Tea Review: Octavia Oolong

Thirsty Thursday #10

Octavia Tea

Eight Immortals Dancong

Hi! A friend asked about oolong tea so I thought I'd try to find the best one to send her.

I always call this one Eight Immortals Dancing. I know that's not the actual name. It's really dancong; which is pronounced dan-tsong.

The back of this package is clear so you can see the lovely leaves. These leaves are from a hundred-year old tea tree. Isn't that cool!

The description says, "This classic dancong offers a creamy, velvety texture with generous notes of warm, buttery cinnamon buns and a lingering, orange-flower-honey finish." It smells really nice.

The description also mentions this is best brewed in a Chinese guywan. Since we don't have one of those I'm going to use our Tokyo teapot instead.

I've put 2 tablespoons of leaves in the infuser. The instructions say 1 tablespoon for each 8 ounces of water. The post holds 15 ounces.

Xyra has poured the water over the leaves and I am setting the timer for 4 minutes. That's just between the 3 and 5 mentioned.

While it steeps I've collected three cups for tasting.

[Timer beeps]

Look at the beautiful color.

I can smell the orangey flowery part.

This first sip is plain. I actually prefer oolong tea plain; depending on the blend it is the best way to enjoy all the flavors and aromas. I'm not getting the cinnamon buns, but am getting the flowery part.

I added sugar for my second taste. (The photo for that is terrible so I'm leaving it out.) Not bad. Kind of enhances the honey part.

Now with sugar and milk. Um, no. It's not horrible. You do get a creaminess, but it is smoother without.

Here you can see how the size of your teacup can influence the color of the tea. Xyra's mug is a deeper amber.

Now here is something neat. check out how the leaves unfold after steeping.
Cool, right?

Octavia Tea's Eight Immortals Dancing, oh, I mean, Dancong (giggles) is a very tasty tea. Smooth. Makes you sigh after a sip. We save this for special days.

Do you have a favorite oolong? What is it?

So glad you stopped. Come again soon!

#OctaviaTea

#TeaNerd

Note: Tea Time with Melody Q is not affiliated with American Girl, Octavia Tea, or The Tea Nerd. The tea reviewed was purchased for our collection with our own money. The review was unsolicited and comprised of our own thoughts and opinions and words.  Links are provided for educational and informative purposes; no purchase is required or suggested to enjoy the post. Should you be inspired to larn more or try it for yourself, the links will help point you in the right direction. 

Green Thumb Endeavors Update 2

Good Things Happen When You Water

Earlier this month I showed you what happens when a groundhog visits. It was kind of sad, but after some watering and care a few of the plants started coming back. So I came up with a plan. 

We moved the little pots that showed promise to a higher part of the porch. Then I found something to use as a fence.

Oh, hey! This is our tomato plant; the one we started from seeds. Looks good, right? I'm hoping the cage will keep it safe.

[Sixteen Days Pass]

Return to the Porch

We've, well, Lea and I, have been watering almost everyday. Check it out! We have lettuce and petunias again!

They're small, but it has been really, really hot and humid. And dry! 

Monday and Tuesday were the first days of rain we've had in weeks.

How has the weather been where you are?

See you again soon!

Page Update 2016

Blogs We Visit

Grace, Lanie, Lea, Melody, 2 or more

Doing Research

Okay, I've got the list.
I've got a laptop.
Me too.
I'm ready to take notes.

Working Outside

Okay, so here's the plan. We visit each link and if there is a post this year it stays. Posts in 2015 get moved to another part of the page. 2014 and earlier get deleted.

Really?
Yeah, that makes sense.
Not founds are immediately.
Right! Let's get started.

[Melody and Lanie report on links]

I think we have Sabine on the list twice.
You're right. I'll keep the link with the current title.
Another duplicate...and inactive too.
It's sad to say goodbye to these.

Yeah, but blogs are always coming and going.
True.
And some writers get burned out.
Others have life changes that take more time.
New ones pop up too.
Yes, it's fun to see new ones; but also great to visit with old friends.
Don't forget to switch Bess to wordpress.
Got it.
And add Dolls of Texas.
Got that too.

We also have to add Clara, Faking it, Happy House, My Journey, and Small Dolls.
Done!

[More searching, typing, writing]

Done!
Awesome!
Only took 6 months.
(laughing)

When you have a chance check out the updated page. If you know we follow you and don't see your blog on the list, please forgive us and leave a comment below.

Best wishes,

New Glasses 2016

New Glasses are Fun

I got new glasses! Aren't they great?!

I love how they blend in more, you know, not quite so obvious.

Plus look at the awesome pink and purple design on the arms.

