Tea Talk

When I was a kid, the Labor Day weekend signaled the end of summer, the precursor of going back to school and the cooling off of the weather. As I got older and joined the workforce, it was just an excuse for time off work. This year, for some reason, I started actually thinking about Labor Day, how it began and what it symbolized. Since I really didn’t know much about it except it was time off work, I decided to do some research. Labor Day is traditionally observed on the first Monday in September. It pays tribute to the...

We had a big debate the other day in the store about the pros and cons of what kind of cup you drink your tea out of. It was so much fun to hear who enjoyed what and why. I had a couple of surprises with friends telling me their preferences. So, I’m a BIG mug kind of gal, especially in the morning. I like large, handmade, one-of-a-kind ceramic mugs that feel good in my hands. My cupboard at home has a very eclectic collection of great mugs that I’ve found over the years at art fairs. This inspired me...

What is your morning like? Are you heading back to the office and the morning commute? Do you have kids going back to school, or do you still get to work from home? My morning is definitely different today than when I had kids at home. Now I just have my husband and my dogs to claim my morning attention. What is the same is that I’m a “slow starter.” That means I prefer not to get up at the crack of dawn, leap out of bed, and hit the ground running. I like to enjoy a little bit of...

As summer starts winding down, I think it's time for a Garden Tea Party. What better way to celebrate the end of a beautiful summer season than having an outdoor tea party with good friends. We're going to enjoy some excellent iced teas and a pot or two of hot tea for a few ladies who prefer their teas hot. And then there are scones and lemon curd, savory tea sandwiches and sweets, bite-size desserts and treats, and a few other goodies. It's a time to enjoy each other's company, laugh, and celebrate friendship. I've found I like fussing a...

I started drinking tea at a very young age, probably 4 or younger, compliments of my Grandma. She would sit down for a cup, and of course, I wanted to be just like her, so she would make me a cup too. I'm sure initially, it was a very weak cup of black tea with a bit of milk and possibly sugar added. I truly don't remember exactly, but I was drinking black tea without any milk or sugar when I hit my teenage years. I laughingly called this "naked tea." Since I only drink tea, no coffee, when I...