Tree of Life has been around a long time, I have been  buying their brands since the 80s, I am pretty sure. I haven’t had the chance to try the Fully Loaded brand but they look really interesting.

Flavors include:

• Citrus Spiked
• Goji Force Green
• Naked Strawberry Green  (with rose petals-yum)
• Cucumber Mojo White
• Shameless Berries Fruit Tea
• Bulletproof Currant
• Wild Siberian Fruit Tea

The new agreement with Tree of Life will put the Canadian based company in more stores in the United States, including Whole Foods. If I see some I will grab a few boxes and let you know what I think..but they sure do sound yummy!

Info via PR Newswire, Oct 16, 2009

image: Fully Loaded Tea

Post from: Kettle and Cup

The library will contribute 10,000 dollars to get the coffee shop up and running and then the coffee shop with pay  rent every month. They will carry pastries, cookies and various coffee drinks.

Now, I ask you, how cool is that? I love libraries. Many times in my life I have used the library in the various places we have lived as a refuge. A place to enjoy quiet, the smell of the books, and recharge my spirit. The coolest library ever was the one near us in West Windsor New Jersey back in the late 1960s. We lived in a new, upscale housing development in the midst of fields and countryside. The library was about 3 miles away but I was allowed to ride my bike there because my mom could watch me the whole way thanks to the fields.

The library was old, I want to say it was in an old house but my memory may be foggy on that. The children’s section was upstairs and there were plenty of nooks and crannies to curl up and read a good book in. It was at this library that I discovered Edgar Eager’s books, Obscure writings by Louisa May Alcott, and other books that continue to by my favorites to this day. Books that I have shared with my children…books that my daughter shares with my grandchildren.

The idea of being able to go to the library, check out a few books and enjoy a latte or an espresso intrigues me. I think it is brilliant. Kudos to Fargo and all involved for thinking outside the government subsidy box.

image:SXC

Post from: Kettle and Cup

A woman in the Birmingham Alabama area  was shot at, I assume, close range by her husband. He then shot himself.

Being a woman, she got a rag to hold to her head an went and did what any sensible person would do.

She made a cup of tea.  When the police got  there she offered the deputy a cup as well.  Now that is true, Southern hospitality right there, y’all.  The police said she seemed disoriented.

Ya think?

Probably the cup of tea perked her right up.

I find this an amazing story for several reasons but with the tea aspect to it I absolutely had to share it with you.

You can read all of the details, and the whole story at Associated Press.

image:SXC

Post from: Kettle and Cup

Students in Papua New Guinea will now study math, english…and…coffee.

The coffee curriculum will be offered to students to give the the skills that they need to run their own coffee farms.  The curriculum was developed by the Coffee Industry Corporation so that students who did not wish to pursue a higher education could have the skills that they needed to keep the rest of us in coffee for the next couple of decades.

I am wondering how ling it will be until Barista 101 will be offered in American schools. Maybe at some point it could even be a community college degree.

What do you think.  Is it a good idea for them to make coffee a course in school or does it give struggling kids a good excuse to quit rather than pushing through?

Image:Morguefile

Image Text:Marye Audet

Post from: Kettle and Cup

How would you feel if you had to gobble up mouthfuls of powdered creamer while you had M-16s pointed at your head?

This is not a Frat initiation, nor is it a new method by our military to extract information from foreign spies…Nope. It happened to a

British tourist to South America.

So, he doesn’t trust the water..nor does he trust the milk and so the guy packs creamer, right.  Only he doesn’t leave it in the correct jar, he puts it in unlabeled jars.  And then he tries to get through customs with an unidentified white powder in his bag.

Yes, I am laughing, sorry.  I am totally without compassion here.  It has to be the stupidest thing I have ever heard.

So they are checking his baggage and pull out this powder and of course all of the security descends on the guy.  They speak, what else? Spanish..He speaks..what else? English.

Imagine the chaos.  They are yelling at him in spanish and he is yelling “Coffee Mate! Coffee Mate!” in english. They only understand the word “coffee” and they are like “yeah right, dude, that is not coffee!”

