The Monday-est of Monday's

Yep, It was the Monday-est Monday of all times. A plot twist of a morning that lead to a day of chaos. Started with waking up sick with a cold, and then my car not starting again. This is a new car, my dream car, actually my second dream car, I broke the other one about 4 months ago and it was not repairable. Anyway it was a huge inconvenience in my day, the tow truck said 2-3 hours, and well I had two kids to get to school and myself to get to work, not 2-3 hours to spare, I grinned and bared it and with in 20 minutes a third party tow truck came to my rescue, jumped the car, I got the kids to school each about 20 minutes late and then took the car to the dealer, where under warranty they  replaced my battery.

As I accidently took a photo of myself driving, still not entriely sure how that happened thought I would share it as I have my determined look, cape and special driving glasses on....not my finest morning but at least I can see the humor in it,

Bought my special driving glasses on Saturday, and I love them, best part is my kids did not even notice anything wrong with them, I did get some smiles I as I forgot I was wearing them on Sunday... anyway, special sunglasses for special circumstances....

Day now mostly over and home, safe, a tiny bit of self care, finished my book and once I finish this post, I will have a much needed ice cream cone....here is to brighter days ahead....

Thank you for joining me here for a cup of tea and a Monday rant, may your tea be strong and your Monday be short and sweet.
I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Adding a bit of light and sparkle to my life, a great thrift store find! Silver Teapot and Coffee Pot Lamps!

There is a few thrift stores I frequent where I live and each is special to me for a different reason. I often will go to the thrift store when the "spirit moves me" or when I get a few stolen moments.  I get a thrill when I find a treasure, often an inexpensive tea cup and saucer, small knick knack  and I don't often spend more than a few dollars, however it is my birthday month and well the find I got last week had me going over my thrift store budget but I think you can see why I simply had to have these and you may want to make your own! I found both a Silver coffee pot and tea pot that had been turned into lamps!!!

Other than having to polish these beauties I could not believe a reason someone would want to get rid of these treasures but I am very glad they did! At $25 each, these working lamps truly spoke to me.

With a tiny bit of silver polish and cloth I made short work and brought these beauties back to life. They are now in my bed room and the perfect bedside reading lamps. The hospital thrift store I purchased them from benefited from my purchase and whomever thought to give these a new life, certainly brightened mine.

If you would like to learn how to make your own I found this youtube video that might get you inspired to try making your own.

Thank you for joining me for a cup of tea and a great thrift store find!
I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Karen's White Bean and Spinach Soup A Left Coast Crime Gala Dinner Copycat Recipe

I am still honestly in awe from the Left Coast Crime Conference that was held in Vancouver last month at the Hyatt. I was as impressed with the venue as I was with the amazing talented room of writers I shared the evening meal with on the Saturday evening.  The gala dinner and lefty awards were hosted in the ballroom of the Hyatt and the 4 course meal was outstanding. I had the vegetarian meal and it was something I am still dreaming about.

The sit down meal I fully enjoyed and the dinner conversation as well. One of the items that stood out most for me was the soup that was served to us upon sitting. I asked what it was and was told it was a white bean cream soup.

It was the oddest shade of green, buy something I fell in love with as soon as it hit my tongue. I regret not asking for another bowl! I found it hard to concentrate on the conversation at the table as I was trying to deconstruct the soup in my mind so I could make it again. This past Saturday I did just that, in my own way. I am sharing the recipe with you on the chance you might also enjoy it as well. I know I will make this soup again.

