Enjoyed: Tuesday, April 4, 2023

Listed on the menu: Yes, there were four Old Fashioneds on the bar menu, so I selected the “Choc Orange” and Husband opted for the “Our Way”.

Ingredients: The “Choc Orange” was made with Jameson Original Whiskey, Dark Chocolate Liqueur, House Marmalade Syrup, and Chocolate Shavings. The “Our Way” was made with Jameson Crested Whiskey, Pedro Ximenez Sherry, House Made Chocolate Nib Honey Syrup, Aromatic and Orange Bitters, and an Orange Twist.

The occasion: We spent the late morning at the Guinness Storehouse, the most visited tourist attraction in Ireland. We split three pints of beer while there, but were hopeful that the “beer then whiskey, mighty risky” adage wouldn’t come true. We decided to speed up our metabolisms by walking to the Bow Street Distillery, which was almost a mile-long walk. I had booked the “Secret Whiskey Tasting” experience, which meant three shots of premium blends while sitting in John Jameson’s “office” space. Our Scottish (!!) brand ambassador was bubbly and informative, and the room was truly charming. She led the group to a small “rickhouse” area, filled with luscious “angel’s share” smells, and then she poured us all one more shot of exclusive whiskey. Afterwards, we lingered at the bar in the lobby, and decided to sample these two Old Fashioneds so that we would have no regrets about missing an opportunity.

My rating: **** out of 5. We enjoyed sipping our drinks while surrounded by Jameson memorabilia (and chandeliers made of the iconic green bottles) and would likely order these tasty cocktails again. Husband liked the more fruity tones of his drink, and I definitely appreciated mine, which reminded me of a piece of chocolate-coated candied orange rind from Fannie Mae. However, I took a star away from the rating because the nibble-sized dark chocolate shavings in my glass distracted me from the flavor of the whiskey.

Final thoughts: Jameson is much more than the Original in the green bottle, we now know. And we have become fans of Irish Whiskey, for sure.

1. “The female body is beautiful, and I am happy that you are proud of yours, but Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition? This feels a little cheap and tawdry.”
2. “On the other hand, GO GIRL! If you’ve got it, flaunt it!”
3. “Still, don’t you feel you are objectifying yourself? If we are going to celebrate the aging human body, let’s show some 81 year old men alongside you.”
4. “Can you help me think of some 80-plus year old men that would agree to pose?”
5. “I read that you attribute your looks to the genes inherited from your mom. Your Polish mom, correct? You don’t have to tell this Polish girl anything further–we are amazing women, aren’t we?”
6. “How many designer swimsuits did you try on before you were satisfied? And none of them would be in my price range, right?”
7. “How many hair and makeup stylists did you use before you were satisfied? And they could make almost anyone look better, right?”
8. “You have a daughter, but no sons. If you had sons, I wonder how they would feel about this.”
9. “Is this ‘barrier-breaking’ or just an ego trip? You’ve once again put yourself in the spotlight, and I suppose there’s no such thing as bad publicity, as the adage says.”
10. “Did Snoop Dogg come to the photo shoot to offer moral support?”
11. “Did you bake cookies for all the people on the set? Or maybe muffins?”
12. “When’s the last time you actually ate a cookie or a muffin?”
13. “More power to you. Be the best version of yourself. Age is merely a number. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Being sexy is all about attitude.”

1. Don’t wear clothing (or shoes or purses) with loud colors or bold patterns, because this draws attention to you. Beige is a good choice.
2. Keep the volume of your voice low, your hand gestures calm, and your facial expression composed. Again, there’s no need to be the center of attention, so maintain your dignity.
3. Don’t use fake flowers to decorate your home. Cut flowers, potted plants, and even dried flowers are the only choices.
4. Drinks are more appealing if you present them to your guests in pretty stemware or crystal shot glasses. Never use disposable cups.
5. Don’t let your husband take over household finances and bill paying.
6. Don’t keep people waiting.
7. Less is more when it comes to wearing jewelry. And most costume jewelry is tacky, anyhow.
8. Don’t be hesitant to tell your adult children that you do not approve of their questionable and/or morally unsound behavior. You are older and therefore wiser.
9. Wear modest clothes to church.
10. Don’t waste your time reading books or watching TV simply for the fun of it. You should always be working on improving your mind. 
11. If someone gives you a gift or grants you a favor, you should always reciprocate as soon as possible so you are not beholden to anyone.
12. Feed your guests promptly and then send them home with leftovers.
13. Your dinner guests deserve to be served at least three different meats, a dessert, and accompanying alcoholic beverages.
14. Polish holiday traditions are the best, so adding other traditions is unnecessary.
15. Messy handwriting reflects poorly on you and your intellectual abilities.
16. “Jak cię widzą, tak cię piszą” which is a Polish proverb roughly translated to “How they see you, that’s how they perceive you.” Therefore, always make a good first impression.
17. Be strong, be stubborn, but always remain a lady.

