I'm finding the #hashtags to be a lot of fun. I like thinking up which ones to use for each post... and then seeing what other pictures people have posted using those same hashtags. Sometimes I get comments or likes from random people who have found my picture from the hashtag. You can click on the hashtags below the pictures to see other what other Instagrammers have posted using that particular hashtag, if you're interested.
Showing posts with label coffee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label coffee. Show all posts
Thursday, July 2, 2015
Glimpses of My Days
Since many of you don't do Instagram, and that is where I share a lot of the pictures I snap, I thought it was time for another Instagram update. These go back to March...
I'm finding the #hashtags to be a lot of fun. I like thinking up which ones to use for each post... and then seeing what other pictures people have posted using those same hashtags. Sometimes I get comments or likes from random people who have found my picture from the hashtag. You can click on the hashtags below the pictures to see other what other Instagrammers have posted using that particular hashtag, if you're interested.
I'm finding the #hashtags to be a lot of fun. I like thinking up which ones to use for each post... and then seeing what other pictures people have posted using those same hashtags. Sometimes I get comments or likes from random people who have found my picture from the hashtag. You can click on the hashtags below the pictures to see other what other Instagrammers have posted using that particular hashtag, if you're interested.
Monday, March 23, 2015
Instagram Update
I find I'm chronicling some of the tiny moments of my life with the Instagram app. Like I mentioned before, I'm not one for selfies, but it is kinda fun to snap a quick shot of some little thing that caught my eye. Later, I enjoy looking back through the moments I captured. From the last few weeks...
Happy spring!
January 21. Light snow caught on the bark of a tree outside the office... I thought the textured filter added a neat effect, too.
January 22. A quick supper with co-workers before the Inspire25 event that evening. All four of us had lettuce-wrapped hamburgers... and milk-shakes!
January 23. I met a friend in downtown Denver for lunch and didn't want to try to find a parking spot, so I took the train.
January 24. For our breakfast date that Saturday we drove to Golden and ate at an old-timey diner. I like taking pictures of a cup of coffee, apparently.
February 21. My daily snapshots didn't last long. A few weeks later our breakfast date was at Chick-fil-A. We were trying to work through some details for our family budget that morning.
March 2. And another coffee picture with a new mug from my Secret Sis.
March 9. I actually didn't know about this picture until I started getting comments on it. Turns out I had left my phone at home one afternoon, and "someone" decided it would be fun to post a picture for me. Could be worse!
March 15. I noticed tulips coming up in the backyard. I hope they bloom this year. Last year a spring snowstorm ruined them.
16 March. Mountain sunsets are spectacular, even in city traffic.
20 March. I was delighted to discover crocuses emerging on the first day of spring. Not my yard, but close enough.
Happy spring!
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Do you Instagram?
I've had an Instagram account for awhile but have never done much with it. However, Laura uses it all the time. Now... I'm not into taking selfies, but I started playing around with it a bit this past weekend and I have to admit I've enjoyed taking scenery and still-life pictures. I love the effect of using filters and frames. Here are some fun shots I've taken the last few days.
Let me know if you have an Instagram account, so I can follow you! I don't have very many connections on there yet.
The building above is the print shop where Lyle works. I had just dropped some of the Sonlight reps off at the airport and my work responsibilities were done for the week, so I was running errands with him. It felt good to think about something besides work for a little while.
Let me know if you have an Instagram account, so I can follow you! I don't have very many connections on there yet.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Pike Place Tulips
We didn't make it to the tulip farms this year, but I have to say, Pike Place Market in the spring is the next-best thing!One morning last weekend Lyle and I met my cousin in downtown Seattle for coffee at Starbucks on the waterfront. It was a misty spring morning... typical for Seattle... perfect coffee-drinking weather... which is probably why coffee is so popular in Seattle, come to think of it.
