Fun Friday: Hamsters Plus

More Pet Love

And a Bit of a Review

Hello, everyone! Lea here hoping you are having a lovely Friday! It's March first and the first Friday of March, so there are a ton of cool days being celebrated like National Doodle Day, National Horse Protection Day, National Pig Day, National Fruit compote Day, Share a Smile Day, and World Compliment Day. By the way reader; thank you for stopping by you are a wonderful person. Keep up the good work. And it's the start of quite a few interesting awareness month themes. Our favorites on the list are Adopt-A-Rescued Guinea Pig Month, International Rescue Cat Awareness Month, Music in Our Schools Month, National Crochet Month, Youth Art Month. ANYWAY! The other day Grace introduced you to Heather our little hedgehog and on July 2 you met our first hamster, Fluffles. Today I'm here to introduce you to our newest hamster.

Heather and Rascal are helping. Heather is so funny the way she toddles around. See if you can spot her throughout the post.

So here are Fluffles, on the right, and Trixie, on the left.

Here's a closer look.

This is Fluffles home. I took her wheel and food dish out.

This is Trixie in her wheel. Trixie's habitat is identical to Heather's. We're still introducing the two so separate cages for now.

Fluffles will run then rest in her wheel. Trixie rarely sits. (giggles) Heather doesn't know what to do about those wheels. 

They are super cute and like each other. 

Cutie pattooties!

Both like to climb up my arm.

And sit on my shoulder.

They play with Rascal too, but we watch them closely. No unsupervised visits!

Time to go back in your houses.

Aren't they cute?

Xyra's Notes

• Fluffles is the American Girl Hamster. The set comes with a hamster, wheel, food dish, water bottle, cage, and care book. The hamster flocked or fuzzy. Her food dish is square and looks full with food. Fluffles' habitat has a textured floor to imitate the shredded paper or wood chip bedding (I added the actual shredded paper). There is space inside for the wheel and food dish, but no hiding spot. It is small and there is another flaw...no vents!
• Trixie is from the My Life As Small Animal Play Set. She is molded resin. The food dish from this set is round and there is picture of food at the bottom. The cage has a picture of wood chips in the bottom and fits the little house, the tunnel, and food dish. It is bigger and has a "wire" upper.
• Both sets are cute. Check the photos.

Great Aunt Lanie's Recovery Party Plate

Last week Great Aunt Lanie fell and broker her wrist. She had surgery on Monday. Xyra and I took over some tasty treats for a visit. 

We have, going clockwise: a kale superfood salad; cheese puffs; turkey and swiss with mixed greens and mayonnaise; herbed cucumber on wheat; ham and Swiss on rye with mixed greens, tomatoes and dijon mustard; and ham and Swiss on rye with mixed greens, cucumbers, and yellow mustard.

It was super tasty! I forgot to get a picture of dessert: banana bread with strawberries and mandarin orange slices on the side.

Tchau!

Note: Tea Time with Melody Q is not affiliated with American Girl or My Life As. The sets featured in this post were gifted to our collection. The review is unsolicited and comprised of our own observations, opinions, thoughts and words. All links are provided for educational and informative purposes. TTwMQ does not receive funding from links clicked and no purchase is required or suggested to enjoy the post.

Meatloaf's New Jacket

Makes a Great Bed

[Meatloaf wanders over, drops bone, snorts]
Meatloaf, what's the matter?

[Stops short] (giggles) Oh, you found Heather! 

(whines)
I guess she wanted a soft place to nap.
(whines)

Okay. Okay. I'll put her back into her house.
(sniffs)

Come on, Heather. Time to go back in your little house. Let Meatloaf have his new jacket.

(ro-oh!) [wags tail]
There you go. Get a snack.

Come here, Meatloaf. Let's try this on. Oh, you look very handsome! 

It's a little big, but looks toasty.

(Woof!) [wags tail]

Isn't our little hedger a cutie! She's a sweet addition to our four-footed family. Meatloaf isn't used to her yet. (giggles) Do you have any unusual pets? What is it/are they?

Xyra Notes

• Heather, the hedgehog, and her house are part of the My Life As Small Pet Play Set. The set also includes a hamster, exercise wheel, teeter-totter, and food. We hope to introduce the hamster later; she's the same size as the hedgehog so some creativity needs to be employed. 😉
• Meatloaf's new jacket and bone Ruff & Ready Pet Outfit. The button really works, but mainly Velcro closure.
• Grace's mittens by Dressing Dollies purchased at Lydia's Guild Craft Show in November.

Á bientôt!

Note: Tea Time with Melody Q is not affiliated with American Girl, My Life As, or Dressing Dollies. All items featured were gifted to or purchased for our collection. Links are provided for educational and informative purposes; no funding is received for links clicked. No purchase is required or suggested to enjoy the post.

