Confessions Of A Tea Snob

My Favorite Day Of The Week

2011-02-07T15:34:00.000-08:00

I have a favorite day of the week and its Mondays! Yes its Monday the first day to the week. I absolutely love Mondays. I have a great job and I work four days a week and yes you guessed it not on Mondays. I have a wonderful family but guess what they are not around on Mondays. Hubby is at work and B is at school. Mondays are my special day reserved just for me. It sounds selfish I know but I do love my time at home to myself. Nothing like a quite house and a cup a tea.

A typical Monday for me is filled with no specific plans or commitments just an open slate for me to fill with what I want when want. The alarm is not set and I wake up as the family is leaving, fix my self a cup a tea and head back to bed with my latest book. I usually do a few things around the house like today was ironing, changing the sheets on our bed, cleaning a bit, time working on cards, more reading, and plenty of cups of tea. I even fit in a nap and a walk today.

What is your favorite day of the week and why? I would love to know.

Mrs. Potts

Seasons In Life

2011-01-30T08:51:00.001-08:00

I have been thinking about the seasons in life that we go through. I believe there are many and they are constantly changing just like the four seasons we experience each year. I do believe a season of life can be long or short and I also believe we can get stuck in a season or long for a past season that is full of fun and memories.

I find myself in a new season of life now. My oldest has left the nest and is attending college eight hours away in another state. To say she loves it is putting it mildly. She is growing and thriving and enjoying this season of her life. My son is loving his independence (he bought his sisters car before she left for college) and new found status as "only child". He will be leaving in just a couple of years as well.

For so much of my life I have given to others. Now don't misinterpret that. I have loved ever minute of giving time to my children, their school activities, projects, interests and what not. Insuring they had a strong foundation, love, support and safety net. But they no longer need me in ways they have in the past. What they need from me is changing. I am finding these changes freeing in a way I never have before.

I am reinventing rediscovering myself with the extra time I now have. I am discovering new interests, enjoying more time with my guy and in some ways being selfish with my time. I find myself often doing exactly what I want to do when I want to do it. I also find that I am spending more and more time with myself. I used to be such a social person. It seems someone was always over for tea, stamping scraping or dinner. These days I am enjoying the quite of my home and solitude. I thing this is a season a time to rediscover my interests and who I am or rather who I want to be. A friend once told me she likes to reinvent herself every seven years or so. Interesting thought. Maybe right now I am trying to reinvent myself in this new season of my life.

Off to have a cuppa and ponder it some more.

Mrs. Potts

Away Way To Long

2011-01-26T15:19:00.000-08:00

I have been thinking a great deal about the blogging world of late. Why do people blog? What do they hope to get out of it? What is in it for them? Why are some so open with their lives and share it all? Why am I curious enough to visit certain blogs on a regular basis? Why do I seem to care or have an interest in there world and or posts? These questions and many others are fascinating to me. I started this blog thinking it would be fun. Then it became more of a chore. I needed to post interesting, fun and witty comments and well that just seemed like to much work. I felt people would not be interested in my life. But maybe it is deeper than that. Did I not want to be honest and expose myself to people I don't know. What if people I know, see or work with every day read my blog. I feel I need to hide who I am or what I truly want to say. Why is that. What am I so afraid of? Will people judge me? Maybe not like me? Read into my blog something that is not there?

Just thinking out loud. This seems to be a year of change for me. Figuring out who I am and who I really want to be. No more pleasing others its more about being true to myself.

Going Once Going Twice Gone

2009-10-14T18:56:00.000-07:00

Well I had mention to write this blog Sunday, and then Monday and so on and now its Wednesday.

I am sure that the memory has faded and the humor is lost at this point but I will post about my experience anyway.

Saturday night H.P. and I attended a Chili Feed and Auction. It was a charity event for local school children held at our church. I was encouraged to after seeing the display of quilts up for action. One of them in particular caught my eye. Yep you guessed it was a quilt with tea cups and coffee cups all over it in blocks stripped together. Not something I had in my tea collection and it was calling my name. Tickets were purchased and we waited a week in anticipation of the big night.

Saturday night came and we approached the evening with excitement. I had every intention of walking home with that quilt. Oh yes I did it was mine for the taking. The other quilts were nice and they had some lovely cabins, meals and desserts also available for action.

We made it through the chili line and found our spots at a table placed in the middle of the room. We did not want to be at the front or back just in the middle. The counted down till auction time and then the fun and games began. We spotted a cabin up for bid that was just to good to pass up, so we started bidding. It got down to us and one other bidder. We were discussing our next bid when out of nowhere a new bidder entered bidding, placed a bid and before we or the other party knew what happened we heard sold! Ok well I could still get my quilt. It came up for bid and I played cautious not wanting to draw attention to myself and wanting to jump in at the last minute. The bidding went up, I jumped in and countered back and forth we went and then it hit about $125.00 and I looked at the quilt and thought I am not crazy about the colors, it has coffee cups and references on it. What was I thinking I don't want to pay this much or more for this quilt. I quickly placed my number down and was out. My dear H.P. was in shock, what was I doing I wanted that quilt it was mine - nope I am a woman and I can change my mind and I did.

We bid other several other lovely quilts that night and two other cabins and a getaway but we left with nothing. We were oh so close on a quilt but the auctioneer made a mistake sold it to another couple. Not sure how that happened but oh well. We attended the evening hope to contribute to a good cause come home with a lovely quilt and the joy of an auction. We left with no quilt, no money spent and not sure how we lost one particular item at the auction.

Oh well there is always next year!

