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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

You know you're a book nerd when...

...you walk into a bookstore and walk out with at least four new books in a series you are reading. And it's only one series in many you are reading, but you are giddy because you found them and know they are there waiting patiently for you to read them.

And you assign feelings to books like *waiting patiently*.

An herbal caramel apple tea.

Back to it

I have really neglected my self care lately. I've been so busy that I haven't worked out in weeks and I can't even say my diet is particularly healthy. That ends today.

One of the things I've missed doing is a cup of herbal tea in the evenings, as I wind down the day toward bed. I found the handiest mug earlier this year. It has a little pocket in the back to hold the used tea bag. Tonight it will be Hibiscus Mint tea.

Election Day

Today is Election Day. No matter what the polls say, it ain't over 'til it's over. Tonight I will be up as late as necessary until the election is called and over. There will probably be wine.

But this morning I am being peaceful. And hopeful. And optimistic. And sipping an herbal vanilla cream spice tea.

Too busy

I didn't get to post last week. Between visiting my dad in the hospital and dealing with kitten antics, I was just too busy. And tired. Now that things are settling back down, I sat down this morning with a cup of tea. A delicious herbal with caramel, peach, and coconut. I sat and cross stitched while I sipped. It. Was. Divine.

He's a keeper

Hubby had to make a stop at a bathroom while on the road the other day. I guess he didn't feel right using the establishment's bathroom without making a purchase, so he brought me home a very large iced tea. He's a keeper.

So I sit here and sip a very lovely herbal super berry tea, with strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries.

And the other side:

Relaxing

It's Friday. What better to do than relax. A nice herbal lemon tea, put my feet up, and read. Yeah, I'm a party animal.

C'mon fall!

I know fall officially starts tomorrow, but where I live, it'll be another month before we even start to feel it even a little. I complain about the heat, but I don't mind it really all that much. I have a good ac and I love iced tea, so I'm usually pretty good. I just mind not being able to go for walks in the park because it's so danged hot!

Which, of course, makes perfect sense I still drink hot tea, right?

This mug is one of my oldest and one of my favorites. It has a history. I bought my first one at our local renfest one year. Later, during an out of state move, it tumbled out of the moving truck we were driving and onto a concrete curb and shattered. Heartbroken, we bought another one at the next renfest just like it. My toddler bumped against the rack that held all of my mugs and only one came smashing to the floor. Guess which one. So, third time's a charm. I kind of guard it like someone obsessed, which I guess I am.

I am drinking another herbal fruit tea.

Broken toes and tea

One summer, a few years ago, I had the misfortune to repeatedly manage to break my toes. I very nearly bought steel toed boots to clomp and stomp around in, I got so tired of my clumsiness. I vowed I would be more careful in the future, and I have! Until the other night.

Late night. Dark stairs. Lounging cat. You put the pieces together. No, I didn't step on the cat. But his sudden movement startled me and I lost my balance in my attempt to avoid stepping on him, and...well, I managed not to fall down the stairs. But did manage to do something funky, and now I'm limping around like an old woman. It might be just a sprain this time, since there is no bruising. I'm hoping.

So today I am giving myself some love in a mug and drinking an herbal tea from my daughter. The writing is in French, so I can't read it all, but have figured out it has hibiscus, apples, rosehips, elderflower, raspberry flavoring, orange peel and orange flavoring. Oh, and see the little heart shaped spoon?

Talk Like a Pirate Day

Since today is Talk Like a Pirate Day, and Hallowe'en is coming!,  this mug seems perfect.

The tea is an herbal caramel peach - kind of another perfect choice: summery, yet fally.

Gardening, revisited

Years ago, my daughter chose as her Gold Award for Girl Scouts a gardening project. She taught container gardening to a group of 4H students. As a thank you, she received the cutest mug; it looked like a clay pot. I wanted one! Fast forward to 2016, and I just happened to find one. My daughter's is labeled, appropriately, since it was a thank you. But mine is plain, just like I wanted.

Today I sip a lemon ginger herbal tea.

Belief

I'm not big on belief, to be honest. Hope and change, maybe, but not belief. At least not in any spiritual sense. Today, though, I am choosing to believe, as I sip my herbal tea with wild berries.

Routines

I've never been one big on routines. Oh, I try them on for size every now and then, but they never really stick with me. Too much of a rebel, I guess. But lately I've been doing something with a semblance of routine, and I'm very much enjoying it.

Every morning when I get up, I make myself a cup of herbal tea, and I cross stitch. It's quiet, it's peaceful, and it's enjoyable. Today my herbal tea has lavender flowers, boysenberries, and much more. It's a good way to start my day.