Cyber Monday - $2.00 off all orders - code word MONDAY November 28 2016, 0 Comments

Customer Voice - What they are saying...... November 04 2016, 0 Comments

List of Tea Blends...... October 25 2016, 0 Comments

Elderberries - High quality tea starts with high quality ingredients! August 30 2016, 0 Comments

High quality ingredients = GREAT TASTING TEA!. Just in time for cold and flu season - Becca was busy over the weekend at Frith Farm in Scarborough collecting some of our elderberries for 'Hug in a Mug Tea.' Elderberries are BEAUTIFUL - and higher in vitamin C than oranges. Per the University of Maryland study, "Some evidence suggests that chemicals in elder flower and berries may help reduce swelling in mucous membranes, including the sinuses, and help relieve nasal congestion. Elder may have anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anti-influenza, and anticancer properties." Yummy and evidence it is good for you - Win! Win!

My ordinary day changed! August 04 2016, 0 Comments

I was asked by the Portland Co-op to bring our beautiful iced tea to a co-op sponsored event. Ordinary day for me so far. I made iced organic Rosie Tea for the occasion. A nice hibiscus and rosehip (fruity) blend – a sure crowd pleaser.

I put Frith Farm (not a spelling issue – it is Frith!) into my GPS and started the 1.5 hours to Scarborough, Maine. Still an ordinary day. I love to drive with the radio on – and me singing. Still ordinary!

The minute I arrived at Frith Farm in Scarborough, I knew my ordinary day was going to change. At this point, I didn’t know how, but just that it was something with the people and the farm itself. It was simple, beautiful, serene, and earthy -   a huge step away from busyness.

Frith Farm’s mission is to build soil, increase biodiversity, and strengthen community through the growing of wholesome food.   

Five women were on the agenda to speak on the topic of, “How community connections can bridge gaps in food security and increase access to healthy, local food for all.”  Full organizations and missions at the end of blog.

Then a tour of the Farm was on the agenda. I am not an “outdoors / in the garden” type of gal. I am a “in the kitchen after the veggies are all cleaned and time for me to creatively cook them” type of gal. I do not like the heat, sun, or bugs! At all! 

But as you will see from the rest of this blog – something changed in me – that very day, in that simple barn – with five women speakers – I went out to the fields and gleamed (harvested) spinach for the food insecure in Maine. Bugs, heat, sun and all! 

A person is considered food insecure if they lack access to enough food to ensure adequate nutrition. 

According to the Good Shepard Food Bank, many Mainers have been hard hit by the recent recession. The USDA estimates that 15 percent of Maine households, or more than 200,000 Mainers, are food insecure. 

This is the statistic that got me: In Maine, CHILD food insecurity rate is 23.9% or nearly 1 in every 4 CHILDREN are food insecure. That is saying, 62,810 CHILDREN in Maine are not getting feed properly or are hungry. 

While working at Xerox in Lewiston, I worked closely with the United Way. Our call center held food drives for the food pantry. One Friday afternoon, I mentioned to the United Way Director how excited I was for the needed three day weekend; she smiled but let me know these long weekends were sad for her because some of the children were going home from school on Friday afternoon and would have little to nothing to eat until they returned to school on Tuesday. Ouch that hurt! I was thinking of rest, while children were thinking about how to get food to ward off hunger. 

My mother was hungry, during periods of her childhood. She knows first-hand what being without food is like. We were raised to clean our plates. I remember not wanting to eat certain foods or feeding them to the dog when no one was looking. I understand her clean plate theory now. 

The speakers were passionate about feeding Maine people that were food insecure healthy options. They are women making a difference in our communities. They spoke from the heart. They were educated and wanted to partner with other organizations to ensure there were no gaps in feeding Maine people. So impressive! 

After they spoke, feeling total inspired and empowered, I quickly got my harvesting knife and headed to the spinach rows to cut the spinach for the South Portland Food Cupboard. 

Not once did I feel the sun or swat any bugs. I was driven. I wanted to help. I was proud. I imaged the mothers taking home the fresh spinach and deciding how to prepare it for their families. Huge clear bags were filled to the brim with fresh cut spinach! Blessed! 

There are so many ways to help in our own communities. Let’s get involved. Let’s show our children that we care. Let us help mothers feed their children! 

P.S. We will be working with Frith Farm for our Echinacea and Elderberry for our Hug in a Mug Tea - so excited!

Organizations with speakers: 

Frith Farm is a diversified Organic farm on 14 acres in Scarborough, Maine. 2016 will be our sixth season in operation, offering organic vegetables and pasture raised eggs, chicken, lamb, pork, and turkeys. 

