Hanazuki: Month of Blossoms

Crocus

I love that the Japanese have such precise seasonal words, phrases and poetry. March, for example, is called Hanazuki which can be interpreted to mean month of blossoms. (Translated word for word, it means flower moon.)  Where I live, March is definitely the month of blossoms.  Here are some pictures from our gardens. Sending thoughts of Spring to those on the Eastern side of this country.  

I love the subtle purple veins inside this crocus

More bright crocus

I love wild daffodils!  What stories they could tell!
Where did they come from? How did they get here?

Camellia with a Happy Bee
(We've just begun to see active bees)

Marsh marigold

Plum blossom

Happy Girls Day! (Japan)

Happy Girls Day!  This Japanese celebration, on the third day of the third month, celebrates girls with special foods, prayers for their growth and happiness, and a long tradition of collectible dolls. 

The sweet above is made with white bean paste (sweetened with sugar) and in the center, red bean paste. For those who have never tried a traditional Japanese wagashi sweet, these are really delicious! This is my first attempt at a Girls Day sweet.  This is meant to be eaten just before enjoying a bowl of matcha tea (powdered green tea).

You can read more about Hinamatsuri (Girls Day, also called Dolls Festival) here.

For those of you interested in the Japanese Tea Ceremony, notice the word in the background of the photo, Harmony or Wa. I have had this piece of artwork (from Kelly Rae Roberts) for some time, since long before I began studying the tea ceremony. It just occurred to me today to make the connection. It seems that Harmony has been an important concept in my life for some time! 

Wa is one of the four tenants upon which Chado, the Way of Tea, is built. The four are Wa (Harmony), Kei (Respect), Sei (Purity), Jaku (Tranquility).

Moderna-Tea, Las Vegas

When I was recently in Vegas, I had the chance to visit a brand new tea store in the Palazzo Grand Canal Shoppes, Moderna-Tea.  I was eager to visit as I had seen the sign announcing its arrival over a year ago. The shop wasn't quite what I had expected. I was hoping for a tea shop that sold dry leaf tea as well as offering a brewed tea experience (like a tea bar). 

Moderna-Tea does sell loose leaf teas, but no drinking experience (beyond a small sample).  Much of its emphasis is on skincare products that include tea as an ingredient. 

The store is beautiful, as you can see above.  I really loved those light fixtures along with the modern graphics.

I also very much enjoyed chatting with the tea manager (below).  We had a long conversation about pu-erh and the proper way to bust up a very densely packed brick like shown. (My answer: These were so tightly packed, they may be meant for display only. In a normal brick, you can try to get a knife horizontally inserted around the top edge to see if any layers peel off.  You may need to work your way around a bit.)

 Moderna-Tea also sells a line of dried fruits that have been soaked in tea and then dried.

I came home with a box of tea, a gunpowder/mint combo (like Moroccan mint) that I enjoyed very much when my allergies were at full tilt.  I drank it with a touch of honey.  Note: I did experience a bit of sticker shock for the price of the teas that I considered average quality. 

I did not enjoy my experience with the skincare line. I was asked to sit in a chair for a sample. Curiosity caught me, but I should have known better!  I thought, "Oh, this is a fancy boutique store. It won't be the high pressure sales like on the street."  Unfortunately, I was wrong. I experienced the sample > selling trap to be quite aggressive.  However, this is Vegas.

Summary:  I would go back on my next Vegas trip, and I would be prepared to avoid the skincare sample chair but enjoy the ambiance and the tea chats.

Walking to a French Bakery

An early blooming cherry tree

This morning I met a friend (also my colleague) for breakfast.  We make space for this about once a quarter. The rendezvous is absolutely, positively a necessary work task!  Sanity-keeping. Stress-easing. Women-connecting.  Away from the office, we soothe our troubles with the balm of coffee, tea and French pastries.

I take the train into the city and walk awhile to arrive at our destination.  The walk is always lovely, but particularly so in Spring.

I love the light reflecting in the window

Courtyards like this are a delight to find nestled into the neighborhood

Once I walk in the front door of St. Honoré Boulangerie, I'm greeted with many temptations.  

