Lovely Day for Tea

This is a lovely morning for drinking tea as I write at my computer, check e-mail, and make business plans. The sun is bright and brilliant, after a snowy, rainy weekend in NH.

The forsythia in our yard has donned its yellow dress. The trees are budding. The tulips and daffodils are ready to burst into bloom.

I also can hear bird song, as the spring songsters greet the day, too.

I enjoy my cup of Irish Breakfast Tea and may have Earl Grey for lunch.

What about you?

The Tea Shop Mysteries by Laura Childs

I enjoy Laura Child's Tea Shop Mysteries, set in Charleston, SC. The owner of this tea shop continually becomes involved in murder and mystery as she operates her shop. However, we learn a great deal about tea in the process.

Some of these mysteries include:

The Teaberry Strangler

Death by Darjeeling

The English Breakfast Murder

Shades of Earl Grey

The Jasmine Moon Mystery

Have you read any of these? Do you have any favorites?

What Tea Are You Drinking Today?

I found I was getting low on tea, so went looking midst some of my travel packs. Whenever Jim and I travel I carry a variety of tea bags with me. Many motels now provide a coffee maker in the room, so I can heat water and make my tea, even if they don't have tea bags available.

As I browsed through my travel stash, I discovered black tea, green tea, peach tea, Earl Grey tea, lemon tea, Zen tea, green tea with lemon, English breakfast tea, and rosehip tea.

So I have many to choose from and will refresh my travel pack before our next trip.

What tea are you drinking today? I think I'll make a cup of peach tea now.

(Image: sxc.hu)

Carry Your Tea Bag with You when Traveling

Whenever I travel, I carry tea bags along. Then when I encounter situations where they don't serve tea, I usually can get a cup of hot water and make my own. I'll also have my favorite flavors with me.

Many motels/hotels nowadays have a coffee maker in the room. Usually they don't provde tea bags. Sometimes they don't even have tea bags in the lobby where they might serve coffee. If I have tea bags with me, I can enjoy my cup o' tea.

Also, I've discovered that many fast food places and coffee bars will give you a free cup of hot water, or at least charge you no more than the cost of the cup. Then I can add my tea bag and make my own, very inexpensively. I always offer to pay for they do have the cost of cups and heating water.

Do you have any tea bag traveling tips?

Tea in Cold Cups

One of my pet peeves (is that a term that dates me?) is asking for hot tea at a restaurant and being served it lukewarm. This might be due to several reasons:

*The water is only lukewarm when it comes to my table. Either it was only warm to start with, not piping hot, or sat in the tea pot too long.

*Perhaps the pot was cold, so the hot water cooled.

*Then the waitress might bring a pot of very hot water to the table, but present me with a cold cup. Sometimes it seems the cup has come from the refrigerator. I sit there with the cup in my hands, trying to warm it slightly, so the water won't get cold as soon as I pour it.

I like my cup of tea to start out hot. Then if it cools, it's my choice.

Books About Daylight Saving Time & Spring

Discover facts and figures (the curious and the ordinary) about Spring and Daylight Saving Time

Seize the Daylight: The Curious and Contentious Story of Daylight Saving Time by David Prerau
Spring Forward: The Annual Madness of Daylight Saving Time by Michael Downing
Crafting Springtime Gifts: 25 Adorable Projects Featuring Bunnies, Chicks, Lambs & Other Springtime Favorites by Tone Finnanger
Time for Change: Setting Clocks Forward by One Hour Thorughout the Year by Mayer Hillman
The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle

Discover Some Food Blogger Delights for Tea Time

Take a look at these delights contributed by the Food Bloggers you may like to try for tea time...and for your meals. There also are some cooking gadget ideas.

Chicken in Red Curry An easy, delicious curry with chicken and vegetables, served with rice.

Cooking Gadgets Would you like to get your pressure cooker out of the box?

Finding Food Memories in Community Cookbooks Mary Emma at Country Kitchen reminisces about food memories she finds in cookbooks of earlier days.

Nighttime Noshing: Getting Back on Track Jean had her first slip in the battle to lose the six ugly extra pounds she put on last year. And it was a biggie!

Plan Now For Summer Grilling With the proper planning your garden can be a great source for delicious summer grilling.

White Chocolate Chip Cranberry Cookies Delicious, easy cookies with white chocolate chips,cranberries and pecans