Found at Costco

Tea of the Day

Started the day off with a wonderful cup of great tasting tea - Numi Gunpowder Green Tea. I’m not sure why it is called “gunpowder” there isn’t really any in the brew. Maybe it is because of the flavor. The Numi website description: “Within hours of being plucked, this whole leaf organic green tea is gently steamed and then rolled into small tight pearls. When steeped, the leaves unfurl, releasing a well-rounded, full-bodied flavor.”

It really does have a nice flavor. Not grassy like some greens can be. Don’t over steep though or it will be bitter. I added just a little bit of sugar (less than a teaspoon) and nothing else.

Found at Costco

The other month I mentioned seeing an ad for AG Pet Travel Sets at Costco. Last week, Xyra went and found them! There were only 4 sets to choose from and of those four pets there were more Sugar and Chocolate Chip sets. Only one Honey and one Pepper in the whole bunch. And NO Meatloaf at all. L We were really hoping he’d be there.

Honey (upper left) is a golden retriever. 

According to the American Kennel Club, “The golden-colored coat is the hallmark of this versatile breed, and can range from light to dark gold.” The golden retriever is a member of the sporting group. The breed is intelligent, active, and energetic with “an eager to please” attitude. They can adapt to different living situations which make them useful as hunting companions, guides, and assistance and search and rescue dogs. They require daily exercise an regular brushing. Honey is currently available through AG website.

Chocolate Chip (top center) is a chocolate Labrador Retriever. 

Labs are the most popular breed in the U.S. They are gentle, intelligent, and family friendly. Because they have an even temperament and want to please they make great hunting companions; excel as guides for the blind, members of search and rescue teams, or as police K-9 narcotics detectors. Labs need regular exercise and grooming. Chocolate Chip was retired as an individual pet in 2012, but can still be found through the AG website in the Service Dog Set.

Sugar (upper right) is a Yorkshire terrier.

Yorkies offer big personalities in a small package. They are brave, determined, investigative and energetic. Yorkies are easily adaptable to all surroundings, travel well and make suitable pets for many homes. Due to their small size, they require limited exercise, but need daily interaction with their people. They have long, luxurious blue and tan coats that require regular brushing. Sugar was retired in 2012.

Pepper (bottom center) is a Siberian Husky.

The Siberian Husky is known for its amazing endurance and willingness to work. Its agreeable and outgoing temperament makes it a great all-around dog, suitable for anything from sledding to therapy work. Huskies have a thicker coat than most other breeds of dog - made up of a dense cashmere-like undercoat and a longer, coarse top coat - that requires weekly brushing. They need daily exercise through walks or an enclosed run. Huskies have strong predatory instincts, so should be supervised around small animals in and around the home. Currently available through AG website and catalog.

Best wishes,

Melody Q

Spring is Springing II

More from the Garden!

Lanie, Kaya, and Kirsten kind of had a fit after yesterday’s post. Especially Lanie, she said we missed a lot and wants to show you what she found out in the garden with Kaya & Kirsten. So off we go…back to the garden. Well, they went. I stayed in to find a new outfit to wear.

Lanie

Lanie ran out the door as quick as she could and right to the white ruffled tulips.

This is what they look like inside…see the ruffle? Very delicate and pretty. 

Now the really tall red tulip from yesterday looks like this inside.

Completely different, right? We were trying to figure out if we could see a face or an animal in that pattern. What do you think?

Next she went to check out the bleeding heart plant.

See how the tiny white flowers are heart shaped. You can see three branches filled with the blooms, but there are two more that are not in the picture.

Then she sat and watched a bumble bee pollinate the azalea; diligently moving from flower to flower.

It took a while to get this picture. Xyra would have the bumble all lined up and ready to click then it was off to another flower and out of the frame. Eventually we got two good shots. You can’t see it, but his legs are covered in yellow pollen.

Lanie found three more ruffled tulips. These two are right in a row. She really likes how the one shows just a hint of pink.

[Lanie is concerned about her frizzy hair, but she’s afraid to try some of the techniques we’ve seen on YouTube.]

Kirsten

Kirsten went straight to the green and white hosta.

Unfortunately, she pointed out that this is really the spot that needs the most weeding. It’s hard to keep the grass out of this section of garden.

Kaya

Kaya found the purples.

In the foreground is creeping vinca. It’s really pretty here, but spreads wildly through underground runners. To the right those long, green leaves indicate where Irises will bloom in the future. Finally, the tiny almost white looking flower is creeping phlox. It’s beautiful.

[The kitten is really doing a number on Kaya’s braids. Xyra hopes she is up to the challenge of rebraiding.]

