It’s a beautiful morning; a bit cooler, less humidity, sun shining, Scootie (one of my many nicknames for my girl) is tucked in under my legs. She’s waiting for Don to get up. She spends the first part of her morning with me and then when Don heads down the stairs, she moves into her second position of the morning. She splits her time between her parents. Like all dogs, she is happiest when she’s with her pack, preferably both of us.
Going up and down the steps is a little tricker for her these days, her joints ache, she often needs an assist from one of us and she sleeps more during the day. She seems to hit her stride in the late afternoon and evening. Her hours have changed. But goodness, when she is feisty and doing little pounces and that twinkle is in her eye – she’s right back to her younger self.
Lots of color in this end of the garden at the moment: rudbeckia, bee balm, phlox in white and purple. (It has reseeded and some of the newer growth is purple. Love that.)
I’m taking pictures of the liatris while I can…it doesn’t last all that long and it’s so pretty.
Hello bumblebee.
Thanks for your input on the whole K-Cup thing the other day. We’ve now learned that many of the cups are biodegradable (good news) and that those of you who use them like the convenience of one cup at a time, all the different flavors available, and some of you think it’s the best coffee you’ve ever tasted. That’s why I love the dialogue that goes on in the comments section – we learn from each other. Everyone has their own way of making coffee – it’s a very personal thing, don’t you think? And of course, since this is my personal blog, I’m always going to lead with my thoughts and opinion about a particular subject.
Some of us use a drip coffee maker, some use a French Press, some use individual cone filters, some use K-Cups, some use a percolator. I’ve sampled them all. Some of us make coffee at home, others buy it from Starbucks or some other establishment. We’re happy with our particular ritual of using freshly ground Peet’s. I brew my batch when I get up. Don brews his when he gets up. If we both happen to get up at the same time, we brew a bigger batch. And everyone is happy.
Remember the days when coffee was made in a percolator and if you happened to order coffee while dining out, it was just basic coffee? No flavors, no grandees, no coffee to go, no lattes…just a cup of Joe? A coffee culture has a boomed in the last fifteen or twenty years.
Even so, I rarely order coffee outside my home. I have my ritual. No coffee after 12 noon or it impacts my sleep that night. I make it as soon as I get up because I am not a morning person and I need a cup or two to get me going. I like the ritual of sipping it in my blogging chair, catching up on emails, reading the increasingly depressing headlines, starting to craft a blog post. I like strong, dark roasts – especially French Roast – but the roasts at Starbucks are too strong for me. My first thought when I’m on the road is: Is there a coffee maker? That used to be a real problem. Did the hotel room have a coffeemaker? Or did I have to pull on some clothes and go out to the nearest coffee shop? Did I have to order pricey room service in order to get some coffee? Now, most hotel rooms have a small coffee maker. And actor/artist housing always has a coffee maker. I’ve been known to measure out exactly how much coffee I will need for, say, three days on the road, and pack it in a tupperware-like container, along with some filters and a measuring spoon. Coffee, toothpaste and toothbrush. The essentials for travel.
If you drink coffee or tea, what is your daily ritual?
This bee knows what he prefers, doesn’t he? I wonder if bees have their individual preferences as to pollen? Hmmm.
Happy Tuesday.
I am a committed Tea drinker here. Do you remember the Good Earth Restaurants (vegetarian) from your California days? They had the best house blend herbal tea and now I just order a dz. or so boxes each year from their website. Hot in the morning, each day. Love it. Isn’t it time for a post soon from Scout? Would love to hear how her summer is going.
I don’t think I remember those restaurants – before my time there? Not sure.
I haven’t had Scout write a post because, frankly, watching her falter a bit and age a lot has been tough. Hopefully, she will take over the blog again one day and you’ll see a post.
First off…love the quilt that Scout is sleeping on. Waiting for cooler weather so I can get back to quilting. Who made it? Noticed it was all hand quilted I don’t care for machine quilting…looks like a mattress pad.
Since I’m not a coffee drinker I wake up to a cold glass of iced tea on hot days and drink it all day.
I have tea parties and luncheons on my back patio so I brew lots of different flavors. A daughter just got back from Georgia…she brought me peach tea bags. If I have coffee it’s iced coffee, love it with Italian Sweet Creme calories .
