Valentine Moppet

Sunday, February 14th

Happy Valentines Day!  What a surprise I got this morning -- a mug full of Hershey's Kisses Chocolates.  As I always say - 'sweets to the sweet'. 

Do I look happy?  Well of course I am -- after all what could be wrong on a holiday that is marked by chocolate.

Monday, February 15th

Hey - wait a minute. Who ate all my  chocolate??? Did you do it? Or did you do it? Oh well, whoever it is hope you enjoyed them as much as I did (however next time, please leave a few more for me).
  
"All you need is love.  But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt." - Charles M. Shulz

The Sense of Smell

Every time I open a drawer in my bedroom there is that slight scent that takes me outdoors on a sunny day walking through fields of lavender.

In mid-afternoon I stop everything, if I can, and take up a small square of dark chocolate.  I break it in four pieces letting the scent speak for the taste I'm soon going to have.

How many beautiful scents can you think of?  Some of mine are new moan grass, herbal teas (any kind *smile*), sun warmed pine needles on the ground, anything sweet baking in the oven.

Sometimes a memory from the past comes flooding into my mind with just the slightest scent that represents that time.  

"Nothing is more memorable than a smell.  One scent can be unexpected, momentary and fleeting, yet conjure up a childhood summer beside a lake in the mountains." - Diane Ackerman

Tea, Chocolate and Happiness

I firmly believe that each of us should have that special time during the day in which to fall into the moment and treat ourselves to something we love.

My moments (there are two of them each day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon) involve tea and chocolate. My teas are Numi's Jasmine Green, White Rose and Dry Desert Lime.  My chocolate is Endangered Species Chocolate found at our local food co-op.  My two favorite flavors are: Lime Sea Salt and Coconut Creme Filled. Yum!!  

While the tea is steeping I take in the delicate aroma.  The first sip of tea - ahhhhh!  I break a square of chocolate into quarters and each of these very small pieces sits on my tongue while I savor the flavor.  For just these moments, my life is suspended in time, with thankfulness.

I am truly happy!

"The art of being happy lies in the power of extracting happiness from common things." - Henry Ward Beecher

Today I'm Thankful For...

...tea and chocolate.  Each day I begin with a large cup of hot tea.  I turn my 'bubble machine' on and wait for the water to boil.  I place my 'Jasmine Green' tea bag into the cup and pour the hot water over it.

Oh how I love my tea -- its almost like the deep breaths that I spoke of in an earlier post. Time stops for a moment, I breathe in the aroma of my morning tea and wait until it is cool enough to sip.

In the afternoon I switch flavors to "Rose White" - a most delicate flavor and aroma. It takes pausing to appreciate it, and with pleasure I spend a few quiet minutes in heaven.

I have another guilty (well not so guilty) pleasure with my afternoon tea.  A square of dark chocolate.  Chocolate with other flavors in it such as lime and sea salt.  Chocolate that is grown organically, and with the health of the workers kept in mind.  Chocolate that I can only get at stores such as Earth Fare or Fresh Market.  They are as dear as gold and much more valuable to me.

Each day, I have many opportunities to be thankful but tea time is an especially rich time for thought and thanks.

"Come, let us have some tea and continue to talk about happy things." - Chaim Potok