Time Out for Tea Time

Published in The Packet

I’ve had tea on my mind lately. I’ve been invited to several tea party-themed baby and bridal showers, I’ve recently visited London where it is said that tea is as much a part of the national identity as the British accent itself, and a few days ago, I discovered a lengthy social studies paper I wrote when I was eleven called “The Domestication of the Tea Plant.” I’m fairly certain my teacher stopped reading after page twelve, but that big red A still fills me with pride.

My family’s version of teatime was an informal, but nonetheless ritualized social experience shared by my mother, grandmother, and myself after school. Unfortunately, I only learned how to make a cup of tea to suit my tastes (green tea with honey and some freshly grated ginger). Trying to order tea at a café or serve tea to someone other than my mom has always left me befuddled. I was given a beautiful tea set as a gift, but I haven’t the faintest idea how to use it. I was fed up with my lack of knowledge, so I channeled my eleven-year-old self and set out to determine what a person meant when they said, “one milk and two sugars.” I felt pretty stupid when I realized the unit of measurement left unspoken was the obvious teaspoon.

Here are some other fun facts about tea I learned.

After water, tea is the most widely sipped beverage in the world. The Chinese invented tea and historically drank tea directly from the spout of the teapot. Tea is considered one of the seven necessities of Chinese life along with firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar.

Anna the Duchess of Bedford started the traditional English teatime in the early 1800s, when it was common to only eat twice a day. She was tired of feeling irritated from hunger pangs between meals, so she began having tea and a snack in her bedroom every afternoon secretly. Over time, she invited friends and acquaintances to join her, and the teatime practice took off.

Early European teacups were originally made of soft-paste porcelain that had a tendency to crack. Milk was added to tea in Europe to temper the cups. Eventually, Europeans brought the Chinese technology of hard-paste porcelain to the continent, but the milk habit stuck.

The phrase, “I’ll eat my hat” comes from the 1700s when sugar cubes were cone shaped, resembling a witch hat.

A traditional tea service includes a teapot, cups and saucers, sugar bowl, creamer, teakettle, waste bowl, and tray. To make tea, first warm the water in the kettle. While this is happening, scald the teapot and mugs, and add teabags to the empty pot. Add hot water to the pot and wait three minutes. Stir clockwise three times. Serve those who like a weak cup of tea first, by pouring their cup half full of tea, and then topping it off with hot water. Pour tea for those who like it stronger next. Once everyone is served, add more hot water to the pot.

Traditionally, the teapot spout faces the hostess. A guest indicates they have had enough tea by placing the teaspoon on the saucer. The hostess signals the end of tea by picking up her napkin.

The six different types of tea (white, yellow, green, oolong, black, and post-fermented) are made from the same leaves. They are just processed differently to create the different tea flavours.

Here in Newfoundland, the Labrador Tea plant grows wild in woody, damp areas. The plant grows over a foot tall, is woody-stemmed, and blooms small white flowers in June. It is said to have sedative effects, but should be consumed in moderation because the plants toxins could cause cramps, stomach issues, and headaches. 

Fostering Love for Three Little Kittens

Published in The Packet

I’ve been hanging out with three eight-week-old kittens named Nate, Nikala and Niah. They were strays found in Norman’s Cove with their mother and rescued by the SPCA. We are their foster family.

I feel like I’m living in a Beatrix Potter story when I watch these kittens. They are grey, white and precious with distinct personalities and a penchant for trouble.  In just two days after arriving in our home, they’d managed to get trapped in the Tupperware cabinet, sneak into my daughter’s crib for a long nap, use the basketball net as their own personal Bowflex machine, knock over a shelf of DVDs, and fall into a bag of dog food. Most of the time the three cats form one cuddly grey mass of fur that sleeps contentedly on the couch.

Is there a sound in the world more satisfying than the purr of a happy, dozing cat?

It has been amazing watching these wild little stray babies grow fatter and more comfortable around people.

Nate is the most relaxed cat I’ve ever met. He made friends with my Golden Retriever right away. He watches television with my toddler while simultaneously serving as her pillow. He greets my husband at the door at the end of the workday. He has an endearing, unkempt appearance owing to his tufty fur poking out in every direction. Nate’s meow is so pathetic; you can’t help but spoil him.

