Hot tea on the 4th of July: family fun and most appropriate Boston Tea

This Independence Day in Michigan, you had no choice but to have hot tea, even iced. With temperatures hovering near the 100 degrees mark, nothing stayed cool for long, including the 20-plus crowd of friends and family that gather each year at my brother Glenn's for a day of food, fun and fireworks.

A lot of twenty-somethings stay cool in the pool

My brother has been hosting this event for two decades and we've watched the younger set graduate from the wading pool to the large, inflatable watering hole that probably wasn't meant to hold almost half a dozen twenty-somethings (although no one will argue it's refreshing, even at that number). Aside from a dip in the water, we play croquet, basketball, and - my favorite - lawn chair badminton. A low energy game where you can bring your beverage of choice, sit in a chair, swing a racket and believe you are participating in an Olympic-worthy event. Although, easy in execution and exertion, this year's biggest challenge seemed to be how we rotate seatings after the serve. There should be an app for that.

"Who's serve?" and "Where do I sit?" are the two most asked question of lawn chair badminton

Another treat this year was a surprise visit from my other brother, Ed, who came in from China for the week. (He's been there on business - and, yes, Barb's TEA Shop is going there this fall, complete with tea plantation visits!). Although a bit jet-lagged, he was roused a few times from the comforts of the air conditioned living room to serve as croquet judge - a title bestowed on him several years ago and still intact. Is the ball technically poison if it is still half-way through the hoop? The croquet judge weighs in and there is no appeal - or, better, yet, no app for that.

Hot job grilling dogs, brats and burgers

A day like that deserves a special tea - but what would tea would be most app-ropriate for an event such as this? Before we packed up our veggie tray and homemade chocolate chip cookies and headed to my brother's, I got on-line and ordered the limited edition Boston Tea Party tea gift set from Elmwood Inn. (For more information, see The Detroit Tea Examiner, "Celebrate July 4th with limited edition Boston Tea Party tea"). The deadline for ordering was midnight on the 4th - or until supplies last. I checked the webpage today and didn't see it listed any longer. I'm looking forward to a new tea tasting and will be sure to let you know when my-  Boston Tea Party ship-ment comes in!

Another successful Fourth of July party at my bros with my peeps, and despite the soaring temps, I can't think of a better way to spend the holiday. Here's hoping, though, for next year, the 2012 record temps will be history and historical teas will stay cool for the afternoon!