Reading The Tea Leaf

Posted By Jean on December 7, 2011

So I know the story needs to be told and it will. There has been many profound experiences that have taken place and really need to be shared with you. Why??? Because that is what I hear all the time; “we need to know who, why, and what brought you to Saugatuck, MI. Really, you want to retire and spend your winters in Michigan? Yes, this winter I do and I will. As to what I am doing here, is getting to know the wonderful person that I am. What I will share with you will be experiences and profound “Reasonings” that have taken place in my life. What I won’t share with you is the past that led me here. Let’s just say this is something, feelings and thoughts that we all go through and in some way I am hoping that by sharing with you, some of Me, you will see Yourself for the Great person that you are and maybe One of you might think, “yeah, I can do that too”. Let’s say it is a journey, come ride with me….the wind is chilly this time of year, but yet warming.

The story will continue with before October 17 to present, Self-willing. As for now, my story for today is a must!

I am in Saugatuck, MI, 49453 with an added 4 digit zip code of 0383, which is actually my post office box. So if you need to send snail mail to me, have at the zip code of 49453-0383, it will get to me.

Now I have been sitting without Internet pretty much of 3 weeks and have actually found that there is a life beyond Internet. Yep, you heard it from Jean, there is. Actually alot of life…so go figure, I have found some of that. I decided to find an uncomfortable spot to sit while on the Internet so that I can CREATE! Yep, use the right side of my brain. It is what I am meant to do.

Today has been a mix of emotions in many ways. I’m not going to spend a lot of time with the emotions, but more of getting “hooked Up”. Yes, uppercase U, for Universe. Comcast is the service of the area of Saugatuck and today I just got my self-install kit from Comcast so that I didn’t have to pay the installation fee of $60. And, yes it was worth it. Let’s say that at 62 years of age it was more of a learning experience and probably the best self-esteem experience that I’ve had in a long time. I can feckin (Irish for…the other word) do this!

I get the huge box from Comcast with the modem in it (which I already told them that I had a modem/router that I was going to use to help cut the costs of modem rental). So I open the box, along with the Zoom Modem/Router w/Wireless-N. To make a very long (3 hour) story short, I couldn’t figure out why I had a cable box with one female input and 2 male ends. Go back to the directions I tell myself and this is what I find; Guia De Inicio Rapido Modem De Cable/Enrutador Con Inalambrico-N. Shit! Why didn’t I take Spanish in high school?? Ta da!!! I look in the Comcast box and my brain sings the “”Gloria in excelsis Deo“” I see a splitter!! Holy….(ghost) what a miraculous idea…split them and add them.

It works!!!

I’m up and running…..got to love technology. However my time here in Saugatuck is for seeing the remarkable person that I AM and for you to find the remarkable person YOU ARE along with sharing our experience.

Love the season and be present for all your upcoming traditions. They will never happen again as they happen this time. Enjoy them.

~jean

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Posted By Jean on November 17, 2011

As you may see by my postings I have been away from this blog for sometime. It is today that I have come to realize that I am wasting space. Wasting of any sort shouldn’t be done. With the flow of time and letting it just be I realize today that I need to start using this space.

Today is an anniversary of sorts for me. One month ago today, October 17, I made a clear choice in my head to make a change to help better myself physically, emotionally and spiritually. Reading the Tea Leaf will not always consist of tea, but of life (mine) and choices. You are welcome to come along on the journey that I set out on October 17, 2011, in fact I welcome you to comment and meet one another as we explore not only the tea leaf, but of who we are. Feel free to communicate, please no spamming, or hurtful messages, they won’t be allowed.

Closing the tea house on Jefferson Street was truly one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. But since it has closed I realize all the knowledge I have gained, the friendships that I still hold dear and how to enjoy a good cup of tea. These things are priceless. Now I understand all of this and realize that there was a true purpose for my being in that space for that amount of time. Many good things have happened because I had the ambition to follow a dream. We dream about things we would like to do, and for most, we never do. I will never have to answer that question, “what if?” because I know the answer. Now I ask, “What if I wouldn’t have?” There are many answers to that last one that I certainly would have missed out on. One of my favorite quotes is by Walt Disney, “If you can dream it, you can do it.”

I am setting a goal for myself. That goal is to use this space and be thankful it is here.

With that being said, I invite you to continue dreaming. If your dream comes from your heart, you are being called to something that is higher than yourself. Listen to the call.

