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My thoughtful and creative gift-giving husband saw to it I had about 3 bulk ounces each of German chamomile, Oregon peppermint, and lavender for experimenting and blending.

So I tried a teaspoonful of the lavender with my old standby Monk’s Blend. May have to work with the proportions a little, but it tones down the grenadine sweetness a little and — well, tastes a little like a purple Crayola. (Not that I ever actually ate one during my formative years.)

But then again, if you’re a sucker for blank paper and a brand new box of pointy crayons….

Anyway, it’s pleasant and purple and I’m feeling decidedly relaxed and Christmas pudding-y.

How times have changed … used to be it was the child that was awake at 4 a.m. on Christmas morning due to the excitement; now it’s the parents awake at 4 a.m. on Christmas morning due to insomnia. So we decided on a lark to leave the teenager in bed and go out to breakfast wherever we could find an open door. I toted my own bag, not knowing where we’d land, and good ol’ Irish Breakfast is a can’t-miss morning guarantee. Cranberry orange pancakes at Denny’s.

One thing that hasn’t changed…the down-on-my-knees sense of awe and blessing that always hits me on Christmas morning, no matter who’s up first: after all, “the Word became flesh and took up residence among us.” May He be in residence with you and your families today.

Just seems like the day to hit all the holiday favorites. With a little sugar and milk, eminds me of cinnamon spread (which I don’t know actually exists, but sounds reasonable) on a graham cracker. I think I still prefer my Ginger Snappish with the little extra kick of lemon.

I also ginger-snapped up some of this on our Christmas run to the city. I now feel quite well-stocked for the winter!

I found some! I found some! Had to drive clear across the state to do it, but I snagged some in time for Christmas! Sweet and nutmeggy, better with milk. Thank you, Dierberg’s!

It’s cold and lead-balloon cloudy, I’m working on a writing assignment that’s about to wring me dry , and I needed a little internal sunshine. This is cheerful and fruity without being too tart—-now where’s a sun lamp?

Finally had the opportunity to sit down and write a thoughtful and positive review on this one for www.itsallabouttheleaf.com. Then as hubby wandered by, I stuck the cup under his nose and asked, “What do you smell?”

“Bug spray.”

Rest assured…it’s better than that!

In the pouch, this smelled great (fruitcake in a cup) and I succumbed to temptation and picked out some dried fruit bits to chew on in great anticipation while I prepped this. I mean, fruit and peppercorns? Cool!

Steeped…maybe not so much, maybe I should’ve let it go a little longer. Spice hints with no fruit. I don’t sweeten often, but tossed in a sugar cube and that helped a bit. I may have been better off eating it raw :)

Still, I believe I owe thanks to Doulton for the opportunity to try this one…I’m pulling out some winter-ier samples that I tucked away for lower temps.

Just a comfy old favorite to match my Saturday morning-at-the-writing-desk ratty jeans and baggy Mizzou sweatshirt. The grenadine scent this morning makes me think of fruitcake…which makes me hungry for fruitcake…which makes me shake my head because if I’m that ADD this early in the morning, it’s going to be a LONG way to 1200 words….