A day at the tea "office": Grateful to be part of the Fortunate 500 (plus)

 

Barb's Tea Service at the office:  Chris and Barb on assignment/afternoon tea.

Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.

That optimistic adage sounds good, but, for those of us who love what we do, it's a bit misleading. There's always work. 

I've had my own tea business for over twenty years and I do love it. I love presenting tea talks on a variety of topics, I love penning my blog and Substack page, I love podcasting and I love writing for specialty magazines. However, like any other job, there's commitment, preparation, requirements, deadlines, and, yes, even stress. Ultimately, though, it is rewarding and a great deal of fun.

BTS typical day at the office, podcasting at the studio.

I was reminded of the joys of my "job" when I recently posted a photo of my husband, Chris, and I at a fancy tearoom during our visit to another state.  I captioned it "another day at the office". It was figuratively true - I was there on an "assignment" to write an article, but it struck a chord with many folks. It generated a lot of "likes" and support. 

I have to admit, it's great place to work, but it took awhile to get there . . .

For a quarter of a century, I clocked in at a real office at a Fortune 500 company (although, shortly before I left, they slipped to being an "almost" Fortune 500 company). In a colorless cubicle wonderland, I reviewed documents, held conference calls, and wrote thousands of emails. And, yes, it was every bit as exciting as it sounds.

There were of course, perks. I received a good and steady paycheck, met friends I still hang out with today and. . . well, yes, I think those were it. 

But, wait, there's more to love!

Before my twenty-five corporate years, I taught Marketing part-time at two Michigan universities. It was a great fit when our kids were young, and like my tea business, it was a job I truly loved - though with grading term papers and exams, it, too was plenty of work.

Beyond the colorless cubicle wonderland, BTS office is spectacular.

Looking for more fulltime opportunities, I eventually left the classroom, but not without a takeaway. I found I had a passion for research and public speaking. Teaching inspired me to become a tea educator and set me on the path to Barb's Tea Service. 

Yada, yada, yada. . . 

I made the move to big business and after twenty-five years, I retired. (Oh, and I love that, too.) 

I didn't receive the classic "gold watch" parting gift, but instead I was gifted something precious in that precious metal family:  a Wedgwood Renaissance gold teapot.  It's beautiful and symbolic - I was ready for the next chapter.  At this point, I was perhaps a bit "mature" for a rebirth, but I was definitely a repositioning - more time for tea, more time all the things I love.

My Wedgewood renaissance gold teapot, beautiful and symbolic.

In a coming-full-circle-moment, the fancy tea room/"office" Chris and I occupied this month served up delicious tea fare, wonderful service and their teapot? It was Wedgwood Renaissance Gold. 

My former occupation provided me with a lovely 401k, some of the best besties a person could have and a most elegant teapot.  But, with my tea business, I am truly grateful for being part of the Fortunate 500 (plus):  I have a job I love and an office that's spectacular.   

Jarring dinner party serving ware! Glass containers repurposed for afternoon tea: lemon curd, pumpkin butter and clotted cream.

Jarring dinner party dessert served in yogurt glass cups.

The dessert presentation was quite jarring!

At a recent dinner party, the dessert was served in extraordinary glass cups. One could say, they were literally jarring as they were once yogurt containers, available at most grocery stores. For our friends' repast, the jars were filled with creme fraiche lined with chocolate and topped with fresh berries and the glass containers allowed this beautiful confection to really show off its layers. 

Another purpose for glass jars at the tea table - serving ware for curd, cream and butter.

But, these jars weren't done, yet. . . 

Last month, our friends (and fellow podcasters) hosted a small dinner gathering at their home. The theme started as an Oktoberfest celebration with our hosts demonstrating how to prepare home baked pretzels. (Delicious!) Guests had the option of bringing something to the table.  I brought my husband, Chris, 😉-  who as the gourmet cook in the family - is the one to contribute to any meal.   He did not disappoint with his recently perfected whitefish pate. 

Dessert, however, like cream itself, rose to the top with not only taste, but with both pretty and practical serving ware.

Benefits of glass jars: perfect for display, reuse or recycle. 

