It’s the Real Thing…
Posted at 12:18 am | Filed Under In the Kitchen, Randomness
Cuban Mojito Recipe
(Straight from Havana)
1 teaspoon powdered sugar
Juice from 1 lime (2 ounces)
4 mint leaves
1 sprig of mint
Havana Club white Rum (2 ounces)
2 ounces club soda
Place mint leaves into a long mojito (or collins) glass and squeeze the juice
from a cut lime over them. You'll want about two ounces of lime juice. Add the
powdered sugar, then gently smash the mint into the lime juice and sugar with a
muddler (you can use a fork or a spoon the main idea is to "mash" it all
together). Add crushed ice then add the rum and stir. Top off with the club
soda. Garnish with a mint sprig.
Buy Me a Corona with extra lime please!
The Castle Down the Road
Posted at 4:05 pm | Filed Under Travel
Castle Otttis was created as an original landscape-sculpture "Done in Remembrance of Jesus Christ." The dictionary defines a landscape-sculpture as a structure built to adorn or to view the landscape. Castle Otttis is done of an impression of an Irish castle of a 1000 years ago. The interior was created under guidance of historians from the Catholic Diocese of Northeast Florida to replicate an atmosphere of an Abbey (or Christian church) in Ireland during the same period.
The project was begun on May 1, 1984 and sense of completeness was felt about the concrete portion of the sculpture (exterior) in the summer of 1988. The materials used in the exterior are split-face concrete block, steel reinforcement rod, and poured concrete. All of the masonry work was done by two individuals working together without the aid of laborers, helpers, elevation drawings, or models... "The building was simply allowed to exert its own insistent will." Engineering data was employed to ensure structural integrity. It is over 50 feet in height, and the weight of the building is conservatively estimated at more than 5 million pounds. The building was never intended to be a residence, a commercial building, or a tourist attraction. It was created as an expression of art.
The interior took an additional 3 years to complete (1988-1991). It was fashioned by a third individual (a woodworker). It contains primarily cypress wood and some old southern heart-pine. The interior has eight different examples of staircases in addition to an altar, a pulpit, a Bishop's chair, a choir loft, benches or pews; and incorporates spiritual and historic related symbolism throughout. There is no glass in any of the 88 window openings, therefore the interior is open to the elements.
The Castle is made available by appointment to schools, churches, colleges, universities, institutions, and community groups for academic and spiritual settings, and has provided a unique environment for small, intimate wedding ceremonies. The Castle is also made available for an interdenominational Christian worship service each Sunday from 11:00 a.m.-12:00 noon (weather permitting). At the conclusion of the service the Castle can be viewed from 12:00 noon until 1:00 p.m. It is not necessary to attend the service to view the building. All who come in a dignified fashion are welcome regardless of belief or background.
The Castle is privately owned. The Castle has no formal connection with any group or organization. Donations are not solicited.
CASTLE OTTTIS WAS CREATED TO DESIGNATE A PLACE OF PEACE UPON THIS EARTH.
For further information:
Castle Otttis
P. O. Box 1754
St. Augustine, Florida 32085
Phone: (904) 824-3274
Buy Me a Corona with extra lime please!
Themed Herb Gardens
Posted at 9:15 am | Filed Under In the Garden
While digging through my collection of "stuff", I came across this great plan for coordinating your herbs.
Grouping herbs together which will be used in a certain favorite dish is not only practical, but make a fabulous gift. People love handmade items, and this idea can be customized to a particular meal or taste. The window box planter is especially ideal for this project. There are some great choices of containers to be found, including molded clay, wooden, twig, and galvanized containers. Container types are only limited to your imagination, however. Any found or antique container or pot could be utilized for a very special look.
Spaghetti Sauce Herbs
One of my favorites would be the spaghetti sauce herb box, which would include sweet basil, oregano, parsley, and rosemary. Just add tomatoes, sauce and noodles!
Pizza Box
People who make their own pizza would love this little box sitting near the kitchen! It could include greek oregano, super sweet 100 cherry tomatoes, anise and chives. Pizza dough is easy to make, but if you aren't so inclined your local pizza shop may sell you a ball of dough. Heck, Boboli shells are good too!
Tea Box
Handy herbs to pick for a brew or to add to iced tea could make someone very happy. Fill a box with lemon verbena, lemon balm, chamomile, lime balm, and cinnamon basil.
Medicinal Box
Include dill and peppermint to calm sooth indigeston, yarrow for temporary bandage for cuts, sage for sore throats, and aloe to put on minor burns.
Herbal Vinegars Box
Dill, lemon balm, chives, tarragon are just a few examples. An all-time favorite is lemon dill vinegar for vegetables.
Grilling Box
Plant some lemon verbena for fish and chicken, tarragon for chicken, rosemary for pork and beef, sage for poultry, dill for fish, thyme and oregano for beef.
