A cup of tea with Margo

This blog is all about the things in life so many of us need to slow down and enjoy, such as, family, the seasons, food, music, and whatever else causes inspiration. I hope to write as often as I can and it is my desire for you to be able to take a break and enjoy my entries with a cup of tea.

Ideas for relaxing for the remaining part of summer... RSS

  Monday, July 25, 2011

I know what you’re thinking... Summer’s here... temps are climbing higher... and the kids are home from school, clamoring for things to do... how could I possibly relax this summer?

Well, fear not... I’ve come to the rescue.

Here are my three tips for rediscovering your carefree spirit this summer...  

  • Switch to vacation mode. It may take some doing, but it’s all in the attitude. Don’t feel you have to keep the same breakneck schedule or keep everyone happy with constant activity. Summer’s the time to slow down and relax a little. Time to look at everything a little differently and forget your to-do list.
  • Enjoy the small pleasures of life. You don’t have to plan a big, expensive trip to Disney World or the beach to enjoy the summer. Think of your own small pleasures and do them throughout the day. It may be running through the sprinklers with the kids or sitting on the patio to enjoy a beautiful sunset. It’s up to you... as long it helps you relax and get refreshed.
  • Breathe some fresh clean air. You wouldn’t believe what a 30 minute walk can do for your mood. Breathing in clean country air is nature’s way of reviving us and helping us deal with stress. Go outside today and enjoy God’s creation for a little R&R.

So, there you have it... 3 tips for relaxing this summer. Try these over the coming weeks and see if you don’t feel better. 

If all else fails, you can always visit us here at the Pink House Restaurant.  We’re the perfect place to relax and enjoy the pleasures of summer.

Visit us anytime for lunch or dinner... AND remember to leave your worries behind.

See you soon,

Margo

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  Tuesday, January 11, 2011

January is a great time for staying warm at home, connecting with friends or just enjoying the pleasures of life. It’s also National Hot Tea month. Here are some hot teas you should try this month that are sure to warm your heart this winter.

Nurturing Teas

Green Tea—very healthy and good for you. Full of Vitamin C and Antioxidants.

Rooibos—translation: Red Bush Tea. Made from a small evergreen shrub outside of Capetown, South Africa. Naturally sweet and full of fruity flavor.

Warming Tisane Teas

Peppermint or spearmint will rejuvenate you and get you ready for the day. Naturally caffeine free, these flavors are also helpful for regulating the digestive system.

Ginger Tea is another good one. Spicy, invigorating taste that also helps indigestion and nausea. Try it to keep colds and the flu away.   

Chamomile is a good choice for the end of the day. Helps with sleep and often served with honey and lemon. Sip it in your quiet time to unwind.

Great Classic Flavors

Darjeeling—smooth and mild. Also, known as the champagne of teas.

Earl Grey—a beloved classic. Distinctive flavor and aroma from the oil of a bermagot orange.

English Breakfast—Black blend of Assam, Ceylon and Kenyan teas that is robust and full of body. Great with milk and sugar and a hearty breakfast.

These are just a few that I recommend but there are hundreds of others that are just as wonderful.

Remember to celebrate Hot Tea Month and try these great teas at home—or better yet—come to the Pink House and enjoy them here. We have over 50 varieties of gourmet loose leaf teas available and would love to share them with you.

See you soon.

Blessings,

Margo 

A Poem for Fall RSS

  Monday, September 20, 2010

A Poem for Fall…

I love fall poems. I especially like them when there’s a crispness in the air and I can settle in with a good cup of tea in the morning or evening. September’s cool, as we know, can be a hit or miss in Oklahoma, depending on the stubbornness of summer, but at least you know relief is coming soon. One of my favorite memories of our Oklahoma autumn is that of the Monarch butterflies.  Before my husband went to heaven we would often enjoy them as they migrated during this season. It was something that was very special to us and still is to me today. Another thing I love about this cooler weather is it seems it's the perfect time for reading poems with a cup of tea.

Here’s one I found called September. It’s by Helen Hunt Jackson. You may have heard of her. She was a great poet known for her rhythmical sonnets and powerful images. When you read it, think of the breathtaking sights and sounds of autumn and God’s wonderful miracle in us all—the gift of His life and hope.