Fortunate to have a trained pastry chef volunteer to make dessert, we were treated to creme fraiche in recycled yogurt jars. Among the benefits of these mini glass pots: they showed off the cream, they did not need to go home with the chef, and could either be recycled or repurposed. For the latter, we had just the place for their return: our afternoon tea table.

With the help of Trader Joe's, we set up a festive fall afternoon tea including cranberry and vanilla scones with both their traditional and seasonal accompaniments: lemon curd, clotted cream and for October, scrumptious pumpkin butter. All toppings found their place in my newly acquired glass jars. 

Glass jars hold generous amounts - bonus for those of us who don't follow "recommended servings".

Of course, I still have my collection of salt cellars to use for curd and cream, but it's fun to mix it up occasionally.  Additionally, the yogurt jars can hold generous amounts of spreads and jams. That's a bonus for us who don't always adhere to "recommended servings".

We're always fans of a good mixed-use or recycle and we'd love to hear of more tabletop repurposing. Comment or send us an email at barb@barbsteaservice.com if you have performed some serving-ware alchemy!

In the meantime, Happy Fall. A teacup cheers to colorful leaves, cozy fires, and lots of pumpkins - glass or butter. 

When in Wisconsin. . . brews, brats, frozen football, cheese (and more!) and we've been doing it for over 50 years!

 

Toasting at Milwaukee hotel, keeping Lions shirt under wraps.

Most of us have heard - and many of us try to embrace - the adage, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do". It's a phrase so familiar, we typically cut it off after the first three words. It's an expression that, per The History of English website, "conveys the idea that when a person is visiting a new place, they should follow the traditions of the culture that exists there". If you're visiting Wisconsin, get ready for beer, brats, cheese, Midwest hospitality, and the opportunity to be snowed on while watching football.

If you're a Michigander, it's not much of a stretch to adapt to the lifestyles of the Wisconsinites, but there are a few differences. And, other than a football stadium with outside seating only, we're okay with most everything else. 

Spanning over fifty years of travels to Wisconsin, we just wrapped up another trip to our neighbor across Lake Michigan and, every time we visit, we find more to love. 

Wisconsin family vacation, 1968:  Circus World and home of Green Bay Packers

Wisconsin 1968:  The Dells, Circus World, Lambeau Field and a flattened penny

My first trip to Wisconsin was back in the late 1960's. It was a family vacation that included stops at the Dells, Ringling Brothers Circus World, and Lambeau Field.  Of the former, I remember my parents, particularly my mother, really enjoyed the scenic boat excursion through the upper and lower Dells, but my brothers and I were entranced with the intense amusement park overflowing with arcade games. In that magical place, there were machines that would allow one to flatten a penny or make a plastic dinosaur.  I did both - the beginning of my many great memories made in Wisconsin (though the brew and cheese would come later.)

At Fort Dells: (l) My parents and some old guy, (r) With 2 of my brothers, this was meant to be fun.

Wisconsin 2017:  The Badger, Lambeau Field, Cheeseheads

Almost a decade ago, my husband, Chris, and I, along with my brother and sister-in-law, took the Badger across Lake Michigan to once again enter the land of Cheeseheads. In fact, after a stop at Lambeau Field, we even became (very!) temporary Packers fans, donning the requisite chapeau du fromage. 

Lambeau Field, 2017

                    

When in Rome. . . 

Wisconsin 2025:  Bronze Fonz, Frank Lloyd Wright, Gilded Age

Fast forward to 2025, and Chris and I were once again in Wisconsin, stopping in Milwaukee for a few days enroute to a wedding reception in Two Rivers.  We met up with a Gilded Age hotel and the city's Riverwalk, the unexpected, but oh-so-exciting, home of the Bronze Fonz.

In our further Wisconsin excursions, we also discovered the Frank Lloyd Wright presence, even attending a private party at the Still Bend home. 

On our way back home, Chris and I were already planning our return trip for 2026.

Bronze Fonz, Part I, 2025

Wisconsin 2026:  Bronze Fonz, II, Pabst Mansion, Kohler, Afternoon teas and Cheese Castle!

