Tea at the Brown Hotel

On Sunday, my friends K, A and I took a tea-trip to Louisville, KY. The trip was steeped in history and flowing with good conversation.

We started the day with a visit to the Speed art museum. It was a great museum visit! My favorite part was viewing the English room. The original walls from an English manor are reassembled here. They're full of detailed mythical carvings. The original owner was a "Sergeant at Law" for Queen Elizabeth I (my favorite queen)!

After the museum tour, we headed over to the Brown Hotel, a grand hotel in the style of old opulence. The recent movie Elizabethtown used the ballroom from the Brown in one of its scenes.

The hotel used whole-leaf tea sachets, which I appreciate as a nice step above tea bags. It's an easy way for the hotel staff to avoid brewing in the kitchen and provide higher-quality tea. On the down side, it does leave you with the problem of what to do with the paper and tea sachets.

Our menu included:

Tarragon chicken salad with radish sprouts, smoked salmon and yogurt raita on pumpernickel and sun-dried tomato pesto with cucumber and eggplant spread.

We had Corinth raisin scones and, for dessert, a raspberry tartlet in vanilla pastry cream, a mocha chocolate ganache cup and a pistachio tartlet.

As we sat and sipped our tea, I could envision former guests like Joan Crawford, Elizabeth Taylor and Gene Autry. They'd fit right in, and so did we! Thank you to my friends for this special day.

37 Things

37 Things I Invite Into My Life

1. Gratitude
2. Patience
3. Conscious living and loving
4. Kindness
5. Centeredness
6. Wisdom
7. Adventures with my DH (dear hubby)
8. Visits from family and friends
9. A job that I love and that pays me well
10. Bicycle rides
11. Finding the beauty in the grey
12. Truthful writing - my own and that of others
13. Complete health
14. Contentment
15. Stretching - body, mind and soul
16. Open time
17. Fun and ease
18. Laughter
19. Lightness
20. Playfulness
21. The gift of listening - to me, from me
22. Time to create
23. Loving conversations through differences
24. Walks along the beach
25. Flower gazing, amazing
26. Healthy, tasty meals from local sources
27. Inspiration
28. Serene moments at the Chinese garden
29. Fingers in the dirt
30. A new language
31. Great photos
32. Vivid memories
33. Breath/e
34. Pause
35. Action
36. The depth of old friends
37. The expansion of new friends

I invite these things on the wings of health and goodness. Many of these I am blessed to enjoy already, and I bring them into focus here because I don't take them for granted.

So it is.

March 26 - Climate Care Day

Climate Care Day - A Day Without Travel

March 26, 2010

Work from home on Friday, March 26! Avoid business travel and save commute time plus reduce your carbon footprint!

I'll be participating, but of course I work from home already. I can attest that working from home is a highly effective option. I get more done (because I have fewer interruptions). I save a lot of money in not buying petro, and I significantly reduce my negative ecological impact. I do travel via plane for work on occasion, but have been able to reduce that travel by the use of video conferencing . (Check out Skype, a free web video chat tool.)

Note: I will soon no longer be be working from home. A big move is in the plans. But even in the new place, I plan to walk/cycle/take the train to work! This is such a priority in our lives, that we are choosing where to live based on proximity to the light rail and to the office. I do not believe that individual metal boxes are the healthiest nor most ethical choice for me. I'm thrilled to see a coordinated effort targeted at businesses to recognize the value of NOT traveling/commuting for business. Read more at the website.

"Climate Care Day is intended to raise awareness of the importance of climate change - the 21st century’s number one environmental issue - and demonstrate how simple choices can make a significant difference to the environment. It recognises the importance of the planet to both the business community and our personal wellbeing."

My St. Patty's Dinner

I had last night to myself, and I indulged in making a supper of tea sandwiches. Welsh Rarebit (recipe from Celtic Tea with Friends) and cucumber with rosemary butter. It was one of those warm March days that make me think (wish) the cold days are over. I ate supper on the porch. I was shivered back to reality when I headed out this morning for a run and it was cold again!

