snow, or sleet or hail, we'll carry the mail. We will not fail".


 These trees were my favorite part of the day. I caught my breath as I rounded the corner at the park. Look at that yellow! I wasn't expecting that, it looked so amazing amidst all that black and white, just that shot of color. It looked like someone had come along and airbrushed it in. It was windy and wet at this point, snow drops kept blowing onto my camera lens.








The much smaller, partially frozen pond, narrowing in on itself.  Poor little birdies, freezing their tail feathers off. I think they were celebrating though. They were quite vocal!




Pipin' hot, fresh from the oven, snow day POPOVERS! Our snow is already melting and turning to slush. Snow days are quite fleeting you know. Savor them.

Monday, January 16, 2012

BOISE FLEA MARKET

This say's it all!
Welcome to Boise's Flea Market!

People were gathered around this vendor.
Hot item for some.

Didn't try Sandi's 30 Second Salsa
or
Frozen Wine Slush..

A friend ( vendor) shared this magazine with me!
To buy it you must go on line. A few pictures down will be info for the way to purchase this magazine on line.


Woodstock any one?

Bling and more Bling

Ammo, for those inclined.

This phone makes me feel so old!

Love this bit of creativity!



Do these women look like they are line dancing?
Anything is possible at this Flea Market!

If you want to order the A Primative Place Magazine,
you can only do it on line. Hope you can figure
out the e-mail address from this photo!