What else can they do? They make him eat it.  Not just taste it.  Eat it. Great honkin’ bites of it.

When he doesn’t spaz out they realize that it is not cocaine..so THEY taste it.

At that point they should have probably arrested him for bringing something so vile into the country.

And by the way, Einstein, don’t try to bring large amounts of oregano into the country either.

Image:Morguefile

Post from: Kettle and Cup

How has your week been? I am determined to get myself some good tea this week, and hopefully coffee…we seem to be out of both…as well as the funds to get them!  But I have been working hard and there is just nothing like taking a break with a cup of tea.  Better than a power nap!

I almost put this on Baking Delights today but decided that this was a better slot for it.  Check out this Green Tea Tiramisu from Bonbini!

Well, our Starbucks still hasn’t closed and I still think it was a marketing move.  Anyway..they have started several new programs, one is where you get a $2 frappuccino with 2 receipts for coffee …Of course I promptly lost my receipt from yesterday…so you may need to ask if it is nationwide or just here.

A new study has linked a reduced risk to Parkinson’s to tea drinking. Hmmm. Can’t we just start eating and drinking things because they are delicious and we enjoy them? I miss those days.
Folgers is downsizing again… Not that it will make a difference to most of my readers but a pound (1980s) of Folgers that was 13 ozs (1990s) is now going to be 11.3 ozs.  I find that so often. I picked up a candy bar at the grocers the other day and it was the same size and the snack size bars used to be, I swear. Now…here is the good news. If we start counting our weight in ounces, and a pound is actually only 11 ounces, we actually weigh less!

144 lbs= 2304 ozs. the old way

144 lbs = 1627 ounces the new way.

Maybe I like it.

I dislike the premise of energy drinks.  I won’t let my kids have them because I  graduated from mean mom school.  Valedictorian. The idea offends me for several reasons.  First of all it is marketed mostly to teens and early 20’s.  Those humans who are still in the growth process and most susceptible to chemicals, herbal or otherwise. Second the idea that you should drink something to pep you up bothers me.  I have started watching my mouth when saying things like “I need coffee..” because I don;t want to associate it with an addiction.  Maybe I am too sensitive to it but I was seriously into speed when I was a teenager and I don’t see alot of differences in the how the energy drinks are used and speed.  They are a peer pressure thing, a cool thing, and they give a burst of energy which is unhealthy.  I just used to take mine in pill form.  Less calories.

Anyway, apparently I am not the only one disgusted with these drinks and the company that makes them.  Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has  banned the sale of an energy drink called “Meth Coffee” in Illinois.  Kudos to her!!  You know, we don’t want our kids to take drugs and then we make jokes, movies, t.v. shows, songs, and energy drinks that make them seem cool.  Stupid freakazoids.

You can get a free sample of Sundance Organic Tea by filling out this form.

I wrote an article on Wu-Yi Tea this past week. If it is something you have been interested in trying for diet purposes you should read this first.

Another tea and mystery site, only this time you can read the stories online in blog form..deliciously available.

Tea with Friends reviews a loose leaf tea brewer…very cool.

If you are in to tea blending this new blog looks promising.

Have a great weekend!

Image:MaryeAudet 

Post from: Kettle and Cup

Summer is here. I keep thinking that I am going to free up some time to sit and enjoy life but the more I work to free up the time the more I have to do…if you are feeling the same way just take the time off and sip some iced tea on your porch.  Relax.  We all need to learn to live!

If you care about Fair Trade, Organic, and sustainably grown coffee (and you should!) checking Coffee and Conservation on a weekly or bi weekly basis is the best place to keep up with serious news about the industry.  I know I try to get over there at least twice a week to see what is happening.  I always learn something I did not know!

Jim over at Muddy Dog Coffee Blog has a great post on the famine conditions in Ethiopia. His company has decided to donate a portion of their profits to support EthiopiAide. Hats off to them in this altruistic venture!

Did you see the movie, Calendar Girls? I cracked up all the way through it..The funniest part was when Marc looked seriously into my face and said, “You would SO do that.” Well, there are some other ladies willing to bare it all for a good cause. Women Kona Coffee Farmers have produced a calender to enlighten us about the false advertising associated with coffee and Kona coffee in particular.  Check out the whole story at Eat. Drink. Better.