Green and White

Did you know that the Irish are given credit for drinking more tea, per capita, than anyone else in the world? I can believe it! I took a work trip to Ireland several years ago. During a mid-morning break, we headed to the cafe. A new hot water machine had been installed, specifically for making tea. A poster on the machine gave instructions for how to make a proper cup of tea. My Irish team was part humored and part insulted. "We don't need instructions on how to make a cup of tea!" one declared. That memory has stuck with me!

I suppose I should have posted this link before today so that anyone who liked these ideas could have planned ahead. Oh, well! The photo gallery includes green and white tea sandwiches as well as the pretty trio of teacups above.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

*Image from Martha Stewart's website.

Puddle Wonderful

spring when the world is mud-luscious

and it's spring when the world is puddle-wonderful

Note: Lines in this post are from the ee cummings poem In Just.

Harney & Sons Tea Tasting: More Chinese Greens

Huangshan Mao Feng (back) and Taiping Houkui

Slowly and surely, I continue working my way through the Harney & Sons tea tasting guide. It's fun! Last weekend, I compared Huangshan Mao Feng (Yellow Mountain Downy Tip) with Taiping Houkui (Taiping Best Monkey Tea).

Closeup of Huangshan Mao Feng

Closeup of Taiping Houkui

The Taiping Houkui is a new tea to me. I find it very interesting. The tea leaves are long - some over two inches. Harney states that it's from a special cultivar of tea, prized for its long leaves. These are certainly the longest tea leaves I've seen. Also notice, in the image above, the hash marks on the leaves. This is an imprint from the canvas that the tea leaves are pressed between.

I brewed each tea at 175 degrees for two minutes. I didn't like the first brewing of either - very light. I brewed again at 3 minutes. Much more flavorful.

Huangshan Mao Feng, on the left, was light in color, aroma and flavor. I picked up a bit of sweetness. The Taiping Houkui was darker in color, aroma and flavor. It was quite vegetal, but pleasant. In my opinion, it's leaning more toward the Japanese greens in flavor.

Mondo Beyondo

I'm taking the March class of Mondo Beyondo! This is an "online class about dreaming big" and was a gift from my Mom for my bday later this month. One of the first activities was to print out a sheet of affirmations, add my own, and put them in a bowl for daily reflection. I chose a special tea bowl.

I'm looking forward to the class! If you are interested in this concept of dreaming big, visit the Mondo Beyondo website and the superhero journal.

Cardamom-Nut Scones

I love the flavor and aroma of cardamom, and I made these cardamom-nut scones for the first time this morning. Mmmm! Both the DH and I liked them a lot.

The recipe came from the book Tea Time by Nancy Akmon. This book was a gift from my Aunt K several years ago, when I gave a tea party for her. It was the prettiest tea party I've ever done, as we used my aunt's pink depression glass. She lived in a historic house, and the setting was perfect!

Back to the scones - here is the recipe. (See my recipe attribution policy.)

Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 cups flour (I used whole wheat)
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar (or honey)
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons ground cardamom
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest (I used orange)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces (I used half butter and half olive oil b/c I ran out of butter. Hmm...it made a really nice dough! I might do this again!)
• 1/2 cup milk (plus I added a splash extra of water b/c the whole wheat was a bit dry)
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/3 cup walnuts, toasted (I used pecans)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. The instructions call for adding all dry ingredients to the food processor and pulsing to combine, then adding the butter bits and processing for about 10 seconds until the mixture is like a coarse meal. I didn't want to drag out the food processor, so I used our antique pastry blender. Worked great and made me smile!

I prefer to mix the milk, egg and vanilla in a separate bowl before adding to the dry ingredients. Then the directions call for turning the dough out onto a floured surface, kneading in the nuts (but not too much kneading!), then patting out the dough with hands to form a 3/4 inch circle. Cut into desired shape. Brush with an egg wash and bake for 14 - 17 minutes, until golden. (I baked for 15.)

Excellent with a cup of strong black tea. This recipe is definitely a keeper, as it does a fine job of featuring the aroma and flavor of the cardamom.

