random thoughts - Day 2,001 (Monday) - tea and shopping

For several nights since the weather got crispier, I've been wanting herbal tea at night. There have been a couple challenges to this simple desire including the absence of a tea kettle or microwave oven to easily heat tea water. A saucepan was enlisted one night but pouring water from the saucepan into the mug resulted in a lot of hot water all over the stove and counter. 

Finally, a tea kettle.

For several years while in Lowell, I considered buying a tea kettle and even went shopping a couple times for one. Any tea kettles found in stores I was visiting had lids that were jammed stuck or spout levers that took two hands to open or the colors clashed with the kitchen. As a result, the purchase was never made because the built-in over the range microwave and its beverage setting were working fine, despite mugs that got too hot and burned my lips and hand. 

Last week, while in Ocean State Job Lot, several brushed stainless kettles and one red one were found. That day, I was on a mission to find runners for the kitchen and laundry room and dismissed the tea kettle. Sunday night, I wanted fruit tea and skipped it due to the tea kettle/sauce pan situation.

Today, a tea kettle was procured. The red one was still at Ocean State for $9.99. The shopping didn't stop with the kettle. Finally, after years of searching for the house in Lowell and a month of searching for the new one, a piece of yard art I don't hate was found. And it was on clearance at 30% off. It's a 16-inch solar Buddha head lantern and will sit on the top step near the front door for now. When spring gardening takes place, it may be thoughtfully placed in a flower bed that is still to be planned. 

Buddha head lantern.

With two items in the cart, momentum happened. Sugar wafers. Coffee. Chocolate bar. Gummy candy. Sparkling cider. Brownie mix. Canned frosting (whipped chocolate; caramel). Definitely another occurrence of overachieving. 

Now that the Buddha head lantern is at the house, I think I want a couple more, especially if it turns out the little solar panel works and it actually illuminates. But where is the line between enough and too many? Two? Three? Six? A dozen? 

Should I go back tomorrow and buy the rest of them and figure the rest out next spring? The idea is tempting. There were also some fall plants that I didn't buy because there is currently no spot ready for planting them, but maybe buying them is the incentive needed to start digging.