New Tea pot and Beulah Beach Benifit Auction!

I went to my favorite place - Beulah Beach!!!  They had their annual benefit auction. This was there 9th!!  I have only missed one so far.  I love this place and being able to support them at this fun auction.  http://www.beulahbeach.org/benefitauction

I knew it was going to be a great day when I got my favorite number!!!  Did you guys know I bought my house at auction?  I did!!!  And my bidder number was- you guessed it- 27!  I was born on the 27th, so it is my favorite number.  In 2006 this house went up for auction in my town- my parents helped me buy it and fix it up. 

 

 

before

after

As you can see it was an emotional day!!

 

Beulah Beach sunset!!!!

Nothing like the beach.  I have been coming to Beulah Beach since I was a baby.  And I was a camper here from age 8-17, then from 18-30 I was a camp counselor.  I even lived here for a year and did guest services.  This place is very special to me.  When I was 8 I dedicated my life to full time Christian service- how ever God would use me - I said I was in!!! 

This is what I want!!!!!  It is a Turkish teapot!   This is the goal for the day- buy this teapot!  My limit is $150.  Fingers crossed......

I met the lady who bought the teapot in Turkey.  She shared with me how the tea was made.

I won it!!! I got it for $130.  And the great thing was, I won $100 gift card at last years auction.  So, this year I was able to apply the $100 toward anything.  So, the tea pot was only $30.  Win win.  YEAH!!!!

I got this cart for $5.00.  It will be great to store my kombucha on.

I just need to learn to make my tea.  The seller told me how to make Turkish tea- I just need to try it.  I am so excited.  Stay tuned for my Turkish tea.....

What's in your teacup?

I am out picking fresh raspberries this morning for my breakfast. 

I am enjoying the new Starbucks coffee/tea cup I got as a thank you in Spain.  I went to work with some teens in Spain- it was amazing!!!

Did you know that red raspberries can turn black?  This one bush of mine did!!  It is crazy.  They say black are dominant, but I have no idea where they came from...a bird most have pooped black raspberries near by red raspberry bush!

great morning crop

Making fresh Mint tea with the ICED TEA MAKER

I hope you are playing with your tea!!!!  I love summer when I fresh mint and fresh raspberry leaves to add to my tea.  The raspberry leaves I don't think add flavor that you can taste, but the leaves are good for upset stomachs....so, I add it.  I add mint leaves, raspberry leaves and then a flavor to go with the mint.  Today I did fresh raspberries and fresh lavender!  The tea is sooo wonderful.  It is fresh and summer tasting.  I know - what does summer taste like?  Well, for me it is fresh mint and fresh berries!!!  I also add Plantation Mint and Plantation Raspberry tea, for extra flavor since my mint crop is not overly plentiful.

you can see some of the berries, mint and lavender in the bowl.  I run the water threw twice and make two batches.

Again, play with your tea!!!  Take a mint base and add other teas to it.  I also have lemon balm which is great with the mint and lavender.  Be creative.

This is the first run and now I'll take another pitcher and make more.  I only add a 1/3 sugar to the tea.  I don't like it super sweet.

English Tea Store, White Tea- Peach Apricot

This is a nice white tea.  I would say mild or plain- but don't want it to sound boring.  It is not boring. :)

 

http://www.englishteastore.com/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Brand%20%7C%20English%20Tea%20Store%20ETS&utm_term=english%20tea%20store&utm_content=english%20tea%20store

 

I enjoy this tea warm, but I think I like it cold brew even better!!!  There is more flavor, I think, when it is served cold.  Cold brew it great- have you tried it yet?  I put in about 1 teaspoons per 8 oz of cold water, within 10 minutes I have cold brew tea. It doesn't get bitter because the water is cold. I can add water to the cup at least 3 more times throughout the day.  I use a bottle from steepware when I cold brew at work or when I am out and about.  Check out the website.  you can add ANY loose leaf tea.

 

http://theteaspot.com/cold-brew-tea-bottle.html?catid=153

Sipping Sunday

Enjoying my new dress from Spain while sipping tea out of my mug from Portland Oregon.  Thinking about where my next adventure will lead me. 

My dad made the sign post behind me.  The arrows are made from pallets.  I love it!!!! It reminds me of all the great places I have traveled!

The Tea Spot, Steepware 3 pm Flat Belly

http://theteaspot.com/steepware-tea-infuser/

I learned about this tea last fall, while I was at an Ohio Art Festival (Although the tea company is in CO).  I really have not found a tea I don't like. The flavors are bright and rich.  I like to cold brew the fruity teas.

Do you know about cold brew??? It is phenomenal!!!  You have a cup of water (or water bottle) and you add loose leaf tea (if you have a filter) or a tea bag and all day long you can keep refilling the water.  Because you are cold-brewing the flavor never gets bitter- you can't over steep.  When you add the cold water within 10 minutes you have the perfect cup.  You can leave the tea in the entire time- it is perfect for the lazy drinker :) I drink it all the time. If you are doing a bagged tea- then do a mesh bag with real leafs and tea.

This is another really good tea. I am not sure it is flattening my belly, but the taste is good. I am not a big licorice root fan- but the taste was not overwhelming, so I liked the tea.