Mrs. Potts

Milestones

2009-10-07T15:07:00.001-07:00

It seems we mark life by milestones. Various things that mark the passage of time in our lives and our families lives. Some milestones are simple and yet others save us money. Some milestones in my life have included: no more diapers to buy - this was a huge one in so many many ways. Another was the completion for preschool for both kids and no more preschool expenses, however this was followed by another milestone the start of kindergarten followed by all day school the next year. Completion of elementary school and middle school have also been milestones. Another milestone was the start of drivers ed for joyful and then the permit followed by the license and then driving alone. Psymon is half way through this milestone event now that he has his learners permit. Yesterday was another milestone event it was the last trip to the orthodontist for Psymon. It was has last retainer check. No more visits, no more checks or rubber bands to find laying around. After six years visiting the orthodontist with both kids I feel joy and sorrow. Joy that we have no more visits and no more checks to right but really after six years these people are my friends. I'm going to miss them - ok not that much. But it just made me think another milestone has come and gone. Yes there are many more to look forward to like high school and college graduations, first jobs, living on their own and getting married.

Wow theres still a lot to come. I think I need a cup of tea and time to ponder this some more. The previous milestones look easy the ones ahead look challenging and expensive. If you have any milestones you would like to share please do. Leave me a comment.

Mrs. Potts

The Soup Bowl

2009-10-04T07:45:00.000-07:00

A weekend or so ago my darling H.P. and I decided to take a mini vacation and hide away for the weekend. We left the teens with nana for supervision. We stayed at a lovely hotel and I went in search of my morning cup of tea. The hotel for all is nicety offered styrofoam cups for its morning coffee and tea drinking. Now any good tea snob knows styrofoam cups do not work for tea. Oh the taste the taste it just can not be done! So off we went to find a coffee shop that would provide me with a steaming cup of hot water. Because being the tea snob I am I carry my own tea bags with me. Well we find a common popular place know around the country (star) and headed in thinking success. You see on past vacations they have been wonderful, I have gone in and asked for a large cup of hot water and they have provided it at no charge. Its not styrofoam but a recycled paper product and although its not china it works so well in a pinch. But not this stars no she looks at me funny. You want a cup of hot water? Why yes I do. Do you want a tea bag with that - H.P. is quick to say no she has her own. That gets me a very strange look like I am a real snob which I am. Then she asks am I staying or going with my hot water. Well what does it matter but I say I am staying and order a muffin to go with it. I receive my hot water not in a paper cup or a mug but a soup bowl. You know those large things they try to pass off as cups with a handle on the side but they really are soup bowls. It is not china so it does not keep the water hot and it does not require one tea bag but at least three I think. It cools so quickly and it does not fit comfortably in my hands as my cups do at home. I am so disappointed. This is not the way to start off my day. I drink what I can from this soup bowl and surrender to the fact that I will not be enjoying a nice cup of steaming hot tea this morning. I mean tea in a soup bowl who does that.

Its been to long

2009-10-04T06:35:00.000-07:00

My mind has been swimming with all kinds of blog witting thoughts. Oh I could write about that or I could share this experience or up date on that one. I don't have to blog every day to be a blogger. So many random thoughts I don't know where to start. Then I come to my blog and realize just how long it has been since I have blogged. Its just a little embarrassing. I won't even try and catch you up.

Let me just say it can be summed up very simply in a few short sentences. Teenagers and their schedules keep me busy. Summer was fun but busy with summer camps and drivers ed for the youngest teen. Throw work in the mix and you have a full and busy spring through summer going right into fall. I can't tell you how many cups of tea I have had but I can tell you there have been plenty. I have several tea snob stories to share from my weekend up in Sun Valley. I will try and post those this week.

Mrs. Potts

Why Is It?????????

2009-01-17T07:06:00.001-08:00

I have been thinking about this blog title for some time. Its time I quit thinking about it and posted it. If you have answers to any of my why is it questions, please leave a comment and share them.

Why Is It -- during the week you could sleep till ten but you can't yet on the weekend you can actually sleep till ten and your up at seven?

Why Is It -- way more fun to put up the Christmas decorations than it is to take them down?

Why Is It -- way more fun to make cards than do the laundry?

Why Is It -- more enjoyable to read a book than clean the house?

Why Is It -- way more fun to read other peoples blogs than to post on my own?

Why Is It -- Tea tastes better when poured from a pot?

Why Is It -- the weekends are so short and the week so long?

Why Is It -- easier to think about getting on the treadmill than actually getting on the treadmill?

So what why questions do you have? Now I am going to end this and ask myself Why I wrote this blog?

Mrs. Potts

Happy Monday!

2009-01-05T07:56:00.000-08:00

Well the holidays are over the kids and husband have headed back to school and I have the day off. I love my Mondays thus I always seem to call them happy Mondays.

Whats not to be happy about. The house is quite and calm and its mine all mine! I have been known on Happy Monday to head back to bed once everyone has left the house. What a treat or indulgence depending on how you look at it. But hey its my time to myself.

As we start a new year, the first Monday of 2009 there is so much to be happy about. Let me share a few:

* Happy that we have black tea and can make that lovely soothing cup of tea all day long.

* Happy that my family is all healthy.

* Happy that I have two amazing teenagers.

* Happy that I have a warm cozy home I love.

* Happy that we have our beagle of 12 years still with us in good health.

* Happy we have wonderful friends and family.

Well you get the idea. Why don't you take a minute fix yourself a cup of tea and leave me a comment telling me what you are happy about.

Blessings

Mrs. Potts

Merry Christmas

2008-12-23T06:20:00.000-08:00

I want to wish each of you a Merry Christmas. I look forward to 2009 with anticipation and joy. May you all enjoy the holiday season with family and friends.