Karen's White Bean and Spinach Soup
2 cans of 19 oz white kidney beans
1/2 a frozen package of chopped spinach
1 lt of Chicken Stock
1 cup of water
1/2 a large white onion
2 stalks of celery
2 tsp garlic
2 tablespoons of butter
Salt and Pepper to taste (I added Slap yo Mama Spice instead)
1 tsp thyme
*1/2 cup sour cream (I used lactose free) as a garnish or blend in the soup

In a large pot, with 2 tbsp of butter melting over medium heat place 1/2 of a finely chopped onion and 2 chopped stalks of celery.  Saute over medium heat three to 4 minutes until the onions and celery start to turn translucent. Add your 2 tsp of chopped garlic and stir until evenly distributed and continue cooking for another 1-2 minutes. Add your chicken stock and water, Bringing the broth upto a boil, add your 1/2 package of frozen spinach. Boil over medium heat until all the spinach is combined, stirring and breaking up the spinach as you go. Turn off heat and use an immersion blender (or regular blender)   once the beans, broth and spinach are combined spoon into bowls and serve with a dollop of sour cream.

I loved making and eating this soup, I hope you will too.
I even used my childhood bunnykins bowl to eat from.

Thank you for joining me for a cup of tea and a recipe today I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Karen's Easter Potatoes and a bit of family history and mystery...

It is just a month since my father passed away and like all survivors, those of us left behind have the responsibility to go through the material items that are left behind. If you are new to my blog my dad passed away in March and my mother before him in September of 2010.

My sister and I were going through his worldly possessions and this overwhelming task was made somehow a bit lighter in finding one of the many notes my father would leave my mother everyday of their marriage.  My father would often leave before my mother and leave her a quick note in the most beautiful handwriting, on the table beside her book so that it would be the first thing she saw when she sat down. These were sometimes scribbled on scrap paper, the back of receipts or envelopes and often discarded at the end of the day, so how in the midst of my sadness and grieving this one particular love note survived not only the passing of my mother, but also my father and ended up in a box of photos destined for my place.  As I flipped through the old family photos this one particular note caught my attention, I smiled at the memory of note, and as I unfolded it I found a recipe of mine, in my mother's handwriting on the back for Easter Potatoes.  I don't think I had made them since 2005 when the recipe was copied down by my mother after a telephone call we had.

Having this once loved recipe was a particularly exciting find, how it ended up in the box is a mystery but one I am happy to have stumbled on. So I made it again and thought I would share with all of you....

 Karen's Baked Easter Potatoes

1 package of thawed frozen shoestring potatoes (I used two boxes of dried that I got a costco and rehydrated them)

1/2 a white onion

1 cup cream cheese

2 cups sour cream

2 cups of grated medium cheddar

1 can of cream of chicken soup

2 cups of corn flakes

1/4 cup Butter

Salt and Pepper (*I have since discovered Slap ya Mama spice so I used that instead)

Method:

Preheat oven to 375

Thaw or rehydrate your hashbrowns and add to a large metal bowl. Use a box grater to grate half a large white onion and add that to the bowl. Use a spatula to add and combine cream cheese and sour cream. Mix well until evenly distributed. Add one cup of the cheese and combine. *Add some of salt and peper Open the can of cream of chicken soup and stir that into your mix.  In a 9X13 baking dish that has been sprayed or greased spread out your potato mixture. 

In a medium sized bowl place your cornflakes and the remaining cheese. Melt the butter in the microwave and add to your cheese and cornflake mixture. Stir until combined and place on top of the potato mixture and spread evenly. 

Place your baking dish into the oven and bake one hour or until the potato mixture is golden and bubbly. 

Thank you for joining me today for a cup of tea and a recipe. I look forward to sharing more with you again soon. I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Tuesday Tea and National Bubble Bath Day

I started my morning with the latest addition of Tea Time Magazine. I love this publication and am so excited and inspired with each issue. I love the Pink Teacups on the front and was inspired to pull my Aynsley one down off the shelf for this mornings me moment and tea.

 I was thrilled to see that Author Sarah Fox's new book Wine and Punishment was mentioned in the magazine! This is on my TBR pile right now! Click here to learn more. 

 Tuesdays in the tea shop for me is tea tin filling day and boy is it one of my most favorite things about working here. Filling the tea tins and the store with the most amazing aromas, this one is our Spa Blend and it tastes as beautiful as it looks. I even brought in my sewing scissors for our ribbons which I was pre cutting for our products today, I thought it was fun to tie some left over on the end of my scissors, just a touch of whimsy...

One of my favorite authors Lorna Barrett, shared that today is National Bubble Bath Day, now that is a day I can get behind for sure! I know what I am going to do later today, I will stop and pick some up on my way home from visiting my dad in hospital tonight.

I found this amazing site http://www.myhealthyhomemadelife.com/relaxing-flower-milk-bath-tea/ with a great recipe for a Flower and Milk bath, I have made these before and I love the idea of making this as part of Bubble Bath day, the Milk does foam so I am counting it as a win and I love the idea of adding tea or flowers to the bath.... Click here for the recipe from My Healthy Homemade Life. 

Thank you for joining me today for a quick cup of tea and a great way to celebrate and include tea in your everyday life. I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Rainy Day In The Tea Shop, Murchie's Afternoon...

(Photo from my instagram account this morning, click here to find and follow me) 

Today is January 3rd and I am safe and warm in my tea shop, sipping Murchie's Afternoon Blend from my favorite cup and saucer in the shop (I bring my own from home, I maybe moving in one cup and saucer at a time). I am watching and listening to the rain fall as I eat my lunch in a very quiet shop.  Over the last few weeks the shop has been full and busy, but the rain today has slowed down our foot traffic and only a few die hard customers have made it through my doors. 

I have lots to do in the shop so I am not un busy, but I wanted to share a little story of my own from the tea shop about our Murchie's Afternoon Blend... 

Some of you may know that I live in Vancouver, B.C. Canada. Growing up we made trips to Victoria B.C. which is an Island off the West Coast Of Canada and about 2 hours away by Ferry. When I was a young girl I went with my grandmother to a very old and famous hotel called The Empress. This hotel is just steps from the inner harbor in Victoria and moments away from the equally impressive parliament buildings. On one very special occasion, one of a handful of times in my lifetime, we had tea at the  Empress Hotel. That was the first time I ever had Murchie's Best (then called Empress Afternoon Blend) Tea. For me it is one of the most iconic teas Murchie's makes. This blend of Ceylon, Keemun and Darjeeling teas has an effervescent quality and a clean rich taste.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Empress,_Victoria,_BC.jpg

Years later (about 19 actually) my grandmother was dying from bone cancer and she lived in Ontario which is about 3,000 miles away, from where I live. I went to Murchie's and purchased the tea now called Murchie's Afternoon for her and mailed it so that she could again enjoy that tea. My grandmother passed away 5 days after my first son was born, almost 18 years ago now. It is nice to have this tea memory and to know that the recipe has not changed even though the name and packaging has changed, the taste is still perfection. 

You can find Murchie's Afternoon Blend on the Murchie's Website by clicking here. 

Thank you for joining me for a cup of tea and a tale from the tea shop. I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com 

It's what you don't see...

As I write this my cat Squirrel is sitting beside me, a pot of vanilla tea to my left with my teacup shown above, and a blue and pink sky in my view over the top of my laptop. I started my day, this the last day of 2018 with a smile and a laugh, you see my alarm went off and Squirrel, sleeping beside me, moaned. The comfort and humor in that I shall carry with me the rest of the year, literally, it is the last day of 2018 and what a year it has been. Sounds perfect right?

A friend posted on social media on Christmas Eve, a week ago,  something that has stayed with me and reminds me of  how important it is to remember that everyone is fighting a battle and war that you may not see. Someone wrote my friend with the best of intentions and said, " Your life looks so perfect, you really have it all together, I wish I could be just like you". Her response of just how unperfect her life really was gave me pause for thought and time to reflect.

I once was told that I should feel shame in posting as often and as much as I do. That I promote an unattainable lifestyle and that in doing what I love, I hurt others.

In hindsight think that was more a reflection of the person commenting then the truth. My life is just like many of you...

The truth is this. for me, like many others, blogging, instagram and social media have been a life line to the outside world, an outlet and a creative gift. Reading as many books as I have been able too has allowed me the freedom to experience 500 lives and adventures when really I have had to stay put. Each cup of tea has been a repreve and an adventure, a comfort in a less than perfect world. It gave me a much needed escape from everyday life and it introduced me to a community of like minded, lovely people who share similar interests and experiences.

