Christmas Gift -- Charleston Tea

My youngest son visited the Charleston Tea Plantation, in Charleston South Carolina just before Christmas and so I was the lucky Mom who received Charleston Tea as part of my Christmas gift.

The Charleston Tea Plantation is on Wadmalaw Island in the South Carolina Low Country. That would be way south facing the Atlantic with its back to Georgia. Before you ask, yes, there is an Upcountry South Carolina, way up in the northwest corner close to Asheville, NC and bordering on Tennessee.  

They enjoyed the tour and tea at the plantation. He's a history buff - hence the visit to Charleston (and Fort Sumter, Fort Moultrie and others) and apparently learned a lot about history of growing tea in the "colonies."  The sandy soil and sub-tropical climate of the South Carolina Low Country provide a perfect environment for growing the Camellia Sinensis tea plant which produces both black and green teas. 

My Christmas gift included some Charleston Breakfast Tea which is a full bodied black tea and a Plantation Peach tea - a perfect southern gift.  Accompanying it was a beautiful English china flowered mug that he also bought there, and it came with the Charleston Tea Shopping Bag in the photo. 

If you are a tea drinker or would just like to learn more about the history of tea in this country visit their website:  http://www.charlestonteaplantation.com/

We're listening to The High Kings on the Jam Jar

The High Kings!  An amazing band with an amazing sound and we're listening to it through the JAM Jar. Incredible!  There is nothing like Irish music to give you a boost of energy - especially on a chilly January day.  If you're into Irish Folk music and even if you're not, take a listen to them on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uGiAFEGqxc&playnext=1&list=PLB2399DC8602B1D44&feature=results_main

  

They are a talented group with diverse musical backgrounds. The band was formed by Celtic Woman manager Dave Kavanagh in 2008.

Who's Who? 

Finbarr Clancy is from the Clancy Clan who brought Irish traditional/folk music to the US in the 1960's and brought the genre broad acceptance and into the same league as Pete Seagar and Bob Dylan.  Finbarr is hugely talented playing several instruments (banjo, guitar, flute) and of course has a great voice. He's toured the US and the globe with various artists. 

Darren Holden is a songwriter and musician and vocalist. He toured with Boyzone, starred as The Piano Man (Billy Joel) in the Tony Award-winning hit Billy Joel/Twyla Tharp musical Movin’ Out, and was lead singer with RIVERDANCE on Broadway and on tour. He performs all genres of music from Pop and Jazz to Country and Celtic.

Brian Dunphy has a broad musical background as well. He appeared in a stage version of Rocky Horror Picture show and spent two years singing at The Gershwin Theatre on Broadway in New York and as lead vocalist in Radio City Music Hall. While there, he had the honor of performing the American National Anthem at Madison Square Gardens and appearing on “The Today Show”. He was the lead singer in "Riverdance The Show” and joined The Three Irish Tenors.  

Martin Furey also comes from a family well known in the Irish folk and ballad scene of the 60’s.  Martin plays multiple instruments, including banjo, bouzouki, guitar and whistles. He was successful in Scotland with his band Sam Harlet, and with his sister Aine formed a band Bohinta and their album Excalibur went straight to number one in the French Album charts.

A really talented group of Kings. 

Christmas gifts for travelers

Music is a great traveling companion and  the one language that all people understand. One of the things that we miss most when we're traveling is listening to music. Most hotels, at least in the category of hotel we're staying at, have only a traditional clock radio on the night table. One of the gifts our sons gave to their Dad this Christmas was a JAM Jar and a Jar of Jam. 

The sound from the Jam Jar wireless speakers is incredible. I'm thinking back to the huge speakers that we used to have, that didn't have this sound. It’s mind-boggling to think that this phenomenal sound is coming from a small jar this size. You can see how small it is; it fits into his carry-on computer bag.  The Jam Jar is made by  HMDXAUDIO   http://www.hmdxaudio.com/products.htm

Their Dad also likes Jam (not preserves or jelly) and is partial to Smuckers since their jam doesn't have lumps or clumps of berries.  It was a great gift.  

Music is the universal language of mankind.” 

― Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

“Where words fail, music speaks.” 

― Hans Christian Andersen

  

“After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.” 

― Aldous Huxley, Music At Night: And Other Essays

Oh, the Places WE'LL Go in 2013!

