Be like me - and drink TEA!

A cup of this tea was the perfect ending to a not-so-perfect day! It's the perfect blend of citrus and spice...suitably fallish without tasting like potpourri!

Tea forté

Isn't this little tea bag just adorable? 

But calling it a  "tea bag" is much too common!

 "Silken infuser" suits it much more handsomely. 

Alisha gave me a box of Tea forté Reader's Teas for Christmas and I have been thoroughly enjoying them! And they are as delicious as they are darling! That little green leaf peaking over the brim of my cup just gets me every time! Tonight I had a cuppa White Anjou Pear - white tea, with a sweet taste of pear and the zing of ginger. 

the magic of winter in walnut hill!

   

I feel like a need to do a reality check! {pinch, pinch!} Yes, I am still living in amazing FLORIDA where we have now survived an 'istoric ICE STORM, and WHCS has now been closed for TWO SNOW DAYS! It seems like we've been living in someone else's life! Tuesday we were still in school even though the public schools were all already shut down. It started sleeting around 10:00 or so, and the children were amazed at the icicles growing off my Yukon and everything else! We tried to blow bubbles at last recess in hopes that they would freeze before popping, but we only had soap water and straws which didn't work at all. By 2:30 I was panicking to leave and get home and off the roads! Ice-driving would not be my specialty...I haven't ever tried it, but it is NOT on my bucket list! Daniel and I decided we weren't adequately prepared for the coming storm {no spam or bottled water} so we ventured up to Atmore to make a stop by the bank and grocery store. Alas! All the banks we closed, and we barely grabbed some grub from Winn-Dixie before their doors closed as well. Since the truck door was so iced over that it wouldn't close properly, Danl gave it a good yank and the handle broke since it was so brittle and frozen I guess...So many problems when you have real winter!! Goodness! Now we have to order a new one! Woke up Wednesday morning to a winter wonderland!! Time to play! After dressing warmly and putting the dogs in the truck on leashes, we headed over to get Mom and Mel to go exploring! Dad opted to stay warm and dry in the office and get a report of the fun later. The dogs went ballistic and tore around like they had rabies! It was hilarious! They even managed to pull me skiing on my rump a little ways! Then we met up with Hiebert kids and went sliding down the slopes on a piece of tin and Mel's boogie board. The blue plastic sit-up thing-a-ma-jig was a fail. Also the thin sheets of plastic that got hung up in the briers. Then Landon and Danl hooked the tin up behind the dually and we went whipping laps around the pasture! Almost everyone flew off at some point or another! It was a blast! But smitingly cold too!! Valerie brought out warm, blueberry muffins that hit the spot! Next we drove over to Ben and Erica's where some were sliding on car hoods, but we caught it between bursts of action. Daniel cut some daring dually donuts for Mom's benefit and we headed to the house. Danl and Mel went hunting while I bundled back up and went out to build the classy "Sleet Woman," instead of a snowman, that I had dreamed up! She was gonna rock a houndstooth scarf and a mint fedora! But she never materialized as the sleet refused to be formed. I gave up and made a sad little dog face with charcoal lump eyes and red paw print bandanna. Then I tried to make "sleet angels" but you couldn't make a dent in the crusty stuff. So I went inside, drew a bath, gave myself a mani/pedi, and leafed relaxingly through a magazine while sipping hot tea. I can handle snow days, let me tell you! Later on after Frito pie, we piled back into the truck to take Mel home. Since it was gotten up to 38 degrees in the afternoon, the ice had somewhat melted before refreezing which resulted in the slickest black ice I ever wanna see! I was ready to give our heavy 4 wheel drive a hug by the time we got back home! She saved the day! This morning I was hoping the melting point would hold off until we had gotten some more sliding in! My wishes were granted! We and Anthony and Katie slid on Rusty's hood in the sod field by their house before going over to Ben's/Gerald's and sliding some more! Daniel thought we probably went about 40 mph on those hoods! I loved every second! It's hard to get too much speed! Twas also so novel to slide down the hill on Maynard's old-fashioned sled with metal runners! One more thing knocked off the ole bucket list! I also took my lime green Rubbermaid lid and pillow {it's really slippery!}, but it didn't work so well since you couldn't steer it... A few snowball fights ensued before everyone determined that the snow was too slushy to continue hood-sliding. I could leave happy and can now rest in peace that I have lived up these days of blizzard to the best of my abilities! My sore muscles aren't feeling so happy and peaceful though...I really should draw up another hot bath and take a long soak.... only a few more patches of sleet/snow have yet to melt....and then the magic of winter will be over...

for the love of London...happy giveaway 2014!!

    A new year, a new look, and a GIVEAWAY! Let's start the year off right! {oh, it's already been started awhile? I guess we are 11 days in...Oh, well! Procrastination is what I do best!} That, and HOARDING! I have officially decided that I am a hoarder. If a fit of rare "time to go through and throw away" I was exasperated to find such items as the following in my dresser drawers and closet. The middle thingy of a lint roller, 2 lanyards from the lawn expo, a hood cord for a lime green jacket jacket I haven't owned in years, a pair of flats that were almost worn through on the heels, sides, and toes, a dearly beloved pair of striped knee socks with large holes in the heels, 3 nasty pairs of flip flops; one pair was almost burnt clear through the sole from my having stood unknowingly on a burning lump of charcoal, a ratty pullover to wear in case we go camping, {note to self! We rarely camp and when we do, I never feel like wearing ratty clothing!} fabric samples from bygone fabric sales, and probably more things that I can not recall since this experience happened 9 days ago. Anyway, I do not know why I still had these objects in my possession! In a righteous frenzy, I trashed them all except the fabric samples which I decided to re-hoard in case I want to start ordering again and would like to refer to them. That's a reasonable reason isn't it? SO, now that I have realized and accepted the obvious, {that I have a hoarding problem} what is the next step? Rehabilitation or Embracement? I need help! OK, this post wasn't supposed to be about my hoarding addiction! Let's move on to the happy things like the GIVEAWAY!
   I have always and will always love all things London. Some of the finer things in life such as tea with cream and sugar, crumpets, biscuits {cookies in America!}, good manners, the royal family, and the lovely English accent hail from that part of the world. So I'd like to share a bit o' London love with you! Tell me in the comments whether or not you made a New Year's Resolution{s} and what it is that you resolved to do and you may be the smashing winner of some Londonish loot! {that I have yet to purchase when I next hit the big city! Hopefully I can find what I remember seeing at T.J. Maxx!} I made 2 resolutions this year instead of my usual myriad aspirations.

