Lemon Balm Tea

I love this picture! If you click on it to enlarge it, you can see the little hairs on the lemon balm leaf. The surface is the glass teapot lid with condensation (full thing shown below).

It probably goes without saying, but technically this isn't tea. To truly be tea, the brew needs leaves of the camellia sinensis plant in it. Nonetheless, this is mighty fragrant and flavorful. Got some lemon balm (aka lemon mint) around? Or any mint? Just grab a handful of leaves and pour boiling water over them. Fresh goodness in a flash!

Lemon balm is in the mint family. I've just read that its crushed leaves are good to repel mosquitoes. Yay!, since I seem to attract them. Lemon balm is tough stuff. If you have a black thumb, give this a try...in a pot! Or, if you enjoy pulling up weeds, then plant this in your garden! :-) It makes a lovely tisane. And I like to add it to iced tea, fruit salads, and whatnot.

Greenies

Here are the folks playing along with the Green theme! As always, leave a comment if I've missed your posting. And thanks for all the comments!

• Hootie shares a lovely movie, with beautiful music.
• Green in all forms and textures from ParTEA Lady.
• Philigry shows off her hostas.
• A tour of greenery from Southern Touch Catering.
• Tea with Friends shows us vibrant green matcha.

Let me know if I've missed you!

One more week for the first round (four postings) of color themes, then I'll draw the winners. Next week's theme is Petal Pink! :-)

Feeling Lucky?

Then check out giveaway day at the Sew, Mama, Sew! blog.

I Spy: Green Tea (colors)

This week's color theme is Green Tea. Above, I'm steeping a green in my celadon gaiwan. Below, I'm making virgin mojitos. (I used this recipe, except I used agave nectar.)

Greens from the garden. The range of flavors is amazing!

I'm looking forward to seeing your greens and reading your comments!

A Lost Day, Found

Today was a lost day. I was supposed to ride my bike for 40 miles. It was supposed to be day three of 40 milers. (I'm in training for a week-long bike ride in June.) It was supposed to be a big confidence-builder, to do three in a row. Two in a row will have to be good enough. ("That's still 80 miles - and hilly ones, for goodness sake!" I tell myself.)

We woke at 6 am on the Monday of a 3-day weekend, and it was raining. Another check in an hour, and it's still raining. Back to bed. Cuddle and nap. Up at 9 for oatmeal and strawberries. Back to bed. Up around noon, in a blur, some talking and doing. I made mojitos and the DH made vegetarian corndogs. (I was saving them for my 3-day of 40 miles celebration). He convinced me that I had earned them anyway and I ate them eagerly. More napping. More fuzzy head. Some book reading of a book I decided I didn't like. Trying not to be grumbly. Inadvertently (??) waking the DH. He agrees to go for a walk. Ice cream. The week's planning. Finally, awake now, and it's almost time for bed.

Ever had a day like this? I'm grateful, even though I didn't know it at the time.

Star Trek Movie - Thumbs Up

I saw the Star Trek movie this afternoon, and I loved it! In high school, I was a huge Star Trek fan. My favorite series is with Captain Picard, but I like them all.

I thought this movie was entertaining and clever. It took some nifty plots workings to fit in the story line (to make space for another movie), and I think the writers did it well.

But don't take my word for it - check out President Obama's review.

Did you see it? What did you think? My favorite aspect was how they wove in the old Spock.

Without the White Stuff

The DH and I have long since given up buying white flour - except for special recipes. Same thing for white sugar, with exception. Back in February, we got a little more serious about it and since then we have purchased neither white flour nor sugar, not even for special foods.

The transition has been a lot easier than I imagined! Adjusting recipes for whole wheat flour is easy. Plus, whole wheat pastry flour is readily available now (at my local coop) and I find it quite easy to work with. Cooking with honey/agave has taken a little more adjustment, but again, it's very minor. I've even held a of tea party under the new system, and all was well.

Now don't get me wrong! I still eat white flour and sugar. I just don't bring it home for cooking. If you give me a homemade treat, I'm going to eat it!

