It has been an interesting couple of weeks in the Triad. First, an unexpected (aren't they all?) earthquake. Dogs, cats, residents of the NC Zoo, and critters everywhere were going berzerk in the hours before the event. Fortunately, humans carried on as usual, and some didn't even notice the quake. Thank goodness it was mainly a source of amusement for newscasters and water cooler conversation groups, and didn't do much damage in our area.
On the heels of "The Shake," meteorologists started forecasting gloom and doom with Hurricane Irene, first expected to hit our coast as a Category 3 or 4 storm. Fortunately, Irene chilled somewhat and hit land as "only" a Category 1. Irene did plenty of damage and destruction in North Carolina, so we are glad she weakened before she paid us a visit. In the Triad, Irene was primarily a tropical breeze event, so we can consider ourselves lucky.
Another interesting event that has been much less publicized is the invention of the Spicy Mayan Mocha at Cafe Roche in Winston-Salem. Sarah Hummell, owner and chief barista, likes to study the drink, its many variations, and create something new and delicious for her customers. Just this summer, she and her husband Justin have created an espresso steak rub and Bananas Foster Belgian Waffles. Sarah's newest creation is based on the Mayan tradition of combining peppers and chocolate. The Spicy Mayan Mocha combines cayenne pepper, espresso, Gherardelli Chocolate, and steamed organic milk, topped with a sprinkling of cocoa powder, ground cinnamon, and ground cayenne. For the non-coffee drinkers, the Mexican Hot Chocolate includes the same ingredients without the espresso. What a tantalizing combination!
Sarah is a great example of the many local coffee shop owners and staff who put time, thought, and effort into creating a pleasant and unique experience for their customers. The local coffee shop is not bound to a menu created in a far away board room by executives and focus groups. Each of the shops on our Guide page has a unique atmosphere and menu, and owners and staff who rely on excellent products and service, not mass marketing, to bring us back to the shop time and time again. For that, we are thankful!
Share your favorite coffee shop experiences with your fellow readers by posting a comment!
Showing posts with label I love coffee shops. Show all posts
Showing posts with label I love coffee shops. Show all posts
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Friday, August 19, 2011
Show us your local!
Buy Local. It’s a huge fad right now, and hopefully will survive from fad to a way of life for future generations. Triad Coffee Shops know all about local. Not only are they locally owned and operated, they rely on local businesses for their menu items and services. The Coffee Shops also supply their specialties to other local businesses, weaving an intricate web of interdependence and interest throughout the Triad.
By necessity of climate and geography, the coffee and tea served by local shops must come from far-away places, however, most coffee shops use local roasters for their beans, such as Larry’s Beans, Carolina Coffee Company, and Joe Van Gogh and Chad’s Chai & Tea Co. in Davidson County supplies interesting tea combinations to several local coffee shops.
Many of the coffee shops featured on our Guide page boast particular menu items they create themselves, such as fudge, gelato, cakes, pastries, sandwiches, and much, much more. Several coffee shops feature dairy products from Homeland Creamery in Julian. Local farms supply fruits and vegetables for daily menu items, and the list goes on.
Café Roche, in addition to Homeland Creamery ice cream, features a Winkler Bakery Moravian Cookie in its custom designed Moravian Star latté. The Wet Whistle Co. features numerous North Carolina wineries for its impressive wine inventory and it’s Friday night wine tasting events.
Krankie’s coffee can be purchased at Krankie’s, of course, and at the deli at Whole Foods in Winston-Salem, at Camino Bakery, and other Winston-Salem locations. In an ultimate story of symbiotic relationships, Camino Bakery grew out of a local baker’s success at baking treats for Krankie’s customers. Now, baker Carrie Clifford has her own storefront café, bakery, and wine bar, and serves Krankie’s coffee to her customers!
Nearly every Triad Coffee Shop features work by local artists, photographers, jewelry makers, and even quilters. For example, Tate Street Coffee has regular art shows, Chelsee’s features local artists on a monthly basis, and Java K’s has a wide variety of art pieces on display and available for sale. Casanova’s offers craft shows and tomato and wine tastings.