And, almost exactly a year later, we were back in Wisconsin, courtesy the Badger once again. This time we not only visited the Gilded Age hotel, we stayed there.  It's a beautiful venue and while there, we also enjoyed their afternoon tea on the 23rd floor, served with Milwaukee's own Rishi tea.

Brat platter!

Bronze Fonz cocktail!!??

       

More 2026 brew adventures:  we toured the Pabst Mansion and, on our final evening in town, dined at the Crafthouse & Kitchen for their "brat board" (assortment of local brats and Milwaukee pretzels) and local draft beers. 

Then, we headed north to Kohler, home to its eponymous resort that features golf, spas, afternoon tea and serves up delicious cheese soup. 

Kohler tea and tee!

Kohler's cheese soup.

                           

When it was time to head back to our Mitten State, we savored one more taste of Wisconsin at Mars Cheese Castle (thanks to great tea friend, Barb T. for the recommendation). This is a food emporium filled with, no surprise, among many other gourmet items, lots of cheese and beer. And, yes, we came back with a few bags full.

Not leaving Wisconsin without more beer & cheese!

Return to Wisconsin? Back for respective T-times: Golf and more tea!

There's so much to enjoy in this state across the Lake. Will we be back? Well, I just learned the Pabst Mansion hosts seasonal teas throughout the year and Chris was taken with the Kohler resort's golf courses - so, yes, I think we'll keep up the Wisconsin travel tradition without the decades gap in between. 

But, even in the spirit of being in Rome, we'll pass on watching a Packers game at Lambeau Field anytime past September. :) 

Revisiting the Bronze Fonz on the 49th Anniversary of 'Jump the Shark'!

Visiting the Bronze Fonz after almost a year of our first introduction.

Last week, we reunited with the Bronze Fonz. Not only was it the (almost) one year anniversary of our first visit to the Milwaukee statue (see BTS blog: Two Thumbs Up for Milwaukee).  but just two weeks after the 49th Anniversary of the Fonz - and the television series, "Happy Days" -  jumping the shark.

Jump the Shark defined:

In a three-episode opening for Season 5 of Happy Days starting September 20, 1977, the plot was driven by the show's loveable rebel, Fonzie, literally jumping a shark. By the 1980's, "jump the shark" became a pop-culture reference to describe when a show's storyline deviates so far from the core narrative, it never quite recovers.  And, though that may not translate to an immediate decline in ratings, it marks a point where gimmicks replace substance and the show becomes a joke without the laughs.

As a Boomer, I watched the first few years of Happy Days, but by the Jump the Shark era, I was in college and had other things filling my discretionary time. I missed both the shark drama and, not regretfully, the Chachi years. However, the sheer silliness of the shark story caught the attention of many of us and thanks (I think?) to YouTube, one can watch and rewatch Fonz jump the shark as many times as one cares to.

The Shark is Broken: True tales from the filming of Jaws (and inspiration for Shark Jumping).

Inspiration for Happy Days taking the shark bait:

Cashing in on the "Jaws" craze, the Happy Days' shark seems less threatening than its big screen inspiration, never once surfacing to interact with the slick skier from Milwaukee. As outrageous as this is in stunt and concept, the show commits thoroughly to the bit, with the Fonz wearing his leather jacket throughout the waterskiing adventure. However, neither his signature jacket nor his carefully combed-back hair suffer much from the elements. 

Our first Bronze Fonz encounter, October, 2025.

Salt water is needed!

One may wonder - though, probably not that much - how did Fonz and the rest of his fictional family and friends, all who lived in Milwaukee (hence the statue's location), end up in a location where there was actually the potential to jump a shark? Neither the Milwaukee River nor Lake Michigan are shark infested, so, quite logically, one would assume the jumping did not occur in Arthur Fonzerelli's hometown - and, one would be right.

Turns out, Fonzi serendipitously meets up with visiting talent agents from California. Thinking he could be the next James Dean, they offer to send him to Los Angeles for a screen test. In true TV sitcom plausibility, Fonz invites Richie Cunningham (Ron Howard) and his family to join him.

Once in LA, Fonzi is challenged to a water-skiing shark jumping duel by the local cool dude, threatened by this Milwaukee intruder. While the fair-haired beach boy pulls himself out of the running, the Fonz refuses to back down. This worries his Midwest entourage, but they remain unfailingly supportive and cheer him on.

