Looking out my window.
It was so cold here yesterday that I only got to take a short little walk. It was 0*F when I went out to gather eggs at the coop and go walking. I was dressed for it and never felt cold except for my face. I wear a wool Buff neck gator which really helps, but you still have to see and the cold makes my eyes blink and blink to keep them from freezing. Going back to the house, I hung up my cold and wet things and decided to make a hot cup of green Kukicha tea and spend some time sitting in the sunny south-facing window with my embroidery. It really was a beautiful, clear day, but it was deceivingly cold. I sat on the floor because the sun was low and so I made my chair into a little table to set my things on. It was nice to feel the warm sun on my skin and to have the sun shining in my eyes. The light was terrific for embroidery.
About the tea....I've started leaving off my afternoon cup of coffee for tea. I really, really love coffee, but it gives me the jitters and if I drink it too late in the afternoon, I have trouble falling asleep. And I really do like my sleep. I picked up Blueberry Green Kukicha Tea at the health food store on a whim. I opened the tin and smelled it and was convinced I'd like it from aroma alone. And I was right! When I got home I steeped a cup and since I really didn't know what kukicha was, decided to Google it and see. Kukicha, also called twig tea, is a Japanese tea made of the stems and veins of the tea plant. It was considered "peasant tea" because the leaves were always the money-maker for their tea sales and not so much the stems and veins so tea growers kept those for their own tea making. As it turned out, the twig tea has an even greater nutritional value than the green tea leaves and a lovely, nutty, creamy taste. Add in the dried blueberries that my tea has and you've got a real winner. I'm also happy that I can steep the tea 2-3 times. It is said that Kukicha has 6 times more calcium per cup than a cup of milk, and not only that, it's loaded with minerals, has twice the vitamin C of an orange and contains A, E, and B vitamins. It is almost caffeine free since it has less than 90% of the caffeine in a cup of coffee. If you'd like to read about Kukicha's many health benefits, click here and here. I'm so glad I found this satisfying and nutritious dense beverage. I hope you try it.
Last night's low temperature here was -20* F and this morning we woke up to -14*, but it's warming up now already to 9* and climbing.
The tea sounds good! I don't mind the cold TOO much when it is sunny but it is sooo gray here today. Stay warm!
ReplyDeleteBrrrrrrr. I know what you mean about coffee in the afternoon. We used to be able to do it and drop into bed exhausted. Now not so much. I can't keep up with my teas. I must have more tea time. Your stitchy, get warm in the sun, time sounds like heaven!
ReplyDeleteIt looks so cold out your way!! Good thing you have delicious tea to keep you warm.
ReplyDeleteWhoa! That is cold. That tea sounds so interesting. I'll have to check it out. Stay warm and cozy.
ReplyDeleteThat tea sounds like something worth trying! I love that it was "peasant" tea and yet it had all the good stuff in it! lol! You're more limber than I if you can sit on the floor for long periods of time. Ha! :) But it sounds like a pleasant afternoon with your embroidery.
ReplyDeleteOh that sounds good. I can only have two cups of coffee before ten, three on weekends. If I have it after ten I can't sleep. In the evening I have tea or cocoa. Once in awhile warm milk. Your tea sounds wonderful. It was nice learning about kukicha. While sick somebody gave me lung tea. It has lots of twigs I couldn't identify. It worked a little. Good luck with the embroidery. I can't wait to see the finished product.
ReplyDeleteTwig Tea has always sounded a little lean for me, but you make it sound worth trying. It seems that you manage to have the best winter days, engaging with the cold and the snow and the challenging environment, then cozying up with tea and embroidery and the lovely view. XO
ReplyDeleteThat tea sounds powerful and exciting! I will look for it. We only have one health food store, and it's about 45 minutes away, so I don't go there often. Your weather does sound bitter. We also got snow last night, about 2" or so, which is unusual for us here, and this is our second snow storm this month. Now i must bundle up and go feed chickens. Brr! Stay warm!
ReplyDeleteYour winter scene looks so beautiful Jody -- I can only imagine how bitter cold it must be on the prairie. It's been awfully cold here too. It was 0F the other morning on the way to work and 20F on the way home. I thought the afternoon felt MUCH colder though -- I think the humidity was up and there was a breeze. Brrrr -- take me back to 0, no breeze and dry! Happy Winter and tea-drinking!!!
ReplyDeleteOh, so cold, cold, cold and lovely inside and out! I have never heard of that tea, Jody. I'll look into it. Thanks. :)
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