Good morning! I just took a "personali-tea" quiz through Harney & Sons for a contest they are having. It was kind of fun, but the animal choices were odd. It's a quick one so give it a go and then come back and paste your own in the comments below.
You like variety in your life and you enjoy switching up your hobbies, favorite foods and routines often. Though it may be hard for your friends to predict your next move, you also have a calm and therapeutic nature that makes you a pleasure to be around.
Like you, herbal teas like to mix it up. Herbal teas, also known as herbal infusions, are typically a blend of herbs, flowers, spices and dried fruit. This blend of ingredients is then brewed in the same way as your favorite traditional tea, either loose or in tea sachets or bags. By combining quality ingredients, blends can be created that calm, invigorate or treat minor ailments. Colors and flavors range from light and fruity to vibrant and spicy to match your mood. We offer over 40 different kinds of blends, many of which are caffeine-free and just as chill as you are.
(Answer 5 simple questions to discover the tea type that best suits you! 5 lucky quiz-takers will win a $50 Harney & Sons gift card. Contest ends August 7, 2019) CLICK HERE TAKE THE QUIZ
(Note: I am not in any way affiliated with this quiz/contest/prizes. Just sharing it for fun!)
I am hoping I correctly shared the link, but if not it is on the Harney dot com blog :) Until Next Time ~ Hugs and a Cup of Tea, Heather Elizabeth
January is National Hot Tea Month so this morning I pulled out my Mother's Bouquet by Harney & Sons which features Chamomile (the only tea I like with that flower), rose, cornflowers, orange rind, & natural orange flavor. It's very relaxing and oh-so-pretty.
January 12th, is National Hot Tea Day in the U.S.! How will you celebrate?
I hope you have been well. Sunday, April 15, 2018 is Titanic Remembrance Day. One hundred and six years ago, that ship and the lives of so many became etched into history forever. I have a very special story to share and I hope you are blessed by it. The first time I read it, I was deeply moved, and still am each time I read it. But first, allow me to share a special cup of tea with you.
It is the RMS Titanic Blend from Harney & Sons. A wonderful, rich, hearty black tea. I thought it appropriate to brew a pot and sip while I write you.
Here are the ingredients if you are interested.
And now for our story.
Rev. John Harper & daughter Nana
John Harper was born to solid Christian parents on May 29th, 1872. It was on the last Sunday of March 1886, when he was thirteen years old that he confessed The Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior of his life. He never knew what it was to "sow his wild oats." He began to preach about four years later at the ripe old age of 17 years old by going down to the streets of his village and pouring out his soul in earnest entreaty for men to be reconciled to God.
As John Harper's life unfolded, one thing was apparent... he was consumed by the word of God. When asked by various ministers what his doctrine consisted of, he was known to reply "The Word of God!" After five or six years of toiling on street corners preaching the gospel and working in the mill during the day, Harper was taken in by Rev. E. A. Carter of Baptist Pioneer Mission in London, England. This set Harper free to devote his whole time of energy to the work so dear to his heart. Soon, John Harper started his own church in September of 1896. (Now known as the Harper Memorial Church.) This church which John Harper had started with just 25 members, had grown to over 500 members when he left 13 years later. During this time he had gotten married, but was shortly thereafter widowed. However brief the marriage, God did bless John Harper with a beautiful little girl named Nana.
Ironically, John Harper almost drowned several times during his life. When he was two and a half years of age, he almost drowned when he fell into a well but was resuscitated by his mother. At the age of twenty-six, he was swept out to sea by a reverse current and barely survived, and at thirty-two he faced death on a leaking ship in the Mediterranean. Perhaps, God used these experiences to prepare this servant for what he faced next...
It was the night of April 14, 1912. The RMS Titanic sailed swiftly on the bitterly cold ocean waters heading unknowingly into the pages of history. On board this luxurious oceanliner were many rich and famous people. At the time of the ship's launch, it was the world's largest man-made moveable object.
At 11:40 p.m. on that fateful night, an iceberg scraped the ship's starboard side, showering the decks with ice and ripping open six watertight compartments. The sea poured in.
On board the ship that night was John Harper and his much-beloved six-year-old daughter Nana. According to documented reports, as soon as it was apparent that the ship was going to sink, John Harper immediately took his daughter to a lifeboat. It is reasonable to assume that this widowed preacher could have easily gotten on board this boat to safety; however, it never seems to have crossed his mind. He bent down and kissed his precious little girl; looking into her eyes he told her that she would see him again someday. The flares going off in the dark sky above reflected the tears on his face as he turned and headed towards the crowd of desperate humanity on the sinking ocean liner.
As the rear of the huge ship began to lurch upwards, it was reported that Harper was seen making his way up the deck yelling, "Women, children and unsaved into the lifeboats!" It was only minutes later that the Titanic began to rumble deep within. Most people thought it was an explosion; actually, the gargantuan ship was literally breaking in half. At this point, many people jumped off the decks and into the icy, dark waters below. John Harper was one of these people.
That night 1,528 people went into the frigid waters. John Harper was seen swimming frantically to people in the water leading them to Jesus before the hypothermia became fatal. Mr. Harper swam up to one young man who had climbed up on a piece of debris. Rev. Harper asked him between breaths, "Are you saved?" The young man replied that he was not.
