Something about best laid plans and the future...

Dearest readers and faithful followers of this blog, how is it June already? I apologize yet again for the length between posts. This new normal of covid-19, still has my world a tad sideways, though thankfully no longer totally upside down.

 I have both good and disappointing news to share with you. I will start with the disappointing news, that like a million other Canadians, in March I lost my job in the beloved tea shop, at the time I had hoped that it was temporary, but I learned last week that due to a few circumstances out of my control  I wont be returning to Murchie's Tea full time. I am disappointed but understand and appreciate everything the Murchie's Tea Company has done for me and continues to do for me. My hope is that perhaps I can return in some capacity in the future. I am currently freed up to continue with helping my two kids at home with their school work as I have done for the last 10 weeks.  On the same day that I learned that I wont be returning to the tea store, I took a leap of faith and am starting to turn one of my long term dreams into reality.

I purchased a 12 foot vintage trailer and this is going to become my long dreamed of tea shop and tea room on wheels. I have been planing and dreaming of doing this for many years and the opportunity from finding the trailer, to the price and condition and even finding an affordable parking spot, all came together. 

Over the next several months, and while I am looking for full time work, with the help of some amazing friends I have gathered for my team, I will be making small changes on the inside of the trailer and some major paint changes on the outside of the trailer. I spent my Saturday morning diligently creating some themed items for my trailer....

 Oddly enough, I purchased my mugs, cups and saucers at our Dollarama store, and then found the perfect teapot at my local thrift store that just opened and I paid $4.99. Using my Cricut Joy machine I was able to personalize them to suit the trailer perfectly...

The enthusiasm for this project I have found is becoming contagious and I am grateful for my friends who have jumpped on board to help make this dream a reality.
Much work to be done but a good time frame to work on it, and the planing and putting the work in is even something my 12 year old is thrilled about.

The plan is to transform this trailer into a food cart, store and tea room on wheels, with attention to working on catering events and parties, ladies nights and farmers markets. I am truly excited to share this part of my journey with you all today. 
While I have no idea what is around the corner, I take comfort in the fact that I am able to work towards putting something that has been a dream of mine into a tangible reality.
So up next, pick a name for it, change the glass on two windows, and a paint job...then a crash course towing it with my VWBug...

Thank you for joining me today for a cup of tea and catch up, I hope to have more to share with you again soon, now that I have found my misplaced kindle and charger, perhaps I can get back to reading, then there is sewing, crafting and oh yes updating my resume.
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 

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

Karen's Snowflake Shortbread

I love to bake. Shortbread is one cookie I learned to make and store in logs of batter in my fridge so that when someone stops by I can pull it out and slice and bake some while the kettle boils. This year I decided to add one of my new favorite holiday teas that we have at Murchie's to my dough and the result is spectacular.

In order to make these shortbread I had to pull out my coffee grinder give it a good wipe down and added 1 tsp of the Snowflake tea, (You can use any loose leaf tea you think would pair nicely, such as an Earl Grey Tea, just make sure you grind the tea leaves finely). Our Snowflake tea has coconut and Almond with black tea and is on its own quiet something to sip, I paired a pot of the tea to go with the shortbread and it was to die for!

Here is the recipe:
1 cup of softened butter
1/2 cup of icing sugar
1 1/2 cups of flour
1 tsp of  loose leaf tea of your choice (mine was Snowflake from Murchie's) ground finely

In a mixer place your butter and whip it until it is light and very soft, add your icing sugar and continue to whip it to combine. Slowly add your flour 1/2 cup at a time, making sure to check that it is absorbing into the butter before you add more.  Final step is grind your tea leaves, add them to your batter. Mix together until it is all incorporated.

Tear off some parchment the size of your cookie sheet and place it on the counter, spoon half the dough onto the parchment paper and log roll it, I form mine into more of a square and mold it with the paper as I go. Repeat on the remaining dough. Place them in the fridge to harden up for at least two hours.

When you wish to bake them, preheat your oven to about 350 pull out one log at a time and slice the cookies to your desired thickness, I did mine 1/2 inch thick.
Place them on a lined baking sheet and bake until the edges start to turn a light golden brown. Cool slightly and then place them on a pretty plate and make yourself a cup of tea in a beautiful cup and enjoy!

Think you might like to try Murchie's Snowflake Tea? Click here for the Murchie's Website. 

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