In the Spirit of Giving

 I love this time of the year.

I love giving.

In the spirit of giving, I am downsizing my tree decorations

and just know somebody out there would love having these ornaments.

Can you tell the theme here?  They are all about tea.

So if you would love adding to your tea treasures let me know in the comments

whether you would like the first group or the second.

Yep!  There will be two give-aways. (US or Canada only, please)

Well you know it is Christmas.

There might even be another surprise tossed into the package when I get ready to send them.

Just make sure I have a way to contact you for an address.

Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas!

The winners will be announced on Friday,

so not much time - hurry and leave a comment.

A Wonder of a Tea

 After steeping, I delighted in the full, beautiful leaves.
They are dark and full of aroma.
I can just imagine the hands that picked these leaves so lovingly,
then the hands that treated them with care as they processed the tea.

And now, I sit here enjoying the fruits of their labor

in the candle light of a cold winter morning.

What a perfect tea for morning time.

I have tried with each sip to put words to the flavor,

but I haven't been very successful in finding the right words.

The name of the tea is Heritage Wonder from Heritage Factory Assam.

It was steeped in boiling water for 4 minutes.

There was no astringency and a lovely smooth black tea.

It didn't overwhelm with boldness, but at the same time it delighted the tongue. 

I could say it was a tinge of chocolate or fruitiness,

but really it was just a plain "Wonder" of a straight forward black tea.

Thanks to the farmer, Rajen Baruah, for sending me this lovely tea.

Linking to Bernideen today at http://blog.bernideens.com/

Monday's Quotes

In the midst of winter,

I found there was,

within me,

an invincible summer.

~Albert Camus

Add a Little Humor!

Visiting Camas Antiques recently I found this table display, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

I wanted to buy the teapot, but the spout was damaged.

Sometimes it is just fun to enjoy the view.

The funny thing about this display was a sink in the middle of the table.

Can you see it?

What do you think?

Someone definitely had a sense of humor when they put the display together.

And then there is the babe and Mary in a cage.

My goodness, but I do love humor.

We all need more of it in our lives.

Add a touch of humor, laughter, and smiles to your holiday season.

How would you do that?

Have a wonderful weekend, dear friends!

Add a little humor, laughter, and mix it with smiles.

Around the Neighborhood, Nature

 Walking in my neighborhood, starting at my home, the

hummingbirds both delight and enchant me each and everyday.

 Tucked along the walk I found winter camillias in full bloom.

 Berries and rose hips just shine in all their red colors.

These things do lighten the sorrow of so many people around the world

grieving for their lost friends and families.

When despair grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting for their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

 ~Wendell Berry 

 

I am waiting for the light and the darkness to disappear.

The Little Guy and Trains

When you are a boy of three there is nothing better than trucks, cars, and trains;

so off to the model railroad show we went.

It was a reproduction of the Columbia Gorge in the 1940's.

There was even a drive-in movie of the Wizard of Oz.

Fun to see the perspective here.

Boys having fun!

Even the circus was in town.

A tugboat in the river.

Thomas the Train was traveling by, but my camera hadn't come out yet.

He was a hit with the little guy.

For awhile we stepped into another world with delight.

It was so fun to see it through a little ones eyes.

Christmas Tea Time

Christmas time is beginning to make an appearance in my home.

From the papercut tree sitting on the tea table

to a special cup of holiday tea.

Of course my favorite cookie, a Cherry Wink, sitting on the side.

If you have read along with me for a long time you will know

I usually drink my tea straight up.

No blends, sugar, or milk in my cup.

Then rules are meant to be broken.

Last year a friend mentioned this tea and it sounded just like a cup of

Christmas time.  The only place I found it was on Amazon.com;

but they were sold out.  A couple weeks ago I decided to check my

Wish List on Amazon and it was now available.

It is The Noel from Compagnie Coloniale in France.

It is flavored with almonds and cherries and smells amazing.

Well when I tasted it the flavor spoke well of the smell.

For a blended tea it is quite good.

A special treat, dessert tea for the holiday season.