I pray blessings on your life this wonderful time of year and hope you’ll remember to enjoy the colors this fall.

SEPTEMBER

The golden-rod is yellow;
  The corn is turning brown;
The trees in apple orchards
  With fruit are bending down.

The gentian's bluest fringes
  Are curling in the sun;
In dusty pods the milkweed
  Its hidden silk has spun.

The sedges flaunt their harvest,
  In every meadow nook;
And asters by the brook-side
  Make asters in the brook,

From dewy lanes at morning
  The grapes' sweet odors rise;
At noon the roads all flutter
  With yellow butterflies.

By all these lovely tokens
  September days are here,
With summer's best of weather,
  And autumn's best of cheer.

But none of all this beauty
 Which floods the earth and air
 Is unto me the secret
 Which makes September fair.

‘T is a thing which I remember;
  To name it thrills me yet:
 One day of one September
  I never can forget.

Margo


Like Mint? RSS

  Sunday, August 15, 2010

One sprig of fresh mint in your ice tea and you’ll be hooked for life. That’s how it started for me.  I soon found myself putting it in fruit salad, spring rolls and even luscious chocolate desserts. Mint is the perfect flavor for adding a little zing to everything you can think of.

It’s even been used for centuries for medicinal purposes and its wonderful aromatic qualities.  The more popular varieties today I’ve seen are spearmint, apple, and chocolate (yes, it does taste a little like chocolate mint). Mint is refreshing and most people absolutely love it.

If you’ve never grown mint before, here are some tips you may want to follow:

  • Plant it in well drained, non-acidic soil, preferably in shade or in sun for some varieties.
  • Keep in containers to keep its spread in check.  Also, separate varieties or they may lose individual flavors.
  • Keep it moist. Mint is a thirsty herb, so be sure to keep it well watered.
  • Propagate each spring by taking fresh cuttings from the base of the root and putting it in water. Plant in pots when the roots of the plant begin to grow.

Mint is a great herb to grow. It’s a cinch to take care of and a refreshing flavor.

Try it this summer…I’m know you’ll be hooked, too.

Margo


Classic Tea Quotes RSS

  Tuesday, June 29, 2010
For you lovers of tea…here are some classic quotes I thought you might enjoy…

“Love and scandal are the best sweeteners of tea.” –Henry Fieldling, “Love in Several Masques”

“There is a great deal of poetry and fine sentiment in a chest of tea.” Ralph Waldo Emerson,  Letters and Social Aims 

“There is no trouble so great or grave that cannot be much diminished by a nice cup of tea.” –Bernard-Paul Heroux

“If a man has no tea in him, he is incapable of understanding truth and beauty.”—Japanese proverb

“Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the earth revolves—slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future.”—Thich Nat Hahn

“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.” C.S. Lewis

And my favorite,

“Remember the tea kettle—it is always up to its neck in hot water and yet it still sings.”—author unknown.

Enjoy, 

Margo

The Perfect Pot of Tea RSS

  Friday, May 28, 2010
I’m often asked how to prepare the perfect pot of tea. It seems an odd question since tea making appears so simple, but believe it or not, there is a certain knack to it that some people have and others can learn.

My advice is make it simple and add your own touch and personality along the way.
  • Fill your kettle with fresh, cold filtered water and bring to a boil.
  • Pick out your favorite teapot (you must have a favorite) and fill it with hot tap water.  
  • Let it warm until your water boils in the kettle.  Then pour out the warm water.
  • Add the best gourmet, loose leaf tea you can find to the pot, about one teaspoon per serving.
  • Add your water and steep for 3-5 minutes. Make sure you time the steeping process.
  • Pour through a strainer into your favorite cup and enjoy with a friend or a good book.
Enjoy,

Margo

Savor the Moment RSS

  Monday, May 17, 2010

Have you ever wondered where all the precious moments in your life go?

I often do, and I wonder if I’ve taken life for granted or I’ve savored every good thing God has given me. Sometimes we’re in such a hurry, running around from activity to activity, that I think we fail to stop and enjoy the here and now.

Psalms says “You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man's life is but a breath.”

And, nothing could be truer…we are all just a breath that will soon vanish. God has given us a life to fill with what we choose and just a short time to make the most of it.

Question is…how will we spend it? In busyness and stress or in deep appreciation to God for His gift of life and for giving us the love of others?

