2966 Tasting Notes
The splendid Gmathis reached out to me, and reminded me that I should not just dump an “AAARGH” on you all without updates!
My mom is doing much better, out of the hospital and apparently no damage done. The heat has been oppressive, but it’s broken a bit (we even had rain, which is almost unheard of around here), and I appreciate any temps under 100.
It was a long week. Work was hard, and I have been exhausted. Also one of my dearest friends is going to move away next week- he’s been one of those people who has been beyond helpful during this horrid year. He’s moving for the best of reasons, but I will miss him tremendously.
But! I’m doing much, much better this week, and I’m starting to think about fall teas! I am going to get lots and lots of tasty fall teas for my cupboard this year. I deserve it.
Oh man, if life could slow down just a little bit, that would be great.
My sister is going through some very intense personal stuff, and my mom spent all of last night in the hospital. She (my mom), had a small heart attack last year, and felt some chest tightness so went in to get checked out, and they held her over night.
My father died of a heart attack three months ago, so I am not at my best today.
Plus I’m exsausted (this would have been a long weekend anyway, without all the extra stress), didn’t get enough sleep, and its going to be 103 here today.
Time to break out the teas that are always nice.
I bought myself an ENORMOUS bag of Tower of London a month ago, and it is the best decision I’ve made in a hot minute. That thing is like a huge, tea-filled emotional support pillow. I think I’m going to need it.
The good news is I live in the same town as my mom (though the other side of it- I’m working on getting closer to her), so I can help. My siblings are further away, but that also means that I feel like I’m coping a bit by myself.
I’m ready for fall. This summer has sucked.
Bless your heart! I wish you were a thousand miles closer—I’m not a very nurturing person, but I do know how to give hugs. Glad you’ve got some good comfort tea at hand.
So very very sorry for your loss, Rosehips. It’s hard. And these insane times with COVID and the heat and now the worry about your mom. I hope that everything is ok and that she is safe and well at home soon. So much stress, so much worry. It sucks and I am sorry that you are going through this. I would also offer hugs and commiseration and tea. I am pleased that you are well stocked and supported by the teas that bring you comfort.
The dashboard! Oh frabjous day! I am so glad to see the notes of my fellow tea-friends!
So I’m working on a cupboard refresh, and I’m working on balancing things that are old favorites with an infusion of newness, a bit of pep and excitment.
Well, Capri is one of my classics, something that I get a real hankering for in the late summer and early autumn.
I love the earthiness of this tea, but the touch of citrus makes it sing, and thats just very enjoyable all around!
So, during the last few months, I have not been doing good cupboard management.
I’d been doing a huge project of the last few years of sipping down teas, to curate a more reasonable number of teas. This had been going well, but it went rather too well, and left me high and dry, scraping the proverbial bottom of the barrel lately.
Well, nothing cheers the heart like adding new teas to the cupboard, so I have started buying some more teas, and some old favorites but some new ones, so I have a fun new experience to try!
The first up of the new teas is this, which was such an interesting combination that I had to try it. Orange and vanilla AND spearmint? What is it like?
It’s herby, and maybe almost…. toothpasty? But in a pleasantish sort of way? Hmm, very difficult to explain. I’m glad I got a few ounces of this, more experimentation will be needed.
Is it going to become a cupboard classic? No. Will it be drunk with interest? Yes.
Hello, amazing tea-friends.
Oh, it’s good to be back here. It’s good to pick up a thing that makes me happy, and to think of all the wonderful potential for joy it has. It’s wonderful to reconnect with all of you!
Thank you so much for your well wishes, your kindness, your thoughts and prayers upon the death of my father. It’s been a disorienting time, and though I’ve been rather disconnected of late, I’ve still been able to feel all of you, like friends on the other end of the line, even through it all.
I am ready to step back into the joys of life. It’s not that my mourning, grief or sorrow will be over (I’m not sure it will ever be fully over), but I have been struck by moments of small beauty, small joy, and it’s time to return to my practice of cultivating them.
Part of that is tea, and I’m making a commitment to be here more often, my own happy place on the internet.
Thank you all. I’m thrilled to be back.
My father passed away a couple of days ago.
This is going to be horrible for a long time, isn’t it?
I’m going to drink as much tea as I can. It seems to be a fixed point in this universe.
I am so sorry, Rosehips. I lost my father this past November and can empathize with your pain. Keep this tea in stock and take your time adapting to this change and loss. :(
So sorry – I’m sure there’s nothing any of can say or do in this moment to ease what you are likely feeling, but know that I’m keeping you in my thoughts this weekend.
Grief tired is the most tired you will ever be. I’ll be praying for you. Wish I were close enough to bring you a fresh tin.
