Pampered Recipe

Recipe for a good Pampering

First, clean the tub and fill with warm to hot water.
Second, turn on the tea kettle. When hot, pour the water into a small teapot. Add one chamomile tea bag.
Third, go find your favorite CDs and a player.
Fourth, search for that bath salt or oil given to you last Christmas.
Fifth, find some clean PJs and a towel. Put them in the bathroom.
Sixth, grab your journal.
Seventh, turn on the hot water in the tub because it's cold by now. Add the salt.
Eighth, bring in your tea, music, and journal.
Ninth, light a candle and take the phone off the hook.
Tenth, climb in and reap the rewards of your hard labor (searching, heating, gathering).

Be pampered.

Spring

As anyone who has spoken with me knows, I am ready for spring to come in full. We have had some very nice weather here and there in March, but we have also had snow, and snow is in the forecast for this weekend.

Today it was very much like spring. It warmed my cabin-fever-ish heart.

I dug in the garden! Yep, and helped Rissa and Sully make a volcano with baking soda and vinegar. We walked to the park with Jack, our cockerspaniel, and we felt the warmth of the sun on our shoulders.

I hope that real spring--the almost summer spring-- comes soon. Until then, I will thank God for the spring that comes and goes.

Believe in the LORD your God

"Then Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the LORD, worshiping the LORD. And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the LORD, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.

And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed." And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say,

'Give thanks to the LORD,
for his steadfast love endures forever.'

And when they began to sing and praise, the LORD set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed."

2 Chronicles 20: 18-22

Tea Update!

I said I'd share my impressions on the teas, and here I am! This is what I bought, the package description, and my own personal impressions.

China Keemun. The burgundy of teas from the Anhui province in China. Full bodied with a light, toasty taste. I tried this tea first, and to my chagrin, although not to my surprise, I didn't like the "toasty taste." Other than that it had a pleasant, I thought light, flavor. Maybe the toastiness grows on you, I don't know. My friend thought it reminded her of smoked salmon. Yech.

Kopili Assam. Bold but very drinkable, this unique Assam is bursting with rich, round flavor. In a class by itself, this tea is very appealing. I liked this tea. It was...dark. In a way it was almost bitter, but it made me think of a heavy tea that would be awesome with chocolate. I'll definitely be drinking this one! Probably in the morning, as a strong wake up.

Kenilworth Ceylon Estate. From on of the most famous tea gardens in Sri Lanka. Long attractive leaves equisite flavor subtle body. Excellent afternoon tea. I really, really liked this tea. It wasn't as dark as the Assam, had no aftertaste like the Keemun, and was almost sweet, with a kinda flowery flavor. I'll drink this one up too!

Black Needle Yunnan. This classic tea has large, wiry, open twisted buds of gloriously tippy tea. It's delicious and full-bodied, with a classic, clean and brisk Yunnan character. I haven't tried this tea yet.

Black Pearl. Tiny pearls of hand-rolled black tea produce a brew with a pleasing aroma and a delicate sweetness. Start with 5-6 pearls per cup. From the Yunnan province in China. I haven't tried this tea yet either, but I'm guessing it will be similar to the Black Needle Yunnan because they come from the same province. I look forward to finding how I like them!

I hope you've enjoyed this taste test with me! If anyone wants to try one of these in person come on over and we'll have a pot of tea together and chat. Tea is the best kind of social drinking! :)

C.S. Lewis on Tea

You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me - C.S. Lewis

Camellia sinensis

You'll never guess what I ordered last night.
That's right, TEA.

Loose tea from Stash. Black tea, Assam, and tea from China.

To find some of the wildest, fanciest possibilities in tea drinking pleasure, visit my link at the right to the Stash Tea Company in Oregon.

I am so excited to discover the new flavors now in route to my house.
Updates on the kinds and impressions to come!

It's All About Perspective!

OK so I'm weird. I know it. But aren't these cool pictures involving perspective? Especially the hand...my middle finger isn't really that big, honest! (ps. who am I being with the big icicle? comment if you know :) We had a great time with that big icicle. It was everything...even a light-saber. It was almost as tall as my brother!