It is what you don't see, in what I don't share,  that I hope you will understand, the struggle for all of us is real. My table with the beautiful photos of my tea cup in the morning, often is not a true reflection of the bigger picture. You see what I want you to see. This is all I share because the rest of my table is cluttered, often with last nights dishes, the cats, and all the other stuff that collects on every surface of my tables.  The piles of laundry, dishes, and clutter, I usually keep to myself.

The doctors appointments, the hospital trips, the therapy sessions, the bills, the clutter and the mess, is what I don't often share. But it is very real. Work, life, balance, the struggle is real. We all try to keep this part of our lives to ourselves. I promise, my life is not perfect, and I am doing the best I can but with each photo, each cup of tea, I am surviving and grateful for those who kindly care enough to check in with me and who like, read or enjoy the moments of joy that I create in a life full of Chaos and normality.

May 2019 bring you clarity, comfort, joy, great cups of tea, wonderful reads and true friendships.
Thank you,
Karen

Dark Corner By Vicki Vass...

One of the most extraordinary things about life is how chance encounters lead to unimaginable adventures. Not so many years back I was introduced to the most amazing of authors, Vicki Vass, through my friend Lisa Kelley. I devoured books that Vicki wrote like potato chips and came to have admire and be inspired by her writing. I reached out to her through social media and an amazing thing happened. Somehow, the books I had come to love, I ended up a character in. This is one of the coolest things that has ever happened to me.
Book two in the Witch Cat Mystery Series arrived early in December and was the most exciting paranormal reads of 2018. I love the premise of this series,  the story line, the setting and of course the characters! Lending my name and my familiar to the story, gave me an unbelievable sense of excitement in a book that gave me hours of joy and mystery. We lose ourselves in books but we find ourselves there also...

I hope to be as "badass" as my character is in Dark Corner, and I hope it is not my last time in this amazing series. If you love witches, if you love cats, if you love magic, adventure and hope. This is a series you need to pick up and read. Vicki Vass is truly talented and magical in every way!

Evil has awoken in Asheville, North Carolina, and Terra Rowan must prepare the Ladies of the Biltmore Society for battle. With her familiar, Pixel, a crooked leg fluffy orange cat, and her apprentice Abigail Oakhaven, a stubborn teenage girl with a bloodline dating back to the beginning of time, she begins their journey. The witch hunters have come to the Appalachian Mountains in search of the last witch of Salem. The magic of the mountains can no longer protect her and her coven. She must travel to the one place on earth that holds the secret to save mankind – Dark Corner.Combining elements from different cultures, Appalachian folklore, Celtic legends, Native American mysticism, Dark Corner continues its new witch mythology while staying true to the realm of cozy mystery. Terra Rowan is a witch trapped between worlds and lost in time.

Thank you for joining me for a cup of tea and a cozy mystery review. I would love to hear from you so please leave  me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Surviving the holidays, how about you?

What a difference a year makes, working full time in the tea shop over the holidays has been a delightful treat and so busy. I am just now getting the shop back in order, and sipping some lovely holiday teas, waiting for opening time and the hopes of some regulars dropping by.

I love my job and being in the shop has added to the Christmas magic. Last year I was at home, writing more, reading tons, and having lots of time to promote authors, crafts and tea. Now I with work I have less time for that but the desire to do return to reading and reviewing more than ever. I have also not had much time to read or write. But I did get in a quick tea with Santa before he retired...

I have finished two books that I will write reviews with and share shortly with you all, I have also taken a course, worked crazy retail hours and managed to stay joyful this holiday season, and I am exhausted.

I hope that the holiday has been good to you and that you too are surviving the holidays.
Happy Reading, Writing, Crafting, sipping and hopefully staying in your PJ's to all of you,
Karen

Tea Advent Calendar Craft

I belong to a lovely Facebook Group Tea Cup Challenge Page and this year we started to do some fun tea swaps, one of the largest swaps we did was our Advent Swap. I started to think about mine in May, yes May.

