There were several white teas in my tea stash

and since I don't gravitate to white teas I had been avoiding them.

Yesterday I decided to do a side by side tasting of four of them.

Well I hadn't really had a good cup of tea yet that morning

and thought while stuck at home, why not!

I was up for the challenge!

 

There was Ceylon Gold (Ceylon) from teakruthi.com, Arya Pearl White first flush 2019 (Darjeeling region of India) from teagardinia.com, Shangri-La White from Miro Tea (Nepal), and Kumaon White (Himalayias, India) from youngmountain.com.

I always felt in the past all white teas were a bit bland, but tasting them side by side I

could definitely see the differences.  They were all good teas. I realized in tasting each

that it really depends on what your preferences are.

For the same reason that I struggle with green teas being too vegetable, 

I found this influenced me in my tasting of the white teas.

So my comments on each are determined by what I like or don't like.

My least favorite was the Arya Pearl White because it tasted too green and vegetable to me.

Next was the Kumoan White which on the canister said the flavor of cucumber/melon

and I would have to agree. Not so much vegetable, but still more than I prefer.

Third was the Ceylon Gold which was definitely richer even in color. A fuller bodied

white that held up best with consecutive steeps and more floral came out.

My favorite of the four was from Miro Tea. It was not sweet, but a lovely floral note.

This tea came from Nepal and is being developed by a tea friend, Jeni Dodd.

I would buy this one again.

I know many of you are not into tea as much as I am,

but I hope you enjoy my review.

It definitely is a way of learning what your preferences are

whether it is tea, coffee, or wine, even cheese or other food items like maybe chocolate.
Side by side tastings is one way of learning more.
Have fun and hope you take opportunity to do a side by side tasting
with something you particularly love.

Happy Friday, dear friends!

Have a terrific weekend of staying in place.

Enjoy comforts with JOY!

 Recently my sweet grandson asked me "why are you obsessed about tea?".

It surprised me, first that he used that word, but second that he would ask that question.

I am not sure what I said, but since then have thought about it.

Why am I obsessed about tea?

So here is my list:

1. It tastes good.

2. It is healthy.

3. Opened a world of dear friendships.

4.No calories, so no guilt.
5. Feels warm and cozy in my hands.
6. Searching out tea experience when traveling is fun.
7. Sharing with friends.
8. It warms me when it is cold.
9. It cools me when it is hot.
10. It quiets my heart to meditate on the day.

Pictures shared a year ago, but hope you enjoy once again.

So yes, I guess I am a bit "obsessed", but to tell you the truth
there could be worse things.
It is a good thing!

Happy weekend, dear friends!
Go have a cup of tea and let it take you to a peaceful moment.

 Pictures taken in the past, but fun to remember.

There is something seductive to me in listening to Gypsy Woman
and thinking of the sway of her hips
and the flick of her head as she dances.
There is a bit of soul in those thoughts
wondering how would that feel to just let loose and dance.

Listen to gypsy woman https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiozPXDHnYc
Let your imagination flow.

I started this post quite awhile ago and it just smoldered in the back of my mind.

There is something so earthy in my inner self when I see that word "gypsy".

Gypsy reminds me of a free spirit, someone that lives outside the box

who walks with a sway and has no qualms about wearing her heart in the way

she flows with mismatched clothes and dances  when the spring time tiptoes

into the light. She walks barefoot through the forest floor that softly gives

the fragrance of pine needles and moss.

Sometimes she breaks the rules and sometimes she flirts with the old gentlemen

sitting on the bench. Her hair is laced with flowers and ferns. She fancies the

playfulness of a child dancing and singing whether there is anyone to listen or not.

What would you wear as your alter gypsy self?
Would there be a sway to your hips
and toe tapping out the music played?
I think she would be a strong woman, a woman that knows herself,
and listens to her own drummer.
Have fun today just imagining!
I know I did just thinking on this post.

What says summertime to you?

Shaved ice is the ultimate summertime for me;

so recently I found a restaurant that serves them year round.

Does that mean I will have shaved ice in winter?

Possibly!!!

I adore shaved ice.

My favorite flavors are cherry, root beer, and banana.

Sometimes I have them combine the three.

