In a state of rapid recline: New easy chairs are the 'comfort food' of furniture (but tea cups on the side)

The move to recliners, comfy, cozy, but no cup holders.

I've come to dark side of home furnishings. Well, if not specifically "dark", it's on the side of big, bulky and the often-maligned aesthetic of the living room recliner. And, as I sit back, in my chair's programmed preferred setting, feet propped up and head resting comfortably on an overstuffed cushion, I say to you, I have no regrets.

This week, we replaced our handsome pair of burgundy-colored leather wingback chairs with beige, micro-fiber La-Z-Boys. The former were attractive, well-proportioned and paired nicely with our  traditional decor.  But what they offered in style was not matched in comfort. After a decade of accommodating chairs that, like Billy Crystal's Fernando on SNL, felt it was better to look good than to feel good, we'd had enough. 

My husband, Chris, had the replacement wish list: overstuffed, mechanized, USB ports and cushy, cushy comfort.  I supported the extra support, fully behind the "easy chair" transition, but, I also wanted to read the room - not just my living room, but current opinions of the home fashion industry.

The recliner debate:  unique flair or old fashioned?

According to an article last month in The Spruce, bulky recliners are outdated. (Given the heading was "6 Styles That Are So Outdated, According to Designers", I wasn't hopeful). Per the experts, it's "perfectly possible to strike a balance between style and comfort", but bulky recliners "don't quite align with the modern look many people like today".

Recliners: better to feel good!

The Big Man Chair blog, March, 2023, asked the question, "Are Recliners Ugly or Out of Style?" and presented both the case for and against. Included in the "cons" are recliner styles that many view as old fashioned, heavy or even dull.

It boils down to the image issue. Cultural perception of recliners have not always been flattering. Often viewed as a "symbol of laziness, sloppiness or a lack of sophistication", it's seen as ideal for couch potatoes or avid sports fans.

Not that there's anything wrong with that. 

But, there's "pro's", too, including one of our new recliner's attractive attributes:  hidden mechanisms (aka, "the surprise element").  As noted in the BMC blog, "with a simple push of a button. . .[they] transform into multi-position recliners."

Hidden mechanism (surprise element) make recliners multi-purpose

The BMC blog ends on a philosophical note: 

"Recliners offer more than just a place to sit; they bring comfort, functionality, health benefits, and versatility. These chairs can also infuse your room with a unique flair and personality, transforming a mundane space into a cozy corner."

Sophisticated couch potato, tea cups on the side.

And, that is where I'm at today, at my preferred setting, in a cozy corner. sipping tea and soaking in all the comfort and versatility my new recliner brings to my life. I feel it's important to disclose, however, that along with all the amazing attributes of my La-Z-boy, I did draw the line at cupholders. As a sophisticated couch potato, my tea cups will continue to rest on chairside end tables.

President's Day Special Part 3: Knob Creek, Kentucky boyhood of Abraham Lincoln (one of two faux Lincoln cabins!)

One of two "symbolic" log cabins of Abraham Lincoln in Kentucky.

There are two log cabins within ten miles of each other, constructed on properties where Abraham Lincoln was born and where he grew up, in Hodgenville, Kentucky. The only disclaimer - Lincoln never set foot in either one.  We visited the boyhood residence, and while it has a story, it doesn't quite match the tall tales of the birthplace cabin. 

Knob Creek Farm

Signs inform visitors of historic significance.

This month, we concluded our three president's homes, in three days, in three states at the humblest of them all, Knob Creek, Kentucky, the farm where Lincoln lived, from age two to eight, with his parents and older sister.  The family had possession of 30 of the 228 acres of Knob Creek and, with little disruption since, visitors can see the grounds pretty much as the Lincolns did over two hundred years ago.

Visitor Center and log cabin not currently opened.

Since we were at Knob Creek "pre season" neither the Visitor's Center nor the log cabin were open. Looking more like a roadside park than an historic landmark, the tale of the tiny cabin and its log-built doppelganger ten miles away, is almost more remarkable than the grounds.

