Ending the year of teacups

I posted all of last year and some this year about my collection of teacups, mostly at the behest of my friend Susan, who essentially challenged me. I still have cups to share, but since the end of this year draws to a close, didn't want to continue with individual posts featuring my mugs. So I am presenting the remaining ones in this last blog post of 2017. I am hoping next year to post more on tea sandwiches and recipes using tea as an ingredient.

Here they are, the last mugs not yet featured. And, you can be certain I will still be buying mugs!

This brings my grand total - so far - to 219 (for those of you who have asked). Still not the 365 that Susan was certain I own. And, yes, I do use each and every one of them.

Breakfast for supper

Hubby surprised me the other evening by offering to make breakfast for supper. It was a cold night and decided upon our usual favorite pastime of watching old movies with supper. Because it was evening and I always like a cuppa with breakfast, I didn't want to do my usual caffeine. I settled upon a creme caramal decaf tea. It was perfect!

Preparations have begun

We've never been ones to rush Christmas. Some folks around us have everything up by Thanksgiving, but we've always tended to wait until around the 15th of December. I couldn't wait, tho, so started a little early. And an early start, of course, means breakfast. Irish Breakfast it is!

Will wonders never cease

It actually snowed where I live. Honest to goodness snow. Enough to build a small snowman and certainly enough to throw a snowball. Which I did. It is indeed a rarity here for such an event, conditions have to be just right.

Naturally I put on sweatpants and a sweatshirt and curled up with a cuppa. This time is was a holiday chai with gingerbread and rum. Delicious!

Feeling Peaceful

I like to end my evenings on a peacful, calming note. Toward that purpose I like to drink an herbal tea. I curl up in my recliner, sip my herbal tea, and read. It winds down the day and helps to prepare me for sleep. No tv. Sometimes I will cross stitch. Regardless, it leads to contentment and peace.

Last night it was an herbal blend of apples, linden, ginger, marjoram, lemongrass, and lime. Lovely!

Fall? Where Are You?

Living in the south definitely has some benefits, but the weather isn't one of them. Oh sure, people flock down here because our summers are hot and our winters aren't snowy, but because of that, our weather in the fall and winter can go from needing the ac one day to needing the heater the next. It's frustrating.

Yesterday I wore shorts and today I'm wearing sweat pants. But regardless of what the weather decides to be on any given day, I'm drinking tea. Today it is a key lime green tea. Yeah, that's right, I'm mixing something particularly summery, but in a hot beverage. It's called coping.

And I'm feeling wicked, so... :)

Hello Hallowe'en!

October is one of my favorite months. I get to wear all my witchy shirts without weird looks, and all the ghost shows run month long. Yep, my kind of heaven! Naturally my witchy tea mugs get used almost exclusively this month.

Today I am enjoying a cherry vanilla black tea with my breakfast.

Happy Hallowe'en my pretties!

Finally Fall!

In the south, fall takes its time to arrive. As we  near the end of October, we are only now getting cooler temps. Hubby actually turned on the heater this morning. All of this suits me just fine, because nothing is more perfect than a cup of hot tea!

Today, oddly enough, I chose a summery tea: a green tea with passionfruit and coconut. Heaven.

Simple things

Sometimes I really dislike the city I live in, especially in the summer when the temperature can be in the triple digits. Sometimes I truly detest the state I live in, mostly due to our state level politicians. But the rest of the time, I am happy to live here.

I went for a walk at my favorite park, just outside my neighborhood. My reasons were twofold, mostly because I haven't been in months, but also to check to see if it was flooded. Oh my goodness, but it was wonderful to be there! The familiar sights, and sounds, and smells, all there for me to enjoy. I was so pleased to see that any flooding had receded, and the walking path was clear, if a little rutted. I wore a big floppy straw hat and nodded hello to all the other folks there, also taking advantage of a clear day.

It is these small things that make me love living here.

A couple of days ago my husband and I went out shopping at some local retailers. We sampled a delicious birthday cake flavored tea and I found a sexy little teacup and saucer set that is now on my Christmas wish list. We bought some fun spices at our favorite spice shop, Penzeys. I got ice cream from a recently opened vegan ice cream shop, and hubby finally got a chance to try out a coffee shop he's been wanting to go to. I tried in vain to convince him to let me bring home a sweet little kitten one of the shops had rescued; he maintained having three furry ones already at home was enough. I got a veggie hotdog and he got a burger at a burger place where we had lunch with my daughter and her wife.

