Springtime Drinks

If you've never been to Liberty Heights Fresh you are absolutely missing out and should go, now! I missed out until Kelli took me there earlier this year. It's a darling corner market with a variety of, as they so appropriately state on their website, "the familiar and the unusual." Yes, I have lived here my entire life and walked or driven past more times than I can remember. But for some reason, I just never ventured inside. The sign alone should have been enough to get me in there.

 
When Kelli first took me to Liberty Heights it was to search out some unique soda flavors to be used as mixers. We ended up with cucumber, lavender, and rhubarb. We also picked up a few fresh limes to add to the mix. Well, eventually I decided it was time to head back so I could replicate the amazing drinks we had made that day. I went, grabbed some sodas, found the limes...But then I found myself distracted by the pixie tangerines. As I considered the tangerines I wondered how they would taste with the lavender soda. My brain decided this would be a good combination, which would be made even better with the addition of some lemon bitters (which they also had).

 
After coming home I had the intention of making the drinks right away. But this didn't happen, and after a few days had passed I had eaten all of my pixie tangerines (these things will put a clementine to shame any day of the week). This allowed me time to pick up some new large tumbler drinking glasses and ice cube trays to go along with my new drink ideas. It also allowed me to make a second trip the following weekend to replace my consumed ingredients. Finally the time was right, so I grabbed my things and headed out to the back yard.

 

Lavender soda, pixie tangerines, lemon bitters and vodka on the left. On the right, cucumber soda, limes, and gin. I love the Monopolowa labels on these bottles.

Pup watched on while enjoying some time outside. I found outdoor prep work to be quite nice.  I have a lot to learn about mixing drinks, but I'm not sure that's much of a problem. I just add things until I like the taste.  And like the taste I did! Nothing like a drink that will also service you with a snack. Pixie tangerines, man they're good! I'm thinking some muddling may be in order for the next round.   

Oh, and I must tell you about the Celtic Sea Salt Caramels that enticed me into an impulse buy at the register. They are the bee's knees!

Let me know if you try the drinks. Better yet, let me know if you think of any other ideas for these fancy sodas. Still trying to figure out how to best enjoy the rhubarb.

Cheers!

H

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Future S.I.L.

In just a few short days my baby brother will be gettin' hitched to the most darling girl. To see their young love blossom over the last year or two has been such a treat, and a warm reminder of those beautiful early days that a relationship can offer. As Husband and I prepare to celebrate another happily anticipated anniversary, I've enjoyed revisiting memories of the days leading up to our own nuptials.  I pulled out some of our older albums, you know, from back when I used to actually have photos printed.  Man I need to get some photos printed.  Here is one of my favorites from those days.  We were so little!

Flowers are some what of a hobby of mine that I only seem to indulge in when a close friend or family member is getting married.  I was honored to be asked to help with the flowers, which started off with a bouquet for some spring time bridal portraits.

For this bouquet I used blue hydrangea, white peonies, lavender and white narcissus, lavender sweet pea, and purple larkspur.  Whenever I do flowers, I always enjoy being able to scoop up a few of the leftovers for tiny arrangements to place around the house.

I am so excited to have a new sister in law!

More flowers to come,
Heather

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Spring Intervention

85 degrees? Geez! Summer is sneaking in, but I'm thinking if I left this blue blouse on, Spring would know I was staying true.

Spring Intervention by eightch featuring wedge shoes

Spring, I hardly knew ye.

H

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Prolonged Caution Advised

Neighbors. Gotta love em.

H.

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Spring Rituals

Many people have spring rituals when the clock jumps ahead.  Growing up, spring meant washing the windows, flipping your mattress, and tending to the flowerbeds to help the spring blossoms flourish.  As an adult I do many of these things and more; including washing the silverware sorting tray.  I’m crazy about cleaning.  How sad? 

One of my spring rituals is cleaning out my closet.  I share a closet with TimWolf, my fiancé, and our “closet” is one we constructed upon move-in because our loft does not have actual closets.  Not one.  Without doors to hide things behind is very challenging for someone like me, a person who wants everything to look picture perfect.  

Cleaning out my closet is imperative, sad, liberating.  If I haven’t worn an item in years (and would look like a stuffed sausage if I did), I’ll hold onto it for nostalgic reasons.  I find satisfaction in removing worn items that should be replaced, dated clothes, and “statement” pieces I look at and find myself saying out loud, “really?!” It’s important for me to let these things go, because really, it’s just clothes and I don’t need copious amounts of unused clothing (maybe Tyler Durden is whispering in my ear).  And to be honest, visually, my open closet doesn’t need them either.  There is minimal space in my loft’s loft to store winter coats, scarves, gloves and boots – which are traded out for shorts, tank-tops, sundresses and sandals.    

When I’m done, I normally have two large piles to purge.   Piles I turn a blind eye to while my friends rummage for the shirt they may’ve coveted; piles I hand over to Goodwill while maintaining a slow roll in my car, looking away from second thoughts.   With a clean closet I find myself motivated to go for a run (oh, hello shorts!), am reminded of my personal style, and inspired help it flourish. 

Do you have springtime rituals?

-stace

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Springtime Spider Porch

The other day I had my first reminder that warm weather does exist.  While making my first trip from the house for the day, I stepped out onto my porch feeling suddenly weighed down by my coat and severely confined by my socks and shoes.  Happy to oblige Mother Nature, I quickly stepped back inside.  Shortly I reemerged, coatless and sandal clad.  As I hopped down my porch steps I remembered this, one of the early signs of spring I experienced last year.

I know spiders aren't the first thing that come to mind when thinking about the signs of spring. But hey, renewal, rebirth. It all comes around for me every time the snow has melted. There's just something about spring I can't explain. I'm feeling inexplicably...giddy.

Love H

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