The one room tiny home at Knob Creek, unlike its birthplace competitor, has always been presented as a cabin representative of what the Lincolns lived in. The logs came from the Gollaher's land, Lincoln's neighbors.

We were the only visitors on a sunny February afternoon. 

The log cabin at the Memorial building - the one we passed on this trip - was a bit more boastful and, at one time, did claim to be the actual home that our 16th President was born in.

As noted in "Not Even Past", this birthplace pretender began its wild ride in 1895 when entrepreneur Alfred Dennet constructed a cabin from logs sourced near the Sinking Spring Farm, the site where Lincoln was born. Dennet took the faux cabin on tour around the country but wasn't content with only one. Incredibly, Dennet added the "birthplace cabin" of Confederate President Jefferson Davis to the show - and, like Lincoln's humble abode - its authenticity wasn't challenged.

The logs from the cabin at Knob Creek came from the Gollahers, neighbors of Lincoln.

The dubious duo finally landed in Brooklyn's Coney Island, but due to inadequate packaging for shipping, the logs became mixed together. Undaunted, the parts were combined, creating a new attraction, the "Lincoln-Davis Birthplace Cabin". 

When it made its way back to Kentucky, it was sold as Lincoln's "original" birthplace cabin and was housed in the newly built memorial site in 1911. 

When the National Park Service took ownership of the landmark, they had the logs date-tested. That confirmed the cabin's non-authenticity. Lincoln was born in 1809, the logs were circa 1840.

It is now referred to as the "symbolic" Lincoln birthplace cabin.

Real or fake, Lincoln's early dwellings would have been very small, with a footprint measuring approximately 12' by 17'  - an average two car garage measures 20' x 20'.

Hildene, home of Robert Lincoln

Front of Hildene, bricks outline Lincoln cabin

We were reminded not only of the size of the Lincoln log cabins, but the contrast in family dwellings in just one generation when visiting Hildene last July. The Vermont home of Robert Lincoln, the only child of President Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln to live to adulthood, is an 8,000 square foot abode (a "downsize" retirement home). In a tribute to his father's humble beginnings, a frame of bricks, just outside the front entryway of Hildene, measures 12' by 17', another symbolic representation of Lincoln's birthplace.   

Real or really close -  the Lincoln cabins in Kentucky do give perspective. It was worth the stop, giving us a bit of more history and another check on our Presidential Homes list. 

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Current count, we're up to eleven Presidential Homes/Libraries (that is our strict criteria; homes or libraries, other places of interests, e.g., where a President stayed or dined, doesn't count) for seven presidents. To date, we've been to the following:

1. Mount Vernon:  Washington 1968
2. Hyde Park, NY and the Little White House, GA:  FDR 2015, 2024
3. Hermitage, TN:  Jackson 2018
4. Gerald Ford Library, Grand Rapids, MI:  Ford, 2016
5. Taft Home, CN:  Taft 2015
6. McKinley Home and Library, Canton, OH:  McKinley 2018
7. Harding Home  and Library, Marion, OH 2024
8. Calvin Coolidge birthplace, Plymouth, Notch, VT  2024
9. Jimmy Carter, boyhood home, Plains, GA 2025
10. James K. Polk, home and museum, Columbia, TN 2025
11. Abraham Lincoln, site of boyhood home, Knob Creek, Hodgenville, KY 2025

President's Day Special Part 2: Home of James K. and Sarah Polk (and recipe for mint tea!)

The James K. Polk House in Columbia, Tennessee

 Although James K. Polk lived in several places in his lifetime, only his family home in Tennessee and, of course, the White House, remain. This month, we visited the former - the James K. Polk Home in Columbia. Built by Polk's father, Samuel, in 1816 while James was attending the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, the future 11th President of the United States lived there for only a short time. However, the museum showcases many of the belongings of both James and his wife, Sarah, including an impressive collection of their White House furniture and china. 