Really enjoyed yesterdays comments about having a sense of humor…that was funny!
I got that quilt at an auction. It’s stained in some places but all done by hand. I also hand quilt the quilts I make. I like the look of hand quilting – machine quilting, not so much. But that means it takes me a long time to make a quilt!
My grandmother was a tea drinker, Judy. No coffee ever. Just tea – with milk.
Coffee here with half n half and sugar free Torani Salted Caramel. Tea worn itself out a few years back. I should stop drinking it after noon because it disturbs my sleep to. But it’s so darn gooood!!! Lol
That coffee sounds good, Karen!
Believe me, if I could drink it all day, I would!
Claudia, I get our coffee pot ready the night before. It’s a Mr. Coffee with a stainless steel carafe. Not one of those hot plate makers. So the coffee stays hot and fresh a lot longer. Ted turn the coffee on when he first gets up, I get up and take a pill….can’t have anything for 1/2 hour…it’s a reflux pill…probably should not even have coffee. But gosh, I have given up about everything good or fun. LOL.
Once at work, my coworkers were talking about everything under the sun. I was having a gall bladder attack. I said , “can’t eat, can’t drink, can’t have sex…what’s the sense of living?” One fellow said, “there’s always fishing.” I said, “well kill me now !” The funny thing is , this guy was serious. LOL…. That is how I fell about not having coffee….what is the sense of living. You know this is all joking, I hope. LOL. Plus this was many, many years ago.
Blessings, xoxo,Susie
I dealt with the same thing when I was having gall bladder problems a few years ago. I cut out coffee for about 3 or 4 months. Once I’d had the gall bladder removed, I still stayed away from coffee until one day I said, “No more!” Back to coffee. It’s my one vice, and I don’t even think it’s a vice!
Love my coffee! Used to drink it ALL Day long and late at night while reading…never a problem drifting off to sleep. Now, I drink it in the morning before work and most days drink herbal teas at work. Sometimes a cup of coffee at work if I am really dragging, but it does impact my sleeping at night. I love coffee after dinner and sometimes will make decaf espresso (which sounds strange, but it does taste good). My favorite coffee right now is CDM (Cafe du Monde) which is coffee & Chicory. I froth and heat up a half mug of milk and then add the coffee. Yum!! I also like Sumatra coffee, French Roast, etc. The darker/stronger blends for me. I’m not much of a flavored coffee person, but once in awhile I like peppermint coffee or pecan coffee. I use a coffee maker, but love French press coffee and percolator coffee (which is what I grew up drinking…all day long…).
I bet the Cafe du Monde coffee is great!
Yep, my coffee ritual is similar to yours. When traveling I take coffee, pot, water and cup and spoon. I do drink coffee when I go out and after 3 pm it’s decaf.
I’m trying to drink more tea, but for me, it just misses the mark and I end up wanting my coffee.
I particularly love the first picture of your garden with the cottage in the background!
I know. I’ll drink decaf herbal tea, especially in the wintertime, but coffee is just it for me.
I’m a tea drinker. Mostly chai tea. I change it up occasionally, but never herbal teas, as I need a little caffeine in the morning. I used to add milk, but any more, it’s a half-teaspoon of raw sugar. Funny how my tastes have changed a bit over the years. When I go out for breakfast, I have coffee. Cream, no sugar. Go figure.
I love seeing pictures of Scout, and hearing how she’s doing. She is so precious.
Coffee with half and half for me. Used to drink it black, but I can’t do that anymore. My tastes have changed, too.
Scout is doing okay, though I have waves of sadness when I see her hopping on her right front leg, which has a lot of arthritis. I’m bracing myself as best I can for the future, but you never really can, can you?
No, you really can’t. Wonder if it would be easier if one could. I’ve been thinking about her a lot lately, and am concerned. You’ve just had so much this year. Just pray she has several more years.
jane-in-tx
That’s our prayer, too.
Your garden is looking gorgeous, Claudia. I love that it is so natural looking. I only drink decaf coffee and tea. I learned in my twenties I can’t tolerate caffeine so I just don’t consume it. I usually have coffee in the morning and tea in the afternoon. I like having my rituals. xo Laura
Rituals are important, Laura. I like my morning ritual and I like my nighttime ritual of reading in bed. A good beginning and a good ending to the day.