After we finished our coffee I asked my cousin if the tulips were still in season at Pike Place Market. She lives and works near the Market, and had posted a picture of the tulips a few weeks ago. I was afraid the season might be over, as we've had an early spring. Much to my delight, she said they were still there.
I wanted to take a bouquet home, but every pre-arranged bouquet was prettier than the last, and I could not make up my mind.I watched one of the workers assembling an arrangement that included red tulips and gorgeous ruffled daffodils. "That's the one!" I decided. But even as Lyle paid for it, I was second guessing my choice. Maybe I should have taken the pink arrangement? Or the yellow and purple one? I think I could have stood there all day deliberating over the options.
Hot coffee. Pleasant conversation. Gorgeous flowers. Is there a better way to enjoy a springtime morning?
Monday, February 4, 2013
Post Falls Coffee Company
Anyway, time went along and we began to recognize the young couple who owned the little kiosk down the road. We still didn't know their names, but could always count on a friendly greeting... and they would remember our "usual" orders. (Decaf caramel macchiato for me. Peppermint mocha for Lyle.) One day I noticed that they had Bible verses written in wipe-off marker on the inside walls over the windows.
And then, last summer, we started going to a new church where we didn't know anyone. We thought. On our first Sunday there, during the "meet-and-greet" portion of the service, the couple sitting in front of us turned to greet us. Familiar faces. Where had I seen them before? "The coffee shop!" I gasped. "We know you from the coffee shop!" Turns out their names are Gabe and Mandy, and over the past few months we've gotten to know them a little better now that we go to church with them. That makes it even more fun to stop for coffee and quick visits when we're out and about.
Back in the fall, Gabe had told Lyle that they were hoping to open a second location this winter, with a real sit-down coffee shop and a bakery. We were so excited, because we love to go on coffee dates, but the only sit-down coffee shops here in Post Falls are the big chains, which don't have quite the charm of the locally owned places. Finally, about a month ago, we learned that they had signed the lease on the building and would be opening in February.
We took special interest in watching their progress each time we drove past. Did I mention that it's located between our house and the print shop, right on the street Lyle drives every day to work? So yeah, we pass it practically every day. Last Thursday we noticed their sign was up. Lyle worked late that night. I went to hang out with him. It was about 10 p.m. when we went home, and the lights were still on at the coffee shop. We could see them in there still working. What we didn't realize was that they would be open for business on Friday, February 1st!
This week's Saturday morning breakfast date was for coffee and scones at the brand-new Post Falls Coffee Company and Bakery.
And so... we have a new favorite neighborhood hang-out!
Friday, January 11, 2013
Frag-Blogging
I have been receiving some gentle nudges that it's time to blog again. The thing is, in my mind, blogging should be story-telling. If I wanted to just talk about the weather or what we had for dinner, I could just tweet about that... or post it to Facebook... and be done. Blogging is more fun for me because I love stories! And sometimes I just haven't got a story. So that's where Frag-Blogging comes in. You can blame Mrs. 4444 and Keetha! Somehow they've managed to convince me that it's okay to gather up a bunch of fragmented pieces of almost-stories, weave them together, and voila! Blog-worthy story!
And so, we've had snow. Well, duh. It's January. In Idaho. So, yeah. There ya go.
I have to admit, there's something magical about watching falling snow pile up. I am kinda enjoying the way it's been coming this year. We've had several snowstorms with thaws in between, which keeps the white stuff fresh and pretty.
Cookie likes to lie in the window and watch the snow... and keep an eye out for any interesting passersby. She loves in play in the snow when it's deep and fresh. She pounces around in it like a puppy, rather than the more sedate 7-year-old lady dog she usually is. It is very fun to watch her.
What's not so fun is driving in it, though the snow plows are pretty good about keeping the main roads cleared off. The snow was coming down pretty heavy on Monday morning as Becky and I headed back to co-op.
