EOW No. 36

Happy Weekend!

Dare I say it but we had the last real cold front move through Texas last week.  The sun has been shining brighter and longer each day and the bluebonnets in our flower bed are blooming.  But are you all trying to hang on to dear life with the economic rollercoaster we’re all on together?  Trying to keep your lunch down through it all?

Same.

I simultaneously have so much to say and nothing to say.  So let’s skip all of that, shall we?  That’s a discussion for a more serious day and I’d rather not end the week on that note.

The birthday queen!

We had two pony birthdays in April and a dressage-ish Dalton (!!).  Haunches in??  Colour me super impressed.  On his way to being a dancing horse?  Probably not but he really listens and is positively challenged working with his body in that way.  Listen, learning to use your own body is hard for horses and humans so I get it.  The key is to keep it short and keep it focused.

Last Sunday, when the sun was shining extra bright and it seemed as though the air was filled with pollinators whipping around, I bought myself an improved meyer lemon bush.  Plants are a commitment.  I raised three fig trees from cuttings over the winter and experienced an inordinate amount of pleasure watching them leaf out and grow.  I cheered when they each bud their first leaf.  The figs were in small solo cups by a west facing window during the cold months and needed consistent watering.  This lemon bush will have to be carried in and out of the house, depending on temps.  It has specific watering instructions and re-potting instructions and I probably won’t see any actual fruit until the winter.  But it’s been out on our back patio waving in the wind and producing the most beautiful white blooms.  And I don’t know what spring is about if not dancing about in the wind with flowers.

On to the fun links, which almost all happen to be DRANKS this week!  I am not condoning alcohol as a way to manage anxiety and stress.  However I do happen to be binge-listening to The Poisoners' Cabinet podcast and also trying a lot of new cocktail recipes though.  Is this all connected?  Maybe?

So first off, The Poisoners’ Cabinet is a historical true crime podcast in its fifth season of running.  They make cocktails, chat about funny things, and then talk about dark historical true crimes.  The energy and laughs have been a bright light in the evenings.

Inspired by the cocktail quaffing of the two hosts, I hereby present you with two cocktail recipes that I’ve tried recently.

Anejo tequila margarita - I’ve had a bottle of Don Julio anejo tequila languishing on my liquor cabinet for a few years.  It was a gift from a coworker and neither Bryan nor I are big fans of tequila, preferring to use mezcal instead.  I finally opened it yesterday and made this very quick and simple margarita with ingredients we already have.  I’m a fan y’all - give it a try.

Brown derby - I made this bourbon and grapefruit cocktail for Bryan’s parents when we were down on the Texas coast visiting them a few weeks ago.  They liked them so much, they immediately asked for the recipe and then had me make another pitcher.  As with the previous cocktail, you can adjust the amount of honey syrup / sweetener in it to taste.