I am a bit of an oddball. I prefer my tea hot with cream and sugar and my coffee cold. And no fancy flavors, syrups or anything. Hubby takes his tea with ice, so we are both in charge of serving ourselves when it comes to beverages.
Scout looks so peaceful on her beautiful quilt. I can very well relate to your feelings on watching her “decline”. Our resident canine senior citizen still has periods where he looks and acts like a puppy. We have noticed his hearing is going downhill and that makes me sad. His hind legs don’t always hold him up, so we tend to carry him around a bit more lately too. He is spoiled beyond rotten, but he doesn’t seem to mind :-)
Same thing with Scout. Her hind legs sometimes buckle. She’s too heavy to carry around, but we do the same thing we did with Riley. We help her up and down steps when she needs it. We just do our best to make her comfortable. Just like you do with your senior citizen. Bless you.
I remember, back in the olden days(actually that makes me sound ancient), coffee was free with your meal in a restaurant! Jim usually makes a pot of coffee in the morning because he gets up first. Sometimes there’s a second pot, some times not. I’ve been drinking tea, late afternoon…Scottish blend….really quite good! But when we take overnight road trips…we do take our own coffee maker, and all the accoutrements that are needed! Starbucks coffee is too strong for me…but I have been known to indulge in a caramel latte once in a blue moon! ;)
I remember that, too. It was complimentary with your meal. Ah….memories!
I’ve had a caramel latte or two over the year. Delicious.
More coffee talk – what fun! I love hearing everyone’s stories and personal preferences too. Well, my personal ritual changed when I retired. The last five or so years I was working, my Contigo leakproof/spillproof commuter mug and I were regulars at Starbucks. Usually hot but if the day was forecast humid and warm, iced. ALWAYS black. Now I’m home and brew a French press full of coarsely-ground Italian Roast each morning. PS – for most of my working life, I brought my own “Nescafe Classic” instant coffee to work and made my own throughout the day. Extremely delicious coffee. But just about the time Starbucks was coming into our area, Nescafe “new-and-improved” that delicious Classic blend and it never again tasted as good as what I’d been drinking for all those years. So off to Starbucks I went. PS – I love hot and iced tea as well. My hot tea favorite is Earl Grey with bergamot and for iced tea, I like Nestea unsweetened or – believe it or not – McDonald’s! Mickey D’s gets a bad rap but both their coffee and tea are – IMHO – every bit as delicious as Starbucks. I really should go there more than I do! LOL.
I like iced tea too. I like to get iced Tazo tea (I think there’s one that’s sort of a berry flavor) at Starbucks.
I agree. I buy nothing at McDonalds, but I DO like their coffee.
Miss Scoutie looks so sweet..I would love to run my fingers through her beautiful fur..it is so sad that our pets age so much faster than we do..I glad to hear she is still having her “puppy moments” as I call them..or “kitten moments” for my cats..I don’t like strong coffees..I can’t drink Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts..I add sweetener and milk..usually two cups after I get up and once in a while a cup in the evening..I remember when I was a kid my Mom made coffee in a peculator on top of the stove.. it smell so good..she was an all day coffee drinker..One day my little niece walk in and Mom was having a sandwich with her coffee..she looked at Mom with this odd look on her face and said “Grandma..I didn’t know you ate food..I thought you just drank coffee”..lol..We all lost it laughing!!
That’s a great story! How adorable.
My neighbors down the street (when I was growing up) always had a pot of coffee going. I remember that. And the girls who were my age started drinking coffee long before I did. My mom wouldn’t let me!
I only drink coffee once in awhile. Just never really think about it..
The bee and flower pictures are beautiful!
Thank you, Teresa. Do you drink tea?
I don’t travel much; but it’s good to know that most hotels have a coffee maker in the room.
I should probably check before I go–if ever I should go; because, I do like my coffee.
Your mornings sound nice and easy.
It’s always a good idea to check. But I think they’re getting better and better about having a little coffee maker in the room.