This is a little scary but did you know that Wrigley’s Doublemint gum has a Kona Creme gum out? I despise gum..I hate watching people chewing it.  But if you are desperate for coffee this might do the trick.

So it is hot.  Summer is here.  The kids are dripping popsicles all over the kitchen and you need a break.  Check out this Coffee Ice Cream with Espresso Brittle Swirl from Cooking with Coffee. I’ll take two.  To go.

I found At Home with the Farmer’s Wife blog through Vee, at A Haven for Vee.   Her blog design is fantastic! I will be reading this one alot, I can tell.

Brenda is having an open house for her son at Coffee, Tea, Books and Me.  She has an amazing menu planned..check it out and wish her well!  She has had a busy week, I figure she is drinking gallons of coffee over there!

I love thrift store shopping. In fact, yesterday I went to pick up a few things and ended up with a whole new wardrobe (we are on our way back to our home church and I needed to get my look up to par! We have been very casual for the last few years . Anyway I found some awesome things, which I will share on another post..but look at these adorable crocheted scrubbers that LaTeaDah found at her thrift shop!

Finally, The Tea Lady at Tea Time Tales posted something that touched my heart.  I understand her frustration with people who just would rather grab a cheap brand off the shelf than good quality from a local business. Read her post entitled Mediocre Minds and add your prayers to mine for her success.

O.k..

I hope you enjoyed today’s tour of the Internet. Have a great weekend!

Image (c) Marye Audet 2008 

Post from: Kettle and Cup

Memorial Day weekend is always a fun weekend for us. Cookouts, horseshoes, maybe some horseback riding…hawk toss…

You don’t know what hawk tossing is?

Yes, we are just that redneck around here. A hawk is a small hatchet, or tomahawk. Marc made this target for the kids to use. You take several paces back, and throw. It takes skill and practice to hit it and get the hatchet to stick in. The older boys also use it to practice throwing knives. It is one of the things that Marc can still do with the kids since he can no longer run around tossing a football. although he is pretty good when he is in his wheelchair at catching a football…

My family is very into historic re-enactment, although they haven’t done a lot yet. Marc is a commander with Royal Rangers (a bit like boy scouts) and is working to become involved with FCF, a historic re-enactment group that focuses on frontier type history;trappers, mountain men, etc. Marc is also planning on getting involved in a group that re-enacts the Republic of Texas Marine Corps.

Anyway ..so we are pretty basic people here.   Memorial Day still embodies everything it always did..I wrote my thoughts on Memorial Day in an Old House last year. I hope you will read it.

One of the big things to have here is iced tea in the summer.  My recipe for sweet tea is the best in the universe.  No, really.   You can use any type of tea you like ( Tazo passionfruit is awesome!  ) flavored or unflavored.  Please do not use bags if you can help it. Let’s face it, loose tea is just sooooooo much better!

All right…

Make Mine Pink is a great resource for tea shopping.  There are great posts on this blog about different tea resources around the internet.    There are alot of links to other tea inspired sites and blogs…I haven’t looked around too much because of time but I did notice blog and bio of Karen(Sweet Necessi-teas) …so now I know a little more about her!!!  I really like this blog, sorry I can’t tell you  more but I plan on reading through when I have some off time this afternoon..(ha ha..IF I have off time)

If you want to smile read this post about Josephine Misunas, a 96 year old woman that is still serving others in a soup kitchen in Waterville, Maine…

Domestic Goddess in Training let’s us know the truth about cream tea and then gives a wonderful recipe for mixed fruit scones…

So sad, but the Gracious Hospital-i-tea Blog-a-thon is over.  It was such a wonderful event, so much fun, and I met so many of you that I now read on a regular basis. Quick, someone come up with a new idea!

Laurie at Rose Cottage has a beautiful teacup she uses for her morning tea.  Do you have a particular cup you like to use? I have one for coffee but not tea. I may be inspired to get one now…’

Tea Party Girl has a fabulous interview with Donna Collins of Party Wishes.If you want to know how to pull of a children’s tea this is the place to go!