Speaking of co-op, since this is a fragmented post, this term I am helping with a class of little girls (1st to 3rd grade) who are learning to crochet. Let me rephrase that. They are "learning" to crochet. See the difference? They think they are learning. Mostly they sit and hold their balls of yarn and crochet hooks, and giggle. One-by-one, the other teacher and I put our arms around them to guide their little hands to hold the hook and manipulate the yarn in just the right way, while they watch intently. I don't think they've caught on much yet, but this was just the first class. It will be interesting to see what progress they make by the end of 8 weeks.
On to the next fragment... Tuesday evening we had a birthday dinner at Olive Garden.
Our family had received a gift card to Olive Garden for Christmas, so we decided to go there for Laura's birthday. We also invited her BFF to join us.
And while they are "grown up" young ladies, legally adults and all that... they mostly just sat and giggled. Wonder when they outgrow the giggle stage?
Anyway, it was a lovely dinner.
Other than that, we've mostly just kept the home-fires burning (figuratively, since we don't have a real fireplace)... fought a virus that's going around...
...and tried to stay warm!
Hope you're having a good January!
I have to admit, there's something magical about watching falling snow pile up. I am kinda enjoying the way it's been coming this year. We've had several snowstorms with thaws in between, which keeps the white stuff fresh and pretty.
Speaking of co-op, since this is a fragmented post, this term I am helping with a class of little girls (1st to 3rd grade) who are learning to crochet. Let me rephrase that. They are "learning" to crochet. See the difference? They think they are learning. Mostly they sit and hold their balls of yarn and crochet hooks, and giggle. One-by-one, the other teacher and I put our arms around them to guide their little hands to hold the hook and manipulate the yarn in just the right way, while they watch intently. I don't think they've caught on much yet, but this was just the first class. It will be interesting to see what progress they make by the end of 8 weeks.
On to the next fragment... Tuesday evening we had a birthday dinner at Olive Garden.
Anyway, it was a lovely dinner.
Other than that, we've mostly just kept the home-fires burning (figuratively, since we don't have a real fireplace)... fought a virus that's going around...
Hope you're having a good January!
Friday, November 16, 2012
Friday Fragments
Sparse blogging just seems to call for Fragments on Friday, don't you think? I wasn't even sure if I could scrape up any fragments to share... but then I read of Keetha's desperate dash around the house to gather up fragments to share, and if they aren't kicking her out of the Frag party for that, I guess I can do the same thing, right? Besides, several of you assured me that it was okay to blog even if I didn't have to have anything important to blog about, so you can only blame yourselves!
* * *
Yesterday, when I posted about making yogurt a certain commenter asked, "Is there ANY domestic skill in which you are NOT proficient?"
I laughed.
Ha.
If she could only see my house. Those of you who have been here know that my housekeeping can best (and by best, I mean, most kindly) described as "comfortable." In fact, Denise described me that way last week, "You are such a comfortable person and I am proud to call you friend ~ for over 30 years now!" She has never actually been to my house (though she has been to my parents' house long ago before either of us were married), but I guess she knows me well enough to know that "comfortable" is a good word for it. I took it as a compliment.
Anyway, as an example of a domestic skill which I do not possess, here is a picture of some gorgeous... and utterly delicious... pumpkin-cupcakes-with-cream-cheese-frosting-and-dark-chocolate-leaves that my friend Janelle made a couple weeks ago. And yes, she made the leaves!! (If Janelle had a blog, I would link to it.)
Actually, we ended up with several inches... okay, maybe two! But the ground wasn't very cold yet so it didn't stick around long. That's fine with me. I would just as soon it not snow until winter officially starts. And that's not for another 5 weeks, thankyouverymuch!
The mums survived the snow, though they are almost through blooming, I think. The marigold (the stalky plant leaning over in front) did not. The white pumpkin did not. He's squishy and ready to be carted off. The orange pumpkin, on the other hand, gave his life for the benefit of culinary delights.
Laura tried her hand at making a pumpkin roll to start with. It also turned out utterly delicious. I've never attempted a pumpkin roll before, so there, you see? Another domestic skill I don't possess!
