A Cuppa (Real) Tea

There's a funny story that I remember hearing somewhere that when Prince Charles was visiting the American White House once that he was served tea in a tea bag.  The story goes that he didn't know what to do with it, as everyone in Europe drinks actual tea - loose leaf tea. 

While I do enjoy the historical pretension of loose leaf tea, I am too lazy to worry about it often....a bag of Twinings English Breakfast is good enough for me most of the time.  But I do enjoy a nice blend of loose leaf sometimes.  At first I used a little mesh ball for my tea, but quickly discovered that the engineering on those little things (or at least my little thing) has a bit to go.  So, my lovely Bow Tie Man ordered me a vintage (possibly antique?) tea strainer.  The silver is a little worn, but I think it's lovely.  And of course, the fact that it's old and well used only endears it more to me. 

Tonight's plan is to snuggle in with a cuppa, as they say on the other side of the pond, and perhaps some Irish history.  (Isn't it funny what a tv show can inspire you to learn?)  A lovely evening indeed.