Soo…big surprise. McDonalds specialty coffee sales are not competing with Starbucks. Umm, did the powers that be at McDonalds fail to recognize that the customer base was VERY different… Like…guys…seriously..most 8 year olds do not order coffee and most adults that are roped into taking small people to McDonalds just want to go home.

If you want a chance at winning some organic coffee you better head over and comment on the  Fidalgo Bay blog..you have until May 29.

Heather at Chocolate Bytes has a great recipe for…uh…grilled coffee and chooclate STEAKS?? Sure, why not. Fair trade, ethically raised, organic…go for it.

Have a great weekend….

Images:Marye Audet 

Post from: Kettle and Cup

From my salt and pepper collection..Avon.

Saturday again! Time for your, and my, weekly internet fix of the coolest, the neatest, the most cool…and the ones I found. 

Judy, on My Front Porch, well not MY front porch, hers..you know…has a fantastic post about the baby barn owls that are in her barn. They are fantastic! If you homeschool it is worth heading over there to get a look.

So here’s an interesting thing. DO you know that there are tons of blogs about tea but almost none about coffee? Do you further know that tea blogs tend to be beautiful, creative, and cozy…and the few coffee blogs I have found tend to be snappy, terse, and edgy?

So what does THAT tell ya?

Case in point…Breaking News

And…A Timely Reminder

Differences.

Which is why, my friends, only a blogger as totally multiple personalitied as me could do this. Don’t try this at home, kids.

O.k..if you have trouble deciding which Starbucks coffee you will like Starbucks has the answer! You knew they would, didn’t you? Called Starbucks at Home, it is a 5 question quiz that is supposed to help you figure out what to order the next time you go…this is tricky though, because if you are like me these questions can be confusing if you try to answer them before…you know…coffee. At the end they offer to send you two whole OUNCES of whatever they tell you your favorite is.

Barismo has a thoughtful (for a coffee drinker) article, Attitude at the Counter

Now, I have the coolest barista in the world, and in fact, I told him I was going to bring my camera and get his picture to make him famous. I will od later this week, too. But apparently some of you all have had odd experiences with baristas, and baristas with customers. I suppose it is rude to wear an ipod when getting your coffee, but then, on the flip side, is there anything worse than a cashier of any sort on the phone when checking you out?

So here’s something. Comment Speedway talks about the little coffee shop, the small roaster, the guy that knows his customers and fixes great coffee.

Would you please moe that soapbox over here for a minute? Thanks.

Does anyone else recognize that Starbucks, and Wal-mart and places like that are the devil? Disclaimer. I go to Starbucks because, and only because they have literally closed all the local shops within a 15 mile radius. We have two kinds of coffee drinkers here, south of Dallas:

• The old guys who drink stale Maxwell House at the local truck stop
• The others who think Starbucks is the end all beat all for coffee.

Welcome to Texas.

I dislike that we, consumers..collective we, buy into the hype of the advertising companies and spend too much money on mediocre coffee. Why do we not realize that as we support BIG business and huge corporations that we are effectively shutting down the little places? Wal-mart has shut down several types of retail in my area…They have 4 stores…4 superstores in a 15 mile radius..all open 24 hours. The parking lot is full 24/7. And people think they are saving money by buying junk. Pay a little more, go without something, and get quality. It’s tough, believe me I know.

O.k..sorry…moving on…

Nicer things now..

Ivory Spring has ushered in Spring with some beautiful tulips… we are past tulips here..my heirloom roses are full in bloom, huge masses of blooms…
oh and then there is this:

You Are Fruit Loops

You’re very fun loving and easily bored. You need everything in your life to be over the top.You are definitely attracted to shiny and colorful objects. If kids love something, you tend to love it as well. You a very short attention span and are easily distracted. You are likely to eat something very random for breakfast… or forget to eat it at all.

What Kind of Cereal Are You?

::cough..cough:::

Hey, I have been called that before….

