Two Treats and a Flask of Bourbon

The Call of the Mountains

The Call of the Mountains: photo by Cliff Hutson

I used to write a blog titled "Rambles with Holly". It, among other things, was about the walking and hiking that I did with my dog, Holly.  My original plan was to call it "Travels with Holly" as an homage to Steinbeck, but that name was already taken at the time. As it turns out, we did a lot more walking locally than traveling, so it was probably for the best. The blog went on hiatus in 2014 after Holly crossed over the Rainbow Bridge.

However, a cartoon I came across the other day brought back memories of the good times that she and I had together. 

Holly and Me: photo by Cliff Hutson

I am taking the liberty of publishing it here.

Two Treats and a Flask of Bourbon
 

Bliss Cartoon

The bourbon was mine

Classic Stanley Flask: photo by Cliff Hutson

Plenty of water and treats, for both of us, were a regular thing. I seldom packed this flask, but I kept it handy in case the occasion should ever arise. 

Aged Bourbon: photo by Cliff Hutson

I like to think that I kept my bar adequately stocked as well.

On the Trail

A Happy Dog: photo by Cliff Hutson

Fair weather or foul, Holly was in her element when she was on the trail. A life outdoors is a life well lived.

Save the Dates

National Margarita Day

Margarita: photo by Cliff Hutson

National Margarita Day returns on February 22, 2020, are you prepared? The limes may cost you more this year. And, remember to drink responsibly!

Washington's Birthday

Not Really a Pie: photo by Cliff Hutson

Tomorrow is also said to be George Washington's birthday.

Traditionally, Washington is said to have been born on February 22. But, funny story, he was actually born on On February 11, 1731. There was a switch from the Julian calendar, to the Gregorian calendar in 1752. This adjustment eliminated the days between September 3 and September 13.  The missing eleven days resulted in many people adjusting their birthdates to the new system.

Thus February 22 became a Federal holiday, schools and offices closed. Eating cherry pie was a common ritual in remembrance of the oft told tale of his chopping down a cherry tree as a young lad. However,  we do not observe that date any longer, some of you may never have.

Presidents' Day

Today,  Monday, February 21, is Presidents' Day in the United States. Celebrated every year on the third Monday of February, it is designated (depending on which state you live in) to honor the first president (Washington), the first and third (Jefferson) presidents, or, the first and 16th (Lincoln).

Once upon a time, in the state I grew up in, Abraham Lincoln had his own holiday, February 12. Thus many  people got two days off in the shortest month of the year. But, there has never been a federal Lincoln-birthday holiday. I am certain that at least eleven states would have ignored it anyway, just as most have no use for Jefferson Davis Day.

I am probably in the minority in my feeling that we have lost a little something by having moved our traditional observances from the actual dates to Mondays in order to have more three day weekends,  However, it is good that we still remember some of our past. 

Lemons

Sage advice:

Mayer Lemon: photo by Cliff Hutson

“When life gives you lemons, rent a storefront in the trendy part of town and make artisanally squeezed lemonade at $14 a glass.”

Arts District: photo by Cliff Hutson

Reading Log: January 2022

 The books that I finished reading in January 2022

January 2022 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson

"Back Story," Robert B.Parker

“Creative Spaces,” Ted Vadakan and Angie Myung

“Sage Living,” Anne Sage

"Atomic Ranch: Midcentury Interiors," Michelle Gringeri-Brown and Jim Brown

Full disclosure:

The last three on the list are books that I have in years past.  I have undertaken a project where I begin a radical deaccession of my collection and will be going through my collection to decide what to keep and what will go.

The reason being is that, hopefully, this will be the year that I move to smaller quarters and there won’t be room for all the stuff I now own.  The books I have accumulated over decades now occupy space in three bedrooms, the kitchen, dining room, and living room. There are also boxes in closets. (I guess I did not use the bathrooms due to questions of hygiene and humidity.)

As of this moment, the only one that I know that I will not part with is a 1961 edition of “The Wind in the Willows”, and maybe a few others signed by local authors - no one famous, but kind of a personal connection.

The remainder, some of which may be reread, will be up for grabs as I cull them.  I will be donating them to a prison library project or the local county library branch.