Tub of Tea

It's nearly Christmas.

Shopping, schedules, shindigs....cooking, crafts, craziness.
We're enduring.
We may be limping, coughing, wheezing, bleary-eyed, over-stuffed, under-rested & generally ready for something a bit more relaxing but oh by jolly, we are enduring.

I know, a tub of Epsom salts would be great.  But, why not consider a TUB OF TEA?

I'm sure you have all you need in your kitchen or house, so there's no need to run off to yet another store.

Here's some things to look for:

Green Tea, Peppermint, Rosemary, Orange peels, Rose Petals, Lavender, Chamomile Tea, Essential Oils (Eucalyptus, Lavender, Tea Tree Oil, etc)

Green Tea: Energizing & stabilizes mood. Also a great antioxidant, anti-aging, healing tea.
Chamomile Tea: relaxing and anti-inflammatory. It's great for irritated or dry skin.
Rosemary: Relaxing, helps with alertness, clarifies skin
Peppermint: Energizing
Lavender: Calming, anti-inflammatory, induces sleep
Sage: helps with acne & oily skin

Here's what you do:

Brew about 2 cups of very strong herbal tea using existing tea or herbs. Strain the tea. Add it to your bath water. You can add essential oils to your bath water as well. If you used loose leaf tea or herbs, once strained, you can take the strained leaves and place them in cheesecloth or a wash cloth. Gather the ends of said cloth and tightly secure a rubberband, hair tie or string around the ends. Place in bath water while you soak all your cares away and rejuvenate.

It's like a mini spa treatment. I think we can endure that!

What Brings JOY

Now that the Holidays are here, I feel sentimental as I'm sure many do this time of year. This feeling leads me down several paths and one being the tea party path. Yes, I'm always thinking what would be a fun tea party, but during this time of year, when there seems to be perpetual busyness, I think of how warm, intimate and refreshing it would be to gather some favorite girlfriends for a party. These are friends whom I love dearly, and love spending time with and to be with all of them together would be like a small, special gift. A gift that feels like Christmas. A gift that doesn't always come at other times of the year.
The Christmas season is special. It's a time of treasuring our loved ones and memories of times past. Sure, we can get depressed this time of year quite easily (I have). But I find that it's mostly due to our commercial culture where we live our everyday lives. A culture where we are constantly bombarded by the marketing of excessive luxury & the idea of joy and happiness. A culture where the images are of happy faces and fun times. Because of this, some of us can become sad & lose sight of what the season is truly about. We can become inwardly focused on the things we don't have instead of focused on the things we do have.
This is the season where, if you believe in the Christian faith, you believe God sent his only son as fully man & fully God to this planet Earth to have relationship with humans.
Relationship. It brings God joy. Isn't that what brings true joy to our lives too?
So how about gathering those close friends & loved ones together for a tea party and celebrate relationships. Reminisce about the past, talk about the future, enjoy the present moment. Get sentimental. I promise you'll feel joy when they're gathered around your table. This is true meaning of Christmas.
Now go put the kettle on and make a few invitations for a holiday tea (& if you need help, I'm truly happy to help you).
jOY

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A wee tea party in Forest Grove

During the early Fall of 2013, in a small town of Forest Grove, a tea party took place.Stella, a small 10" teddy bear visited a dear friend. In the friend's garden, a tea party was hosted in honor of Miss. Stella's visit. In fact, two tea parties took place in two different locations in the garden throughout the two week visit. Throughout the visit, when it rained, they partied in a small, warm attic room where all sorts of art, paper crafts and textiles hung from the walls and were stashed in little nooks and crannies. When it was sunny, the small bears and one duck partied outside or inside near a window.

I was able to capture a few photos of Miss. Stella and her lovely friends during the parties. Here are a few photos for your amusement:

The fruit tart was a huge hit with the guests. And the tea was a wonderful berry blend sweetened with local clover honey. Miss. Stella had a memorable time when she visited Forest Grove and she looks forward to many happy returns.

 

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about those Olive-Pecan Finger Sandwiches

As promised, here is a wonderful yummy Autumnal recipe for those who love olives, pecans and cream cheese!
I found this recipe in Tea Time Magazine and immediately went to my kitchen to whip some up! I had everything on hand except the "Very Thin Wheat Bread" so I just used my regular bread. 
Because of the noise from the mixer, I had a teenage boy show up in the kitchen. Teenage boys are sort of like pets; like when a pet hears the fridge(or a wrapper, a tater chip bag or even the tuna can leaving the shelf) and then suddenly are under foot, that's sort of how it works with teenage boys. So, here I am, chopping, toasting, mixing, spreading, cutting and someone else wants to eat the fruits of my labor!

Ok. I let him. He's a charming boy.

HOLY TOLEDO! We couldn't stop eating this. I gave up the bread and grabbed some crackers and we just about finished that up before there was any evidence for other house occupants to find (the dog new. He liked it too.)

Hubby ventured through the kitchen while teenage boy, dog and I had our cheeks stuffed with the stuff. That incriminated us as we couldn't really speak. 
Or hide.
Or run (we didn't want to leave the mixture).
Hubby looked around and finished what was left.

I've been told to make it again.
I have. 
shhh....they don't know.

Here's the link:
Olive-Pecan Finger Sandwiches

Tea Sandwiches

Tea sandwiches are so much fun to eat. You need to think beyond basic cucumber (though, I like those too, especially with some herbed cream cheese or some Boursin spread). How about some open faced tea sandwiches, which in some parts of the party sphere are called "canapés". Uh huh, I'm venturing into what the party elite call "horse doovers" or better yet, "or derbs". But hear me (or read me in this case), tea sandwiches are like the proverbial step child; they are underrated; they aren't really considered. It's a crying shame. They absolutely can be a great addition to a party menu. Take for example their ability to stretch a loaf of bread, the ease of preparation, the convenience factor of the leftovers. These little buggers can be a hostess' bestie! And, I should mention how they transcend age and gender. If you have kiddos, pb&j cut into four little handy sandwiches with the crust removed get eaten more than a whole big-a$$ sandwich does! AND...bbq pulled pork on miniature buns, as men fondly call "sliders", get gobbled up on game day like nobody's business. 

Have I convinced you to re-think your ideas of tea sandwiches? 

For the remainder of the month, I'll post some autumnal flavors that get served in miniature style on a wee bit of bread. 

A Case for Tea Parties

I'm a tea party enthusiast.

So much so, I've started a traveling tea party business.

Yep.

It's what you're thinking. 

I prepare the foods, find the teas, pack my wares and deliver the whole shebang to your place. All you have to do is invite 8-24 friends. I'll even give you the invites for a small fee, or for a bit more, I'll mail them out for you. I try to make this as painless as possible.

Parties and celebrations are something we all should have more of. Creating space for friends, families, co-workers and well...people, to come together and celebrate. Celebrate what? Do you really need a reason? If you keep a gratitude journal you will find that for every entry, it can correspond to a reason to celebrate. Are you thankful for your pet goldfish? Then how about a party celebrating pets? Are you thankful for sunny days? Then how about a little picnic with some special people? See how this works now? I knew you were smart.

One of the best things about a tea party is that it can happen at anytime of day and anytime of year and in any sort of setting. They can be for a party of two or a party of_##__.  I personally prefer the smaller crowd for a more intimate time. Eight people is most delightful. It isn't too big or too small and everyone can feel like they have properly visited with each other. If you have a large crowd (over 24), then having seating for 8 per table is a must (for reason I mentioned above).

I also believe tea parties to be one of the best options for a bridal shower, baby shower or birthday party/anniversary. It can be as casual or as formal as the host/hostess desires. And because of the types of food served, it really is convenient. Dietary limitations are easily met with various menu options. With the addition of soups, salads & brunch foods, the tea party can be a rather filling experience.

I hope you'll consider a tea party as your next party. Hey! A holiday tea is perfect for gathering your friends and family. Call me. I'd love to help.

Small Victory

I
I ran
I ran 2.5
I ran 2.5 miles.
I ran 2.5 miles and
I ran 2.5 miles and had
I ran 2.5 miles and had a
I ran 2.5 miles and had a smile
I ran 2.5 miles and had a smile on
I ran 2.5 miles and had a smile on my
I ran 2.5 miles and had a smile on my face.

My iPod helped. (King of Pop. RIP)
My commitment to health helped.
My iPod helped. (zzTop)
The threat of rain helped.
50 degrees helped.
My pedometer helped.
My iPod helped. (Seal)
Pushing through the pain (never done that before) helped.

Small victory.

Back in TEXAS

Howdy!

Our little family moved back home to Texas.
We've had a few losses though. Murphy, our little mini schnauzer, received his wings May 5th of 2012.
He was the best dog in the entire world. To us. He was loved by all who knew him. A very friend to all. I miss you Murphy.



We also lost Walter (the sourdough I created when we moved out of the old farmhouse in Forest Grove and into our "ranch" house in Forest Grove). Walter was Sid's companion and lived almost 2 1/2 years. Walter and Sid journeyed to Texas from Oregon in a styrofoam cooler (spare me the atrocities of the styrofoam, I know!!!) that sat in the passenger seat of a large UHaul. I sat squished between Mr. Friend and the cooler. Stella and Beary (two stuffed bears that keep my craziness company) sat upon the cooler enjoying the scenery. Every night, in the motel room, I would fret over and stir the two sourdoughs. Each of them took turns frightening me with a lack of bubbles (bubbles in a sourdough is a positive sign of life). Anyway, they survived the trip.

It is my mom's fridge where Walter met his demise. Apparently, a fruit fly found its way to the starter and, well....fruit flies LOVE hootch (and sourdoughs make their own hootch, since they do ferment).
Let's just leave it at that. The boys, Mr. Friend & I gathered around the sink and had a moment of silent reflection of all Walter gave to us. Then, we sent him to the sea.

Sid, however, is ALIVE!! In fact, he has taken to bubbling and doubling in his jar that he has popped out and spilled over his jar a few times now! I had to stir him twice a day, just to stop the commotion. He's slowed down now. I'm not sure if that was the mourning process, or if it was just that Walter kept Sid from that sort of potential. Sid, now lives with the beer out in the small fridge in the garage.

I'm going to start another blog soon and just thought I'd update this one.

Not that anyone will notice.