Summer Reading – 2020

Tags

books, reading, summer, tea, teacup

One benefit of summer was that each day we had more light for reading. – Jeanette Walls, The Glass Castle

For some reason, it felt appropriate to pass some time this summer reading dystopian teen fiction, with an “adult” cup of tea! What have you been reading?

I wish I could say I felt guilty for what I did.    I don’t. –  Veronica Roth, Divergent

Happy Monday!

Evening View from the Pool

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evening, photography, summer

This evening is as brief as the twinkling of an eye yet such twinklings is what eternity is made of.     Fred Rogers

Happy Wednesday!

Dear Quarantine Diary #16

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chocolate, covid-19 humour, dear diary, driving, summer

Dear Diary – I went shopping with Mom at Wal-Mart. It mostly went well, but at least twice, a very nice employee noticed my dazed eyes and confused stance, as I stood on my toes, peeking around boxes and swiveling from side-to-side. “Can I help you find something?” they politely asked. Embarrassed, I replied, “Sorry, no. I’m actually looking for my mother”. Perhaps I didn’t lose her in the first place. Perhaps she lost me. Seeing an opportunity to ditch the kid, she ran away when I stopped to peruse the shelf or dash down a different lane to grab an item. Whatever the reason, I’m thankful she didn’t leave me there. It would have been a hot walk home.

Dear Diary – We packed up after “online” church to head back to the city. We had to make one quick stop to deliver a large mask order. We were to meet in the Denny’s parking lot. Leave it to me to end up in the wrong spot. After 10 minutes of driving around, and multiple telephone calls, I finally made the connection. Even though we’d be on the road less than an hour, I needed to pee. I texted Hubby to let him know where we were and he texted that I might want to go back to my parents. A large thunderstorm had just come through the city and knocked out the hydro.  I don’t need a good excuse to “hang” at my folks for another day.

Thunder started to rumble in the distance less than 2 hours later. The sky grew very black. It tried hard to rain…and then it cleared, the sun came out. Disappointingly anticlimactic!

The trip home on Monday was strange. I had been on the road less than 10 minutes when my father called. A friend from the city had called to try to warn me that the highway near the city was closed…due to a shooting investigation! Yikes! I decided that I would head north before the shutdown area, which would add about 20-30 minutes to our drive.

Well, it would have only added 20-30 minutes to our drive had I not completely missed our exit! In my defence, the exit was not marked. Hubby and I exchanged several phone calls and text messages (Little Guy mans the phone since I’m driving), and I spent a significant portion of the trip completely unsure of where I was. We went quite a bit father north than I had realized, before we headed west. At one point, I no longer knew what direction I was facing. With only the sun to guide me, and Hubby’s thinning patience, we finally got our bearings and arrived home. My “detour” added closer to 1.5 hours!

Boy, did I need to pee!

Next time, I will bring the hated GPS, Gloria.

Dear Diary – Hubby picked up treats to celebrate my homecoming: Covid-19 Kit-Kat Chunky bars…now 20% chunkier. Just like me!

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

Tags

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

Tags

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!