Christmas Caramels

So, We have been absent.  This is likely because we have had nothing good to say.  Grace and I were discussing this last night while driving around nice neighborhoods and looking at the Christmas lights.  This year past has been a bad one.  Not that we didn't do some awesome things but I think we crossed the invisible and ambiguous line between comfort and complacency.  We have grown too comfortable.  So if I were the kind to make resolutions I would resolve to live more intentionally in 2013.  I think I just might yet do that. 

Christmas time is here.  I cannot adequately stress how much Grace and I love Christmas.  Oh yes, we love the Christmas Magic.  It is the season for some of the best cocktails and brews.  People pretend to be generous and loving for one month of the year.  And you get to bring a living tree into your house for a month... or two.  You can imagine our annoyance when we walked out of our bedroom to find our Christmas tree lying on its side in our living room with our cats pawing ornaments around the pine needle stricken floor.  I screwed the tree to the floor but we did lose a few ornaments to the cats' mischief.   

In an attempt to save on money and give the gift of our labor we decided to make caramels for coworkers and friends this Christmas.  I love caramels and wanted to take on the challenge of monitoring the thermometer to ensure proper temperature to make soft, sweet delights and not hard, brittle teeth enemies.  The first time Grace and I tried it was an overwhelming success... Until the "caramel" cooled and we were left with the latter of the two.  They tasted delicious but were also the hardness of slate.  The second attempt we got closer to our goal.  Soft caramels but no depth of flavor resulting from the longer boil time.  Attempt three is tonight so wish us luck.  I think we can do it.

Hot Fun in the Summertime

I mentioned last week how Grace and I seriously dislike the heat and therefore the season which is Summer.  Every Wednesday, from now until the Autumnal Equinox, I will be posting my favorite coping mechanisms for the heat, sweat, and weather. 

This week it is ICE!  But not just any ice.  As a great imbiber of mixed adult beverages I have had some experience with different molds and trays for ice.  I love my Perfect Cube silicon tray but I must say that my favorite is a spherical mold made by Muji.

These smooth spheres of ice will not only look amazing in your next Gin and Tonic -or- Whiskey but they are actually better prepared than their 6-sided counterparts to more efficiently cool your beverage.  Reason being, A sphere has the least amount of surface area compared to its inner volume of any geometric shape.  So you can sip on your tipple knowing that you’re not drinking a watered down libation.  I got these for Christmas from my mother-in-law, by suggestion of Grace.  I love the simple, efficient Japanese design and the elegance of a sphere dancing happily in my beverages.

$11.75 /mold

Stay Cool

-Jon

Amateur

-Jon

Diatribes and Putt-Putt (not diatribes on Putt-Putt)

Um, It's summer.  Where did that come from.  It is almost JULY!  I know we've been suffering sporadic 80-90 degree days since March but we are officially in the season loved by so many. 

Grace and I however are cold weather animals, much like bears..  So we quite prefer the fall and spring to the dastardly months that comprise summer, then we hibernate through most of winter.  The point is I am ecstatic that the earth continues on its dance around the solar body we call the sun, revolving so that our hemisphere begins to angle in a way that the days shorten and we feel cooler climes.  It is poetic that summer begins on the longest day of the year knowing that each day after will be shorter and shorter.  When can I wear a sweater again?

Well we celebrated the first full day of summer yesterday by meeting our friends Ashley and Jason for some sushi and beers and afterward some Mini-Golf.  Mini-Golf was a blast except for the mid-aged couple (probably having an affair) who were playing a round in front of us who were playing around in front of us if you catch my drift.  We would walk up to the tee of the hole they were on and they would be making out on the green.  I fully support intimacy, but not on a Mini-Golf course at Magic Mountain in Polaris.  I did tell Grace that if I were ever to cheat on her I would take my date to Magic Mountain. HA.

-Jon

Bandito Photo

Well, we have spent the past month re-branding our photography side project.  We finally got tired of people asking Plim-what?  It has been exhausting but very rewarding.  New website is up and running and we booked a wedding for next year.  Yay!

-Jon

Chevron Test

Matris Die

Maybe it is my Catholic guilt but every time Mother's day rolls around I can't help but feel like a terrible son.  I managed to call my mother and step-mother so that is a step I guess.  Anyway, Happy Happy to all you bearers of children out there.  We wouldn't be here without you.  Special shout out to my mater.  Happy Mothers Day Mom.

-Jon

They're just chillin'

While researching Bob Dylan's Theme Time Radio Hour I stumbled across a blog featuring this gem of a picture of Richard Farina and the sisters Baez, Joan and Mimi. 

This makes me want to learn how to play the dulcimer.  And wear striped tank tops.  That will be my summer look, striped tank tops and mountain dulcimer. 

-Jon

Will Work For Food (& Beer)

Grace's co-teacher Chelsea asked her the other day if we would be willing to do some photography work for her husband Cliff, a Columbus restauranteur.  Simply, we would photograph some of his Filet Mignon Sliders which were being featured in a local magazine in exchange for the sliders themselves.

Let me just say, I am fully behind the exchanging of food for services.  I think we need to revert to a method of bartering or trading for things we need/want.  Any restaurants out there need their food photographed?  Feed me, I'll be there.

Anyway, after twenty-odd minutes of work, Grace and I kicked back and tucked into the sliders and beer provided for us.  I would like you to consider the absurdity of sitting alone in a restaurant's banquet room adjacent to the bar eating free sliders and beer.  When the waitress came in with our second beer she poked her head in and asked if she was in the right place.  It was like sitting at the kids' table or maybe more accurately at a servants' table out of sight.

As we were polishing off the sliders, Chelsea stopped in for a beer and Cliff joined us with another round and his appetizer sampler.  Driving home Grace and I belted out some Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris on the freeway.  Perfectly strange and wonderful night. 

-Jon

Papa's got a brand new...

...promotion!  Just move on up!  You know what that means for tonight, little bit of James, little bit of Curtis, some martinis and dancing.

Jam! "This week we have the Pope... and lasst, next week we have the Reverend Al Sharpton."
Oh, that always makes me happy.

I feel good, get up off of that thing.

Hasta Luego

-Jon