What is in your cup?

[Stitchawl]

Just hear those sleigh bells jingle-ing
Ring ting tingle-ing too
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a sleigh ride together with you

Outside the snow is falling
And friends are calling "Yoo Hoo"
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a sleigh ride together with you

( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXXUXgaMtDY )

Good morning, everyone. Five districts in Chiang Mai province have declared 'Disaster Assistance' status due to the unusually cold weather we've had this past week. Temperatures outside my window dropped all the way down to 15°C! (That's about 60°F for you non-metrics.) Emergency blankets, coats, wool hats and gloves are being delivered to Hill Tribe villagers in the higher elevations where temps have dropped into as low as 4°C (almost 40°F in the early morning hours.) Riding home yesterday from a big Farmer's Market up north, we saw lots of smoke from fires in the streets in front of people's huts with people standing around for warmth.

I'm warming up with a big mug of Ahmad's English Breakfast tea, wrapped snuggly in my T-shirt and shorts, all windows open. When I think back to most Memorial Day swimming pool openings in Vermont, with these same temperatures but people flocking to the pools and beaches, I'm thankful for my New England conditioning! I confess I did cover myself last night with a flannel sheet.




Stitchawl

[BenG]

Chamomile tea

[CRussel]

More cranberry juice while I finished up this latest batch of Mexican chorizo. Which my DW just said was the best ever. All because we were nearly out of Ancho chilies, and I had to substitute a bit. Used Mulatos, which are in essentially the same heat range, but darker and "meatier". Along with the only Pasilla I had (should have been 3 for this size batch), three chipotles (as per usual), a couple of New Mexico, and three cascabel chilis, which I don't usually use. I added them because I knew my heat level was a bit low. This chorizo shouldn't be hot, but should have a slight bite. More than Ancho, Mulatto or New Mexico alone would have.

[GeoffC]

Coffee - still on the de-decaffeinated stuff ....

[CRussel]

Hotel coffee and what is claimed to be fresh squeezed orange juice. Boy will I be glad to be back home!

[Stitchawl]

Capt. Morgan Jamaica rum



Stitchawl

[orlok]

Our new Nespresso machine arrived today. We are saving it for Christmas so haven't tried it out yet, but looking at the variety of pods available, I suspect my decaff only days are behind me . Will have to limit the fully caffeinated cups to once or twice a day though. Can't risk the return of the dreaded palpitations.

[cromag]

Tea. Mug #3.

[Bilbo1967]

Fleurie.

[CRussel]

More cranberry. But back home and watching curling.

[poohbear_nc]

Stopped after work to replenish the Talisker Storm .... ran out last night *shudder*

[CRussel]

Running out is not good. Glad you were able to replenish promptly.

A glass of Lagavulin.

[CRussel]

Russian Caravan tea for a wet and gray day.

[Stitchawl]

Slow down, you move too fast
You've got to make the morning last
Just kickin' down the cobble stones
Looking for fun and feeling groovy
Ba da-da-da da da, feelin' groovy

Hello lamppost, what'cha knowin'?
I've come to watch your flowers growin'
Ain'tcha got no rhymes for me?
Do-in do do, feelin' groovy
Ba da-da-da da da, feelin' groovy

I got no deeds to do, no promises to keep
I'm dappled and drowsy and ready to sleep
Let the morning-time drop all its petals on me
Life I love you, all is groovy
Ba da-da-da da da, feelin' groovy

Good morning everyone! Everything is finally finished! Done! Completed! It's been a very busy few weeks, but everything was completed on time, photography deadlines met, and a fat paycheck in my pocket for that project, a home-made video camera stabilizer made and balanced, and an adjustable yet portable boom/jib designed and executed despite some last minute design flaws discovered. I could have simply bought one for $250, but I decided to scavenge parts from an old tripod, and made it for about $10. It's been an enjoyable, interesting experience all around!

Now it's time for tea! Today it's East India Company's "Assam" tea in my cup. Tin is just about finished, but the timing is right. I'll pick up my wife from the airport at noon, and she's bringing back several tins of various teas to replenish my stock, including some Assam and Royal Breakfast teas from the EIC. I'll be damned if I'm going to pay $75 shipping charges for $30 worth of tea! She's been in Japan for the past month, and stocked up on tea, high quality empty tea bags, Shoo-Goo, Blu-tac, 'special' drill bits, and a half dozen other items we couldn't find in Thailand. I talked with her on Skype last night (she had to overnight in Shanghai,) and she said she even picked up a Keemun tea for me there too.

Today is a really good day!


Stitchawl

[CRussel]

Congratulations, Stitchawl. Good news indeed.