Do you like/love shaved ice in the summertime?

Do you search them out and just smile when you find a source?

Now you know!

Shaved ice for me is my summertime DELIGHT.

 A pink Thunderbird touched my heart with memories.

Many years ago a friends brother saw me waiting for a bus to head home after work.

He pulled over in a pink Thunderbird, one just like this, and said, how often do you

get a chance to ride in a pink Thunderbird?

Well my one time was then and I never forgot it.

Isn't it sweet?

Happening upon a parade of fascinating cars this one did make my heart sing.

"It's never to late to have a happy childhood"
The words on the dashboard of this green delight.

An unexpected parade of cars just made me smile, flames and all.

 More flames!

Oh I could just imagine driving this soft yellow sweetness.

Couldn't you?

Do you like to drive down the road with the wind blowing

through your hair?

Do you crank up the music a tad too load

and sing along to your hearts content? 

Does the adrenalin say go a little faster?

Or is it just me?

Me dreaming of those waves.

Sitting in the automotive repair shop just yesterday I sipped my morning tea and nibbled on a scone.

After all it was early and I hadn't had breakfast yet.

Once done with breakfast in this tiny man cave of cars, I looked for something to read.

Next to me was a pile of "old" magazines sitting on a small table.

There was one People Magazine from 2012 where Justin was the topic,

many automotive magazines, and a more recent Surfer magazine.

Well I thought at least the Surfer magazine would have some pretty pictures;

so I picked it up and began to read.

I was becoming engrossed in this magazine when all to soon my car was ready.

The article that caught my eye in the Surfer magazine was a list of about 6 things
to make you a better surfer.  I soon realized this was not only for surfers, but for anyone.
One of the points, I think #2, said to toss out or give away clothes, wetsuits, and boards
that were damaged and had holes.  The reason was that when you surrounded yourself
with undamaged goods you felt better about yourself and thus moved with more confidence.
Yes, I thought, when I am wearing something that makes me feel good, I walk with more confidence.

The statement that most hit me though was, "What makes you a better version of yourself?"
What gives you confidence?  What makes you brave?
What makes you face difficult situations and feel good about it at the other end?

I know this is a bit longer than I usually write, but sometimes things just percolate in my mind
until I must share with you.   For me I want always to be a "better version" and be brave,
yet I sit passively back and let life happen.
This percolating time has helped me to at least notice and take action.
Now if I were 18 years old I would definitely be out there on that surf board,
but as a woman of an older age I will choose other activities.
But who knows where life will lead us if we are BRAVE and becoming a "better version"
of ourselves? 

The following youtube I have had for awhile to share with you.  I hope you enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUQsqBqxoR4

Knowing that I love camera's, my half sister gave me her mother's old Kodax.

It was fascinating to take a peek into the last photos her mother took before

she stopped snapping photos.

What I use this camera for is to take digital photos through the viewfinder.

Can you see my reflection and the trees I am seeing through the viewfinder?

I found this Brownie, a very simple box camera, at an antique shop in Wisconsin

a few years ago.  It was $5. and I couldn't resist.

Do you see the viewfinder on it, it pops up and works quite well to help in framing

the photo.  Also check out the rustic lever for taking the picture.

It took me awhile to find film for this little gem, but I found a place right

here in Portland that sells the film and also does the developing.

Now this is my new beauty.

My mother-in-law gave me a little money last Christmas

and I wanted to buy something special.

After all these months I decided this was it.

It feels like I am taking pictures with Mickey Mouse's camera

because it is big and again quite simple.

The fun thing is the picture pops out the top of the camera

and in minutes I see the results.

Now I must say my Canon Rebel is the camera I most often use;

but when I want a different effect or just to play a bit,

these cameras just make me smile.

Do you like taking pictures?

What camera makes you smile?

 

 

Pure Delight!

Passion
A glimmer only do I see
A spark takes hold and begins to shine.
Only a spark at first.
It grows
It ignites
It envelops
and consumes.
The fire has been created
and soon it dances with exuberance.
It is said a fire becomes
the color of the heart.
Yes, reds and gold
and heat do sing in my chest.
In this my singing heart
I find passion.
Passion is of the heart
A Joy not to be contained
a fire burns there
I know it does
I will dance and embrace this heart full of Passion,
this heart of God.