When I was young, my parents brewed the first pot of coffee of the day around 7:00 a.m. If you took the last cup, you made another pot! I think the thing never got turned off! I started drinking coffee black when I was about 12. I still drink coffee every day, perhaps 3 to 4 cups. I know you said Starbucks coffees were too strong for your taste, but their ‘Bright Sky Blend’ and ‘Aria’, (both light roasts) are heavenly!
I’ve heard they have lighter roasts now – don’t they call them their Blonde roasts or something like that?
Such a pretty sweet girl. Scout looks so comfy on her quilt. My Lucy sleeps a lot also and I have to help her up and down the steps at times. At 15 she is still hanging in there and just loves her treats. I love quilts. Back in high school (long time ago) we were doing batik and tie dying so I made a bunch of squares and made a quilt with them. Gosh wish I still had that. Growing up, my stepfather use to love bandana’s, so every Christmas I would give him a bunch in different colors and after he passed I found them and brought them home and made a quilt with them. Lots of memories there! We have a percolator and make a pot every morning. If I don’t have my coffee in the morning I will get a headache. Like my sign in the kitchen says “I don’t do mornings till I have my coffee” Have a wonderful day!
It’s such a great idea to make a quilt out of old clothing or bandanas. Don’s stepmother had quilts made for all the kids out of Don’s late father’s shirts. It’s priceless to him.
I can not add to the coffee discussion, it is tea all the way for me.
Hugs,
Meredith
I know you’re a tea girl, Mer. You have your tea rituals – I’ve seen them.
Aw coffee rituals. Love my coffee. I’ve already weighed in on the K-cup issue. I do agree that Keurig does make a great cup of coffee. I’m not thrilled with Starbucks, its okay, but leaves an aftertaste, and I only indulge while traveling and need a good jolt to keep me alert on the road. Today, I had to go to Williamsburg for a doctor’s appoint and tried a little coffee shop in the adjoining shopping center for my breakfast. I had one of the best cups of coffee EVER. It was a house blend that they called Williamsburg (oddly enough ;) I’ll certainly be visiting that shop again.
Scout is one lucky girl to have such a pretty quilt to call her own. We have an elderly cat (15 years) who is stiff and achy. She can get up into a chair only about 1/2 the time these days, so she spends most of her time on the only rug we have in the house. We hate to see her struggle, but those days she’s feeling well…..well, those are so precious to share with her.
Isn’t that great? Finding a new coffee place that makes a great cup of coffee? Fabulous.
I share your feelings about an elderly pet. Scout is 15, too. She has good and bad days, but when she’s feeling good, it makes my day.
I drink one cup of coffee every morning, and then living in the south, it is sweet iced tea the rest of the day. Nowadays, it has to be decaf tea or it makes me jittery. Scout is such a sweetie. I can really sympathize with having a senior pet. Our rescue cocker Lucky is sometimes sluggish and has trouble with his hind legs, but let the grandkids come and he acts like a puppy. But he is getting older and his hearing is not the best either. We appreciate every day with him. Hope both you and Scoutie have a great day.
Scout has cataracts and can’t hear very well, either. But she manages to deal with most things fairly well, bless her heart.
Hi Scout! Hello pretty flowers! Good afternoon, Claudia ~
Like you, I head for the coffee first thing when I wake up. I grind my beans fresh every morning (either Dunkn Donuts beans or Trader Joes Organic Breakfast Blend) and make the coffee in a French Press. If I have a free morning (which is a rare thing right now with having physical therapy two mornings/week and yoga on another morning), I like to sit with my coffee and laptop and go through my email and Facebook. I’m not a Starbucks coffee fan either – their coffee is much too strong for me. If I do go to a coffee shop, I search for the independent shops.
I’ve heard that Starbucks has introduced a lighter blend – I think they’re calling it Blonde? But I might be wrong about that. I’ll have to try one some day.
I’m enjoying your coffee talk today. I’ve always loved coffee, but my hubby doesn’t drink it so I got out of the habit of drinking it at home. I’ve really missed it so I started again and just add a bit of cream and some splenda, dark coffee is too bitter for me. I’m still experimenting on what kind of coffee I want to use. I’ll have to try Peet’s and see it it appeals to me.
