Tea in January

HAPPY NEW YEAR, FRIENDS!

I hope this post finds everyone healthy and happy in 2012.   Considering that my last post was in October, I'd love to show and tell you tales of all the stitching that has been happening since then, but sadly, I haven't even made enough progress on Pinecones since then to share an update.  In December, hubby and I took a quick 3 day trip to Columbus OH to see Andrea Bocelli in concert (swoon) and cruise the Winter Fest fabulous art festival.  While I didn't snag anything worth bragging about, I always enjoy walking the aisles and aisles of beautiful hand crafted wares.  We also darted away for another three day trip to visit family in NC.  The rest of the year was just a blur. 

Today is the official Packing-away-of-all-remnants-of-Christmas Day at my house.  I hate to put away the dishes and nativity.  They are always the last to go.  Just to prolong it a bit, I'm blogging about it whilst enjoying a cup of very special tea.  I've never tasted a tea exactly like it except for the first time I enjoyed it back in May.  It is one of the signature teas served at the historic Caffe Florian on the magnificent St. Mark's plaza in magical Venice, Italy. 

(Warning:  memory lane straight ahead)

Setting:  St. Mark's Plaza, Venice Italy
Circa:  May, 2011
Subject:  Taking tea with hubby

For starters, hubby doesn't drink tea.  So, everytime we visit a place with a tea room of particular note, he knows he will be persuaded to join me for the 'experience', as he calls it.  He's a great sport and even acts like he doesn't mind (plus they sell Coke everywhere).

salmon quiche and aperitif for me, club sandwich and Coke for hubby

Since it was late afternoon and we were quite hungry, we skipped the scones and went straight for the heavy stuff.  After lunch, I couldn't leave until I had tried their tea.  Can't come all the way to the Caffe Florian and not have a cuppa!  You might be thinking Italy is all about espresso, which was true, except for the treasure trove of teas at the Florian.

From their marvelous tea menu, I selected one they called Te Mosaico Veneziano and it was stunningly brilliant.  A black tea with orange rind and lavender flowers.  I couldn't resist bringing home a small box of beautifully presented silk bags of this tea.  Which brings me to the present.  It may not be May and I'm definitely not sitting in the sun on the plaza of the oldest caffe in Italy listening to the orchestra, but the tea is just as brilliant as it was then.

Now, enough of that!  Back to reality and off to the packing with me.

Happy Stitching friends!