Strange how a teapot can represent at the same time the comforts of solitude and the pleasures of company. ~Author Unknown
...for tea, though ridiculed by those who are naturally coarse in their nervous sensibilites, or are become so from wine-drinking, and are not susceptible of influence from so refined a stimulant, will always be the favored beverage of the intellectual... -Thomas De Quincy
[I am a] hardened and shameless tea drinker, who has for twenty years diluted his meals only with the infusion of this fascinating plant; whose kettle has scarcely time to cool; who with tea amuses the evening, with tea solaces the midnight, and with tea welcomes the evening. -Samuel Johnson
Excerpts from my gratitude journal -
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
A dumb thing – but I am thankful for tea. It is relaxation and invigoration and astringent cleansing all in a cup.
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
I am thankful for strong tea – such a great astringent for the tongue!!
Thursday, April 28, 2005
I am thankful for new discoveries in tea – I just found my new favorite tea next to Ashby’s Apricot...New Republic has a black tea with blood orange and pomegranate and it is awesome!!
Sunday, January 07, 2007
I am thankful for small things like when I spilled my tea this morning it fell into a basket that had a plastic liner so the carpet wasn’t stained for the gazillioneth time.
Oh - I should add a bit about the teapot. I started to drink tea when I was pregnant with C. After my pregnancy, I planned to return to coffee. It did not happen. Coffee no longer tasted good. The little blue teapot I bought when I was pregnant received daily use for the next two years - then I decided I was drinking more than the poor thing could handle. So told hubby I would like another one. So for Mother's Day when I was pregnant with K I got this one. It is a very nice teapot - that can actually double as a kettle. Well - then I went through two pots a day (I drink it iced - lousy American that I am). Eventually, the blue one was riddled with cracks and I was afraid she would literally break apart so I started combing the thrift stores. It took me several months and several false pots before I found this ones slightly homely big sister. I paid five dollars for it and considering how much these pots cost when new it was a delight. The newest 'used' one doesn't have quite as nice of shape and the handle is woven willow instead of bamboo with heavy wire hooks instead of the lovely copper ones that this one has. The poor thing was also clearly mistreated by the owners as it is has a white streak/stain running down one side that nothing will remove. However, it is a steady pot and I have two pots that I think will last me for years to come.
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ReplyDeleteMe this is so lovely! I too rather shamelessly love tea : ) There is something so deeply not just nourishing but...nurturing... about tea, and a mini healing and retreat. I love the pot too...and the story behind it.
ReplyDeleteWill be gathering the links to all the Love Letters From God posts tonight and posting them on the blog (and then more later if more happen later). I'm so glad you joined in this Me, thank you so much! And I smile everytime i see the graphic you helped with here, its so beautiful...
Blessed Day Today : ) Wendy
What wonderful memories your writing today brought to my mind.
ReplyDeleteI see Martin B. who lived east of your Grandparents farm. In the morning Nellie would fill a couple of Mason quart jars with sweet hot milk tea. She would wrap the jars in newspaper and we would take them with us to the field. Once there, Martin would wrap each jar in a burlap bag and place it by the tractor engine to keep it warm. Then mid morning we would stop what ever we were doing and find some shade to sit in and drink our hot tea.
In the afternoon Nellie would fill the Mason jars with cold tea. She just used tea, no sugar or any other additives. Then come mid afternoon we would once again find some shade and have our tea. I always enjoyed working with Martin B. He never seemed to rush. He always worked at a slow steady pace.
Hi Me
ReplyDeleteThere is NOTHING that soothes the savage brow better than a nice pot of tea!
how is it that your photographs not only complement your words, but broaden them as well :) ?
ReplyDeleteI've missed your images, written and pictured....
I love herbal tea, but never liked conventional. You would probably look Homemakers Haven, Kelleigh's blog she is quite into tea right now. Links on my blog somewhere.
ReplyDeleteMy love letters post is up too.
Hugs.
Thank you so much for your encouraging and sweet comment, in my *New Blogger*.
ReplyDeleteAnd I was thinking of the subject of "A Grateful Journal," last evening. Well, I was reading the lady who wrote one. Or who based one of her books, on one. {Sarah Ban Breathnach} So it didn't pop into my head, all on my own.
But the point {for me} should be, for it to come front-and-center for _me_, as it does for you. I hope it has. And I'll keep reading your entries... to keep it there.
'MN'
How lovely!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by and commenting - I'm so glad you did, for I feel as if I've found a treasure here. I will be back when I have time to sit and savor!
Blessings!