His sisters’ were more standoffish when they arrived. They spent the first day under the entertainment stand, hissing at us whenever we drew near.

But in two days, Nikala became my buddy. She purrs when I’m near, and she shadows me from room to room. She is an elegant “aristocat,” who seems readily aware of how gorgeous she is. She preens in front of windows. She stretches like a yogi. She keeps her brother and sister in line.

Then there is little Niah, a feisty tiger-striped pipsqueak. On the hunt at all times, Niah stalks houseflies, her shadow, reflections, her siblings, the dog’s wagging tail, her own tail, and anything else that catches her eye. Niah enjoys the comforts of home. She will burrow into anything fluffy and warm, but don’t expect her to relax on your lap. This is a cat that appreciates her personal space, and is very respectful of yours. 

I’m hoping these darlings get adopted soon, even though they will be hard to part with. The SPCA is currently offering a buy one get one free special on all cats, because there are so many in need of homes. They are also searching for more foster families who can take in mother cats and their nursing babies, until they are old enough to be adopted.

For more information on adoption or fostering animals, contact the SPCA at (709) 466-3489.

Air Travel with Toddlers

Published in The Packet

I just flew back from England, and boy, are my arms tired! Okay, bad joke. Still, my arms are tired from wrangling my toddler on the plane for six hours.

I’ve flown alone with my daughter over the past year and a half at least sixteen times. The older she gets, the more challenging it becomes, but I’ve picked up some tips for traveling with a toddler that I thought I’d share in case you happen to find yourself in that unenviable situation.

First off, don’t try to plan your fight schedule around nap time. It’s not worth the extra effort, because inevitably the flight will be delayed, or your child will get sleepy in the airport and wake up just in time for the flight.

Be selective about the things you bring to entertain your child on the plane, and relax some of your parenting rules. I make an effort to limit screen time in our house, but when I travel, my I-Pad is stocked with movies and television shows from I-Tunes. If she spends every hour of the trip with her eyes glued to the screen, I consider it nothing short of a miracle.

I also try to keep my daughter from eating a lot of processed food at home, but when we fly it’s a junk-food paradise in my purse. I try to avoid things that are messy or sticky, but a can of cheese puffs and a bag of M&Ms do wonders to keep a kid quiet. I’ve also heard that candy necklaces and bracelets are great for plane travel because it takes forever to bite the candies off, and kids feel like they got a little present. I take advantage of the fact that you can bring extra water when traveling with a baby, and bring extra bottles for her and myself. I avoid bringing sippy cups with straws, because the pressure on the plane causes them to spit water everywhere.

I’ve learned that matchbox cars and packs of crayons are a disaster on a plane because once they fall off the seat they are gone forever. Stickers are your best friends. Colored round office stickers and puffy cat stickers from The Dollar Store are endlessly amusing for a toddler, and they don’t weigh down your bag or roll away.

If you are lucky to have a little girl and the weather is warm, have them wear sandals and a dress to minimize the amount of clothes removed during a diaper change. If you are traveling with a toddler boy, try a onesie.

 I always change my baby midway through the flight. It gives you a chance to stretch your legs, it gives the baby something new to look at, and it gives those sitting around you a small break from your be-stickered little darling. Plus, you feel like a superhero when you’ve managed to get the diaper changed in that tiny closet of a bathroom. Bring plastic bags to put soiled or wet clothes in, and to put diapers in before throwing them away.

Odds are, your toddler will get frustrated at being stuck on your lap for hours on end and will let everyone on the plane know it. There is nothing you can really do, except hope that those around you have been in a similar situation before and can sympathize. Karma will take care of those folks who show you their irritation- usually single, childless passengers who will one day have a kid who is just as charming on airplanes as your kid is. Remind yourself that the flight won’t last forever. I’ve become very good at disassociating myself from my baby’s wailing. It takes some practice, but eventually you’ll find yourself acting like the crying you hear is coming from some other child. I’ve also heard of parents buying packs of earplugs for those around them, and passing them out at the beginning of the flight.

We’re flying again in September. If you have any additional ideas for surviving air travel with a toddler, please send them my way.

Bon voyage!