The top two sellers, by far, are the natural and sage. Interestingly enough, those are the most popular colors for my washcloths, too. Sadly, I'm almost out of the sage cotton yarn. I haven't been able to find more locally recently. I hope they haven't discontinued that color.
I hadn't been to a NaNo write-in before, either, so I wasn't sure what to expect. What I did not expect was that most of the other "writers" would sit there chit-chatting most of the time. I don't know how they got any writing done. Maybe they're more talented than I am. I can't write and talk (or even listen to other people talking) at the same time. I managed to get around 1,000 words written in the two hours I was there... and the chit-chat finally died down about 30 minutes before I had to leave. I was parked in a two-hour zone, so rather than move my car, I just left. Next time I'll know to take ear buds.
There's no way I'm going to make it to 50,000 words by the end of the month, but that's okay. I am getting some developmental work done as well as writing.
Mostly, I'm just there because a certain man seems to have taken up residence there, instead of here at home. I'm hopeful that next week, at least, may be a little slower for him, with the holiday. These 70-hour work-weeks are not doing either one of us a whole lot of good. I'm trying to coax him away for a day trip tomorrow, but it will just depend on how much work comes in today. He usually runs out of time during the week and ends up having to work on Saturday, too, to get it all done.
I laughed.
Ha.
If she could only see my house. Those of you who have been here know that my housekeeping can best (and by best, I mean, most kindly) described as "comfortable." In fact, Denise described me that way last week, "You are such a comfortable person and I am proud to call you friend ~ for over 30 years now!" She has never actually been to my house (though she has been to my parents' house long ago before either of us were married), but I guess she knows me well enough to know that "comfortable" is a good word for it. I took it as a compliment.
Anyway, as an example of a domestic skill which I do not possess, here is a picture of some gorgeous... and utterly delicious... pumpkin-cupcakes-with-cream-cheese-frosting-and-dark-chocolate-leaves that my friend Janelle made a couple weeks ago. And yes, she made the leaves!! (If Janelle had a blog, I would link to it.)
* * *
Our first snow of the season was earlier this week. Our neighborhood looked like this for a couple of days.
* * *
In Etsy news, my coffee cozies have been selling... well, not quite like I imagine hot cakes sell... but pretty well, at least for my little shop. I have lots of colors listed, but these are the most popular colors.
* * *
I went to a NaNoWriMo write-in last week. It was at a local coffee shop that I hadn't been to before. That was fun.
There's no way I'm going to make it to 50,000 words by the end of the month, but that's okay. I am getting some developmental work done as well as writing.
* * *
In the evenings I've been hanging out a certain print shop. I can't say that I add a whole lot to the productivity, though I do try to help out wherever I can.
* * *
Thank you for tuning it to this week's episode of Friday Fragments here at Ramblin' Roads! Please come again!Saturday, August 4, 2012
Thursday, February 2, 2012
It's the Little Things
I reached out to touch it. Perhaps it was just a mirage? Nope. It was still warm.
I cautiously took a sip. Ahhhh... Grande Decaf Caramel Macchiato Extra-Hot (or at least it probably had been an hour earlier when my sweet man left it there for me). Just the way I like it! Lyle had driven to Starbucks, then stopped back by home to slip in and leave a coffee for me before going on to work.
I popped it in the microwave for 30 seconds, then sat there sipping my latte and counting my blessings...
- being married to such a thoughtful, hard-working, romantic man
- an office all to myself (though I've really got to get it organized soon!)
- a cute doggy who also adores the man
- daughters who are also thoughtful and hard-working to keep up with the house and such while I'm working frantically on project deadlines
My blessings, of course, are far more numerous than that. But it was time to start my day.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Midnight Adventure
We had a quiet Thanksgiving at home. (And, yes, Farrah, Thanksgiving Day was my birthday.) It turned out to be one of the times where it didn't work out for us to go anywhere or have anyone over, so it was just our immediate family. Still, we have our children and our health and far more blessings than we deserve, so we have much to be thankful for. (Oh, yes. And my dear friend Farrah. She's a blessing, too. In case you don't know why I'm mentioning Farrah, you'll have to read her comments on my last post.)