Snow Day Feb 20

Lovely Afternoon

Hello! Grace on the scene today and reporting on yesterday. Yesterday, ah, beautiful yesterday! We had a winter storm come through. It wasn't super severe, but enough snow fell that Xyra was able to leave work early.

One of the things I love most about winter storms is the hush that falls over everything. You step outside and it's so quite you can hear the snowflakes fall on the ground.

Another beautiful thing about snow storms is how the fresh snow squeaks a little or crunches as you walk on it. 

Xyra is funny. If she walks out in the snow, like to get the mail, on her return trip she tries to put her feet back in her footprints so there is only one trail.

I think we had about 4 inches fall, but it changed to freezing rain then rain, so I don't have an accurate measure.

A lot of times we'll play games or watch movies on a snow day. You know, while it's still coming down. But yesterday, we ended up watching a Property Brothers Buying & Selling marathon. Drew is my favorite. Lea likes Jonathan more. What do you usually do on a snow day?

Yesterday was also National Love Your Pet Day, so you know our crew got some extra hugs and treats. We have a couple new little ones to introduce you too, but you'll have to come back another day to see them. (giggles) You won't regret it. Sooooo cute!

À bientôt!

Note: Tea Time with Melody Q is not affiliated with American Girl, HGTV, or The Property Brothers. All links provided are for educational and informative purposes; the blog receives no funding if a link is clicked.

#SnowDay

Tea Review: Sipology Limoncello

Tea for Tuesday #18

Sipology Limoncello Tea from Steeped Tea

Hey! Kaya here getting back to our roots of enjoying a good cup of tea with you, our followers and friends. Have you ever been to a Tupperware party or Thirty-One or Pampered Chef? Well, now there is also company that introduces you to all sorts of teas in the same way. It's called Steeped Tea. Xyra was invited to an online party this past fall and ordered three blends. The consultant, Jamie Zimmerman, was very nice and helpful in answering questions.

Today I'm going to show and review the Sipology Limoncello White Tea. 

It's an "ultimate sip." (giggles) "White in shining armor." Remember white tea is hand picked before the plant's leaves open. It is minimally processed and very delicate. 

(Inhales deeply) 

Oh. Yum! It smells wonderful. Quite fruity and creamy. Like a citrus creamsicle.

Take a look; you can see all the ingredients. 

The limoncello white tea blend has "white tea, orange slices, lime slices, calendula petals, and natural flavors." 

All the details for brewing are on the back. Scoop one and a half teaspoons of tea into your favorite infuser. Pour hot water over the tea and let it steep for 4 or 5 minutes. This one says the leaves may be re-steeped up to 3 times. Let's go to it!

Here I have the tea in our clear pot.

Xyra has poured the water and we get to watch the leaves dance.

[Timer beeps]
Done. See the delicate color of the tea. It's not a deep amber like most black teas, and not yellow-green like green teas. But a lovely light gold.

From the top you can see the unfurled leaves and take in the wonderful citrus aroma.

Seems we need a bigger cup. (giggles)

I have three cups ready to go. Let's taste.

The first is plain. Just the limoncello tea with no sweetener. (sips)

It's fresh and bright and lemony!

The second sip has regular table sugar.  (sips)

The sugar does soften the edge of the citrus.

The third sip has honey.  (sips)

Okay, that is nice, but reminds me, well, of the tea we drink when we're not feeling well. 

I rate this one with 4 out of 5 stars. 

Why not a five? Well, I think if you over steep this one there is no way to fix the sharp and sour flavor of the citrus; so you'll have to start over. 

Xyra's Notes

• I like this piping hot or cold; the lukewarm in between is not as pleasant.
• I have tried re-steeping and, as the bag instructs, 3 is the perfect number. 4 makes a very weak cup.
• A lovely, refreshing blend if you like citrus teas. If not, this blend is not for you.

Thanks for stopping and having a cup with us today! 

Happy sipping!

Note: Tea Time with Melody Q is not affiliated with American Girl, Sipology, Steeped Tea, or Jamie Zimmerman (other than she is our consultant). The tea reviewed was purchased for our collection with our own funds. The review is unsolicited and comprised of our own opinions, thoughts, and words. Links are provided for educational and informative purposes. No purchase is required or suggested to enjoy the post. Should you be interested in learning more about Steeped Tea, the links will help point you in the right direction. Tea Time with Melody Q does not receive any funding if you click the links.

#TeaTimewithJamie

@TeaTimewithJamie

#SipologyJamieZimmerman

#SteepedTeaConsultantJamieZimmerman