Portraits of Sarah and James that resemble the gifter.

The James K. Polk Home:

The house is handsome, but unpretentious - a two-story brick building with a detached kitchen (not an uncommon safety location of the time). The first floor has a parlor and dining room filled with White House gifts, dishes and family portraits.  Of the latter, there is a rather amusing set of paintings of James and Sarah from Andrew Jackson. We learned that all such gifts from President Jackson tended to look more like the 7th president than the subjects themselves.

The master bedroom has a unique feature.

Fireplace has an unusual location.

Another quirky feature of the home resides in the primary bedroom on the second floor. Samuel Polk's building skills, prior to the home in Columbia, were limited to log cabins and other less complex structures. Not familiar with the requirement for fireplaces to have their own chimney, he routed the bedroom fireplace to share a flue with a first-floor fireplace. Once made aware of the error, Polk's father had to realign the primary bedroom's fireplace to its own chimney. The result it a very off-centered mantel that juts out awkwardly in the otherwise well-appointed room. 

In the James K. Polk House kitchen, a separate building on the grounds.

James K. Polk: 

 

Polk, the oldest of ten children, was an excellent student, ambitious, disciplined and very serious. He found a complementary match with Sarah Childress, a well-educated young woman from a wealthy Tennessee family who, unlike James, was very gregarious and loved to entertain. They married in 1824 and the following year, James ran for, and was elected to, the U.S. House of Representatives. 

The dining room, set out for a dinner party.

Table is set with Polk family serving ware. 

         

Polk was a great supporter of Andrew Jackson (another Tennessean presidential home we visited in 2019, see blog story:  Nashville, Part II, The Hermitage).

 

A divided Democratic party in 1844 produced the nomination of Polk, the "Dark Horse" candidate. He won the presidential election by a slim margin, but by his choice, Polk set to serve one term with an agenda to accomplish.

The Museum Room displays White House china.

Vegetable dish used at the White House.

James and Sarah planned to retire and reside at Polk Place, their home in Nashville. Sadly, James died shortly after leaving the White House at the age of 53. 

The parlor on the first floor. Furnishings and other interior accents reflect Sarah's favorite color:  red. 

Though the Polks had no children together, after James died, Sarah adopted a great niece, Sarah Polk Jetton Fall. It was Fall, and her daughter, Saidee Fall Grant, who helped preserve the Polk legacy. It was Grant who organized the James K. Polk Memorial Association, and once Polk Place had been demolished, the Association took part in purchasing the James K. Polk Home and filling it with the remarkable possessions of James and Sarah.

The James K. Polk House and Visitors Center, Columbia, Tennessee

We truly enjoyed this visit to the James K. Polk House. While waiting for our tour guide - who was excellent -  we were instructed to spend some time in the Visitor's Center Museum Room which provides a timeline of Polk's life as well as more personal belongings. 

While there, we also picked up a few treasures in the neighboring gift shop, among them the book, "Provisions & Politics, Recipes Honoring First Lady Sarah Childress Polk".   

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A few items we bought at the Visitor Center's gift shop, including, "Provisions & Politics" recipe book.

The hardcover cookbook, "Provisions and Politics" was first published by the James K. Polk Memorial Association in 2003, the 200th anniversary of Sarah Polk's birth. It's a collection of recipes from various sources to pay tribute to the First Lady. With their permission, I share "Claudia's Mint Tea".

Claudia's Mint Tea

• 10 tea bags, or 4 family-size  tea bags
• 2/3 cup (scant) sugar
• 1 cup lemonade mix (not sugar free)
• 10 springs (or more) of fresh mint
• 1 quart boiling water

Combine the tea bags, sugar, lemonade mix and mint in a heatproof pitcher. Add the boiling water.  Steep for 30 minutes. Strain the tea into a 1-gallon container.  Add enough cold water to fill the container. Pour over ice in glasses. For variety, add one 6-ounce can of pineapple juice. 

