how about drinking?

Good Morning, Loungettes! Happy Saturday! I had a really good visit with Mom yesterday, even if we didn't go to the Lavender Farm. It was sprinkly/rainy, so we opted to postpone the Lavender trip, good thing, too, since they posted this morning that the Lavender is budding but not yet in bloom. So later next week is going to be better, the week after should be full bloom, so we haven't missed anything yet. Instead Mom wanted to go to a little tourist shop that sells Maine made things, mostly jams and jellies and the like, where she got herself a bunch of yummies, including blueberry-lime-garlic jam, and a Hot Blueberry jelly. It will be interesting to see how she likes those two. The others were more traditional, blueberry, blueberry pear, and the like. We did find out the apartment opening up does have an ocean view. Mom even know what apartment it is, and we peeked in. The apartment has been emptied out but not yet deep cleaned, I'll find out more about that tomorrow. The lady who was in the apartment has passed away, she used to sit at Mom's table but hasn't for a few weeks now, and I could see her declining in the weeks before that. Sad, but she was beginning to really struggle and I hope she is comfortable now. After that we went to lunch at a smoked meat place and you should have seen the look on Mom's face when the server asked what we wanted to drink, she said "beer" and he asked her what kind? Finally found the way to get fluids other than coffee into Mom, give her beer! She drank every last drop of that Bud Lite, and did not get up until it was done even though her bum was sore from sitting on the hard seat.

It was good that we didn't go to the lavender farm on Thursday, Mom got taken to a therapeutic riding stable and got to groom and ride!

mOmmy--it sounds like you are a bit fond of dachshunds! I can't wait to see pics of the finished projects.

Miriandra--WOW!!!!! Those swimsuits look amazing! The ladies wearing them look absolutely marvelous! It must have been so nice to see your designs displayed with such joy and confidence!

mOmmy--HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!! Praying for a benign scan result.

Morning, Wren and Teka!

Gin, Pepper & Blueberry Shrub Cocktail

INGREDIENTS
• Raw Sugar Base Syrup:
• 1 cup Raw (Demerara) Sugar
• 1 cup Water

Black Pepper Syrup:
• ½ cup Raw Sugar Simple Syrup (save the extra for other recipes)
• 1 tbsp Black Peppercorns, lightly crushed

Cocktail:
• 1 1/2oz Gin (we used Voyager)
• 1/2oz Blueberry Shrub
• Light 1/2oz Black Pepper Syrup
• Light 1/4oz Lemon Juice
• Brut Sparkling White Wine

Garnish:
• 12 Blueberries, Twist of Lime Zest

DIRECTIONS

1 Make the base syrup: combine the raw sugar & water in a small saucepan. Heat the water to a simmer, stirring, until the sugar dissolves.
2 Take a half cup of the resulting syrup and bring it to a simmer in a separate pot. Add the peppercorns and simmer 5-10 minutes, until you like the intensity of the flavor.

You can reserve the extra raw sugar syrup for other recipes, or multiply the pepper syrup recipe to use it all up.

3 Combine in a mixing tin the gin, blueberry shrub, pepper syrup, lemon juice.
4 Shake with ice to chill & combine.
5 Double-strain into a martini glass.
6 Top with sparkling wine.
7 Gently plop in the blueberries. Garnish with the lime zest & serve.

From https://marxfood.com/pepper-blueberry-shrub-cocktail-recipe/

Native, I have a 6 yr old dachshund /rat terrier mix.

Got this shirt at Walmart today

Hi ladies:

Happy Sunday Funday again. Its a bit cooler today after a hot week and rain around the state but not here yet. Tomorrow monsoon season officially begins so more chances of rain that come with the summer time. Yesterday it got cloudy and it looked like we might get something but not in any of the places I was yesterday afternoon or last night. Today we have another chance. Right now, it's sunny but it's midafternoon when the clouds come and sometime bring the rains.

Wallycat- went back for a bit here and couldn't find your post but please know I am thinking of you and sending you much love during this time.

