Opening day tea time: English breakfast black tea pairs well with hunter's orange

Bringing a bit of civility to Opening Day with a hot cup of English Breakfast

Nothing says "tea time" like opening day!

Wait, wait -  let me rephrase that:  opening day has nothing to do with tea time. . . unless BTS is invited to your deer blind.

Before we go into detail, I should state up front, I'm not a hunter and I've never shot a gun (except for paintball, where striking members of your extended family with a short sting of pain marking them with the humiliating splotch of color that soaks their clothes is surprisingly exhilarating!). But, I have been around for many November 15th gatherings at our up north compound, Pemberly Pines - now approaching almost two decades of such a tradition - mostly with Gulley menfolk.

Chris and Bryan November 14th walkabout at Pemberly Pines

Over the years, at various times, my brother-in-law, Bryan, my husband, Chris, and our two sons, Rob and Matt, have braved the up north mid-November conditions on our twenty acres of woods-  first in tents, then pop-up camper, to, finally, our not-so-rustic cabin - to rise before sunrise, pad through the darkness and, quite literally, set their sites for (sort of) big game hunting.

Schedules and geography have limited our sons' participation in the past few years, but I come up in their stead to partake in the traditional dinner at the Redwood Steakhouse in town. This year, however, keeping company in a deer blind got a little more palatable with our recent purchase of a golf cart, outfitted with "off-road" tires. After so many years of being comfortable on the sidelines, I decided, at least once, to experience the early morning ritual I've witnessed for so long, and offered to accompany Bryan to his deer blind (the only solid, permanent blind on our property) set (too) far back from the comforts of the cabin, and provided my expert golf cart chauffeuring services. He agreed. So, Bryan supplied the chair cushions, the heater, the handwarmers and, yes, I brought the tea.

Golf cart, touring the Garden of Cosmic Speculation, can handle snowy terrain with "off road" tires

Marveled by my navigation skills, Bryan was amazed that I could hit every low hanging branch that would ricochet its ample load of snow right back to the cart, mostly on the passenger side (that was a compliment, wasn't it?). We parked quietly several feet away from the blind and made the trek by foot -, a bit terrifying in darkness and ungroomed paths. But, we made it!

After firing up the heater and arranging our chairs, I brought out the thermos of hot tea - an English Breakfast blend, robust and hearty, perfect for the occasion.  You may be asking, were their scones? Any savories?  A linen napkin or two?

Alas, the rest of the tea time fare and accoutrements were as scarce as the deer.  

But, all was not lost. While tea time in the deer blind may not catch on, there are some Opening Day traditions that have proven worthy of this mid-November event - dinner at the Redwood Steakhouse and that we did sans scones or venison.

Redwood Steakhouse, no scones or venison