I actually sewed most of it in September and finished it just before our deadline to ship of November 1st. I thought I would like to share with you how I did it and maybe inspire you to make your own. Please note I am a craft sewer and not the most patient crafter in the world so mine is a bit unique in the way the lines are not totally straight.

I used items I found at the dollar store to create my calendar base. A red and white placemat make up the base and the burlap and lace ribbon made me think I could make a beautiful calendar! The total cost of making the calendar (aside from the tea I had on hand) was under $10 Canadian.

I layered the burlap ribbon out and cut it so that it filled the placemat. I got 24 bags of tea (all different, seriously I could start my own tea room with my personal inventory) then I pinned and measured the pockets, removed the tea and then sewed straight-ish lines to create my calendar,

For a few weeks I struggled with how to number the pockets and then found these gemstone numbers at the dollar store, and I purchased three packages of them and set them in place.

I loved how easy they were to stick on and they seem to be staying!

I mailed this calendar to my partner and I hope she loves it. It was made with love and filled with tea and sent many miles and a country away. 

I hope that this inspires you to make and share a tea advent calendar with a tea lover in your life. 

Thank you for joining me for a cup of tea and a tea time craft. I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com 

Tales From The Tea Shop- Prince Charles and The Christmas Miracle

A few weeks ago I had a customer in my shop who was visiting from Toronto. We chatted about tea as she made her selections and picked up souvenirs to bring back to friends. About 15 minutes into our exchange she asked me to pull down the Prince Charles Blend and to measure her out 8 oz. I did as she asked and as I did the scent of the tea filled the area where we were standing and my customer, took a deep breath.

"I will always remember my first cup of Prince Charles Tea, It was December, and I was in the Park Royal North location, busy trying to get all the Christmas shopping done, I was frustrated, I was hungry and thirsty and at my wits end. I stopped in to Murchie's and got a pastry and a cup of tea, the lady behind the counter made my tea and as I sat there sipping the tea and eating my pastry, a wave of calm and peace washed over me. It was a true Christmas miracle, in that moment all the stress just washed away"

I smiled at her and told her how much I loved that story and I asked if I could write it down and share, she said absolutely. She also mentioned that she had not thought of that moment for quite some time.

She said "I so miss Murchie's Tea when I am home in Toronto"  and I reminded her that we will ship to her as well, she smiled and took our card. As she left, she turned and took one last look at the tea shop, breathed deeply and then left.  I was thrilled to have had her in the store, and this memory to share.

Thank you for joining me here for a cup of tea and another Tale from the Tea Shop...
I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Tales From The Tea Shop- No.10 and Family History

I had a customer late one evening last week, she came in and said "There you are Baby Girl!" I smiled, I did not know this lady but she felt she knew me, she continued "Baby Girl I need some tea, I am sorry about my speech I have had several strokes"

As she walked around the shop, she began to speak and she said "The tea I need has a number in it",  and I got down the No. 10 tea and invited her to smell to make sure I had the right one, in  helping  her to get her No. 10 tea, she seemed to relax, and then she looked at me and said "My Mamma and Daddy met because of one of Mr. Murchie's sons, we always had this tea in our house growing up."

I began to measure out her tea and she continued.   "My Daddy and one of Mr. Murchie's sons used to deliver tea around Victoria, and one night Mr. Murchie's Son said to my Daddy, let's go out tonight, it is time you found a lady like mine." She smiled and said "My Daddy agreed only if Mr. Murchie's son, found a lady to go out with him. Mr. Murchie's son asked my Momma to come with them and his lady friend, and that is how my Momma and Daddy came to be"

I finished measuring out her purchases and rang her up with a smile. "Well Baby Girl" she said, "Thank you for this!" and she turned and left the store.