Harper then tried to lead him to Christ only to have the young man who was near shock, reply no. John Harper then took off his life jacket and threw it to the man and said, "Here then, you need this more than I do..." and swam away to other people. A few minutes later Harper swam back to the young man and succeeded in leading him to salvation. Of the 1,528 people that went into the water that night, six were rescued by the lifeboats. One of them was this young man on the debris.
Four years later, at a survivors meeting, this young man stood up and in tears recounted how that after John Harper had led him to Christ. Mr. Harper had tried to swim back to help other people, yet because of the intense cold, had grown too weak to swim. His last words before going under in the frigid waters were, "Believe on the Name of the Lord Jesus and you will be saved." Does Hollywood remember this man? No. Oh well, no matter. This servant of God did what he had to do. While other people were trying to buy their way onto the lifeboats and selfishly trying to save their own lives, John Harper gave up his life so that others could be saved.
"Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends..." John Harper was truly the hero of the Titanic!
Author Unknown. Sources for this article: "The Titanic's Last Hero" by Moody Press 1997," John Climie, George Harper, & Bill Guthrie from "Jesus Our Jubilee Ministries" in Dallas, Oregon I can not recall how I first came across the above story or its writer, but I am so happy to have saved it in my email for several years & to be able to share it with you.
The tiny cross was a recent gift from a friend who traveled to the Holy Land, cup and saucer were a gift from my daddy in 2006. Teeny plate a keepsake from my brother's wedding.
Here is a related video, but the story does seem to differ slightly in some areas.
On a completely different note, April 13th was National Scrabble Day. I had some fun with that with my kitties.
She loves to explore. Here she is up by
the TV on my dresser. I find her randomly hanging
in odd places!
Max IS my Guard Cat and actually growls
if strangers pass by or approach the house.
He promptly attacked the scrabble tiles!
I could not have planned this any better.
As I set up the tiles, a bird made noise
outside the window and her eyes bugged out of her head!
Anyhow, I pray you are blessed today and every day.
Hugs and a cup of tea,
I can not recall where I first saw this lovely quote, but I suspect it was from a dear friend & fellow blogger, Stephanie over at The Enchanting Rose. I thought it poignant for this post.
I regularly check tea aisles when shopping and was so pleased to find Harney & Sons at my local WalMart. Vanilla Comoro is a decaf tea, and my absolute favorite right now. It smells like cream soda when you open the tin! I enjoy it with a splash of milk and local honey. In fact, I enjoyed a cup on Sunday when I read a free download of a novella called A Goose Creek Christmas by Virginia Smith and paused after Ch. 1 to spontaneously make Millie's Apple Cinnamon Muffins listed in the book. Although I slightly overcooked the mini loaves, they were quite tasty with the tea, on a very rainy day!
¾ cup light brown sugar 1 tsp. baking soda ½ tsp. salt 2 tsp. cinnamon ¼ tsp. nutmeg 1 cup buttermilk or canned coconut milk 1 T. canola oil 3 T. unsweetened, natural applesauce 1 large egg 1 tsp. vanilla extract 2 cups peeled apples, diced
Topping ½ cup brown sugar 2 T. all-purpose flour 1 tsp. cinnamon ¾ cup old-fashioned oats 3 T. butter, room temperature ½ cup nuts, finely chopped (optional)
Preheat oven to 375°. Spray muffin tins (18 regular size or 12 large size) with cooking spray or line with paper cupcake liners. In a large bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. In a second bowl, stir together the buttermilk or coconut milk, oil, applesauce, egg, and vanilla extract. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and mix until combined. Do not overmix. Fold in the diced apples. For the topping, combine brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and oats. Cut in the butter. Add the nuts, if desired, and combine with a fork until crumbly. Fill each muffin cup three-fourths full with batter and then sprinkle with the topping. Bake for 20 minutes or until muffins are browned and a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean. Let muffins cool for 10 minutes before removing from tins. Makes 18 regular size or 1 dozen large muffins.
As for the book, I would give it 3 to 4 stars, but only because I far prefer historical fiction. What I did like about this story was that there were characters of all ages. It was a pleasant diversion, but I doubt I would seek out the other books. The writing is decent, just not "wow". However, it is a clean read, which I always appreciate.
Now some other thoughts:
Some of my blogging & IG friends have posted some lovely reminders I wanted to share, along with my own.
I will pray for our president, just as I did the last one. I will pray for our country. I will pray for unity. I am grateful for prayer, and the freedom to do so.
Somebody posted this on FB and I thought it was fun. Want to play along? Here is my Regency Name: Lady Elizabeth Annesley of Shortfield Castle
Now, how elegant is that?!
Previously I shared with you here the #mugswap16 box I put together to send out. Today, I received mine from another swapper. Carmen sews fun goodies, such as this mug rug and table runner, through her Instagram shop @MaxeenLandShop. She also added a scarf, made by her mom. The roses on the mug are very sweet. Thank you Carmen. Note the backside of the table runner...
It just so happened I posted a picture of my kitty, Delilah, before the box arrived. She is sitting on a vintage sheet (same fabric) covering my office chair - because, duh, kitty hair! She is our scaredy-cat and does not often pose for photos.
I had some fun taking pictures of the sunflowers I bought earlier this week. I enjoyed them greatly with The Word, toasted Irish soda bread, and Harney and Sons Vanilla Comoro tea.
I love how the evening sun cascades over the flowers.
I can not wait for cooler days my friends, but until then, may the Lord bless you and keep you, and make His face to shine upon you. Hugs and warm cup of tea,
