Mrs. Teabody Keeps a Journal: Day 6: Invasion

Today is Tuesday, March 31

See clearly now

It has come to my attention that my tea samplings are taking a second fiddle to my other ramblings so let's dive right into tea on this Tuesday which I think is actually Day #6 of tastings but Day #14 of social distancing.  There is no quiz on any of this, of course, so let  any and all of those numbers slide right out of your pretty little noggin. As this is Day #6 of tea samplings that means with the conclusion of today's selected teas, I have shared 30 teas with you. That's a lot, even for me so after today we will take a break for a day or three because April 30 is a while down the pike. In fact, we've not even tapped into our new (and hopefully, better) month.  The very good thing is that I have had the opportunity to re-acquaint myself with all the teas I offer in my quaint little NONESSENTIAL shop -- more on that later. Let's drink some tea, starting off with two traditional black teas

Earl Grey Pride and Joy: Black Ceylon tea with cornflower petals and Bergamot,  amped on citrus for those of you with a rock and roll soul. Of course this is a little homage to Stevie Ray and one of the most popular teas in the shop. Nothing any better if you are an Earl fan.

English Breakfast: Black Ceylon tea, golden infusion. This is THE DEFINITIVE BRITISH CLASSIC cuppa that travelers to the UK adore. Greet your day properly. Mr. Teabody thought you might like this  English Brunch blend from Aggregator. Sorta funny, right?

Gingerbread House: A mild fruit melange with the dominant flavors of ginger and roasted almonds. And popcorn. Why not? Why, why, why wait for Christmas to be transported to your favorite imaginary place? This is a truly wonderful nutty and smooth cuppa that will make you want to alphabetize those hotel soaps you've been hoarding.

Happy Unicorn: Another sweet fruit combination with apple pieces, candied pineapple (sugar), carrot pieces, hibiscus petals, white and pink sugar sprinkle unicorns, beetroot juice concentrate, beetroot pieces, strawberry pieces. So magical and so perfect for the younger tea drinker in your house. They will love the pink and white marshmallow unicorns. I do. Knock a couple back to chase the blues. Get that glucose level up.

Jersey Girl: Green honey bush tea with candied pineapple, orange peels, candied papaya, apricot pieces, peach pieces and rose petals. Named for one of my favorite Jersey girls in the world even though she is NOTHING like the name suggests. Sweet and unique and memorable.

And now for something completely different . . .

A mouse anyone could love

There was a time when the best way to spur me into a house-cleaning frenzy was for me to throw a party or invite a guest or two to spend a couple nights at our house. When the planet Earth was ordered permanently into our respective corners with the added decree to behave ourselves, we all found ourselves with extra time on our very, very, very well-scrubbed hands. In fact during the last two weeks I have seen parts of our house I had completely forgotten about. For instance the little alcove in our bathroom that holds the washer and dryer. I hadn't forgotten it was there but I had forgotten there was an overhead light. Mon Dieu! All this time, doing laundry in the semi-dark. Well, that's all cleaned up now as are the dressers, the floor of the bedroom closet, the medicine cabinet, well, you get my drift.

One mouse can create enough havoc to mold into one large blueberry

Back in February I discovered evidence that our kitchen cupboards had experienced the kind of invasion one comes to expect when living in the woods. You know what I mean--those little running chocolate sprinkles you find here, there and everywhere and nothing will do until everything is shifted, wiped down, cupboards chloroxed within an inch of their lives, damaged goods tossed and  order restored. Pristine and smelling clean. Forty-eight hours after finding the first telltale signs, all remnants of his invasion had been neutralized and the sides of the kitchen cupboards were fit for surgery--well, an exaggeration. But very, very clean.  All that changed this morning, March 31. Tuesday.

Who's been walking on our tea towels?

My first reaction when I saw the little poop-lets in the tea towel drawer was as far removed from ladylike as one can get. Loud. Profane. There was nothing to do but take the entire contents of the drawer to the laundry room, throw everything on the floor and shake each and every bit and  one by one toss each piece into the washing machine filled with scalding water and every scrubbing up  powder or liquid I could find. Mr. T. followed on my heels with the vacuum. After that it was the cupboards. Before the lunch hour arrived, order had been restored in the kingdom but with preparation for future invasions in place.  If we have learned nothing else from our time in the corner, we have learned that prevention is key. And that is why the freshly-laundered tea towels and  dish cloths are now completely encased in a thick zippered plastic bag and good luck crapping that up, you little heathens.

I felt good after all our effort and purposefulness.  Cleanliness really does feel a little Martha Stewart-y, a little Better Homes and Gardens. Who likes mouse droppings? NOBODY.  I've read a few memes lately suggesting that idleness and a lack of productivity during this imposed isolation is perfectly acceptable and I've caught more than a few afternoon naps and have also gotten every penny's worth out of my streaming subscriptions. That said, finding a creature that I could defeat with my superior size and initiative  removed me from the ranks of the meek, at least for a little while. One final thought: don't take any crap - - especially if your opponent weighs less than an ounce. And stay safe, Dearies.