Mrs. Potts

P.S. Enjoy a hot cup of tea over the holidays!

Way To Much To Do!

2008-12-07T17:31:00.000-08:00

So I thought I was organized and I had the holidays under control. But something happened this week/weekend and I am not sure what it was exactly but,I feel like I am totally lost and don't know where to start. Its like everything has exploded into one week. A brief look at my week:

Monday - hair cut, grocery shop, clean house, fix food, host neighborhood woman's tea that evening.

Tuesday - Friday Work

Wednesday - co-working coming over for dinner and to work on a Christmas present

Thursday - Psymon has a band concert

Friday - Joyful needs a flapper costume for school

Saturday - clean house, prepare food and host husbands office party of approximately 40 -60 people and pick up exchange student returning from Taiwan

Sunday - Make it to church and oversee gift wrap fundraiser for youth group

Monday - next week- fix POT OF TEA, breath and relax!

I'll let you know how the week goes.

Mrs. Pots

P.S. some where in there I need to send out my Christmas cards and finish my Christams shopping.

Busy Busy!

2008-11-24T07:43:00.000-08:00

Its been a busy week and it looks like another busy one this coming week. Last week we celebrated Joyfuls 17Th birthday. We had a family dinner cooked by her Nana - roast lamb, roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding and vegetable. Dessert was an ice cream cake. Joyful had a lovely day! The rest of the week was busy with work and various activities the kids had going on. Did manage to get fit in on Saturday a cup a tea at the local tea shop and some shopping with my Mom. Got some Christmas shopping done with a little more to go. I am hopping to have it all done early this year and really enjoy the season.

H.P. hung all the lights on the outside of the this this past Saturday. Our house is covered with lots of little white lights. Maybe I'll try take a picture and post it here. I think I could do that. Thanks for the lights I love them!

Mondays- oh I love Mondays. This is my day off each week. Now don't get me wrong I am really enjoying my job and feeling like I have finally found my stride with it but Monday mornings are such a treat. No rushing to get ready, enjoying that second cup of tea and staying in my P.J.'s till I am ready to shower. I love my Mondays!

Mrs. Potts

Tealightful Monday

2008-11-17T06:22:00.000-08:00

Small Beginnings

By Heather Harpham Kopp

from Patchwork of Love

Every friendship begins small.

Two smiles meet and

hold somehow.

But as each day passes,

Amid coffee or tea,

shared secrets and phone calls,

carpools and quilting bees----

a love grows larger

enough to last eternity.

Have a wonderful Monday my friends and enjoy a cup of Tea.

Bond James Bond!

2008-11-16T19:03:00.000-08:00

Last nightwe went to the movies. It was a family affair. Both Joyful and Psyomon along with our exchange student joined us for the movie. I have been a James Bond fan for many years and look forward to each one. My favorie James Bond was Pierce Bronson. This one did not disaapoint! It was full of action and special effects. We all enjoyed it and had positve things to say about the movie. Our only complaint was how much it cost to go to the movie. I know why we don't go very often let alone go as a family. Tickets are now $9.50 each. What happened to the good old days of $3.50 movies or $5.00 movies. Ok - now I am dating myself but come on $9.50 and thats not allowing for any popcorn. Sure makes you think twice about if you really want to see it on the big screen or if you would rather wait and watch it on your own T.V. In this case James Bond was worth seeing on the big screen.

What Fun

2008-11-12T15:54:00.001-08:00

I had a great time on my trip/adventure. I came home happy and relaxed. I loved the time spent with my friend J. We enjoyed four days in Portland, Oregon. Let me tell you a little about it.

We eat at so many good restaurants. We had sea food twice that was just delicious. We had barbecue another night that was heavenly and my personal favorite was the prime rib. We found a country club steak house and ate there. I am not sure how we pulled it off but we did. Our waiter, we will call him Jeeves was well lets just say my name describes him well. We had a lovely appetizer cheese plate followed by salad followed by garlic mashed potatoes and a 10 oz prime rib that was wonderful. I also had the best wine spritzer I think I have ever had! I topped it off with cheese cake topped with lemon curd and blue berries. What a fun evening we had.

We shopped down town Portland and made it to the famous Powell's Books. We also hit several outlet malls while out and about. Sunday morning was spent at the beautiful Chinese Garden and that included a tea house that looked out onto the gardens. Of course we had tea and biscuits. We rode the metro to the end of the line just because we could! We also spent two hours at Ikea. We arrived on a "seize the day" promotion and received a free breakfast. It fueled us for our two hour wonder through the store.

Monday was spent at Cannon Beach walking the shore line in our long sleeve t-shirts basking in the sunshine and blue skies. The rest of the afternoon was spent on a drive up the coast and back through Washington along the Columbia river.

We ate well, talked and caught up and laughed a lot. It was a true blessing and a privilege to spend time with my friend J.

Thanks for the memories!

Mrs. Potts

Adventure Awaits Me

2008-11-06T16:45:00.001-08:00

I am soooooooooooo excited! I am going on a trip and will be having some fun with a girlfriend of mine. I have not seen my friend for over a year and I looking forward to visiting, shopping, relaxing, good food and maybe a glass of wine or two. I am flying to Portland OR tomorrow afternoon right after work. I will be returning on Tuesday. Leaving HP, Joyful and Psymon to fend for themselves.

I'll fill you in on all the adventure upon my return. Right now I need to pack and get things ready. Just printed my boarding pass!

