A cup of tea, with Helen.

I am quite passionate about tea and because i hugely enjoy both drinking it and talking about it i have "sat down together with" some lovely tea drinking ladies and asked them a few questions about their relationship with tea. This time it is the lovely Helen and i who are having our tea-time together:


V: Do you remember when you first started drinking tea?

H: I have a very strong memory of being possibly about 4 or 5 years old and I am sat on my Mr Man chair, which was a plastic chair shaped like a Mr Man character, and I am watching Alice in Wonderland the 1951 Disney version and I am drinking incredibly sweet and very milky Tetley tea from a plastic Mr Man mug.

V: What are your favourite teas Helen? You can mention as many as you like...*smiling*..

H: I have a few favourites, I am a fan of Yorkshire tea or Lancashire tea which are similar to English breakfast teas and some times in England are referred to as 'Builders' tea, I start my day with one of these, most days when I am on the move. On a weekend or a day of leisure I enjoy drinking loose teas, I really enjoy Earl Grey, pouring into my red tea pot and using my 70's tea strainer to pour it into a proper china cup, very satisfying. I also enjoy rose tea, which is whole rose flowers that have been dried and make for the most delightful and refreshing drink and they look unbelievably beautiful. You know when you get that Jasmine tea where it is in a ball and then when you pour freshly boiled water onto it it opens up and looks like a sea urchin, I enjoy drinking this from a clear glass tea cup so I can see the whole process. I am often making ice tea which I make with earl grey in a jam jar, along with, honey, lemon and sometimes ginger then boiling water on top and leave it to cool, then put it in the fridge or freezer and then this is perfect to take with me for my lunch, I leave it in the jar and drink from the jar.


 

V: Favourite thing to eat together with your tea?

H: There are two things I thoroughly enjoy with tea, one with a mug of tea one with a pot of tea. A bacon sandwich on white bread and tomato sauce with a mug of tea is comfort and reminds me of the book 'Goodnight Mr Tom'. Afternoon tea, in a pot with freshly baked scones, homemade strawberry jam and clotted cream, heaven.

V: Most times, do you do something else also while enjoying your tea?

H: In the morning I have a cup of tea whilst I read the headlines on my lap top, check my emails and see who's blog has ben updated on my blogroll. I like to read and drink tea and when I am meeting deadlines I drink chamomile tea to calm me.

V: Your country, England, is to my knowledge a country that most people would associate with tea. You have tea traditions that goes far back in history, can you tell us a little bit about that?
H: Well originally tea was an utter luxury and was only afforded by the upper classes, if you can imagine a Jane Austen novel, and this involved tea and the likes of cucumber sandwiches with the crusts cut off. This sort of tradition does not exist so much these days but afternoon tea has probably derived from this, this involves a pot of tea, with a selection of sandwiches and a selection of mini cakes, like macaroons and mini victoria sponge, there are many beautiful cafe's that hold this tradition and serve this on a three tier vintage china stand. A morning mug of tea is very common place and maybe a 'brew' at 11 - ish too.

V: Do you sometimes buy tea on-line or mostly in the stores?
H: I do buy online often, I have been fortunate enough to work in beautiful tea rooms in my past, one cafe I worked at in Brighton/ Hove called Ethel's Kitchen has a selection of about 50 loose teas and it was great to try them all, also I purchased some through the cafe. I buy from the Chinese super market near me too as they always have loose flowers and not everywhere sells what I am looking for.

V: Which tea cup of the day do you enjoy the most?
H: My first cup of tea in the morning is my favourite which I have with breakfast which is often toast with butter, marmalade or jam

V: Do you have a favourite tea mug?
H: I shall show you a few of my favourite things to drink tea from and with, I collect milk jugs I have about 30, I find them very satisfying both in shape and utilitarian value

All photos by Helen.

today

weather- sunny and warm

me- barefoot and happy on my veranda and in my garden

indulging in- iced tea and carrot cake......and new yarn...*laughing*...

garden- lots of birds eating from the feeders, three dancing butterflies (one white and two yellow),
new washed clothes are hanging out to dry, two out of three flowerbeds are finally weeded

hearing- silence together with the lovely sounds of wind in trees, bumble bees and bird song

springtime....miracles....

  “Around us, life bursts with miracles -a glass of water, a ray of sunshine, a leaf, a caterpillar, a flower, laughter, raindrops. If you live in awareness, it is easy to see miracles everywhere. Each human being is a multiplicity of miracles. Eyes that see thousands of colors, shapes, and forms; ears that hear a bee flying or a thunderclap; a brain that ponders a speck of dust as easily as the entire cosmos; a heart that beats in rhythm with the heartbeat of all beings. When we are tired and feel discouraged by life's daily struggles, we may not notice these miracles, but they are always there.”

- Thich Nhat Hanh

Photos by Nausika Raes.

White clowers and Heartsease

 

I have just finished my Imogen tee by Carrie Bostick Hoge, it was such a lovely piece to knit!
Because i wanted to make myself something that i could wear in the warmer seasons i chose a cottonyarn  for this one. Today it was a few minus degrees when we woke up but i sooo wanted to wear it that i put a thin long-armed sweather underneath it and it actually looked very nice.
In the middle of the front there is the most beautiful pattern and when i stopped by the yarnshop to buy myself some yarn earlier today two strangers came up to me and comment this gorgeous pattern....*smiling*...


For the first time this spring i have seen White clowers and Heartsease,
wild flowers makes me happy!

A cup of tea, with Anna.

 

 

I am quite passionate about tea and because i hugely enjoy both drinking it and talking about it i have "sat down together with" some lovely tea drinking ladies and asked them a few questions about their "relationship" with tea. 

First out is the lovely Anna from Spain.

 

 

V: Do you remember when you first started drinking tea?

A: I think it all began when I was to university, I can’t remember exactly if it was when I met new people in a new city or perhaps discovered before, but what I do remember is that I found a friend who was beginning to have the same addiction as I.

 

 

V: Your favourite teas? You can mention as many as you like....*smiling*..

A: Green tea is the one I prefer and I drink habitually, honestly my tastes about flavors vary. I'm always willing to try new combinations and I’m not usually like to repeat, although I like to find the taste of almond and rose petals, actually I am passionate about fruit flavors blend, for example Palais des Thés brand offers a magnific combination of white peach, kiwi and watermelon with flower petals (Thé des Alizés). Another of this brand is one I discovered last summer when I traveled to France, Japanese green tea, delicately flavored with cherry blossom (Fleur de Geisha).

 

 

V: Favourite thing to eat together with your tea?

A: I usually drink tea with something sweet, sometimes ( more often) with chocolate but I really like to bake so I drink my tea with cakes or cookies.

 

 

V: Most times, do you do something while having your tea?

A: My perfect combination is having my favorite tea while I'm knitting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

V: Is your country, Spain, a country where it is very common to drink tea?

A: Actually it's very common and it's becoming more usual to find a chart of teas in the coffees, but some time ago it was rather strange. was usual to consider a chamomile, mint or verbena like “tea”.

It’s because here there was a coffee culture, people will still like coffee but now there is a distinction those who drink coffee ( and only coffee) and tea lovers ( who don’t like coffee). But now there are increasingly, more specialized tea shops.

 

 

V: Is it a good tea selection to choose from in the stores?

A: Yes, there are specialized shops selling only tea, in bulk or packaged teas. In the supermarket also you an find packaged tea but there isn’t a great deal and quality (in my opinion).

 

 

V: Do you sometimes buy your tea on-line?

A: Yes, although here we can find a good selection “ the grass is always greener in the other side” and I sometimes use to buy online tea. For example Palais des thés, Pukka herbs or Kusmi tea. Lov organic tea is that one I would love to try.

And also I enjoy swapping with my bloggers friends around the world.

 

 

V: Which tea cup of the day do you enjoy the most?

A: I usually drink tea during the day but what I enjoy the most it’s the afternoon cup, it’s my favorite moment. Knitting with my cup of tea.

 

 

V: You have a long and hot summer in spain, do you drink iced tea in that season?

A: I’m not fond of drinking iced tea ,despite of the high temperature. I drink hot tea, but sometimes I prepare fruit tea or red tea with cinnamon and lemon and let it cool in the refrigerator.

V: Do you have a favourite tea mug or tea pot?

A: I have many cups, but not only one favorite, but I have a favorite teapot, a Japanese teapot, I really love to serve the tea with it.

 

 

 

 

All photos by Anna.

 

 

My Soay cardigan and I

A little while back i finished my Soay cardigan and i have worn it a lot. This cardigan is the second one of Gudrun Johnston's designs that i have made: the first one were the Levenwick cardigan. Levenwick is definitely the one out of all the knitted pieces that i made that i am most found of and that i have worn the most. I would not mind making myself a second one....*smiling*...

No knittingneedles in my hands the last days...it actually feels kind of strange...BUT tomorrow i am heading for the yarnstore to find some yarn to use on my next knitting project. ALWAYS exciting to go yarnhunting.......*laughing*.....





Wishing you all a lovely start on this new week of spring!

lately...

 

I have bought myself two new "baby" pelargoniums today, "Millfield Rose" and "Pink Eggshell".
A local museum has just opened their yearly pelargonium exhibition for this season and to my happiness they also offer pelargonium babies/cuttings for sale this year too....*smiling*...
Just finished my Imogen Tee, VERY pleased with the result. YES, i know i have said it before but i am saying it again: i simply LOVE Carries designs!
Thinking about making myself this one by lilalu or this one by Amy Herzog next but first i am going to spend some time together with a couple of novels that i have looked forward to start reading.
Done two lovely new "discoveries" lately:
Fig and Arrow's Nail+Cuticle Salve (it actually works!)
and
Bittersweet Affair tea by Harvest Fine Tea (a delicious white tea with a hint of grapefruit and aloe vera).



Photos by Nausika Raes