You don’t have to live forever, you just have to live. ~ Natalie Babbitt Tuck Everlasting

Growing up in the Midwest pre-internet and pre-cable tv, I was an avid reader. It’s how I was able to see the world. I still love to read, but often times life gets in the way. Once I learned how to knit, I had two passions competing for my time. Audio books to the rescue. I can listen on my commute and while I’m knitting. I really wish I could knit on my commute, but I just don’t have enough hands to knit and shift.

Last year, my goal was to finish 13 books. I managed to sneak in one extra book with 14 completed tomes. This year, I’m setting myself a goal of 20 finished books. The most recent book I finished was Everybody’s Son by Thrity Umrigar. This was an interesting story with elements of race, identity, loss, privilege, power and moral dilemmas. How much does nature vs. nurture really play into the person we become? Can we hide from our true identity? I haven’t lived in the Midwest for over a decade, but I will always be a Midwesterner at heart.

Now that I’m back at the day job, I’m back to my tea calendar. Here’s day six and seven.

• Day 1: Organic green tea with cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, pepper & pomegranate
• Day 2: Organic green tea with cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves, star anise, nutmeg and black pepper
• Day 3: Organic green tea with cinnamon, peppermint and licorice
• Day 4: Organic black tea with ginger, cloves and star anise
• Day 5: Organic black tea with licorice, cinnamon and cloves
• Day 6: Organic green tea with cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg and pepper
• Day 7: Organic Ceylon black tea

I ordered a new tea kettle. I’m very excited for it to arrive. It’s different than any other I current own. How is this possible you ask? Isn’t the primary function to heat water? Indeed it is. That’s what makes this purchase so special. More details to come.

How is your week going? Do you have any challenges for 2019?