Local coffee shops also feature local performing artists: bands, poets, comedians, etc., whether booked and scheduled in advance, or impromptu open-mic and competitive performances. Rev’s features live music several nights a week. Community Arts Café is a haven for the literary, performing, and visual arts. Nearly every coffee shop on our Coffee Shop Guide hosts live bands on weekends.
There are over 40 locally owned, independent coffee shops featured in our Coffee Shop Guide. Although not every one of them can be featured in this post, we can guarantee that each and every one of them gives their customers the opportunity to support local entrepreneurs. So, get out there and support them!
Sunday, July 31, 2011
It's ablog time!
Well, for Mocha Mutt, it's always ablog time!
No matter what task awaits me on the laptop, the blog always beckons. I put off banking, budgeting, meeting planning, writing letters (actually e-mails) home to mom, and lots of other "shoulds" to check in with local coffee shops and see what's happening. While blogging about coffee shops and animal rescue is not a "should" in my life, it's definitely one of the most fun parts. There are always good drinks, good eats, and nifty events at Triad Coffee Shops. Even if there are no special events planned, there are always local, interesting people to meet. In a world immersed in electronic media, large crowds of people, and impersonal interactions, the local coffee shop is a great merging of worlds. I can work (blog!) on my laptop, but at the same time visit with friendly baristas, meet local residents, bump into neighbors, help someone "just passing through" with directions to their desination, and any number of other things. The local coffee shop is one of the few places you'll hear "make yourself at home" from the owner or staff, and they are sincere!
Some sad news on the coffee shop front - several local shops have closed in the last few months, and that is always cause for sadness and nostalgia for Coffee Cat & Mocha Mutt. However, it just emphasizes to us that we should enjoy the coffee shops we have, and appreciate their hard working owners and staff with every visit. We never know when life or economic circumstances might make it necessary for our favorite shop to close its doors.
But here on the blog, we'll do our best to let our readers know of shops opening, shops closing, and where you can find a welcoming, pleasant atmosphere in which to enjoy life.
No matter what task awaits me on the laptop, the blog always beckons. I put off banking, budgeting, meeting planning, writing letters (actually e-mails) home to mom, and lots of other "shoulds" to check in with local coffee shops and see what's happening. While blogging about coffee shops and animal rescue is not a "should" in my life, it's definitely one of the most fun parts. There are always good drinks, good eats, and nifty events at Triad Coffee Shops. Even if there are no special events planned, there are always local, interesting people to meet. In a world immersed in electronic media, large crowds of people, and impersonal interactions, the local coffee shop is a great merging of worlds. I can work (blog!) on my laptop, but at the same time visit with friendly baristas, meet local residents, bump into neighbors, help someone "just passing through" with directions to their desination, and any number of other things. The local coffee shop is one of the few places you'll hear "make yourself at home" from the owner or staff, and they are sincere!
Some sad news on the coffee shop front - several local shops have closed in the last few months, and that is always cause for sadness and nostalgia for Coffee Cat & Mocha Mutt. However, it just emphasizes to us that we should enjoy the coffee shops we have, and appreciate their hard working owners and staff with every visit. We never know when life or economic circumstances might make it necessary for our favorite shop to close its doors.
But here on the blog, we'll do our best to let our readers know of shops opening, shops closing, and where you can find a welcoming, pleasant atmosphere in which to enjoy life.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Coffee Shop Hop
I recently enjoyed a weekday visit to a couple of Triad Coffee Shops. Usually, my visits are reserved for weekends and late evenings, so this was a rare opportunity to see another side of coffee shop life. The first coffee shop on the tour was a cozy, well-appointed shop with comfortable furniture, beautiful works by local artists, and a lively game of mah-jong in progress. While others enjoyed the social scene and a friendly competition, I settled into a comfy easy chair and sipped a yummy, iced chai latté (expertly blended by the barista!) and a chocolate chip muffin (warmed up to gooey goodness by the same very pleasant barista). These treats sure did make the pile of paperwork I had much easier to attack. Before I knew it, my snack was gone, I was slurping the last drops of my chai latté, and my paperwork was done. Yippee!!