Spoiler alert:  Happy Endings for Happy Days:

Unlike Jaw's carnage, Happy Days keeps it family friendly and Fonzie successfully jumps the shark. However, the crazy plotline may have taken a big bite out of the show's heart and soul.

Examples of other "jump the shark" moments:

Culled from various opinions on the vast internets, here's a sample of opinions:

• 1. Brady Bunch:  When Cousin Oliver appears
• 2  Star Trek: Spock's Brain 
• 3. Love Boat, Married with Children, Dynasty:  All point to actor Ted McKinnley's arrival,               labeling him "the patron saint of jumping the shark".
• 4. Laverne and Shirley: The move to LA
• 5. Bewitched:  The second "Darrin"
• 6. Friends:  Joey and Rachel dating
• 7. Barb's Tea Shop:  The Shark is Broken (Sept. 2023)

Whether watching Fonzi jump the shark, the OG Jaws, or get a chance to see the play, "The Shark is Broken" based on the making of the movie, may we recommend pairing the viewing with a soothing herbal tea steeped in a Shark infuser (an Amazon find). The infuser, like Fonzi's nautical nemesis challenge, is neither practical nor purposeful, but just a lot of silly fun. 

We invite you to view BTS' 30 second video of meeting up with the Bronze Fonz, Oct 2026:

Bronze Fonz 2026: BTS revisits on 49th anniversary of Jump the Shark!

Gilded Age in Milwaukee: Something's brewing at the Pabst Mansion and it's not just beer!

Pabst Mansion, built in 1892. Budget was $50,000, final cost: a quarter of a million. 

The Pabst Mansion may owe much of its existence to a fortune made from a cold brew, but this Gilded Age home shows evidence the owners enjoyed a hot brew as well. 

Last week, we visited Milwaukee's late 19th century showpiece, toured its three floors - including a peek at an original blue ribbon bottle - and came home with the tea:  specifically, "Mrs. Pabt's Pink Parlor" herbal blend.

Mrs. Pabst's Pink Parlor tea - a name inspired by parlor decor?

The home is a showcase of fine artisans, high-end materials and some over-the-top embellishments, though the pink parlor - a room that would go toe-to-toe with any Barbie dollhouse decor - is not the "fault" of the original owners. Per our tour guide, during the mansion's restoration, the original material for drapes and upholstery was sourced and sent to a company that specializes in custom vintage furnishings. Unfortunately, the pink lining was thought to be the outer layer as the order apparently didn't specify. So, rather than an earthy-hue overtone, the parlor is now bathed in bright pink until time and funds deem a change.

Pink Parlor:  Drapes and upholstery covered in pink lining by mistake. 

It did find purpose, however, in inspiring a Pabst tea blend and, in our humble opinion, it makes a great backdrop for a beautiful silver tea set. 

Beautiful silver tea set pairs nicely with pink backdrop.

Though much of the Gilded Age focus skews New York and Newport, it's always a treat to find a late 19th century gem in our own Midwest. The Pabst Mansion was built in 1892 for Captain and Maria Pabst with a budget of $50,000. At completion, the final cost came to just over a quarter of a million. (One wonders, did the project manager keep their job?)

Front foyer with stage where musicians & the Captain sat to greet guests. Maria's chair is off to the side.

Roots and Beer:

The Pabst fortune came primarily from the beer business, but the Captain didn't start as a brewer. As his title suggests, he began a career, at the age of 14, on a Lake Michigan steamer just a few years after immigrating from Germany with his parents. Not long after working his way up to captain, he met Maria Best, whose father owned Phillip Best Brewing Company. Eventually, Frederick bought the company and changed the name to the one we still recognize today.

Frederick and Maria had ten children, five who reached adulthood. The family home was close to the brewery, but Frederick had his sights set on one day building a grand estate on Milwaukee's Grand Avenue (now Wisconsin Avenue). While the children were mostly leaving the nest, the Pabst were great entertainers and used their new home to host events and parties.

One of the many bedrooms in the Pabst Mansion. The home had electricity and indoor plumbing. 

