Adventure Two- Tea
Adventure Two- English Tea March 21, 2020
My oldest sister, for years, maybe all of her adult life has taken the time to brew her tea in a teapot. To the teapot on a fancy tray, she adds a pretty teacup, a pitcher of cream and a honey pot. In recent years when I have visited her in Nova Scotia, I have soaked in the calming quietness that this practice brings. A true pause in an otherwise busy day. A time to slow down and smell the roses, to really enjoy the beauty around you. We often took tea outside in her English Cottage Flower Garden, always my envy and dream. But not always. Sometimes we had tea inside by the fire or at the kitchen table, looking out at the trees beyond.
In my heart I would say, "I need to do this for myself when I get home," but I never did. It was not for a lack of tea cups, creamers or sugars. I have collected over fifty tea cups to use at our church when we do our yearly Ladies Tea. Many of them exquisite. This past year when I packed them away, I left twenty or so sets out, now "displayed" on my top cupboard shelf.
My biggest hurdle was the extra dishes it made. Valuing myself enough to make the time to get out the tea things, brew the tea, and then wash up afterwards. I know in my mind that I am worth it, but my actions often contradict that. There is always something or someone that needs my attention. A life long habit of putting my inner needs last is a challenge to overcome but I am beginning to climb that mountain.
The first time I made English tea for myself, I discovered that I didn't have a tea tray so I used a plate. Not quite the right shape. With nostalgia I remembered the intricate designs on the ones I had in Eastport before I moved across country. They were left behind because I never used them. Now my local thrift shops have had only a heavy glass one that I am using for now until something more appealing comes along.
So I've started making English Tea for myself. Not all the time. The large "Reny's" loon or blueberry mugs still win out a lot of the time. I have also discovered that my favorite sitting spots lack a good place to set my tea tray. Eventually I will remedy that problem by repurposing some piece of furniture or other. I also need a tea cozy but I am fussy and want an attractive, pretty one.
The result has been a bit of calm, reflective time in the midst of chaos and confusion. (I am writing this at the beginning of the shelter in place edict given out by the governor of Washington State in an attempt to contain the spread of the coroanavirus.) A time to be still as the tea brews. A time to take a deep breath and put things back into perspective. A time to be thankful for what I have and to take joy in the simple pleasures of life.
There is nothing magical about an English tea in and of itself but combined with an intentional slowing down, meditative practices, for me, it has been life changing. It is okay for me to take this time for myself. It is okay to make the extra dishes, they will get washed with all the rest. It is okay. "Be still and know that I am God."
Adventure Two- English Tea is worth the time, effort, and extra work that it brings.
My oldest sister, for years, maybe all of her adult life has taken the time to brew her tea in a teapot. To the teapot on a fancy tray, she adds a pretty teacup, a pitcher of cream and a honey pot. In recent years when I have visited her in Nova Scotia, I have soaked in the calming quietness that this practice brings. A true pause in an otherwise busy day. A time to slow down and smell the roses, to really enjoy the beauty around you. We often took tea outside in her English Cottage Flower Garden, always my envy and dream. But not always. Sometimes we had tea inside by the fire or at the kitchen table, looking out at the trees beyond.
In my heart I would say, "I need to do this for myself when I get home," but I never did. It was not for a lack of tea cups, creamers or sugars. I have collected over fifty tea cups to use at our church when we do our yearly Ladies Tea. Many of them exquisite. This past year when I packed them away, I left twenty or so sets out, now "displayed" on my top cupboard shelf.
My biggest hurdle was the extra dishes it made. Valuing myself enough to make the time to get out the tea things, brew the tea, and then wash up afterwards. I know in my mind that I am worth it, but my actions often contradict that. There is always something or someone that needs my attention. A life long habit of putting my inner needs last is a challenge to overcome but I am beginning to climb that mountain.
The first time I made English tea for myself, I discovered that I didn't have a tea tray so I used a plate. Not quite the right shape. With nostalgia I remembered the intricate designs on the ones I had in Eastport before I moved across country. They were left behind because I never used them. Now my local thrift shops have had only a heavy glass one that I am using for now until something more appealing comes along.
So I've started making English Tea for myself. Not all the time. The large "Reny's" loon or blueberry mugs still win out a lot of the time. I have also discovered that my favorite sitting spots lack a good place to set my tea tray. Eventually I will remedy that problem by repurposing some piece of furniture or other. I also need a tea cozy but I am fussy and want an attractive, pretty one.
The result has been a bit of calm, reflective time in the midst of chaos and confusion. (I am writing this at the beginning of the shelter in place edict given out by the governor of Washington State in an attempt to contain the spread of the coroanavirus.) A time to be still as the tea brews. A time to take a deep breath and put things back into perspective. A time to be thankful for what I have and to take joy in the simple pleasures of life.
There is nothing magical about an English tea in and of itself but combined with an intentional slowing down, meditative practices, for me, it has been life changing. It is okay for me to take this time for myself. It is okay to make the extra dishes, they will get washed with all the rest. It is okay. "Be still and know that I am God."
Adventure Two- English Tea is worth the time, effort, and extra work that it brings.
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