I’m in Michigan visiting family this weekend so my tea post is a day early. I’m using my Dad’s laptop and I absolutely love it.  Note to self: purchase a laptop this year!

This morning I am sipping a cup of Tai Ping Hou Kui, a China green tea, and gazing out at the 4 inches of snow that fell over night.  Even though the sun is shining brightly on the sparkling snowfall, winter is not over here in the Detroit metro area.  Back home in Massachusetts, I think the forecast was for more springlike weather, rain and temps in the 40s.

The long hand-crafted leaf is amazingly intact. After steeping the leaves for 3 minutes with 180 degree F water, I found a leaf set with 4 leaves attached. The aroma is fresh and mildly vegetal and the liquor feels surprisingly thick and full in my mouth even though the taste is mild and sweet.  This tea was first produced at the beginning of the 20th century by a venerable Tea Master.  Its name translates to Great Green Monkey King and it is produced in An Hui province.  The criss-cross pattern on the leaves is stamped from the cloth used to press and flatten the leaf.  The fine crafting and care in its processing is apparent in its beautiful appearance and taste.

Yesterday, my Mom (who is an avid needlepointer and knitter) and I visited a fiber arts shop in Macomb, MI, called Crafty Lady Trio.  We purchased some scrumptious wool and silk yarn, Mom to knit a scarf and I to try my hand at a felted bowl pattern I found in the book One Skein by Leigh Radford. I have visions of colorful felted bowls filled with beads adorning my new studio!  I’ll post photos of the yarn, along with some rubber stamps I purchased for my next mosaicon, when I return from my trip.