Here I understand the phrase, "a feast for the eyes" - and the mouth and belly! The wreath-shaped couronne (crown) bread came home with me.  It's like a baguette, only shaped into a round that lends itself to breaking apart as rolls.  It's got that perfectly crisp, chewy outer texture and soft inside.

I'm so grateful for these getaways! They give my body a chance to move, my mind a chance to appreciate beauty and my  heart the time to commune with a friend.   Do you have a necessary escape plan?  Tell me about it!

Sweet Tea, My Version

I recently enjoyed (on Valentine's Day) this sweet tea time with my DH, dear hubby.  We drank an aged Taiwanese oolong tea.  Sweet tea, a little different.  :-)

Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas (II)

Afternoon Tea at the Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas

Once again this February, I was in Las Vegas for work.  I had the good fortune of synchronized travel with a fellow tea lover who was also in town for business.  We both managed to carve out time for Afternoon Tea at the Mandarin Oriental.  

Food is presented elegantly on these cascading three-tiered stands.  As I mentioned last year, not only are the stands lovely, but they're also functionally smart as they save pace on the fairly small table.

We chose an Earl Grey-Jasmine blend of tea.

Menu:

• Smoked salmon and cucumber with watercress spread 
• Curry chicken, sesame cone and lemon grass with Asian pear (served in a glass holder)
• Goat cheese tartlet with apricot jelly, dried fruits and spice bread crisp 
• Black Forest ham sandwich

Scones with jam and cream

• Pineapple mousse (my favorite dessert)
• Raspberry-pistachio bars with white chocolate
• Chocolate praline truffles
• Mocha cream puffs

 I love the carpet!

The Mandarin Oriental also offers a Gong Fu Cha service for parties of 3 or more. Some day I would love to try this!

Have you been here?  If not, I think you would find it worth the money and time on a trip to Vegas.

Chinese New Year: Year of the Goat

Stylized character of goat (also a bell)

Gong Xi Fa Cai!  Wishing you much prosperity in the new year!  Chinese New Year festivities will begin at Midnight tonight and continue for ~15 days, with some estimates telling that up to one-sixth of the world will be in celebration.  

Chinese New Year (also called Spring Festival) is based on a lunar calendar and falls on the second new moon after winter solstice, somewhere typically between January 21 and February 19th (this year's date).  

Traditions include fireworks and wearing red clothing (to scare away a mythical monster Nian), family reunions and  handing out red envelopes with money for children.  Here's a nice summary if you'd like to learn more.

Decorations at the Mandarin Oriental in Las Vegas

Have you been to a Chinese New Year celebration? Tell us about it!  My Wu-Wo group will be gathering this weekend to enjoy cups and cups of tea and a feast.  Can't wait!

Breathless

Camellia, white plum, grape hyacinth, snowdrop

Oh, Spring - your beauty takes my breath away.  So do the allergies that you shepherd. Maybe someday my body will learn that these foreign particles floating in the air are harmless.  Nonetheless, I am a faithful lover and will continue to adore you with fervor.  I will go for long walks in the pollen-heavy breeze just to be in your presence.

Photo by the DH, dear hubby.  If I were getting married today, this is the bouquet I would chose. Picked with my sweetheart on an early spring walk.

Library Love! And Happy V-day

These cute little silicone teacup forms came from my library, which has recently added a bakeware selection to the lending offerings.  Cool!  I made a basic cake batter and cooked the cupcakes right in the forms. Then I topped with a coconut cream-chocolate chip icing.  (As an aside, it's yummy and vegan.)  

 The fabulous fabric is from Angela.  It's sweet and cheerful, just like her.

And Happy Valentine's Day!  I confess, I love this day.  I look forward to sending Valentines to my friends and family, and I love the sweetness.  I know that it's cool to dismiss this day as fabricated fluffery, but nonetheless I love it.  I think of Valentine's Day as an appreciation of friends day as much as anything else.  

So enjoy this day, even if it's simply to give yourself a little love.

Making Space

Taking time to find flowers in the early spring helps me keep my sense of joy

Busyness, an epidemic.  I'm sure we've all felt its weight.  I've been very busy at work, leading up to a giant trade show next week.  I've been consciously paying attention to my center, trying to maintain a calm state.  I think I've been better able to do so this year as compared to last.