Typically I don't make New Year's resolutions, mostly because I don't want to look back and see that I failed at them.  But I do see January as a good time to look ahead and set goals.  The usual goals crop up:  use the elliptical more, work harder on learning Spanish and Italian, and try to enjoy cooking more, learn more about blogging. Ok, they do sort of sound like resolutions, but they aren't, really.

One thing that we always do together in the days after Christmas is start to think about what we'd like to do  in the new year and where we'd like to go - both locally and globally.

The floats in the Tournament of Roses Parade and this year's theme by Dr. Seuss' "Oh, the Places you'll Go." gave me a lot of inspiration.  Well that and the many travel blogs that I've become addicted to -- especially Matt Long’s   www.landlopers.com;

Barbara Weibel's   http://holeinthedonut.com/;    Sherry Ott’s  www.ottsworld.com; Heather Cowper’s www.heatheronhertravels.com; and Laurel Robbins'   http://monkeysandmountains.com/

If you aren't familiar with their amazing adventures, great photos and podcasts from around the globe, make it your New Year's resolution to click on their websites soon. 

We're not thinking about giving up the corporate life and we're not ready to retire, but we do want to travel more especially now that we have an empty nest. Reading great travel blogs is inspirational, motivational, and a fantastic source of information.

That's me in the photo above working at the dining room table.  I use a GPS when I'm driving to new areas, but I like maps. I know maps and atlases are old school, but I like looking at them and have bags of old maps in my closet. (Now cleaning out the closets would be a good new year's resolution - if I made resolutions.)

The View Down Colorado Blvd

Watching the Rose Bowl Parade who hasn't had the thought California Here I Come......sitting on the bleachers on Orange Grove or Colorado Boulevard, basking in the California winter sun.

The Hallmark Channel and KTLA and the Hallmark Channel especially do a great job  on  parade and band sounds, the bands are amazing - but nobody yet has invented anything that can bring the aroma's and scents of the flowers through the television.

I love the floats and enjoy watching the videos of the production companies building them and watching the teams decorate them on New Year's Eve.  What a way to celebrate.

 This year the theme was especially well represented by all the floats especially Kiser Permante's "Oh the Places You'll Go." And I started  thinking and dreaming about where we might go this year.   We've been looking for a Recipe for Adventure and found one on the Trader Joe's float.

E Trader Joe's "Recipe for Adventure" float  (SGVN/Staff photo by Sarah Reingewirtz)

So we started Dreaming of Paradise

  Dole "Dreaming of Paradise" float SGVN/Staff photo by Sarah Reingewirtz)

We actually had been thinking of  an educational trip and The City of South Pasadena's Sailing a Sea of Knowledge  float caught our eye

City of South Pasadena "Sailing the Sea of Knowledge " (SGVN/Staff photo by Sarah Reingewirtz) 

Or maybe we'd go on a Deep Sea Adventure like the one from the City of Burbank

 Fantasy Award: City of Burbank/Burbank. (SGVN/Staff photo by Sarah Reingewirtz)

The only time we've seen penguins is at the zoo - and there they were on Colorado Boulevard on live TV! People say they are as cute in person as they are on TV. 

 Bob Hope Humor Award: Cal Poly Universities "Tuxedo Air" . (SGVN/Staff photo by Sarah Reingewirtz)

But maybe we should travel by overseas and what better place to depart from than LAX where we can make Good Connections.

City of Los Angeles, "Making Connections", won the Mayor's Award for (Most Outstanding City Entry) during the 124th Rose Parade, January 1, 2013. (SGVN/Photo by Walt Mancini/SXCity)

And from there only The Sky's the Limit

  Sierra Madre float, "The Sky's the Limit"  (SGVN/Photo by Walt Mancini/SXCity)

Or should we take the Kiwanis Magic Carpet?

Tournament Volunteers' Award: Kiwanis International " A Child's Magic Carpet Ride" . (SGVN/Staff photo by Sarah Reingewirtz)

Oh where oh where should we go?  China, and cycle through paradise?