# 1. Have more fun with family! {Doing great because we've actually played tennis in the park 2 Fridays in a row now! Cheers!!}
# 2. Stress Less {Which means don't make piles of New Year's Resolutions because that is very stressful.}
 
Blimey! {as the Brits would say!} This post is long enough! While eagerly anticipating your entries/comments, I shall arise from this couch and attempt to finish the Williamsburg-style dress that I commenced to sew way back last year in October. Cheeri-o!

P.S. Please read the fine print below.

FINE PRINT-  Official Rules are as follows. This giveaway begins today 1.11.14 and will end in two weeks at midnight CST on 1.25.14. You may comment as much as you like, but only one entry per person will be submitted in the giveaway. Names will be drawn randomly and literally from a hat. Thank you and have a great 2014.

now is now

Now is NOW. This redundant phrase keeps weaving its way throughout my thoughts these past days. It's Christmas NOW. If I wait until everything slows down, and I'm not tired, and everything that needs doing is done, I'm gonna miss it because it's happening NOW. The JOY, the PEACE, the WONDER of the season is right now. Right in the middle of the furry to get the last pompom hot-glued onto a parents' gift 5 minutes after 2:30. Smack dab during the program that went so smoothly I could have kissed each child. And even now as I sit on the couch surrounded by STUFF on every possible surface. Gift bags, orange peels, dirty dishes, papers, popcorn, light bulbs, you name it! Even an old dead roach on the floor with its feet pitifully sticking up in the air. All stuff that is desperately waiting for my attention. But now, is NOW. Now is the time to fry homemade French fries with Daniel even though it's increasing the mess by adding extra splatters of grease all over the counters. Now is the time to relax on the ninja turtle chair while catching up on the phone with my big sis for over an hour. NOW is the time for merry moods and  merry foods! A cuppa tea sounds good to me! Right NOW. While I sip, I shall endeavor to forget about my to-do list and just focus on the moment. The rest of the season I hope to keep calm and merry on. Because after all, NOW is NOW and that's what matters.

Love the amazing presents my kids gave me at our Christmas party today!! The USA wall art will go up in my classroom for now and the calendar will adorn my kitchen. Gifts still make me as giddy as a little kid....I will never be a real "grown-up" I'm afraid! Also LOVE the adorable owl scarf organizer, the high-heeled shoe cake server, and the "Break Glass in Case of Emergency" Hershey wall art, orange bowls, coffee cups, and 31 gift certificate I received.  And, last but not least, the SWEETEST present of all from my dear hubby...a black GMC Yukon!! I am so blessed.

quote for the day

i love this quote.

i want to be a 'tea bag woman.'

tea-time!

            sweet, iced tea.......
                        sweet iced tea!            
      three of the most beautiful words in the English language!

Since my mind is in a bit of "teaopia", I will blog about tea tonight! Please bear with me....as I tea along here! :) The day began with a hot brew of Lipton's finest loose tea leaves with cream and sugar added. ( I take my tea like the Brits! But where are the crumpets?!) Mid afternoon, I simmered some mint leaves to make mint tea. My made-up recipe was 1/2 cup mint leaves, 2/3 cup sugar, and 2 quarts of water. I must not have the right touch though...my mint is "apple" mint; maybe that was the problem! Anyway, try as I might, I couldn't get it tweaked to where I could appreciate it! Even with lots of sugar, and a splash of apple juice, is was barely "tea-olerable!" (I need some help, Shelley! What did I do wrong?!) So after that fiasco, I made some "regular" sweet, iced tea! Good ole orange pekoe and black! Being me, I don't have a favorite brand; it varies from the cheapest Piggly offers - "Best Choice", to "Luzianne", to "Lipton", or "Red Diamond." The current box is "Leroy Hill - Hill and Brooks." Do y'all have a favorite brand or method to make good, strong, Southern, sweet, iced tea??? Whew! What a lot of adjectives!!! My method is pretty mediocre - I grab a quart Mason jar, fill it with tap water, and zap it in the micro for 5 minutes, (IMPORTANT! Do not omit next step!) then gently bring tea bags to nose and inhale deeply the deep, dark, musky scent of tea....and let your mind wander to faraway places with strange sounding names....then JOLT back to reality and plunge the tea bags in to the hot water, (I do apologize for my obsessive compulsive smelling disorder! But you should try it next time you make tea! :) You know you want to, and no one is watching, and so what if they are! If sniffing tea bags makes one certifiably crazy, I am a lost cause!) After the tea has steeped 10 minutes or half a day or so, pour it into a 3 quart pitcher along with a heaping cup of sugar. Liberally add ice and water to fill 'er up! Pour yourself a glass, and sit on the porch and rock awhile! Nothing hits the spot like a cold glass of iced tea on a hot summer day! Pleas tell me in the comments how you make or take your tea.....I'd "tea-otally" love to hear all about it!