Mimi’s Garden has a great show and tell antiques post…check out the cool stuff she got!

Wales holds a special place in my heart..Nope, never been there, and you don’t need to know why..it just does…Codlins and Cream is just a breezy visit to Wales for me…great images and just …hmmm. cozy chats. I enjoy it and hope you will too.

For right now, this is the last image from my Tea with Me Tour of my house. Most of the rest of the house needs repair, and I am not sure you want to see the barns…. This is the upstairs landing..It is a quiet spot to sit and gather thoughts…

The hall is lined with bookcases…

Have a great weekend!

Images: Marye Audet 

Post from: Kettle and Cup

Among the many things I collect is a particular type of vintage glass called Moonstone. It was put out by Anchor Hocking from 1941-1946. This is a dainty, and I mean DAINTY cream and open sugar set that was my mom’s. Just thought I would share this picture with you.

I have to say that I really like Peggy. She and Jennifer do some way cool stuff on Tree Hugging Family and I have been stalking her on My Junk Creation as well. Gotta love someone who makes cool stuff from junk. Well, she has the coolest bookmarks made from tea tags on her blog this week…and I thought that with so many of us liking both tea AND books…well, just check them out.

But does she stop there? Nope. She also posted about making Tea Tag Confetti. This blogger girl is a serious party animal.

Stop by Steph’s Cup of Tea and wish her a happy blog-a-versary. Her blog is THREE! That is ancient in blog years.

If you are a freak for beautiful dishes head over to Ivory Spring. She shows off some of her collection and the tea strainer is amazing.

Have you been keeping up with the Gracious Hospital-i-Tea Blog-a-Thon?

Well, this week is a whole new subject so head over there and check it out. I have had a great time participating!

If you have a lot of family treasures and you don;t want their importance lost on your kids, check out this post by Katherine at Yellow Rose Arbor. She shows off her book of family treasures and I think it is an awesome idea.

Alice at Tea in My Cup has some adorable flower pot cookies that would be perfect for a spring tea.

My Little Pony turns 25 this year, and the stage show is billed as the largest tea party ever! That could be a great tea party theme for a little one, even if you did not get to go to the show.

Adagio always has cools tuff, but with an order of $50.00 you can get free shipping AND a zarafina teacup and saucer.

The Republic of Tea is also a great site to find the interesting, the new, the Tea-mendous (o.k.that was bad, sorry). Well they have a line of Be Well Red Teas that are infused with herbal blends for specific things. I am a real freak about using herbs in health…we don’t go to doctors here …only very rarely. Marc is the only one currently and that is because his condition requires medical intervention. However, that aside, these teas sound amazing. Check it out:

Get Gorgeous-anitoxidents for healthy skin and listen to the ingredients: Rooibos (leaf), Orange (peel), Hibiscus (flower), Chamomile (flower), Red Clover (flower) Chaste Berry (fruit), Burdock (root), Natural Pomegranate Flavor.

Get A Grip- I could probably just buy them out of this one. PMS and menopause don’t stand a chance with these herbs:Rooibos (leaf), Licorice (root), Eleuthero (root), Parsley (leaf), Black Cohosh (root), Chaste Berry (fruit), Chase Berry (fruit) Extract, Dong Quai (root) Extract, Birch (bark), Roasted Chicory (root), Natural Honey Flavor. It will probably pick up your libido as well so you might want to warn the husband.

Get Happy- Balance those emotions and fight the blahs with this Kosher tea. Organic Rooibos (leaf), Lemon Balm (leaf), Lemon Myrtle (Bachousia citriodora) (leaf), St. John’s Wort (aerial parts), Rhodiola (root) Extract, Natural Peach Flavor.

There are a ton more.

It has not escaped my notice that the weather is getting warmer. Be sure to read my very own instructions for making real southern sweet tea, the ONLY iced tea worth drinking is made with sugar infused water. Never never add the sugar later. Trust me.

For you coffee drinkers, head over to Babylune for Eliza’s Coffee Break. Every weekend she has an open chat over there. Grab a biscotti and just GO.

Image:MaryeAudet 

Post from: Kettle and Cup