Showing posts with label Tea. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tea. Show all posts

Monday, May 5, 2014

The Mount Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods, NH


About three years ago I watched a documentary titled Stephen Fry in America 
& fell in love with the area known as New England. 
Fast forward to this year and I was blessed


Now let me just go back to the documentary (which is absolutely worth the watch)
and a short scene where Mr Fry introduces us to the Mount Washington Hotel.
(Situated in Bretton Woods and nestled at the base of Mount Washington itself)


From the moment he walked through the main hall right up until 
he sipped tea on the back balcony … 
I. Was. Smitten.
You can read more about the history HERE  and (as you can see by my humble 
attempts at photographing the magnificence of the place) - it truly is an
intriguing and jaw droppingly beautiful location.


I clearly remember saying to my Husband 
"One day I'd like to drink tea there"
(Thinking to myself… a distant bucket list item for sure)


Well (as is the general theme in my marriage)
I'm one of those very blessed gals whose Husband keeps making
her dreams come true.


When we drove up toward the building itself I was 
already goose bumpy with anticipation and the inevitable 
"mad camera clicking began"


The boys went ahead to organise a booking for high tea.
I walked around with my mouth hanging wide open, 
pausing every now and then only to take a photo 
(and grin like a fool)


We were tended to by a waiter named Bill, from Kentucky 
who proceeded to walk us through the menu and tea selection.


Still grinning like a fool I was unable to take 
my eyes off the table settings and the view that 
greeted you through every window...


.. then I looked at the menu and ...


…. well you can just imagine ...


… I was IN HEAVEN


There was even a tea specially blended from ingredients 
only found in the local region...


… I realised very early on that I had better stop snapping ...


… no matter how tempting ….


… and simply ….


… be in the moment...


… savour the moment...


… and treasure the moment...



(every table had its own unique posy!)


(the reception desk)


(had it been just a tad warmer we would have dined in the 
exact spot that Mr Fry imbibed his brew. Not that I minded!)


As we sipped our brew and dined on scoffed  our mouth watering 
treats we marvelled at the birds of prey circling outside…


… as well as the magnificent view we had of mountain peaks
(only a hour or so later and the fog had set in making it all impossible to see)



If you are ever in this part of the world I cannot recommend a visit
to this National Treasure highly enough.
High Tea was very reasonably priced and the grounds
of the hotel are an attraction in their own right.

We vowed that next time we visited we would 
actually check in and stay for a few days.

I think I'd even go so far as to say it's one of the 
most 
beautiful places I've ever seen in my life.

Oh…
... and the tea was top notch too.


Saturday, October 26, 2013

Chai loving....

Do you like Chai? It seems quite the in-thing now and yet I still feel pretentious and awkward when I whisper my order to the barista ...


"Excuse me do you make your Chai with real leaves or syrup?.... Real leaves? Great in that case I'll have a (voice drops down a few decibels) large Soy Chai Latte with honey thanks"


I cant abide the syrup stuff... Eew

The reason for soy? I think it tastes creamier and richer

Now that the weather is warming up I'm experimenting with a chilled version

I'd like to have a go at mixing my own brew and you can be sure I'll go a little over the top with ginger

Gorgeous Jo shares a recipe here and if you love the flavours you may even try making a Chai cake

I buy my brew for the tea heaven that is T2 (my home away from home) - some say it's a little heavy with the cardamon pods but I think that's why I like it so much

I even purchased a vintage copper tea strainer to add to the magic of my Chai ritual

Teamed with a few fresh Medjool dates and you have a sweet treat that is actually good for you

So to Chai or not to Chai? What are your thoughts peoples?



Sunday, February 24, 2013

Longing, Missing and Wishing....


I've been cleaning. 
Not my home (although that needs some attention today for sure)
My other home. 
The great temple that is my body. 
The sacred space that houses this heart, this mind and these hopes and dreams. 
I am not a fan (at all) of commercial detox products and "get super healthy super quickly" schemes. Let's face it - as long as it takes you to get messy is usually as long as it will take you to get clean, right? 

All I'm doing is avoiding (not forever) the cooked, the processed and the chemical 
(caffeine to be precise)
whilst embracing raw, natural, liquified, blended and smoothied goodness. 

I feel amazing. I feel light, I feel clear. I wont go into specifics, suffice it so say there are many websites and blogs dedicated to this sort of topic and it really does get boring when people preach.

No I only wanted to tell you this because I have a very simple list of things I am craving like crazy.
So simple in fact there's only item on the list....

Can you guess what it is? 

♥♥♥





Monday, May 28, 2012

Hedonistic habits...

Do you have them?

This weekend allowed me to dabble in a few of mine...






Discover a new (and uber-cool) carpark cafe, order tea and coffee
AND find the product is as satisfying as the location...
(artwork at the cafe by this cool dude)






Visit one of my favourite nurseries
wander around aimlessly taking in every bloom,
 enjoying the buzz of eager gardeners plotting
and planning their next project...
(come home with a bloom or two of my own)




Reading in the garden ... with tea... and chocolate....
and Pooch.... Doze off to the sound of birds calling
and neighbourhood kids giggling. 




Collecting flowers (from my own garden) and place
them in pretty containers all around the house....

All the time reminded of those brilliant words by Joseph Campbell

"Follow your Bliss"


*****

PS - Reading the Memory Keepers Daughter
by Kim Edwards
at the moment... It's like reading a dramatic dream.
Not getting anything else done - so I'd better hurry
and finish it!






Sunday, January 22, 2012

The Perfect Vacation


Family and Friends...









....resorts...


...familiar fauna...


... lots of golf for Hubby ...


... soaking up the sun, beach combing...





.... fabulous food and wine...



.... the best pizza topping ever
(it's the avocado and balsamic baby!)...





... Christmas with loved ones, gifts galore, beautiful wrapping, 
stunning (with a capital S!) table decor....






.... traditional cooking methods, crazy critters, a day at Sun City...






.... camping in the bush, four wheeling (eeeek!), 
the biggest pool ever, torrential rain....







.... and a tea party that beats all...











Yes sir... 'twas the perfect vacation.




Still settling in, recovering from jet lag, eating too much, sleeping in (too much),
catching up on "blog-goss", preparing for school, sharing vacation photos, trying to beat the heat and of course...in amongst it all... solve world hunger and find inner peace.
Hmmmmm ... will keep you posted.

Happy belated New Year to y'all!
2012 is going to kick butt!

******