Happy Hour Friday: The Vermonter

Why can’t I have a vacation home in Vermont? Why not? Right now I am wondering: Why can’t I make enough money to have a country home in Vermont, a city home in New York, and Texas home in Austin? I’m only half joking. I’m old enough now that it could be a realistic lifestyle. The problem is I definitely do not make that kind of money – and never will, regardless of my age.

I am lucky enough to have friends, though, who hook me up. My pals from Austin have access to a great vacation home in rural Vermont, which is where we are right now. Other friends set us up in New York when we passed through. And I have other friends who are excellent travel companions, adventurous and outgoing people who I love to explore with. Come to think of it, I don’t need to own that vacation home, really. I have great friends to travel with or visit, and I have great friends in my home town of Austin and that’s really all I need after all.

Here’s a cocktail that I created to dedicate to Leon, said friend who is currently hosting me in Vermont. Because of him and his wife Stella, I am happily enjoying fires in a fireplace, fall colors in the Vermont trees, pumpkin patches on the side of the road, and fresh raspberries from the farm stand next door.

The Vermonter

1 ½ oz. Woodford Reserve Kentucky bourbon

½ oz. grapefruit juice

¼ oz. raspberry infused simple syrup*

¼ oz. ginger infused simple syrup**

Shake over ice and strain into an ice filled rocks glass. Garnish with a fresh raspberry.

*Raspberry Simple syrup

½ c. water

½ c sugar

½ c. fresh raspberries

Combine in a saucepan, bring to a boil then simmer 5 minutes. Cool and strain through a fine mesh sieve.

**Ginger Simple Syrup

½ c. water

½ c. sugar

3 T. grated fresh ginger

Combine in a saucepan, bring to a boil then simmer 5 minutes. Cool and strain through a fine mesh sieve.

Craigslist, Again

My Craigslist saga continues.
I thought you might be interested in hearing some of my responses to some of the more unusual inquiries I've had as a result of my Craiglist postings, specifically concerning this lamp:


Found here.

Dear __________,
Thank you for your inquiry about the 1950's chalkware lamp. The lamp looks the way it does in the picture. It's the very same lamp! That's why I took a picture of it and posted it on Craigslist along with the description, so you could see what you were getting. I understand that you want to know if it looks like another lamp you may have met before, perhaps in another life, and I appreciate you sending me the link to the alleged lamp you feel my lamp has a connection to. Here's the thing: I don't want to click on that link! I don't want to see any porn, and I don't need another computer virus. I'm only interested in a hassle free, speedy Craigslist transaction. Will that work for you?

Dear __________,
Yes, the lamp is still available. If it was no longer available, I would have taken the ad down. I am a responsible, law abiding citizen guided by an overarching principle of integrity that touches everything I do. I appreciate you sharing your personal testimony about Jesus Christ and the wondrous work he has done in your life. You know, I feel like Jesus would have really liked this lamp. It's so incredibly special! It's blue, and soothing, and peaceful. It's in pretty good condition. It does need a good scrubbing though. Maybe if we both pray really hard, the Lord will clean it for us! I'm willing to give it a shot if you are!

Dear ___________,
Yes, the lamp is still available and yes, Windsor Park is the neighborhood where that mentally deranged man murdered his wife and lived with the body for 25 days. But that happened five streets over from us! The man is in a jail and will spend a lot of time locked up. So he won't bother us during this Craigslist transaction. Really, it's okay. If you come during the day, you'll be safe in this neighborhood! Just try to get here before 8:00 pm, okay? That is when it gets dark...

Dear ____________,
Thank you for your inquiry about the lamp. No, I don't want to take less money for it. I need that money! I'm thinking about driving down to Mexico to get my chipped tooth fixed. They do it real cheap down there and $25 just might cover it! I could also use some new socks. I might just go buy some booze! Either way, I've got big plans for that $25!

The One About Craigslist...

After seeing this article about hoarding in the New York Times, we were spurred into action and decided to clean out our garage. Rather than have another garage sale, I decided to list a lot of my vintage items on Craigslist, starting with the furniture. Here are some shots of the loot...






I know that Craigslist is a headache but I surmised that a garage sale is a bigger headache, and we're still having weather in the upper 90's each day, so it would be a hot headache. It's one week later and I've only sold the lot of red diner chairs ($40 for 6). I've had about 30 conversations with folks, via email and phone, about the items, about their work schedules, about where they live, about directions to my house, about the reasons why they missed their appointments with me to come and view the items, about their kids soccer game schedules, and about their conflicts with significant others over whether or not to purchase the item. Does this sound familiar or is it just me?

I've learned form these prospective buyers lots of interesting anecdotes that I hadn't previously considered:
1. Building a home with your spouse can lead to marital problems.
2. Diverticulitis CAN put you in the intensive care unit.
3. Round Rock and Georgetown got an average of 8-10 more inches of rain from Hurricane Hermine than Central/East Austin did.

Upon reflection, I realize now that many who I have corresponded with had no real intention of purchasing the item, they just wanted to CHAT about the item(s). They were interested in the history of the item. They wanted me to know they used to have a similar item in the home where they were growing up. They wanted me to know that the item was underpriced or overpriced. They wanted me to go out into the garage and MEASURE the item because they thought I needed practice with a tape measure.