~m.miller

At the park recently I found art by young children on the fence.
Oh yes, it is art from the heart and tells the story true.

Relyn, my blogging friend from Come Sit by My Fire, recently asked me
how did I find time to be creative when my children were young and I worked full time?
What a good question.  I have always had a creative heart and a burning
passion to create; so how did I do it?

For a young mom with a busy schedule maybe something on this list
will help you find a way to fulfill your creative spark.

1. Set aside a couple hours either one evening or on the weekend just for you and making something.
Keep it simple, so you can see results quickly.

2. Have art supplies and make time for creative projects with your children.  I also did art projects
with neighbor children and on Wednesday evenings with the children at church.
Most often I avoided paper because those got destroyed before they got home.
It could be something with clay (I found someplace to have things fired), painted rocks, yarn ropes,
a little paper such as paper bag puppets, and built simple bird houses.

3. Planned and had creative birthday parties for my children. 

4. From time to time I would take a creative class just to have a set time and learn something I didn't know.  One time I signed up for a class and didn't even know what it was, I just knew it was something creative and I needed a time out place to go and play.  One time my family camped in a sheep pasture for a week, so I could take a week long course on learning to spin and make natural dyes.  Now this was when I had a new baby, so I hadn't gone back to work yet.   Having a supportive husband helped with this excursion into creativity.

It is so important for a creative soul to keep the spark alive.
I know many of my readers don't have young children and work, but may be able to add to the list.

What have you done to find creative pursuits while raising young children and working full time?

 

 

Happy Valentine's Day

My red chocolate box is filled with love and chocolates again.
Some extra morning sleep was my blessing.
Now time for tea in the sweet birdie teapot.
Off soon to lunch with my sweet aunt.
Yes, the aunt that love chocolates.
So chocolates will be part of the day,
and always searching for flowers.

How will you celebrate the day?
Chocolates and flowers?
A special tea?
A special love?
Enjoy!

 

My word for this year of 2012 has been PASSION.
A word I struggled with and must come to peace with as I rest and reflect on the year.
Passion seems like such a dramatic word.
 A word that comes to mind as being sexual, but it is so much more.
It is noticing what makes my heart happy, what drives me to do what I do.
I have noticed as a California girl by birth that barefeet and nature sing to my heart as they did as a child.
Moments of friendship, moments of quiet, seeing the stars and the moon at night,
smelling the baby smells of my new grandson.
Rejoicing in the colors of nature as I sit here sipping tea.
Waiting for the sun to shine again.
Joey sitting nearby just to be close for a friendly hug or just a hello.
Just noticing what I notice and letting my heart sing.
That is what PASSION is to me.

Did a word pick you this past year?
I hope if it did you learned something special from it.
Yes, a word has picked me again and soon I will share my word for 2013.

 

 

Why I don't mention books here, I don't know.
They are a big part of my life.
I love books!
I can't sleep at night if I haven't read a page or two (when really tired)
or many chapters (when captured by the story).
Do you love books?
Do you read with a book in hand or a reading device?
Which do you prefer?
But most of all what are you enjoying these days?
I picked up an oldie recently and enjoying Fried Green Tomatoes by Fannie Flagg.
Wasn't sure I would enjoy it, but I am.
Take a book to bed tonight and enjoy!

 

 

 

 

From wikipedia:

Transferware is a style of ceramics including pottery, dinnerware, and other delicate items. It uses transfer printing, a decorative technique which was developed in England in the mid-18th century, particularly around the Staffordshire region.

I fell in love with Transferware about a year ago and began collecting teacups
in different patterns.  Only one teacup per pattern.
But something was missing, a teapot.
On our road trip I started looking for a teapot, but didn't find one that wasn't
damaged, wrong color, or too spendy.
After arriving home I searched on etsy.com
and found just what I was looking for.

On the bottom it says "Made in England".
The castle is Farnham Castle in 1792.
Those are the only markings, but then
I don't buy for markings.
Long ago I decided when I buy it is just because I love it.
That is my personal philosophy when I visit an antique shop
or any other shopping.  I really must just love it.