Simple things.

This mug reminds me to remember, and be grateful.

The tea I am enjoying is called Happy. It is an herbal tea, and it does make me happy to sip.

The sun will come up tomorrow

Unless you live in an underground bunker, then you are aware of Hurricane Harvey and the devastation it brought. Many of my neighbors suffered tremendous loss when the floodwater rose several feet into their homes. It is sad to drive down the streets where the flooding happened and see the enormous piles of contaminated furniture and household goods.

I chose this mug today because of the sun. The waters have receded greatly in most areas, and the sunshine is most welcome.

I paired the mug with a green tea with dandelion. The dandelion is the only flower that represents the 3 celestial bodies of the sun, moon and stars. The yellow flower resembles the sun, the puff ball resembles the moon and the dispersing seeds resemble the stars. The leaves are used in salads and teas, like mine, while the roots are often used as a coffee substitute. It is a mildly bitter herb that cleanses the bloodstream and liver and increases the production of bile, and is a natural diuretic and digestive aid.

Iced white?

My daughter and I were out shopping recently, and stopped to get an iced tea. We got a black tea, but she topped hers off with green. It occurred to her she's never seen an iced white. Nor have I, out in public, but I do make iced tea at home using white tea. Today my white is doing double duty. I'm having a white tea with cucumber this morning, but using the rest for later today as an iced tea.

I even used a special cup for my iced.

Reunited

Years ago I took a trip to New Orleans with my mom. On our return home trip, we stopped somewhere to eat that had a country store. I bought the cutest mug, but through the years it was one of the few that broke. The other day I was out shopping with my daughter, when lo and behold, there is that mug! Naturally I bought it. Here's to hoping this one doesn't get to meet its predecessor!

I am enjoying a black, green, and oolong tea.

Wine tea?

I was at the store (shh, liquor store) with the fam the other day, when I saw they sell tea with wine. They are made by Republic of Tea, and I saw ones with Chardonnay, Cabernet, and Rose. I will be adding all three to my collection shortly, because, tea. And wine. So there.

For now I will sip my Chinese Restaurant tea made with oolong, jasmine, and green.

And yes, I did drink it out of this mug, even tho I do not golf. It was my dad's I was having a moment.

Remember when

Remember turntables for records? No, I mean before they started coming back. Back when they were the only thing. 33s and 45s. I still have most of mine. A few years ago I bought a turntable for them, since mine had passed to the great record playing beyond. It's been sitting on a bookcase where I can use it, but it's not really well balanced. My mom has been doing quite a bit of tidying at her home, and one thing she had she wanted to get rid of was, you guessed it, a stand specifically for turntables. And guess who she gave it to? So it is now happily ensconced in my home, being used for its original purpose. And I am contentedly listening to some of my old albums.

While drinking tea, of course! A delicious green with acai and blueberry.

Little surprises

My son went out with friends recently. He came home and told me how one of his friends bought my son a handful of items when they stopped at a specialty food store, just because. I had a chuckle at the randomness of it, but then he pulled out some tea that was part of the purchase and told me he thought I'd like it. It was Earl Grey with Lavender. Well, blow me down. So now he and I enjoy this relaxing tea.

Mixed blessings

Hubby took some vacation days last week. They are always a mixed blessing. On the con side, his being home disrupts my weekday routine, especially when the vacation is a staycation rather than going somewhere. The pro is that my mornings are much more relaxed. I know I don't have to get up sooner than I'd like to see what needs handled for the day, because I know he'll have taken care of it. I'm not suggesting we have daily upsets, but like the Picard meme, sometimes I feel like I'll look at my phone and query "Damage control".

However, another thing about him being home is I am more likely to eat breakfast, because I can do it leisurely. Other mornings I get up and tend not to eat, having my first meal at lunch, because I'm busy from the time my feet hit the floor. When he's home, I'll sit in bed and read for awhile, before getting up to start my day. I guess in reality, his disrupting my weekday routine is sounding more like a blessing!

Today's breakfast tea was a peach cobbler - a black tea with peach, cinnamon, and apple.

Tea is the perfect companion for reading

Despite having several bookshelves full of books, and fewer bookshelves than books, I've been getting a lot lately from my local library. There are two much closer to me, but I still prefer to drive to the one nearest where I grew up. They know me there. They don't look at me peculiarly based on some of my reading selections, lol!