Gongfu Tea at Tao of Tea

Gongfu utensils

I recently had the chance to introduce my DH (dear hubby) to one of my favorite places, the Classical Chinese Garden in Portland. After a tour of the garden we shared tea at the Tower of Cosmic Reflections (managed by the Tao of Tea) tearoom.

Last time I was here I had tea in the gaiwan style. This time we shared tea in the gongfu style. Gongfu is a Chinese tea ceremony. It is used with oolong and pu-erh teas. I will describe the ceremony as I experienced it (there are variations).

The utensils are shown in the photo at the top of the page. You need a kettle for the hot water, a drain tray for rinsing the tea (and pouring out the water), a clay teapot, a container for the brewed tea, the aroma (cylindrical) cups and thimble-sized drinking cups (not shown in the top photo), and of course a special tea.

We were drinking Mensong tea, a pu-erh from an old growth tea forest.

First, the teapot and cups are warmed and rinsed with the hot water. The water is poured out through the slots in the drain tray.

Next, the participants take note of the shape, texture and aroma of the dry leaf. Then the tea leaves are added to the pot and and rinsed. This rinsing liquid is poured off.

Now the leaves are steeped again (considered the first brewing). In my case, the tea was poured into the glass pitcher and from there into the small cylindrical cups, then topped with the tasting cups. The two are inverted - and the participant uses the cylindrical (aroma) cups to inhale the essence of the tea.

First brewing poured into the aroma cups

Cups are inverted and participants appreciate the aroma from the tall, cylindrical cups

Again, this brew was poured off (and over the teapot).

Now we are ready to taste the tea! The next brew (and several more) are poured into the small tasting cups and enjoyed. According to tradition, this should be consumed in three sips.

It's a special moment focused on the conscious appreciation of tea. Unfortunately, my description leaves out a lot of nuance and detail. If you ever have the chance to attend a gongfu tea ceremony, please do!

(Apologies to my Oregon friends! I didn't have time for a visit this trip.)

Airplane Tea Party

On a recent trip, I had an airplane tea party! I brought my own goodies and enjoyed a healthy and tasty little tea party.


I drank a very nice cup of Monk's Blend. Thanks, Marilyn!


Rosemary-cucumber sandwich, Biscoff cookies (perfect with tea!), carrots and grapes. The tea party made the flight a lot more fun!

Lavender - Grapefruit Sachet

Here's a very easy and fun project! I recently blended lavender buds and grapefruit peel to make fabric sachets for my sweater drawer. Both lavender and grapefruit peel discourage moths from feasting on wool.

Sorghum Cookies

The cookie jar is empty today, not long after I made these sorghum cookies. We had sorghum syrup from the CSA, and I used it to replace most of the honey in this recipe. (I also used whole wheat flour.) The cookies were more like little cakes, simple and honest, and very very good with a strong black tea.

Spring - I feel it!

I sat on my sunny front porch for a tea break today, and I pulled off the hat and gloves! It was about 50 degrees, a heat wave for us!

The DH and I normally mark the start of Spring in early Feb. That's when he, the more-plant-than-human among us, notices a stirring of the earth. This year we've had layers upon layers of post-Feb 1 snow, and it was hard for me to feel Spring's gradual approach. Today was a glorious exception, and I hope the start of a gentle thaw!

Guest Blogger: Esmerelda

Esmerelda read this piece of her writing at a recent tea party. It was so funny (because I can see myself in it), that I almost spewed tea! Not very lady-like, I know, but read on and see for yourself. Thank you for sharing this, Esme, and thank you to Sweetcakes for the tea party!

How to brew the perfect cup of tea

Bow to the east to honor Shennong who accidentally drank tea when some Camellia Sinensis leaves blew into his bowl of hot water. Bow to the west to honor Lu Yu who realized the importance of quality water in the perfect cup of tea. Fill an aluminum kettle half way full with filtered water. Take a seat to watch it boil. Consider this a form of enlightenment and while you are meditating on the blue flame remember the Bodhidharma who fell asleep meditating and was so disgusted with his weakness that he cut off his eyelids which fell to the ground to become tea plants. Picture yourself without eyelids.