Chocolate and Tea Pairing at Chesterfield Township Library: A great way to spend a winter evening!

Librarian, Kalya B., with Barb G.& Pam B., BTS Chocolate and Tea at Chesterfield Twp. Library

What better way to spend a chilly February evening in Michigan than drinking hot tea paired with "top shelf" chocolate in a cozy library? 

Although a somewhat rhetorical question, we're comfortable with our answer:  if not the best, it ranks pretty high up. 

And, Barb's Tea Service, along with a room full of guests, did just that this week at Chesterfield Township Public Library. At the invitation of librarian, Kayla Barnish, BTS presented our "Chocolate and Tea Pairing" program. 

Due to the library's event space, seating was limited to twenty, but, despite the cold temps, all twenty attended!

Guests arriving and getting seated on a rather chilly February evening.

Our second time at the Chesterfield Library, Pam B. and I were excited to return to this special space, this time pairing up four different chocolates with four different teas.  A delightful bonus for those who call the mitten state home, all the chocolates came from premier Michigan chocolatiers.  In addition, all but one of the teas were local, too, including a BTS herbal.

Table set up includes, tasting guide, pen and note pad, teacups and chocolate.

Every guest received a chocolate tasting chart, tea and chocolate pairing guide, a plate of chocolate bites, a teacup and a BTS pen for taking notes. Also, as a Valentine's Day favor from BTS, everyone received a decorative paper cup with two additional chocolates to take home.

Guests preparing for chocolate /tea pairing.

Steeping first tea before everyone is seated.

                 

          

As guests sipped and sampled, we presented a history of tea and chocolate's journey around the world and the privileged folks who had early access. Fortunately, one no longer needs to live in a palace to enjoy the pleasures of a hot cup of tea paired with chocolate. But, we'll assert, it's great fun, and a privilege, to share such pairings in a very cozy library on a cold winter evening in Michigan.

Thanks to the Chesterfield Township Public Library & all the great guests who came to join us!

Let us present a tea and chocolate pairing for you! For more information on this deliciously fun event, contact us at barb@barbsteaservice.com.

President's Day Special! Three presidential homes in three days in three states: Part 1 Jimmy Carter/Plains, GA

Chris outside of Plains High School, now a museum.

 

In honor of President's Day, we're posting our latest Presidential Homes/Libraries trifecta. This month, en route from Florida back to our home in Michigan, we visited three presidential homes, in three different states in three days. We are now up to eleven such POTUS landmarks, with less than forty to fulfill our goal of setting foot in all. 

Large "tea mug" purchased at museum gift shop.

We first stopped in Plains, Georgia, home of Jimmy Carter, then on to Columbia, Tennesse to the James K. Polk Museum and, finally, to Hodgenville, Kentucky to see Knob Creek, early residence of Abraham Lincoln.

All three sites were, coincidentally, homes of the presidents when they boys or young adults, however, they displayed a range of original possessions from none at all to rooms filled with family treasures. 

We'll devote three separate blogs to each of these presidential sites, starting in order of our travels. First up, the 39th President, Jimmy Carter.

The home of Jimmy and Roslyn Carter - to open to the public later this year.

Jimmy Carter's home in Plains, GA.

Jimmy Carter's home in Plains, Georgia is a short car ride from the small town which once included brother Billy's working gas station and the public high school, now a museum. 

Billy Carter's gas station.

Billy's gas station, in Plains, no longer open.

As one who remembers not only Jimmy Carter's presidency and First Lady Rosalyn, but Billy Beer and Miss Lilian, Plains seemed comfortingly familiar. After a stop at the high school, which pays great homage to both Jimmy and Rosalyn - the latter was Valedictorian, class of 1944 - and a "supermarket sweep" tour of the gift shop (Jimmy Carter heavy duty tea mug, pewter peanut earrings), we drove through town in the direction of the childhood home and farm of the 39th President. On the way, we passed Billy's gas station as well as the former home of Jimmy and Rosalyn, set to be opened to the public later this year. (But, worth noting, the high school museum docent told us that the gardens will be available to visit later this spring).