Yellow, yellow, everywhere!

Here are the blog posts from the folks playing along with the Yellow color theme. If I've missed anyone, please let me know! There's still plenty of time to join this week's "I Spy" color fun. The color is Hello Yellow (or Mellow Yellow).

• Hootie found a very "mellow yellow" car!
• From elegant yellow glass to Sponge Bob at tea, Par Tea Lady shows her diversity!
• Angela shows us that fetching teapot in her header, among other beautiful things!
• Southern Touch Catering shows us the vibrant color of farm-fresh eggs, her gorgeous home and other lovelies!
• Comfrey Cottages shows us something she is very proud of!
• Esme found the perfect yellow book.

And here is more info on the giveaway:

Bloggers: For each time you blog about the color of the week and send me a link to your site, I will enter your name (and post your link on my blog).

Readers: For each time you leave a comment, I will enter your name into a drawing.

Not sure what the prizes will be but they'll be fun. And just to clarify my math - it's 4 total giveaways! Two for bloggers and two for readers. Yay!

Colors: OK, here's the starting list of colors. I'm posting on Tuesdays, but you can post whenever you like.
5/26 - Green Tea (thanks, Angela, for the tea connection!)
6/2 - Petal Pink (thanks for the recommendation!)
-----End of Round 1---------

I Spy: Hello Yello!

Hello Yellow! Some of my favorite yellows around the house. We're in the midst of iris season! And oh, they are so spectacular. Here are two yellow ones.

The yellow flowers are from kale.


Boiled egg on watercress

A sunny little teapot

The pale, yellow center of a peony. They've just started blooming for us.

See who else has played along so far and find instructions to enter the drawing here!

Gold Stars for Good Driving

Often walking or cycling, I observe a lot of driving behavior. Sadly, I see a lot of bad driving behavior. In an effort to keep things upbeat, I'll focus on driving behavior that I admire.

1. People who stop and look for pedestrians at intersections.
2. People who slow down and pass a cyclist cautiously.
3. People who don't drive while intoxicated.
4. People who don't drive while talking on the cell phone. It's the same as driving drunk.
5. People who don't drive while emotionally or physically distracted.
6. People who make crisp 90-degree, left-hand turns, instead of cutting into the lane that is not theirs.
7. People who yield the right of way.
8. People who really stop at stop signs.
9. People who leave plenty of time to get where they are going.
10. People who smile and wave.

Tea Cozy Tea Room (Indy)

When I visit a tea room, I have a few checks to determine how it ranks.

1. Loose tea or bagged? (Loose tea at the Tea Cozy!)


2. Is the water hot enough (black), or not too hot (green)? (Yes, the right temps!)


3. Do they call what I'm having by its rightful name, "afternoon tea" instead of "high tea"? (The Tea Cozy got it right!)

OK, 3 for 3! Yeah!

The Tea Cozy is in the heart of downtown, literally a few blocks from both the Capitol and Monument Circle. I shared lunch and tea there last week, with a friend.

I very much enjoyed the decor of the Tea Cozy. It's comfortable, sleek and inviting to both men and women. I was pleased to see a diversity of people in the tea room. The place fits well with its urban presence.

Walking in off the street, you are welcome to a menu of tea, lunch and pastries. Low tea (afternoon tea) and high tea are available by reservation. You can also reserve a nice-sized party room.

Tamara, the Director of Marketing, was our hostess. Her mother is the "Tea Mistress." I thoroughly enjoyed talking to Tamara, and learning about the tea room's history. I hope to have tea with her the next time I visit, and I look forward to a visit soon!

The Tea Cozy
50 North Illinois Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317-632-1280

View out the window. To the left is the Capitol and to the right is Monument Circle.

The tea list is extensive. I chose an orchid oolong.

Dessert - English Toffee Pudding. Oh, it's so good! It's warm, so the whipped cream is melting.

Other Color Spies

Here are the fellow bloggers (so far) who are playing along with the I Spy series...