I am not complaining, ya'll. I'm a pretty good sport. This is like a modern, sociological phenomenon. My husband walked in on me last night and eavesdropped on the tail end of a conversation with a prospective buyer.
Husband: "Who were you talking to?"
Me: "A lady interested in the red/orange chairs."
Husband: "Why were you saying "Bless her heart?"
Me: "Well, because her daughter has re-injured her knee from playing volleyball and she's laid up in bed."
Husband (with incredulous look on face): "Well, God Bless America!"

The One About the Knockoffs...

I have that shopping gene. The one that compels me to troll the internet for bargains even though I HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED. The one that compels me to tell EVERYONE how much something costs with a maniacal satisfaction:
"Nice shoes, Meredith."
"THEY WERE ONLY $11.98!"

So, while perusing the world-wide interweb the other day, I came across these stapes of mid-century design from Overstock.com, of all places.


Wood leg white Eames knockoff chairs found here for 196.99 a pair...


Vinnie White Cradle Chair for 134.99 found here. They also have one in blue.

There's even a knockoff Saarinen tulip chair for $138.99 found here.

There's lots more, but I don't feel like making any more cabbage for Overstock.com today...

This is a complicated conundrum. When Overstock.com starts carrying Eames and Saarinen knockoffs, it means that the mid-century modern/retro trend is so mainstream that it's officially "over." Sad news for folks like us. I've been "over" the Eames chairs for awhile, not because I don't like the design, but well, because they're so trendy and ubiquitous. This is the same way I felt when grunge went National after Nirvana in the 90's and you could buy the "uniform" at Hot Topic at the mall. My friends and I SUFFERED for that look in the 80's. We painstakingly applied knox gelatin to our hair and wore safety pins for earrings. Then these mall rats come along and think they can BUY COOL? I digress...

The second part of this conundrum is the Knockoff vs. Original debate. I'm not even going to go there. You won't find any author of this blog who is sympathetic to the "original is best" side of the argument. WE'RE POOR. I may have to sell my children's organs to pay for this plumbing fiasco in my home. You won't see me in a Design Within Reach store paying $1800 for a Saarinen table. We like the designs, but don't like the prices. There have been knockoffs of these designers around since their designs debuted. And the knockoffs are collectible too. If YOU can afford the original and that's what you want, go for it.

We want you to be happy, cupcakes.

Happy Hour Friday: Sweet Honey

This weeks cocktail comes to you from an Austin seafood joint, the Shuck Shack.  Their hush puppies are to die for and their oyster po-boys aren't too bad either. Recently sampled by the ladies of Retro-luxe, the Sweet Honey cocktail aims to please.  Honey and gin? Count me in.

Sweet Honey 
by Marissa @ the Shuck Shack

To make the simple syrup:
Boil 1/2 cup of water.  When water comes to a boil remove it from the stove and add 1/2 cup of honey and stir.  Chill the syrup.

In a Collins glass squeeze a large slice of lemon and muddle.
Add ice and equal parts and honey syrup  to fill about a third of the glass. Pour it all in a shaker and shake 10 seconds.  Strain this back into your Collins glass that is now filled with fresh ice, fill with champagne and garnish with a lemon slice.

FYI:
Remember Lara Nixon from last weeks post on sangria? She co-teaches mixology classes in Austin and their fall semester is just about to start.  The class is called Tipsy Tech.  Check out their list of classes -- take one or take them all!  You won't be sorry.

Connie, You Was Robbed!

I'm still smarting over Connie Britton not taking home that Emmy! Connie, who plays Tammi Taylor on Friday Night Lights, looked amazing in this beautiful "Dallas Cowboys blue" sequined gown. Her dress is a touchdown, a field goal, and an extra two-points all rolled into one!



Image jacked from here.

Friday Night Lights has wrapped filming for good here in Austin, a lot of it right here in my neighborhood. It was so fun to holler "There's the Dairy Queen! There's Bartholemew Pool! There's the Reagan High School!" as we watched it. Sadly there won't be any more opportunities to run into the cast anymore. My friend Susan met Jesse Plemmons (Landry) at the taco stand. He was from the little town next to the little town where she was from. She also saw Brad Leland (Buddy Garrity) in the cereal aisle at Randall's. My former boss met Kyle Chandler (Coach Taylor) at Threadgills. Perfect gentleman. My step-dad saw Tammi Taylor at Hut's Hamburgers and said she looked very glamorous. My mom once sat next to Minka Kelly (Lyla Garrity) at the nail salon and said she was real nice. Sadly, I never did run into Taylor Kitsch (Tim Riggins), but I sure wanted to...

Here's a great scene filmed at our local Minimax grocery store with that dreamy Tim Riggins protecting Coach's daughter from a Tornado. Folks down at the Crestview Beauty Salon are still talkin about how they blew all those windows out!



Buddy Garrity, a womanizing, good-hearted, football booster, is one of my favorite characters. Wouldn't you want to buy a used car from him? Check it out:




Here's the best scene ever, back from Season one. PANTERS WIN STATE! It has it all, the guts, the glory, and the pageantry that IS Texas Football:



I still miss Smash...