Month: May 2016

Bitters? Sweet!

~ Meg ~ 46 Comments

Week 20 in the Year of Drinking Adventurously! Artisanal Bitters.

Just so you know, I’m on vacation this week, muddling along with my LTE data plan for Internet. I’m not complaining, mind you, unplugging from civilization is a delight once in awhile. Nevertheless, I feel compelled to jump on with my Toast Tuesday post this week because last week was such a fail. This week’s potent potable is one I can endorse with complete confidence. Bitters — a classic cocktail ingredient.

Friday evening, I was scrambling around packing all the gear… Clothes, shoes, food, booze, not necessarily in order of importance. Getting the place clean for the house-sitter, taking the dog to the kennel. Did I mention it rained torrentially while I was doing all this? So hell no, I wasn’t making dinner on top of all that, somebody say takeout Chinese? I was stressed enough the way it is. I needed a good laugh and a good cocktail.

What better way to unwind and start vacation than with The Graham Norton Show I recorded from Tuesday (thank you BBC America) and a nice martini. And no, not one of those sweet abominations they are calling martinis these days. I’m talking gin, dry vermouth and bitters, with two big beautiful Spanish Queen olives to garnish. (And provide enough nutrition for me to feel smug).

And just like James Bond, (hopefully the next iteration of whom [of which?] will be either Tom Hiddleston or Aidan Turner, or maybe Idris Elba…) What was I saying…? Martini, yes… Hmm, wait a minute… The world’s worst spy doesn’t actually drink a classic martini does he? All right forget Bond, here’s what you do:

Add ice to your glass to chill it (then discard)
Add ice to your shaker
Splash in a few drops of bitters (I use Angostura, can’t go wrong)
Shake to coat your ice thoroughly
Add 2 shots of gin (pick a good one — I drank Bombay this time)
1 shot dry vermouth
Shake it again and pour into your chilled martini glass
Add 2 or more olives (a little of the brine too, if you like it dirty)

Drink and ahhhh, enjoy!

Ok, I’m getting in the hot tub. Got to soak my sore muscles and get ready for another day of hiking tomorrow.
Don’t forget to visit Harp, Lula Harp... To see how she used bitters this week!

Ok,  it’s a Cabernet Sauvignon not a martini…

Mountain Mama

~ Meg ~ 36 Comments

Through steep and narrow paths I forge
Where glacier carved the river gorge

The wind in the forest whispers her name
Woodland creatures praise her fame

While sunlight trickles through the branches
Mountain Mama sits on her haunches

Washed with rain and in torrent bathed
Her overflow begets a cascade

To quench the forest’s eager thirst
To green the foliage, flowers burst

And where leaves and logs in forest lay
She wears the perfume of loamy decay

When sunset yields to purple twilight
Emerge the winged creatures of night

Over moonlit treetops, bat wings flutter
Gently honor Earth, their mother

Before the purple fades on the end of day
I bid Mama goodnight and go on my way

The Smoky Mountains are having the desired effect…. Nothing can replace immersion in nature for restoring your energy and draining off the stress.

Southbound

~ Meg ~ 43 Comments

Vacation starts tomorrow. I’ve been counting the days. We are travelling south and a little bit west to visit the Smoky Mountains of eastern Tennessee. With no real purpose other than to hike and stare at the scenery, this break should be the battery recharging that both Harry and I need.

I’ll be packing my notebooks, and iPad. Of course, I’ll write… something. If these views don’t fire the imagination, well then there’s something wrong with me! I might post some photos. Provided that the internet connection can handle it. I’m not confident! Being forced to unplug isn’t such a bad thing, though.

I plan on reading the five books I have started. My Goodreads reading challenge has been neglected far too long. And best of all, I get to wake up every morning to the sounds of quiet. Based on the satellite view of the cabin we rented, there isn’t another soul around.

Which makes for the perfect location to be stalked by a serial killer, right? And speaking of serial killers… here is the best part of this trip.  I get to meet my friend Fictional Kevin in person. How cool is that? He and Waco are coming to the mountains to meet us on Sunday. I’m telling you all, just in case you never hear from me again!