I don’t use kcups, partly because of some of the health benefits of drinking coffee and we are thrifty minded people as well. I make a fairly strong pot with my little coffee maker since I started making cafe lattes at home. I love my little hand held milk frother and I add some vanilla flavoring and make a nice latte. I still enjoy drinking coffee when I go out, so I’ll stop at one of my favorite coffee houses and add a muffin and that has become almost a weekly ritual for me. I haven’t had any luck converting hubby to coffee. Sigh. Lovely garden photos and picture of Scout napping.
Peet’s has several different blends – my favorite is a little darker, but I do add half and half to it. I’ll have to try a milk frothed, Diane – I’ve never made a latte!
Dame Scout looks so cozy! One of my girls is getting older. She just turned 14. She is starting to show her age, but once in a while the kitten in her makes an appearance and she runs through the house as though she were on fire. Like you, I worry about her.
My coffee ritual each morning consists of feeding the cats. They demand attention before anything else. Next I make the coffee. I like Seattle’s Best #3. It is a light roast. While the coffee is brewing I go outside to feed the feral cats that live in our woods. Then and only then can I come back in to fresh hot coffee. On beautiful summer mornings I take it outside and enjoy the sounds of the woods waking up. On hot or wintry cold mornings I have it while sitting in my chair while doing my morning devotions. I have a French press that I save for those times when the electricity goes out.
I like iced tea very sweet. I use Caribou’s Spicy Cinnamon tea for this and for hot tea in winter. I add some cinnamon red hots to add to the cinnamon-y-ness of it (I think I made a new word). And some stevia for sweet.
I like my coffee black (usually) on the weaker side, and my tea strong and sweet. Just like my mom who taught me to drink both.
Love hearing about your rituals, Trudy. Also, love the idea of adding cinnamon red hots to your tea! What a great idea. I love anything cinnamon-y.
Scout has such pretty fur – it looks so soft. I know you and Don will continue to give her all the love you can. It is always so hard to watch our pets struggle as they age. I had a migraine today and both of my cats kept me close company – they seem to sense when I’m not feeling well. Dog or cat – they are amazing animals.
Both my husband and I drink tea during the week – my preference is green tea, as my grandfather always drank green tea – never coffee and I did everything he did, as a child. My husband chooses different varieties. We brew coffee on the weekends – whole beans that we grind, preferred, but sometime already ground. Usually Starbucks – medium roasts. 2 cups each with breakfast and that’s it for the day.
I have really enjoyed your pictures of all of your flowers, and continue to read your blog daily. I find the majority of your opinions agreeable. Thanks for sharing.
Love the picture of the flowers with the cottage in the background. It just looks like home. *sigh*. Ritual here is a k cup of Folgers at 4 or 5 am with half & half. No caffeine after noon. :(. I used to measure my coffee by the pot, not the cup – and made a pitcher of sweet tea every day, year round. Old age sucks. I have found a decaf tea bag that’s very good (Cain’s – it may be a regional brand). And I don’t care for flavors much. Oh, and my backup coffee pot is the Corning percolator I received as a wedding gift in 1971. I give tea parties 2 or 3 times a year. Always at least 3 different teas.
Gotta have my coffee….. one BIG cup in the morning. We use refillable “K-cups” with our Keurig machine, that way there’s no waste. Favorite coffee is Seattle’s Best #4 with a tiny bit of creamer. If I crave coffee in the afternoon, I make a decaf iced coffee with instant coffee (Aldi store brand).
Good question ! I have no answer..I think they just like “sweet”.. I’m with Scoutie and the joints thing !! Getting old is no fun..
Two cups in the morning. Sometimes one in the afternoon, depending on how my day is going. I have 3 kids with special needs, so when I’m feeling fried, I sit with a reassuring cup of coffee. It’s my only vice, too. Except for the fake creamer I use, :)
I do love my morning coffee. I’m not a morning person either and need it to help me ease into the day. I brew one cup (using a Kcup currently) usually French Roast and enjoy it while I catch-up on email and blogs. I also don’t drink any caffeine after noon since it also keeps me awake and gosh knows I have enough sleep issues with out adding to it. I like that we all have our own way to enjoy our mornings.
hugs,
Linda