The girls wanted to fix a nice turkey dinner with all the trimmings, including 3 kinds of pie! So we enjoyed our dinner. We also watched the Macy's parade, played a game of Life, took naps, and just generally relaxed and enjoyed each other's company.
Then Mama had a not-so-bright idea that the rest of the family readily agreed to. In retrospect I should have just kept my mouth shut. But no. I had gotten a sale flyer in the mail that Kohl's would be open at midnight Thanksgiving night and they had coats for 70% off. Both girls and Lyle were needing coats. I also noticed that my favorite coffee kiosk was going to be open all night. So wouldn't it be a fun family adventure, I thought, to go out at midnight and get coffee or cocoa then make a quick Kohl's run before heading home to bed? Surely most of the Black Friday shoppers would wait until morning to hit the stores. I didn't figure very many people would be crazy enough to go out in the middle of the night.
Boy, was I wrong.
As we passed Target I was utterly shocked to see that the parking lot was full-to-overflowing and the line at the door stretched along the building and all the way down the side of the parking lot. Traffic on the highway was like a major ballgame had just got out or something. Best Buy was the same scenario. I was ready to turn around and go home right then. I couldn't believe it when we got to Kohl's and found the same thing going on there.
I did refuse to stand in line to get in the store, so we waited in the warm car until the doors opened and then went in the door where the line wasn't. Oh, the pushing and shoving and snatching and grabbing... and wall-to-wall people! It was a mad house. We made our way to the men's coat department and spent some time deciding on a coat for Lyle-- then to the women's coat department and deliberated over the choices for the girls.
Let's just take our time, I thought, and let the crowd thin out a bit before we try to check out. Again, I was so very wrong. By the time we had made our selections and were more than ready to go, the checkout lines had stretched to the back of the store on both sides (2 lines, one for each side of the store, with 6 cashiers each) and the lines met in the middle of the back of the store.
Lyle and the girls got in line and I went to look at socks "real quick." Even in the sock department people were pushing and shoving to get through. I was standing about a foot away from a rack of socks examining the display when a young man elbowed his way through between me and the rack. I was just appalled at the lack of common courtesy. At least the other people pushed through behind me and most said, "Excuse me."
I chose my socks and went to get in line with my family. We sent the girls on out to the car where they could be comfortable while we waited. By the time we got the check stand we had waited in line for a full hour.
I was so traumatized!
We got what we went after at a really good price-- and I can now say that I've experienced Black Friday shopping.
But. Never again!
The girls wanted to fix a nice turkey dinner with all the trimmings, including 3 kinds of pie! So we enjoyed our dinner. We also watched the Macy's parade, played a game of Life, took naps, and just generally relaxed and enjoyed each other's company.
Then Mama had a not-so-bright idea that the rest of the family readily agreed to. In retrospect I should have just kept my mouth shut. But no. I had gotten a sale flyer in the mail that Kohl's would be open at midnight Thanksgiving night and they had coats for 70% off. Both girls and Lyle were needing coats. I also noticed that my favorite coffee kiosk was going to be open all night. So wouldn't it be a fun family adventure, I thought, to go out at midnight and get coffee or cocoa then make a quick Kohl's run before heading home to bed? Surely most of the Black Friday shoppers would wait until morning to hit the stores. I didn't figure very many people would be crazy enough to go out in the middle of the night.
Boy, was I wrong.
As we passed Target I was utterly shocked to see that the parking lot was full-to-overflowing and the line at the door stretched along the building and all the way down the side of the parking lot. Traffic on the highway was like a major ballgame had just got out or something. Best Buy was the same scenario. I was ready to turn around and go home right then. I couldn't believe it when we got to Kohl's and found the same thing going on there.
