Yesterday's poll results were amazingly even. But most TeaChatters did not drink alone yesterday. This is in stark contrast to when I asked on 1/31/08 when the vote was overwhelmingly teachatters by 31-4 were drinking alone, but that was a weekday.
Welcome everyone to TeaDay. It is Monday, and I know I will need some good tea to get through the day. I hope I am not alone, so, shall we brew and share what is in our cups today, all day.
Today's TeaPoll and discussion topic has been brought up on occasion. What do you think of TeaMeets with fellow TeaChatters? I have thought about this a lot. From local meets to regional meets, to cross country meets? International meets? Have you thought about this? Any thoughts.
I am looking forward to sharing TeaDay with everyone, bottoms up!
Aug 25th, '08, 03:44
Posts: 20891
Joined: Apr 22nd, '06, 20:52
Scrolling: scrolling
Location: Back in the TeaCave atop Mt. Fuji
Aug 25th, '08, 04:33
Posts: 5151
Joined: Dec 20th, '06, 23:33
Scrolling: scrolling
Location: Gainesville, Florida
Sakura Yunomi Chawan
This sweet little cup was expensive, but it is a delight. The vendor bills it as a Sakura Aki Kusa Sencha or Autumn Cherry Teacup. "Sakura" means "cherry blossom" or "cherry tree", and is a perennial theme of Japanese arts. "Aki" seems to mean "autumn", and an online dictionary gives "grass" as the meaning for "kusa". The five-petal cherry blossom theme is repeated in dark blue, light blue, pink, gold, and red. Most Sakura blossom in Spring (like the famous ones in Washington DC), but apparently, there is one variety of sakura that blossoms in fall and winter, so I suppose this is what the name refers to.
The Wikipedia article says, “Cherry blossoms are an enduring metaphor for the fleeting nature of life, and as such are frequently depicted in art.”
MORE PIX to complete the mug shots: face right. OK, good, turn and face left.
Now, I am wondering what these things are:
1) the blue expanse on the top, center front (stylized sky?)
2) the little flowers visible in each of the side views
3) the cross-hatched area visible at the bottom in face left.(earth?)
The Wikipedia article says, “Cherry blossoms are an enduring metaphor for the fleeting nature of life, and as such are frequently depicted in art.”
MORE PIX to complete the mug shots: face right. OK, good, turn and face left.
Now, I am wondering what these things are:
1) the blue expanse on the top, center front (stylized sky?)
2) the little flowers visible in each of the side views
3) the cross-hatched area visible at the bottom in face left.(earth?)
Aug 25th, '08, 07:00
Posts: 591
Joined: Apr 21st, '07, 23:01
Location: Indianapolis IN
Contact:
augie
Re: Monday TeaDay 8/25/08 TeaMeets!
Do you have a working definition of TeaMeets?Chip wrote:Today's TeaPoll and discussion topic has been brought up on occasion. What do you think of TeaMeets with fellow TeaChatters? I have thought about this a lot. From local meets to regional meets, to cross country meets? International meets? Have you thought about this? Any thoughts.
(we should have taken a picture for posterity)Salsero, the more I look at that cup, the more the design seems to be moving!
Aug 25th, '08, 09:08
Posts: 708
Joined: Aug 21st, '07, 15:53
Scrolling: scrolling
Location: Connecticut
Contact:
CynTEAa
Love that cup, Salsero! Can't wait to see what the chatters have to contribute to solving the crosshatching. It's beautiful.
Yunnan Gold to start, of course and then I'll be tasting some Assams with high hopes.
Should be a very busy Monday.
TeaMeets...hmmm, could be fun! Like, TeaChat conventions or something?
Happy Monday everyone!
Yunnan Gold to start, of course and then I'll be tasting some Assams with high hopes.
Should be a very busy Monday.
TeaMeets...hmmm, could be fun! Like, TeaChat conventions or something?
Happy Monday everyone!
My understanding is that TeaMeet is tea lovers getting together in one physical location to drink tea, talk about tea (and other things), and do a show and tell of tea and teaware. It can be a group meet or just a couple of people. Kymidwife and I just had a TeaMeet a couple of weeks ago when she was in my home town. It was too much fun!
In my cup - Assam Marangi, as usual. I may try a new darjeeling next.
In my cup - Assam Marangi, as usual. I may try a new darjeeling next.
OK, so... I love this idea. I've met individuals from Teachat and had a fabulous time (hugggs Auggy and RussianSoul). But the possibilities for a consumer-based tea con are really kewl. I think maybe I am thinking on a more grand scale than some others are... but here goes. And keep in mind... I have just attended 2 international Harry Potter conventions this summer... both with 1000+ attendees in lovely hotels with amazing vendor rooms, amazing special events, and informative educational seminars. If Harry Potter can do it, so can TEA!
