24 Jun 2020, 15:54
Panda Tea
It is very early morning. The air is crisp, with a hint of chill upon the morning. Each breath bringing new life, and vitality in the early hours. The moisture lingering is strong with a hint of earth, as birds chirp their song of warning to those who come to close to the nest. The sun has crossed over the nearby hills some time ago, spreading brightness, and deep penetrating warmth.
Walking slowly taking all the graceful view, with hints of garden aromas. Tantalizing the senses are blossoms opening up greeting the life giving sunlight. So diverse in color and shape, each radiating to become the center of your attention . They continue not only sight, but engulf with seductive aromas. Try as they might, to lure the unweary to them so as to mesmerize and hold them under their spell.
In it all is harmony that washes over our being as part of the whole.
There is many things in my head for the tea party to come. For the moment, with eyes closed and a deep breath, the mind is cleared. The inevitable smile fastens to my lips overwhelming other thoughts, as calmness permeates my being, deep to the core. The moment will pass but for this instant in time basking in the serenity that is now.
So soon the moment is gone as the house elves, get my attention and the world flood my thoughts. It’s not a bad thing, but those moments are rare and shall be cherished.
They wish to assist with the preparations. As they erect the gazebo, thoughts infuse in the mind of the cherry wood construction, and Chinese architecture with gold highlights. The cherry blossom trees that should not be blossoming but are, so amazing. There is sounds of a small stream with a walking bridge over a pool. Oh my, those koi are so colorful, swimming so peaceful. Moving around the pool without a care at all. It soothes the spirit watching them. Time is lost in the that tranquil moment, watching and becoming them. All burdens are lost, as one becomes the koi and the koi become you.
A sudden noice bring the here and now, as the house elves finish the preparations. Thanking them they go. Now time for my part to prepare the tea and welcome the guests.
Ceremonially washing the hand, the way is clear to clean the utensils to prepare the tea. With great care and reverence each utensil is cleaned and put in its place, in preparation of the time they will be needed. Next is selecting a white tea that has been put in a panda style tea bag for this occasion. The wooden water barrel has been prepared, not by magic, but by an artisan well not far away. It was filled in the same manner. As tradition dictates that reverence of the water used is important as the tea itself. The small hearth is setup for heating the water and remains unlit till the guests arrive.
As the guests arrive and greeted with a bow, led up to the gazebo where the shoes are removed. We sit in the style of the Japanese tea ceremony sitting on the floor. The biscuits and small cakes are served. There is set a mat for each member and a central one that will be the table area. Butter biscuits that melt in the mouth and lemon cakes to quench the apatite, as we talk of ordinary things. During this time the hearth is started and water put in the ceramic tea pot embossed with panda reliefs.
After a while all the cakes and biscuits are removed and area cleared for the tea ceremony.
With great reverence each is given a glass bowl of there own, in which hot water is poured. The white tea is in the tea bag as it is lowered into the hot water. As the tea heats the panda tea bag, colors appear in specific places black. Like the eyes materialize with the pads and claws on the limbs. Big black areas transforming it into a panda. At the point it becomes a panda the string in the paw becomes a bamboo with leaves. The panda begins climbing down the bamboo and at the bottom a new stock grows upward to the top of the water, growing leaves along the way. The panda before getting to the bottom of the bowl, climbs to the second stock to climb back up it. Before he gets to the top it bends over, at which point the panda climbs over to the first stock, and turns back to second stock to eat the leaves, thus the second stock disappears. The panda if filled and again starts down the bamboo to start the process all over again. As long as the water is hot and sufficient level to let him continue on his journey. The cup is rotated 90 degrees and drank, all the while indulging in the deep rich aroma that is given off as it is brought up to drink. The party gives thanks and congratulation on a beautiful setting and wonderful tea. Bows are exchanged as the guests leave to wander the grounds taking in the tranquil setting.
Looking back on the making of the tea bags, we start with a template like a snowman X2 make of a silk fabric. It is important to pleat and see the sides a little so it gives the 3D effect. Next we want to see the edges all around with silk thread except the top 1/3 of top circle. This is left open to put our tea leaves in. We want to turn the body inside out. Next we can cut out the legs and arms. They can be cut as one piece or separate pieces depending on preference. We hand sew the arms in the front at the top of the bottom circle, and sew the legs from the back of the bottom circle. We can not forget the ears, those are cut with tabs to attach them from the back. As right ear is sewed, we want to sew in a piece of string the goes to the feet. Then we sew in the left ear. With this string hanging down, we sew it into the right paw. The remainder hangs below the paw. As the other end of the string is attached a small figure of a panda made of different materials like ceramic, wood, and jade.
It is time to enchant our panda. Starting with enchanting for color in the eyes when hot water is applied. Then the pads and claws on the limbs are colored. The distinctive markings that makes it a panda is applied. The markings are different on each one to make it a unique creation. Once the panda is colored, the string is enchanted to become thicker and grow leaves, as bamboo. As the panda starts moving down, the bamboo will extend down to the bottom of the bowl. At the the bottom a shoot will start growing up to the top of the bowl. Along it length it will grow leaves. As the leaves are eaten this stock will disappear. There will be an enchantment to have the panda climb down the bamboo pole. Before he gets to the bottom, there will be a charm to have him move to the other bamboo stock. He will charmed to move up the second stock, but before he gets to the top another charm will have the stock bend letting him climb back to the first stock. The next enchantment will be for him to turn back and eat the leaves of the second bamboo stock. Now we enchant him to start over again. With this movement up and down and across we are actually mixing the tea so no spoons needed. There is an enchantment on the tea bag to maintain the heat longer, not heating but slow the cooling rate to much slower rate.