The Portland Food Co-op brings local producers and consumers together in a member-owned marketplace to grow a healthier community and a more sustainable food system.  We model cooperative values, operate with transparency, and foster trusting relationships with our customers, employees, and suppliers. 

Maine Farmland Trust – We are a member-powered statewide organization that protects farmland, supports farmers, and advances the future of farming. 

Locker Project - The mission of the Locker Project is to connect food-insecure children in Maine with nourishing food to improve their learning capacity, health, and future.

South Portland Food Cupboard - The South Portland Food Cupboard is dedicated to alleviating hunger by providing supplemental food to the needy of South Portland, Scarborough, Cape Elizabeth, and surrounding communities. We strive to offer nutritious foods, provide a full week’s worth of meals for each family once per month, serve with compassion and caring, treat each client with respect while bringing hope and encouragement to their lives, and educate our clients about other available community resources. 

Preble Street - The mission of Preble Street is to provide accessible barrier-free services to empower people experiencing problems with homelessness, housing, hunger, and poverty, and to advocate for solutions to these problems.   

Living an 'intentional' summer! July 12 2016, 0 Comments

This year, I am living an ‘intentional’ summer!

 Living in Maine, we have a small window of summer – July and August. Yes, that is it. So many years I get to September and say, “What happened to the summer?” as I am packing up my bathing suit.

Not this year! I want to hit September saying, “I can’t eat another lobster!” and “I relaxed so much, I feel so rejuvenated!” and “I have never rode my bike and swam so much!” And “I have enjoyed every farmers market all around me!” and “I have found all local ingredients for our teas!” And “I am so rested!” And “I am filled to the brim with the richness of summer.”

So how do I get there from here? How do I slow down like a cup of lavender tea….every minute of this summer? How do you enjoy your summer?

 A few weeks back, I was dropping something off at my mothers and she had picked up a new bench at a lawn sale. It was outside on her front lawn, the same lawn that I grew up and played on. It was a beautiful old wooden bench. As we sat on the bench, on this beautiful morning, we talked about the gardens, our grandchildren and our upcoming week.

That is when I realized what summer was all about for me. It was about slowing down. Slowing down enough to really talk to people – not the fluffy stuff – but what is really going on, riding my bike on scenic routes – not just a chore to lose weight. It is about drinking tea on the porch as the rest of the house sleeps. It is about eating the bounty of the summer gardens and Maine ocean. It is about going to bed later and sleeping in longer.

What if I could spend this summer being a child again?   What if I could spend a lazy, relaxed, enjoy each moment kind of summer?

Summer has already started with a day on the lake with my work friends riding a platoon boat and a few days on a remote island (Criehaven) with my long time precious girlfriends and a trip to Mount Apatite Farm (Farm to Table catering and flowers – Cooking Carol) in Auburn to cut the most precious lavender with my granddaughter Sara and my sister Becca’s daughter Ashly.

Carol met us in the driveway, on her 24 acre farm, on a beautiful sunny afternoon. We toured through her old farm house catering kitchen (love!) and then out to the gardens. We were met by a snake! I wanted to scream and run to the car and tell her to pick the lavender and bring to the car….but with two 12 year old girls beside me….I bravely said, “Oh a little garden snake.” Both girls watched the snake and slowly moved on. Carol shared her gardens with us all – with no shoes on!! At one point,

I looked over at the girls and they were swinging and laughing.

The lavender patch was beautiful. This lavender will make the most relaxing Cuppa Lavender Tea (Tempest in a Teapot). All chemical and pesticide free blue lavender. I can hardly wait to get back to the blending house to

dry it!  I felt like I just met an old friend in Carol. When the girls heard she bakes and cooks and had a full freezer they jumped up to see the goodies. Many $$$ later – we left with tons of lavender for tea, chickpea shepherd’s pie, a chocolate mousse cake, a strawberry rhubarb pie, and turmeric veggie pockets!

Summer of 2016 – I am intentionally going to enjoy you!

Written by Tammy Smith (Wife, mother, grandmother, Blogger, Tea Lady)

www.tempestinateapot.me

Can you teach an old dog (me) a new trick? June 08 2016, 1 Comment

I went to the doctors the other day for a routine physical and the ‘new’, younger than my son, doctor, right out of medical school, told me I needed to lose weight.  No kidding!  Did he think that I didn’t know that?  He used the word ‘obese’ – ouch!  I heard on the radio this morning that 40% of women and girls in America are….here is that word again…obese. 

