I'm COOL...and YOU? ;)

It's that time of year when icemakers work overtime, people wear scanty loose cotton clothes, think about polar bears, and possibly drink more than they eat! 


This treasury featuring our Arctic Blast All Natural Soap will keep you cool!
Oh, by the way......it's ON SALE!  Just $4.50 a slice of pure icy delight!  Made with pure essential oils of Sage, cedar, orange, and peppermint combine to cleanse and purify your body, mind, and spirit. The fresh scent feels so healing,therapeutic, rejuvenating. 





I am busy preparing some more posts that I hope you will find informative, helpful and useful. Stay tuned!


In the meantime, stay cool, folks. 


Technically, it's not even summer yet!


Cheers!

"Po' Boy" Peach Snapple

By now, my readership knows that I am from Texas, if they are not indeed themselves from the Lone Star State.

Actually, I'm a transplant; so I have had to be introduced into this culture slowly, surely and over a long period of time before actually being "accepted" as a bonafide, certified, Texan.   In fact, I married a Texan and bore a child here, and they proudly, loudly, jubilantly, and animatedly remind me that I am the outsider in "these here" parts.  At which point, I remind them that the Gulf is a wash bucket/toilet bowl compared to my beautiful Pacific Ocean, which I pine for daily, and which now we all mourn over her fallen estate even more so in light of recent events.

So today I  want to talk about the culture of Iced Tea in this great state.   It's almost a religion.   Iced tea is served at every meal here and there are two camps:  "Sweet" and "Un-Sweet".    I would venture to guess but have not taken a poll, that most Texans (died in the wool ones), are in the "Sweet" Camp, due to the fact that they also have a large percentage of the population who in fact consume Dr. Pepper and a candy bar for breakfast and when you go to Luby's Cafeteria, their salads, some of them are PINK.   Yes, pink. Bright Candy Pink.   At which, my snobby California senses are inflamed and my eco-friendly green spinach temperament flares up to high.

But let the pontificating end here.   I remember back to when my fat Grandma from Ohio used to come to visit for a month at a time.    She would spend her days in the kitchen, baking up a storm with all kinds of confectionary sweet things to make us fat and endear us to her.   But one of my favorite memories was of her Sweet Tea.   My mom never made it so it was a real treat for me, even then the Caffeine Queen.

Have you noticed the bouquet of Tea?   I truly do not know anything more fragrant and just well delightful about my kitchen after I have steeped a giant bag of No Name Cut Black or Orange Pekoe Tea to make Iced Tea.   There is nothing more thirst-quenching (aside from water) than a tall glass of tea, iced down and all sweating with condensation to refresh you after any manner of activities.  I have become addicted......

Here in my house, we like Snapple (great website, by the way! I wish I could get a flash like that on my own website all manner of fruit and veggies floating into the air and inviting the reader to indulge in all kinds of aromatic adventures!)  Ah, but one day.....and we're getting off the subject here so, let's digress back to the culture of tea.....

So, we like Snapple and even though my daughter begs with tears and eyelashes flashing about me, never have I indulged in a 4 pack at the grocery store.   At $6.00 for a 4 pack, my German good sense bids me not.  I have caved to a single serving though at Walmart or other such grueling marketplaces, when drained of energy or emotional resources, but to pay that much I just, well, cannot.

So here is a recipe for a Near Snapple or a Po Boy Snapple!   Not exactly the same taste, but it makes enough for a whole family of 4 to enjoy for nearly a day.  So, at the cost of $2.69 + 1 tea bag, I would say it is a steal of a deal!   Enjoy!

Ingredients:

Steep one of these bags, or your choice of overpriced designer tea bags in approx.  2 cups of boiling water.
Set aside to cool.   When appropriately cool, add to pitcher with the contents of the juice container, freshly taken out of the freezer to be as cold as possible.   Add 3 to 4 juice cans (or more if you don't want to stay up ALL night) of cold water, stir and pour over ice.

I am not saying this is healthy; and I have not checked the label but I am almost certain the ingredients are corn syrup and natural and artificial flavors.   I will be searching for a real Peach juice concentrate, but so far have only come up with Dole's White Grape and Peach but that does NOT have the same ring to it, nor do I like the taste of the White Grape Juice in it.

Oh, and, since we are talking about the singular, delightful bouquet of all things Tea, (Cha, Chai, The) here are a few products than can be made in TEA!   IN fact, here is some Tea Soap that I made with real tea from Assam, India.  Long has tea been purported to have antioxidant qualities and in skin applications, is slightly astringent. This makes it good for those with OILY skin!

Wash with this

Or, burn this in any of the following scents:

Orange Pekoe

Green Tea

Black Tea

Lychee Red Tea (delightful)

Or, apply to your skin in these delightful flavors

Black Tea and Mint (very popular)

Lychee Red Tea (delightful, Asian inspired)

Green Tea

Matcha Tea

What kind of tea do YOU like?    Comments!  Please leave comments!

Strawberry Shortcake, Anyone?

The Joys of This Season
Strawberry Shortcake, Anyone?

I don't know about you, but every time the season changes, I think....."now, This is My FAVORITE season! God is so good to change the times and the seasons; it displays His infinite wisdom and grandeur and the fact that He delights in all the creativity we see and so much more.

But there is just something about summer. I get fresh and new, invigorating energy when the sun is shining in it's strength. God made all creatures to respond to the Light that He gave us! He gave all living things seed to reproduce, and that seed is in us. The light generates all things to flower and then fruit.

Here in Texas, we have had strawberries, and we have had peaches, and now we are enjoying the abundance of blueberries. This is a delightful time to go outside and enjoy all that God has created for us to enjoy. It brings Him pleasure, and it will delight you as well.

My favorite thing to do is to get up while the dew is still on the ground and sparkling like diamonds in the newly rising sun. Drink a Gigantic Cup of Hot Steaming Coffee, and listen to the myriad of birds that inhabit this glorious territory. Each morning they sing for joy to God their Creator. To hear them sends thrills of joy to the core of my being. The sense of peace that settles over my soul at this point rivals none.

Then in the evening, the same thing. To watch and savor, from my 12 x40 porch the splendours of God's creation and to enjoy from my vantage point, just sitting....a savoring....and listening...and contemplating.....

I am so happy to have my beautiful daughter Casey (who I affectionately dub "kitten") (me, being katw0man, you know) I am so happy to have her at home. She has been so helpful to me and I have enjoyed a slower pace.

We have been enjoying our little puppies and we take them swimming with us too and they like that!

This week I am very busy getting ready for a Big Party...and I have 6 days to get ready.

I just wanted to update all of you and remind you to savor this season in the Son and enjoy all the fruits of your labor and His in providing it for you to enjoy!

Grace and Peace to you!

The Strawberry Shortcake Slices smell delectable! And they would be a Fabulous Hostess gift for your 4th of July visit to Grannies, Aunties, Neighbors, or Friends homes!

Try a fresh slice today! $4.75 per 5.5 oz. slice or 3 for $12.00