Yesterday, I walked out my back door and into my garden in search of some Stevia leaves to brew myself a cup of tea. It was an odd feeling that I had. Like someone or something was watching.

I noticed a seemingly harmless green lizard peering at me from the light post. He kept twitching his head, like he had a nervous reflex.

 As I stared at him, he seemed to get irritated. He began to blow a really large hot pink bubble with his throat. The longer I stared, the puffier and redder his throat got, and I began to fear for my safety. I walked away from my patio and into the garden where I could be assured he wouldn’t fly off the lamppost and scratch my eyes out. Because that’s what crazy red-throated lizards do. They attack lazy people who have no right to be gardening.

So, when I finally got to the garden, I noticed my kid engulfed in a fury of cucumber plants.

I called to her, but she couldn’t hear me, and I worried that I didn’t have much time to save her. Quickly, I grabbed my gardening tools and began  madly working my way through the brush. By the time I got to little Woo, she was shaken up pretty badly, but I knew she would be alright if I could build the cucumber plants up on sticks all around. I motioned to her to bring me the bamboo sticks that I keep handy from my numerous trips to the dollar store, and I explained to her what needed to happen in order to save her and the plant.  She complained a bit (of course) but I just told her to shut her yap, and off we went.

When all that was done, we created a bit more havoc by gathering Stevia leaves, and maybe killing a squash plant. I think Little Woo did that on purpose. 

Suddenly, the skies began to turn dark, and a fiery rumble could be heard in the distance. Little Woo and I looked up and saw that green pissed off lizard staring at us, and another brown messenger lizard running for our phone.

I think he was calling 911.

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I don’t want to brag, but my family says I make the best darn sweet tea there is.  And well, I think I really do.  It’s a super simple process, that can be made even simpler if you use a brand of Tea made especially for Iced Tea.  I like Luzianne  (usually about $3.00 – $4.00 for a pack of 24 family sized tea bags). But, have no fear, if that isn’t available in your neck of the woods, any tea will do, you just need to add baking soda to take out the bitterness.

The Perfect Glass of Ice Tea

Ingredients:

4  Luzianne Family sized tea bags
*if using any other brand that is not specially blended for Ice Tea add 1/4 tsp of baking soda
2 cups of sugar
1 gallon of water (*note: this recipe is for 4 quarts, not 2 quarts)

Directions:

1. In  a medium sized saucepan, bring 6 cups of water to boil.
2. Once the water has reached a roiling boil, remove from heat. Add 4 family sized tea bags, and allow to sit for 5 minutes.
3. Add baking soda (if applicable), and stir until completely dissolved.
4. Pour tea into a gallon sized pitcher, add sugar and stir.
5. Add cold water until the pitcher is 2/3’s full. Fill the remaining space with ice cubes.  Refrigerate. 
6. Serve tea over ice.