I’m not a hot tub type of girl. The thought of sitting in a warm bucket of water, pruning up with friends is not high on my list of preferred activities. And while the idea of free floating ray shaped cleansers is compelling….
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The idea of a scum covered pool of my bff’s exfoliated skin hasn’t changed my mind.
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One of our local grocery stores is now posting trivia. How fun is that?
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A combination of Scotch and Amaretto? I’ll refuse it and take my chances. Blech!
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The fact that there are people who will buy this product instead of just picking one up off the ground makes my head hurt.
The husband and I stopped into a local seafood place the other day for a drink and a bite.
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The bartender whipped me up a few fabulous Snowy White Cosmopolitans…
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And somehow we got to chatting about cats. A few cocktails in I was talking about putting the harness and leash on Dudley and told the bartender that as soon as I said “walkies!” in my best falsetto… he came running. She looked at me oddly, so I explained the origin of the term.
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Barbara was a British dog trainer who had a show on PBS in the 80’s. When I mentioned her name, the bartender didn’t have a clue. Which is when I apparently insulted her by saying “You remember that show”. I truly thought she would, because ya know… we looked about the same age and she had previously commiserated with me about hot flashes. Turns out she wasn’t my age, not even close and she was less than pleased I thought so.
It was then that I realized I had broken the age old drinking rule… never piss off the bartender.
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It’s a good thing she’d delivered my crab quesadillas before my I let loose my poisoned comment.
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But clearly we’ll never be able to go back to this establishment. Which is a shame because it was a fun place, complete with an “I prefer my pets” love meter sangria dispenser…
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And an outboard motor kegerator.
Me and my big liquored up mouth. It will never learn.
The husband and I dropped by one of our favorite places this week, The Royal River Grillhouse.
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And since it was the New Year? I had two of the above pictured New Year cocktails.
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It was a cold day and no one wanted to sit on the porch, even with the massive heaters going full blast.
This restaurant’s bar is known for it’s liberal pours as proven by my third and final drink, the Gooseberry Bellini.
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Yes, that’s an actual Grey Goose vodka bottle with the neck cut off. They use them as glasses and let me tell you, when you finish a cocktail in one of those babies?
You know it.
I left the Royal River Grillhouse royally soused… so no false advertising there.
I sampled heavily at the distillery while my other half was busy talking.
I sampled lightly and drank heartily at the Whippletree winery.
And now, I was ready for a late lunch. But sadly, late lunch wasn’t ready for me because every single restaurant we tried in North Conway New Hampshire on a Saturday afternoon in December was filled to bursting. Damn those hungry Christmas shoppers!
Wasting a good hour hopping from place to place to no avail, we said to hell with it and drove.
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Through the White Mountains and over to Mount Washington.
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The closer we got the darker it became, and we arrived at the Notch Grill in the Glen House just as flurries started to fall.
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Thankfully they weren’t crowded and we settled in.
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Hibiscus rose margarita …
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With a view isn’t a bad way to end the day.
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Crispy pork pot stickers with Thai ginger dipping sauce to share…
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Followed by pan seared duck breast with apple rosemary jam, roasted fingerling potatoes and squash rings for me… baked haddock in white wine and buttered crumbs with mashed potatoes and carrots for the hubs.
It was all delicious and we were too full for dessert.
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I was also too full to sit and watch a slightly out of date Christmas program on the bar television.
Our annual pilgrimage to Tamworth Distillers in New Hampshire took place recently. The day was clear and cold and we found snow upon arrival.
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But no one cares about that.
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It’s a building filled with alcohol. Let’s shop!
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I made a beeline to my very favorite gin, Damson plum… and gathered enough to make my checkbook squeal.
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I passed on the whiskey made with beaver castoreum.
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Because if he mixes it with urine to scent mark his territory ? I’m not using it to mix a cocktail.
Nope.
Not going to happen.
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I did try their extremely unique brandy.
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Made with the durian fruit. You know … the one that smells like rotting flesh?
While the aroma wasn’t that horrible, it was a bit too potent for my taste.
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We spent a good deal of time in the store because naturally the husband found a Marine to talk to. They were stationed in the same place, with the same squadron and knew a lot of the same people… which meant yours truly wandered aimlessly back and forth, trying more free samples than she should have.
So it should come as no surprise that I enjoy the occasional cocktail tweak as well
Here are two I’ve just discovered but have yet to try…
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Thyme and orange G&T’s sound fabulous.
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A drop of blackberry jam in my Cosmo?
Why not!
( Though I can guarantee you my quantity levels will be considerably higher. 0.75 Oz of Cointreau? Bitch, please! )
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Lord Dudley Mountcatten does not require cat food tweaking and is perfectly happy with his Fancy Feast. This does not mean he isn’t spoiled rotten in every other way…
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Yes, he’s commandeered my heating pad, and yes… if we don’t turn it on when he pounces on it we get the look.
River's world..... 