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Tea Tuesday Roiboos Lemon Cloud
May 30, 2017
— 3 Comments
rooibos lemon cloud
Roiboos Lemon Cloud
Today I am enjoying the lilting lemon flavor of Roiboos Lemon Cloud tea from Adagio. The weather is hot and my day will be busy. I don’t need any extra caffeine. This delightful tea has zero to put me on edge as a breeze through the afternoon. I will probably consume half a gallon of this on ice to stay cool and hydrated. The natural lemon flavor is highlighted with vanilla and lemon grass. This blend reminds me of lemon merengue pie, but has no fat or calories. I think the creamy vanilla adds the dessert touch to this tea without adding any sweetener.
I will drink it for lunch with a big salad. Roiboos tea has no bitter aftertaste, and therefore combines well with any meal. The fresh light taste combines perfectly with fresh raw vegetables and fruits. Hot or cold with dessert of any kind Lemon Cloud provides a sweet yet tangy contrast. We have some blueberry cheesecake ice cream in the freezer that will be superb with the vanilla/lemony tea. I have some rhubarb to stew that will also taste great with this tea. My flavor profile for the day promises to be healthy and delicious.
I like gin and tea cocktails, but think that fruit flavored rum would be a fun way to create a Lemon Cloud tea cocktail. A coconut rum shot would compliment the flavors nicely. You can use your imagination and discretion. I use a little alcohol to tea, but you can use the ratio you prefer during your cocktail hour. Experiment. There is a world beyond Long Island Iced Tea waiting for you to discover.
I recommend this tea to everyone. It is a good calorie and caffeine free choice for kids as well as adults. The sophisticated flavor blend might convert some soda pop drinkers to iced tea. It could be served at high tea with milk and sugar for a twist. I buy it in the 16 ounce pouch, which prices out to about 10 cents a cup. It is a thrifty and delightful alternative to bottled drinks. The high mineral content and antioxidants contained in roiboos give the body a healthy boost while delivering sweet, slightly nutty flavor. Santé!
Roiboos Lemon Cloud
#WeekendCoffeeShare Gourmet Staycation In Tucson
May 28, 2017
— 3 Comments
Coronet cinnamon rolls
eggs Florentine
poached eggs on grits
Coronet cocktails
If we were having coffee this week in Tucson I would point out to you how dead the city is now. Obviously people leave to escape the heat. The snowbirds, the students, and everyone who can afford to go elsewhere for the summer have left the city. The businesses cut hours and do what they can to stay in business when their regular customers are basically all gone. If you were here now I would recommend you spend the night in a resort for less than half the winter rate, or dine at one of our fancier restaurants offering a summer special. For those of us who stay all year, this is a time to take advantage of the off peak bargains and less crowded streets. Everything is air conditioned, so you will not melt.
Please sit down and let me pour you some iced tea from the extensive collection. I have place an order for new teas, arriving any day, so I am taking inventory of all the teas I need to use in the order they were purchased. I have so many flavors, but this is a basic pleasure in our lives, as well as a healthy way to consume herbs and water. I get really excited about the prospect of new teas I have not tried. Next week my collection will have expanded to about 40 choices. I am drinking a honey bush mango with a fruity taste. What is your favorite kind of tea? I probably have it on hand. I hope you like the Allman Brothers Band. I am playing a tribute until further notice. I will turn down the volume because I want to listen to your stories. What is happening in your life and writing this week? I had an average writing week. I took one day off (yesterday) and produced nothing of great note. I wrote anther tea review, and am starting to like that segment. Are you trying any new ideas in your writing?
