Trying to stay cool

July 13, 2016

Something cool,
Something cool,
Something cool,
I'd like to order something cool!

from Something Cool, lyrics by Pete Rugolo

Was listening to this song sung by June Christy this morning. So appropriate for this very hot, humid week in Michigan.

Time to make some iced tea.


I found some loose herbal tea at the grocery store the other day on the sale rack. Looked like a good one to try. I don't think I've ever made iced tea with loose tea leaves. These handy little filters would be too small unless I filled up several of them for the pitcher.


So then I thought of cheesecloth.


A little open-meshed, but it worked. Only had a couple of dried herbs in the finished product.


Hmmm . . . this isn't going to work. It could float on top all day.


Okay . . . there's more than one way to skin a cat. (Oooh -- who made up that expression, and why?!) I secured the little cheesecloth bag in some tongs to keep it submerged.


Starting to brew. It would have been faster with hot water, of course, but I just cracked a vintage pitcher pouring hot water in it. Ugh. I knew better.



I served this to my book club Monday night. We were discussing Lisette's List by Susan Vreeland, which I highly recommend. Set during WWII in Provence, with lots of interesting art history. And romance.

I made the cookies for my GF friends. They were pretty good.



Everybody chips in with snacks. I had to really exercise self-control to not have more than one of these chocolate-covered almonds.


There's fruit in abundance in Michigan right now. Love it. I wait all year for it!


*****

I've been busy lately, getting out all the wedding invitations, helping my daughter pack up her china, and picking out new cupboards and countertops, etc., for our fall kitchen remodel. 

The cleaning and decluttering is ongoing . . . Our youngest son offered his drums to a friend, so these went out the door this past weekend. My husband was tempted to throw in the hockey nets and more. We have lots of work to do down here.


Hope you all are having a lovely week. xo


Linking with No Place Like Home.

18 comments

  1. Dear Deborah:
    Sounds like our kind of weather. So hot in Missouri but we knew that was coming - right!
    Your book club sounds fun. I know others who do that and Martha at Lines From Linderhof does a cookbook club and they bring 1 recipe of an item they made to share - even better - food! Have a lovely week!

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  2. I was just outside picking up leaves and sticks from last night's storm - it seems hotter today since it's so humid. I think I'll stay inside and you've inspired me to brew some iced tea :-)

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  3. It is hot and very humid here, feeling like it is is the low 100's every day. There was some thunder and dark skies to the west earlier and I thought we might get some much needed rain, but alas, it all stayed to the west.

    Your tea looks oh so delicious and refreshing! A nice way to cool off.

    Your flowers are beautiful!

    Enjoy the rest of your week ~ FlowerLady

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  4. Hi Deborah, your tea sounds so good and I can imagine how refreshing it was. I had the same floating of the cold brew bags, but in a while in the fridge they do sink to the bottom once the water fills the tea.
    The cookies look so good. I've used that brand and found them tasty. The fruit looks delicious. Hope you are staying cool. It's mighty hot here too!! Blessings xo

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  5. I have only made iced tea once from scratch and we found it much too sweet. Hubby prefers to buy the powdered form, {don't tell anyone}, and pour the water in with ice cubes and a slice of lemon. So that's what we do.
    I know you must be very busy planning for the wedding. I never had a daughter but getting ready for my son's wedding was busy enough. Your book club sounds like fun.
    That is quite a drum kit your son had. My middle guy has a drum kit but his is huge with numerous symbols and what-not. He's a very serious drummer. There's no way he would part with it. Actually all my guys are serious about their music. Boy, have I gotten off the subject! ;-)
    I was out in the sun all afternoon so I'm rambling a bit. I'll blame it on that anyway. LOL
    I wanted to tell you that your new profile picture is beautiful and your hair looks lovely!

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  6. The color of the iced tea is such a pretty shade, Deborah! I like your innovative way of brewing with loose tea leaves. I've been known to use coffee filters and use one of those snap closures to close it up!
    Your flowers look especially nice on your counter. I know you're busy with so much...exciting times! I'll have to look into the book that you're reading for book club.

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  7. What a lovely profile picture! I wish that I had a nice tall glass of iced tea right now. It was miserably hot and humid today and I still feel dehydrated.

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  8. I'm so sorry about the vintage pitcher. That is such a bummer!

    Your new profile photo is absolutely gorgeous! You are going to be a stunning mother of the bride! How are you doing with all that? I wrote today about my hardship in letting go of my daughter. If I had known then what I know now (that I wasn't losing anything and that we would still be very close), I would have enjoyed this wedding planning phase more than I did. I hope you are handling things better than I did.

    Love,
    Patti

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  9. Dearest Deborah,
    You were very clever in brewing that loose herbal tea and yes, hot water would be very risky to use in such a pitcher!
    Love the photos with the tea in the glass and the flowers... Pretty vase!
    Lots of things going on in your life right now.
    BUT you yourself look just stunning. Can't believe this look since a good year ago when we met. You look so much younger and so beautiful.
    Wishing you a good summer with lots of things getting accomplished.
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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  10. The tea looked wonderful, a very summery colour. Exciting times with so much happening, enjoy it.

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  11. What an exciting time of your life, Deborah! Weddings and new kitchen coming in the fall.

    Your tea is very pretty and I know what you mean about cracking a vintage pitcher--and never pour hot cranberry sauce in a cut-glass bowl!

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  12. Dear Deborah, just the color of the tea alone would make me want to drink it. You always do post the most beautiful photos! I've been remiss in not commenting lately (have had a lot on my plate -- alas no yummy cookes!), but I have been following you avidly as you count down to the BIG DAY!

    What a blessing for you and your family to be able to share all of this, including the exhausting prep work.

    Will be following you.....

    Cheers, M-T

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  13. Hi sweet friend! Your tea sounds like just the thing to enjoy when it's hot outside. I have been enjoying iced pomegranate green tea with lemons - it's quite refreshing :)

    It's so good to stop in as your posts always bring a smile to my face. Wishing you a lovely weekend. Hugs!

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  14. I drink ice tea all summer long-and throughout the day. I've got to make more, so I can have herbal in the afternoon. I stop caffeine by 3:30-or else I'm up during the night. Love that you made gf cookies for your friends; I'm gf and would appreciate the thoughtfulness. Hope you have a great weekend.
    Hugs,
    Noreen

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  15. Your bouquet of flowers gracing your table are gorgeous, Deborah.
    I have done the very same thing with one of my vintage pitchers and knew better when I did it. :( I have lost a beautiful crystal bowl in the microwave too. Now that was just stupid on my part!

    Stephanie has me drinking the green tea with fruit and I am really enjoying it. Green tea has never agreed with me, but with the fruit it doesn't seem to bother me.

    You look just lovely in your photo on your blog. Your hair has really turned out quite beautiful, Deborah.

    Enjoy your hot and humid weekend~~

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  16. It's been hot hot hot here in NJ, too, with very high humidity. I've never made iced tea with loose tea leaves before, but now, I'll know how! Looks very refreshing!

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  17. I cold brew my iced tea too! I also hoped to do some decluttering this summer but I've been feeling soooo lazy. I blame it on the heat! HA!

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  18. It's been so horribly hot here, it's unbearable to go outside during the day, unless you hop right in the car and turn on the AC! Last week we had heat indexes of over 105. A bit better this week. Your tea looks lovely! So refreshing. And that book description sounds quite good. I love a bit of good history in my novels :) Doesn't it feel good to be downsizing and getting rid of stuff? Good job!!

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