 

Relyn at Come Sit by My Fire is sharing Passion this month and since it is my word for the year I will try to
share a few of my thoughts on Passion throughout the month.

Awhile back the Parade Magazine in the Sunday newspaper had an article on "Track Your Passion".
It always fascinates me that when I am paying attention to a specific word it pops up in the most
unexpected places.  Here it was right in my Sunday newspaper.
They said that identifying your passion is a methodical process.
What do you think?  I am not sure.
Their list included:
1.  Notice if you are on a cold, or joyless, trail.  They suggest checking your memory to find what has given you joy in the past.
2. Recall a hot track.  Are there times that you forgot time was passing because you were loving what you were doing?
3. Spot the patterns.  Are there patterns in what you love and are drawn to?
4. Warm up your life.  Examine your schedule.  Are there some things that don't bring joy,
can one of these be eliminated and choose to add something that brings you JOY?
Would doing this allow you to feel more passionate about life?
Track these things for awhile and evaluate.
It's the small things that can end up setting you in a direction that would add more Passion.

This is primarily what the articles said.
So I have been looking and found I love and am passionate about being outdoors.
Walking at the sea shore and watching a beautiful sunset bring great passion into my heart.
It totally delights me.
It makes me smile.
And I can feel the PASSION.
Just off the top of your head, what one thing pops into your head when you think on these things?

Picture here a photograph of rows of lovely French macarons. 

 The first row holding the deep brown of chocolate.

The second row shining yellow, sweet passion fruit.

The third row is the deep raspberry color of raspberries.

and

The fourth row holds a soft green, the green you would

see on this first day of spring with the fresh buds and leaves

just beginning to unfurl, it is a pistachio macaron sitting there.

Can you picture it?

Can you imagine the flavor of each?

Do you love French macarons like I do?

This is surely a PASSION, 

my word this year.

No picture, but what is created in your mind.

Each room in the Sylvia Beach Hotel is decorated for a different author.
The Colette room is the room my husband reserved.
It is one of the nicest rooms at the hotel with three windows looking out at the ocean
and a small private deck, plus a fireplace.
Each time we stay here we try to stay in a different room.
I didn't know much about Colette, but enjoyed picking up the book,
The Collected Stories of Colette edited by Robert Phelps.
I found her to be very descriptive in her writing.
Now I want to read more of her short stories.

I learned that she liked tea, cats, and the sea;
a girl after my own heart.

Here is a short excerpt from Gray Days:

Not so very long ago I went exploring.
I love the outdoors and vintage delights.
Discovering beauty in my surroundings is definitely one of my passions,
especially when it involves the out of doors.
Even on a blustery, Winnie the Pooh sort of day,
I love wrapping up in mitten, warm coat, and a scarf,
and venturing out of doors.

Do you love exploring?
Where do you go when you go exploring?
Is it outdoors or a mall?
There are many ways of exploring
and I hope each week presents you with opportunities to delight your soul.

Happy Chinese New Year!
Open your doors and windows to let all the bad flow away,
then welcome the new year with a fresh face.

This is not a passion flower, but the color is warm and feels passionate.
When I share this year about PASSION, the colors will be warm.

Recently when PASSION tapped me on the shoulder
there was an article in our local paper, The Oregonian.
They shared a story about Gertrude Rempter.
Now I didn't know Gertrude, who recently died at 99 years.
What struck me in reading about her life was her PASSION
for a career in physics and microscopy.
She worked until weeks before her death in a lab at
Portland State University.  "Her work on electron microscopes
aided the development of military night vision goggles and her advice
was coveted among industry professionals from Tektronix and other tech companies."
Her son stated, "She wasn't a (militant) feminist; she just quietly went ahead and
did what she knew she or any woman should be able to do."
She also raised five children, had horses and chickens on an eight-acre farm, baked pies,
and made jam.  What an amazing, passionate woman.

When I am 99 years, I would love to be remembered as a woman of PASSION,
who "did what she knew she or any woman should be able to do."

***********
My friend krys has a lovely give away going on.
Visit http://kryskirkpatrickdesign.blogspot.com/ to check it out.
Krys is also a woman of PASSION.