They're not quite as delicate at my "chocolate glasses" are, but still aren't as strong as my rectangle glasses were. (sighs)

Do you wear glasses? Do you like choosing a new style when it's time to get new ones?

Best wishes,

Note: Tea Time with Melody Q is not affiliated with American Girl. Items featured on this blog have been purchased for our collection.  All links are provided for information purposes only; no purchase is required or suggested. 

The Great Doll Blog Award

The Great Doll Bog Award

Back in May Treasured Friendships with a Flair nominated Tea Time with Melody Q for The Great Doll Blog award. We were very flattered. It's always nice to know your followers enjoy reading your posts and appreciate the work that goes into it. We are finally catching up (sort of) and wanted to take a few minutes to get it done and pass it along.

Thank you Christian H. for nominating us!

Rules

• Thank the person who nominated you.
• Answer the questions given to you.
• Nominate five (5) others who you think have great doll blogs.
• Notify them that they have an award.
• Leave them five (5) new questions to answer.

Questions for Us

1. What is one of your favorite things you've ever made for your dolls?

Our Camp Doll Diaries 2013 cabin.

2. What are your top two favorite doll brands?

American Girl and LORI

3. What is your favorite doll related activity?

Designing new outfits from our current wardrobe and photo shoots.

Book and tea reviews are favorites.

4. What inspired you to start a doll blog?

A dear friend's niece's doll blog.

5. Which do you enjoy more: writing for your blog or taking pictures for your blog?

It's a tie; I enjoy doing both. Sometimes conditions makes taking pictures 

extra challenging though. Then it's definitely the writing. :-D

Nominees

American Girl #1 Fans
AG Doll Play
American Girl Place
A Teenager's Dollhouse
The Fellowship of the Dolls

Questions for Our Nominees

1. What is your favorite doll find?
2. Have you decorated rooms for your dolls?
3. Of your many dolls; who is your go to when you need to put together a quick post and photo shoot?
4. Do you plan and schedule your posts?
5. What is your favorite doll food?

Thank you, again, Christian H.! (CH, Feel free to answer our questions in the comments section. ;-) )


Best wishes,

Humble Beginnings Plus

Once Upon a Time

Grace, Haley, Kaya, Kirsten, Lanie, Lea, Melody, Xyra, all

Have you ever found something interesting while reorganizing and wanted to share it?
We debated saving this for January 8, 2017 to celebrate our 4th Blogiversary...
But it was too fun not to share now.

In a Living Room Not So Far Away

If you've read my bio you know that I arrived around the turn of the century. Not Samantha's, but 2000 or 2001 if you're a purist. Well, Xyra and Franz got their first digital camera in 2006 and Xyra decided to practice with it. "Lightbulb!" Catalog my belongings. Don't forget I was an only until 2009. Here are the first few pages of the experiment.

She didn't have the layout quite where she wanted it, but worked with it.

The outfit photo is on back of the page with the description.

So here you see the Urban Outfit next to the Mod Outfit description.

In 2013, Xyra read her first blog and liked it a lot. "Lightbulb!" Start a blog and share these photos with the community. 
We've gone from seasonal shifts in attire to almost daily. (giggles) We hope to continue for a long time.
Isn't this a fun memory?

Now More Fun

Writing a blog uses creativity, grammar, spelling, words, punctuation, etc. That brings us to...

The Text Tag

Back in May Kara from Doll World tagged us with this survey.
Thank you, Kara!
It seems fitting to end today's post with it.

Rules

• Thank the person who tagged you and link back to them.
• Answer the original six (6) text-themed questions.
• Add a typographical/word related question of your own for those you tag to answer. [You'll answer a total of seven (7) questions. The last one is always changing.]
• Tag 6 bloggers and notify them that you tagged them.
• Include these rules in your post

Six Original Questions+1/-1

1. What is your favorite letter of the alphabet? 

X (giggles)

2. What are three words that you love? 

adamant, un-pernicious, meow

3. What are three words that you hate? 

Hmmm, we don't really dislike any words. 

Except for the nasty ones we won't use. 

We won't write them out either.

4. If you could create a word, what would it be and what is it's definition? 

akindakkan; it's another way to say "okay." (giggles)

5. What are you three favorite punctuation marks? 

! ; ?

6. What are your three favorite fonts?

7. (For Us) What word do you often misspell? 

occasion

7. (From Us) What is your favorite part of speech? Break out your "Grammar Rock." (giggles)

NonWord Related Question
Has anyone ever done a photo shoot of you? Yes, but not published in a magazine or online. My senior class photo session with a photographer other than the school provided one.

Our Tags

Say Hello to My Little Friends
Treasured Friendships with a Flair
Lunaville Dolls
Spreading My Joy
Faking it Mostly
The Doll Wardrobe

Best wishes!