Hot Tamale Nailpolish and Darjeeling Oolong First Flush Black Tea

one thousand gifts 10 and 11.  Not that I like the bright orange polish with just enough pearl/glitter to make the glimmer distracting when I move my fingers over the keyboard, but grateful for it because my youngest picked it out at the grocery store this week and wanted me to wear it because his older brother "Knox really likes orange and it will make him happy."  I promised to put it on my toes because it's winter and orange nails would be our little secret, but no, he wanted everyone to be able to see them.  So I wear the uncharactistic shade so that one child can bring pleasure to another.  And Ben was right.  My nails brightened Knox' morning.

Now the loose-leaf tea is another story, not only do I like it--it is like drinking contentment.  If I were to brew the perfect cup of tea, it would be this lightly aromatic, slightly caramel-colored tea.  I like that I have to create my own bag and can make it as strong or as subtle as I need it to be.  I like the way the crumpled, desecciated leaves tumble out of the bag onto the spoon.  I like the way that the leaves take on another life once the hot water hits.  The bag I remove is filled with leaves unfurled, softened, and spongelike as I wring the last big of flavor from them.  Add sugar, sip and smile.  Put it somewhere safe (from accidental spills or my oldest who because he can read my mind knows how much I like this tea and wants to try it for himself--but only from my cup.  I've made cups for him of various blends that always remained untouched.) and as soon as children are in school or breakfast has been consumed, I sit somewhere comfortable and savor.  For fellow tea drinkers, Tea District is the gold standard.

one thousand gift #12:  a game of Pictionary with friends for whom two circles and a line can be Sumo wrestlers or a poorly drawn Africa, lines for bars, and a round black dot is Nelson Mandela.  Will and Grace had nothing on us!

gift #13:  a morning spent watching cartoons from "Mommy's Saturday Mornings" just because Mommy couldn't take yet another Bedtime for Frances.  So though I couldn't find Flintstones or the Jetsons on Netlfix, we did watch Care Bears--ho-hum-- and "Cartoons that Time Forgot" by Van Beuren which technically were long before my time, but much to my delight and theirs "Molly Moo Cow and the Butterflies" and "The Bold King Cole" were most entertaining. 

Now off to say goodbye to Bandit in a ceremony under this cerulean sky. . .

Comments

  1. AnonymousJanuary 14, 2012 at 6:43 PM

    How sweet a soul you have there that wanted you to wear that nail polish for his brother!
    You make the tea sound divine....
    I can so relate to your comments on pictionary...there are always fierce looks by the other side when someone wins with just a round black dot!
    And I hear you about Bedtime for Frances...my daughter loves that but I personally would be fine never seeing it or listening it again!

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousJanuary 14, 2012 at 7:08 PM

    loving the orange polish. reminds me of the background to your blog...maybe orange is your color this season.

    ReplyDelete
  3. GinnyJanuary 14, 2012 at 7:09 PM

    Anne Katherine, I've just visited (and subscribed) to your thoroughly entertaining blog. . .do you publish your work elsewhere too? I'd love to read more.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anne KatherineJanuary 16, 2012 at 5:51 PM

    THANKS so much for reading. I do not publish elsewhere...and need to do more writing. Your blog is inspiring me, though...thanks!

    ReplyDelete

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