Of Tea & Labels

Okay dear friends.

Time for something pleasant.

I know coffee gets all the glory,

but tea really is a lovely drink.

It seems I'm always trying new teas.

My favorite tea was "lemon blossom" 

which was discontinued several years ago now.

Since then, I've stuck with mint tea but have searched

for a new favorite tea that I actually really enjoy and look forward to.

There are some pretty spendy teas out there!

Many of them don't taste like they should be spendy at all.

Well, I finally found not just a tea, but several

that I really savor.

Each one I've tried, I've loved!

Where?  

Hummingbird Tea

I think I've tried six or seven of their teas and

have purchased six of them so far. . . 

and there's another I want to try - citrus chill.

I am not connected with them and I don't get any payment from them

for saying these things.

I just really like their teas and appreciate finding them.

Of all their teas I've tried, I would describe them

as "whole flavors."

So often it seems like there is something missing (like flavor).

These taste complete.

So like I said, I've ended up with half dozen different teas.

I've had these bailor jars for ages.

I purchased them at a dollar store long ago,

and they've come in handy.

I decided they would be good for the teas.

I think they are as pleasing to look at as to drink - 

well, almost.

Many of you might have figured out by now 

that I'm more about function than about fashion.

I like things to look nice,

but when it comes down to it, it has to function

and be as usable as ever.

Weeeeellll. . . . story time 

Some time back, I purchased some attractive

reusable labels to give as a gift.

They were actually for my mom who loves lavender.

The labels are good quality and very pretty.

My mom loved them.

Where did I get these great labels?

I knew you'd ask.

Mistress of the House

(Again not affiliated)

But wait, that's not the end of the story.

So Jes has a way of making things beautiful.

She takes those extra steps and it shows.

When I received the labels for my mom,

there were also a few extras in the form of samples.

Those teas above in the bailor jars needed labels

and they were handy so I wrote 

the name of the tea and put them on the jars.

I used a fine point permanent marker.

If I ever want to change them,

a quick spritz with hairspray wipes it clean.

Hairspray also works for getting permanent marker out of jeans.

Don't ask me how I know that.

Anyways, those little samples worked!

I like that they are a nice quality unlike the little paper stickers.

End story: I ordered some for me and some more for Christmas gifts.

My family is to the point in life that we really don't need "things."

So we try to give smaller things that can be used or consumed.

These are perfect!

I am having so much fun using them.

They are both functional and beautiful.

Pantry stocking this time of year can be wearing.

I am still working on the tail end of tomatoes

and will be dehydrating greens and cidering some apples

within the next week.

It's pretty easy, for me at least, to just get the stuff canned

or jarred and not label it (for shame!)

I know - that's bad.

These are certainly handy and if I'm sipping tea

while I'm canning or prepping foods,

it makes for a much nicer time.

I've been on the go quite a bit lately,

but I wanted to post something nice.

These are the items that came to mind first.

They are things I am grateful for~

I hope you enjoy them.

 

A Pantry Idea

It might just be that I need visual reminders

but...

one of the things about gardening,

canning, and preserving the harvest in general

is knowing how much food we need 

to get through until next year's harvest season.

This is one of those ideas born out of necessity.

I was running out of room in the boxes

under the spare room bed.

That's when the lightbulb flashed above my head

just like in the old cartoons.

Every year, I have to rearrange the pantry shelves.

As we use up one thing,

it's easy to put something else in it's place.

Now, as we use a jar of something,

I have begun putting the empty jar back in it's place.

It's like a reservation for next year.

Also, my not so pretty at the moment - labels

tell me how many jars of given products we use.

I must have issues with rifling through pages to find

what we need during the long days of harvest/canning.

This last year, I feared we would run a little short on a couple things

so there are a couple of store bought cans still in the works.

Of course, the home grown veggies are better

so those foreign cans remain.

(I try to use them up in soups etc.)

Also, that can of 'No Salt Added' is awful.

I grabbed two of them by mistake.

As we narrow in on the actual number of pints and quarts

we use, I will make pretty little labels.

The number can change depending upon your situation

and stage of life:

new little family members,

becoming empty nesters,

an extra adult in the house for a period of time, etc.

I like knowing our consumption for planning reasons,

but I sure don't want more paperwork.

This was what I came up with.

I had the above written and couldn't handle it.
 I was off and playing with labels.
I printed them, cut them, then used clear mailing tape
rather than contact paper (which I didn't have) to cover them.
I can write the number of jars on the label.
If I discover it changes, I can wipe it off with a little alcohol or hair spray
and write the new number.

      

If you have a working system,

leave a comment to let us know.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution

so the more ideas the better.

Until next time,

Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches