Sensorium No. 1

I’ve tried several times to write my February post, one draft required more research than I have time for at the moment, and another turned into a rather stale, corporate list. Now, I have started afresh, a blank Google Doc sits in front of me to fill once again.

I want this post to be a collection of things I’ve enjoyed throughout the past few weeks. Hopefully, Dear Reader, you will find some of these miscellaneous items interesting.

Sight

I’ve been making my way through Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke and Middlemarch by George Eliot since December; they’re both such good books it hasn’t felt like it’s been that long. They share some similarities (both are set in 19th century England, both are very long) but their scope is different. Clarke’s story is an expansive alternative history where magic affects English war and politics, Eliot’s is an intricate examination of different people living in the same rural town and the surrounding area. Both of their lengths might seem daunting, but I have found that every page is worth it. I will continue enjoying them both in February.

Sound

I’ve been listening to Enya again. I’ve always had regular doses of her in my life, going all the way back to when my dad would blast Orinoco Flow in our car while doing Saturday errands. Paint the Sky with Stars: The Best of Enya is an amazing album that highlights some of the best of her music. Book of Days, Caribbean Blue¹, and Anywhere Is are some highlights that I have listened to over and over again since childhood. I’ve never grown tired of her music, and it’s nice to have something that’s stayed the same throughout the years.

Smell

The candle I’ve had for years finally flickered its last flame. As its replacement I purchased White Barn’s Eucalyptus Mint candle. It is very heavily scented and initially it gave me headaches and I could only burn it for around ten minutes, but either the candle lost some of its pungency or I’ve built up a tolerance and can burn it for much longer now. It is a very nice scent, very crisp, clean, and bright, and it really helps brighten the dreary gray of winter that’s consumed us. Now, the fumes could be deteriorating my mind as I write this, but at least it’s doing it with style like the arsenic in Victorian wallpaper (equally as green.)

Taste

Starbucks has a honey citrus mint tea that’s very good, and my mom started making it herself and passed her recipe on to me. It’s very simple to make and delicious hot or iced.

Honey Citrus Mint Tea

Ingredients

• Peach tea

• Mint tea

• Lemon juice

• Honey

Directions

Boil hot water. Place one peach tea bag and one mint tea bag in a cup. Pour boiling water over tea bags. Add a splash of lemon juice and honey to taste. Increase the amount of tea bags for a larger amount of water.

Photo by Elena Leya on Unsplash

And with that, the first Sensorium has concluded. I hope the sequel won’t be too far in the future. With that, I sign off as Yours Truly,

E.L.

1. Which became a backtrack for social media brainrot in 2025, because of course it did.