 I have been struggling with my weight from age 10 on – and that’s a long time!!

 I have tried everything!  Obviously everything I have tried has not worked – for me – long term.  So I have to try something different – a change, a way of life, stepping into the unknown, trying a new way to live life.  Easy right?

 So as I was taking a few days to think about this and how I could change – my computer crashed.  When it came back up, I logged into my Pandora music it made me log in again.  I was thinking it was a Tempest email – so I logged in, changed the password – and it was a TOTALLY different playlist. 

I was too overwhelmed to figure out how to get my old list back.  You know – all my favorite music – Janis Joplin, Meatloaf, Piano Radio (when I am writing), Kari Jobe, etc…..instead I have Iron and Wine Radio, Aloe Blacc Radio, Bruno Mars.  What and who are they??  OMGOSH – way overwhelmed!!! 

I played Iron and Wine Radio – I fell in love at first song.  Then again at the second song!  I have played these stations for days.  Total change for me – and I love it!

Then it hit me!  If I am going to lose weight – I have to totally change.  I need to be completely adventurous – and totally try new things.

My lifelong friend Beth tried yoga this year.  Not because she always wanted to…but because of a foot injury.  She now LOVES it!  Who knew?

 As mothers, we expose our children to all kinds of different activities, until they find what they like – art, sports, music, writing, reading, theater, etc.  We are all different, with different gifts and different likes.

 As I was talking to a wonderful young man at Whole Foods Market in Portland a few weeks ago, he said he didn’t like tea.  I asked if he has tried black, green and herbals.  He said he didn’t know what kind he tried – but only tried one.

I was immediately sad.  He didn’t know that a tea drinker doesn’t always drink all types of tea (black, green or herbals). 

 As a matter of fact, in my observation, of the many tea drinkers I have met over the last year – and we are talking hundreds – most of them drink only one kind of tea. 

 They either drink only black teas, or only green teas or only herbals because of taste preference. 

I believe our bodies gravitate to the teas for us, individually.  My sister Becca prefers the fruity teas – where I stay away from the fruity teas and drink mostly bold black teas and green teas.  It is our personal taste palate.

 What if this nice young man tried the wrong tea type for his taste preference?  He might never try tea again. 

 What if Tiger never tried golf?  What if Beth never tried yoga?  What if I never listened to Bruno Mars, ? 

 I told this young man to try again – try a variety of teas.  Try a bold black tea for breakfast with cream and sugar.  Try a green mint iced tea for lunch.  Try a warm lavender herbal tea in the evening with honey.  He might just get adventurous and try an earl grey or hibiscus rosehip!!  Goose Bumps!!

Summer 2016 – on an adventure to try new things!!  Can you teach this old dog new tricks – YES!

SALE $2.00 off - GINGER FUSION May 24 2016, 0 Comments

Photo Shoot Unedited! May 18 2016, 1 Comment

You know that beautiful sunset scene, the baby smile or freshly baked bread just out of the oven….that you want to take that perfect picture of. 

You get your camera on your phone out.  You line up the screen with your perfect object.  You push the ‘take my photo’ button.  You smile.  Then you look at the picture on your phone and it looks nothing, and I mean nothing, like the beauty you see in your sunset or freshly baked bread.

That is all changing for me!  Enough is enough!  I want to take GREAT photos with my iphone.  I know the importance of what a great photo can do for our Tempest in a Teapot website.  I also know the cost of hiring a photographer to take all the pictures necessary to enhance our website.  As much as I would have loved to do that, as a new business we are not in that position yet.

So what now?  I write on my vision board – Great Photos…..and wait.

My friend Dotti and I go on the Rockland Friday night Art Walk.  Bingo!  As we are touring the new Art Loft, which offer art classes of all kinds, I see the still life photos by Karen Olson (Renuko Style).  Dotti looks at me and says, which I already knew, “There is your photographer.”  And guess what?  She teaches classes!

Monday morning, the talented, published and inspiring photographer Karen Olsen spent the morning with me. 

She arrived promptly at 9:00am at my home.  She asked me to have some photo props ready.  I had our black tea blend, mint tea blend, our new yummy ginger fusion tea blend, tea ingredients, tea pots, tea cups….my kitchen table was full of props and my phone in my hand ready to take photos.

With notebook and pen in hand, I listened and learned.  She gently guided me through the differences of direct on shots, top down shots and human in the photo shots.  I learned about lighting – using the sunlight from the window or shading by blocking out the sun. I learned about shallow pictures and depth of field. 

