National Tea Day

 Today is National Tea Day in the United Kingdom.  A day for Britain to celebrate it's love for this hot, steeped beverage. It's so loved that they consume over 60 billion cups of tea a year!  That's a lot of tea!

Every year, the Britains host a "Fes-Tea-Val" where they showcase new teas, bringing together tea drinkers, servers and the entire tea industry.  Their slogan is, "Brew more. Do more" is to inspire special moments with tea and bring together tea drinkers, servers and the whole tea industry.

This is a great day for me to celebrate since I am working as a tearista in a local tea shop!

Here is a list on how my fellow tea infusiasts can celebrate #NationalTeaDay: 

Host an afternoon tea (it is National Afternoon Tea month, after all)

Visit the festival.

Learn proper tea decorum (in case you get invited to afternoon tea with King Charles)

Here are some tea etiquette tips, in case you find yourself with tea royalty.

Dispensing the tea:

The host should pour the tea for every guest.  Make sure to leave the teapot on the table with the spout facing the host.

Dunking:

Dunking a biscuit in your tea is not appropriate.

Food:

A tiered cake stand is the appropriate serving piece.  The upper tier is filled with scones, the middle has sandwiches and the bottom has treats and pastries.  Food must be eaten in this order: sandwiches, scones and then desserts.

Too bad I'm not in Boston to celebrate this holiday.  

Luckily, B just got home from school so we will definitely be celebrating today with some tea, and maybe even spilling a little.

How will you celebrate today?

Sourdough Starter Restart

 Went out of town for a few weeks and did not drop my starter off at a daycare facility.  When I returned home it looked a little frightening. The liquid "hooch" was green. I looked up green hooch and I guess there is a fix. After a little further research I decided that it was easier to just start over. 

If you take a look at the starter recipe that I use, you will see that it makes a large amount. This large amount does not fit into a mason jar. So, I spent my morning making a loaf of bread and some cheeze it crackers. 

Χριστός Ανέστη

Happy Easter!  Καλό Πάσχα!

We are celebrating Greek Orthodox Easter at our house.   

Xristos anesti

ek nekron,

thanato thanaton patisas,

ke tis en tis mnimasin zoin xarisamenos

Christ is risen

from the dead,

having beaten Death by [his own] death

and having given the gift of life to those in the graves.

Christos Anesti. (Χριστός Ανέστη)  (Christ has Risen)

Alithos Anesti.  ( Aληθώς ανέστη!)  (He has risen indeed)

National Card and Letter Writing Month

April is National Card and Letter Writing Month.

I mean, who doesn't love getting a handwritten letter in the mail?  I know that's the first piece of mail I open.  A handwritten letter is a lot better than opening up a bill.

It's time for you to get out all of that pretty paper and cards that you are saving for a special occasion.  Now is the time to use it!  And don't worry if you don't have pretty paper.  Grab some paint, stickers, washi tape, crayons, or markers and create your own artistic paper.

Letter writing is also a great way to practice your penmanship (I think we all need the extra practice). Don't worry about bad handwriting.  Loved ones know you and your bad  handwriting and they still love hearing from you.

Don't know what to say?  How about starting off with "Hi" or "Hello"?    Maybe tell them what you have been doing with your time.  Instead of wishing a friend or family a happy birthday on social media, how about sending them a physical card?  You can write a few lines in the card wishing them a happy birthday or just to let them know that you are thinking about them.   You can even send a "just because" note or card letting them know that you appreciate them.

By the way, this would be an excellent idea for a Girl Scout Troop!  Have the girls write letters to some of the seniors at a retirement home.  This gives the girls practice at their writing and communicating skills and also brings a smile to the recipients.  Who knows?  Maybe they will write back!

I have been making cards once a month with some ladies and recently started watercolor painting, turning my creations into cards. It's time for me to send some love off to some friends and family.

 
What are you waiting for???   Grab your pens and paper and start writing!