Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Curses!

I got my new cabinet delivered and it doesn't hold all my mugs! Well, it does hold most of them, so that totally counts for something. And I was able to place my overflow cookbooks on the available shelves, so it's kinda sorta working out. I can't say I'm disappointed. More, I'm not surprised. And, I think I found another mug I haven't taken a picture of.

But today is the second of the superly duperly large mugs I mentioned yesterday. This one specifically says not to be used with food, and that's okay. It's just too enormous for a simple cup of tea. But, it was a gift from my youngest, so it's special.


Today, despite the freezing weather, I had a glass of iced tea with my lunch. In my mind, iced tea is the perfect beverage for every day of the year.

Monday, December 19, 2016

Getting organized

Later today, I am hoping a cabinet gets delivered that will finally provide a good place to store all of my mugs. Currently they occupy way too many shelves in my pantry, and I'd love to free up that space for another collection - cookbooks.

With this in mind, I've been drinking tea (of course!), but lately have been leaning more toward the more regular types of plain black tea. Today it is one called London Tea.

And, no, this isn't the mug I am drinking it out of, just one of two oversized mugs I've gotten over the last couple of years. They are waaay too big for sipping tea; they can hold at least an entire pot of tea and probably much more. I have them because they make me happy.

Which, after you see this one, you may question my sanity.


Friday, December 16, 2016

Believe it or not

I have finally reached the end of my mug posts! This year I have purchased several additions and managed to lose only one (thanks, honey! LOL!). My posted collection does not include my husband's collection (yes, he has a few of his own, but he drinks coffee mostly so they don't count ;) ) It also doesn't include my teapot/teacup combo sets (more on those later!), and probably doesn't include a few of the Christmas mugs. And I haven't even touched on my otherwise growing and fairly extensive tea related collection of teapots and tea accessories.

But, at least I managed to get all my mugs posted about, and no, oh-friend-of-mine-that-issued-the-original-challenge, I don't appear to have an entire year's worth of mugs. So, my final count, minus anything mentioned above, is 178. Today's teacup/mug isn't included in this count, because it's not quite a stand alone.

Today I am enjoying an English Toffee rooibos.


Thursday, December 15, 2016

Alone again, naturally

I was trying to think of something using the word natural, when that lyric popped into my head. No, I'm not alone. I actually am surrounded by amazing people.

I thought of the word natural because of the mug. It's a simple pottery mug. And I am enjoying a gingerbread chai rooibos today.


Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Saying goodbye

This morning we will say goodbye to my dad at a graveside memorial service. It will be sure to bring some closure for us, but also likely to feel too final. All of us will be there, sharing our stories about my dad with each other.

Last week when I highlighted one of his fruity teas, I managed to overlook one, an orange spice green. So today I am having that tea, and thinking of him, remembering our mutual love of tea.

I love you, Dad!




Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Excited

Yesterday afternoon I was gifted with one of those smaller blenders, where you place a cup on top and blend directly into the cup. I am so excited, because I regularly drink smoothies, and this will make doing it so much quicker!

Of course, smoothies will never replace my daily tea habit. Today it is a peppermint mocha rooibos.


Monday, December 12, 2016

It's okay to self indulge

Last Friday, I had the pleasure of attending a live musical performance with my daughter. I'm not a big fan of live music, but this was a blues band, and I figured it would fit best with my life right now. I have to say, the singer, Annika Chambers, has a fabulous voice! And it felt good to get out and not have to socialize, just sit back and listen.

As an introvert, I recharge through silence. No, attending a live music performance certainly does not qualify as silence, but not having to really engage with anyone, or at least very little, is soothing.

Today I am drinking a Ceylon Uva black tea. The Uva district is a remote area, and is exposed to both the winds of the northeast and southwest monsoons. They say this gives the tea an exotically aromatic flavor.

All I know is music, and tea, both soothe my soul.


Friday, December 9, 2016

And finally, fruity week closes

With a Mango green tea. I have sipped each and every one as a salute to my dad.