Mrs. Potts

Tealightful Monday

2008-11-03T17:22:00.000-08:00

The Guest Book

by Carla Muir

When I was young, I'd visit folks

who lived on neighboring streets.

A widow often asked me in

for tea and pastry treats.

She made me feel special with

a table set just so,

while she would talk of baking and

how long to raise the dough.

Politely, I would listen although

thoughts would often stray.

Each time I left, I gave my word

I'd come another day.

Before I went to college

she asked that I stop by.

she opend up her old gues book

while trying not to cry.

Then as she paged through many years,

in pen I saw my name.

For she had written in that book

the days and times I came.

"You won't learn this in textbooks,"

she softly said to me ----

"how you can lift another's soul

with just a cup of tea."

Its Been Awhile

2008-11-03T17:19:00.000-08:00

So I have not been online for awhile. Sorry about that. I feel like I have been in a fog. To much going on and not enough time to do it all. I really appreciate the comments that were left concerning my last blog. They were words of wisdom I have been reflecting on.

I hope here in the future to blog more often and with that in mind, I am starting a new Monday theme here at my blog. I am calling it A Tealightful Monday. Each Monday I hope to share with you some positive saying or insight relating to tea. So grab a cup of tea and enjoy each Monday.

Mrs. Potts

What To Do?

2008-10-04T09:13:00.000-07:00

Ok so I am wondering when do you through in the towel and when do you say no I need to make this work? I am really struggling right now with a particular issue. I don't want to give specifics so I will talk in general terms. You open yourself up to a new experience and agree to try it with a specific end date in mind. You have given it your best shot you have adjusted your attitude tried numerous things and still you find the new experience is not right for you. You have been working at it for almost two months with two more to go. It is causing you stress, frustration and creating anger within you. Do you continue you on till your end date to honor your commitment or do you as they say through in the towel and call it quits. You see that seems the easy way out - calling it quits but I also wonder if that is also the mature thing to do realizing it is not working for you. If I do call it quits am I am quieter not willing to stick with something and see the possible positive end results. Am I afraid of some hard work and discomfort er in my life? What does that say about me that I can not honor the commitment I made. But on the other hand what is wrong with admitting you tried it and it is not working for you and need to break the commitment. I really don't know - I think at this point you have a sense of the quandary I am in. I would appreciate any insight you have on this. Please also know that as a parent I am aware that my children are watching and seeing how I handle this. Just another added pressure to this situation.

Thanks,

Mrs. Potts

P.S. I know my last two posts have been full of deep thoughts but it does help to put them out there.

Attitude

2008-09-29T19:04:00.000-07:00

So I have been thinking a lot about attitude lately. Where do our attitudes come from? Can they change in an instant? Are we in control or our attitudes or are they say a cause and effect type thing. Meaning what is going on around us causes our attitude? My other thought is could it be a combination of them. Do I have control over my attitude, I like to think I do. If I do have control then I can let or not let outside circumstances effect it. I suppose its kind of like looking at the glass as half full or half empty. Depending on what you think it will determine your attitude.

You may wonder why I have been thinking about this - well to be honest I have found my attitude all over the map if you will of late. I also find it changing depending on where I am and who I am interacting with. Why is that - why can't I have a stable attitude.

My question dear readers if there are any of you out there is - What are your feelings regarding attitude and what do you do to maintain a good healthy positive attitude. I would love to know.

I need to go ponder this somemore over a cup of tea. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with me - see I have a positive attitude that some one or some ones will leave a comment.

Thanks

Mrs. Potts

Lack of Blogging

2008-09-23T16:07:00.000-07:00

I realize it has been sometime since I have blogged. I have been reflecting on that and feel there are numerous reasons for that. I thought I would share a few of them at this time.

I am working and find I have less time to blog and less to blog about as more of my time is spent at work and not at home.
I have been writing in a journal - yes actually hand writing my thoughts in a book.
My thoughts are more personal and I don't want to put them on a board for public reading.
I have been struggling a bit with work and our exchange student. I want my blog to be a positive place full of hopefully uplifting things. Not a place to complain and vent.

So having said that, its time to fix another cup of tea.

Mrs. Potts

Tea & Hope

2008-08-25T13:37:00.000-07:00

I have a magnet on my fridge it reads:

While There IS TEA

There IS HOPE

since I have Tea I have hope!

Hope that

Our exchange student from Taiwan will learn English quickly
My new job will even out into a manageable routine
Joyful will have a wonderful year of Speech and Debate
Psymon will settle into High School and the transition from middle school will be easy
I will start exercising here soon and drop a few pounds
Cooler Fall temps. are on the way

Hoping you all have a wonderful day.

Mrs. Potts

A New Adventure

2008-08-04T12:51:00.000-07:00

So..............for those of you who might have forgotten, today was the first day of my new job. I have to tell you it was a pretty good day. The morning went well as far as getting out of the house. No major disasters, spills or crises with the kids. I made it out the door and to work calm cool and collected! I spent four hours at work today (remember this is only a part time job) getting a taste of the job I will be doing. Over all I am going to love this job. I have only one fear and it could send me in to tea sipping oblivion. Alot of what I will be doing involves alot of excel programs. I want to start running to the tea kettle now, turn it on and drink endless cups of tea! I have not really worked in excel before and I believe my kids know more about computers than I do. I realize however if I am going to succeed at this job, I will need to conquer my fear of excel. I am thinking I need to head to Tar*get and buy an electric kettle and pick up a box of tea bags, milk and sugar and take them into the office starting tomorrow. I think its the only way I a will survive. My co-workers are not (as of yet) tea snobs and they drink coffee. Ok any words of support or encouragement would be appreciated about now. Better yet send tea bags, I'll be going through alot of them.

