I can relate to that whole picture completely because that's what I would do when I was a little girl . . . but eventually I'd succumb to authority and do what I had to do. Let's just face it - I find Winter weather rather depressing. It makes me not want to do a thing and I end up wasting precious time that could be well-spent, quite like that little girl sitting on the chair. I went and stood in the doorway this morning while the sun heated the glass up, and me along with it, and the warmth enveloped my whole being. I might as well pull it together because this is just the beginning of January and we've got a lot more of this before we're going to see Spring, huh?!!
I went downstairs and went to work on my teas again because working in my herbs always seems to lift my spirits. I don't know whether it's the scents themselves or because working in the herb kitchen keeps my mind active; but regardless, I'm definitely into working on some new tea blends. I think I've come up with a new one that is just absolutely wonderful. What puts it over the top is the fresh vanilla bean ingredient. My goodness, it just adds that mellow edge to the minty-spicy notes. I also made one based with raspberry leaves. It, to some degree, because of the tannins in the leaves, mimics black tea. I actually enjoyed it probably more as an everyday-type tea. The other one is a drink for special occasions. Now I've got to name them. That's always hard for me but I'm thinking Spiced-Up Anise Hyssop for one and plain old Raspberry Leaf for the other, but I'm still thinking on it.