Coronet retro decor
Coronet retro decor
The Coronet retro decor
The Coronet
We enjoyed a superb brunch downtown yesterday in the spirit of off-peak excursions. We went to the Coronet, a restaurant we really enjoy but seldom frequent. We like the decor in a restored historical property. The service is always excellent, but with fewer customers it is even better now. The real reason we go is for the innovative menu and bar choices. Yesterday’s brunch was a perfect example. Bob loved his eggs Florentine with gravlax. I had a wonderful dish of poached eggs over grits served with black beans. Bob’s Bloody Mary had fabulous garnishes, including a picked tomatillo. That is the item I plan to knock off and use at home. I had never thought of doing that, but am a huge fan of the tomatillo, a green fruit that is NOT a tomato. We not only had the restaurant almost to ourselves, but the entire 4th Avenue shopping district was empty. We spent some time in a used book store, where I managed to buy just a single book. On the way home we stopped for ice cream at our favorite parlor, The Screamery. We each had full punch cards for a free scoop. We loved our dessert then took home a pint of blueberry cheesecake. All in all, it was a superb little holiday with all the gourmet trimmings. I am in the minority but I honestly love summer in Tucson. The hot ghost town suits me perfectly. You may want to jump in the pool before you head out. Stay hydrated. Take an iced tea with you. By any measure it is hot outside. You may want to stop and get some ice cream.
book shopping
ice cream
This movable digital beverage drinking party is hosted each week by Emily at Nerd in the Brain. Please join writers from around the world for a chat and a digital drink each weekend. Read, write, comment and share.
#WeekendCoffeeShare
The Week Ahead In Astrology
May 25, 2017
— 3 Comments
On the 26th, Love is Wise. It’s the answer for everything. Oh, and ignore the darkness, your fear of change, and the Powers-That-Be; just for today, they can’t touch you. And you’re welcome. (That’s my answer to you thanking me for not posting an MC Hammer video). Instead we’ve got Today’s word image:a Tarot card […]
via Your Week 26 May-1 June 2017 A Thousand Suns — Julie Demboski’s ASTROLOGY
#WritePhoto Abandoned
May 25, 2017
— 10 Comments
This is inspired by Sue Vincent’s Thursday photo prompt
ruin
The building bitterly fell down around them in the end. They refused to move when the epidemic wiped out the neighbors and all the businesses. They decided to stay since they were the sole surviving members of the cult. The bishops foretold of a great sickness, and built shelters to hide from the inevitable. The underground bunkers that had been designed to save the people from harm turned out to be the source of the deadly mold that infected their lungs and spread like wild fire. After almost a year of suffering and loss the difficult decision was made to seal the enclosures with the infected population trapped inside.
Very few of the elders knew about the plan to bury those who were carrying the mold in order to save the few who remained healthy. The stone house was the headquarters of the operation. The six members of the board carried out their plan with precision and cold blooded planning. While the people in the bunkers slept they set off canisters of poison gas and closed the entrances. They were all killed as they dreamed. Those in charge knew they had murdered their own believers in what they decided was self defense. There was no excuse, and there would be no remorse from these reprobates. They only cared for their own survival at any cost.
Although they had years of food stored for the future of the community, when they opened the storehouse they found it swarming with all kinds of bugs. The seeds had been devoured by the hungry insects who now jumped out and started to eat the rest of the humans. They took refuge back in the stone house until the building itself heaved and crumbled to the ground. There was no earthquake or storm. The stones of the walls and the clay tiles on the roof rebelled against giving shelter to these selfish plotting fools. In an act of revenge they crushed the elders as they slept. Nature had the last word. Only a ruin stands now as a reminder of human greed and folly gone awry.
Please visit the photo prompt round up to read the entires from last week. Read, write, comment, contribute!
#writephoto
Truth Conquers All
May 24, 2017
— 1 Comment
cactus flower
cactus flower
cactus flower
The trials and daily shockwaves of fresh tribulation
Rock the airwaves, fill the consciousness of the nation
With opinions of experts and way too much information
To process or to put in order our growing indignation
This is the wool that has been pulled over our eyes
Grown ever more perversely mendacious, spewing lies
In the face of true intelligence to slowly hypnotize
All those who settle for willful blindness and deceit
We eagerly await the moment of dishonesty’s defeat
Tea Tuesday, Black Passionfruit
May 23, 2017
— 2 Comments
black passionfruit sun tea
Summer is hitting Arizona this week with temperatures over 100 every day. We need to seek shade and stay hydrated. There are many pleasant ways to accomplish these goals. The one advantage of the strong hot sun is our ability to brew a jar of sun tea in a relatively short time. I brewed a gallon of this delightful passionfruit black Ceylon tea with natural fruit this morning in my back yard. The fruit flavor is not overpowering like some flavored teas can be. It is present more as an aftertaste that lingers on the taste buds. The tea has a tropical style. It is high in caffeine, so I ice it liberally in the glass to tone it down a bit. I still get a mild buzz from a couple of glasses. Some black teas disagree with my digestive system, but this one goes down very well all day. It makes a perfect substitute for hot coffee in the morning on a hot day.