Word count 1339
Walking slowly taking all the graceful view, with hints of garden aromas. Tantalizing the senses are blossoms opening up greeting the life giving sunlight. So diverse in color and shape, each radiating to become the center of your attention . They continue not only sight, but engulf with seductive aromas. Try as they might, to lure the unweary to them so as to mesmerize and hold them under their spell.
In it all is harmony that washes over our being as part of the whole.
There is many things in my head for the tea party to come. For the moment, with eyes closed and a deep breath, the mind is cleared. The inevitable smile fastens to my lips overwhelming other thoughts, as calmness permeates my being, deep to the core. The moment will pass but for this instant in time basking in the serenity that is now.
So soon the moment is gone as the house elves, get my attention and the world flood my thoughts. It’s not a bad thing, but those moments are rare and shall be cherished.
They wish to assist with the preparations. As they erect the gazebo, thoughts infuse in the mind of the cherry wood construction, and Chinese architecture with gold highlights. The cherry blossom trees that should not be blossoming but are, so amazing. There is sounds of a small stream with a walking bridge over a pool. Oh my, those koi are so colorful, swimming so peaceful. Moving around the pool without a care at all. It soothes the spirit watching them. Time is lost in the that tranquil moment, watching and becoming them. All burdens are lost, as one becomes the koi and the koi become you.
A sudden noice bring the here and now, as the house elves finish the preparations. Thanking them they go. Now time for my part to prepare the tea and welcome the guests.
Ceremonially washing the hand, the way is clear to clean the utensils to prepare the tea. With great care and reverence each utensil is cleaned and put in its place, in preparation of the time they will be needed. Next is selecting a white tea that has been put in a panda style tea bag for this occasion. The wooden water barrel has been prepared, not by magic, but by an artisan well not far away. It was filled in the same manner. As tradition dictates that reverence of the water used is important as the tea itself. The small hearth is setup for heating the water and remains unlit till the guests arrive.
As the guests arrive and greeted with a bow, led up to the gazebo where the shoes are removed. We sit in the style of the Japanese tea ceremony sitting on the floor. The biscuits and small cakes are served. There is set a mat for each member and a central one that will be the table area. Butter biscuits that melt in the mouth and lemon cakes to quench the apatite, as we talk of ordinary things. During this time the hearth is started and water put in the ceramic tea pot embossed with panda reliefs.
After a while all the cakes and biscuits are removed and area cleared for the tea ceremony.
With great reverence each is given a glass bowl of there own, in which hot water is poured. The white tea is in the tea bag as it is lowered into the hot water. As the tea heats the panda tea bag, colors appear in specific places black. Like the eyes materialize with the pads and claws on the limbs. Big black areas transforming it into a panda. At the point it becomes a panda the string in the paw becomes a bamboo with leaves. The panda begins climbing down the bamboo and at the bottom a new stock grows upward to the top of the water, growing leaves along the way. The panda before getting to the bottom of the bowl, climbs to the second stock to climb back up it. Before he gets to the top it bends over, at which point the panda climbs over to the first stock, and turns back to second stock to eat the leaves, thus the second stock disappears. The panda if filled and again starts down the bamboo to start the process all over again. As long as the water is hot and sufficient level to let him continue on his journey. The cup is rotated 90 degrees and drank, all the while indulging in the deep rich aroma that is given off as it is brought up to drink. The party gives thanks and congratulation on a beautiful setting and wonderful tea. Bows are exchanged as the guests leave to wander the grounds taking in the tranquil setting.
Looking back on the making of the tea bags, we start with a template like a snowman X2 make of a silk fabric. It is important to pleat and see the sides a little so it gives the 3D effect. Next we want to see the edges all around with silk thread except the top 1/3 of top circle. This is left open to put our tea leaves in. We want to turn the body inside out. Next we can cut out the legs and arms. They can be cut as one piece or separate pieces depending on preference. We hand sew the arms in the front at the top of the bottom circle, and sew the legs from the back of the bottom circle. We can not forget the ears, those are cut with tabs to attach them from the back. As right ear is sewed, we want to sew in a piece of string the goes to the feet. Then we sew in the left ear. With this string hanging down, we sew it into the right paw. The remainder hangs below the paw. As the other end of the string is attached a small figure of a panda made of different materials like ceramic, wood, and jade.
It is time to enchant our panda. Starting with enchanting for color in the eyes when hot water is applied. Then the pads and claws on the limbs are colored. The distinctive markings that makes it a panda is applied. The markings are different on each one to make it a unique creation. Once the panda is colored, the string is enchanted to become thicker and grow leaves, as bamboo. As the panda starts moving down, the bamboo will extend down to the bottom of the bowl. At the the bottom a shoot will start growing up to the top of the bowl. Along it length it will grow leaves. As the leaves are eaten this stock will disappear. There will be an enchantment to have the panda climb down the bamboo pole. Before he gets to the bottom, there will be a charm to have him move to the other bamboo stock. He will charmed to move up the second stock, but before he gets to the top another charm will have the stock bend letting him climb back to the first stock. The next enchantment will be for him to turn back and eat the leaves of the second bamboo stock. Now we enchant him to start over again. With this movement up and down and across we are actually mixing the tea so no spoons needed. There is an enchantment on the tea bag to maintain the heat longer, not heating but slow the cooling rate to much slower rate.
Word count 1339
" Life begins each day I open my eyes, it's a fresh beginning full of choices and challenges"