Thursday, December 8, 2016

Apples to oranges

Today the fruity tea is an Apple Orchard green tea. Seems fitting for our finally getting cooler weather.


My adorable gnome mug. Yes, the hat comes off.

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

My dad and his tea

Yesterday I talked about my dad, and mentioned his love of tea. He had a small collection of tea himself, and my mom gave them to me. This week, I'm dedicating each post to one of his teas.

I stated he preferred fruity teas? Yep, all the teas this week are fruity. Yesterday it was Georgia Peach. Today it is Lemon Twist green tea.


This mug has its own strainer inside.

Monday, December 5, 2016

My dad

On November 20, I lost my dad. He had beat cancer, but succumbed to the ravages of age and a life well lived. As we age ourselves, we know the time will come when our parents eventually leave us, but it is always too soon.

My dad was my tea drinking buddy. Whenever he would stop by for a visit, I would make a pot of tea for the two of us. I would ask what kind of tea today, because I have so many. He always asked for something fruity. Funny, I only realized the other day, but both my mom and I are Georgia Peaches, and my dad's favorite tea was peach. I shared this revelation with her, and we both had a good chuckle.

My father was an amazing man. A master mechanic, he could fix literally anything. No matter what, he found a way. He loved to tinker, and said that was the way to learn. One thing he particularly loved to tinker with was watches and clocks. He would buy them, often used, just to take them apart, clean them up, and put them back together again, better than ever. His bedroom is adorned with several clocks. He once asked me what I would like of his once he was gone. Without hesitation, I said his clocks and watches. He seemed surprised by my request, but immediately said, "They're yours!" I haven't gotten them from my mom yet. I will when she is ready to let them go. The night he died I spent the night in his room, listening to the numerous ticking sounds. After awhile, it became almost musical. And comforting, knowing this was what he went to sleep to every night.

Another of our shared passions was treasure hunting, or, as he called it, junk shopping. On his birthday and Father's Day, I would pick him up and we would hit as many as we could. Our last time together doing this, we hit about eight or nine, and made purchases at each. It kind of became a game, to not break our streak. And, of course, what did he buy? Mostly clocks and watches. I will forever cherish those times, because no one else quite understood or loved doing it like he did. Every time I go on a treasure hunt now, he will be on my mind.

The most peculiar thing I ever did with my father was take a tai chi class together. This may not seem like a strange thing to most people, but you'd have to have known my dad to understand why this was amusing. I don't ever remember my dad exercising, other than going for walks or the occasional bike ride, much less taking an exercise class. But there we were, in a crowded room, doing tai chi.

My dad was a somewhat gruff, very opinionated on how a man should be, kind of guy. And yet, he knew how to sew. Just another of his many talents, but one that always made me kind of chuckle. My manly man dad could sew. The same man who would never teach me how to fix the plumbing, or how to do anything more to my car than check the oil, because I have a husband and sons, knew how to use a sewing machine, and sewed things.

He was a veteran, serving during the Korean War. He first drove a jeep during that time, and always wanted a jeep. He talked about getting one just this year.

He deeply loved his boxer, Baron. He'd always wanted a boxer, and an opportunity presented itself, and Baron became a member of the family. My dad worried Baron would outlive him and what would happen to him then. Baron did cross over before my dad did, and they will now be buried together.

He could cook, even if his repertoire was pretty much limited to breakfast, chili, and fried potatoes. His stuffing balls he made for Thanksgiving are a wonderful memory. Simple, but satisfying. I think what I will miss the most, though, was his mush. He would purchase special cornmeal to make the mush, and made it every now and then. But when he did, he always made sure to send some home with me. My mom gave me his mush making pot the other day. I will most definitely make some.

He truly was one of a kind, and I will miss him every day of my life. Today I am drinking a Georgia Peach green tea. In a new cat mug, because, guess what? He loved cats, too.

I love you, Dad!