Tea Time

Planning a tea party as a little girl, I would meticulously set out little plastic cups and saucers, completing the picture with a centerpiece of fresh picked dandelions. It was all about ceremony and loveliness.

The idea for the formal tea party is credited to a ninteenth century English duchess who so enjoyed taking tea in the afternoon that she invited friends to join her. Having elegant tea parties became very fashionable. Silver tea services and tea tables were status symols. China cups and decorative teapots turned out to be coveted collectables.

More and more, tea is becoming a poular choice over coffee, but most times, the microwave and mug replace the whistling kettle and bone china. Tea on the run is served in a paper cup. Have we given up on ceremony and loveliness?

In many cultures, tea is considered to be a spiritual and mystical connection to the soul. To the Chinese, it is often thought to symbolize the harmony and mysterious unity of the Universe. It was the Chinese who first discovered the tea leaf, not the British. Tea has played a role in literature, romance, world politics as well as cuisine.

As times and lifestyles changed, the popularity of the formal afternoon tea waned, but there are those who still consder "brewing a pot" an art. The Internet has given us access to teas from all over the world. With a click of a mouse, Black, White, Green, Oolong, and Red teas can be shipped to our doorstep.

One of tea's rewards is the blessing of slowing down to enjoy it. If you do it right, brewing and sipping a cup of tea can help you find stillness in even the most frantic of days. It is a simple, inexpensive way to do something really, really special just for you.

Reckoning Time

One day after a particularly bad winter storm, a city couple who had recently moved to the country, decided to check on their elderly neighbor. The old woman did not appreciate the intrusion, in fact, she was annoyed. “I been just waiting for a slow-down storm,” she told them. “So’s I could get acquainted with myself again. February’s my reckoning time.”

In Connecticut where I live, recent winters have had more than one slow-down storm. If you happen to be captured by one of these unexpected snow holidays, make the most of it—and that does not include cleaning out a closet or catching up on work.

Whether you are house-bound alone or with others, consider this unfettered time a gift. If there is no wind to speak of, a snowfall can be a most peaceful event. Allow yourself to marvel at the airborne ballet taking place outside your window. Imagine the birds huddled deep inside the bushes and critter families burrowed and waiting. Wear your slippers all day. Light candles. Sip tea. Play lovely music. Curl up with that book you have been meaning to read. Make no phone calls. Forget the computer. And when the sun breaks through and the air glistens, grab your coat. The earth beckons.

Gaze over the contours of the blanketed landscape, the frosted trees, and the garden bushes tipped white. Take a deep breath and lift your arms over your head to absorb the energy of the moment. Place your palm over your heart.

February is reckoning time.