1. Shenandoah National Park is a bit more than a half-hour drive from our doorstep. Why don’t we visit here more often?
2. How many more months until we hit the age of 62 and qualify for a Senior Pass? That’s going to be a real bargain, and one of the only great things about turning 62.
3. Whatever would I do without allergy medications? Spring in Virginia is gloriously beautiful, but the pollen would be debilitating without my Claritin.
4. Did I pack enough Kleenex to last the afternoon?
5. Aw, look at that young family that just passed us on the trail–Mom, Dad, three kids. Were we ever that young? That cute? That fast on these trails?
6. I wonder if our three kids have fond memories of our family hikes.
7. Meanwhile, Husband is walking at a much faster clip than I. Did he remember to put his knee brace on? How is he doing that?
8. Perhaps Husband is walking faster than I am because I am carrying the backpack/purse with the Kleenex, water bottles, and granola bars. Should I make him carry something?
9. Did I actually put the granola bars in the backpack or are they still in the car?
10. Husband just called this rocky slope a “talus” and why don’t I know what that is?
11. Husband just scampered up the talus. (Surely he is wearing that knee brace!) Is this need-to-scamper-up an inherited trait, since Youngest Son is notorious for doing the same?
12. And while I am thinking about scampering Youngest Son, how DID he hike on the Appalachian Trail for 15 days and nights without injuring himself?
13. I keep taking my phone out to use my plant-identifier app. Sure, I am curious about these little pink flowers, but isn’t this also a fabulous excuse for stopping to take a breath? I’m getting away with this ruse, right?
14. Wearing layers is a wise idea, but as I peel them off, do I shove them in the backpack or tie them around my waist? And how will the re-distribution of weight affect my center of gravity?
15. Should I stop and scold those two young women we just passed? Each was wearing flimsy sneakers and each had an infant strapped to her body in a front-carrier. What? One slip or trip, and baby hits its head on a boulder or tree. Why are these women not being responsible parents?
16. So, if I didn’t have these sturdy hiking boots and hiking poles, would I make it down the mountain by sunset? And would part of that trip down involve me sliding down on my a**?
17. How long of a drive is it from the trailhead to the rest stop with the port-a-potties?

Enjoyed: Monday, April 3, 2023

Listed on the menu: Yes, as “The Old Fashioned”. The other drinks of the evening: “Irish Penicillin” (Teeling Small Batch Whiskey, shaken with lemon juice and a Ginger, honey syrup, finished with a Floated Peated Irish Whiskey and crystallized ginger); a shot of Red Breast 15 Year Irish whiskey, presented with ice and water; and Dingle Gin with The London Essence tonic water.

Ingredients: Teeling Small Batch Whiskey, Angostura bitters, sugar syrup, finished with freshly peeled citrus and a cherry.

The occasion: We spent the morning walking through St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Chester Beatty Museum, and the Dubh Linn Garden. After a short rest, we met a tour group at the Molly Malone statue and headed out via coach to the Wicklow Mountains, just south of Dublin. The mountains were dramatic, as was “Guinness Lake” complete with a white sand “foam” on one end, but my favorite part was seeing the rolling green hills dotted with sheep–and frolicking lambs! The tour then proceeded to Glendalough, where we walked through the park and marveled at the remains of a sixth-century monastic city. I especially loved the Round Tower and all the sagging tombstones. Once we returned to Dublin, we wandered into The Bank on College Green, so close to Trinity College. Happily, seats were available at the bar, and we had two full hours until our supper reservations at The Boxty House.

