Sunday, October 6, 2024

All three of my children are Practically Perfect in Every Way (tip of the hat here to Mary Poppins). But my oldest child was especially precocious and started identifying letters of the alphabet shortly after his second birthday. (The name of the cocktail is how he’d read one of his books, i.e. “A is for apple, B is for butterfly,” etc.) He was reading aloud Little Bear chapter books by the age of four and devouring books about astronomy from first grade onward. He loved his Lego sets and built them exactly as the instructions specified. He entertained us (and the audience at the elementary school talent shows) with clever riddles and silly jokes. Most importantly, he took on the role of big brother with fervor and dedication. He was a great kid, and his accomplishments multiplied over the years–from a good citizenship award to Eagle Scout to concerto competition winner to Phi Beta Kappa to summa cum laude to a graduate degree from Duke–he’s given me so many opportunities to simply beam with pride.

But I predict that the most vibrant and powerful beam-with-pride is coming up this weekend, as my husband and I escort our son down the aisle on his wedding day. He will be marrying a beautiful, kind, and highly-accomplished woman, and we cannot wait to officially have her become part of our family.

So, I have been sentimental and nostalgic this week. And happy, very happy!

I am the Mother of the Groom!

Pour 1 ounce Żubrówka (Polish bison grass vodka) into a fluted glass. Add 2 ounces sparkling apple juice, and perhaps a pinch of cinnamon. This drink is commonly known as a Szarlotka, which is also the name of a delightful Polish apple tart. 

Sto Lat to the happy couple!

Enjoyed: Wednesday, September 4, 2024

Listed on the menu: Sort of. “Classic Old Fashioned” was on the menu, but the bar was now using a different brand of whiskey.

Ingredients: Muddled orange slices and cherries topped with Evan Williams bourbon, simple syrup, and Angostura Bitters served over ice.

The occasion: For September’s getaway, we chose to visit Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir (depends on who you ask) in south-central Virginia, right up against the North Carolina border. We hiked in two state parks, enjoyed a fun lake-side brewery, visited the impressive John H. Kerr Dam, and relaxed at a charming bed and breakfast, Cooper’s Landing Inn. We took advantage of the pool, the hot tub, and the crystal decanter of sherry in the room. Happily, the inn had its own restaurant, and the pretty patio was literally a flight of stairs from our room. No need for a Designated Driver!

My rating: *** out of 5. The bourbon was rich with brown sugar and caramel flavors, and the amount of muddled fruit was generous, so the drink was much too sweet for my tastes.

Final thoughts: Husband’s family owned a lake house for many years, and he misses “lake life”, so Clarksville is on the (very long) list of possible places to re-locate. We would have to buy a pontoon boat, I was told, and maybe even take up fishing. Maybe.