~jean

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Posted By Jean on September 7, 2009

When I closed the doors at Brew City Tea House last November, I felt the world close in on me also. It has taken me some time now to move on as you may see by my posts. Much of that time, I have spent on reflecting and healing my own ego. A small business is usually the dream come true to the person who follows their vision. The ending of that business brought on by a force outside of the business owner usually will result in some sort of grieving process. I feel there are many small business owners that may be going through that same process of healing. With the economy playing a large role in the heart of small business activity, I feel that it is important to come together and use this time as one of reflection and change. The state of the economy has proven challenging for most small business owners such as myself.  I have been using my time since last November to search for the positive life altering experiences that I could extract from Brew City Tea. I was able to meet people I would have never had the opportunity to otherwise, I was able to learn, teach, and expand my horizons beyond anything I could have imagined.

Through the healing process, I have begun to realize that dreams and ideas shift through circumstances. The shift we see in the economy, in our country, and in our lives allow for change. In most cases, it necessitates change and time to reassess our values and what is truly important to us. It gives us the ability to reaffirm our true passions.

For me that passion is tea – I am hoping that through our discussion of tea that it will bring people together, sharing a pot of tea with others, we will come to realize that it is the simple pleasures of life that are important. It truly is the little things that make us happy.

With that said, on this Labor Day 2009, I would like to thank all the people in this country and tea producing countries, that have spent their work days laboring in fields, factories, blending, vendors and enthusiasts to bring us some of the best tea leaves we have seen in decades. Sit back, brew a cup and give thanks.

Sipping Ceylon Lumbini

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Posted By Jean on February 4, 2009

Our golden retriever, Cody, is prone to hotspots. He gets them about 3 – 4 times a year. They seem to always come up on the sides of his neck. When they appear, they can spread rapidly causing him major irritation and pain. They weep, usually an oozing, bloody liquid. The last time the veterinarian cost was about $250 which included a $75 fur trimming fee, to shave the affected area. I decided to do a little research and saw that there was some recommendations for putting black tea on the infected area. Now that I thought was interesting, so I made up a cup of very strong black tea, about 2 heaping tablespoons of black tea, steeped it for about 2 minutes, allowed it to cool to the touch and sprayed it on the hot spot. I sprayed it twice the first day and by the second day I noticed the area seemed to be drying up and less weeping. By the third day it had gotten smaller and seemed to be much better and he seemed less agitated with touch. Day four it was hardly visible.

What is it in tea that makes this possible? According to Wikipedia “Tannins not only heal burns and stop bleeding, but they also stop infection while they continue to heal the wound internally. The ability of tannins to form a protective layer over the exposed tissue keeps the wound from being infected even more”. So keep a small supply readily available in your medicine cabinet for skin irritations, insect bites, burns or rashes. It certainly has made a remarkable difference for Cody.

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Posted By Jean on January 20, 2009

Every inauguration has been a new hope for our country. This one is no different, but I do believe more intense because of the state of the economy. We have no choice but to stand behind our president and our country and pray for the best yet to come. “With every door closing a new one opens”, I have heard all too often after closing the doors at the tea house. My cup of tea is half full, not half empty, I will continue to keep it half full. My best to President Obama.

sipping Darjeeling,

jean

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Posted By Jean on January 17, 2009

We are all aware of the present economic crunch that is going on in the world. We have found ourselves cutting from our budgets any unnecessary items.

Tea however, is a very affordable luxury. A tea that may cost $100 a pound still costs only 50 cents per cup when brewed. One pound of tea will supply approximately 200 cups, compared to a pound of coffee which will yield about 40 – 50 cups. This is not to mention that some local coffee shops will sell a cup of coffee for $4 per. Knowing all the health hype on tea, I will stick with my cup of green tea.

As for the actual cost of tea in China, and with a little research, good quality black Chinese tea is priced between $13 – $45 (US dollars) per 100 grams, which is approximately 3.5 ounces. Depending on the type of tea still it still becomes an affordable luxury that I will allow myself.

Sipping Chinese Yunnan,

jean

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Posted By Jean on January 6, 2009

Blogging seems to be the way of the Internet these days. So in preparation for Brew City Tea’s new blog, “Reading the Tea Leaf” I have found myself doing a bit of blogging research. What then, is a “tea blog”? According to Websters #2 definition a blog is “slang for alcohol, used in science fiction fandom”. So if I were cruising on The Star Ship Enterprise, having a tea blog might be quite appropriate. What that would consist of will have to be left for a future blog entry, unless you may have some suggestions. In that case please share with us.

Websters #1 definition of a blog is, “short for weblog, a journal that is frequently updated and intended for general public consumption”. Public consumption, tea, drinking, I can do that! Welcome to Brew City Tea’s new blog. Heat the kettle and join in, Brew City Tea’s weblog is up and running.

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Posted By Jean on December 22, 2008

Welcome to Brew City Tea’s new online community. Feel free to add any comments, ideas or interests you may have. Blogging is a totally new experience for me. Please be sure to visit our new website, which is still under construction. www.brewcitytea.com
I just want to take this moment out of everyone’s busy schedule to wish you all a very happy holiday season.

Sipping cinnamon Assam

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