I Love Aruba

It really was “One Happy Island”.  We just returned from the island of Aruba.  What a great place!  Beautiful people, beaches, fun snorkeling and sunset cruise excursions and a bunch of excellent restaurants.

We stayed at La Cabana Beach and Racquet Club and found this resort to be perfect for us.  It was right across the road from gorgeous Eagle Beach.  We had a splendid view of the resort and beach from our balcony and the unit was equipped with a kitchen (very handy).

This small Caribbean island looks tropical, but has large dessert like areas, although the resorts all boast lots of palm trees, grass and flowering shrubs.  

We had a blast on the Jolly Pirates morning snorkel tour and would definitely do that again next time and there will be a “next time” soon, I hope.  I even took a turn on the Pirate rope swing – twice.

 One of our favorite snorkeling spots was off the west coast at Arashi Beach with shallow water, excellent visibility and lots of colorful fish.  Baby Beach on the southeast coast was also fun and you might even catch a lobster for dinner there.

These little black and yellow striped fish were my favorite.  They would come within inches of your snorkel mask almost posing for you.  There were also schools of little silver fish that would actually nibble your fingers and toes if you stayed still.

We had several memorable meals, including a romantic anniversary dinner at Passions on the Beach.  (I want one of their color changing cone lights that they used on the tables.) ☺  One of my favorite lunches was at Zee Rover in Savaneta, a place we found after talking to some of the locals.  It is a combination fish market and casual pier restaurant.  You tell the server how much you want of the fish of the day or shrimp, etc.  and she weighs it, puts it in a basket and sends it off to the cook.  We were fortunate to have Mahi Mahi as the catch of the day.  First time I’ve ever had whole cooked shrimp too (snapping the heads off was a little disconcerting, but well worth the effort).  ☺

 

A lot of places served mashed sweet potatoes with the entrees – very good and we liked the chimichurri sauce that was served with the steak.

After visiting Aruba, it’s not hard to see why so many people visit year after year.  One couple we talked to at the resort pool said it was their l5th year of visiting the island.

We had a wonderful sunset display each evening around 7:15.

This was one of our best vacations ever.  I love Aruba.

New Country Roses Cheeky Pink

I’ve always liked the Old Country Roses china pattern and now I’ve found a new favorite roses pattern that I like even better.  Have you seen the new Royal Albert New Country Roses Cheeky Pink?  It is a little less formal looking and very cheerful.

 

It is such a pretty pattern with that delightful pink color and the polka dot background.

The cup and saucer has a lovely shape and a feminine scalloped edge.  I noticed that there is a set of ornaments in this pattern on their website.  These will be going on my wish list to decorate my Christmas “Tea Tree” this year.  

National Relaxation Day 2013

Hope everyone is enjoying a little relaxation today.  Sitting down with a nice cup of tea and a good book, or maybe treating yourself to a massage or pedicure, or a walk in the park.  Whatever helps you to relax and de-stress.  A piece of cheesecake to go with that tea wouldn’t hurt either.  ☺ 

 

As for me, I’m enjoying(?) a little forced relaxation.  I don’t recommend a fractured rib as a means of slowing down to a gentler pace.  Boy, it sure makes you feel old when you start doing crazy things like falling in the shower. 

  

Teas’ Tea Latte

My husband and grandson spent a day with the folks at Whirlwind Missions and visited the Buford Hwy Farmers Market as part of the trip.  They had an exciting day and came back with lots of stories and a few treats from the market where they enjoyed lunch.

They brought home a bottle of tea for me and said that I would have loved the huge selection of teas that were available at this market.

I liked the haiku poetry and health information on the label.  The tea itself was not to my taste (a little sweet).  The Ito En online store has several other items that I’d like to try including Sencha Shot, Oi Ocha and some interesting tea ware.

Have any of you checked out the tea selection at the Buford Hwy Farmers Market?

Cross-stitch teapot

This is the latest piece of tea theme cross-stitch that hubby has completed for me.  I knew this transferware teapot would be beautiful.  I’m very pleased with this piece and can’t wait to have it framed and displayed. 

You can see how quickly he worked since I posted about it here at the end of May.  He has now started a cross-stitch birth announcement for my younger daughter’s first baby.

Makes me think that I need to get back to my sewing and paper arts and quit wasting so much time on Words With Friends and Candy Crush Saga.  ☺ 

Breville Variable Temperature Kettle

I’ve always used electric kettles – they are so convenient.  It drives me nuts on vacation when I must boil my water for tea in a pot on the stove – seems to take forever and it is tricky to pour the water out without spilling it all over the place.

One of my longest lasting kettles is my Russell Hobbs.  I still use it once in a while and sometimes take it with me when I travel.  My everyday kettle is a UtiliTEA model by Adagio.  I like that you can set the temp for boil or just hot for green tea.  That said, I’m not sure that the temp control is all that accurate.

The Breville Variable Temperature kettle above will be my next model.  I love that you have buttons for green tea, white tea, oolong, French Press and black tea.  It seems well made in stainless steel and is detachable from the base, a really handy feature.  And if you put the kettle on and then get distracted by something, there is a hold button to keep the water at the right temp for 20 minutes. 

   

This kettle is a quite pricey ($129.95 on Amazon).  Before I decide if this would be a smart purchase, I’d really like to hear if any of you have used this kettle and how do you like it?

Tea Time–Blue & White Issue

If you love tea time and blue and white china, then you won’t want to miss the latest issue of Tea Time Magazine.

The July/August 2013 issue is filled with great features, articles, recipes and photos. 

I’ve always been a predominantly black tea drinker, so this page featuring teas from several companies and the beautiful blue & white china cups and saucers was great.

The photos are lovely and there are lots of ideas for birthday teas, tea on the porch and much more.

Many of the recipes in this issue appealed to me, including Chilled Succotash Salad and Tomato-Feta Tarts.  There were lots of recipes for yummy sweets like Key Lime Shortbread Tarts, Chocolate-Dipped Shortbread Cookies and Strawberries and Cream Scones.

If you relish learning about the history of tea, you’ll  enjoy the article by Jane Pettigrew on the British tea-dance revival.

I’m thoroughly enjoying this issue of one of my “favorite” magazines.  Hopefully, things will settle down for a while (no vacations, family weddings or health issues) and I can get back to visiting all my blogger friends.  ☺