The Tea Well

I am unbelievably excited to announce the beginnings of a dream: The Tea Well.

Hopefully, I am like most people and have only a few things that I am extremely passionate about, and tea is one of them for me.

Tea is life for me.
Tea is every day for me.
Tea is history for me.
And tea is health for me.

Over the course of the past two years, I have extended myself into learning more and more about tea and have undergone specialized training (even becoming a certified Tea Specialist) because I am that dedicated to it and believe in that much. During this course of time, I have been asked here and there to create customized teas for people that are brave enough to simply ask me. 

It all started during a ski trip to the Sierras last winter. I travel light, and we were only going to be gone for 4 days. No biggie. But no way was I not bringing my tea! It happened to be a blend of some of my personal favorite nuances that created a blissful profile that left you feeling warm and clean. A ski-mate (I mustn't reveal her name, else I'd have to kill you) asked me to make her a cup. "Sure!" So I prepared some for everyone. See, I had forgotten my infuser at home and improvised with the provided coffee maker in the cabin. The 4 of us really enjoyed it regardless of the improvisation!
 

Time had passed, and out of the blue one day, I received a message that she had wanted me to create her something special, just for her. I accepted, without hesitation! I leaped at the opportunity to make another person happy. Little did we both know it was the dawn of something incredible. How amazing would it be if I can do this for others?! She continued to request teas from me, and I continued to love, love, love it.

I am happy to conclude with an email address to contact me for requests and inquiries: theteawell@gmail.com along with a few photos of some of my past creations!

Welcome to the journey!

Wintertide Chai - Black Tea

 

Cranberry Orange - Oolong Tea

 

Apple Orchard - Green Tea

 

 

 

Mini English Pancakes!

I guarantee this recipe isn't on another blog, or on Pinterest (unless it was pinned from here!) because this recipe came from my great aunt and I've been eating them since I was a small child. They are my favorite English pancakes!

I have to warn you though, they are extremely dense (which is why I like them - for their unique texture). They are hardly cake-like, especially when made in the oven since they are meant to be crepe-thin cooked in a pan.

Originally (and usually), I cook them in a skillet and fold them into quarters, four on a plate to make a circle, and top them with lemon and powdered sugar, then repeat this an additional 3 times. Yes, I'm a pig when it comes to these babies!

This morning I thought I'd try cooking them in a muffin tin - that way I get 12 at a time, all for me! You can always top them with syrup or jam (like I did yesterday morning, as seen to the right). I should also note it was a different recipe that I didn't care for and that is why they look puffier. They were not blog worthy, but the picture is nice! Sorry, Auntie, I ever doubted you!


English Pancakes (from my Aunt Jo)
2 eggs
¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons flour
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup milk
½ cup water
vegetable oil or butter for frying, or cooking spray for baking
confectioner's sugar (for English pancakes)
1-2 lemons, cut in half (for English Pancakes)

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit
2. Beat eggs in a blender.
3. Mix together flour and salt. Beat half of the flour mixture into eggs, then milk, then other half of flour mixture, then finally water.
4. Spray muffin tin with non-stick spray.
5. Divide mixture evenly into all 12 holes (less than half full).
6. Bake for about 9 minutes, or until solid (but not too done! They’ll turn chewy).
7. Place as many as desired onto plates, sprinkle with sugar and fresh-squeezed lemon juice on pancakes (no need for butter on these!).

You can also pan cook them, fold them up, or roll them up with the same toppings. They are more crepe-like that way.

Happy breakfast!

Do you love DIY's?

Oh, I love me a project! Too bad my bank account doesn't love a project as much as I do. But this one... this one was completely affordable and a big hit!

I set out to make this outdoor, shabby-chic table the Monday before Thanksgiving so that the 40-some-odd guests could have a surface to place their beverages on as all the thankfulness was happening. It took me two afternoons to complete it (the first afternoon sanding and assembling, and the second afternoon staining). Hindsight is always 20/20, so if you get the urge to do this simple table, I advise staining your wood before assembly. In my defense, I wasn't planning on staining my table at all until I realized that without some color, it looked like a redneck coffee table. But once finished, I fell in love with it, it was exactly was I was hoping for, only better with the 1930's kerosene heater set on it for night time.

Materials needed:

  - 2 pallets (in the best condition you can find)

  - 4x4 piece of lumber for the legs (I cut mine 8.5" long in order to achieve a table height of 21")

  - 4 caster wheels with screws

  - 16 L-brackets with screws (I used only 8 and wished I used 16, 4 on each leg (2 on top, 2 on bottom)

  - Stain of choice (I used "black walnut")

  - Drill

  - Sanding materials

 

Process:

1. I started by choosing the best side of a pallet to be the top surface and sanded it like crazy since that would be the surface people would be touching (I wouldn't want people getting splintered or stabbed by a split board). If you want to sand more than just the one surface, you're more than welcome to.

 

2. Stain all your lumber. This is quite a process and requires patience. Use a paint brush, and don't be too precise.

 

3. Set your top of pallet face down and screw in the L-brackets, with the legs attached, in place at each of the 4 corners, using 2 brackets for each leg.

 

4. Set your bottom pallet on the legs, lined up, and in place.

 

5. Screw in the last of the L-brackets, 2 on each leg again.

 

6. Screw in the caster wheels to the bottom 4 corners of your table. You are finished!

 

 

My family loved it I was overly proud as usual. Even though I paid for my pallets (I'm sure you can hunt some down that would be free), I still kept the cost to under $90. Not to mention, it was complete fun to build something we'd be using immediately!





Mr. Lewis

Sometimes, you just need a fresh start.



Who is this C.S. Lewis guy anyways? Whoever he is, he makes a lot of sense. So, here's to new beginnings! At least as far as blogging is concerned.

Once upon a lifetime ago, I had dreamed of being a writer. I have since realized I don't have the endurance to write large literary works, nor the wit to sustain a story. Regardless of reality (and skill), I find myself reaching for the pages of a brand new blog. This time though, I have a mental table of contents that should aid in keeping current.

I am unmarried. No children. Still seeking a career (although I am fully employed). If you are expecting a blog containing parenting tips, marriage counseling, relationship advise, or housewife activities, I'm afraid all I have to offer on those subjects are my inexperienced, observation-based opinions. But because I am single, own a dog, work with the public, and come from a crazy mostly stable family, I can offer wonderful advise on how to occupy time with the few activities I love.

Happy reading!