As I go through my days, I want to appreciate every moment in life and the ones who make it worth living. I encourage you to do the same.

Today, thank God for your blessings and for the gift of life. May you make the most of your days and honor Him by savoring each moment that you live.

Blessings,

Margo

Change is Good RSS

  Monday, May 10, 2010

It’s funny how so many us are stuck in the same daily, boring routine. We eat the same food, do the same activities…and rarely do we ever experiment with something new. No wonder so many of us get so restless and tired of our daily life.

We’re afraid to do anything different because that means we must venture into the unknown. Know anyone like that?

I believe it’s important we get out and try new things…for the sake of change if nothing else. At the worst you can say you don’t like it, but at least you tried it, and then you can move on to something new.

To tell you the truth, that’s one of the reasons I bought the Pink House restaurant and feel so passionate about our purpose. It’s so unique and different…I think it matches my spirit of adventure and trying new things. It’s also a way I can bring the spice of life to others and help them enjoy some of its simple pleasures.

As I live my life, I pray that I don’t get so bogged down in a daily routine that I just trudge through…going through the motions. I want to enjoy the good things God has given me and be able to share them with others. I want to try new food. Go to new places.

I want to keep a certain sense of adventure in my life.

I hope you will also…and remember to stay forever young in your attitude and heart.

Blessings,

Margo


The Mother of Invention… RSS

  Monday, May 03, 2010
Most of us love ice tea, but I recently came across a bit of trivia I thought was interesting.

Did you know iced tea was invented by a tea salesman just on the spur of the moment? You’ve heard the saying necessity is the mother of invention, right?

Well, as the story goes, Richard Blechynden, a tea plantation owner, went to the St. Louis World’s Fair back in 1904 to peddle his tea, which was, of course, prepared hot. But, since it was in the middle of summer, no one wanted to try it. Naturally, they were too busy drinking cold drinks like lemonade and other beverages.

That gave him the idea of pouring his hot tea over some ice and calling it iced tea. Long story short, they loved it! In fact, the new concoction was the hit of the Fair and brought hundreds of people to his booth for a refreshing sip of the new drink.  

It’s been a pretty popular item since and has taken different forms over the years…from southern ice tea (with lots of lemon and sugar) to Rhubarb or even Thai Iced Tea. I just recently saw this online and thought it looked interesting…it’s called Peach Ginger Iced Tea. 

Okay, it’s not your mom’s iced tea, but try it anyway—I think you’ll like it.

You’ll need a quart sized pitcher, 4 cups boiling water, 4 tea bags (black tea is good), 1 ripe peach, 1 small piece of ginger, peeled and sliced.

First remove the pit from the peach and cut it into quarters. Add the peach to the pitcher. Sprinkle the ginger on the peaches, add the teabags, and pour the boiling water over it. Let it steep for around ten minutes and then remove them. Just leave the peach and the ginger in and serve chilled…relax and enjoy!

I hope you like it and find time to enjoy it this wonderful time of the season!

Margo


A simple thought on Mothers RSS

  Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Have you ever stopped to think about what true beauty is?

Personally, I think our society has it all wrong. We think beauty is about how we look physically, but there’s much more to it. As Proverbs tells us, “Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised” (31:30).

It’s so easy to get wrapped up in what society tells us is beautiful. But, true beauty, comes from God. We are made beautiful by the love we have for others and how we treat them.

That’s why I think all mothers are beautiful. Sure, we get those wrinkles around the eyes and bad hair days…but, remember beauty is not about perfection. It’s what’s on the inside, in our hearts, that makes us beautiful.

Remember your mom this Mother’s Day and tell her how beautiful she is!

Margo

PS  Don’t forget these Pink House Events on Mother’s Day weekend...

Sat. May 8th 10am

There will be a special Mother/Daughter Tea and Talent Show at Grace Church on May 8th. The Tea/Brunch will be catered by the Pink House and will begin at 10:00 a.m. in the Main Auditorium.  Admission price is $10.  


Sun. May 9th—Mother’s Day

Remember to bring your beautiful mom to our special Mother’s Day brunch on Sunday, May 9th from 10am - 2pm. We’ll have our full menu available along with our famous delicious desserts and a few chef specials for mom, so make sure you make plans to come by.