Delightful Mansion Features:

• ·       The front hallway features a massive antler embellished chandelier and a raised platform where musicians could play and the Captain would sit, in throne-like fashion, to greet guests. Mrs. Pabst had a chair, off stage, nearby.

  ·       All the bedrooms had their own bathrooms.

  ·       The house had electricity and indoor plumbing.

Each bedroom was an ensuite!

 

Return to its origins:

Following the deaths of the Captain and Maria, 1904 and 1906 respectively, the descendants sold the mansion to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee and it served as the archbishop's residence until 1975. It was eyed for parking lot by a neighboring hotel, but after a three-year crusade for its preservation, it was spared demolition. It became an award-winning museum and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

Dining room: the first room to be restored in 1984.

Restoration is still an ongoing process. Prior to becoming a protected museum, it had suffered years of several coats of white paint - over paneling, over fixtures, over glass. Though it seems a travesty to whitewash such treasures, our tour guide did offer some insight. It may have been a quick and economical way to mitigate much of the cigar smoke that permeated the interiors. 

An original Pabst Blue ribbon bottle adorned with its own blue ribbon.

Give yourself a Blue Ribbon:

One of the original blue ribbon-adorned signature bottles can still be seen in the home today. Inside the pantry, behind the refrigerator door, one can view an early Pabst Blue Ribbon beer - only, per our tour guide, it never officially received an award. Pabst deigned his eponymous brew as award worthy and employed a staffer whose only job was to tie blue ribbons on each bottle. 

Blue beer and Pink tea:

We won't quarrel with the worthiness of either Pabst hot or cold brew - it's all great, including our tour. We give a gold medal to the Gilded Age Mansion adventure in Milwaukee!

LL. Bean and Dunkin' team up for seasonal attire: A cozy sweater for us, a cup cosy for our drinks!

Dunkin'/L.L. Bean first collaboration - starting with sweater cup sleeves.

 

The Autumnal Equinox arrived on September 22 at 8:04 EDT and, about twelve hours earlier, most local Dunkin' stores sold out of their LL.Bean-collaborative sweater cup sleeves. 

Fall is officially here, signaling crisper temps, colorful leaves, chunky knits and hot beverages. Dunkin' and L.L. Bean's latest joint effort celebrates the latter two: a cozy sweater for us, a cup cosy for our drinks.

According to Dunkin's website/press release, the doughnut/coffee shop and the outdoorsy-attire retailer, both with New England roots, joined their iconic brands together this year for a first-ever collaboration. 

"Inspired by the traditions that define fall in the Northeast, from morning coffee [*] runs to favorite seasonal layers, the limited-edition L.L. Bean x Dunkin' collaboration comes to life through limited-edition products, [and] giveaways. . . culminating on National Coffee Day [September 29].

*Barb's Tea Service would like to add "and tea".

Dunkin' rep gives friendly & helpful advice: next promo, get in early! 

This unique partnership kicked off their seasonal promotion yesterday, the first day of fall, with the sweater cup sleeves giveaway. At its conclusion, in one-week, additional products will be available for purchase including a classic L.L. Bean birds-eye sweater in Dunkin' logo colors ($79.99) and a traditional canvass Boat and Tote with a Dunkin' theme ($59.99). 

We were in the faraway regions of northern Michigan on the first day of fall, so, while we were getting an exciting preview of the color changes coming soon, we did miss out on the initial Dunkin'/L.L. Bean kick-off promo. 

We found we were a day late, and several sweaters short. Calls to half a dozen local Dunkin's today revealed inventory was out. One of the nearest Dunkin's to us (where we secured our limited-edition Eagle Cup in July) did not pick up after a few calls, so I took a drive out, just in case there was the odd chance they did have the now highly collectible sweater cup sleeve.

Turning lemons into pumpkin spice lattes. 

Once at the counter, I was told the miniature knits had "sold out" early yesterday morning. Turning lemons into lemonade, - or more specifically, the signature drink of the season - I treated myself to a pumpkin spice latte. 

My friend behind the counter dispensed friendly and helpful advice:  for any promotions in the future, get to Dunkin' early. Lesson learned. Current check on eBay, the Dunkin'/L.L. Bean sweater cup sleeves are already on sale, prices ranging from $25 to $120. (In comparison, my Eagle Cup is fetching between $12 to $50). 

