Playtime with magpie & new teaware

This pie is having a cheeky, casual strut through the longer grasses on the edge of the meadow. Having a look, having a play, having a sit in the cooler shade, then darting back into the sun, white wing-flashes. Disappears into the shade of the trees, then a slew of cackling.

A few weeks ago, before the meadow was cut back, the grasses were so high they disappeared into these woods, no division. I laid down and disappeared too, nestled cosy and alone with my view into the blue framed in long green strands, yellow blooms, purple petals, buzzing and insect wings. Reading my book, reviewing Japanese flashcards, vibing in the sun or just feeling the moving air, moving grasses, I’d drift with the time I have now that I don’t always have.

Not sure who was more surprised, me or the pup that happened upon me on its frolic through the fields, its human another five minutes down the hill. And so we had a moment to bond with a cuddle, look what progress I’ve made with strangers’ dogs! When I sat up, I could just barely see over the grasses, all the folks having a wander around so I’d have some warning next time before someone stumbles over me, laid out half across the path where the grasses are lower.

And now after the trim, I sit anywhere and see everywhere. Watch the pies all the way up the hill, the gates where usually people and their pups will come and go, gaps in the trees and grasses. Where are they today? Look where I want and I’m the only one out, just me and the birdsong and the waterrush in the trees.

The sun is hot enough that it’s that keeping my teaware warm. Warmed through sun and water. A fresh, bright vegetal brew, velvet smooth and thick. Some wet turned earth on the aroma, florals, the cool waters. This is a minimally processed white tea, plucked and dried just over three months ago. There’s a visceral freshness to it, it’s cooling no matter how hot I brew or how long I’ve sat in the sun. Too bad I didn’t bring along enough water for a fourth infusion – this new tea set has more capacity than I expected.

I used to keep meticulous records of all my teaware, capacity and how they pour and what they’re suited to, but I’ve become a lot looser and more playful in the last few years. I don’t need to know the ml capacity of this one to have a sense for how to play with it. It only arrived yesterday, and we’re on our second outing together. Settling in with new teaware is all about play, experiment. What teas do you like? What kind of leaf? How do you pour? How do I clean you later? How do you hold the dry leaf, how do you cradle it wet? How do you fit in my small hand? How do I like to hold you? A product listing can tell me capacity in ml and whatnot, but that’s not where I learn how we’ll get on, how you and I will create and experience tea together.

And it’s been a satisfying playtime today. I can tell you’ll be versatile, this big open mouth and wide body will take lots of leaf, and sizeable leaf. You have a solid heft, and you do as well balanced in the grass as in my hand. You hold heat from the sun, and your paired gong dao bei with its round glass body adds some delicacy to balance your grainier ceramic.

The trees’ shadows have shifted onward now, and pie friend is back for another play at the edge of the meadow. Keeps popping up to look my way, where a few weeks ago I would have been hidden in the grasses. But I’ve been here long enough now that I’m clearly part of today’s landscape – hopping closer and closer, it’ll take a leap round and run back down the hill, letting itself bounce and bound like a kid rolling downhill, taking a pluck out of the air as it goes.

🌱 Drinking T23 white, Comins Tea

🍵 Teaware from Tangpin Teas

📖 Reading Deep Wheel Orcadia, Harry Josephine Giles