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Most of my white tea reviews lean heavily to the complaint side. Thanks to laurenpressley, I finally found one to love. The apple-peppercorn thing gives this delicate tea some flavor, and even though it’s nowhere near the ingredient list, I could swear there’s a white chocolate thing happening in the background.

Nice, nice, nice!

Very light as usual, but today it’s so cold, it’s all about the HOT leaf juice, not its flavor.

My thoughtful and creative gift-giving husband saw to it I had about 3 bulk ounces each of German chamomile, Oregon peppermint, and lavender for experimenting and blending.

So I tried a teaspoonful of the lavender with my old standby Monk’s Blend. May have to work with the proportions a little, but it tones down the grenadine sweetness a little and — well, tastes a little like a purple Crayola. (Not that I ever actually ate one during my formative years.)

But then again, if you’re a sucker for blank paper and a brand new box of pointy crayons….

Anyway, it’s pleasant and purple and I’m feeling decidedly relaxed and Christmas pudding-y.

How times have changed … used to be it was the child that was awake at 4 a.m. on Christmas morning due to the excitement; now it’s the parents awake at 4 a.m. on Christmas morning due to insomnia. So we decided on a lark to leave the teenager in bed and go out to breakfast wherever we could find an open door. I toted my own bag, not knowing where we’d land, and good ol’ Irish Breakfast is a can’t-miss morning guarantee. Cranberry orange pancakes at Denny’s.

One thing that hasn’t changed…the down-on-my-knees sense of awe and blessing that always hits me on Christmas morning, no matter who’s up first: after all, “the Word became flesh and took up residence among us.” May He be in residence with you and your families today.

Just seems like the day to hit all the holiday favorites. With a little sugar and milk, eminds me of cinnamon spread (which I don’t know actually exists, but sounds reasonable) on a graham cracker. I think I still prefer my Ginger Snappish with the little extra kick of lemon.

I also ginger-snapped up some of this on our Christmas run to the city. I now feel quite well-stocked for the winter!

I found some! I found some! Had to drive clear across the state to do it, but I snagged some in time for Christmas! Sweet and nutmeggy, better with milk. Thank you, Dierberg’s!

It’s cold and lead-balloon cloudy, I’m working on a writing assignment that’s about to wring me dry , and I needed a little internal sunshine. This is cheerful and fruity without being too tart—-now where’s a sun lamp?

Finally had the opportunity to sit down and write a thoughtful and positive review on this one for www.itsallabouttheleaf.com. Then as hubby wandered by, I stuck the cup under his nose and asked, “What do you smell?”

“Bug spray.”

Rest assured…it’s better than that!