My rating: ***** out of 5. The bartender (wow, so many handsome bartenders in this city!) asked if we wanted our drinks smoked–of course we did! He placed the Old Fashioned and the Irish Penicillin in a pretty cloche and turned on the smoke, which added a star to the rating. Teeling is locally made in small batches (compared to Jameson!), and aged in bourbon barrels and then in rum casks. The flavor was smoky and fruity, with some toffee notes.

Final thoughts: The Bank is the most gorgeous bar we have ever visited. The former Belfast Bank building, rich with grandiose Victorian design, took two years to complete in 1894, and the results are spectacular: a remarkable stained glass ceiling, mosaic tiled floors, hand-carved plasterwork, statues, and marble columns. We were truly enchanted.

My mom passed away a little less than a month ago. She was almost 97 1/2, and definitely the oldest person I have ever known. The last several years were tough–she was almost always unhappy and uncomfortable.

This is a tough one to write, and I don’t mean this as a eulogy. I am still processing, and I expect I will post more about my mom in the months to come.

I am now officially the Matriarch of the Family, and wondering what my legacy will be. My mother took up oil painting as a hobby when she turned 50. (That’s one of her paintings in the photo.) I am now in search of a cool new hobby that I can take up in retirement. Hmmm.

Mama always had some sort of alcohol in the house, in case friends dropped in. (They did.) She didn’t drink, except for tiny sips of sweet wine or even cognac occasionally. She did, however, believe in home remedies that did use alcohol. I remember coming home from college one Christmas break. I had a horrible cold and residual tummy spasms from the stress of exams. Mama mixed some homemade berry syrup with Polish spirytus —192 proof and that is not a typo!–and offered me a small crystal glass of this “handcrafted” cordial. I slept on the couch for hours and felt remarkably better.

Mama also believed in the curative powers of rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, and vinegar, as well as in (the slightly more potable) Valerian root tea. She also loved chamomile. She’d buy the dried blossoms, and sometimes the tea bags, and would insist upon it for a variety of ailments. I drank plain chamomile tea when I had a stomach ache. Honey and lemon were added when I was coughing. When I was congested, she’d put the hot tea in a big bowl, and I’d cover my head with a towel and just inhale the steam. And when Mama recognized that my blonde hair wasn’t looking sun-kissed, she had me rinsing my locks with cool chamomile tea. To this very day, there is chamomile in my cupboard.

For tonight’s drink, I actually found a bonafide cocktail recipe using chamomile tea, honey, and lemon. And it actually tasted real good, too–not too potent, either, so Mama would probably sip on it if it were lukewarm.

Combine 1/2 ounce honey with 1/2 ounce boiling water until honey dissolves. Add 1 ounce rye whiskey, 1 ounce honey bourbon (like Wild Turkey American Honey), 1 ounce fresh lemon juice, and 1 cup chilled chamomile tea. Garnish with lemon, and don’t add ice. Na zdrowie!

Enjoyed: Sunday, April 2, 2023

Listed on the menu: No, but the bar boasted of its whiskey collection and creative–yet classy–cocktails, so making an Old Fashioned was not a burden. The bartender at first suggested bourbon, but I wanted an Irish whiskey while in Ireland.

Ingredients: Jameson Select Black Barrel Irish whiskey, Aperol, simple syrup, twist of orange peel.

The occasion: On our first full day in Dublin, we started with a crammed itinerary: full Irish breakfast, Trinity College, the Book of Kells, the Irish Whiskey Museum, and Christ Church Cathedral. We had afternoon tea at the Shelbourne Hotel booked for 5 pm, but we purposely arrived early, to scope out the historic hotel (where the Irish Constitution was drafted in 1922) and to visit the iconic Horseshoe Bar, which opened at 4 pm. We were the first patrons, and the handsome bartenders gave us their full attention. Husband wisely selected the El Greco Madness (Redbreast 12 whiskey, Aperol, Cocoa Vermouth made in house, orange bitters, and nutmeg) which was recently featured in Wine Enthusiast magazine. (The tea ended up being marvelous, by the way. So much care went into every little canape and every dessert item.)

