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.