Ohhhhh! I’m so sorry to hear that! Grieving is a process and you are right, it takes a while. One day at a time. Wishing you the best!
Rosehips, I am so sorry. Immerse yourself in the good memories to give you strength. Talk, cry, drink your favorite cup when you need to. My love to you.
My father had a heart attack on Monday morning, and this week has all been a blur. It’s been the hospital every day, with all the horrors and wonders that it contains. It was a very big heart attack, and we don’t even have a prognosis yet. No idea what his mental function is, if he’ll be able to come home, if he’ll recover and what that recovery would look like.
I, fortunately, live nearby, and my wonderful boss gave me the week off, so I’ve been parked in his hospital room as much as I can be, and trying to run as much interference for my mother as possible.
I barely know what day it is. I could not tell you when I last had tea or what I had been drinking. I know I was drinking a cup of tea when I got the call about him, and that I did not finish it.
Do you have blends or flavors that you find particularly comforting or soothing? Or ones that give you strength? I’m going to need a lot of comfort and strength.
This is rambly. It’s weird to write. I still had to write something.
Oh, friend…there is nothing as exhausting as hospital waiting. You know, during my most stressful personal and family crises over the past 10 years, no tea is better than the simple ones that are just there for you. I believe I see you mention Paris often…may you have precisely enough of it to get you through this tough time. I’ll be praying for your family.
I am so sorry! I will be praying. I agree with gmathis – tea that you love. Queen Catherine was my every single morning cup when I went through radiation and before that, depression. Now when I know something stressful may be coming up, tulsi seems to help me cope a little. I have plain loose leaf and add some lavender, but the bagged tulsi blends might do it, too.
Strength, peace, and courage to you to you and your parents!
Oh goodness, I am so so sorry. I’ll be thinking often of you, your dad, and your mom this week. I’ve never had a hospital stay, but I’ve been an anxious family member and gmathis is spot on – the edge-of-your-seat waiting is so incredibly exhausting, both emotionally and physically. I feel for you so hard right now. The teas I always go to in those situations are the same ones I drink for special occasions, the ones I hoard and save and buy in bulk. The ones that never fail to make me smile. Hold on to any bit of happiness you can find right now. Don’t forget to take good care of yourself when you can. <3
I am so sorry to read about your dad! Keeping him, and you, in my thoughts and prayers this week. Like everyone else has said, take care of yourself when you can this week and rely on those teas that bring you comfort and strength.
Oh no. It’s starting. That horror of horrors, that unbearable ordeal. The dawn of my pain and suffering.
Summer is here.
Today is 100 degrees. Tomorrow will be anywhere from 106 to 108.
Cue the deep sigh.
You’d think I’d be used to this, I grew up here and have lived most of my life with this sort of weather, and yet every year it catches me off guard. It was also such a mild spring! Whhhhhyyyyy?
This means tea drinking becomes a more extreme sport. Grumble.
I am always a fan of a fruity black tea blend, but it’s going to be extra in the summer months. Has anyone tried anything fruity and delicious I should check out?
We are beginning to talk about finding somewhere with better summers when retirement comes. We have already had some 90+ days with high humidity, although a rare cool spell is upon us right now. But where to go? I don’t want snow and long winters, I don’t want long, sticky super hot summers. Thankful for air conditioning!
Y’all come this direction! It was a damp, bone-chilling 52 yesterday :) I have not yet tried it because I don’t have the self-control to let it get cold before drinking it, but I have been effervescing over some Basilur Tangerine loose leaf my menfolk got me for Mother’s Day. Tangerine and vanilla. I’m thinking that on ice, it’ll taste like a creamsicle.
I love that my note mentioning the cold weather is directly after your note. It was like 55 degrees here today.
It’s not black, it’s green but one of my fruity favorites is Teakruthi’s Ceylon Emerald.
Do you have those weeks where you don’t want to drink favorites? That is this week- it’s a busy one, and I’m alone in the office this week, and my attention span for things is shorter than that of something with a very limited attention span. Also my ability to compose metaphor is shot.
So, onto this blend, which is serviceable, but not beloved. Hitting just the right note for this week.
I’m just feeling Parisian this week. It’s what I’ve been grabbing almost the whole week- and I’m not sorry about that. It’s always good blend of black tea and fruits has been just what my frazzled brain has needed.
What gives, universe? Why am I so busy?!?!
Thank you for the update! I am glad your mom is doing better!
Yes, yes, you do! So glad that you have chimed in. I’ve been thinking about you. <3
So pleased that your mom is ok.
Glad to hear that you both are doing better! Also I’ll be looking forward to those tasty fall tea reviews.