Tiesta Tea, Slenderizer, fruity pebbles- Cold Brew

I have a 1/2 gallon of Cold Brew Iced Tea!!!

 

https://www.amazon.com/Tiesta-Tea-Fruity-Pebbles-Slenderizer/dp/B00ECOV74I

 

 

This is another tea I enjoy warm, but now I think I like it better cold brewed.  I put 2 Tbs in a half gallon mason jar of cold water and in 10 minutes I have amazing tea. I put a screen on the top of the mason jar and screwed the lid on-it strains the water and the leaves. I can fill this up at least two more times and the tea is as good as the first time.  

 

 

https://tiestatea.com/

yes, it's I drink a lot of tea in a day...I can't get enough of the different flavors and varieties. I hope to inspire you to get out there drink news kinds!!

Tea Pet

How it came in the mail (above)

 

 

 

 

I've started pouring tea on my tea pet- I can't wait to see her color change.  I have the purple clay tea pet.  "

A Tea pet is handmade using Zisha (Yixing clay) and unglazed, so it is usually in the natural color of Yixing clay. There are three kinds of Yixing clay: purple clay, red clay, and green clay. A tea pet can be made of either of one of these Yixing clays, or a mixture of two clays to produce different colors.
Purple clay, is the principle clay, which turns red-brown or dark-brown after firing. The artisan often adds iron clay to achieve a better color effect.
Red clay, also known as “Stock Yellow”, has a much higher contraction percentage than purple clay, and shows a vermillion color after firing. Because of its high contraction percentage, red clay is more suitable for making small-sized objects like tea pets and teapots.
Green clay has a color similar to duck egg shell, and appears off-white after firing. It is rarer than purple clay, and more expensive on the market." -Wikipedia


"A tea pet, also known as a tea lover's pet, is a small clay figure which is kept by some tea drinkers for good luck. The history of tea pets can be traced back to the Yuan dynasty (1206–1368). They are usually made of "zisha" or Yixing clay, from the region near Yixing in Jiangsu province, China. Just like Yixing teapots made of the same clay, tea pets are unglazed, so that they are mostly monochromatic with a rough surface. Tea lovers in China raise a tea pet by placing it on the tea tray during tea time and pouring out the tea over it. The most popular figure of the tea pet is the “pee-pee boy”, which is used to judge whether the water is hot enough to make tea. Tea pets are also molded into zodiac animals or Chinese mythical creatures such as dragons, Pixiu, Qilin, etc., to symbolize good luck, fortune and happiness, as well as historical or mythical characters such as Guanyin, Maitreya and Zhu Geliang."    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_pet

 

"The way that tea lovers raise a tea pet is quite similar to the way that they maintain a Yixing clay teapot. It is a very time-consuming process. They often pour leftover tea over their tea pets, and use a tea brush to wipe the surface of the tea pet to help it absorb the tea evenly. Tea pets should be only rinsed with water, without using soap or any dish-washing liquid, to ensure a progressive increase in the fragrance and color of the tea. After prolonged maintenance, over months or years, the tea pet will absorb the tea, and its appearance will become glossier along with the aroma of the tea."  -Wikipedia

 

 

I named my tea pet after Fiona, the hippo, from the Cincinnati zoo.

Making my homemade Kombucha

I made 6 gallons of Kombucha!  3 gallons of mango passion and 3 gallons of lemon ginger- all with a Black tea base.  The ones I did last week were maybe a bit odd- lavender earl gray and Christmas spice (a lot of cinnamon). Hoping I did not waste my batches.  So I'm going more "normal" this run.

My bold F2 blends- 6 days and I'll know if I made the right choices on flavors.  Christmas tea I mixed with apple.  Lavender I mixed some with grape and some with pineapple- most nervous about that concoction

They say Kombucha has lots of anti-microbial powers and is full antioxidants, it helps sooth ulcers and improves the function of your pancreas.   Helps with your digestion and arthritis. It supports your liver.  It improves your mood. it helps you loose weight.  It helps you detoxify ... This one I can say is true!  I have one friend who calls it her "poop juice".  I can say  I've never been so regular myself!!! It also reduces the risk of heart disease and they say prevents cancer.  also lots of nutrition. Helps with your good cholesterol. Boosts immunity.  Treats type 2 diabetes too. I can't say that you will have all these changes or experience any of these benefits.... I'm just listing some of the things they say about Kombucha.  I can say I love it and drink a lot of it :)

I am loving my labels- Vista Print did them for cheap!!!!

I feel like I am constantly washing bottles!!!

These bottles were a great deal and work wonderfully~!~~

Monday Tea

Portland Roasting- Chai

Leaving my sisters in Vancouver, I headed to see friends in Denver. I was in need of some Chai.  I stopped at Portland Roasting.  I had my choice of sweet or spicy. I went sweet.  It was good.  What you expect for chai.   Maybe next time I will try the spicy and get blown away :)   I want a chai experience to be "WOW" and this just wasn't that. I want to have the spices hit me!!!

 

https://portlandroastingcoffee.com/

This place was happening at the airport....