Off to fix another cup of tea right now. My second since coming home from work less than an hour ago. What does that tell you?

Mrs. Potts

All Before 11:00 A.M.

2008-07-29T09:32:00.000-07:00

Wow, I feel like the energizer bunny this morning! I just keep going and going and going. So far I have:

Baked a Sour Cream Lemon Pound Cake
Marinated Eight Pieces of Chicken - company coming tonight
cut up a watermelon
2 loads of laundry
completed about an hours worth of ironing
washed the rather large kitchen floor and entry way
checked e-mail & blogged

and last Two Cups of Tea. I think it might be time for a 3rd cuppa and a rest before I start on the next project today.

Wish I was this energetic everyday.

Mrs. Potts

Working To Support Habit!

2008-07-27T13:31:00.000-07:00

I am a Tea addict. I drink numerous cups of a tea a day. I also drink numerous glasses of Tea Jave during the hot summer months. I buy the Tea Java by the case! This is simply not an addiction I can over come. It will remain with me for the rest of my life. In fact I take great pleasure in sharing my addiction/habit with my friends. For more on that read an earlier post called Hooked Another One.

Seriously, I have been offered an amazing opportunity and I am really excited about it. I have been volunteering each week for an organization called Love Inc (Love In The Name Of Christ). I have loved my time spent in the office working with the staff and numerous clients. I looked forward to my time spent there each week. A few weeks ago I was approached by the director regarding a part time position they needed to fill. They asked me if I would be interested and if I would pray about it. I spent a week praying and talking it over with H.P., Joyful and Psymon. We all felt this was a wonderful opportunity and one I was to accept.

I will begin work on Monday August 4th. I am very excited about this opportunity God has given me. I am busy getting the house organized and a million other things before I start next week. I think I have packed in every appointment for dentist, eye doctor etc... for the kids or myself next week. It will be a busy week.

Love Inc is a national organization with many local offices across the country. Here is the link to the office I will be working with if you want to check it out.

http://www.loveinctv.org/web/default.htm

Just think a whole new group to convert to Tea!

Off to refill my Tea Java Glass.

Mrs. Potts

In My Defense

2008-07-25T11:57:00.000-07:00

So if you have not read Psymons post, this post will not make sense to you. If you want to read it go to welcometosomewhere.blogspot.com and you will understand.

I really do feel after reading Psymons post I simply must clarify a few things. You have heard Psymons side now hear the real/rest of the story. As Psymon said he has entered the slimy world of contacts. This is not an easy world to navigate at first. It takes lots and lots of practice and with time it becomes much easier. Both Psymon and Joyful expressed an interest in switching from glasses to contacts. Being the wonderful Mom that I am I made it happen. I booked the eye exams and drove them to the appointments. Joyful after a few tries took to the contacts well. She still struggles but is sticking with it. Psymon as you know struggled. Now here are some clarifications on the story 1) the first day we were there for 2.5 hours. I give Psymon credit he really stuck with it and gave it his A game. 2) I was not the only one offering words of encouragement - we had two other sales associates offering there advice, opinion and own personal stories and opinions. 3) We had another customer offer words of encouragement with its so much easier for girls as they are used to touching there eyes putting on make-up. It is so much harder for boys. My question is why did my dear Psymon not want to yell at any of them?

Now to the next issue - Sonic. I had been out off the house since 8:15 a.m. I had spent another hour with Psymon while he tried to get his contacts in. Yes he did folks get them in and one of them out! We then went to one of my least favorite stores Wal*mart and purchased what we needed. The time was now 3:45 and Joyful told me as we got in the car she had left her phone at Nana's. Oh my, so we head that direction and looking down the road I see a train stopping traffic and out of the other eye I see Sonic and ten minutes left of "happy hour". So I am hot, tired and a cool wonderful Mom and I pull into the Sonic. Yes there were cheers for this detour. This should only take a couple minutes right. Wrong oh so wrong! We ordered pulled up and waited. Please remember I was hot and tired and I just wanted to go home to my air conditioned house. I started to complain just a little bit about why would people be ordering food during happy hour. I mean its happy hour that means drinks. This nice man I think he was the manager came out with our drinks and said sorry about the hold up and another gal came out with drinks for the car behind us. I was surprised and I thought I said did you hear me complaining about the wait. I don't remember saying what Psymon says I said. But there you have it my recollection of the day(s).

So to Psymon I say stick with the contacts it will get easier and you will truly enjoy them. And may this be the end of this story. Off to have an ice cold glass of Tea Java.

Mrs. Potts

Warm Lake

2008-07-18T07:01:00.000-07:00

I noticed that I have been home almost a week and have not posted. I think I liked the thought that I was still on vacation up at the lake even though I was not. Like a few people we ran into up at the lake and I quote them "Warm Lake is not a place its a state of mind" "cant you feel the love". I will let you ponder that and wonder just as I did what these happy folks had been drinking. Let me just say I don't think it was Tea! We met them on one of our evening walks around the lake.

The week at Warm Lake was oh soooooooo very relaxing. I started and finished two books, worked some on a knitting project and relaxed by the lake. Joyful and Psymon enjoyed what we called dock surfing and boating. As boats would pass near our dock the waves would come in and rock the parked boat and or dock. The nearer the boat was to the dock the greater the waves that followed. Joyful really enjoyed this activity and even got her Nana hooked on it. Not to be out down HP and I saw our opportunity and ran to the dock and surfed the waves one night after a boat passed by. We must have looked totally stupid arms and feet spread apart (just like standing on a surf board) but we had a great time. Made me feel like a kid again.