Buy Me a Corona with extra lime please!
Welcome Aboard Jeff!
Posted at 2:44 pm | Filed Under Site News
I just wanted to point out to all of readers that I *finally* got Jeff Caron and our theme song post over on the left (I'm hoping you didn't miss it!).
And because I am strongly opposed to having music play automatically (pet peeve), I have placed an arrow so you can play it when you want to hear it and not every time you come by to visit.
Anyway, give the song, "Twist of Lime", a listen and the help Jeff out a bit buying a copy of the album. I own a copy and I love it! I bet you will, too!
Keep on twistin'!
Buy Me a Corona with extra lime please!
Lack of Updates
Posted at 9:16 am | Filed Under Site News
Things have been crazy for a while now, but for those of you who have stuck with me things should move along much better now.
There will be regular updates (at least once a week) and I hope to see you here to share your thoughts and ideas as well.
Good to see you all again!
Buy Me a Corona with extra lime please!
Why the site’s been so slow…
Posted at 9:47 pm | Filed Under Site News
This has been one really bad year for me. I've had a serious kidney condition, salmonella, a broken foot, and a mild stress related stroke!
My intentions are to get back on top of this after the holidays and hope that you all will stick it out with me, and visit with me then.
Until then, Happy Holidays Everyone!
Buy Me a Corona with extra lime please!
Feeling Defeated
Posted at 9:19 pm | Filed Under Randomness
I think I'm at an epic point in my life. I am so wanting to open my own business, and spend more time doing the things I love. However, the 40 - 60 hour work week leaves me drained and tired. No time to paint, no time to read, no time to seek the finances to open the business... Work and sleep... then the weekends are left for doing those things that need to be done that haven't been done. You know the ones...housekeeping, yard work, errands.
I know I'm not the only one in the world feeling this way, but there has to be a solution. Heck, the business probably wouldn't take a huge investment to get started! So where is that fairy godmother when you really need her?
I have to admit that I do have a vacation coming up. We are going on a cruise, not my first cruise, but my first with Carnival...and to be honest I'm expecting the worst and hoping for the best. I tend to travel on Royal Caribbean or Celebrity and have heard plenty of "things" about Carnival's ships and their sailings that I'm fully expecting to be disappointed. I figure at least things can only go up from there :O)
So, please feel free to share your feelings, ideas, or experiences. That is what the comments are for after all!
Buy Me a Corona with extra lime please!
New Theme Song
Posted at 11:01 am | Filed Under Site News
We are happy to announce that we have adopted Jeff Caron's song "Twist of Lime" as our theme song.
Please visit his site on MySpace and buy his CD :o)
Buy Me a Corona with extra lime please!
Crafting with Shells
Posted at 9:00 pm | Filed Under Arts & Crafts
Want to put your beach finds to practical use? Turn a pair of pretty shells into a soap dish.
Clam or scallop shells are ideally shaped for holding bars of soap. Wash one big shell and one small shell. Make a ring of crumpled newspaper to cushion them as you work.
Attach the big shell to the small shell, back to back, with a dab of two-part epoxy.
Place the shells in the ring of newspaper, small shell down, so the paper supports the top shell and keeps it from slipping out of place. (Be sure the epoxy doesn't touch the paper.)
Let dry thoroughly.
Buy Me a Corona with extra lime please!
Summer Food Safety Tips
Posted at 8:25 pm | Filed Under In the Kitchen
Make your stop for food the last stop on your list of chores. The sooner you can get home with your groceries, the better. If you have room in the back seat it is cooler than keeping the groceries in the trunk of your car.
If it takes a while for you to get home from the grocery store, get one of those cooler bags for your frozen items, or bring a full size cooler with freezer packs and put your ice cream, dairy items, meat, eggs, and other perishables in the cooler for the trip home.
If your kids (or the adults) snack in the car, make them nonperishable snacks, like nuts and crackers or dried fruit. Cheese sticks left in a hot car are pretty ugly.
If you are on a road trip and you are taking beverages, stay away from cans of carbonated beverages that could explode in the car. Yuk. Stick with plastic bottled, non-carbonated drinks or juice boxes.
If you are going on a day trip (or even across town) freeze a couple of bottles of water or sports drinks or lemonade for the trip. If you keep them in a cooler, they'll still be cool for the trip home.
If you use a cooler, keep it full. It will stay cold longer.
If you are eating outdoors in the heat, here are some additional reminders:
Plan just enough so there are no leftovers.
Try to pick foods that are cooked, like fried chicken, and eat them within a couple of hours. Keep all food in a cooler until you are ready to eat.
Avoid using dairy products at your picnic or at your patio party.
Homemade mayonnaise can go bad pretty quickly (mayo in the jar has a longer life span and enough preservatives so it keeps longer).
Any food left outside for more than an hour or so should be thrown out.
Buy Me a Corona with extra lime please!