Outside Jimmy Carter's boyhood home.

Carter's peanuts on display in museum

Once at the Carter farm, it's a quick walk from the parking lot to the home. However, there were no docents at this location - it was a self-guided tour, complete with descriptive placards in each room and optional recordings. 

Although, there are few original items of the Carter's, period pieces are used to represent what the family would have used. Jimmy Carter's father, Earl, moved the family here in 1928. He originally grew cotton, corn and peanuts, but switched to focus primarily on peanuts a decade later.

Bathroom small and rustic - but no complaints.

Outdoor facilities before indoor bathroom.

   

That was also the time electricity came to the Carter home - a much-welcomed addition along with indoor plumbing.  In the house bathroom, you can see the somewhat primitive shower set up, but, per the overhead recording, no one complained of the cold water or small space. Everyone appreciated having indoor facilities, a real improvement from the open-air alternative.

Dining room outside the kitchen, used for special guests.

The back of the home faces the railroad tracks. The train would thunder past in the early morning hours, waking any guests who weren't used to the bellowing sound. However, the sisters of Jimmy Carter who shared the back bedroom closest to the tracks were said to enjoy getting up every now and then to view the trains as they went by.

Back porch facing the nearby railroad tracks.

In addition to the farm, the Carter family also ran a store on the grounds. (I spotted a tea kettle, but not sure if that was part of typical merchandise sold there).

Carter farm and store. Reaching for a tea kettle, though, not original merch.

This presidential home was especially meaningful on the heels of Jimmy Carter's passing in December of last year, living until 100 years of age. He and his family saw - and accomplished - a lot in those many decades. It's worth a visit to see just how far that journey went from Plains to Washington and back home again. 

Barb's Tea Service's In/Out List 2025: From Buc-ees to Podcasts, it's all from BTS with (even more) love!

Buc-ees continues to trend!

                      

Happy New Year!

At BTS we're once again ringing in the new and dispensing of the old with our highly anticipated (at least by three people!) Barb's Tea Service's In/Out List. The upcoming year is full of momentous commemorations including Jane Austen's 250th Birthday, Pemberly Pines Emerald Anniversary, a first birthday of a favorite podcast and, incredibly, fifteen years of the BTS In/Out List.

It's also a year of new launches and new seasons of television, movies and streaming shows. Along with our favorites period dramas like Bridgerton, a premier of the Meghan Markle's lifestyle series on Netflix was set to air this month. They both involve Royal drama, great wealth, scandal and tea.  But, unlike Queen Charlotte's quest for the flawless diamond of the season, in "With Love, Meghan", the former "Suits" actress stresses, "We're not in pursuit of perfection, we're in pursuit of joy". (That's BTS' motto, too).

What is now our decade-and-a-half pursuit of reporting what's trending for the new year and what should be left behind gleaned, as always, from respected news sources, fashion experts and our own imperfectly, but joyous, humble opinions.

In/Out List 2025

In:  Mocha Mousse:  Pantone's color of the year was a bit of a surprise to some as, instead of a bold or vibrant shade, a neutral was chosen. But, per Pantone's press release, the earthy, simple brown color was chosen for its richness that "nurtures us with its suggestion of the delectable qualities of chocolate and coffee (and, BTS adds, "tea"), answering our desire for comfort".  And, as the magazine "W" sagely observes, "pudding can be elegant".

Honolulu blues lead to . . .

mocha mousse, stat!

Out:  The Honolulu Blue Blues:  Our Detroit Lions outdid themselves with a record-setting 15-2 season to become the NFC North Champion. Unfortunately, with a commanding performance, Washington beat us in the playoffs. We're looking forward to next season and another shot at the "bowl". In the meantime, comfort is needed - bring on a double mocha mousse, stat! - and we're not talking paint color here. 

Books

Fashionable fashion books of Jane Austen. 