It was time to move on to another coffee shop and more yumminess, and, of course, more paperwork. The next stop on the tour is a popular hangout for university students, professors, and employees. Given that it was a weekday afternoon, the coffee shop was more quiet than usual, but still had enough activity buzzing to keep me awake as I dug into yet another pile of paperwork. I didn't attack the stack alone, however. I had the company of a large, cold, strawberry smoothie. I had to be careful to pace myself, though, because the smoothie was so delicious I was in danger of chugging it down long before the big pile o' paperwork was done. But, all things come to an end, in this case the good (smoothie) and the bad (paperwork), and it was time for my weekday coffee shop tour to end.
The lesson of the day - - no matter how unpleasant the task that awaits you, it is much more bearable, perhaps even enjoyable, in a pleasant coffee shop environment with the tasty treat(s) of your choice. So, Coffee Shop Fans, pack up your chores, grab your coffee shop coins, and head out to try some of the awesome shops listed in our Coffee Shop Guide.
It was time to move on to another coffee shop and more yumminess, and, of course, more paperwork. The next stop on the tour is a popular hangout for university students, professors, and employees. Given that it was a weekday afternoon, the coffee shop was more quiet than usual, but still had enough activity buzzing to keep me awake as I dug into yet another pile of paperwork. I didn't attack the stack alone, however. I had the company of a large, cold, strawberry smoothie. I had to be careful to pace myself, though, because the smoothie was so delicious I was in danger of chugging it down long before the big pile o' paperwork was done. But, all things come to an end, in this case the good (smoothie) and the bad (paperwork), and it was time for my weekday coffee shop tour to end.
The lesson of the day - - no matter how unpleasant the task that awaits you, it is much more bearable, perhaps even enjoyable, in a pleasant coffee shop environment with the tasty treat(s) of your choice. So, Coffee Shop Fans, pack up your chores, grab your coffee shop coins, and head out to try some of the awesome shops listed in our Coffee Shop Guide.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
As promised, it was a hoot!
Coffee Cat & Mocha Mutt attended a book signing by local humor author Danny R. Roberts, and everything he says, not to mention everything he writes, is absolutely hysterically funny, including his dead-pan delivery of "I'm not funny."
It's been a long time since we have seen such merriment, fun, and fellowship on a Saturday afternoon.
This is exactly the sort of event that was made for a locally owned coffee shop. Rev's Coffee House in High Point was the gracious host for the event. There was plenty of space for Danny's fans and for Rev's regulars, as well as customers who just found the place. There were plenty of good eats and coffee, along with teas, sodas, and the essential bottled water. Thanks, Rev's, for the hospitality and thanks, Danny, for keeping the laughs coming!
It's been a long time since we have seen such merriment, fun, and fellowship on a Saturday afternoon.
This is exactly the sort of event that was made for a locally owned coffee shop. Rev's Coffee House in High Point was the gracious host for the event. There was plenty of space for Danny's fans and for Rev's regulars, as well as customers who just found the place. There were plenty of good eats and coffee, along with teas, sodas, and the essential bottled water. Thanks, Rev's, for the hospitality and thanks, Danny, for keeping the laughs coming!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
CoffeeCat Resolves: Drink More Coffee
Last year, I did the best I’d ever done at keeping my New Year’s resolution. I wasn’t perfect, but I made some improvements. The trick was, choosing something that was more important to me than the usual things of losing weight, saving money, or exercising more. Those resolutions aren’t successful at the start of a new year. They’re successful when you’re ready to take them on, and Jan. 1 just isn’t the optimal time for many resolutions.
So, earlier this week, I flippantly posted on Facebook that I resolve to drink more coffee. But this statement is one of those things said in jest that is only half a joke. Resolving to drink more coffee will help me build on last year’s resolution, so I think I can keep it.
When I say I’ll drink more coffee, I’m thinking of more than just caffeine. Here’s what my resolution means to me:
1) I resolve to enjoy the things I love. I work hard at my day job, volunteer jobs, and helping family & friends. I put a lot of effort into helping others and doing my part to make the world a better place. I don’t do as much as many others do, but I do as much as I can. So, if I want to spend a little extra to buy coffee shop coffee to brew at home, I think I will!
