Simple Joys

As long as I have life and breath, I strive to be thankful and appreciate even the seemingly small blessings. Here is one simple joy ~




Yes, Gazebo Blend is officially (and finally) back for the summer. The only coffee better than this is Peaberry...which has not been out for a loooonnnnggggg time. :::sigh:::

Thank you, dear daughter, for bringing it to us this week!

Alongside Gazebo Blend is John Ruskin, for some enjoyable and descriptive reading (and yes, I did "dust" the books before taking this shot of "Ethics in The Dust" haha). Also note a photo of architecture and design in a Mayan village in the Yucatán (another Ruskin reference. He wrote several lectures/books on architecture).

As dh and I strive to get things lined up for fall classes (Jacobs Geometry or The Teaching Company Geometry? Employ a tutor or attend her weekly class?), a good cup of coffee or tea is a pleasant habit to make the planning more enjoyable.

Javamom

Fun Surprise

We went through the drive-through to surprise our dear daughter at work last Saturday on the way to spend the day with family friends. Our friends' oldest son was home on break from college, and we all wanted to catch up with each others' lives, since they now worship with a different church congregation. The Dad just got back from Africa (he is a missionary) and is about to go to a Spanish speaking country just east of the Yucatán. We'd love to join him on that trip sometime!!

Our daughter came to their home, too, after her shift.

Hugs and high fives



Much singing and laughter was had by all ages :-) as we sang from hymnals from different denominations, so sometimes had different words and musical arrangements, ha! It was a perfect way to top off our long holiday weekend.

I am thankful for family and good health, but also for good friends.

And good coffee.

What did you all do after Thanksgiving?

Javamom

Coffee Break

This is our new coffee bar set-up. I found it last week at one of my favorite thrift stores. The thing is, it must have been someone's wedding or anniversary present, as it was still in all it's plastic and bubble wrap inside the box, complete with warranty papers and instruction booklet. It was the low price of $21.00! A new espresso machine alone costs twice that price or more. My coffee-shop employed older teenagers were so happy with my find!

Now some of the reviews I've found on the net of this machine aren't so great, but ours makes great coffee and espresso. I'm wondering if some of those reviews come from user error or misunderstanding of the components. That is likely, as some of the things are a little tricky or different from other machines.

My absolute favorite machine, for which I spent $170 many years ago (and it lasted a very long time) is not made or distributed in American anymore, has been broken for about two years, now. We've been using a Gevalia four-cup machine that I bought at this same thrift store for a mere $2.99 over a year ago, so I do not at all feel guilty for spending $21. Even if something breaks down, I have the warranty papers.

This has been a brief station break whilst I prepare lesson plans and supplies for tomorrow's home school co-op day. I also have some high school Spanish grading to complete, and mid-terms to average. Pray that I can get it all done before dinner time!

I have two posts that I'm still working on re: Spanish Lessons and resources. I can get back to fine-tuning them after co-op day.

Back soon,

Javamom

The summer's best brews

Gazebo blend is said to be bold, but it is very smooth and sweet. It reminds me of the first German coffee I ever drank, back when I was 19 and living in Germany. THAT was when I became addi attached to this wonderful beverage! If any of you remember Peaberry seasonal blend that I haven't seen in a long time, it is very much like that blend.


Terraza blend makes the best iced coffee. Brew it strong then dilute over ice. It's fantastic and very smooth.

Javamom, who really does only drink two cups most days

Inspired by Coffee Art

While visiting nephews and their families this past week, we went to a beautiful coffee shop just outside of Tulsa. The atmosphere of this place, Nordaggio's, was simple but stunning, with hints of Old-World charm; Venetian Plaster and dark wood tables and leather couches. It also could have had something to do with their counter filled with multiple flavors of *real* Italian Ice...YUM!

Another charming characteristic of this cafe was the sepia-toned, framed watercolor art on the walls. You can visit Karen's online gallery, and purchase some of your own coffee art, or be inspired by it, as I am, to try your hand at making your own! Our youngest son immediately recognized the art, since we've spent time with some of Van Gogh's works this fall.

My favorites from Coffee-Art: Cafe Terrace, The Lady of Chocolat, and Mona Latte...and there is just something about Nighthawks (the real version by E. Hopper) that I have always liked. It reminds me of pre-dawn life in a big city, like Chicago or Boston.


Enjoy and get creative!

Javamom

Tough Day!

It has been a most crazy day, what with driving and details surrounding co-op preparation for Spanish classes (being overcharged for some supplies at the office supply store), grading (still so far behind), and notebook building. To top it off, my brand new thermos exploded!! The vaccuum seal must have been too strong, for when I began to remove the stem of the pump unit to refill it with coffee, it just popped loudly, shattering into a bazillion pieces! Thankfully, most (though not all!) of the fine glass dust stayed inside the unit.

