My Tea Journey…Taking a detour and getting lost. Down the Rabbit Hole with Sister Becky.

My younger sister Becky has always been one of my biggest tealife supporters.  Unfortunately, Becky lives in Kentucky and I don’t see her that often.  However, that does not stop her from helping out with this passion of mine.  Indulge me as I tell you a couple of stories about Becky on this detour down the rabbit hole.

Introducing Becky.

Just a little about Becky.  Becky is wacky (my opinion) and loves a great adventure.  She is a high school science teacher.  Becky is the youngest of 4 siblings and was very spoiled by all of her older siblings, including me.  Becky was/is smart and graduated valedictorian from a large high school in Southern California.  There are three people in the world that I cannot understand when they speak as they speak too fast for me.  Becky is one.  And my granddaughter Lauren is another.

The Rabbit Hole of Recipe Testing

So, the rabbit hole detour begins.  Over a decade ago, Becky and her family were visiting us in SoCal.  By that time, my other sister Peggy and I had been giving our friendship teas for a few years.  Becky always wished she could join us at this tea.  In a passing conversation about teas, we discussed scones and what was the best scone recipe.  At this point, I had not made Liz’s (Victorian Tea Society) scones enough to have made my judgment that her scone recipe was the best. 

So, Becky decides that we need to make a whole bunch of scone recipes and try them out.  And so, we did!  Our tasting audience was small, and I fear that after a couple of days of scone tasting, they conveniently disappeared when it was time to taste test scones.  However, Becky and I always loved this part the most.  We both remember this as a special time together.  Unfortunately, I don’t remember what recipe we liked the best.  Probably the one with chocolate chips.

The Apricot Challenge

Fast forward a few more years and my father, who lived in Washington State, had a tree full of apricots and wanted help with them.  So off Becky and I went from different states to help my father out in this apricot challenge.  We picked apricots for what it seemed like days.  We ate a few and then decided it was time to get serious with these apricots.  Of course, apricot jam came first.  Still we had apricots!  Then came apricot scones, apricot bread, apricot fritters, apricot pie, apricot everything!  We were in my Dad’s kitchen from early morning til late at night.  My father loved this!  At last our Washington time was ending and I am proud to say his apricot tree was bare of fruit and his freezer was full.  We even had some time to go on a weed photography adventure.

The Rabbit Hole Detours…Weed Photography

In addition to baking together, Becky and I love taking photos together.  We love competition, so on this journey, we decided to have a weed photography competition.  Weeds can be very beautiful.  My father took us on a road trip along the Yakima River, stopping every time we saw a beautiful weed or wildflower.  I have included some of our weed photography here.

In Love with Paula Deen

Back to our rabbit hole detour.  About a month ago, Becky and I visited my sister Peggy’s summer home in Red Lodge, Montana.  I am always in search of good dessert recipes that can be modified for teas.  Since I knew Becky and I love to bake together, I brought along a Paula Deen baking magazine.  I love Paula!!  Give me the butter!!!  Of course, we had to bake and so off to the store we went.  Finally, my sister and brother-in-law said “no more” sweets and so the magazine went into Becky’s suitcase with recipes marked for her to try and report back to me.   Becky kept her word.  She began to bake “Paula” recipes and reported back to me with photos and reviews.  Becky doesn’t drink but really liked the bourbon in one of the recipes.  Becky is sad to report that she has gained a few pounds and so Paula will have to take a hiatus for a while.  In the meantime, I have gotten several potential new tea desserts.

Tea is not always about “tea” but about experiences, food, setting, and memories.  Becky and I connect over baking, especially tea dessert baking.  My tealife is rich in good times, memories and love.

Enjoy some more weed photos.

Join me next week as I get back to my tea journey and giving private teas in my garden and home.