Tuesday, August 03, 2010

an interview with snap of twisty lane

next up, we have an interview with the charming snap of tales from twisty lane. it seems that i always find myself fixing a cup of tea after i've read her blog, tho' i do tend to drink my tea in giant starbucks mugs, after this, i'm going to have to get out the fine china a bit more often. the photos are snap's...


1. it's obvious from your blog that you're a tea person. tell us one of your most perfect tea-related moments.

I’m a Southern girl and drinking tea - iced, cold and sweet is a fact of life.  In my early twenties, my Mother and I were friends with a mother (Vada) and daughter (Donna) who liked tea hot. We spent many an afternoon sharing a wonderful meal, drinking tea out of beautiful cups, and reading tea leaves! It was Vada and Donna who got me interested in tea.


2. why don't people use their fine tea sets anymore? what can you say to convince us we need to?

I think it's like using your good china, or silver, grandmother’s special dishes. You think you’ll save them for a special occasion. They are too much trouble to take out and use -- all those excuses. My thinking is what occasion could be more special than a celebration of yourself? Tea is one of those things that can be enlightening, stress relieving. Look at the cup before the tea is poured. REally look at what it is made of, how it is decorated. Pour the tea. Smell the tea. Taste the tea. Hold the tea cup in your hands. Feel the warmth. Let the rest of the world go by. Relax. Enjoy. No one is more special than you and you deserve a little quiet time. If you can share this with friends and love ones - great. Take time for yourself. Pamper yourself. Be mindful. If you don’t use the tea set who will????

3. cat person or dog person?

We had dogs when I was growing up. Mr. Dragon isn’t much of a dog person, so we have cats.

4.what do you love most about blogging?

Meeting the people. Bloggers are generous, supportive, interesting, talented, intelligent. Never a dull moment and always a story to tell.

5. when you go antiquing, what items do you look for?

I don’t go antiquing often (good thing). I have more than enough stuff and should be downsizing rather than adding. But I have a soft spot for china (Fitz and Floyd), salt and pepper shakers, teacups and tea pots, old linens, books. I love old children’s books.

6. what IS it about dragons?

For me, a dragon was my imaginary friend. He was more the Puff the Magic Dragon type rather than the fiery type. Some believe its in our genes (really), left over from the days of dinosaurs. There’s no doubt that dragon mythology is found in many cultures and continues to be popular today.


7. can you recommend any dragon-related literature?

Where to start and where to stop?!!! Dragons have appeared in literature from around the world. There's the dragon in Beowulf, the dragons in Chinese mythology, and on down to Tolkien's Smaug.

Many are children's books like Kenneth Grahame's The Reluctant Dragon (1898) that was made into a children's feature film by Disney in 1941.

Fantasy novels (just a few) include Robert Heinlein's Between the Planets (1961), one of my favorites Ursula K. LeGuin, and the world of Earthsea (1964), Anne McCaffrey, Dragonriders of Pern (1966) (I think the earliest Pern novels are the best); Laurence Yep and his Dragon series (1982-1992); Melanie Rawn. My all time favorite is a mystery/fantasy combination by R. A. MacAvoy, Tea with the Black Dragon (1983) and my current favorite the Temeraire series of Naomi Novik (dragons and the Napoleonic wars).

8. do you think there might really be dragons?

Of course!!!!!!!!!

IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE IN DRAGONS
If you don't believe in dragons,
It is curiously true
That the dragons you disparage
Choose to not believe in you.

~ From THE DRAGONS ARE SINGING TONIGHT by Jack Prelutsky (poems) and Peter Sis (pictures)

* * *

thank you snap! i've got to check out those novik books - dragons and the napoleonic wars, that sounds like a combination that's gotta be good!

13 comments:

Char said...

love dragons - they are brave and so very true.

and your tea talk made me remember sitting with mom when i was sick and she would make me very sweet hot tea and buttered toast as a treat to make me feel better.

Anonymous said...

marrying an Englishman has certainly made me appreciate a good cuppa tea! And as he says...you can solve all problems with a good cuppa and all worries disappear!

Sarah Sullivan said...

Welll you love so many of the same folks..how is that I didn't find your blog before??!!!
Ms.Snap is one of my dearest bloggy friends..she has been with me from the beginning and is always there to lend an ear or a shoulder. As an avid dragon girl myself...I do believe she may even have one of my little fellows. And Tea...well am more a coffe girl..but will happily sit with a cuppa and visit!
Wonderful interview Snap...hugs to you hon!! Love, Sarah

Snap said...

Thank you! This was fun! I'll answer more questions from you anytime!!!! :D :D :D

Betsy Banks Adams said...

I'm here just checking on my friend, Snap's Q&A's.... Very interesting....

Thanks... Loved it.
Hugs,
Betsy

Elizabeth said...

You got me curious again. Have to visit her blog and see where she got the teacup.

nonizamboni said...

Thanks for interviewing our dear Snap--I learned so much about her and tea. Nicely done. And she was right, you have a lovely blog.

Kim Mailhot said...

Yay ! So wonderful to see the incredible, generous and brilliant spirit of Snap being celebrated here ! Great interview !

Dorothy Borders said...

Snap sent me here and I'm so glad she did. It's wonderful to find you and I WILL be back!

Joanna Jenkins said...

This interview made me smile. It's terrific. ENding with the dragon poem was the perfect touch.
Cheers,
jj

The Queens Table said...

Tea and Dragons! Love it! I saw 'Peter Sis' the illustrator was mentioned. He is incredible. My husbands band 'Hectic Red' played at an outdoor concert at a library to celebrate Peter Sis's book about his childhood called "The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain." Check that book out!

Adrienne Zwart said...

Coming by to check out Snap's interview. She's such an interesting person--fun to learn more about her here.

Rosa said...

It's always wonderful learning more about a friend. What a great Q&A session with Snap!