You know I can't post with out mentioning Tea. Yes we had plenty of tea up at Warm Lake. We started with tea first thing in the morning. Most mornings were two cuppas. Tea was often served at 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. as well. Now when you serve mid-day you serve it with a biscuits. We had some great biscuits for dunking and enjoying. We also had a few extra cups at various times for good measure.

Oh the lake is calling me back, unfortunately I am stuck in reality where I must live. But I will hang on to my memories of that wonderful week and continue to ponder "Warm Lake its not a place its a state of mind" Maybe just maybe they are on to something with that statement. Off to fix a cup of tea and ponder that.

Mrs. Potts

Off To The Lake

2008-07-06T20:11:00.000-07:00

I will be off line this week. I am off to spend a week at Warm Lake in Idaho. I love my time spent at the lake. We will be staying in a cabin right on the lake. It is always peaceful and restful. No television, radio, newspapers, computer or cell phone access. It truly is a week away. I'll post upon my return. Its the perfect place for a cup of hot tea sitting on the dock watching the sun come up or go down. I am so looking forward to heading up tomorrow.

Have a great week.

Mrs. Potts.

Happy 4th

2008-07-04T07:13:00.000-07:00

Just want to wish you all a happy 4th of July. Joyful and I will be celebrating with my folks. Psymon and H.P. are still on their mission trip to San Fransisco and will be returning tomorrow. We sure have missed them this week in oh so many ways. Yet I have to say at the same time Joyful and I have had a nice quite week and oh the house has stayed clean!

Mrs. Potts

Hooked Another One!

2008-07-02T07:09:00.000-07:00

Nothing brings me more joy than having others join me in my addiction to tea. I am happy to say I have another "addict" joining my addiction to tea. I must say Steph was much easier to hook all the way around than I thought. Steph had a slight interest in hot tea, and I used that to my advantage. I started slowly offering cups of hot tea when ever she came over. When visiting her home I would be the true tea snob and take my own tea bags and off course share with her. Once Step was hooked on the taste it was time to move to the next phase. The proper way to prepare the tea and drink it. I worked on this slowly explaining over time how to brew the tea and let it steep. I even wormed my way into a guest spot on her blog explaining my obsession with tea. (side note this is what led to my blog you are reading right now). Which of course she read and learned from! Next I bought her a box of my favorite black tea. So she would have it at her house when I came over - but I knew once it was in her home she would be drinking it her self. I was just the excuse to have the right kind of tea on the shelf. Next Steph was so kind and had a birthday! The perfect opportunity for me to push her over the edge with the tea drinking. I gave her a bone china mug for tea drinking along with the perfect biscuits (cookies for those of you who are not tea snobs). She was hooked! Once you drink from a bone china mug you will never go back to a regular mug of tea. Unless you are in a truly desperate situation and its the only way you are going to get a cup of tea. I was feeling good I had accomplished alot but I still had the Tea Java to go. I knew I had made progress with this iced tea (its the only ice tea worth drinking in my opinion) as Step would drink it on occasion when coming to my house. I also knew she was interested when she blogged about the Tea Java and posted a picture. Now for the final push. It was a HOT week we were expected to reach 100 plus and Step was over visiting. I did what any good friend would do, I sent her home with a nice bottle of Tea Java. Perfect for those hot summer days. I have to say folks it worked! Step is both hooked on true black tea and also the Tea Java. I know because she is now ordering her own cases of Tea Java and e-mails or blogs while drinking her black tea from her bone china mug.

Let me just say welcome Step. You could have worse addictions than Tea and hey its healthy in so many ways.

If you want to read Steps blog just click on the SerenityNow button to the right of this post.

Ok - typing about the tea has made me thirsty - so I am off to fix a cup of black tea in my fine bone china mug. Later today when the temperature warms up I'll start on the Tea Java!

Happy Sipping,

Mrs. Potts

To Many Projects

2008-06-30T06:31:00.000-07:00

I wonder are you at all like me? I have so many projects in various stages and yet none of them are finished. Add to that, more project ideas floating around in my head. By projects I mean such things as scrape books to finish, cross stitch projects to complete, decorating ideas for around the house, quilting, cards to make and of course the never ending list of books to read. I suppose I should also add organizing closets to my list. Its one I think about alot but keep putting off.

Why is it I can come up with all the ideas but finishing one seems to be such a challenge. Now cards and scrape booking I can understand. You will always have pictures to put in albums and cards will always need to be made for various occasions but, I have not even finished the baby pictures yet! I must have four different albums going in various stages.

HELP. If you have any suggestions for finishing projects please share them in the comment section. Wow - that's a big assumption - that people are reading my blog. If you are please share any motivational ideas for finishing up projects.

I think I will make a cup of tea and start on a list of projects in process and a second list of projects I would like to start. Maybe having a list and being able to cross things off will help, I know the tea will help. As you may or may not know Tea fixes everything!

Mrs. Potts

Tea as a Juice?

2008-06-29T08:52:00.000-07:00

I have been a tea drinker for along time. Hot or Cold I drink tea but I have never considered it a juice before. To me tea is not a juice it does not fall under what I even consider a juice. Juice drinks come from fruits not from tea leaves. According to the article I just read tea is one of the top ten juices you can be drinking for your health. Tea is above apple juice but below orange juice in this list. Tea as a juice I just don't think so. I will however continue to drink it. Like I need a little more encouragement or justification to feed my habit. But thanks to this article I do have one more reason to continue my addiction and drink tea!

Summer

2008-06-23T15:28:00.000-07:00

Wow - I love summer! Things are so relaxed, schedules there really are no schedules and things seem to move at a slower more relaxed pace.

