Pushing 50 and it's time to try a few (maybe... 365?) new things.
This blog is not about reinventing oneself or one's life, but about how much fun one can have while going out on a limb and branching out.
Kicking anxiety's butt one day at a time, yeah!
January has come and gone so I need a a project for the month of February. I am ready to jump into learning how to use this fabulous camera that the family gave me for Christmas- a Nikon D3300. I have no goals to set with this project because at this point, I have NO idea how to use this grand device. But Imma gonna learn!!
I’ve been interested in photography for some time and am blown away with what I have captured using either a Blackberry or iPhones-
Blackberry, 2009; Treasures Collected, Morro Bay, CA
I love this photo of treasures we collected from Moro bay in 2009.
Taken with a Blackberry Curve
I went on to snap even better pics with iPhones- 3s, 4s and 5s models-
Cedar and Mistletoe Idyllwild, Ca iPhone 4sBoston MA North End, All Saints Way iPhone 4sFeeling snacky? Easter, 2014 iPhone 5s
I started a board on Pinterest to keep my favorite photos that I had taken all in one spot:
…or two:
I can’t wait to see what I can learn to do with a much better camera!
Since we still had a bunch of grandparents floating around last night, I thought I’d drag them into trying new stuff with me one more time before they headed off the next morning.
This one was pretty funny-
Dry. Cucumber Soda…
The DRY Cucumber Soda was an impulse buy a couple of days ago and I had no idea what to expect. Everyone dutifully took their little sample and sipped suspiciously. Especially the boy. I had to threaten him to try a taste from my share. Six out of six family members did not care for cucumber soda. I wonder what they would have thought of the lavender soda from the same company? I’d like to try their other offerings.
This was certainly a confusing concoction. My dad and I decided that DRY Cucumber Soda would probably taste great as a mixer with gin, and I regret not being quick enough to snap a pic of my mom and mom-in-law’s reactions. Clearly, their patience with me and my new things is wearing thin.
I think all was forgiven when everyone received a cider and rum nightcap.
I thought it was really funny that Yesterday’s Pearls Before Swine comic was about Funyuns, ha.
My dad, about a week ago, stated that he’s not eaten Funyuns before. This, coming from a man who never met a salty snack he hasn’t liked. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree, either, I LOVE any kind of chips. And I consider it my mission to introduce my son’s friends to all kinds of different foods- nopales, ramen noodles, edamame, and a host of other different treats.
This was going to be fun, and we headed off to the Mexican market for some groceries and different chips… Funyuns for my dad and other snacks that I was sure the my mom, mom-in-law and husband have all not tried, and we had a great lineup:
I think my mom wins the Best Face Made while trying a new snack- despite this face, she decided that she liked freshly made chicharrones:
The mom tries real chicharrones from Pancho Villa Market.
Here’s the Funyuns Face of Approval:
I still can’t believe that he hasn’t tried Funyuns before…
We also tried a corn stick snack called Charritos- Chile Limón flavor:
We all pretty much liked the Charritos Chile Limón flavor…
Despite the face mom-in-law is making, we all decided that the Original Black Bean Chips by Beanitos were not only all right, but they would be great with guacamole-
She didn’t think these would be good, but was surprised that they were.
Only Abby could handle the heat of the Ruffles Tapatío Limón flavored potato chips. Holy crap, these were HOT!
The one and a half Mexicans in the tasting panel thought that these were too hot! Abby liked them, though.
So try the Beanitos and Charritos for a different snack, the Ruffles Tapatío if you really like the heat, and if you have never had the pleasure of Funyuns, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR, GO GET SOME!
The husband has been making great hot toddies for years from his dad’s recipe, but he’s been trying to make a new version recently. It would help if we had all of the ingredients together all at once… We do tonight! And we have three grandparents here to drink with us, too. That’s our plan- get all the grandparents smashed then send them off to the official Grandparents Day at their grandson’s school tomorrow morning, hungover. “Really early,” says mom-in-law, “don’t leave that part out!” Lol.
Assorted grandparents getting their happy on.
Hot Toddies-
Per drink, you need 4 oz boiling water 2 oz bourbon 1 Tablespoon of honey 1/4 lemon 1 cinnamon stick
It is important to put the honey in the glass first, then pour the hot water in second… the honey needs to dissolve into the water. Squeeze the lemon into the class, then pour in your booze. Stir with the cinnamon stick.
Former Favorite Recipe-
Leave out the cinnamon stick and honey Use half coke and half water Nuke for about 45 seconds
branching out... on a limb 