My rating: **** out of 5. The Aperol was an interesting substitute for bitters, which together with the orange oil from the peel, gave the spicy whiskey a decidedly citrus note. The drink was not too sweet nor too bitter, with no muddled fruit in sight, so better to enjoy the gorgeous amber color.

Final thoughts: The Horseshoe Bar has hosted many famous people (like Pavarotti and the Rolling Stones), as well as a multitude of Ireland’s politicians, musicians, and authors, so that gave me a little thrill. The bar’s entrance is tucked off the main lobby, with only a little sign to label it. The horseshoe-shaped marble counter, the crimson couches, and the dim lighting all add to the glamour. There are no TV screens here, no piped in music, and no food: the focus is on the the drinks and the conversation, as it should be.

She said “yes”! Yesterday morning, Oldest Child sent a message to the family group chat: he had a life update. We knew he had the engagement ring, but we didn’t know when he would formally pop the question. Apparently he wanted to wait for a sunny day and a secluded spot on a waterway in the woods. Sounds romantic, private, and fitting for this remarkable couple. Later last night, the celebration continued with a gourmet dinner at a fancy restaurant in Nashville.

I have not stopped smiling. Husband and I are delighted to soon have another daughter. Our hearts are filled with joy!

As a dear friend said to me last night when I shared this news, “The circle of life continues.” Indeed. This special couple is starting a new chapter of life. Husband and I are looking forward to closing the “career” chapters of our lives, but as our recent trip to Ireland demonstrated, we still have the energy for new adventures. We still have hopes and dreams!

She said “yes”! The diamond ring is so pretty, but their obvious love is even more beautiful.

Tonight’s cocktail is my version of the “Diamond Martini”. Place vodka (the best is Polish, and today I used Chopin) and a stemmed glass in the freezer well ahead of time. Combine 2 ounces of vodka with 1/4 teaspoon of dry vermouth and gently pour into the frosty glass. Twist a piece of lemon peel over the drink, wipe the peel over the rim of the glass, and then drop the peel in. Sto lat!

Earlier this week, as I was waiting for my car window to be repaired (great job by Safelite, by the way), another customer started to chat with me. Turned out that he was a recently-retired teacher from Loudoun County, and he wanted to give me advice, based on his experiences. He told me he loved being retired, but that he was not prepared for his also-retired wife always being underfoot. So he suggested that Husband and I take up separate hobbies that get us out of the house, and that we consider part-time employment. Too much togetherness was not a good thing, he emphasized. I pointed out that during the Covid lockdown, Husband and I did pursue separate hobbies in separate areas of the house for several hours of the day, so we have some practice in respecting each other’s boundaries.

Based on how eager this dude was to talk to a stranger, I wonder if he is spending any time at all with his spouse. I don’t want to be like him.

Tonight’s cocktail, my version of a Vermouth Cassis, has a lower alcohol content that most of my preferred drinks, and manages to be interesting and refreshing.

In a tall glass, combine 3 ounces dry vermouth with 1 ounce crème de cassis. Add several ice cubes, and about 3 ounces club soda.

Yesterday, we visited Gainfully Employed Son #2 for an early celebration of the end of his 26th year on Earth. He opened his wallet and withdrew his new insurance card. HIS new insurance card! A card listing policy numbers for medical, dental, AND vision coverage! And most importantly–a card that did not have the names of myself or his father on it. His own card!

And so it ends, it at long last ends: Birthday number 26, thanks to The Affordable Care Act, means Husband and I no longer have any financial obligations to any of our offspring. Now it’s just the two of us!

Metaphorically speaking, this pushes the baby bird completely out of the nest. But he has been flying confidently for a few years now, he’s building his own nest, and we know his future is bright and sunny.

Tonight’s cocktail is my version of a “Dark and Stormy” since I like irony. Combine 1/2 ounce or more of lime juice with 6 ounces of (non-alcoholic) ginger beer in a tall glass. Add ice. Slowly pour in 2 ounces of dark rum or a similar cane-based liquor. Admire the “stormy” effect, then stir and enjoy.