Meditate on the fact that you have never even seen a tea plant or even a tea leaf that was not smooshed up into a paper bag with a Lipton tag hanging from it. Root in your cupboard for some real tea. Someone gave you some as a party favor at a baby shower last year. Find the tea in the drawer you use for wayward coupons, used Bic lighters and screws that have come loose. It has spilled a bit so you sweep it up carefully along with a few pencil shavings. For flavor you think quite earnestly.

Run to the CD player to put on some music appropriate for the perfect cup of tea and stub your toe on the sofa and scream with pain just as the whistle on the tea kettle sounds igniting the fierce migraine that you were trying to avoid by having the perfect cup of tea. Choose the first thing to play that you see on the play queue which happens to be Burl Ives singing Rudolph the Red Nosed reindeer. It is February.

Shut off the heat under the tea kettle and remember to let the water cool a bit. Center yourself. Not too hot. Heat brings out the bitter flavors. You wonder how bitter pencil shavings are as the hot water flows over the tea bag you have constructed out of loose leaf tea tied in a nylon bag that is made of the toe of a pair of pantyhose that no longer fits. Lets face it. No pantyhose fit. Men must have designed them.

You head for the cabinet to find medicine to absorb the stunning knife-like sensation throbbing in your temples and the only pain reliever you can find is your child’s grape flavor Tylenol so you read the dosage information on the back and calculate the ratio of your weight to your child’s weight and say what the fuck and drink the whole bottle. It tastes like grape shoe leather and you are pretty sure that once the sugar in the Tylenol wears off your headache will be worse, but you do have the perfect cup to tea to drink which now has been steeping for about 20 minutes in your old pantyhose. The pencil shavings are floating near the top so they are easy to flick out. You fling the pantyhose into the sink, pick up the only magazine you can find which is your husband’s fall issue of “Storm water: a utilities magazine” and make your way to the sofa. Ahh you think, settling back and closing your eyes. Thank God for eyelids.

Amy L. Cornell aka Esmerelda

Me (left) and the author Esme

Photo from Sweetcake's blog

Totally Smooshable

Look closely at the photo above and you'll see one well-smooshed sock monkey! Pepper, the monkey, is in a state of bliss. Sock monkeys live for smooshings.

Pepper was a Valentine's Day gift for my 2-year-old niece.

Photos by my sister.

A New Tea Apron

Check out my fabulous new tea apron, a gift from AZ Tea Lover! (That's me, rolling my eyes at the DH.)

Here's a closeup of the detail. Look at the gorgeous edging and braiding! Wow!

And a closeup of the fabric itself. So cheerful! This apron makes me very happy.

Happy Valentine's Day to you all! I like this day because I can tell you how special you are!

Peet's Coffee and Tea

During my recent Sunday morning in CA, I found my way to Peet's Coffee and Tea. I wasn't expecting much, as I assumed this franchise was just like a Starbuck's. I was happily proven wrong! To start with, they had a full tea menu. Then, the servers were able to converse intelligently about the various teas. And finally, glory, they served the loose tea in a pot and with a timer. I was impressed! The next time I'm in town, I will seek out Peet's.

I had a very nice pot of Yin Hao Jasmine.

Have you been served a good cup of tea in an unexpected place? Tell me about it!

Hope Springs Eternal

It is 41 degrees as I walk to the library today. The sun bounces brightly off the melting snow. Everything glitters. My head is uncovered while I walk, a first in months. My personal dark days of winter are over. Spring is here for me, for earth. Beneath this snow, the life force stirs. The green nubs of daffodils poke through the soil. The paper whites we planted on New Year's Day perfume the air. The forced quince opens its blushing petals. Hope springs eternal, and none too soon.

Done and an En-Joying Morning

Early-blooming daffodils in a sunny spot, along American Parkway in Folsom, CA

My big project is done! Wahoooo! I'm exhausted and wired at the moment, but happy.

Last Sunday, the day before the event, I had a few hours to myself and was able to en-joy a very nice cup of tea (more coming on that) and also a run along the "bike path" in Folsom, CA. This multi-purpose trail parallels the American River. It was a magical morning for me. The experience gave me space to clear my head and ground myself for the coming days. Truly an en-joying experience. A few photos along the trail...