Share Your Cup #203

I've come up with a way to remember how many times I've steeped my loose tea.  Most teas you can steep at least 2 times, some more. 
I chose to re-purpose an item already in my house.  I made these glass markers years ago and sold many of them.  They were designed to sit on the stem of a glass and each guest would have their own color. and therefore able to remember which glass was theirs.
These were still in my stash so I decided to add one to the handle of the tea pot each time I made tea.  They are pretty and useful.  Works for me. 

Does anyone else have the problem of remembering the number of time tea leaves have been steeped?  How do you handle it?  Leave me a comment.

This is one of the books I read over the last three weeks.  The ideas are not new but a reminder is always good.  The three principles are:
1. What you resist persists and grows stronger.
2. You can only be exactly as you are in the moment.
3. Anything you allow to be exactly as it is completes itself.
The idea for number 3 is: If you are facing something difficult face it head on and let it be.  It will run it's course and disappear. Many times we avoid, procrastinate, deflect issues based on our fears which just make them last longer.

I celebrated a birthday last week.  You know one of those that end in a zero.  It was a big one.


A good friend took me out for supper, a trip to an antique mall and DQ for dessert on my actual birthday.
I received several phone calls and emails from family.
I was out for steak dinner last night thanks to a good friend.
Another birthday supper is planned with a friend in about 10 days.
I am truly blessed to have such great friends and family.

Of course, I always share my birthday with Father's Day!

I found these Tea Cup Silicone Cupcake baking cups this week.  I love them and they will make a great addition to my tea accessories collection.  I use silicone liners for my muffins all the time. The black ones from Pampered Chef have not discolored probably because of their color.  The ones from Steeped Tea Morning Glory Dessert Cups have discolored so I don't think I will be baking cupcakes in these.  I want to keep them pretty.  I think I will use them for jellied or frozen desserts.  I can see pudding topped with fresh fruit in them.

Here's a wonderful yellow!! casserole dish which I received as a gift recently.  I love it!

I was able to purge a couple of old Pyrex pieces put this one in their place in the cupboard.  One in one out is a good rule to live by.  One in two out is even better.

I'm serving lunch on Friday so I think I will make a rhubarb crisp for dessert. 

Submitting to Share Your Cup #203 hosted by Carol at Art & Sand. 

Share Your Cup #185

I'm sharing my new 6 cup YELLOW tea pot!!  I spent some of my Christmas money and I'm so happy.  Early in January I went shopping and hit 5-7 stores looking for a smallish yellow tea pot to complement my larger navy tea pot.  This tea pot by Maxwell & Williams was being sold in yellow at a large department store in their fall line but by the time I was looking the yellow ones were all gone.  Disappointed.  So I gave up on the idea.  My navy tea pot from IKEA does not have an infuser so I was looking for a tea strainer to put in the cup when pouring.  Again, several tea stores later no luck.  I had purchased a strainer for my sister from a local store but they had moved and finding them took 2 phone calls and 4 visits to the area.  When I got there last week lo and behold there was the same tea pot I had seen earlier for $10 less. It's a small shop so I asked if she would show me how it poured and she was very accommodating.  It poured well so I came home with a tea strainer and a teapot which matches the capacity of my yellow kettle. It has an infuser so I can easily brew loose leaf tea.

This week included a visit to the library.  I had to cut back on my items because for the last 2 visits I have not had time to look at all I brought home.  When I joined the library they gave me a huge bag which is just too big.  I checked my collection of bags and chosen this purple one for the library. It has a little pouch to hold my print outs. I brought home books and DVDs.  I really like the Chicken Soup books for a few minutes of light reading before bed. I selected several books on painting as I would like to paint a Christmas card this year.  The Mountains of Scotland is one of the DVDs which should be good.

This is the best travel mug.  I had been using a red travel mug because vanity had overtaken me and I wanted one to match my car which is red.  Well, during the busy winter craft sale season I ended up spilling a full mug of Earl Grey tea with cream and sugar onto the passenger seat of my car.  I did a quick job of moving it from the seat to the floor mat then I had to head in to set up for the sale. When I got home at the end of the day I cleaned up the seat and thanks to scotch guard protection and my quick action no stains. But vanity went out the window. I recalled my niece had recommended a mug that she was able to just throw in her bag.  A phone call later, I was off the replace the red travel mug which had hit the garbage bin. Unfortunately, no red but liquid tight. I'm a happy camper.

Sharing at Art and Sand hosted by Carol.