 International Award winner China Airlines "Cycling Through Paradise" (SGVN/Staff photo by Sarah Reingewirtz)

Or maybe "Wonderful Indonesia"

President's Award winner Ministry of Tourism & Creative Economies, Republic of Indonesia "Wonderful Indonesia" float   (SGVN/Staff photo by Sarah Reingewirtz)

Since we are in Asia, maybe Korea

As someone who loves parades and marching in them, I was really amazed at the PAVA Korean Traditional Marching Bank.  Korean traditional music doesn't really lend itself to parade marching but the band did an incredible job of blending Korean and American traditions and music. This band has 200 members playing brass, percussion and woodwinds. The band members, color guard and flag bearers all wear Korean traditional clothing 

 No matter where we go, like the people of the City of San Gabriel, we'll Celebrate the Journey

 City of San Gabriel Centennial "Celebrating Our Journey"  (SGVN/Staff photo by Sarah Reingewirtz)

But at the end of the trip and the end of the day......All paths lead home.

HGTV "All Paths Lead Home"  (SGVN/Staff photo by Sarah Reingewirtz)

  

Travel is an education and Everyone Grows - personally, spiritually, culturally, intellectually....and usually around the middle as well.

But when we are home we enjoy watching our garden grow.

  Miracle-Gro "Everyone Grows" float   (SGVN/Staff photo by Sarah Reingewirtz)

Oh, the places you'll go!...... We are fortunate to be Living the Good Life!

We're fortunate and blessed with our family, our friends, our health and the opportunity to travel and get to know so many people.

City of Glendale "Living the Good Life" (SGVN/Staff photo by Sarah Reingewirtz) 

Oh, the Places You'll Go!

The theme of the 2013 Rose Parade was "Oh, the Places You'll Go"  inspired by Dr Seuss.

Dr. Jane Goodall was honored as the Grand Marshal.  Tournament of Roses President Sally Bixby said that “The theme can be interpreted as a celebration of accomplishment, discovery and travel of course, but equally valid is its implicit call to action.  We think Dr. Goodall’s life story is a testament to the sense of adventure and openness to possibility that this phrase suggests:  As a young woman, she defied convention to follow her dreams, and she has committed herself to a life of global citizenship, inspiring children and adults alike along the way.” An amazing woman whose work helped to bring recognition to endangered species, particularly chimpanzees, and who brought to our attention the need for people to do their part to make the world a better place for people, animals and the environment.

If that isn't inspiring I'm not sure what would be!  More tomorrow on how this theme has inspired me to think about where I'm going in 2013!

Welcoming the New Year watching the Rose Bowl Parade

Watching the Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena, California is the perfect way to welcome in the New Year….and recover from New Year’s celebrations the night before.  After flicking back and forth on the channels we settled on watching the parade on the Hallmark Channel, broadcast by KTLA Channel 5.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/photo credit

I love parades.  I love marching in parades.  Not too many people know and most have forgotten, I was a twirler in high school, not a very good one.  But I never dropped the batons in a parade or on the football field.  I also played the bagpipes in an Irish pipe band.  Again I wasn’t the best piper they had, but neither was I the worst.  But marching up the avenue with a band is a great feeling. And I try not to miss watching the Rose Bowl Parade.

Hallmark and KTLA had a live and delayed broadcast and it appeared that all the floats, horse units, and bands were given air time and what a sound!!

The networks were so busy promoting their upcoming line-ups and the stars of their sit-com’s that they forgot to show much of the parade. Neither CBS nor NBS had much or any coverage of the equestrian units, pretty amazing considering there were at least 21 horse units in the parade. The sound quality on the networks was awful – sure you could hear the hosts promoting their books and talking about their families – but someone forgot to put a microphone down on Orange Grove or Colorado Boulevard  so that “folks at home” could hear the incredible bands.

Rose Bowl Parade Floats 2013: credit Getty Photos

Hallmark and KTLA had a live and delayed broadcast and it appeared that all the floats, horse units, and bands were given air time and what a sound!!

The Rose Bowl is my favorite parade, even though I’ve never been. It has everything a parade should have. 

·        Great weather - It’s Southern California in January - what more can I say?

·        Beautiful floats – all made totally from flowers – or rather “organic matter”.

·        Great Bands – high school, college, international, police, military

·        Horses  and riders

Rose Bowl Parade Floats in 2012 Credit: (Getty Photo)

Some trivia:  The Pasadena Tournament of Roses consists of the Tournament of Roses Parade and the football game. This was the  124^th Tournament of Roses Parade, which began in 1895,  the football game was added in 1902 to help fund the parade.