Mommy- happy anniversary and in your pocket for the upcoming scans.

NM- sounds like you are getting moisture up there. I follow a link on FB for Ogunquit where I spent a lot of time in my late teens and early twenties (worked there one summer) and always loved summer in Maine. Are you able to get out to use the kayak at all?

Teka- you summarized it nicely. My colleague I started with finished up this week and I am on the interview for her replacement. It always seems they have somebody already chosen when they replace anyone (they shuffle people around internally even if they don't have the right skills or experience, but I digress). The person I know my boss wants we do know and think she will be okay. Our person at the top of our healthcare org is retiring and many of the healthcare delivery systems here are laying off. So the writing continues to be on the wall, and I am continuing to be ready to go. I am taking some days off here and there this summer and have this Friday off and going to take another day off next week and then we have another long weekend on the horizon too.

Mirianda- thank you for sharing those photos! I love that this event was created to show the beauty that remains after everything women go through.

That shrub above is an oleander and I planted it in memory of my fav aunt who passed very suddenly in 2012. She passed on the 22nd of May and every year, the first blooms come out on that date. Makes me feel she is around and this years bloom has been the most spectacular!

We are almost half way through 2026, where does the time go? Wishing everyone a good slide into the official start of summer next weekend.

I could have sworn I posted this yesterday.

Good Morning, Loungettes! Happy Sunday Funday! We're having a really nice weekend weather-wise, with some showers but mostly partly sunny, and much warmer than it has been. I really should be getting more decluttering done so I can get the contractors in to start working on the bathroom and other projects but just can't seem to make myself get started. Oh well, I'll try again today and maybe I'll make some progress.

Miriandra--I am so glad Glenda got that opportunity, even if her body didn't want to play nice that day! She just radiates excitement and happiness!

mOmmy--your pup must be absolutely adorable! Love the T-shirt, too!

Fluent in Sarcasm

1 1/2 oz. Deaths Door Gin

1/2 oz. Vilya Verte Absinthe

1/2 oz. The Perfect Purée Sweet Hibiscus, thawed

1/2 oz. The Perfect Purée Black Currant Puree, thawed

1 egg white

1 squeeze of a slice of lemon

1 slice of jalapeño

blackberry (garnish)

lemon zest (garnish)

Take egg white only and shake in cocktail shakers for 15 secs (to make a good froth).

Muddle jalapeño and squeeze lemon in one side of shaker.

Pour Deaths Door Gin, Vilya Absinthe, Sweet Hibiscus, and Black Currant Puree into egg white shaker.

Combine both shakers and shake for 10 seconds.

Strain through bar strainer into Coupe.

Garnish with blackberry and shave lemon.

Good Morning, Loungettes! Happy Monday Monkey Day! It's going to be a busy and expensive day today. First I've got a virtual meeting with the folks at Birch Bay, hopefully to confirm that Mom gets the 1 bedroom, ocean view apartment, update the financial paperwork and hopefully get some idea of a timeline for the move so I can start planning. This afternoon the Jeep goes in for a "rear knuckle replacement" whatever that is, in order to finish the state inspection. At least it's raining so I don't feel like I’m missing out on the really good weather!

Jazzy--That part of Maine gets the weather a few hours to a day or so before my area. If the weather follows the curve of the coastline it generally heads out to see just a bit south of here, so we get less intense storms and often a bit less rain. I haven't had the kayak out yet, but am determined to do that next week after all the car work is done and in between Mom's appointments. I've seen what you describe about hospitals shuffling people around internally based on who knows what but not on skills and abilities. The oleander is absolutely gorgeous! I am sure your Aunt is keeping an eye on you and celebrating your victories with you!

mOmmy--it is a real pain in the anatomy when critical things like fans decided to revolt. Awwwww, Nugget is so sweet!

Golden Nugget - Cocktail Recipe
Ingredients
• 5 oz of grapefruit juice
• 2 oz of yukon jack canadian whisky

Instructions
Shake over ice and pour into a highball glass.

From https://www.cocktailbuilder.com/recipe/golden-nugget

Just to give everyone a giggle, Seattle is under a heat advisory. It’s supposed to be 86. When I lived in Houston that might be the low temp.

Good Morning, Loungettes! Happy Tuesday! Well, Mom did get the ocean view apartment. The paperwork is in progress, maintenance is looking at the apartment to see what needs to be done before the final deep cleaning and we should get a move in date sometime next week. I just hope the facility will have some maintenance help available on move over day; we'll be paying the more than $300 a day rent on BOTH from move day until Mom's stuff is out of the current room. I can move everything except the dresser, recliner, and a couple of bookshelves. The earliest I could book the movers is June 8th, but since Mom has everything she NEEDS, she can get along just fine in the bigger place until then when we can get stuff out of storage.

Does anyone here know anything about cars? I took the Jeep in to have a "4WD not available" light checked and get it inspected, came out with an appointment yesterday to search out an oil leak after they put a dye in with the oil change, that something about "knuckles" and "bushes" ("bushings?")needing replacement to the tune of $2.2k, tires needing replacement (not a surprise) to the tune of $900 and a replacement of the tube taking the windshield washer fluid to the back window. So yesterday I was expecting a $200 oil leak search fee, oil change fee, "knuckle bushes" $2.2K and the window washer tube replaced. Turns out, all I got was the oil leak taken care of. The oil was leaking from the drain plug and from the filter, probably because I misread the window sticker and went too long between oil changes, and an appointment next week for $400 to diagnose the 4WD not available light, the $2.2 knuckle whatever, and the windshield washer fluid tubing replacement and, finally, the inspection sticker. The tires I'm having done at Sam's Club for $600 on Thursday. Anybody know what the heck the knuckle thing is all about?

mOmmy--oh, boy, the mixed feelings that come with finding a space right after replacing something!

Wren--that's quite the difference!

Jazzy--beautiful bird! You take great pics!

Frankie Knuckles Martini
3 oz St. George Valley Gin
1 oz Uncouth Vermouth
1 barspoon Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur
1 dash orange bitters (like Fee Brother's or Regan's)

An ode to the legendary Chicago house DJ, Frankie Knuckles. Keith Meicher, the creator of this recipe, offers two options for the cocktail: batched by the liter and stored in the freezer, which he says keeps the texture extra-velvety and smooth, or individually. We're sharing both!

For an individual drink, use the measurements above, and stir all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice and double-strain into a chilled coupe. Garnish with pickled kumquats or a slim orange peel.

1L Batch:
21 oz St. George Valley Gin
7 oz Uncouth Vermouth
1 oz Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur
5 oz filtered water
7 dashes orange bitters

From https://stgeorgespirits.com/recipes/frankie-knuckles-martini

Scan results are in… 'Mr. C' as I call this crappy disease is still on a Permanent Vacation!

Good Morning, Loungettes! Happy Hump Day! I took Colt with me to visit Mom yesterday. He learned very quickly that other residents with walkers frequently have doggy treats in their baskets! He made out like a bandit and was a very good boy all visit. I was surprised how many of the residents carry dog biscuits around with them!

Thanks, Carole!

mOmmy--YEAH! May the Permanent Vacation continue!

Morning, Jazzy!

Lemonade Gin Mojito

Ingredients

• ▢8 mint leaves

• ▢4 slices lemon

• ▢2 cups crushed ice

• ▢3 ounces gin

• ▢1 cup lemonade

• ▢1/2 cup club soda

• ▢10 blueberries, if desired

Instructions
• Add 4 mint leaves to a tall glass and top with two lemon slices. Muddle the mint and lemon to release the juice and oils. Repeat with remaining mint and lemon.
• Divide the ice between the two glasses. Top the ice with 1 1/2 ounces gin, 1/2 cup lemonade and 1/4 cup club soda. Repeat with the remaining gin, lemonade and club soda. Stir to combine.
• Garnish with blueberries, if desired and serve immediately.

From https://thesuburbansoapbox.com/lemonade-gin-mojito-cocktail-recipe/