A Story of Blueberry Tea
There's just something about books and tea...
There’s just something about books and tea. Am I right? Whether you are a writer or a reader, nothing goes better together than a good book and a steaming cup of tea. Don’t get me wrong - I am a MASSIVE consumer of coffee! I love coffee! But there is something truly nostalgic about books and tea, right? It is so Victorian (my favorite period of literature), so elegant, so literary. I am sure there will be many a post written about coffee in the future, but coffee is not the star of the show today. Today, I am sharing a story of blueberry tea (something prior to 2 1/2 years ago, I didn’t even know existed).
Today, I am reworking final edits (hopefully final…) on my upcoming manuscript plus drafting three new guest contributor devotionals and sipping on my warm “writing tea” - a blueberry herbal tea from Elmwood Inn Fine Teas. I discovered this tea at my favorite writing retreat in the quaint, picturesque town of Stanford, KY. Every time I start a new manuscript from scratch, I take myself on a personal writing retreat and stay in the same lovely cottage (always the exact same one - kind of like football players wearing their “lucky” socks every game).
The first time I checked into “my cottage” to begin drafting my first full-length book, there on the wooden countertop, was several packets of blueberry tea. Who even knew there was such a thing? Peach tea - yes… orange or lemon zest - yes… but blueberry?! Though a bit bewildered, I rationalized: I like blueberries. I like tea. So perhaps it was worth a try. The tea was not only delicious it was inspiring - or at least I felt like it was as my blank white screen quickly filled with words. When I finally pulled myself away from my reclusive retreat and forced myself back into “the real world,” I had consumed at least a dozen cups of this scrumptious blueberry tea and written over 30,000 words in one weekend!
With those kinds of results, there could be no turning back now. So, for the past two and half years, any time I have “serious” writing to do (aka a TON of writing), I pull out my blueberry tea. Immediately, I am comforted and invigorated. When I begin to doubt my work, or the ever-revolving questions arise once again (Is this even worth it? Will this book EVER get published/released?), the familiar flavor reminds me of all I have already accomplished, the petitions prayed and answered as I labored over past pieces, and my pure love for literature. Whether I am reading or writing, I love language. I love the written word. It is as simple as that.
Who knew a story of blueberry tea could be so powerful, right?
For those interested, here are some links for Elmwood Inn Tea and Stanford, KY:
https://www.elmwoodinn.com/
https://www.kentuckytourism.com/explore/historic-downtown-stanford-1000
https://kentuckysoapsandsuch.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorBgIBdIR7WAMc4n52hVHrJn8KCruluQB5AGSCS_JNclXHK8Ut0
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Or..... books and coffee :-)