I'm envisioning an event planned a year or so in advance, with lots of networking amongst all the main tea hotspots on the web including chat sites, blogs, and as many vendor sites as possible... plus all the obvious contacts available through our folks here who attended the Tea Expo, etc. First you need a strong committee of organizers. So we choose a decent central location, find a decent convention hotel, establish a convention rate and get a block of rooms over a 3-day weekend or so, establish a website, and get as many in the established "tea network" as possible to put a link to the convention. Invite as many vendors as possible, have a vendor room where products can be tasted, tested, purchased, or ordered. Have some well-prepared speakers to create an agenda of formal educational sessions including things like:
-the health benefits of tea
-coping with caffeine sensitivity
-gongfu for beginners
-Tea Ceremony
-smart tea shopping tips (how to judge the quality of leaf)
-Cold-brew versus hot brew
-Tea-ware ABC's (when to use a yixing, etc.)
-How to start a Tea Blog
-How to market your local tearoom
-All about Fair Trade
-Organic-Certified... worth the extra?
-Photographing Tea
-PuErh for beginners
-Green for beginners
You get the idea. The sessions could be presentations or panels or round-table discussions (I always like the roundtables the most, unless it's something that requires direct demonstration).
Most of these con's can arrange a nice opening and closing dinner, which we could make sure was complete with a tea-bar. It's also sort of fun to have at least one big "event" like a costume party or dance... I personally like the idea of a costume ball where we dress up in appropriate cultural dress of the country who's tea we love the best.
OK, so there's a basic rough plan... now, the question is, would enough people attend to make it feasible financially? There'd have to be a conference fee to cover the cost of meals and general expenses. If only 50 or so of us Teachatters showed up, it wouldn't really work.
I suppose I should go to work... finishing up a half-caff cup of darjeeling puttabong.
Sarah
I'm envisioning an event planned a year or so in advance, with lots of networking amongst all the main tea hotspots on the web including chat sites, blogs, and as many vendor sites as possible... plus all the obvious contacts available through our folks here who attended the Tea Expo, etc. First you need a strong committee of organizers. So we choose a decent central location, find a decent convention hotel, establish a convention rate and get a block of rooms over a 3-day weekend or so, establish a website, and get as many in the established "tea network" as possible to put a link to the convention. Invite as many vendors as possible, have a vendor room where products can be tasted, tested, purchased, or ordered. Have some well-prepared speakers to create an agenda of formal educational sessions including things like:
-the health benefits of tea
-coping with caffeine sensitivity
-gongfu for beginners
-Tea Ceremony
-smart tea shopping tips (how to judge the quality of leaf)
-Cold-brew versus hot brew
-Tea-ware ABC's (when to use a yixing, etc.)
-How to start a Tea Blog
-How to market your local tearoom
-All about Fair Trade
-Organic-Certified... worth the extra?
-Photographing Tea
-PuErh for beginners
-Green for beginners
You get the idea. The sessions could be presentations or panels or round-table discussions (I always like the roundtables the most, unless it's something that requires direct demonstration).
Most of these con's can arrange a nice opening and closing dinner, which we could make sure was complete with a tea-bar. It's also sort of fun to have at least one big "event" like a costume party or dance... I personally like the idea of a costume ball where we dress up in appropriate cultural dress of the country who's tea we love the best.
OK, so there's a basic rough plan... now, the question is, would enough people attend to make it feasible financially? There'd have to be a conference fee to cover the cost of meals and general expenses. If only 50 or so of us Teachatters showed up, it wouldn't really work.
I suppose I should go to work... finishing up a half-caff cup of darjeeling puttabong.
Sarah
***This organic blend is earthy & spicy, with a fragrant aroma & smooth flavor to captivate the senses. Naturally sweetened in the Kentucky sunshine & infused with natural energy. Equally delicious when served piping hot or crisply chilled.***
I would love a Tea Meet! I think it would be awesome to get together with other people to chat and enjoy a good cup of tea.
Today, I am finishing off the Formosa Fo Shou sample from a tea swap with RussianSoul. It is absolutely delicious, reminding me of my Grandmother's homemade raspberry jam at some points. Next up, I have a travel mug and thermos all filled with a blend of Organic Monk's Blend and Orange Blossom Oolong for the first day of classes.
Today, I am finishing off the Formosa Fo Shou sample from a tea swap with RussianSoul. It is absolutely delicious, reminding me of my Grandmother's homemade raspberry jam at some points. Next up, I have a travel mug and thermos all filled with a blend of Organic Monk's Blend and Orange Blossom Oolong for the first day of classes.
