National Margarita Day

Drink Up

El Ranchero: photo by Cliff Hutson

February 22 is National Margarita Day 2017 in the United States of America.

I am not one to say that Jose Cuervo is a friend of mine. My current tequila of choice is Hornitos Reposado. But, when you get right down to it, almost any tequila listed as "100% de agave" on the label is good in a margarita whether you like one en las rocas or congelada. 

Hornitos: photo by Cliff Hutson

Then, again, I am of the opinion that "rocks" is the the way to go. And, I seem to be in good company thinking that frozen is a distant second place. A frozen margarita just ruins the experience as far as I am concerned. Your mileage may vary. My research also noted that they can be served "straight up", but I have never seen that done.

Old Fashioned Margarita: photo by Cliff Hutson

A margarita is a cocktail consisting of triple sec, tequila and lime or lemon juice. There are many stories as to its origin. There are nearly as many opinions as to which type of glass in which to serve one. I am pretty much uncommitted when it comes to this. But, I lean toward the old fashioned glass, or even a mason jar, over the more traditional coupe variant.

Premium Tequila: photo by Cliff Hutson

Being born and bred in Southern California, I feel fortunate having encountered Mexican (or Mexican-American) food when I was just a tad; eating my first burrito about the age of five or six years old. My first encounter with tequila would have been in the late 60s. It took several more years before I discovered margaritas But, this was because they were not all that popular until then. I highly recommend Taco USA, Gustavo Arellano's history of how, and why, Mexican food has such great popularity in America; and the margarita may be its most favorite cocktail.

El Coyote: photo by Cliff Hutson

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January 2017 Reading

“It is what you read when you don't have to that determines what you will be when you can't help it.” 

– Oscar Wilde

The Books I Finished Reading in January 2017

January 2017 Reading: photo by Cliff Hutson

Recently, I came across an article that maintains that the books we read reflect how healthy, mentally stable, and secure we are at the time in life in which we read them. I am not sure that I totally buy in to that. But, it is an interesting proposition; and, it introduced me to the wonderful quote at the top of this post.

It can be said, with little doubt, that I don't have to read anything at this point in my life. Yet, I find it hard to imagine life without reading. (And, it is supposed to be good for me.)  I read both for information and pleasure. Two of the four books I read in January fall in to each category.

The first includes “Secrets of the Oak Woodland” by Kate Marianchild. It came highly recommend by by a couple of my fellow Nature Interpreters at the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden. I found the information to be quite helpful. But, based on personal experience, feel that some of should be taken with a grain of salt.

I can not recall how I came across "Sage Living" by Anne Sage. I read books of this nature both to study how other photographers approach these projects; as well as getting design ideas for my house. This book was a bit disappointing. But that may just be due to the mood I was in at the time I picked it up; so I plan to reread it in the not too distant future. My main complaint is that the text and the images seem to have a certain disconnect. However, I already think that it was well worth the purchase price - the photograph on page 185 validates a vision I had previously conceived of an Eames chair and Pendleton blanket in my own home.

The books in the second group both come under the genre of mystery. I thought that I had read all the books in the Spenser series written by Robert B. Parker, prior to his death.  (Yes, I know, the concept of of an author writing a book after their demise seems strange. But, somehow the publishers of Parker, Clive Cussler, and others have managed to circumvent the obvious difficultly in this endeavor.  I don't envision myself ever reading any of those tomes.) However, somehow I had managed to miss "Potshot" so when Amazon.com brought it to my attention, I jumped at it. I think it is a pretty good story. An added enjoyment for me is that I am fairly certain that I know the town in Arizona that the community of Potshot is based upon.

The final book of the month was a Jack Reacher novel, the twenty-first I think, from Lee Child. Long story short, "Night School" is a good read, but not one of his best.

What have you read of late?


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