A Blessed Mess

Red Skies At Night, Sailors' Delight

Red Skies At Night, Sailors' Delight, originally uploaded by rudybeardog.

I actually took this picture last night just before we left for date night. I didn't think about it before now but since I've pulled the little Sony out of hiding, I should have taken that to dinner. I can't wait to start using my free iPhone 3G S. I'm still shocked that I won something in a twitter contest. But unless I can get out of my Verizon contract cheaply, it isn't really free, is it? I'm being patient.

I digress (a lot!). The night was nice so we walked down to the Germantown Cafe for a couple of cocktails and a wonderful (as always) meal. Though I'm not a lover of very sweet cocktails, they make a french martini with pineapple juice, vanilla vodka and chambord that is YUM - you ought to try one. We love that place, especially around the bar on a Friday night because all the bachelor neighbors are there for dinner and drinking.

What a neighborhood!

I love date night with my husband. What a concept for me who was NEVER going to marry again. Incidentally, I recall that shortly before I left my ex-husband I was driving home from work one Friday night and thought how nice it would be to go out on a date that night. I vividly remember thinking to myself I'd rather be on that date with just about anyone other than the man I had married. I think I actually left within a month of that thought - it was a "little sign" I'd made a "big mistake" with that marriage!

This time around, I got it right in the marriage department. Date night with your BFF husband makes for the best dates I've ever had!!

I'm a lucky girl with so much for which to be grateful.

Tim's Pimm's - The Taste of the Summer of Oh-Nine

It all started with date night at The Patterson House.  I'd always seen and/or heard about a Pimm's Cup.  I figured it was British in origin and thus was likely to taste yucky, knew it involved a liqueur adding more to the likelihood of yucky and I thought it sounded pretentious.  But then, Tim and I finally made it to a bar that prides itself on mixing classic cocktails and house-invented libations with ALL fresh, house-made ingredients (including the likes of rosewater) and more than just a little bit of drama.

A few nights before we went, I'd perused the above linked set of photos, seen the one of the Pimm's Cup #1 and the listed ingredients.  Seriously, I think it was the cucumber that hooked me.  Not that I particularly love cucumbers but the notion of that flavor in a cocktail was too intriguing for me to wait very long to try.  Well, I tried not one, but two and think they might very well be the greatest cocktail I have ever had the pleasure to drink (and I've had drinks all over the world in my day).  Tim and I will certainly have more date nights at Patterson House

In the meantime - we declare Pimm's as the taste of summer oh-nine!  We've been experimenting with a host of different ingredients and Pimm's lately.  Think strawberries, ginger, lemonade, limeade, fresh home-grown cucumbers and mint and on and on and on.

I do NOT recommend the Pimm's straight up though.  It tasted worse than Robitussin.  Smelling it, however, brings up the scent of celery and/or celery salt.  Go figure and go drink some - it's yummy.

Los Happy Belly

Los Happy Belly - Cell Shot, originally uploaded by rudybeardog.

Seriously, that is the name of the restaurant. :-D I took this over my shoulder with the phone but you see it.

Hope it brings a giggle, I do every time I pass the place (which is only when we go to the cats' vet).

ON OR ABOUT AND A HIGHER POWER

I spent the day on the edge of my seat thinking about  the Edy's contest every time I heard an email come in (I usually don't even have the sound on!).  When I could stand it no longer, I knew that it was time to consult a higher power.  First, I asked with reverence in my head, my heart and my voice:  Will I get an email from the Edy's Slowchurned Neighborhood Salute contest today?  I closed my eyes, I put my hands on this particular higher power and it said to me: