Shreve Christmas Tea at the Gathering Place

 Ready for a Christmas Tea???

I had an idea... I wanted to work with Patty at He Brews.  I loved what they do in Shreve and I wanted to partner with them for an event.  I took a deep breath and reached out to her.  She said yes!!  Then I said what about the store next door, think Brick and Velvet would want to partner and do a craft with it?

That lead to the three of us sitting down one afternoon and brain storming!

It was full of God moments for me. 

We collaborated and came up with this Christmas tea.  Tea by Kerrie's Cup of Tea, tea treats by He Brews, and craft by Brick and Velvet....all for just $30.

We had so much fun planning that we have another one scheduled in February.  Galentines on February 1st from 11am-1pm.

I brought my family down the week before for them to see the area.  We got to take place in some of the Shreve Christmas activities.  Sort of felt like a Hallmark movie.  Lots of fun and the entire town seemed to be in on it!

         

The tea was in the Gathering Room at He Brews.  I love love love this room!!!  This is so my vibe!!  This is my feel!  Brick walls, rustic, homey, and welcoming.

He Brews did a fantastic job decorating.  You can even rent this room out if you want too.

I always try to have  tea menu for my teas.  Since I don't sell tea, I want people to know where they can get tea that they like.  I also want people to know if they have any allegories, what is in the tea.

I made 5 teas.

Simpson & Vail, White Chocolate Peppermint (Rooibos) Organic green rooibos, organic cacao nibs, white chocolate peppermint flavoring and organic white cornflower petals. (no caffeine)

Harney & Sons, White Christmas (White) White tea, cardamom, white chamomile, almond flavor, vanilla flavor, and cardamom flavor. Contains natural flavors.

Smith Tea, Ho-Ho-Hoki Chai (Green) Japanese roasted green tea, black peppercorns, cardamom, ginger root, cassia bark, cloves, cacao nibs

Ohio Tea Company, Vanilla Mint Chai (Black) Black tea, natural vanilla flavor, peppermint, cinnamon, ginger, cardamon, cloves, peppercorn 

Kerrie’s Wassail Blend, WASSAIL (Black) Kericho Kenyan Black Tea, apple cider, cranberry juice, orange juice, lemons, cinnamon, and cloves.

The base of my Wassail was this Kericho Gold black tea.  I really liked it.  I also did not add any extra sugar.  I thought it has enough sweetness.

I did two chai teas.  One green and one black, so that they could taste the difference between the two.  The green was lighter and I would not add milk or sugar to it.  The black was darker and hearty- I would add milk and sugar to it.

The fun toppings I had for the chai lattes.

Elf marshmallows, cinnamon candy canes, peppermint candy canes, sprinkles, crushed peppermint candy canes, and sugar crystals.

 

I had a white tea for everyone to try and then they could also take home the white iced tea in an ornament too.

My set up.

We also had water for palate cleansing. 

He Brews provided great tea treats!!  They had a pecan bar that was amazing and tasted like pumpkin pie without the piecrust.  Then there were delicious chocolate chip cookies, and their incredible scones.

My good friend and her sister came, which was a lot of fun.



The ladies would try the teas and then we talked about them.  We talked about the tea notes and flavors they were tasting.

I also did a latte demonstration.  Showing how to make a chai latte.  I showed how to froth milk and put a design on the froth.

Noel, from Brick and Velvet provided the fun craft for us.  We got to make one or two ornaments.  It was a lot of fun and super easy- as she had paint markers...a lot less mess!

We were able to select our ornaments. 

I think we all enjoyed this craft....I know I did.

Everyone got to go home with a tea ornament and one or two ornaments. 

We gave away two door prizes, this was one of them.  A mug full of goodies.

The three of us really enjoyed putting on this Christmas tea.  We are now putting on a Galentines Tea in February!  Save the date and join us again!!

These ladies were so incredible to work with.  What a blessing to know them.

1 Peter 4:10-11, ESV

10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

not an artist... I was able to paint a Rudy Whistle Mug!

I went to visit my friend Jody - of Rudy Whistle Pottery.  She said she would let me paint a mug!!  I was so excited!

We hung out that day for a few hours catching and catching up, it was a special and fun day.