Aug 25th, '08, 11:02
Posts: 1953
Joined: Apr 6th, '08, 19:02
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Contact:
chamekke
Re: Sakura Yunomi Chawan
I would love to get together with other TeaChatters, but out here on Vancouver Island, I'm not sure how likely it is to happen. I don't get to the States much...
Comments re Salsero's cup:
1) Hubba-HUBBA!
2) Akikusa literally means autumn grasses, but it's also translated as autumn herbs or even autumn flowers. There are different groupings of them - a common grouping includes ominaeshi (patrinia), kikyou (Chinese bellflower), kuzu (arrowroot), susuki (pampas grass), nadeshiko (fringed pink), hagi (bush clover), and fujibakama (mistflower). Although kiku, chrysanthemum, is never technically included as one of the akikusa, it often appears along with them since it's particularly associated with autumn in general and September in particular.
BTW, autumn traditionally starts on/around August 7, so it's very appropriate to be using this mug in August!
3) I think that robin's-egg blue at the top is meant to be stylized sky, too.
4) At far left I believe I see momiji a.k.a. kaede (red maple leaves) and at far right is chrysanthemum. Is that what you meant by the side views?
5) Hard to say about the cross-hatched area... is it possible to get a more full shot of that?
Oddly enough, I don't see any of the actual akikusa in the image. Hmm. Maybe akikusa can also be more metaphorical, meaning "a grouping of plants appropriate to autumn" (although I wouldn't have thought so).
There was a fantastic page on akikusa that I found once... will have to see this evening if I can find it for you. It's one of my favourite motifs, and is on two of my teabowls.
P.S. I see that Buzz Fledderjohn spotted the momiji
P.P.S. I found another grouping of akikusa that does include chrysanthemum, so I was wrong about that.
Comments re Salsero's cup:
1) Hubba-HUBBA!
2) Akikusa literally means autumn grasses, but it's also translated as autumn herbs or even autumn flowers. There are different groupings of them - a common grouping includes ominaeshi (patrinia), kikyou (Chinese bellflower), kuzu (arrowroot), susuki (pampas grass), nadeshiko (fringed pink), hagi (bush clover), and fujibakama (mistflower). Although kiku, chrysanthemum, is never technically included as one of the akikusa, it often appears along with them since it's particularly associated with autumn in general and September in particular.
BTW, autumn traditionally starts on/around August 7, so it's very appropriate to be using this mug in August!
3) I think that robin's-egg blue at the top is meant to be stylized sky, too.
4) At far left I believe I see momiji a.k.a. kaede (red maple leaves) and at far right is chrysanthemum. Is that what you meant by the side views?
5) Hard to say about the cross-hatched area... is it possible to get a more full shot of that?
Oddly enough, I don't see any of the actual akikusa in the image. Hmm. Maybe akikusa can also be more metaphorical, meaning "a grouping of plants appropriate to autumn" (although I wouldn't have thought so).
There was a fantastic page on akikusa that I found once... will have to see this evening if I can find it for you. It's one of my favourite motifs, and is on two of my teabowls.
P.S. I see that Buzz Fledderjohn spotted the momiji
P.P.S. I found another grouping of akikusa that does include chrysanthemum, so I was wrong about that.
Last edited by chamekke on Aug 25th, '08, 11:18, edited 1 time in total.
Aug 25th, '08, 11:11
Posts: 1953
Joined: Apr 6th, '08, 19:02
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Contact:
chamekke
For Salsero, and anyone else who's curious about akikusa: here's the article I was thinking of. It's on the Urasenke San Francisco website!
http://www.urasenke.org/new/flowers/index.html
They're also called nanakusa (seven grasses) as well as akikusa (autumn grasses) ... that's why I couldn't find it right away.
The article describes the cultural context of this traditional design - well worth a read. (It also says that chrysanthemum shouldn't be included. Probably that's where I got the idea.)
And - duh, Salsero, I didn't see your links! - the other "flowers" are indeed chrysanthemum (on the lower side) and variously-coloured maple leaves (above). I'm still not sure what, if anything, the cross-hatched area represents ... it may simply be abstract, or it may suggest a mound of earth.
http://www.urasenke.org/new/flowers/index.html
They're also called nanakusa (seven grasses) as well as akikusa (autumn grasses) ... that's why I couldn't find it right away.
The article describes the cultural context of this traditional design - well worth a read. (It also says that chrysanthemum shouldn't be included. Probably that's where I got the idea.)
And - duh, Salsero, I didn't see your links! - the other "flowers" are indeed chrysanthemum (on the lower side) and variously-coloured maple leaves (above). I'm still not sure what, if anything, the cross-hatched area represents ... it may simply be abstract, or it may suggest a mound of earth.