2) I resolve to enjoy Triad Coffee Shops. As I’ve said before on this blog, it is a luxury to pay someone to make coffee for me and a luxury to sit in a well-furnished, warm, inviting coffee shop. But I’ve also written about the great things that coffee shops do in our communities and in the communities around the equator that grow coffee. Our little luxuries support farmers, college students, small business owners, and nonprofit organizations. Enjoy!
3) I resolve to make a resolution I can keep. I never resolve to start something new on Jan. 1. Rather, I look back over the past year and think about what I’ve enjoyed, what has gone well, and what I need to improve. If you read this blog and my Facebook page, you know that CoffeeCat enjoys animal rescue, writing, and working hard in general. Embarking upon 2011, I can say that I’ve enjoyed getting involved in animal rescue, but I can’t do it 24/7 like the true, heart-and soul rescuers. So I’ll continue the other things that worked well for me, too – writing, blogging, and supporting local businesses. Doing all of this requires energy, so for that, I will need coffee!
4) I resolve to be cheerful. I’m not a naturally cheerful person, as those who encounter me before my first coffee know. But over the years, I’ve learned something that is backed up by research: coffee is a mood elevator. When I’m blue, just a few sips of coffee get me in good spirits. When I run out of steam, coffee gets me going. So, for the sake of world peace (at least my corner of the world), I resolve to drink more coffee.
So, coffee shop fans, what do you think? Will coffee help you achieve your resolutions in 2011? Best wishes for a great New Year, friends!
So, earlier this week, I flippantly posted on Facebook that I resolve to drink more coffee. But this statement is one of those things said in jest that is only half a joke. Resolving to drink more coffee will help me build on last year’s resolution, so I think I can keep it.
 |
| My first coffee shop visit of the New Year: The Coffee Break in Greensboro. Beautiful setting, great coffee, friendly people. Happy New Year to me! |
1) I resolve to enjoy the things I love. I work hard at my day job, volunteer jobs, and helping family & friends. I put a lot of effort into helping others and doing my part to make the world a better place. I don’t do as much as many others do, but I do as much as I can. So, if I want to spend a little extra to buy coffee shop coffee to brew at home, I think I will!
2) I resolve to enjoy Triad Coffee Shops. As I’ve said before on this blog, it is a luxury to pay someone to make coffee for me and a luxury to sit in a well-furnished, warm, inviting coffee shop. But I’ve also written about the great things that coffee shops do in our communities and in the communities around the equator that grow coffee. Our little luxuries support farmers, college students, small business owners, and nonprofit organizations. Enjoy!
3) I resolve to make a resolution I can keep. I never resolve to start something new on Jan. 1. Rather, I look back over the past year and think about what I’ve enjoyed, what has gone well, and what I need to improve. If you read this blog and my Facebook page, you know that CoffeeCat enjoys animal rescue, writing, and working hard in general. Embarking upon 2011, I can say that I’ve enjoyed getting involved in animal rescue, but I can’t do it 24/7 like the true, heart-and soul rescuers. So I’ll continue the other things that worked well for me, too – writing, blogging, and supporting local businesses. Doing all of this requires energy, so for that, I will need coffee!
4) I resolve to be cheerful. I’m not a naturally cheerful person, as those who encounter me before my first coffee know. But over the years, I’ve learned something that is backed up by research: coffee is a mood elevator. When I’m blue, just a few sips of coffee get me in good spirits. When I run out of steam, coffee gets me going. So, for the sake of world peace (at least my corner of the world), I resolve to drink more coffee.
So, coffee shop fans, what do you think? Will coffee help you achieve your resolutions in 2011? Best wishes for a great New Year, friends!
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Got Coffee?
If this is how you plan to spend your weekend, you need coffee!
If this is how you feel when your alarm clock rings, you need coffee!
If this is how you feel after a wild night at a Triad Coffee Shop, uh, hmmm, how might I say this delicately . . . you might be a groundhog!
 |
| Hansel & Gretel of |
No matter who you are, there's a Triad Coffee Shop you're bound to love. If you work a 9 to 5 downtown, there are plenty of shops there. If you work a noon to 9 at the mall, grab a cuppa joe on your dinner break or stop by to catch the last bit of live music on the way home.
