Just in case you were wondering about the different kinds of teas, this is excerpted from an article that came out in the NY Times on Monday, titled Tea -- rainbow of varieties can soothe and cure:
According to [Republic of Tea's] Maredith Post, all tea comes from the same plant -- Camellia sinensi. The difference is the processing.
"On a scale of black to white, there is black, then oolong, then green and then white teas," Post says.
If you're wondering about red teas, they aren't really teas, but come from the rooibos plant, a small shrubby bush that only grows in South Africa. More about them below.
* Black teas are oxidized and fermented during processing, which imparts their distinctive flavors -- a full and rich taste.
* Oolong teas undergo only a small amount of fermentation during processing.
* Next on the continuum, according to Post, is green, which has even less processing and is not fermented, thus being much lighter in flavor. Green teas are touted for their healthful benefits including been full of antioxidants.
* Rare and expensive, white tea is harvested only during a two- to three-day period each year.
"White tea comes from the same plant as the other teas," Post says, "but the leaves are picked and harvested before the leaves are fully opened. They're from the buds of the tea plants which at the time they're picked are still covered by fine white hair."
It's nice to see tea in the news!
Before I forget, the Geek Family is hosting this week's 
My, my how the time does fly. In between this post and my last ... let's see, we had a touch of the flu; a strange orange crested bird started showing up at my feeders; mass quantities of food were consumed by extremely grateful people, and my brother announced that he and his are going up north for Christmas. This last was announced carefully, as if they thought I might pitch a fit. I did. But I waited till they left, in my own room. It's not the same without them here for Christmas. *sigh*
It's here, it's here! My actual bird-day isn't till later this month, but birthday presents arriving early ranks right up there with chocolate, especially when the present is a brandy new Zach & Dani's coffee roaster.
I wish I had known this was going to be a breakfast / brunch edition! That'll teach me to read my emails. Shoot! Slap me on the butt and call me Frankie. 
This is just such a cool concept. It's been done in a variety of ways on the net, via blogs and websites both. Swaps are all over the place. I've seen one where a journal was passed around, eventually traveling all the way around the world. Pretty cool. Bloggers are so inventive, and it still amazes me sometimes how small the internet has made the world.
If you've purchased one of these little doo-dads, take it back. Atico International is recalling the little devil because apparently the heating element can "forcefully separate from its base during the brewing cycle" and reek havoc. 
