Thursday, January 10, 2008

Would You Like a Storm with That Tea?

The hub made it home safely from China last night with more Chinese gifts in tow. The Chinese seem to be the most generous people. He and his coworker were given these beautiful tea trays and yixling tea pot. (If you click on the link where the tray is from, you will be able to listen to some soothing Chinese music but won't be able to get the English translation. It's worth clicking!) This tray has a slide underneath where all the access water goes. Too cool.

I have been looking around the internet trying to learn this new way of serving tea. It's absolutely fascinating. From what I gather, the "style" or custom with the yixling tea pots is called Kung Fu. While I did have my "tea" this morning, I only had it about half right. Still, it was really fun and the tea is amazing. The hub found a nice box of oolong that contains these tiny little packages.

Since I didn't have any small cups, I used my demitasse that I picked up in Bremen, Germany last year. It was perfect. I had several pots all by my lonesome and when the kid arrived home, I even made him a pot.

While surfing, I even found a video. While this video washes and washes and washes the cups and pot, more sites say to only wash the pot and cups with the boiling water once, then add the tea and rinse the tea and cups and then you are set to drink the third pot. Isn't it captivating?

This is what the leaves look like after they have brewed several pots! Wow!

After about my third pot (mind you, these are tiny pots), we had some terrible storms roll through. I even took the cats to the basement while mom and I sat in her living room (that is all underground) for about an hour. The kids were in lock-down mode at dismissal time and they had to wait an extra 45 minutes until they released them. We had tornado warnings for about an hour all around us. Thank goodness, I don't think any actually touched down; but the rain was torrential. These pictures are taken about half an hour after the storms came through. (Sorry about the blurr at the top. Bet you don't miss this Dianne!) The ponds were completely overflowing as were the streets!

My brother Johnny continues to make a little more progress. His blood pressure was better today; and although he still had a temperature, it was mild. His nurse says he is still asleep 99% of the time but acknowledges her when she says his name. I keep thinking about going up but think I will wait until he is alert and perhaps I can help him along at that point. I am playing it by ear day by day. I have coverage set up for mom in case I need to fly up this weekend as the hub and boys are heading North for Ukrainian Christmas. I am staying home to watch over mom. As I've said before, I don't I feel comfortable leaving her alone overnight any longer.

Again, thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers. It's working!!

9 comments:

Carole Burant said...

That video was so interesting...talk about a long process for so little tea! lol I love how the Chinese put so much meaning into everything they do, though. How wonderful that your hubby brought home those gifts...wish I could come over to share some of that tea with you:-) Oh dear, I'm so glad that no tornadoes touched down in your area...we had some of those winds but nothing like you all had over there! May your brother continue to do better every day!! xoxo

Shelley said...

I LOVE those trays...and tea. Lucky you. I heard about storms across the heartland and wondered if Tennessee was included. Now I know. I love storms..because I take photos of them..even baaaad ones.

Glad you're safe and dry.

Linda said...

Isn't that whole tea ceremony fascinating. I like all of the tradition and ceremony but I usually just use my own boring tea bags.

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

The Chinese tea must be very tasty and delicate! A wonderful gift...

What a storm! I love torrential rain. It's good to know that the tornados didn't reach you...

May your brother get better soon!

Cheers,

Rosa

Anonymous said...

My goodness! Quite the cool ceremony but I can't help but wonder........Are they trying to wash off lead paint????
XXOO ~ Amy

Janet said...

I had to chuckle at that last comment about the lead paint! The Chinese seem to go through such ceremony over the importance of a cup of tea. I'm just your plain old tea bag kind of gal! Get it to me hot and quick and sweet!! I guess I have no grace.

Anonymous said...

Even though the video is quite facinating, I for one would be quite out of the notion for tea by the time I got a sip...LOL!

I'm glad you were safe in the storms.

Continued prayers for your brother!

Peggy said...

I am still enjoying the flowering tea you sent me in a swap. I don't want to use them up too fast as they are beautiful as well as delightful tasting. I love your tea tray! Glad to hear your brother is doing better. Have a great weekend with your mom

Anonymous said...

The tea things are so lovely -- I adore tea, and my favorite tea things are ones I received from Japanese people when we visited. I think they are as attuned to gift-presentation as the Chinese! Certainly close -- you need an extra suitcase.

I'm slowly but surely working on removing Christmas...you are not alone...!!!

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