We started to rearrange my living room with tables near the window, cloth draped over and positioned.  Did you know that flowy material is sexy?  That was new to me – I loved it!

We arranged the tea, spoons and cups.  We take our time to arrange the setting.  We add things – nope not right.  We take other items away – nope not right.  We move some material around – beautiful.  We are ready – the setting is ready.  It feels right.

We start to take pictures, her with camera and I with my phone begin.  Photos of all angles – direct on, overhead, standing on a chair over the setting, from sitting in a chair to keep the camera still…you name the angle, I took a picture from that angle!!

We moved the objects slightly, and took all those angles again.  It was fascinating and exciting.  I didn’t want this time to ever end.

We moved into the kitchen.  We worked off an old wooden table that I picked up at the Salvation Army a while ago for $25 and talked about that good find.  I use it as an island in the kitchen for additional baking space.  It has great bones and strong wood grains.  Today it works wonderful with the earthy tea feel.  At one point, we are out in the yard clipping trees and scrubs for the photos.

After two hours, we sit at the kitchen table with Karen’s computer and she brings up some of the photos.  I stop breathing.  My heart fills.  My eyes water.  These are the most beautiful pictures I have ever seen.  She used the word ‘artfulness’ – yes artfulness.  

I want to reach out and touch her.  She, Karen Olson, has inspired me.  She has increased my consciousness of beauty.  She has changed the course of our business and me.  For fear of scaring her off, I just say almost in a whisper, “That is the most beautiful picture ever.”

We part after three hours of being together.  I will do set ups and take tons more photos.  She will be back for the next round – Editing the photos.

New Tea Lovers - black tea and hibiscus! May 10 2016, 0 Comments

New Tea Lovers - black tea

 My day started early – 4:00am.  I continue to tell myself that next time I will be more organized and have everything ready the day before – so I don’t have to get up so darn early – but here I am again at 4:00am getting ready for a day at Whole Foods Market in Portland Maine to showcasing our tea, Tempest in a Teapot. 

After letting out the dog, packing the tote with glass iced tea containers, ironing the table clothes (that I love by the way – even though they are really just lovely blue material that I have not sewn the edges around yet – another thing I said to myself that I would do before I tabled again!!), packed Pete’s (my husbands) lunch, let the dog back in, finished packing sample cups, mint, lemon, orange slices……on and on…..I am ready to go……4 hours later!

The last thing in the car is the tea for sampling.  I chose to serve iced tea today because the weather is warming up – well, if you call 45-50 degrees warm – I do in Maine – and maybe just the sight of iced tea will bring on spring! 

 Yesterday, I boiled water in two large pots to make the iced teas.   I put the loose leaf tea into a few large teabags to make it easy.  I chose a bright red tea (Rosie – hibiscus and rosehip) and a strong black tea (Tradesman) for showcasing.  After the tea steeped, I added sugar to the black tea to make a soft sweet tea – oh so smooth – and into the fridge they went for the night.

The tea is now snug in the back seat with the table and the fully packed tote.  We, my tea and I, are off for the 1.5 hour drive to Portland.  The drive up the coast of Maine is beautiful this morning.  The sun is rising, the ocean is on my left for the ride down, traffic is light and I listen to Bob and Sheri.  Those two crack me up!  I am singing and smiling. 

 I meet the most wonderful people today.  They are customers – but feel more like friends.  They loved the sweetened black tea.  I am so pleased.

 I met a mom and daughter that were delightful!  They had matching hair cuts – blonde bobs – so adorable.  I talked with a retired engineer that was now part of a mushroom organization.  We talked about chaga being a mushroom and how to harvest.  Becca and I have often thought about making a chocolate chaga tea – more to come on that topic!! 

 I also met the most precious older gentlemen that talk to me about coming from Ethiopia 26 years ago with his wife.  He was so proud of his six children – they were all grown now and all college grads with one being a doctor.  He talked about the beautiful life he had in Maine.  I couldn’t help smile as he discussed raising them.   He also liked the black tea – sweetened.

 The tea is selling wonderfully.  It was a great day for showcasing our beautiful teas.   We have new whole leaf tea lovers – this excites me!   

I end my day with a quick shopping trip around the Whole Foods Market – chicken, steak, apple tree, chocolate covered salted caramels (I say they are for my husband but I can’t wait to get in the car!!), oranges and a few selections of cheeses.

 Yup!  They were for me.  As I am coming home now, with the ocean on my right, music on the radio – I am eating a chocolate covered salted caramel.  Did I say one?