Where did Valentine's Day Go?

 

This year my husband and I spent Valentine's Day knocking a hole in our entryway. Romantic, huh? Honestly, it was the best Valentine's gift we could have given one another. We opened up a wall so that our guests can see into the living room with the cozy fireplace and our collection of nautical maps and pictures of ships. I got to design and paint it and Larry did all of the woodwork. We paneled the lower part of the wall in a creamy colored beadboard and trimmed the whole thing bright white enamel. It was hard work and lots of fun. My advice to anyone thinking about tying the knot . . . build something together. Larry and I work together very well and we have been married for more than 20 years. Start out with something smallish, like putting together one of those do-it-yourself tables that come in a box. Really, how many times have you heard about couples whose marriage didn't survive the remodel?

So, better late than never, Happy Valentine's Day and good luck with that table!

Fabulous 50 and the Perfect Old Fashioned Cocktail

We are going to a cocktail party tonight to welcome four friends to the 50s Club. Happy Birthday Ladies!  My gift to you is my recipe for the the perfect Old Fashioned cocktail.

My grandpa made me my first Old Fashioned many years ago. I've put my own twist on the original by adding some orange juice, cherry syrup and more bitters. I recently found some Blood Orange Bitters at Bevmo and its fantastic.

Here you go . . .
Place the sugar and bitters in a tumbler and muddle (its especially helpful if you have an actual muddler, but if you done you can use a spoon and stir) to dissolve the sugar. Fill the glass with ice, add the bourbon (my favorite is Maker's Mark), orange wedge and cherry syrup (from the jar of maraschino cherries). Stir. Float the orange juice on top and garnish with two maraschino cherries. Makes one cocktail. A sante'!

Dreaming of the Sierra Nevadas

I spent some time living in the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas. This time of year the deep coral pink flowering quince blossoms appear in the old fashioned gardens of the gold country towns. Now, whenever I see flowering quince I daydream about those tiny mountain towns and the time I spent there.