To do so, I have to make space for regular moments of peace.  For me, this often involves tea. Other self-care practices that work for me include exercise, nature walks and journaling.  I also need to ensure I eat well and get plenty of sleep.  I've been working into a meditation practice (5 minutes is where I'm starting).

Small breaks make a big difference for me!

Something else I find helpful is re-framing.  Yes, I'm very busy but I also feel very fortunate to enjoy the work I'm doing. The busyness has difficult moments, but my experience is far more good than bad.  I am grateful. I try to focus on the good parts rather than allowing the relatively small uncomfortable parts to claim more than their fair share of attention.

I'm not perfect and have plenty of mental demons to battle.  I can fall into a spiraling story of panic, "Ahhhh!  I'm so busy, how will I get it all done?!"  

How do you make space for sanity in the midst of too much busyness?

Taxonomical Tea Box Poster

I received this very informative and thorough tea poster recently, a gift from a colleague.  It's perfect for a tea geek like me!  The poster is produced by Pop Chart Lab.  Whomever pulled together the content has a depth of tea knowledge.  I was pleased to find the "Dark Tea" category present.  In that category, it includes Pu-Erh and other more obscure teas.  I was a little surprised to see Rooibos on the list (and not called out as "herbal"), but I think that's a testament to the popularity of this tisane.

Here's the description from the website, "Placed into 7 taxonomical boxes - with compartments for Black, Green, Dark, Oolong, White, Rooibos and Yellow - and further classified by country of origin, this spot-on selection features 104 tea types in all, from Darjeeling to Early Grey to the full complement of famous Chinese leaves."  

It's a useful study aid and I'm grateful to have a limited print (#08/500).  The poster even came with unrolling instructions! It's hanging in my cube at work and I've even used it for a few tea educational discussions. 

We Are Remembering

"We are remembering that we are creative agents in our world.  We are remembering the delight of childhood - of dreaming up dreams, and making them real. We are learning that we have the power to create beauty and magic in our little corner of the universe."

~Andrea Scher, Start a Foolish Project

Dr. Who Quote and Tea

This could represent my DH (dear hubby) explaining himself to me.  

Makes me smile.  :-)

Cranes: Long Life, Good Fortune and Peace

The crane symbolizes long life and good fortune in many Asian cultures.  My friend from Hawaii explains the crane motif is often seen at weddings, as cranes are known for monogamous matings and share the responsibilities of raising offspring.

Have you heard the touching story of Sadako Sasaki?  She was three when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, where she lived. When she was 12 she developed leukemia (attributed to the radiation exposure from the bomb).  She took on the challenge of folding origami cranes, in the hopes of folding 1,000.  Stories differ regarding whether she met this goal before her death, but what is certain is that her story has become a mission of awareness and peace.

My lovely friend saw these beautiful crane "tennis plate" sets at an estate sale and gifted them to me. I love them!  From the soft blue to the hand painted birds to the gold rim, they are exquisite.

Wishing you long life, good fortune and peace!

Where I Grew Up

Scenes from near where I grew up.  The beauty of the farmland always touches me.  (That little hand is my niece.  She started taking pictures, and it made me look outside the window and see a little differently.)

Where I grew up
People know your family
Friendships go back generations
And if you're stranded along the road, a stranger will help

There are places
Where you can't hear the highway
Only the cows, the birds
And the coyotes

Jobs are scarce
The economy suffers
Change is suspect
And people fly away

But I miss where I grew up because
People go to high school ball games
The county fair and visitations*
Standing in long lines to witness the life, the loss


*I've realized since I've moved away from the Midwest that a "visitation" is not a universal experience.  A visitation happens when someone dies.  It's held at the funeral home, and people come to pay their respects and visit with family and friends.  It's typically held a day or two before the funeral (which tends to be a smaller, more intimate affair).

Happy Hot Tea Month!

Happy 2015 and Happy Hot Tea Month!  

I'm celebrating tea in all its many forms.  Here are just a few:  Afternoon tea (above, a recent tea party with my family, table styling by my 7-year old niece), Japanese green tea (below)...

Bowl-style oolong tea

Chinese-style gong fu tea

Japanese tea ceremony (That's me at  Hatsugama, "first kettle," today.)

Mug tea and much more!  No matter how you take your tea, may it be with a joyful heart.  Best wishes for the new year!  

Stephanie