Once again, we're falling in love with fall! Cheers to colorful leaves, sweater weather and a cup of hot tea (or coffee). 

Mrs. Met inducted into Mascot Hall of Fame and we were there! Can BTS rep be next?

 

Witnessing history: Mrs. Met is the first Hall of Fame female mascot. Also, there's a Mascot Hall of Fame?

September 6th we witnessed history being made. Mrs. Met became the first female mascot to be inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame. Not only were we astonished by Mrs. Met's accomplishment, we were equally surprised that there was, in fact, a Mascot Hall of Fame.

The ceremony took place in Citi Field, home to Mr. and Mrs. Met and, the team they rep, the New York Mets. 

In a few short weeks, we have not only been made aware of this shrine to the assorted mix of anthropomorphic characters that represent a wide range of sports teams and even some businesses, we've been inspired, too. Perhaps, Barb's Tea Service could get on the bandwagon filled with an endearing mix of fuzzy animals and big-headed objects.

The Mascot Hall of Fame:

Good news, bad news - it does exist, but only virtually. There's no Cooperstown, NY or Canton, OH to drive to and see your favorite gopher, tiger, oversized nut or baseball, however, for a short time it was a real building.

It began as an on-line entity in 2014, finding a brick-and-mortar site four years later, in Whiting Indiana before shutting its doors (officially titled is its grand Fur-nale) in 2024. Since then, it has returned to its on-line platform.

The museum was co-founded by Christopher Bruce and David Raymond; the latter was the original Phillie Phanatic.

Mascots were first elected to the hall of fame in 2005, but regular inductions did not begin until 2022. 

To be eligible for the Mascot Hall of Fame, a mascot must have existed for a minimum of ten years. In addition, they must also impact both their sport and community.

BTS podcast, showing Mrs. Met's bobble head. Chris asked, is there really a Mascot Hall of Fame?

Meeting Mrs. Met:

Mrs. Met's husband debuted as a cartoon figure in 1963 and Lady Met (later Mrs. Met) came on the scene in 1965. The two were depicted as a couple, eventually joined by three "little Mets", their children. Date of their marriage is as fuzzy as Phillie Phanatic, but MLB's website reports it was sometime in the mid-1970's.

Although the Met's didn't have a winning season, this year they did achieve notoriety - they became the first pro sports organization with two mascots enshrined in the Mascot Hall of Fame.

Detroit's Mascots:

Though Detroit has no mascots in the Mascot Hall of Fame (yet!), the Lions' mascot does get a shout-out on the website's Mascot Family Trees page.  Most of locals are familiar with Roary, the friendly feline, sporting a Lion's mane and a Detroit Lion's jersey. He replaced Bubbles the Lion in 2011. (Bubbles was performed by four generations of the same family for more than 60 years).  This September, Roary Junior was added to the team.

Matt with Hooper, the Detroit Pistons' mascot. 

We had a personal encounter with another loveable Detroit sports team's mascot - Hooper. Representing the Detroit Pistons, there's plenty of horsing around with this loveable piston pony.  For our sports fanatic son's 30th birthday, we arranged a surprise meeting with Hooper during halftime at the Little Caeser's Arena. 

To see your favorite team play is always (well, mostly always) a good time. Adding a mascot lightens the mood and makes you smile.  A Hall of Fame does seem worthy of their endeavors. . . and maybe something for Barb's Tea Service, too?

Barb's Tea Service Mascots - Which do you prefer?

The attention the Mascot Hall of Fame is bringing to the mascot menagerie had us thinking at BTS - should we join forces? We went to the modern-day drawing board, our Microsoft Copilot, and with few suggestions from us, asked it to create images of a BTS mascot. Here are our top four:

1   Traditional Tea Lady Pink and Pearls Mascot

2 Austen-inspired Tea Lady Mascot

3. Slightly more contemporary Tea Lady Mascot with friends

4.  Traveling Tea Lady Mascot

Tell us which one you favor! Email us at barb@barbsteaservice.com and we'll select one soon!