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It's not "life's illusions", but "life's infusions" that I recall!

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls


An absolutely compelling story ! The story of a real woman's life. The author's grandmother, Lily Casey Smith. Jeannette Walls writes in the first person to capture the "voice of Lily", and fills in details when necessary. She considers it a novel....in the tradition of "oral history, a retelling of stories handed down by her family through the years, and undertaken with the storyteller's traditional liberties."

I have heard these kind of stories. Some very similar to those in this book. My grandparents and parents are this generation. Spunky, self-reliant and seemingly fearless. Undeterred by "acts of God", (floods, winds and storms of any sort), undaunted by hard work, (they expected to work), and unflinching in their resolve to make a better life for their children.

Lily's journey through her early years, breaking horses at age six, riding horseback five hundred miles, alone, to accept a teaching job, and later running a huge ranch in Arizona with her husband and two children, is a gripping tale !

Have your tea ready....it's hard to put this book down, even to make another cuppa !

Happy Infusions,
Kate

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Who the ? Where the ? Why the ?

My Sweet Husband and I  relished the thought of being at our ranch for a few days !


We left Redding and after about two and half hours we started up Cedar Pass.



cedar_pass


On top, we encountered snow !  What a wonderful sight.



Dropping down into Surprise Valley, the snow disappeared.


coming_into_cedarville


Well, there were patches here and there.



After we did the arrival clean up, we took our tea and stood on our front porch


marveling at the quiet and peaceful view.


looking_towards_ft_bidwell



And then we decided to take a walk out in the corral.



who_the_hell


My Sweet Husband..."Who the hell built this fence?"



where_the_hell


"Where the hell is that blankety, bleep, bleep, badger?"



why_the_hell


"Why the hell is that dog so happy?"



I suggested it might be time for another cup of calming tea !



May all your cares be soothed with a cuppa !


Happy Infusions,


Kate


http://tea4kate.com

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Out of the Blue

Our collection of Blue Willow started with My Sweet Husband's grandmother in 1968.  Married and struggling to work our way through college, we had purchased most of our dishes at the Salvation Army store.  We received a lovely set of silverware, and lots of Corning Ware for wedding presents.  Good dishes, we didn't have.



One day, out of the blue, Grandma and Grandpa arrived with two boxes of wrapped dish ware.  She had been saving these Blue Willow dishes for My Sweet Husband.  She told me that when he was a little boy, she was cleaning her dish cabinet and had set all the Blue Willow dishes in the give-away pile.  My Sweet Husband ask her why she was giving them away, and she replied she didn't need them anymore.  "But Grandma, I love those dishes," he said.  So she stuck them back in her cabinet and moved them several times, saving them for this very moment.


She had purchased the Blue Willow from a restaurant in Alturas, California that was buying a new set of serving dishes.  These particular Blue Willow are known as "grill plates".


blue_willow_plate


Popular during the  1930's to the 1950's, these plates were ideal for the "Blue Plate Special" that was  standard fare at many diners and cafes.



Blue_plate_special_sign



The deep blue color and the the Legend of  Blue Willow are part of what contributes to it's long term appeal for collectors.


There are many versions of The Legend, but here is one:  Once a  wealthy Chinese mandarin, Li Chi, had a beautiful daughter, Koong-see.  She fell in love with her father's humble accountant, Chang.  Her father was very angry,  since it would be inappropriate for them to marry, due to their different social classes.  The mandarin dismissed the young man and built a high fence around his house to try and keep the lovers apart.  Her father arranged for her to marry a powerful Duke.  The Duke arrived by boat to claim his bride, bringing a box of jewels as a gift.  On the day the blossoms fell from the willow tree the Duke was to marry Koong-see.



The night before the wedding, the young account, disguised himself as a servant and slipped into the palace unnoticed.  The lovers, escaping over the bridge, with  the jewels, were spotted.  The alarm was sounded and the mandarin chased after them.  They escaped on the Duke's boat and arrived at  a secluded island where they lived happily for many years.  One day, the Duke discovered their secret.  In revenge, he sent soldiers who captured them and put them to death.  The Gods, moved by their misfortune, transformed the lovers into a pair of lovebirds so they could fly together forever, over the willow tree where they first declared their love for one another.



If you look closely at Blue Willow, you will be able to find many elements of the legend.



We have enjoyed adding to our collection when we travel or go "antiquing".  One treasure I found in an old antique store in Missouri is this precious child's tin tea set.  I can just imagine the mud pies placed delicately on those little plates and the delicious "tea" poured from the teapot into the cups.



chilrens_bluewillow_tin_tea_set



One other great find was the Blue Willow measuring cup we found in a small shop in Fall River Mills, California.



bluewillow_measuring_cup



Out of the blue, we were given a gift that has given us joy in continuing to accumulate. I hope you, too, have a collection that gives you immense pleasure every time you find another new piece !



Happy Infusions,


Kate


http://tea4kate.com


Friday, February 5, 2010

Keemun In A Cup

It's always like Christmas when new tea arrives !




Keemun_arrives_package


I can't wait to open the box and then empty the tea into it's jar and steep a pot .....oh the aroma and the sight of that wonderful tea that has traveled so far to come into my life !



This particular tea, Keemun Mao Feng  comes from the Anhui Province in China.  It was around 1875 that a young man, She Ganchen, recently dismissed from government service in Fujian, decided to produce black teas in his home town region.  Keemun became famous because it was the first black tea in a green tea area.  Keemun  is also prized because of myrcenal, an essential oil, not found in other tea leaves, which gives this tea its exceptional sweetness.  Mao Feng is one of the rarest and best grades of Keemun tea.


Sometimes, unfortunately, this lovely tea is used in blending an "English Breakfast" style tea.


It is superb all by itself and should be enjoyed as such !



Keemun_Mao_Feng_leaves_in_a_bowl



These perfect tea leaves produce an amber color, a sweet taste and a
divine aroma !



Let it rain or snow.....brew a pot of Keemun Mao Feng and pour a cup....tea time is anytime !


Keemun_for_infusions_site



Happy Infusions,


Kate


http://tea4kate.com





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Tuesday, February 2, 2010

My Space...at the Oregon Street Antique Mall



This is it.....my space at the Oregon Street Antique Mall. The first booth at the top of the new stairs ! I am very excited.

Today, we start filling it in....trying to create an inviting, welcoming area. I am hoping to be able to do a few "tea events" here also.

Please come by and say hi. I'll post my schedule as soon as I know the days I will be working. See you soon !

Happy Infusions,
Kate
http://tea4kate.com