What’s In My Cup: Just Peachy

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#whatsinmycup, ice pops, iced tea, music, summer, tea, tea cups, what's in my cup

 In vain have I struggled. It will to do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you. – Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

“Just Peachy” is a real summertime treat. Big Guy gave me this tea for Christmas and I’m so glad he did. While on the sweet side (and slightly artificial tasting) when served hot, it is surprisingly refreshing served cold. With temperatures hovering around 30C these days, cold is good! In fact, David’s recommends it as an addition to fruity cocktails, and I heartily concur. Even if that cocktail is non-alcoholic! 😉

Just Peachy is an herbal tea comprised of apple pomace, artificial peach flavouring, sweet blackberry leaves, peach, natural sweet blackberry leaf flavouring, and artificial apricot flavouring. While seeing “artificial” anything in an ingredient list can be off-putting, keep in mind that it contains less sugar than juice and no added artificial sweeteners like diet pop. 

Serve it hot or cold, tall glass or cup and saucer (who says cups and saucers are reserved only for hot drinks)! Or think outside the square…

But indeed I would rather have nothing but tea.” -Jane Austen

Happy Monday!

B&W Photo Challenge: Dock

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nature, Photo Challenge, photography, River scenes, summer

This week, Cee Neuner’s Black & White Photo Challenge: was Words that end in “ock”. I knew right away that I was going to pick one of my favourite places in the world – sitting on the dock of a friend’s cottage. It’s on a river, not a bay, but somehow I am now whistling Otis Redding’s song, Dock of the Bay. You too? You’re welcome!

Sometimes I read a book or take photos. But mostly it’s been the perfect place to wrestle with my own thoughts. Occasionally I make notes. In the evening, when it gets too dark to see and all the boats are silent, I just watch the sun set and breathe.

Sittin’ in the mornin’ sun
I’ll be sittin’ when the evenin’ comes

Special thanks to Big Guy for catching me having a quiet moment early one morning last summer.

I’m sittin’ on the dock of the bay
Wastin’ time

Happy Wednesday!

 

 

CFFC: Summer Scenes

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beach, camping, CFFC, Photo Challenge, photography, summer

I don’t know about you, but nothing screams summer like the beach!

Happy Wednesday!

This is my post for Cee Nuener’s Fun Foto Challenge: Summer Scenes.

Wilderness Wednesday: Baby Ducks

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birds, ducks, humour, nature, photography, summer, Wilderness Wednesday

Mama + Papa =

Babies

Be like a duck. Remain calm on the surface and paddle like hell underneath. – Michael Caine

Happy Wednesday!

What’s In My Cup: Peanut Butter Cup

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#whatsinmycup, beach, chocolate, food, holiday, peanut butter, summer, tea, what's in my cup

Man cannot live by bread alone; he must have peanut butter. – James A. Garfield

Peanut butter cup tea is inspired by the sweet, rich (and might I add), deeply satisfying delight. Whether as a sweet after a meal, an afternoon snack, or just because, this tasty tea infusion hits the spot. It is a blend of apple, cocoa bits, almonds, chocolate chips, and safflower.

What? No peanuts? That’s right.

As you can see, the colour is a pale yellow, which surprised me a bit. I was expecting a darker colour. The flavour, however, had the toasted nut flavour I was expecting. I would have liked the chocolate to be more prominent (being a natural choc-o-holic), and like chocolate pb cups from the store, I thought it was missing some salt.

Still, with only 5 calories per cup, it’s a guilt-free treat so I can wear my bikini without anyone calling Greenpeace to roll me back in the water…when it’s warm enough to wear a bikini, that is!

Now, if someone would just make an O Henry tea!

Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language. – Henry James

Happy Monday!

Wilderness Wednesday: Rainy Beach Days

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beach, photography, rainy days, summer, Wilderness Wednesday

A rainy day at the beach is better than a sunny day in the office.

Happy Wednesday!

What’s in My Cup: Laughter & Lemonade

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#whatsinmycup, desserts, summer, tea, what's in my cup

Hot tea? Always! Iced Tea? Sure thing! Ice pop? Right on!

I recently shopped for Christmas  gifts with David’s Tea…and I bought an early “Christmas present” for me. (psst…it was on sale!) I have memories of making kool-aid pop in the plastic molds of the ’70s…and memories of madly licking those purple pops on the back porch steps, while it trickled down my arms and chin. I’m sure my mother is having laundry flashbacks right about now… Good times!

These molds are really easy to use. Made from silicone, the cover pops right off and the mold can be manipulated to release the frozen treat, without fuss. Flat on the top, the molds stack easily in the freezer, which is a bonus if your freezer is an orderly mess like mine.

“I want to have a good body, but not as much as I want dessert – Jason Love

Who says you can’t have both? So I made my ice pops with iced tea, or course.

I started with Laughter and Lemonade Iced tea from Steeped Tea. It’s green tea-based, and includes mango, pineapple, apple, orange and papaya pieces, as well as sunflower, hibiscus, marigold, and  cornflower blossoms.

While it has a grassy note from the green tea, the combination of fruit and flower is well-balanced, making this a surprisingly refreshing icy treat…that melts just as fast as when I was a kid! But I’m better equipped to stay ahead of the dribbles…and it’s not purple!

Here comes the sun, and I say, it’s all right. —The Beatles

Happy Monday!

What’s in my Cup: Caribbean Crush

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#whatsinmycup, food, photography, summer, tea, what's in my cup

Just because I messed up my first week of summer vacation, didn’t mean that I couldn’t still enjoy summer. Instead of palm trees and sandy beaches, I relaxed on the back porch with a tropical caffeine-free, herbal tea from David’s Tea – Caribbean Crush.

‘Cause a little bit of summer is what the whole year is about. – Author Unknown

This German fruit infusion is comprised of apple, pineapple, papaya, hibiscus, and cranberry.  The rosy hue reminded me of my pink apple jelly. It was sweet and delicate, a fruity punch with a gentle flavour of strawberry or peach, which is odd because it doesn’t contain either fruit. I really liked that it wasn’t sickly sweet or it didn’t have an acidic aftertaste. I find that a number of fruit infusions can have an artificial flavour aftertaste to them, or they are so sickly sweet they remind me of hot kool-aid. I don’t want hot kool-aid even on a cold, cold day! This tea can be served hot or cold.

This package of tea came as a sample in a large online order from David’s Tea. I started my Christmas shopping early, which disgusts me as much as it does you. This is one tea  I will happily pick up on another occasion.

How did it get so late so soon? Its night before its afternoon. December is here before its June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?
– Dr. Seuss

Happy Monday!

What’s in my Cup: Raspberry Riot

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#whatsinmycup, summer, tea, tea cups, what's in my cup

Some days you eat salad and go to the gym; some days you eat cupcakes and refuse to wear pants. It’s called balance.

Tart and tangy. Correctly balanced, it’s delightful. And so it is with Raspberry Riot Lemon Mate tea. Tart lemon and tangy raspberry are a heavenly summer pairing in this fruity green yerba mate and lemongrass blend. Hibiscus flowers, rose buds and rose hip peels provide a subtle perfume and a rich rosy colour. A perfect way to add zest to a lazy summer afternoon. Pants are optional.

Home is a place where pants are optional, bras don’t exist, and the wifi works.

Happy Monday!

Wilderness Wednesday: July Flowers

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black&white Photography, flowers, garden, photography, summer, Wilderness Wednesday

Just living is not enough… one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower. – Hans Christian Andersen

Happy Wednesday!