My Teapot & My Mug

I was cleaning off our kitchen counter beside the stove because my husband prefers counters to have less rather than more stuff on them. Personally, I think there's a certain amount of stuff that makes a kitchen a bit friendlier and functional, but that's a debate for another day. Anyway, just beside the stove sat my very special teapot.

My mom gave me that teapot in the picture. I think it was handmade by a local artist who put that darling little lizard on it. Of course I could be wrong and maybe she got it at one of those tea emporiums at the mall... Wherever it's from, she gave it to me because she knows I enjoy tea and she hoped to bring even more joy to me. Thank you Mom!

I love my teapot. But as you can see, my very favorite use-it-everyday-all-day-long mug is nearly the same size as my teapot. And don't you think that mug is just the best thing going? It has another little figure with a balloon on the other side too. And the base is square which tapers to round at the top, and that means my tea doesn't slosh nearly as much when I carry it around the house. I found it at a local bead shop that is my favorite place to hang out and consider beads for some nebulous future project.

Back to the teapot... I could steep the tea in the teapot, then pour it all out into the mug. But I don't, because that seems silly. Why not just steep it in my mug? So my beautiful, joyous teapot just sits by the stove.

As I was cleaning the counter I picked up my teapot and decided that if I wasn't going to use it as a teapot it deserved a new home. I decided that my room, the place I work, exercise, meditate and escape, was just the place for it. Walking towards my room I held in gently in my hands and realized that it was like a magical lamp. So maybe I'll rub it's sides and make wishes. Or pray to the little lizard on it. Or get little tiny cups so I can pour the tea out ceremoniously. Or maybe I'll steep my tea in it and our it all out in my favorite mug just because I want to. But while I'll deciding it will be with me bringing me love and joy in my sacred space.