When Joyful and Psymon were younger, summer was full of activities, the water park and play dates. Now the two are older summer is a little slower and a whole lot easier. Joyful is driving and getting around as long as she has a car available to use or friends who are willing to offer her a ride (no she does not have her own). Both of the kids are old enough to be dropped at the movies (I don't have to go with them) the water park, golf course or mall with friends. It seems to free up my time. Now don't think I am complaining about previous summers they were wonderful, in fact I miss those days at the water park working on my tan. I really don't have one yet this summer. But you see each "phase" has its benefits and I am enjoying the phase I am in right now.

To give you an example, I should have been cleaning my house this afternoon. Its not really dirty but could use a spruce up, but Joyful was at the mall and Psymon was playing golf and I had a really good book just calling me to finish it. So I popped a bag of popcorn, poured myself a big glass of Tea Java (the only iced tea in the world) and sat in my favorite chair and read my book to the finish! What a great book. I am a huge Mary Higgins Clark fan and I had just picked up her latest book from the library on Saturday. I needed to finish that book, it was begging to be finished. I had to know who had committed the crime. Just so you know the end did not disappointed. It was a great read. Ah the joys of summer! A quite house, popcorn, tea java and a good book - summer does not get any better!

Mrs. Potts

Its Alot Of Work

2008-06-12T16:20:00.000-07:00

We are getting ready to head out of town tomorrow and its alot of work! Joyful qualified back in February for the National speech and debate tournament held in Las Vegas Nevada. We are very proud of her and are putting together the trip. This trip has been a challenge from the start due to numerous things that I won't go into. Anyway, we leave tomorrow and I don't understand way getting out of town is so much work. The house needs to be cleaned. Yes its important to me to leave a clean house when I depart and come home to a clean house. The laundry all needs to be done and ironed. Yes I am one of those people who iron. The dinner needs to be cooked the newspaper stopped along with the mail and numerous other things along with packing. I have not even started that yet. Please tell my why is it so much work getting out of town?

Off to start the ironing, cook the dinner and then pack.

I think I need a cup of tea before I start all that. I'm off to put the kettle on instead.

Mrs. Potts

Frustration

2008-06-10T07:55:00.001-07:00

Last night H.P. Joyful and I sat down to watch a movie. The weather had turned cool and we were having a few rain showers. It seemed like the perfect night to "hideout" in the basement watching a movie. Psymon and our guest J opted out. The decided to play games and hang out up stairs. Sorry more information than you needed. Back to the movie. We rent from a large national company and the videos come in the mail. We had waited for this movie The Great Debaters and were very excited to see it. Joyful is a speech and debater and had already seen the movie but wanted to watch it again. We were enjoying the movie and I have to say it is very good and worth seeing - but we never got to see the end of the movie about two scenes short the movie stopped playing and would not be played again. We tried cleaning the disk, cleaning it with Windex but nothing would make the movie play. Frustrated is a mild word to use to describe our feelings. This was the moment we had waited for - Joyful added to our pain saying this is the best part of the movie. The pain of not hearing that great speech and seeing how it was concluded. Well I contacted our company and let them know, the movie our non-playing one is in the mail box and we have a new one coming. But oh we have to wait and wonder and wait and wonder till at least tomorrow when the hopefully playable DVD shows up.

Company Coming

2008-06-07T07:04:00.000-07:00

We have company coming and I am excited! My dear friend J is sending her daughter for a visit. M arrives this evening. The whole family is looking forward to M's visit. What a privilege to be entrusted with a friends daughter for five days. M is 15 and is right in the middle of Joyful and Psymon. We have known M and her family for about fourteen years now. We meet when we both moved to Missoula, Montana. We have visited them each time they have moved and they in return have visited us. They are getting ready for their next move in about six weeks. We are planning next years vacation. We will have the opportunity to visit them in Nebraska. Now that's I state I have not been to yet and I'll be looking forward to it.

We have lots of fun things planned with M, like shopping. What girl does not like to shop? We also plan to try out the black light miniature golf in town. The water park is an option only if the temps. warm up. Who knows what other fun things we will do. It will be fun no matter what we do.

Like I said at the start of the this blog, I am excited! J is such a dear friend, one of those rare friends you can talk to about anything, the distance and miles don't seem to matter. I should also tell you that when J and I get together fun, and laughter always follow. I do mean lots of laughter and we usually try something fun and foolish we have not done before. Those stories (toe rings, air brush tattoos, fake nose rings etc...) are for another time. I'm wishing J was coming with M but that's not possible with the move in the works. So I will enjoy M and look forward to a visit with J in the fall. Laughing and smiling just thinking about getting together in the fall.

Mrs. Potts

Great Read

2008-06-04T08:28:00.001-07:00

I just finished reading a great book. You know the kind you don't want to end, the kind you want to read again, the kind you are still thinking about. That describes the book I just finished. So let me share this book with you. The book is called The Traveler's Gift by Andy Andrews. Its is a fast easy read only 210 pages. But what a story! Its is fiction but is also considered a "self help" book. I found it to be a wonderful story full of great thoughts and questions. I don't want to tell you much about it because I don't want to give anything away. I want to go back and read it again, this time underlining important parts that spoke to me. If you get the chance pick up this book, read it and tell me what you think.

It goes perfect with a pot of tea. Tea and a book - what a wonderful combination!