More DA fashions include tea time!

In:  Fashions of period dramas and favorite authors. With Jane Austen's Semiquincential birthday on deck as well as the new Downton Abbey movie scheduled for September, it's only fashionable to have books on their fashions. Two that we're adding to our bookshelves are:  "Jane Austen's Wardrobe" and "The Costumes of Downton Abbey". Very new to the market, just published Fall 0f 2023, you'll find a lot of interesting information accompanied by lovely photos (including tea time!).

Rock Davenport, who later went on to become unknown, tells his own Tinsel Town tales.

In: Rock Davenport. A riveting tale of near misses and unfulfilled Hollywood dreams of Rock D. An almost-extra in Spartacus (Spartacus #6), Rock knew he was facing an uphill battle due to lack of talent, but his tales of rubbing elbows with movie stars like Vic Tayback and Al Lewis will have you on the edge of your seat. (Bonus: "Match Game '74 Murder Mystery" will have you asking, what the blank?).

Out:  Lemon Curd Killer. BTS reviewed this latest Laura Child's tea mystery in May (Return of the Lemon Curd). While lemon curd is always in (and "on" for scones), we propose a new whodunnit incorporating the color, flavor and mood of 2025:  "Mocha Mousse Murder Mystery:  Death by Chocolate" with the tagline - "the proof is in the (elegant) pudding".

In:  Personal Libraries.  There are two kinds people: those who buy books to add to their collections and those who tell the former to download more and bring home less. But, a personal library is sure to please both. A nicely curated bookshelf (or t wo, or three, . . .), can please even the most minimalist among us. The personal library says: "I'm not just random piles of books scattered throughout the house. I am organized by topic, size and color!" 

Tearoom Book Nook - several hundred pieces, I'm on five.

In:  DIY Book Nooks. And, what better to add to your bookshelves (other than books), but a bit of whimsy that shows off your other passions as well. These come in the shape of miniature greenhouses, bookstores, coffee houses and, our personal favorite, tearooms. We're currently working on a several-hundred piece tearoom nook.  (Check our progress in a few months.😀).

Accessories:

Pins are in! Two of my favs, from two generations.

Afternoon tea where guests wore pins.

In:  Put a pin in it:  At BTS, we're not afraid to broach the brooch, in fact, we hardily endorse it.  A great addition to any festive gathering, including tea time. We hosted a recent afternoon tea party and encouraged guests to wear a favorite pin. It's an excellent ice breaker (or is that iced tea breaker?).  We loved the stories behind the brooches - some heirlooms, some special interests - but all meaningful and, as one guest noted, it's nice to let them get "air" once in awhile. So, don't put a pin in it, put a pin on it and add that to your next invite.

Vintage-looking chain with both teapot

. . .and teacup pendant

In:  Devine Chains: Vintage or vintage looking necklaces. We were gifted a lovely chain with a pendant that does double-duty, sporting a teapot on one side and a teacup on the other.  Ours is from Devine Iguana.

Bridgerton fans are in.

In:  Fans:  Bridgerton fans are already fans of fans. BTS provides them for Bridgerton teas, should guests find themselves in fear of a swoon.

Card holder serve dual purpose. 

In: Put a card in it:  Those who participate in double deck pinochle can use some help - and no, were not talking just when you're partner gives you an unexpected jump bid. Playful card holders with a variety of designs (snowflakes, puppy dogs) are the perfect card-playing accessory to aid in keeping the cards in your hands. Also, these may be used as a fan, should you be victim of the jump-bid swoon. 

Be present, be yourself, be on time!

Countdown clock can keep your podcast on time - and other uses, too!

In:  On time.  We see countdown clocks as not only helping one's podcast stay on time, but can easily aid in other areas.  Let your spouse set a ten minute limit for your recounting the latest Dateline episode or program a twenty-minute time constraint for selecting a restaurant for dinner this evening (this includes Tripadvisor consults). 

Rock looks a bit like the author.