I did refuse to stand in line to get in the store, so we waited in the warm car until the doors opened and then went in the door where the line wasn't. Oh, the pushing and shoving and snatching and grabbing... and wall-to-wall people! It was a mad house. We made our way to the men's coat department and spent some time deciding on a coat for Lyle-- then to the women's coat department and deliberated over the choices for the girls.
Let's just take our time, I thought, and let the crowd thin out a bit before we try to check out. Again, I was so very wrong. By the time we had made our selections and were more than ready to go, the checkout lines had stretched to the back of the store on both sides (2 lines, one for each side of the store, with 6 cashiers each) and the lines met in the middle of the back of the store.
Lyle and the girls got in line and I went to look at socks "real quick." Even in the sock department people were pushing and shoving to get through. I was standing about a foot away from a rack of socks examining the display when a young man elbowed his way through between me and the rack. I was just appalled at the lack of common courtesy. At least the other people pushed through behind me and most said, "Excuse me."
I chose my socks and went to get in line with my family. We sent the girls on out to the car where they could be comfortable while we waited. By the time we got the check stand we had waited in line for a full hour.
I was so traumatized!
We got what we went after at a really good price-- and I can now say that I've experienced Black Friday shopping.
But. Never again!
Monday, August 22, 2011
August Monday
The weather in my neck of the woods:
About as close to perfect as possible. We have had an incredibly mild summer this year. Lyle told me he heard we've only had something like 4 days where the temperature got over 90 degrees. We never even bothered putting in the window a/c unit this year. We've just had the windows open for months. I love living in the northwest!
Things that make me happy:
Standing out in the parking lot after church visiting with friends for hours.
Books I'm reading:
Hamburgers on the grill, I think.
On my To Do List:
(You really don't want to see my whole To-Do list... but here are a few things I need to do today.)
I want to try making The Pioneer Woman's Iced Coffee. I've been afraid to make it, though, because I'm very sure I would quickly become addicted to it.
In the craft basket:
Cotton yarn for washcloths. I've been making these up to sell. One of my friends makes soap and has been selling it at the farmer's market. I sent her a batch of washcloths to offer with the soap. I have also set up an Etsy shop. Not many listed there yet, but it's a start.
Looking forward to this week:
Laura is coming home Wednesday evening! She's been gone all summer, and we have missed her!
No words needed:
Lesson learned the past few days:
God is faithful. Always.
On my mind:
Plans for the upcoming school year. (Don't miss my Back-to-School giveaway!)
Scripture:
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. I Corinthians 10:13.
More Happy Homemaker Monday posts @ Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.
About as close to perfect as possible. We have had an incredibly mild summer this year. Lyle told me he heard we've only had something like 4 days where the temperature got over 90 degrees. We never even bothered putting in the window a/c unit this year. We've just had the windows open for months. I love living in the northwest!
Things that make me happy:
Standing out in the parking lot after church visiting with friends for hours.
Books I'm reading:
- More Treasures from Grandma's Attic by Arleta Richardson (in the upstairs bathroom)
- The Old Schoolhouse Magazine (not a book, I know, but it's what I currently have going in the downstairs bathroom)
- I'm sorta between books on my Kindle. That is to say, I have several started, but I haven't gotten into any of them yet. I just finished Reinventing Leona by Lynne Gentry.
Hamburgers on the grill, I think.
On my To Do List:
(You really don't want to see my whole To-Do list... but here are a few things I need to do today.)
- Divide and wrap 40 pounds of hamburger meat we picked up Saturday evening.
- Package and mail several packages.
- Work several hours as a Sonlight Advisor.
- Clean the kitchen.
- Get some writing done.
I want to try making The Pioneer Woman's Iced Coffee. I've been afraid to make it, though, because I'm very sure I would quickly become addicted to it.
In the craft basket:
Cotton yarn for washcloths. I've been making these up to sell. One of my friends makes soap and has been selling it at the farmer's market. I sent her a batch of washcloths to offer with the soap. I have also set up an Etsy shop. Not many listed there yet, but it's a start.
Looking forward to this week:
Laura is coming home Wednesday evening! She's been gone all summer, and we have missed her!
No words needed:
Lesson learned the past few days:
God is faithful. Always.
On my mind:
Plans for the upcoming school year. (Don't miss my Back-to-School giveaway!)
Scripture:
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. I Corinthians 10:13.
More Happy Homemaker Monday posts @ Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Rushing the Season
Pansies and violas thrive in this kind of weather, so last night I brought a 6-pack of happy-faced violas home with me to live on my back porch, just outside the kitchen door. I'll enjoy my coffee out there in the mornings when the temperature warms up just a tad bit.
Yesterday morning the ground was covered with snow. It soon melted but remained damp and chilly all day. This morning the sun is shining brightly. It's not exactly warm... but we are headed out this evening for our first camping trip of the season! We will take warm clothes and huddle around the campfire. If it turns out to be too cold for even that, we'll just enjoy playing games around the table in the trailer.
Welcome, spring!
Friday, April 1, 2011
Out Like a Lamb
My daughter said, "I think spring has finally arrived!" We all felt that way. She opened the windows a crack and we attacked our spring cleaning project with renewed energy.
At sunset time the air was soft and pink-tinted. I put on a sweater and made a cup of coffee to enjoy on the back deck while I enjoyed the shifting clouds and fading light. My family laughed at me... but hey, it's not every day that spring arrives, now is it?
Thursday, December 3, 2009
The Aroma of Christ
In my blog-hopping recently I came across this cheery graphic at The 160 Acrewoods. It caught my eye because I enjoy coffee so much... but I especially liked the verse that Amy Deanne put with the picture. She gave permission to use the graphic on our blogs, so I just took her up on it.For me, coffee is more than just a beverage, it's this whole experience... the fragrance, the warmth of the mug, the flavor. It's actually more like a comfort food. Just the aroma makes me desire the whole "experience".
As a Christian, I want the "aroma" of my life to encourage others to seek the "experience" for themselves. I pray that it does.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
In search of a perfect cup of coffee...
I'm on a mission. I'm trying to discover the very best coffee for making at home and drinking black.To be honest, I could indulge in Starbucks' Caramel Macchiatos every day but neither my waistline nor my pocketbook are agreeable to that idea.
I do enjoy a good cup of black coffee, but I find I'm getting pickier as to what I consider "good." I've heard rave reviews about Dunkin Donuts coffee, so I bought a pound and tried it. It was okay, but I didn't think it was all that outstanding. I really couldn't tell much difference between that and Folgers. I saw Eight O'Clock coffee at the grocery store and vaguely remember my dad drinking that brand years ago, so I tried that. Same thing. Just okay.
I wonder if I'm not getting the "right" roast? I have no idea whether I prefer light roast or dark roast. I just know what I like when I taste it!
Maybe I need to get a coffee grinder and buy whole bean coffee? Does that make a difference in the taste? Is percolated coffee better, or different, than drip coffee?
Coffee drinkers, help me out here! What brand do you prefer? Do you buy ground coffee or the whole beans? What kind of coffee maker do you use? Do you add anything to your coffee or do you drink it black? Do you like flavored coffee?
So many options!
Sunday, March 15, 2009
More Time
This was the quote on my Starbucks cup the other day..."Americans spend an average of 29 hours a week watching television - which means in a typical life span we devote 13 uninterrupted years to our TV sets! The biggest problem with mass media isn't low quality - it's high quantity. Cutting down just an hour an day would provide extra years of life - for music and family, exercise and reading, conversation and coffee."
--Michael Medved,
Author of Right Turns and radio talk show host
I know many (most?) families probably watch a good deal more television than we do, but that much? Really? How in the world do people find time to watch that much?