The taste is strong enough to pair with grilled foods or spicy dips and finger foods. Since Tuesday is time for tacos in many places, a big pitcher of this iced tea pairs well with the food, and compliments family style or buffet meal service. At our house we go through about a gallon of tea every day between two people. We guzzle it at home and Bob takes a big thermos with him to work. I put the tea jar out in the sun every morning unless it is pouring rain. The cost for a glass of this exquisite tea is about 10 cents. The tea is easy to store and light to ship. All we add is the water. We like it much better than bottled drinks, and we must save a lot of money by brewing our own in the yard.
We enjoy switching the kind of tea we drink each day to keep things exciting. I like shopping at Adagio because the variety is great, and expands all the time. All the products are all of high quality and very good value. I have a bigger collection of teas than most people ( maybe 30 bags on hand now), but it is one of our basic pleasures. Tea is our thirst quenching flavor companion all year, but in the summer we consume more as the temperature rises. I raise a glass of iced tea to you, gentle reader. Cheers!
black passionfruit sun tea
Frida And Diego At The Heard Museum
May 22, 2017
— 2 Comments
photo in exhibit
photo in exhibit
Frida and Leon Trotsky
In Arizona Frida Kahlo is a giant cultural icon, representing the art and rebellious spirit of the Mexican people. Her famous muralist husband, Diego Rivera, is less well known, or at least less of a modern figure here in the United States. He was very famous before they met, and she became famous after her death. They were highly influencial in the Mexican Revolution, Diego often painting large murals about the oppression of the masses. Frida had an affair with Leon Trotsky, who was in Mexico City after the Russians exiled him.
The prestigious Heard Museum is now showing an exhibit of their work, some original photos, and a wardrobe designed to show the way Frida distinctively dressed herself in indigenous hand woven garments. She changed classical art in Mexico by introducing the elements of folk art that she included in her clothing. She honored the colors, symbols, and methods used by Native Mexican tribes to bring new life and meaning to her paintings. Her political beliefs were expressed through her art.
This wonderful visiting exhibit is well worth the extra $7. It will be on display through 20 August. Prices go way down everything in the summer in Phoenix. The accommodations will be generously discounted when the heat rises. This makes it a perfect time for a bargain excision to the big city.
The permanent collection includes incredible Native American art. The book store and cafes are lovely. The gift shop is curated to offer the public super high quality work of Native artists. To look closely at the entire collection takes a few hours and some concentration. I am particularly fond of the kachina collection, full of detail and meaning. I recommend this museum to anyone of any age.
her wardrobe
exhibit at the Heard
the famous couple
#SelfCareSunday Efforts And Rewards
May 22, 2017
— 3 Comments
cactus
The essence of effective self care is self knowledge. If you begin to understand yourself just as you are it becomes easier to please your senses and intellect. Your body craves healthy food and activity, and your mind thrives on stimulating conversation and reading. Writing, art projects, and journaling lead one to discover inner talents and insights. Clearing or updating personal space is an ongoing project that gives great satisfaction. Creating excellent work and play environments in your own home make life much more pleasurable.
I like simple pleasures like beautiful plants and fresh foods. Since I like to cook and find it therapeutic, I can always spend an afternoon in the kitchen having fun. On Sundays I like to prepare food for the week. Bob takes a meal from home to work with him most days, so I pack a few servings to get a head start on the week. If I also take time to do some deep cleaning tasks on the weekend, my work during the week is lightened, and I enjoy the clean environment. I know cooking and cleaning might not sound like self care tasks to you, but in my mind they are basic. I don’t pay others to do these things for me, so making it an adventure in creative homemaking is my only good healthy option. I feel accomplished and well cared for when I have some chores finished. I then relax completely.
