We are now off for Christmas break for a few weeks. I have not planned anything travel wise, so I will enjoy my time at home (albeit with a visit to the dentist.....groan). Once I finish with the mad holiday rush (I enjoy the hustle and bustle of the holiday crowd), I can finally relax with a cup of tea. The morning kettle doesn't whistle until 10:30 or so. I wake up about 7:30 or 8 (I'm a night - owl...bed at 1 or 2 am), but wait to drink my tea. I'm usually not hungry or thirsty in the morning, so I don't mind the wait. The kettle whistles, and I get out fine fine bone china tea cup with the little Christmas tree and holly shaped handle. I grab my ceramic tea pot (that leaks on the counter almost every time I pour), fresh loose tea, and the tea filter. I pour enough for about 4 cups of tea. It's not going into the usual giant mug, but my dainty Christmas cup. It doesn't hold much tea, but I could swear the tea taste better out of a bone china cup rather than a stainless steel travel mug. I have my hearty French or Italian toast with my tea. My morning tea is always with milk and sugar, and never, never, never decaf! I can actually enjoy the aroma and each sip as I take in the start to my day. I look forward to the relaxing mornings with my tea until the new year begins followed by a mad rush to arrive at work by 7:30!
After a day of running errands, I also enjoy my afternoon tea with cookies. In the past I have enjoyed high tea at the Ritz and dreamed of having this splendor of luxury every day! Oh, I can only imagine having this every day! You know what? It doesn't matter.... As long as I have my favorite Christmas cup, or mug and a few sugar cookies or ginger snaps, I'm truly in a world of my own. I close my eyes and imagine I'm in my favorite Parisian cafe, or take my mind away in my current favorite book. It's the comfort of hot tea that brings my soul to a peaceful setting.
