friday field trip (from the sketch book).

vermont.

february 2006

i like to drink copious amounts of tea, and have never met a teacup big enough to suit my needs. but i am completely sold on the mason jar. the shape of the neck keeps the tea nice and HOT + it holds the perfect amount of liquid quantity. it's tea for two (or three) in one cup.

tea for two.

today i had the most delightful afternoon tea with my new friend pouké. she has a charming house in berkeley with a secret garden backyard and birds that visit and revisit her (she feeds them such delicacies !). what a tranquil hideaway and the perfect setting for an afternoon tea.

pouké is an exquisite french renaissance woman who can do just about anything. she is an accomplished food stylist (yes, she made the scones and the apricot tarts . . . delicious. oh, and she also made the tea from scratch and grew the herbs for the tea ! . . . see what i mean ?) . . . 

but she is also an amazing painter and photographer.  i utterly adore her paintings. they are beautifully simple and they draw you in until you can't stop looking at them. we met through our husbands and we were instantly drawn to each other.  i think we share a lot of the same sensibilities and aesthetics, which makes for a very easy and lovely friendship.

visit her incredible food blog, life blog, and website.

coffee break.

four years ago, i gave up my severe addiction to coffee. it was just making me nervous and sweaty anyway, not a good combination.  plus it never really did taste as good as it smelled. but the other day i was at farley's and the penetrating aroma of coffee so entranced me, that i ordered a latte. i thought i was in heaven.  it was the creamiest, smoothest, and most satisfying liquid i could have ever imagined, and it even tasted as good as it smelled, maybe even better. though i'm still not converting back, i think i may indulge every now and again. because still for me, tea is the new coffee.