Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Too hot Tea Tuesday

Once again, I am in the middle of a heat advisory that started yesterday and continues through 9:00 pm CDT Friday. Looking at the long range forecast, it looks like triple digit temps are here to stay for awhile.

So for breakfast this morning, I'm having a blend called "Baroness Grey." This is a black tea blend that begins with Earl Grey and includes bergamot, orange and lemon peels, cornflower petals, roses, and cinnamon.

I actually brewed a pot last night, making it double strength, because I knew I would be sipping iced tea all day today.

Along with the tea, I'm having one of my favorites, a lovely pull apart coffee cake made with lots of cinnamon and cream cheese frosting.

I felt like going retro and dug out another of my handmade plates I was given as a child. I have four of them, all different colors and I think they were made sometime between the mid to late 70s. I also dug out a crocheted buffet doily made by my Grandmother, who died in the 70s, so I know it is older than that. I'm not a yellow person when it comes to decorating my house, so I thought it would be fun to use it as a placemat.

And although you can't see it, the glass I chose today is cut crystal. It's a far cry from my normal insulated coffee mug, so I won't be going anywhere near my craft room until this is gone. Be sure to stay cool this hot Tuesday unless you live in the southern hemisphere. If you live close to the midwest, be sure to stay hydrated, too. Tea will be my choice today, that's for sure.

And if you happened here by accident and have no idea what Tea Tuesday is all about, please go to Kimmie's sidebar and check out all the other wonderful participants. And if you are a tea drinker, why not join us for tea once a week. You don't have to have fancy finery, you don't even need any special tea, just share your tea experience with us on Tuesday. We'd love to visit you, each Tuesday, too.

A tea blog is always good on Tuesday, and The 39 Steeps is just that. Not only is it tea-worthy, Steven Knoerr, the blog author who is from the Chicago, IL (US) area, is also witty. He really knows his tea, and offers sage tea advice. His evaluation of tea is always honest, occasionally humorous, and noteworthy. Want to know how to prepare various tea, how many times you can steep pu-erh, which tea makes the best liquor, and other tea tidbits, then Steven at The 39 Steeps will be more than happy to share his opinion and his knowledge. So check out his blog and enjoy.

23 thoughtful remarks:

Healing Woman said...

Everything looks sooo inviting. The Baroness Grey tea is one I must try. Your pull apart looks yummy and the glass is divine. What a way to start a hot sultry morning. Hope you keep cool today. Tomorrow is supposed to be even worse temperature wise.

I checked out Steven at the 39 Steeps and will go back and read it when I get time. It is a very different blog isn't it? He knows his teas for sure.

Mary S. Hunt said...

you set a nice table this morning!
i hope it cools off soon!!!
(that wasn't a complaint against the heat...)
just saying

Teresa aka Tess said...

Good MOrning Elizabeth, Yep another scorcher today. I so wish I could stay home but ala, must go make the money to pay the bills. Yesterday we had a bank show 107 and the one across the street from it showed 99. We got a laugh out of that and agreed it felt more like 107 and qould have prefered the 99. Actually we agreed we want winter back. get warmed up is much easier that cooling down. LOL!
Your table setting looks great. I'll be drinking iced tea today too. Just plain old tea, nothing fancy. Have a great day,
Tess

Unknown said...

Your tea posts make me think I need to start drinking tea. Of course, I already drink iced tea, but you make hot tea sound soooo good! Also, I love the story behind your table setting!

elle said...

Yes, I'll drink to that! Hot! Maybe we should make sun tea.

Julia Dunnit said...

Oh I love a bit of crystal..and for once, that tea sounds lovely...I don't mind the odd Lady Grey, so assume it's an improvement on that! Your breakfast looks delicious. You know, if you wanna escape the heat, jump on a plane and come here for a holiday. Then we could have cream teas together for a couple of tuesdays! WOuldn't that be fun.

Terri Kahrs said...

Elizabeth, your team must smell divine in addition to being tasty. So unfortunate to hear that you're in the grips of yet another heat wave. Sounds like it's heading our way just in time for the weekend. Think cool thoughts! Hugs, Terri xoxo

~*~Patty S said...

Your tea certainly looks and sounds very refreshing! Special dishes and memories always sweeten the tea too
You must be tired of the HOT HOT HOT by now.
We will hit triple digits here in the Wash DC area too the next several days ... takes away all the fun of being outside ... doesn't it.
stay cool Elizabeth and Happy T today
oxo

Yvonne said...

Oh it's hot here too. Your morning tea looks sooo good. Thanks for sharing. I love reading all the T posts since I joined.

Steph said...

I simply feel I need a cuppa right now...and the cake sounds divine...anything with cheese on it...alrighty gotta check steeps39....stay cool....

Joanie Hoffman said...

The temperature may hit 100F here in Maryland, so I didn't even go out at lunch. I may join you on Tea Tuesday someday. I do drink unsweetened ice tea every day, all year round, but I think I should be more adventurous!

Anonymous said...

It's been awhile shince I came to your blog and I see Ive missed a lot. I want to send cool thots but it's hot here to. Stay cool and love the pullapart.

Rachel xoxo

Unknown said...

Oh - do enjoy sipping iced tea today and stay out of that heat! It's almost like being in the middle of a snowstorm isn't it? as far as the being confined bit goes! I wonder what would be better? Maybe the heat - at least you can drive around and not slide into a snowbank ......

Happy Tea today! your iced tea looks delicious! Kimmie

BadPenny said...

It's been cool & rainy here after a very humid spell. I get so overheated but today can feel cooler but all around me love the heat !

Esther said...

Hi Elizabeth - I'm afraid I'm not here as a Tea Tuesday blogger as I have to admit to not really liking the stuff - coffee girl myself, but yours does sound intriguing, and I love your crochet placement!

Just wanted to say how excited I am about your picking me for Blog of the day tomorrow - is it your tomorrow or today - can't work the time zone thingy - well wednesday anyway! It's an honour, particularly after some of the fantastic blogs you have had other days from such talented artists.

Thanks for all the lovely comments you leave me -and yes it is a punch - a corner one at that!!

Esther xx (from a very very wet, soggy UK with not really any heat at all!!)

Dianne said...

iced tea sounds wonderful, and I love the crocheted doily! hope you are able to stay cool and the heat abates soon...

Anonymous said...

*sigh*
I LOVE pull-aparts.
Admittedly, I may be a bit Freakin' Hungry right now - and I can't get up to eat because there is a bug in my room somewhere (and my feet are not going near the floor).
But I do dearly love those pull-aparts.
Yes. I am hungry.
Amy

Debby said...

Yummy!!! Everything looks so darned good. Hope all is well with you. The weather is just crazy hot and makes me want to do nothing..lol..
Debby

Caterina Giglio said...

lovely to have tea in cut crystal, keep cool, it is gonna be hot for a while!!

Liverpool Lou (Anne) said...

Love the sound of the iced tea you made Elizabeth and that cake looks and sounds scrummy
Anne xx

BadPenny said...

try to keep cool - I would not do well in that kind of heat !

thekathrynwheel said...

OOh triple digits? That's hot! Living in the north of England, I find those temperatures hard to imagine! Stay cool :-)

Meadowlark Days said...

Oh, that tea sounds yummy!