My friend Laura @ Glimpses of Our World shared some thoughtful insights on television viewing recently. I agree with her assessment: I am challenged to watch even less!
After all, I would much rather have more time for "music and family, exercise and reading, conversation and coffee!"
Wouldn't you?
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Percolated Coffee
I've been wanting an enamel-ware coffee percolator for a long time. When we go camping in the national forest we don't have electrical hookups, so I've been getting by with instant coffee or those "singles" bags that are like tea bags. I was happy to find just the coffee pot I had been wishing for at a garage sale last weekend for $3. And while I plan to put it to practical use, I just love looking at it!The problem is, I'm not real sure how to make coffee in it! I know I need to buy a different "grind" of coffee... percolator rather than drip. And I know the coffee grounds go in the basket at the top. Then the water just goes in the bottom below the dry grounds? How much coffee to how much water? How do you know when it's done? Anybody know?
The print shop where my husband works has reserved a group campground for this weekend. It will be the perfect opportunity to try out my new coffee pot. But I'm sure I'll want to offer a cup of coffee to our friends. Hopefully I can master the trick to making percolated coffee and be able to serve something that tastes good!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Just relaxing!
I recently received this fun mug from Lorrie Veasey at Our Name is Mud. (Thank you, Lorrie!) She offered me my choice of mugs from her site. There were so many cute ones that I had a hard time deciding, but I finally settled on "Lessons from the Beach". Not so much because I'm a beach denizen (which I'm not), but because I need to be reminded from time-to-time to just relax!I'm learning that the stressful things in life are often inconsequential. I have a tendency to get all worked up over little things, and then, even just a day or two later, I'll look back and think, "Why was I so concerned about that?" I allow petty things to rob me of my joy for that moment, or day.
My life is busy. Sometimes the list of things to be done is overwhelming. Hopefully having this sunny little reminder to "relax" sitting on my desk will be a good reminder to take things as they come... and just do the next thing. (Having it full of coffee at any given time can't hurt anything either!)
Have a relaxing day!Sunday, August 10, 2008
Westbound in Wisconsin
We had a fantastic time at our college reunion over the weekend. Lyle and I met at Bible college, so it was a nostalgic trip for us, back to the campus our romance began 25 years ago this summer. It was great to reconnect with old friends to share memories of that long-ago time, and get re-acquainted.
Now we're headed home. We left after lunch today and traveled about 7 hours today. We're in Madison, Wisconsin tonight.
Tomorrow's destination: eastern Montana.
Now we're headed home. We left after lunch today and traveled about 7 hours today. We're in Madison, Wisconsin tonight.
Tomorrow's destination: eastern Montana.
Friday, May 16, 2008
"Tea Room Ventures & Venues?"
This week's theme for the Gracious Hospital-i-Tea blog-a-thon is to tell of our favorite tea room. Would you believe I've never been to a real tea room? I think it would be fun! Just never had the opportunity, I guess. So I'm going to tell you about my favorite coffee shop, instead. Hey, they serve tea, too! Close enough, don't you think?Last fall my friend, Jan, opened Pleasant Land Books & Espresso just a block down the street from where we lived. It is such a fun, cozy book and coffee shop. She has a huge cushy couch besides several tables for gathering around, and lots of books! I really enjoyed popping in often while we lived in the neighborhood.
One day last winter I needed to meet with some ladies to show them Sonlight Curriculum, so I made an appointment with them to meet them at Pleasant Land. While we were there someone from the local paper came in and took our picture! Jan was running a series of ads in the paper and needed some more pictures of folks enjoying the shop. We were happy to be her models. And here's "our" ad:
Now, I'll admit, I usually have a caramel latte at the coffee shop, but this is also where I first tasted chai tea. Before the shop was officially open Jan invited some of her friends and family in for an evening of testing and tasting. She was practicing making drinks and she needed lots of testers! As I read over her menu I mentioned that I had never tasted a chai tea latte... so she whipped one up for me. Now that's decadence!
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