Tag: Coffee

Posted on by Ellen Seaton - No Comments on Pandemic Road: Bluebonnets and Coffee

Pandemic Road: Bluebonnets and Coffee

Question: What kind of Texas blogger would I be if I did not include an annual picture of some Bluebonnets. Forget budding trees and warmer temperatures. It is the blooming of the Bluebonnets that hearkens the official arrival of spring.

Of course most people find time to drive out into some part of the Texas Hill Country to find pictures of fields full of the traditional spring bouquet. This year I only had to go as far as the Houston Arboretum. When you reach the part of the trail near the big pond with all the turtles, snakes and at least one alligator, the walking trail is aligned on both sides with the little blue blossoms. It has now become a social media tradition for everyone in this state to post bluebonnet pictures on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.

This year, while strolling the Arboretum, I found a most unusual sign. No, I don’t consider it a sign from the Universe, but an interesting sign to be sure. In case you can’t read this, it says, “We Are Using Prescribed Fire To Manage This Landscape”. I have never seen this sign before during all of my nature strolls in this lush landscape. I have to admit it was a lot cuter when they brought in goats to trim some of the wild growth around the area. Goats draw crowds of walkers, hikers, and families. Fire is not so cute, but apparently necessary. I only worry that this is a sign that Houston is flirting with drought conditions and we are preparing for possible wild fires within city limits. My, what interesting times we live in here in 2022.

To calm my worries and anxieties, I went to my new favorite coffee and tea spot. It’s called 7 Leaves and it’s located in the strip near the corner of Richmond and Weslayan across from the Costco. This delightful beverage is a large Sea Foam Black Coffee with an added shot of espresso. Yum! They also serve Vietnamese coffee, Thai green tea and macaroons. Every table is close to an outlet so all of the students and young professionals can plug in their laptops or tablets or whatever. At this point I have been going there a couple of times a week. Service is great, staff are friendly and java is delicious. What more could I ask for?

This is the eye chart that is hanging on the wall. It definitely spells out the vibe of the establishment. Why don’t you go to 7 Leaves and let me know what you think?

Be the change!

Until next time.….

Posted on by Ellen Seaton - No Comments on Coffee!

Coffee!

In a few weeks, I am going to have surgery. Nothing too serious, but it will hopefully have a very positive impact on my life. There’s just one problem. In order to do this, I have to stop drinking coffee.

WHAT??? STOP DRINKING COFFEE??? HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND???

Coffee. The elixir of life. The joy of my every morning. Sigh.

No, I don’t have to give it up forever, but for a little while. Since I don’t want to go through a caffeine withdrawal headache, I am weaning myself off of the bliss that is java. By now the coffee I am drinking is weak enough that I can see through it. Just about ready to move over to green tea. Oh, woe is me!

Having been raised in the South, I have a long-standing friendship with caffeine. I was weaned on Coca Cola. Drank it every day in my youth. Iced Tea was the drink of choice with every supper. No, I did not drink sweet tea. I put my own sugar in my tea and stirred it and stirred it until my arm got tired.

I made the move to coffee sometime in high school. It was the 1970s and I can still see Joe DiMaggio in one of his many Mr. Coffee commercials. What? You don’t remember the Mr. Coffee commercials? Please take a moment now and go to YouTube where you will find several. I’ll wait until you come back.

In college I remember many a night going to a local diner with friends to talk and drink coffee until the wee hours of the morning. Study sessions in the dorm also required numerous “cups of Joe”.

By the time I became a working adult in the 1980s, I was drinking about a pot of coffee a day and smoking two packs of cigarettes. I was actually delusional enough back then to think that I was a laid back “Type B” personality. I know much better now. Lucky for me, I gave up the cigarettes a couple of decades ago. Coffee has remained my friend. I drink it black with a little sweetener. I no longer use sugar. Sometimes I will treat myself with a mocha coffee. Oftentimes chocolate can be just as sacred as coffee and the combination will fill my soul with exultation!

Oh, I have given up coffee at least twice in my life. Whenever I did this.….Time Stood Freakin’ Still. The earth literally slowed down in her rotations and felt like it was going to roll away into the universe. What do non-caffeinated persons do with all of their extra time? I really have no idea.

Like I said earlier, this will be a temporary separation. I am already looking forward to having surgery behind me so I can drink my coffee in peace once again.

One last note: Here is a picture of the artist, Leslie Gaworecki and the picture she painted for Color:Story 2019 based on my essay called “Transitions”. Many thanks to both Leslie and Marlo Saucedo for coordinating this evening and preparing such wonderful works of art. Also, many thanks to those of you who were able to join us. There was a large crowd and everyone seemed to have a good time.

Until next week.….….