Then before me was this blank canvas. This big beautiful mug.  I could do anything I wanted to it.  I don't know what I was thinking trying to draw my cats peeking over the rim of the cup!  That is why Jody is the artist!!!!

And then the base is the weird yellow green.  It is not was I thought I would be.  It is just awful.  The mug is great and holds a ton of tea...but the painting is just bad!!!

But, I made a memory...and it's not like anyone is going to steal this mug from me.  And not just because my name is on it, lol!!

I painted the inside purple, but it looks brown.  I just chuckle every time I use it!  Again, it is not what is on the outside, this is FOR SURE a reminder it is what is in the inside...and that is delicious tea!!!!

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

1 Peter 4:10-11, ESV

10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

 

Sojourn Cafe - London Fog in Brewster Ohio

Sojourn Cafe

MON-FRI 6:30a – 2p

SAT 8a – 2p

255 Wabash Ave. S Brewster, Ohio 44613

330.767.6700

Last time I was here it was called McB Cafe, Cup of Joy, that was 2021.  I had not made it back until now.

My friend's daughter works here from time to time, and I wanted to try it out again since I hear her talk about it all the time.

I was super pumped to learn that drinks were half price on Wednesday!!!  It was Wednesday and I was doing my Wednesday Wandering thing on my way to Canton.

They have a very nice selection of drinks here at the cafe.

Lots of drink options and nice prices too.

The tables and decor are very nice.  There is a nice amount of seating too.  The cafe is clean and really nice.

The orange scone was one of the best scones I have ever had.  It was great. The price was good, and the portion was huge. The flavors were great, and it was not dry, but moist and delicious!  

I ordered the London Fog.  It was good, but I was not over impressed with the tea flavor itself.  The other flavors were good.  I asked for lavender and that was nice.  The milk was nice, but the Earl Grey was lacking some flavor. 

The tea bag was left in the cup- which to me means the water is added, the tea bag is put in, and then milk is added right away.  My one suggestion would be to steep the Earl Grey in the water for 5 minutes before adding the milk, so that the flavors have a chance to come through...or maybe try a stronger or different Earl Grey tea.

But I will be back to visit. The cafe was clean.  The staff was very friendly.  The prices were good, especially on a Wednesday when the drinks are half price. And the scones were yummy.  The other food looked good too.

1 Peter 4:10-11, ESV

10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Craft night and I made a tea cup out of sequins

It was family craft night in December.  A bunch of aunts and cousins all got together to make crafts.

Do you like to be creative and crafty?  Gather some friends together for a craft night.  Everyone can do their own craft or you can work on one together.  It is just fun to all be together.

I made these super cute button ornaments.

Then I wanted to make a sequin ornament like my mom and aunt Lois had made over 40 years ago!!

I actually had gotten an ornament sequin kit a few years ago...now was the time to use it.

The trick is having the right push pins that don't slip through the sequins hole.  I used the pins that came in the kit, but if you were to do it on your own buy pins with larger heads.  I also used pins with pearl tops for the actual teacup part of the ornament. 

Here is one of the ornaments my mom made years ago.  I hang it on my 4th of July tree now.

Can you tell it is a teacup??  May not... It is kind of hard to tell, but for my first attempt I like it.

My sister and cousin each made one too.  It was a fun craft and I think I will make more.

And I liked it enough to put it on my Tea Tree at home.

1 Peter 4:10-11, ESV

10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

 

King's Street Cafe. London Fog

I was in Wadsworth for a chiropractor  and decided to get a little caffeine burst.

kingsstreet.cafe

120 High St, Wadsworth, OH 44281

(330) 714-7419

Some fun festive holiday flavors listed.

I decided on a London Fog, it was $3.49, not a bad price at all for a cafe drink.  I was very pleased.

The cafe is very clean and bright.  Nice conversation areas through out.

The London Fog was really great.  I mean it is kind of hard to mess up a London Fog though, lol!  It's Earl Grey and Milk...and sometimes lavender or vanilla thrown in.

Either way, it was a very good Earl Grey and I will be back.

5 tea cups out of  5!  Flavor was great, the staff was very friendly, the cafe is clean and welcoming.  There was Christian music playing which I loved too.

1 Peter 4:10-11, ESV

10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.