If you're doggone broke, save your Coke & Cheez-It money all week and scrape together 10 bucks for your weekend entertainment. Many coffee shop events are free, while others charge a $3 cover. What a bargain!
Monday, August 30, 2010
How to be a tourist in your own town
You're wondering what being a tourist in your own town has to do with coffee shops. Don't you know by now that CoffeeCat can relate almost anything on the planet to coffee shops? It's true.
When you're tired of the beaten path you take every day to work, the gym, the kids' school, the grocery store, and home, it's time for a coffee shop break. Even if you're bored with your town and too broke for a weekend getaway, coffee shops have something for you!
Start with the Coffee Shops Guide. Pick any coffee shop that you've never been to. It can be in your town, or, if you're really, really, bored, pick another town. Map out the route from your house to the coffee shop, and then throw it to the wind! That's right, you're going to get there off the beaten path.
Taking the major highway or the main route is allowed, but you must stop along the way at anything that intrigues you. It could be a shop you've never noticed, a park, a historical marker by the side of the road, or even another coffee shop. (How do you think I find all these coffee shops? On the way to some other coffee shop, of course!)
For example, try to map a route that takes you past this marker honoring Underground Railroad legend Levi Coffin. Then throw it to the wind when you see something else that intrigues you even more!
Tell CoffeeCat about your Coffee Shop Tourist experience, and you might get a guest post on the blogspot!
When you're tired of the beaten path you take every day to work, the gym, the kids' school, the grocery store, and home, it's time for a coffee shop break. Even if you're bored with your town and too broke for a weekend getaway, coffee shops have something for you!
Start with the Coffee Shops Guide. Pick any coffee shop that you've never been to. It can be in your town, or, if you're really, really, bored, pick another town. Map out the route from your house to the coffee shop, and then throw it to the wind! That's right, you're going to get there off the beaten path.
Taking the major highway or the main route is allowed, but you must stop along the way at anything that intrigues you. It could be a shop you've never noticed, a park, a historical marker by the side of the road, or even another coffee shop. (How do you think I find all these coffee shops? On the way to some other coffee shop, of course!)
 |
| uploaded from http://www.ncmarkers.com/ |
Tell CoffeeCat about your Coffee Shop Tourist experience, and you might get a guest post on the blogspot!
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Coffee Road Trip: New Orleans
No, I didn't go to New Orleans this weekend, but I discovered a taste of the city at the Super G Mart in Greensboro. There I was, surrounded by a Wal-Mart sized selection of Asian delicacies and staples when a display of Cafe Du Monde coffee caught my eye. So I bought some. And while drinking a cup today, I did a little research.
Cafe Du Monde is the original French-quarter coffee stand and it has faithfully stuck to the basics - coffee, beignets (doughnuts), and a few other drinks - orange juice and soda. According to its website, coffee was successfully cultivated on the Caribbean island Martinique in the 1720s and first came to the U.S. with French settlers. Merci beaucoup, French settlers! During the French Civil War, coffee was scarce, so the French added chicory (the root of the endive lettuce plant) for body and flavor. This tradition made it through the new world French colonies to New Orleans.
CoffeeCat likes this blend, but I'm sure it would taste even better if I could go to New Orleans for some fresh roasted, fresh ground Cafe Du Monde with some hot, sugary doughnuts!
On this 5th anniversary of Katrina, it's great to have a piece of the city as a reminder of its resilience. Stories are all over the news about the rebuilding that continues and the survivors who've made new lives for themselves here in the Triad. Hooray for all of you!
The Triad doesn't have the historic Cafe Du Monde, but we have great, local coffee shops with fresh roasted beans, fresh pastries, friendly people, pet-friendly patios, and great entertainment. So, whatever city you're in today, I hope you're all enjoying a great cup of coffee and savoring the moment. Whether our coffee shops are world-famous or not, we treasure them just the same.
Cafe Du Monde is the original French-quarter coffee stand and it has faithfully stuck to the basics - coffee, beignets (doughnuts), and a few other drinks - orange juice and soda. According to its website, coffee was successfully cultivated on the Caribbean island Martinique in the 1720s and first came to the U.S. with French settlers. Merci beaucoup, French settlers! During the French Civil War, coffee was scarce, so the French added chicory (the root of the endive lettuce plant) for body and flavor. This tradition made it through the new world French colonies to New Orleans.