I do not plan an entire day of effort without some direct rewards. I often make sweets and desserts on the weekends, and clean my bathroom extra well. I treat myself to some sweet concoction and take a lovely long soaking bath in my sparkling clean tub. I use essential oils of lavender and grapefruit, and take a tall glass of iced tea to drink while I soak. This is at least as good as being at a 5 star hotel for me, because I don’t have to travel back home…I am home!! I provide my own room service, slip into my own bed with fresh linens, and sleep soundly.
How do you make your weekends work to combine tasks that must be done with some relaxation and fun? Everyone has a personal style, which is why each person knows best how to be true to that style.
cactus
#WeekendCoffeeShare The Heat Is On
May 20, 2017
— 6 Comments
vintage cookbook and tickets
If we were having coffee in Tucson today I would invite you to take a dip in the pool because it will reach 100 degrees this afternoon. I am drinking coffee in the early morning as we prepare to spend the day in Phoenix. I know it sounds counter intuitive to go down to the valley of the sun when the heat is cranking up. Here is my logic. This weekend will be a slow one at the Heard Museum, where there is a special exhibit of the paintings of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo. The universities have graduated the student population, and the snow birds have gone back to the north woods, so this is SLOW season in all of Arizona. It will reach 100 for the next 5 days in a row, which will just be a warm up (pun intended). We get good deals on hotels and other things in the summer. Natives handle the heat by going inside to air conditioned comfort in the middle of the day. Our reservation for the Rivera/Kahlo show is at 1 pm, which gives us time to see the rest of the museum. We have not been there for many years. The permanent collection has some amazing Native American art, including Barry Goldwater’s kachina collection. I am a real museum nut, and Bob does not mind spending lots of time checking out every detail of an exhibit. After you finish your coffee you can ride along in the red Mustang for the trip if you like. It should be a fun day. I plan to have crepes for brunch up in Tempe.
If we were having coffee today I would tell you a funny story about clearing clutter, about which I write frequently, and actually accomplish with less alacrity. I managed to take a large box of books to the used book store last week. Although they only purchased one book, I left the entire box for non profit organizations that pick them up there. I felt proud because I even managed to ditch some of my beloved, and never used, cookbooks. Yesterday in a Facebook group of people who used to live in the boonies in petroleum camps in Eastern Venezuela folks started saying they would pay to have a certain cookbook copied. I happen to have a copy, much used, and very special to me. The pride in ditching the old books has been replaced by pride in keeping the right one, San Tome Gourmet. San Tome was the name of our petroleum camp in Estate Anzoategui. It does contain some killer recipes. I have preserved history and culinary authenticity in my cookbook hoarding practice, so it is now very cool.
vintage Venezuelan cookbook
vintage Venezuelan cookbook
vintage cookbook
Tell me how your week and your writing has been. I have skipped too many days posting here this week, but did manage a couple of poems. Maybe next week I will be more productive and creative. I am calling on my summer muse to show up and inspire. She always shows up sooner or later…she is a little late. I hope your muses are serving you well and keeping your creative juicers flowing. Thanks for visiting this week. For those of you who want to keep up with bloggers around the world each weekend, check Nerd In The Brain for party invitations. Read, comment, or write your own digital beverage post. All are welcome.
#WeekendCoffeeShare
#WritePhoto Haunted Quarters
May 18, 2017
— 5 Comments
weeping window
The tower had been built in the time of the beheadings
Torture and murder were the order of the day
They wiped out knights and murdered the queens
Who did not please the monarch by giving him a male heir
Some of my ancestors lost their heads, fortunes, and means
As players in the center of the Tudor dynasty reign of terror
Some spent their last night in confinement writing poetry
To leave a written legacy to the future subjects of the crown
The sorrow and the suffering of every tortured soul is evident
The stones are carved with the names of the doomed who have past
While the window weeps tears of the ghosts who haunt the present
With their unresolved memories of cruel and heartless treatment
Looking from this point of view we can see the harm done by violence
#writephoto
This poem is in response to this week’s photo prompt from Sue Vincent’s Echo. Join writers from around the globe each week to read, comment, or write your own story for #writephoto.
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