Mrs. Potts

Surprise

2008-05-31T09:35:00.001-07:00

I along with my mother-in-law pulled off a wonderful surprise on the family. My mother-in-law and I arranged for her to come for a visit. My mother-in-law lives in Phoenix and we live in Boise. No one in the family was aware she was coming. I love a good surprise and this was one of them. I called H.P. and invited him to join me for lunch on Thursday. H.P. as I expected accepted the invitation (who would want to turn down a lunch date with me not H.P.) I told him I was coming his way to do a few errands and would call him when I was done. I headed to the airport picked up my mother-in-law and called H.P. and arranged to meet for lunch. We arrived first and waited until H.P. parked and got out then we got out and I said hello and he turned and looked at me and looked again and was like hey that's my Mom - it was a great surprise and H.P. was excited to see his Mom and know she was staying for a few days. During lunch H.P. kept smiling and shaking his head. It still did not seem real to him. Now to the kids, Psymon walked in the door from school and saw his Oma sitting on the couch and being the cool 14 year old that he is casually says HI. That's it no other response. A few minutes later after getting some food (he is a growing teen you know) he does think to ask Oma how long she is staying. Now Joyful comes home about 15 minutes later walks in the door sees her Oma on the couch, drops her bags starts to scream and jump up and down and gives her Oma a big hug. Joyful's response is well Joyful - so fitting.

We are all having a great time with Mom, mother-in-law Oma. She will be staying with us until Monday. We have already packed in alot. Thursday night we attended Psymon's last band concert at the middle school. He moves onto high school in the fall. It was a great concert and Mission Impossible was my favorite number performed. Friday I and my mother-in-law did a little shopping. Made it to a few stores I had been wanting to visit and had the perfect excuse to now. We played cards in the afternoon, barbecued a nice dinner and had a fire in our fire pit last night. We made some yummy smores and were outside enjoying the fire till after 11:00 p.m.

We are off today to H.P.'s aunts 80Th birthday celebration. I'll fill you in on the details later. Have a great day, enjoy a cuppa and check back for more updates.

I Know I Am Feeling Better Because

2008-05-28T14:58:00.000-07:00

1- Tea tastes good once again!

2- I am thinking of eating something for dinner tonight that is not chicken broth/soup or jello.

3- I am dressed, fixed my hair, put my contacts in and put on a smidgen of make-up.

4- I have spent the day cleaning my house - it looks so good! I don't know how it gets so dirty so quickly but it does.

5- I am blogging again and made a few changes to my blog page. Be sure to check out the Michael Buble videos I added. I think he is just awesome. I saw him in concert and I would pay and go again in a heart beat. Yes I am just a little over the top concerning Michael.

6- I am disappoint that with this illness and lack of eating the scale is telling me I have lost not a single pound. I think the scale is wrong.

7- I think I will venture out of the house tomorrow and do something fun. I am not sure what, but it will be nice to be out of the house for a bit.

Not Even A Cuppa Sounds Good

2008-05-24T07:02:00.000-07:00

I have not been blogging and I am not sure when I will get back to it At least not for the next few days. I am fight something and I am not upto blogging. I went to the doctor yesterday and I am waiting for results on labs. Sure hope they hurry up and call me. Once they get the labs back they will know what medicine to give me. Then I will start to feel better.

Its really bad when even a cup of tea does not sound good or is unable to make me feel better!

I'm Tired

2008-05-20T20:16:00.000-07:00

I really want to blog. I have had a great day, but I am just to tired. It's been a long day what with book club this morning and the debate year end banquet this evening. I have so much to write about and yet I just don't have the energy. Tomorrow I will blog about all of my fun activities today.

Meet The Family

2008-05-18T19:52:00.000-07:00

I think its time you meet my family. Let me start by introducing you to my wonderful husband whom we shall call H.P. for short. We have been married for 19 wonderful years. Yes I think he is wonderful. However H.P. does have one flaw - he does not drink tea in any form hot or cold, black or flavored. To his credit he does make a wonderful cuppa when I need one.

My 16 year old daughter I will call joyful. That is a perfect description of who she is and her personality. She is just finishing up her 10th grade year, and can't wait to be a Junior and "upper classman" next year. Joyful loves speech and debate and just recently got her drivers license. She is a joy to be around and she loves a cuppa. We share numerous cups of tea each day.

My 14 year old son I will call Psymone, I don't know why he named himself that but it works for me. He is a great guy. Although he is currently going through a growth spurt and is now taller than me. Yikes - when will he stop growing! Psymone does not like hot tea but he will on occassion have a cup of iced tea. There is hope for Psymone!

My third child is our Beagle Molly. She is 11 years old and still full of energy and life. She has been with us since she was 8 weeks old. She is a sweet lovely dog.

Well, thats it for tonight just a quick intor to the family. You will hear more about them in the coming weeks. Off to fix a cup of tea with milk and sugar.

Sunday Morning

2008-05-18T08:57:00.000-07:00

I am really having fun with this blog thing. I thought I should have renamed my first blog and called it my second blog. I have been published on a friends blog and I thought I would share that with you. Its what started this whole blog idea. The title of the blog is called you guessed it Confessions Of A Tea Snob. Here is the link - go check it out and let me know what you think.http://365steph.wordpress.com/2008/05/08/tea-snob/

My First Blog

2008-05-17T19:36:00.000-07:00

Hello,

I have decided that I would like to try blogging. I wrote a guest blog over at a friends sight and enjoyed it. I have been reading other peoples blogs for a couple of months now and thought it would be fun to try and write my own. I am not very computer friendly. I think my teens know more that I do about the computer and the internet.

I am not sure how often I will post or what I will say but I think it will be fun.

Welcome and one thing I know for sure. We will do alot of talking about tea! My favorite drink.

A Tea Snob