• Esme blogged about her favorite red books.
• Hootie has shown us a very pretty robin's egg blue glass cup.
• Blue cupcakes for a birthday boy, from Comfrey Cottage.
• ParTEA Lady has the most gorgeous robin's egg blue book and a very special cup and saucer, too.
• Southern Touch Catering shows us lovely little blue flowers and the real deal, too!
• Tea with friends has found lots of robin's egg blue in her tea wares!

If I've missed any, please let me know! There's still plenty of time to join this week's "I Spy" color fun. The color is robin's egg blue. And here is more info on the giveaway:

Bloggers: For each time you blog about the color of the week and send me a link to your site, I will enter your name (and post your link on my blog).

Readers: For each time you leave a comment, I will enter your name into a drawing.

Not sure what the prizes will be but they'll be fun. And just to clarify my math - it's 4 total giveaways! Two for bloggers and two for readers. Yay!

Colors: OK, here's the starting list of colors.

I'm posting on Tuesdays, but you can post whenever you like. Week of:
5/12 - Robin's Egg Blue
5/19 - Hello Yellow (or Mellow Yellow, if you prefer)
5/26 - Green Tea (thanks, Angela, for the tea connection!)
6/2 - Petal Pink (thanks for the recommendation!)

I Spy: Robin's Egg Blue (and Giveaway)!

This nest is just down the alley behind my house. Oh, I'm excited! I sure hope the cats will leave well enough alone!
(If you let your cat out, consider a bell on the collar to alert the birds.)

A soda siphon

My bathroom
(I'm still lovin' the color!)

Bloggers: If you want to play along, I will be doing this for at least 7 additional Tuesdays. I'll have two drawings, after the first four and then the second four. For each time you blog about the color of the week and send me a link to your site, I will enter your name (and post your link on my blog).

Readers: For each time you leave a comment, I will enter your name into a drawing. Again, two rounds, after each set of four.

Not sure what the prizes will be but they'll be fun. And just to clarify my math - it's 4 total giveaways! Two for bloggers and two for readers. Yay!

Colors: OK, here's the starting list of colors.
5/12 - Robin's Egg Blue
5/19 - Hello Yellow (or Mellow Yellow, if you prefer)
5/26 - Green Tea (thanks, Angela, for the tea connection!)

6/2 - Petal Pink (thanks for the recommendation!)

What colors do you recommend?

Moms and Spiders

My sister (mom of the niece) doesn't like spiders. I'm OK with spiders (I mean, I don't want them to jump on me, but I'm OK with them.) However, I'm not at all fond of snakes. I'm hoping we don't pass on these fears to the niece. To do my part, the last time I was visiting the family, I played with plastic snakes. Not my idea of fun, but an aunt's gotta do what she's gotta do! I'm trying to be a positive role model. In an attempt to help my sister along (hee hee), I recently gave my niece the cutest little book, Miss Spider's Tea Party (Counting Book). It's a story about a spider who wants to hold a tea party. All the bugs are afraid of her, but it has a happy ending. It's also a counting book.

In other Mother's Day news, I picked up this vintage Mother's Day tea card on ebay recently. I'm sending it out to the spirit of motherhood in all of us. Happy Mother's Day! A special hug to my mom, and to Evelyn & Jack's mom.

A Refashioned T-shirt

OK, I am pretty pleased with myself on this one. This started out as a plain t-shirt and turned into something I'll actually enjoy wearing. (Most regular T's make me look like a 12-year-old boy.) I followed this great tutorial. A couple of notes:

1. Next time, I don't think I'll take the ruffle around the back of the neck. It annoys me.
2. In step 1 of the tutorial, she talks about making 4 strips. She really means 4, even though the picture shows 2. (I just cut the strips in half again, lengthwise.)

Here's the back. This project was very fast, the tutorial was very good and I am very pleased with the result. Yay! This project has turned me on to the idea of refashioning. Hmmm...you might expect more on that.

