Mostly cocktails.

Carole's prompt for this week are favorite summer drinks, and i have many that i enjoy. In my early days beer and wine coolers were the drinks of choice, yea I know, I'm a child of the 80s.  As usual my in-laws taught me an appreciation for a varied [finer] array of beverages.  Aside from plain old-very cold water, coffee and white wine here's my list in no particular order:

10.  Sangria-love the added fruit that makes this drink more like a punch.
  9.  Margarita- tartiness of the lime is what summer is all about.
  8.  Mojito- summer isn't summer without fresh mint.
  7.  La Paloma- introduced to this on Memorial Day- tequila, grapefruit soda and cayenne pepper- I sprinkle this in the drink instead of on the rim-uh yum!
  6.  Mint Julep-yea!  I discovered bourbon a few years ago, and watching the Kentucky Derby and drinking mint juleps seems like the perfect prelude for summer cocktails drinking.
  5.  Strawberry-Mint smash (photo above) featured on Oh So Beautiful Paper this week- bourbon-fruit-mint-what's NOT to love right?!
  4.  Mali-Nali-tequila-green chartruese-pinapple juice-lime-simple syrup AND a sprig of rosemary.  My favorite cocktail from Escorpion.
  3.  Bourbon and (Diet) Ginger Ale-not sure if this exists outside of my kitchen or not
  2. Gin and Tonic-again with the lime
  1. A very cold light beer




I'll be trying this cocktail tonight, thanks to Katie's suggestion.  What beverages keep you cool during the summer?

i'd forgotten.

how much i enjoyed the open road on a bicycle.  of course, taking selfies while clipped into a road bike is probably not the smartest thing, but i couldn't resist.  summer riding has officially started with 3 rides over the last couple weekends.  sunday's ride started at 8 am, and i loved the peace, solitude, and the crisp morning.  the first couple rides i took sorta slow since it had been about 6 months since i had ridden my road bike.  i had to re-acclimate myself with shifting gears, clipping in and out, and paying attention to debris and wild life on the road all at the SAME time.  i do well to follow multiple instruction in a knitting pattern with AT THE SAME TIMES, cycling is a whole 'nother thing.  along with my other interests [hobbies], i like to set performance goals, so this summer/fall i'd like to:

         ~learn accident avoidance & safety
         ~how to change a bike tire
         ~ride with a group on the real open road
         ~routinely include a week day ride
         ~participate in a charity ride

i plan to blog about how the rides go, and what i learn.  i think in order to meet these goals, i'm going to have to be real good with how i manage my time.  i don't want to neglect my other hobbies, so it'll be a challenge.  i'm making great strides with my knitting, but hope to finish what's in my bag before i cast on anything else-well see how that goes.

10 Concerts and performances I have attended

Carole's prompt this week takes me back to younger days-I am a child of the 80s-Def Lepard, Duran Duran, Prince, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Cyndi Lauper anyone? I wanted to be amongst those who would camp outside Turtles Records and Tapes to make sure I got the best seat. Alas, I was not one of those cool kids of my youth, and it wouldn't stand in line for a concert ticket until I was almost 20.  I wasn't sure I'd even been to 10 concerts, but I made it with a couple extras.  The photo is of my concert t-shirt (yes I still have it after 24 years) from one of my all time favorite performers.  My list is chronological as best I can remember from the first to the most recent.