There is magic in each cup of tea and it brings me such joy to share that magic with others. Thank you for taking time to join me today for more Tales From The Tea Shop.
I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Tales From The Tea Shop...The Magic of Scent Memory,

Welcome to Tales From The Tea Shop...
I have begun collecting stories from my customers, in the Tea Shop and wanted to share them with you. I believe there is Magic in the tea shop and some of that Magic is what I wish to share with all of you.  Above is a photo I took in the shop on Halloween.  For those of you who may be new to my blog, I work at a Tea Shop called Murchie's and I love it.  I love the atmosphere, the customers and the location. Here is just a bit of why....

In the absence of memory recall, desire and scent memory are stronger than dementia.....

On Monday afternoon at the Tea Shop, I had a lull in customers, I was tidying and straightening the shop, when the automatic button to the front door was pushed, the door chimed signalling the arrival of a new customer. I greeted the lady as she struggled with her walker to come through the door. Over the threshold she came, unsteadily into the shop. She took a deep breath and smiled. I welcomed her and offered her a sip of one of the two teas we had on sample. She lowered the seat on her walker and made herself comfortable as I presented her with the sample cup.

"I don't know if you can help me, but my memory is not kind and I have the beginning stages of dementia. I was just moved to an assisted living facility and I am not sure how much longer I will be able to come out on my own, I nodded gently to her and offered any help I could give her.
" I am desperately searching for a tea I had as a young woman, I don't remember the name of it, but I think it is grown on a high mountain and I would love to find that tea again."
I told her how I loved a challenge and asked her to make herself comfortable while I brought over some of our tea tins. I was determined to find her the tea she was looking for.
I started with our Ceylon Tea, bringing it to her and with shaking hands she reached for the tea tin, inhaled and shook her head, "No that is not it",
I then went for our Keemun tea, presented her the tin and again she accepted it, took a deep breath and shook her head, "Not it either but I think closer some how."

Undeterred I had an idea and grabbed our Murchie's Afternoon Blend, I passed her the tea tin and again she accepted it, took a deep breath and looked at me, "This is not it but I think it is in here!" She smiled then said " Oh is this pointless?" I assured her it was not and picked the fourth and final tin from the shelf confident that had found her tea. I presented her with our Darjeeling Finest Tea Tin, again we repeated our now set routine, She took a deep breath, and then another, this time she looked at me with tears in her eyes and said "That's it!"
She began to tell me her story with a tear escaping from her now sparkling eyes. "My mother took me when I was quite a young girl to a very Fancy Tea Store like this, I was so impressed that they new my mother by name and my mother and I sat and had tea, she ordered me this tea and I felt quite grown up, until I tried to add milk to my cup and my mother corrected me! She was adamant that I have the tea without the milk, she said 'You will lose the flavor of this beautiful tea leaf!' So I have drank my tea black all these years. What is this tea called please?"

I told her it was our Darjeeling Finest Blend Tea and she said "Now I remember, Darjeeling!"
"I would like to buy some of this tea, I don't have a kitchen anymore but I do have a kettle and pot in my room, the tea they have is dreadful."
I went to our tea wall and pulled the sampler pack of 10 down for her and brought it to our counter. She fussed with her purse and then paused, "Oh no, I just realized a tea like this is going to be very expensive! I assured her she had nothing to worry about and that our sampler packages of 10 were $4.75, she was more than thrilled and took out her purse to count out her money. When the purchase was rung through and the deal complete I offered her a bag for her tea and she responded by saying "No dear thank you, I should like to hold this close, in my own hands. She thanked me for my help and as she made her way to the door, she turned, smiled and said, "Thank you, you have made me very happy, I am going to go now and fix myself a proper pot of tea"

She was one of many customers I had that day, but one that stuck out for me as a true gem. There is magic in this tea shop, I watched as the very sent of our Darjeeling tea transformed my aging customer, into a young woman, through the sent of the tea, she was transported back to a happier time, one she could vividly share and remember. This touched me, in a way that will stay with me and I hope you. Her memory might be going but her sent memory is strong, and now with each sip of her tea, it lives again.

Thank you for joining me here for a cup of tea and a tale from the tea shop. I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com