Premium Steap Citrus Herbal

It's turned sunny, dry and warm with cool overtones in my new home in the Pacific Northwest.  Translation = heaven!  When the weather is so fine, I crave a refreshing brew, and the one that fits the bill this time is a tisane from Premium Steap. 

I am enjoying the Orange Grapefruit blend.  The dry mix is lovely to see and smell!  It includes orange, grapefruit, eucalyptus, hibiscus, lemongrass, bits of tangerine, and blackberry leaves. 

I've brought this into the office and am enjoying it regularly. Thanks to Sweetcakes for introducing me to this tisane.  She served it at a tea party, and I've been hooked ever since.

If you enjoy citrus, I think you will enjoy this tea!  I let it steep for 10 minutes because I like it tart.  I think it would also be tasty with honey.  I'm pretty sure it will be splendid over ice.

Solstice Circles

Last December I sat with a circle of women on the solstice and we wrote together.  That circle formed again last night, and while I wasn't there in person, I was there in spirit. 

I find it fitting that I sat in another circle of women last night, this one focused on tea.  I can't imagine it was a coincidence that this gift was given to me on the solstice!

This concept of circles, people meeting equally, sharing equally, is a very powerful one.  I associate it with women's things, tho it's not limited to that.  (Men are invited to the tea ceremony I experienced, for example.) 

What circles of women are present in your life?

The Original Rose Garden

If you've ever been to Portland, you likely know about the International Rose Test Garden.  Fewer people know about the original rose garden, still glorious as a neighborhood park.  Yesterday I strolled through that original rose garden (thank you, Marilyn!)  I'm very lucky to have locals taking me under their wings and showing me hidden treasures of this vibrant community.

Next time I'm here, I'll pack my journal and a thermos of tea.  It's that kind of place; it invites you to linger.

Sewing Inspiration

Sew, Mama, Sew is having a Make It, Wear It theme this month.  It includes lots of useful tips and tricks, perfect for where I am in my sewing experience.  I'm starting to get excited about it, as I've just unpacked the sewing machine!  Now, if I could just find the thread...

Things I'm Learning From This Move

• The kindness of strangers is wonderful!  We've felt that first-hand as a stranger helped to move us in, up 3 flights of stairs!
• Most of us from "back East" have no idea what the climate of the Pacific Northwest is really like!
• The skies are very dramatic and ever-changing.  It's not just grey.
• Grass green is a very intense color!
• Walking to work has been a true blessing.
• Downsizing is great!!  (From 1800 sq ft to 1400 at the last place to 1100 now).
• Color is important to me.  In a sea of brown boxes, this red teapot and teacup (a pretty gift from Sweetcakes) give me a happy place to rest my eyes.
• Skype is great.  If you have family or friends far away, give it a try!  It's free (but you need a webcam).
• It's fun to think about using spaces in creative ways.
• I need to be gentle with myself during this time of transition.  It's OK that it's taking me longer than I expected to be/feel settled.
• I'm not currently able to blog as frequently as I used to.  We'll see how it goes once I get into a normal routine, and I'll do the best I can.

The Office Tea Situation

I'd grade it an A-.  It's pretty darned good, given the fact that it's in an office setting.  I wouldn't expect loose teas or cups and saucers.

Benefits:

• Wide selection of FREE bagged Stash teas (the company HQ is nearby).
• A hot water spigot that displays the temperature.
• Packets of honey and lemon.

I can work with this!  Once my teas arrive (this week, thank goodness as my move stash is depleted), I will take my own tea in to work.  The water (since I can see the temp) is plenty hot for both black and green teas (if I cool it a bit for the green).  That's a nice surprise!  

I will look forward to sharing my teas with my colleagues! 

How do you wrangle up tea in your work area?

*Image from Microsoft Images

Ephemeral

I like this picture, because it plays with perception and permanence.  It's ephemeral, yet it lasts.  What is the foreground?  What is a reflection?  I like its depth and its not-quite-clearness.  It also represents how I feel right now.  In a transitional space.  Not quite here or there.  No quite grounded.  To borrow a phrase from a friend, I'm working on establishing my "new normal."

This transition has been both harder and easier than I imagined, both extremes in ways that I did not anticipate.  It's taken longer to reground myself.  I'm grieving the losses from this move.  Yet it's been shockingly easy to adjust to the back-to-the-office routine.  Life without a car has been no trouble (even fun!). 

It's a big mish-mash of stuff.  I ask myself:  What is the foreground? What is a reflection? I try to mine this depth and see into the not-quite-clearness.

Tea Zone

I had my first tea outing in the Northwest over the weekend, to The Tea Zone.  And while I've been here before, this time felt different because I knew I'd be back!  The Tea Zone is a casual and hip place to grab a really good cup of tea, lunch, or a tea-cocktail.

I was lucky to be able to try a 1st flush Darjeeling.  1st flush refers to the first picking season of the year.  I was surprised at how green it tasted, in a pleasant way.  I was also thrilled to learn that the owners have a personal relationship with the tea producer for the one I chose. 

Lots more tea stuff to see and explore, and this was a good start!