I Spy: Fire Colors! and Giveaway

It all started with these shoes. They were a birthday gift from AZ Tea Lover. They're vintage, in pristine condition. And they fit perfectly. I had to shave my legs AND paint my toenails to be worthy of wearing these. These are the type of shoes that inspire poems. They have a leather sole, so they will be perfect for dancing. And I think they're sexy. But the truth is, I wear them for myself because they make me smile. If the DH likes them, that's an added benefit.

Now these are more like what you'll see me wearing around the house on most days! This comparison started my thoughts down the path of recognizing how much red/orange (fire colors) I have around me. I really love those colors, and I love them blended. Maybe it's because I'm a fire sign, Aries. Maybe it's because my Mom has always liked red. I like these fire colors and they're in my life a lot. I decided to show you just a few, then I decided - what the heck, why not start a color series. (I'm borrowing this idea from other bloggers.) I'll be blogging about colors for the next several Tuesdays. I'd love for you to join me, either on your blog or in the comments. Details at the bottom.

Fire colors on my bed. I've heard that red in the bedroom inspires passion. ;-)

Though this looks like a red peony (wish it were - I could cash in!), it's actually a tulip!

This fabric is just gorgeous, don't you think? It's leftover fabric from a friend and I hung it on my wall in my office. It's what I'm facing now as I type.

Other fire colors you might have seen on my blog include the teacup wristlet, orange patchwork tablecloth, red strawberries, red tea kettle, red mittens and orange patchwork bag. I could have also blogged about much more, such as my orange batik PJs. :-)

Giveaway! So now for the fun part...

Bloggers: If you want to play along, I will be doing this for at least 8 additional weeks. I'll have two drawings, after the first four and then the second four. For each time you blog about the color of the week and send me a link to your site, I will enter your name (and post your link on my blog).

Readers: For each time you leave a comment, I will enter your name into a drawing. Again, two rounds, after each set of four (and including today, that's actually 9 chances total).

Not sure what the prizes will be but they'll be fun. And just to clarify my math - it's 4 total giveaways! Two for bloggers and two for readers. Yay!

Colors: OK, here's the starting list of colors.

• 5/12 - Robin's Egg Blue
• 5/19 - Hello Yellow (or Mellow Yellow, if you prefer)
• 5/26 - Grass is Greener
• What colors do you recommend?

National Bicycle Month

That's me, on my bike yesterday. I grinned so much I'm surprised I wasn't picking bugs from my teeth!

May is National Bicycle Month!

I love riding my bike! I get such a rush from the sense of freedom. It's much more freeing than being in a car. To me, a car is like a metal box that keeps me trapped inside. On the bike, I'm outside and in nature! I can actually SEE the beauty because I'm not rushing. I often stop for a closer look.

I am very happy to live in a community where there is cool stuff to do downtown, but within a short biking distance, I'm out on the roads less traveled. Here are some of the things I saw while riding yesterday.

Dogwoods

Fields of yellow (I think it's mustard)

The creek is high

Sweet William

Wild Geranium

Larkspur

BISCOTTEA GF Shortbread - yumm!

I recently tried a sample of BISCOTTEA gluten-free shortbread cookies. Oh, my my! These are so good I'll be looking for them for myself, even though I don't require the gluten-free option. I'm very excited about these cookies for my gluten-free friends! The cookies are fantastic. They come in three shortbread flavors: chai tea, early grey and blueberry. All three are really good. The texture is great (I find texture as the biggest turnoff for some GF items). I would recommend these cookies for everyone!

The cookies were recently launched at the Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco. The BISCOTTEA company, based in Seattle, has been featured on several TV shows and in numerous other publications. (See the website for a list of stores that carry the products.) I am really digging the graphic design of the company's home page and its tea tag line, "Real shortbread created with real tea for real tea lovers." They have a coffee shortbread product set, too.

According to the press info, the gluten-free line was launched from one of the co-owner's work with children with autism. Some autistic kids show improvement when using a gluten-free diet.

I'm quite impressed, both with the product itself, and with the company's good intentions.