10.  George Thorogood and the Delaware Destroyers- Colosseum -Columbus, GA 1988(?)- you know the song Bad to the Bone.
  9.  Billy Joel-Omni-Atlanta GA 1990-I didn't know much about his music until I met my husband and his family-went to this with my now husband and sister and brother in law-this concert was amazing, and he's a performer I could listen to all day-every day.
  8.  Cher-Omni-Atlanta GA 1990 or 1991-I grew up watching her, and always thought she was pretty cool.  She's gotten sorta weird since I saw her,  so yea.
 7.  Damn Yankess and perhaps Bad Company (can't remember!)-Lakewood Amphitheater-Atlanta, GA-1991.  This was a good one, don't remember much.
 6.  B-52s-Chastain Park Amphitheater-Atlanta GA 1992-I knew the security guard, and he let me and my friend in without a ticket.
 5. Vince Gill-Omni-Atlanta GA 1995-this concert was good, but I'm not as big a fan as I used to be.
 4. The "Charles"-Ray Charles when he sang at the 96 Olympics in Atlanta, Charlie Daniels and Charlie Pride at the Grand Ole' Opry.  Oldies, but goodies.  We also so Joe Nichols who was just starting out in country music.  One of my favorites of the "new" country.
 3.  Cigar Store Indians-Eddie's Attic-Decatur, GA-local band we went to see with my sister in law and her family (late 90s?).  Love their Americana style of music.
 2. Ronnie Milsap-North GA Fair-Marietta, GA-boys were little so mid-90s?  It was good, I knew most of the songs he sang as my dad was a fan.
 1. Celtic Thunder-Fox Theater-Atlanta, GA-20oh my! Men in kilts- this was an amazing performance.

I don't think the concert experience is as great as it used to be-lip syncing, pyrotechnics, big screen monitors.  The performers seem less real, and the ticket prices!   I'm not sure who I'd go see today-Neil Diamond, Toby Keith, Billy Joel and Celtic Thunder again for sure, Matthew West, Audio Adrenaline, Mercy Me, Michael Buble.  For now, I'll enjoy them in the comfort of my home or car with my i-Phone!

10 Things I did that made Memorial Weekend Awesome

Carole's prompt this week comes on the tail of another great weekend which has been a family tradition for almost 20 years.  We were 2 nieces short this year, but despite their absence, we had a wonderful time-as proof from my list.

10.  Slept late ( a little bit on 2 days!)
  9.  Went for walks, both with Sophie and on my own
  8.  Went for a hike at Tallulah Gorge
  6.  Reading time with my book club book Island Beneath the Sea
  5.  Worked on a special knitting project for a VERY special person
  4.  Played games-yes I know!  Team Sheffield-Tieman for Quiddler, a couple games of Zilch, and 1/2 a game of Yahtzee
  3.  Knitting-I brought plenty to work on, and felt like I'd made some good progress on my summer knitting projects.
  2.  Ate LOTS of yummy food-and had amazing cocktails and wine-always a highlight of this weekend.
  1. Spent uninterrupted time with some of the most important (and favorite) people in my life.
 

10 things to try and do.

 clip art found at www.sweetclipart.com

This week's prompt got me to thinking.  I'm always making a list or notes about things to try/do: recipes, restaurants to try, cleaning tips, places to visit, etc.  Along those lines there is probably more I could add to the list, so here's just a few:

10. Drawing-would love to be able to do this.
  9. Return to Paris and see more of France.
  8. Travel to Italy and Greece.
  7. Cauliflower pizza crust-have heard really good things about this dough alternative.
  6. Small DIY projects that would include using power tools.  So many little things I see on Pinterest that I'd like to do, but alas I don't know how to use the tools required.
  5.  Caligraphy
  4.  Cake decorating
  3.  I love calamari, so maybe it's time to try octopus-gives me the heeby-jeebes thinking about it.
  2.  Raw sushi (see #3)
  1. Weaving

My list may be a bit boring, but I am definitely not someone who desires to EVER-jump out of a plane, go for a hot air balloon ride, bungy jump, hang-glide, repel from a mountain, climb Mt. Everest, go snow skiing, snow boarding, etc.

Celebrating Andrew

 this special little boy arrived 19 years ago today.  I am such a lucky Mama to have 2 wonderful sons.  Happy Birthday Andrew-your affinity for food began at a very early age!

Halloween 1996 (approximately 15 months old)

I really miss having these extra hands in the kitchen, and the bonding time we had while cooking.

celebrating 21.

Celebrating this guy today who made QUITE the entrance 21 years ago.  Love you bunches.