Kaya & Kirsten

This is a great view.

You can see how the vinca is spreading through the garden. Kirsten is standing behind a corabelle plant. It will get pretty pink flowers that last a loooooonnnnnnggggggg time.

We hope you enjoyed the second installment of our garden tour.

Best wishes,

Melody Q., Kaya, Kirsten, and Lanie

Spring is Springing!

Hello, lovelies!

Happy May Day! Happy Lei Day!

Good News! I can still stand on my own! I fell once, but not bad!

Today I’m taking you on a garden tour to see just how much things have been growing around here. It’s more and more beautiful with stunning spring colors and blooms getting bigger and better and more abundant.

Remember where I was standing over by the wall near the fern shoots? Well,...now look at them and the tulip and the hosta!

These shoots are for an “Elvis Lives” hosta. Xyra found it at a garden nursery and HAD to have it. The leaves are a solid dark green and the flowers a beautiful shade of purple (gardening magazines call it blue).

Remember that tulip that was in front of Lanie? Check it out now! This section has a few very pretty white & green striped hosta. We need to get out there and do some weeding and remove “soldier” saplings.

There wasn’t much where Kaya and Kirsten were standing, but just around the corner is another story. (This is where I fell. Uneven ground is tricky.) 

This section also needs the most weeding. That plant just behind me to the left (you can see two similar plants to my right) is not bad to look at, however, it spreads like crazy through underground running roots, attracts ants, AND gets those weird, barbed seed pods that grab and stick to everything! We've been trying to get rid of these for years. Not doing too bad at it. There are fewer each year.

Anyway, the hosta (striped leaf) is lovely, the sedum (that’s the one behind me with the little green leaves) is nice & full, and that one on the right near the wall will eventually get dark purple flowers. J What I really wanted to show you from this section is that the sedum was sparkling! Check this out… 

See what looks like clear rocks? Those are rain drops that haven’t evaporated! Cool, huh?

Let’s go around to the corner of the house. 

There is another type of hosta in front of me. I can also see what will eventually become daisies (one of my favorite flowers) and these yellow tulips.

That’s it for today’s garden tour. Hope you enjoyed the view! J 

Best wishes,

Melody Q

Doll Diaries Sweepstakes

Hi!
Just a very quick post today, so sorry about that.

Hanna told me about a great giveaway/contest over at dolldiaries.com! They are giving away My Doll's Life Bathtub and Accessories. Check out the details here: http://dolldiaries.com/my-dolls-life-bathtub-accessories-giveaway/comment-page-5/#comment-178226

Xyra posted my response...go and post yours! You have until midnight April 30 (today).

We found the Hawaiian Print Maxi Dress at http://www.doll-clothes.com/ and thought it was out of this world! Here is a picture!

Best wishes!
Talk to you soon!
Melody Q.

Sweet & Savory

Sweet:  Blueberry Green Tea

Today started off with a lovely cup of blueberry green tea. Nothing added to this at all.  The blueberry gives it a hint of sweetness that is just right. Our favorite blueberry green tea was Trader Joe’s, but it was discontinued. L Luckily, we still have a couple bags stashed away.

So we tried Nature’s Promise version. Xyra and I found it at our local Giant grocery store.

Both Trader Joe’s and Nature’s Promise Blueberry Green Tea tea bags are individually wrapped in clear plastic. I think it’s kind of odd, but does keep it relatively airtight. Not quite as nice as the foil pouches. Definitely better than those just in paper.

This tea is great either hot or cold, but be careful…if you steep it too long or use too hot water it can get bitter.

Savory:  Kirsten's Pioneer School Lunch

Hungry? Let’s snack on Kirsten’s Pioneer School Lunch!

A long time ago there was a catalog that featured the lunches of the historic character dolls. Xyra and I liked them all, but were most fascinated by Kirsten’s Pioneer School Lunch (the reason is a post for another day). So we placed our order.

Ours is the later version; the one released in 2000. The oval, wood box is carved with Swedish designs and has a removable lid. Open it to find the tasty lunch of bread, sausage, apple, and cheese. There is also a red, white, and blue homespun napkin.

My napkin is wrinkled because I like to wrap it around the food.

The original version, release in 1986, looked like this (Thank you, American Girl Wikia).

I like mine better, but obviously I’m biased. Which do you like better?

Creatures Big and Small

From one of my favorite books…

(Fred to Percy) “Oh, get out of the way, Percy. Harry’s in a hurry.”

(George adds) “Yeah, he’s off to the Chamber of Secrets for a cup of tea with his fanged servant.”

~ JK Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Starting the day with a cup of tea really gets one moving. Then throughout the day it serves other purposes.

