My Favorite Box of Tea

 This tea was produced by the company Blue Q, artwork by Haley Johnson. And it as delicious as it is adorable! (If that's possible...) I only purchased it when I realized it was  marked half-off, making it a steal at $4.99. (Ermmaybe not, but I really just wanted to share it with you!) Also, while this tea is yummy, please note that Constant Comment and Sleepytime still top my Tea Preference Chart.

 Next, lessons in shorthand. I've been told that my handwriting is illegible enough, why try to strip it down any further? My response is: 1) It's inevitable. 2) I'm crossing my fingers that, since my tendencies already lie in this direction, maybe I'll have naturally fabulous shorthand penmanship! A++! But you know, when "a" and "e" look exactly the same, only the "a" loop is larger than the "e" loop, you've got to be pretty precise! Which is a challenge. Who wants to be my shorthand pen pal? :)

For all you old-book lovers out there, here is a link you can thank my friend Christi for (hint: library-scented perfume!): http://www.cbihateperfume.com/in-the-library.html

And finally, I want to dedicate a poem to chickens, since they've been in the news a lot lately for various reasons, and don't even have a clue.

[Which reminds me of an article concerning rescue chickens I read in National Geographic (Aug. 2011) : http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/08/visions-now-next#/visions/4 These are chickens that needed rescuing, not chickens doing rescuing. One is wearing a fuzzy purple sweater.

Also, E.B. White wrote an essay titled "The Hen (An Appreciation)" which I cannot find online, and therefore, having a lazy-girl's relationship with the library, have not read. But I have faith that it would be a wonderful read, particularly for anyone interested in raising chickens...Keep an eye out.]

The poem:

Controversial chickens scritch the dust,
Nick feathers from their neighbors,
Cluck Cluck Cluck
Lay sterile eggs, forget to count the ways
This all could end
(Today, with any luck)
Breasts overgrown, they wonder what's the use--
No proud, parading roosters to seduce--
Go back their monotony of meals
Oblivious that they're the New Big Deal. 
Nobody asks what life they would prefer,
We talk talk talk...and then we eat the bird.