Anyway, nothing is more pleasant that curling up with a good book, and having a cup of tea by my side.

Currently it's a vanilla chai.

Tea is a pleasure

With the outside temps being soooo hot, I haven't been drinking my morning tea as often. I still drink iced tea on a daily basis, but hot sometimes gets skipped. I live in a blessed air conditioned home, so the heat doesn't really touch me, but still, just the thought of hot beverage can make me think twice. I've known people who drink hot coffee while working outside in the summer; I don't understand it.

However, sometimes at night, I'll stay up late reading, and I'll make myself a nice cup of herbal tea. That tea tonight is a mint tea, with both spearmint and peppermint.

This mug carries a couple of meanings for me, and those who know me will one get it immediately. The other is because when it is hot outside, a little bit of suggestion (winter!) helps.

Birthday dining

My mom and I typically take one another out to eat for our birthdays. Lately, though, my mom hasn't much enjoyed any of the places we've gone. So, when my birthday rolled around, my mom suggested cooking for me. We recently attended an event at a local grocery store that featured southern foods, so I guess it gave her the idea. She made one of my favorites, something I haven't had or made in a very long time, Savannah Red Rice. I was in heaven! I came home later, filled with love and food, and sipped another herbal tea.

The Tempest

I recently had the pleasure of seeing The Tempest performed by the Houston Ballet. It was absolutely fantastic! I always admire the athleticism and grace of ballet dancers. Just so beautiful! What made the event amusing was the major storm I encountered on the way home. I adore a good storm, but not when I have to drive in it!

I was happy to get home and get into dry clothes, and sip a nice cuppa herbal tea. I found another mug with a little pocket to hold the tea bag.

Time for me

I am by nature a very politically active person. But these days, it's never ending. I finally had to say enough is enough and take some time out, free of news, and just for me. So I am. I'm luxuriating in personal care and reading up on more ways to indulge. I'm also listening to gentle music.

Today it is one of my favorites, a jasmine green.

At long last

We're finally getting another second refrigerator. Yeah, I know, privilege speaking. But it's a luxury and I love it. See, I'm a vegan, and my husband is not. Never the twain shall meet when it comes to refrigerator/freezer space. We had one years ago, but it died a slow, stinky death. We have one of those mini fridges right now, but it is insufficient to our cause. So, today, in preparation, I started scrubbing out the main fridge. I have to, you see. Meat bleeds when left in a fridge to thaw, and it's DISGUSTING. It drips on everything. Oh, yeah, something underneath it would have helped. I think you feel me now.

So now I'm relaxing with a nice hot cuppa black tea with caramel nougat. Go me.

I love my cats

I really do. Even when they cannot pass up an opportunity to destroy the jigsaw puzzle I am working on.

After reassembling it - again - I'm gonna sit back and sip a black tea with black cherry. And chill.

So thrifty

Goodwill loves me. I imagine the employees there smiling as I walk in and hand over a large trash bag of donations, and then proceed into the store to shop. I figure if I'm adding to my *stuff*, I should also be contributing to other people's, lol. I tend to go on the senior days, and see a lot of the same faces when I do. Hey, we love our sales!

Recently I bought a mug that the cashier couldn't stop talking about. She said she had seen it and had fallen in love with it. I almost, almost, felt guilty for buying it. So today I am enjoying a black peach brulee tea out of that mug.

Soon

When my daughter moved out, I claimed her room as my "play room". I haven't been able to really do with it what I want, because it's become, out of necessity, somewhat of a catch all room. I'm sure that will change soon enough.

I even have a tea maker ready to set up for that room. I'll move some of my mugs to use there. This is one:

Today I'm drinking another sinful tea. A black tea with chocolate rose. Heaven!

And you thought my mug buying days were over

Not even close. But I guess the one I'm featuring today was one I didn't buy, so much as acquired. It was my dad's. He didn't use it as a mug, but a pencil holder. We found it on his desk. And since he was a master mechanic, it makes total sense he'd have such a mug. I'm not using it to hold pencils.

I was out shopping the other day and came across this box of teas that sound kind of decadent. I'll be sharing some with you. Today it's a black tea with blood orange.

Not sure you can tell, but the bottom part of this mug is a tire. So cute! (My dad would have rolled his eyes at that). Rather fitting, as well, because I've been working outside, which includes doing some things in our garage. And, and...I'm gonna be attempting my first auto repair soon. Go me!