• On a cold day, tea warms.
• On a warm day, tea cools (iced – we’ll talk more about this in the summer).
• When agitated, tea calms.
• When ill, tea soothes.

Today was a three cup day that began with Coconut Chai Green Tea and then two cups of black and orange pekoe blend.

Collecting

In a previous post I mentioned collecting items from other American Girls. At the time we talked about clothes and pets. But I also collect other items, if they peak my interest.

The one item I have from Felicity’s collection is her Noah’s Ark toy. 

The set comes with an ark. It sounds like it should be wood, but could be made from a special type of plastic. The “cabin” section removes to show a hold where I can store the pieces and gangplank. The roof of the “cabin” also flips up too.

Additional pieces include Noah and his wife, 2 elephants, 2 camels, 2 horses, 2 sheep, & 2 pigs. It’s a lot of fun.

Felicity’s Noah’s Ark was introduced to her collection in 1991 as part of her holiday collection and in coordination with the book Felicity’s Surprise. It set was modified in 1996 and retired in 2007. I’m really glad I got this when I did.

I hope you are having a nice day.

Best wishes.

Melody Q

Spring and Fresh Starts

Hello, Readers!

Spring is springing forth around our house. The trees, though they may still look bare, have small buds promising leafy canopies that will provide shade in the coming months.

A New Book!

This arrived the other day and we tore through it. Read it twice...from end paper to end paper.

If you like tea and have invited a dinosaur to your party, don't be surprised if it ends like this. :) How very fortunate it was for Cordelia and her brother to be invited to tea by Rex after the slight set backs experienced at their own party.

This was really fun to read. Not a lot of content, more pictures than words. Here is Xyra's goodreads review: Tea Rex by Molly Idle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was super cute! More pictures than story; I finished in 5 minutes.

If your little one likes to have tea parties, this is a great book to have. The tea etiquette explored is both practical and amusing. The guest is highly unusual, but I prefer this dinosaur to those portrayed in Jurassic Park. :)

A lot of fun!

Heading Outdoors

It was overcast and chilly, but we went outside to help clear winter coverage off the budding plants in the flower gardens. Kirsten checked out the hyacinths. 

She's wearing a modern outfit. Do you recognize the khaki pants and blue hooded sweatshirt of the Cargo Outfit from an earlier post? The red American Girl tee shirt is a gift from Gram and Pap. They were in New York visited American Girl Place for me. :)

Kaya and Tatlo scouted the yard from the rock. 

Kaya's gardening outfit is from a craft show. This outfit included my first pair of jeans. The red sweatshirt is very comfy. The outfit has a matching red headband, but Kaya never unbraids her hair.

Lanie found a tulip ready to bloom. 

Lanie is wearing the grey, striped, hooded, long-sleeve tee shirt of my Urban Outfit, the pants and boots from her own Nature Outfit, and a beautiful blue sweater. The sweater was hand knitted by Xyra's friend, Lady Vanyer.

I checked out the hosta. 

I'm wearing the khaki capri pants from Coconut's Best Friend Outfit and a periwinkle American Girl hoodie.

Nearby I spotted ferns. Aren't these shoots interesting the way they come out of the ground spirals?

Then headed over to join Kirsten.

We had a lovely day outside.

Best wishes to all.

Later. Love,

Melody Q

I Haven't Quit!

Hello, dear readers!

I'm certain you have felt I've quit after such an absence. You can have peace of mind knowing I have not. My typist, Xyra, has been bogged down with other projects and I didn't feel quite right asking for her time.

In the meantime, I have been researching different things to add to our posts here. Quotes, customs, tea. In fact, I came across a great e-mail series by The Republic of Tea called Tea 101: An Educational Email Series. It's really cool and I plan to share some of the insights with you.

Thanks to Wegmans grocery stores we've been introduced to two new flavors to enjoy. The one is a black tea blend called Raspberry Earl from Zhena Gypsy.

The description from their website: "The floral aroma of juicy raspberries is perhaps the perfect complement to the sweet citrus and full-bodied flavor of Earl Grey. This more exceptional version of the classic tea is artisan, hand-crafted in small batches and infused with only top-grade essential oils of real fruit to brew a sweet, succulent cup."

It's wonderful!

The other is really a tisane (herbal infusion) from Stash. Strawberry  Pomegranate. It's really good very hot and cold. Not so good lukewarm. :)

I hope you all had a lovely weekend! We did. I know this is kind of an icky picture, but these are lovely Easter flowers we received from a dear friend. Purple tulips and lavender carnations. I even found the flowers on my beret to show off. ;-)