CoffeeCat likes this blend, but I'm sure it would taste even better if I could go to New Orleans for some fresh roasted, fresh ground Cafe Du Monde with some hot, sugary doughnuts!
On this 5th anniversary of Katrina, it's great to have a piece of the city as a reminder of its resilience. Stories are all over the news about the rebuilding that continues and the survivors who've made new lives for themselves here in the Triad. Hooray for all of you!
The Triad doesn't have the historic Cafe Du Monde, but we have great, local coffee shops with fresh roasted beans, fresh pastries, friendly people, pet-friendly patios, and great entertainment. So, whatever city you're in today, I hope you're all enjoying a great cup of coffee and savoring the moment. Whether our coffee shops are world-famous or not, we treasure them just the same.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Painting the Town Red in Reidsville
CoffeeCat has already blogged about the wonderful-ness of coffee shops. Now I'm learning about other writers who think third places such as coffee shops are much more than places to buy coffee. They're good for our psychological well being and give us a sense of belonging. They improve our relationships and help us form new ones. If you're curious, you can read the books A Place for Us by Benjamin Barber and Great Good Place by Ray Oldenburg.
Or, if you'd prefer to find out firsthand, stop by the Backstreet Buzz and chat with Dave and Linda. You can't miss it - it's the red building on Market Street!
Sunday, August 15, 2010
You make me wanna . . .
 |
| Peaches, former shelter dog |
What about you, coffee shop fans? What does your favorite coffee shop inspire you to do?
Monday, August 9, 2010
Just Another Manic Monday?
Could it have been manic if this song didn't get into my head until the end of the day? I guess not!
It's never a good day when this song is on your mind from the alarm clock until lunch. The next time it happens to you (and it will), CoffeeCat insists that you punch out, leave work, go to the nearest coffee shop, and take a real coffee break. Not a coffee break at the office coffee machine, but a break over freshly ground, freshly brewed, organic, fair trade coffee and a few words with the barista about the weather.
Try it. You'll like it. And if you forget, you can look up this post by its title and be reminded that it is OK to take a coffee break. You will be more productive, happier, and nicer to your coworkers when you return to work. If you're not, then you need to select a coffee shop further away from the office. Look for upcoming Coffee Road Trip posts for suggestions.
In the meantime, I'm happy to see more coffee shop events popping up on Facebook pages. I'm adding them to the Events page as I find them, but if I miss one, please let me know. Be sure to friend your favorite coffee shops so you can stay tuned . . . and look for Triad Coffee Shops coming soon to FB!
Do your part to make the world a better place: take your grumpy self to the coffee shop for an attitude adjustment. I've tried it and it works (only a few people close to me would disagree!).
It's never a good day when this song is on your mind from the alarm clock until lunch. The next time it happens to you (and it will), CoffeeCat insists that you punch out, leave work, go to the nearest coffee shop, and take a real coffee break. Not a coffee break at the office coffee machine, but a break over freshly ground, freshly brewed, organic, fair trade coffee and a few words with the barista about the weather.
Try it. You'll like it. And if you forget, you can look up this post by its title and be reminded that it is OK to take a coffee break. You will be more productive, happier, and nicer to your coworkers when you return to work. If you're not, then you need to select a coffee shop further away from the office. Look for upcoming Coffee Road Trip posts for suggestions.
In the meantime, I'm happy to see more coffee shop events popping up on Facebook pages. I'm adding them to the Events page as I find them, but if I miss one, please let me know. Be sure to friend your favorite coffee shops so you can stay tuned . . . and look for Triad Coffee Shops coming soon to FB!
Do your part to make the world a better place: take your grumpy self to the coffee shop for an attitude adjustment. I've tried it and it works (only a few people close to me would disagree!).
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Sunday mornin', and the livin' is easy
It's Sunday morning, a gift of time to spend however you choose. Many people will spend this morning worshipping, fishing, playing golf, or sleeping late. Some will pack suitcases and clear out the rented beach house. Some will head to work and think ahead to their mid-week day off.