Out:  Lookalike contests. As noted in the Washington Post's In/Out list for the new year, these events are "out". The popularity of lookalike contests peaked in 2024. Competitors' hopes in lookalike competition for actors such as Timothee Chalamet and Glen Powell were overshadowed by the appearance of the actors themselves. Folks, be happy looking like you, and skip the unnecessary comparisons to Hollywood elite. Unless, of course, you're the confident of Rock Davenport. We spy a "dead-ringer" in the author (and, no, we're not referencing the ill-fated celebrity on Match Game '74). 

Entertainment:

BTS kicked off the new year with two Downton Abbey-themed teas. 

In: Bridgerton, Gilded Age, Downtown Abbey, Jane AND Cassandra Austen.  While we're still waiting on release dates for Bridgerton, Season 4 as well as Gilded Age, Season 3 (projections show end of 2025 or early 2026 for both), we already know we'll be in the movie theater on September 12th to see Downton Abbey 3 and viewing Masterpiece Theater on May 4th for "Miss Austen". You heard it here first:  Miss Austen to air in May. . .we loved the book.

And, included in all the above, are the Barb's Tea Service's tea talks:  Bridgerton, Downton Abbey, Gilded Age and Jane Austen. BTS' calendar is filling up fast - contact us for a customized tea talk for your special group!

The Hoda-bration may have jumped the frog when Kermit sang his special song.

Out:  Hoda K.  The beginning of the year, Hoda Kotb left her morning gig at the Today Show.  We're fans of the journalist and wish her all the best in her upcoming adventures. We also applaud the end of the months' long Hoda-bration. When Kermit is asked to sing a special song for the early AM co-host, the tedious good-bye "jumped the frog". 

Barb's Tea Service's podcast will celebrate its first full year in March. We love to host special guests!

In:  Barb's Tea Service Podcast. With even MORE love, Barb, of BTS, and co-host, arm candy and studio engineer, Chris, continue their weekly podcast about tea and tea-adjacent topics in under 30 minutes! This year, bring your BTS podcast Bingo card as we keep up with our favorites subjects (Austen, DA, Gilded Age, Bridgerton, salt cellars and the Gabor sisters) and add on new topics, served with tea and, of course, lots of love.

Out:  With Love, Megan. This lifestyle series with the Duchess was scheduled to be out on Netflix, January 15th. Due to the California wildfires, it has been thoughtfully postponed. 

Drinkware:

BTS mug, a not limited edition for our special guests.

Out:  Stanley cup designer water bottles. In a classic marketing ploy, Stanley, issued "limited editions" of their typical utilitarian thermos brand, in colorful offerings, and sent them off to social influencers to create a demand frenzy. The Tik-Tok'ers delivered.  This $45 thermos sold out quickly, giving rise to a price-gauging secondary market. As one who was victim of Beenie Babies and other inflated "collectibles", I can say, today's hot item is tomorrow's Thrift Store bargain.

Special guests, Rik and Carol, received the BTS mug.

You could be next!

In:  Barb's Tea Shop Special Guest mug. A timeless commemorative cup that comes with an appealing price tag - be a special guest on a BTS podcast! 

Don't buck the Buc-ees trend!

And, our last, "buc" not least, emerging trend:  Buc-ees! As we reported last January, Buc-ees is making its way north and we're ready with open arms. According to last month's Cincinnati Enquirer, a small legal dispute between neighboring counties (as to who would provide water and sewage services to the mega-marvelous highway rest stop), delayed construction - but only for three weeks. Our beloved Buc-ees, in its latest location just outside of Dayton, Ohio, is expected to be opening its doors in late 2025. We'll be there to order brisket sandwiches, kolaches, scones and fill up on gas. Such a magical place - and soon, a mere 3.5 hour drive from home. 

Our tea friends are always "in" and we hope you will stay in touch. We don't strive for perfection, but we do aim for joy!

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With much more love, Barb, and all of us at Barb's Tea Service.