May 18, 2010

IMPROVEMENT VISION CALENDAR

This is February's flag on my Vision Calendar. 
The theme is tea.  I actually started to have more tea parties in December and January because of this lovely
tea cozy that Ancient Cloth sent me.
Well I had to be honest with myself and admit that drinking caffeinated tea was not good for me.
I love Earlgrey.  We have had a love affair for a long time, to the detriment of the family and my head.
You see I get head aches when I don''t have the same dose of caffeine as the day before.
I start trying to manage my caffeine like a drug junkie.
It just doesn't work for me.  I need more to get me "going" harder the next day.  After a few weeks of this kind of yo yo managing I finally admit that I can't keep doing this...usually after I have also over ate (I don't know what they connection is but it is a kind of self medicating) then crash...with a migraine and nausea.
I decided in February to give up all caffeinated teas.
Migraine headaches are not the only thing that I have suffered from Earl Grey.  I have also received gut wrenching gall bladder attacks.
I have been a pain slut too long for Earl Grey and I am not going to let him take advantage of me anymore.

To be honest this was one of the easier improvements that I have made.
Success breeds success...as you will see in my next Calendar Flag.


I wanted to keep the ritual of tea celebrations...but without the bad side affect.
There is a sprig of mint in the design on my flag, which reminds me there are alternatives...choices.
I grow two  different kinds, spearmint and chocolate peppermint.
  I also have a chia tea mix that I love to brew.

Becky's Chia Tea Mix
1/2c cinnamon pieces
1/2 c roasted chicory
2T Peppercorns cracked
3 T Fennel
2T whole cloves
1 t ground nutmeg
1/3 c cardamon in green pods.
3T organic orange peels
add 1 t fresh ginger

Bring a 2 cups of water to a boil.
Put 2 T chia tea mix and ginger in the boiling water.
(being careful because it make boil over when you add it...
so I wait for it to cool just a bit or add right before boiling)
Simmer for 15 minutes.
Remove from heat and strain.
Heat 1 cup of milk.
Add to the chia and sweeten preferably with palm sugar
which you can get at an oriental grocery store.