However and wherever you spend your Sunday morning, slow down and commune with your caffeine, whether it's coffee or tea. Hold the warm mug near your face with both hands. Close your eyes. Breathe in the steam. Touch your lips to the rim. Then take a sip. Ahhhh. That first hot sip of the day is always the tastiest and most powerful. Now you can start your day with a little boost of optimism and energy.
This stolen moment might be yours with no effort at all -- just a few steps around your kitchen and perhaps carrying your mug out to the deck or into your living room. Or, it might require planning ahead, setting an alarm clock, and sneaking out of the house before the rest of the family is awake. Here's where the coffee shop comes in. Most of them open by 8 a.m. Sundays, and attract like-minded people - those who relish good coffee and quiet conversation while most of the town is still asleep.
It's a treat to sit in a coffee shop with folks who are reading the Sunday paper or stopping by on their daily dog walk. Others stop in to fuel up before a long church service or a Sunday drive. The day is still full of possibilities, and you get a glimpse of how your neighbors are spending theirs.
Even if you're facing challenges that make living not so easy, this exercise can help you set problems aside and live in the moment - even if just for one moment on a Sunday morning.
However and wherever you spend your Sunday morning, slow down and commune with your caffeine, whether it's coffee or tea. Hold the warm mug near your face with both hands. Close your eyes. Breathe in the steam. Touch your lips to the rim. Then take a sip. Ahhhh. That first hot sip of the day is always the tastiest and most powerful. Now you can start your day with a little boost of optimism and energy.
This stolen moment might be yours with no effort at all -- just a few steps around your kitchen and perhaps carrying your mug out to the deck or into your living room. Or, it might require planning ahead, setting an alarm clock, and sneaking out of the house before the rest of the family is awake. Here's where the coffee shop comes in. Most of them open by 8 a.m. Sundays, and attract like-minded people - those who relish good coffee and quiet conversation while most of the town is still asleep.
It's a treat to sit in a coffee shop with folks who are reading the Sunday paper or stopping by on their daily dog walk. Others stop in to fuel up before a long church service or a Sunday drive. The day is still full of possibilities, and you get a glimpse of how your neighbors are spending theirs.
Even if you're facing challenges that make living not so easy, this exercise can help you set problems aside and live in the moment - even if just for one moment on a Sunday morning.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Morning Chore
Tip, tip, tip. I hear quiet footsteps on the wood floor and know what’s coming.
“I’m going to make COFFEE,” my niece squeals.
I open one eye and see bright brown eyes, a smile as big as her face, and curly, light brown hair swirled all about her tiny head. At five, my niece is so petite that her face is barely above eye level when I am horizontal on my bed. I wish she would sleep past 7 a.m. (6 a.m. on weekends). But, she is an eager helper and as she bounds down the stairs, I marvel that she thinks it is a privilege to help me make coffee.
It's hard to hold onto that childhood ability to find joy in small things, especially ones that require work. But on a really rotten day, carving out a sliver of time for a small thing you enjoy is a great pick-me-up. That's why I love coffee shops. While I'm there, even if just long enough to order a drip coffee, it's all about the coffee and whatever I find inside . . . whether it's a brief conversation with a friendly stranger, a new display of art, or a seat by the window, watching the world go by.
“I’m going to make COFFEE,” my niece squeals.
I open one eye and see bright brown eyes, a smile as big as her face, and curly, light brown hair swirled all about her tiny head. At five, my niece is so petite that her face is barely above eye level when I am horizontal on my bed. I wish she would sleep past 7 a.m. (6 a.m. on weekends). But, she is an eager helper and as she bounds down the stairs, I marvel that she thinks it is a privilege to help me make coffee.
It's hard to hold onto that childhood ability to find joy in small things, especially ones that require work. But on a really rotten day, carving out a sliver of time for a small thing you enjoy is a great pick-me-up. That's why I love coffee shops. While I'm there, even if just long enough to order a drip coffee, it's all about the coffee and whatever I find inside . . . whether it's a brief conversation with a friendly stranger, a new display of art, or a seat by the window, watching the world go by.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)