I'm tired.

Javamom

What's a coffee fiend to do when...

Dear Daughter accidentally shatters the twenty-cup coffee carafe pump-thermos? We used it to keep the coffee warm, which is not unusual, except that our coffee maker heating element does not work anymore. Yes, we had it repaired once, with not such great results. This means that I have been boiling water and pouring it by hand through the glass top of coffee machine, which is a little different than standard home coffee makers. It is a Capresso Aroma Classic, which makes the best coffee I've ever had, but I've been hand-pouring the boiling water through the dead machine for over a year, now, then transfering the hot coffee to the pump-thermos. Well, now that this is broken, how will I keep the coffee warm?

I could just make capuccino twice a day with our stove-top, Italian (Bialetti) 2-mug or three [small] cup espresso pot.

Or, I could spend 160 plus dollars (!) on a new Capresso. The old one did last for a *very* long time. It was just so frugal to keep boiling water in a large measuring cup in the microwave, or on the stovetop and hand-pouring it into the chamber, without the need to purchase a fully electric new one. We could just buy another pump thermos. That *would* be the cheaper, quick fix. Did I mention already that it makes the best coffee in the world? I'm not kidding. I could give you a list of folks who've tried our coffee, who love full-flavored, even strong coffee, who would recommend this machine to you.

You can make weaker coffee in this machine, it is just not my preference. The boiling water (maximum temperature) is on the grounds for about 4 1/2 to 5 minutes, the maximum time for the best tasting coffee, without overextracting flavor from the ground beans.

Pondering the choices...still far cheaper than going to Starbuck's, which I only splurge for maybe six or eight times a year, half the time ordering a simple Americano, less than half the price of my favorite: Venti Mocha. Who needs to go there when I can make them at home?

1-18-06 Upate: I was able to secure a new pump thermos today for less than $18. Ah! The little things in life that just add to the richness of it...

Javamom

Time for...

I'm on fireman's belay. It's tough work, but someone's gotta do it (grin).


~and after a long day of playing hard, there is cappuccino to be found!
We only had time to do this three times all week, so it was a treat.

What kind of coffee...?

You Are an Iced Coffee

At your best, you are: hyper, modern, and athletic At your worst, you are: cheap and angsty You drink coffee when: you're out with friends Your caffeine addiction level: medium

What Kind of Coffee Are You?

Hat tip: Firefly

* History of Coffee *

Our daughter, who enjoys Shakespeare, asked today if coffee had been discovered before Shakespeare's era, and if it was available in England at that time. She imagined that he would have been sipping coffee as he wrote, but was unsure. I told her that I didn't know, but guessed that he likely drank ale or *maybe* tea, so I decided to fossick about for the answer. I did a search and came up with a couple of informative links on the Timeline and History of Coffee.

I stumbled onto some information I'd learned years ago in a music appreciation class, but had forgotten, because I'm more of a Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, and Vivaldi fan. Johann Sebastian Bach wrote a musical composition in 1732, based on Picander’s 1727 satire about the German coffee craze. It is simply known as "Kaffee-Kantate." It is said that the composition was partly an ode to coffee and partly a stab at the movement in Germany to prevent women from drinking coffee (it was thought to make them sterile). The cantata includes the aria "Ah! How sweet coffee tastes! Lovelier than a thousand kisses, sweeter far than muscatel wine! I must have coffee..."

About Shakespeare, I don't yet know, but...

"The popularity spread through Europe to such an extent that, during the 17th and 18th centuries, there were more coffee shops in London than there are today....Coffee shops then were influential places, used extensively by artists, intellectuals, merchants, bankers and a forum for political activities and developments. When they became popular in England, the coffee houses were dubbed "penny universities". It was said that in a coffee house a man could 'pick up more useful knowledge than by applying himself to his books for a whole month.' A penny was the price of a coffee."

Fantastic cup of cappuccino!

Cappuccino and lattes were the surprise hit of our holiday season; a nice bit of hospitality to share at our gatherings with those whom we've known for some time, and also with those who have become important in our lives in the last couple of years. One of our favorite things to do is to fellowship and share time with friends who mean so much to us. Because of hubby's busy school schedules this last semester, teachers' extra holiday time is the perfect time to spend with others.

We had five gatherings with family and friends for Christmas Day, a birthday, and several New Year's gatherings.

We are mindful and grateful for God's blessing of friends in our lives, and enjoyed spending special time with them this past week. We love you, and thank God for you! Have a blessed New Year, all!