Friends in Tea: 1 year old guest for tea today

Hi All,

It's the end of summer here in upstate NY. The days are still very hot, but there are hints of fall in the air and some trees are starting to change their colors.

I wanted to invite my new tea friends as soon as possible before we moved into autumn because I just got a fabulous summer glass chawan with white swirls like river eddies and flecks of gold in the bottom of the bowl. It's so beautiful. Made by Sai to Masaki.

I was stunned when first using it today. Hot water in the bowl made the pale white brush strokes dispapear to a clear bowl with gold flecks, then it returns to misty white swirls. Truly an awesome chawan with real life to it when used!

I made the sweets with kanten, mostly sugar and three blueberries in a mold that is a round swirling eddy.

Gomei 'kawa doko' river bed. It's a bit late - but I had to seize this moment. One of my guests asked about the sweets (thank you for not having to be prompted!) and I said the sweets were made in Tivoli.

Tivoli has a population of about 200. Don't you think she could figure it was me that made them! No, in the tearoom - mystery reigns supreme. She had no idea I made them this morning at 8AM! Geesh, the work that goes into this simple 'hot water for tea' thing we love so much.

Anyway, yes there was a one year old baby who came as a guest. It was a bit distracting; howling baby while trying to interpret the words of the scroll. Not so much the howling as it was the dis-attention of the parents.

But here in Tivoli we're very happy to invite any and all - and yes - mother and baby did have to leave to stroll around in the garden while I made bowl after bowl of tea.

New guests for tea are so enthusiastic and want to drink at least two bowls of tea each. Meanwhile, the kensui is getting fuller and fuller. Kettle is getting lower and lower. As host, nothing could make me happier.

While I love making tea for my friends who know nothing about Tea - it makes me even MORE appreciative of our group Friends In Tea. What host doesn't know the heaven of a wonderful first guest?

So please - Let us all know what you're doing. Send photos and get active!

DBZ - Friend in Tea 2009
June 10 - 14, 2009
Dai Bosatsu Zendo
Livingston Manor, NY