Be the person your dog thinks you are

Happy Monday 

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IgNight Fire Festival

So long folks!

I'm outta here, yes ladies and gents I'm skipping town, skeedaddling my booty, blowing the hell out of dodge, and schlepping off far and away to the desert parts of the world. 

Photo credit: fineartphotoblog

Well, it's not too terribly far away from home, 

it is away nonetheless, and a much needed break from the rushiness of daily routine.

Today, we set sail to Joshua Tree National Park for a spanking, fire festival of epic proportions.

Photo credit: ignightfestival.com

 That's right boys and girls, IgNight is a bona fide fire festival for us fire freaks here in the Southern California part of the world, it's completely sold out, and my head is about to explode into bits of excitement smithereens from the anticipation of it all.

Just me, and 499 of my closest, fire-twirling, spintastic, friends, are set to gather in the desert for the three day spectacular event.

Photo credit: ignightfestival.com

Fire spinning instructors stretching from across the pond as far as Sweden and Ireland, will be present to demonstrate their flow and technique throughout the days, while we take to the cool evenings with newly learned skills to light up the desert.

Photo credit: ignightfestival.com

Looking forward to the razzle dazzle flow show.

Have a fantasticus, spectacularis, magniferificent of a weekend you beautiful creatures.

And if perchance you should find yourself playing with fire of any sort, please do so with great caution. 

Photo credit: weheartit.com

Don't forget what Robert Herrick said, that as in life, 

"a spark neglected can make a mighty fire".

Tend to those smoking embers and stay safe my friends.

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Ringo Firefly, Winemaker

Thanks to our lovely little local one stop cheese and winemaking shop here in San Diego, 

Curds and Wine,

I've taken to winemaking!

This little tucked away gem of a shop is equipped with all the tools necessary to put your vintner skills to the test.

Owner Gi Claassen is consistently on deck to assist with all of your winemaking queries.

With the vast array of wine supplies and hands on assistance available here, you can relinquish any reservation you may be clenching towards giving winemaking a go. I mean who hasn't romanced the notion of creating their own vintage?

At Curds and Wine, they make it a real cinch here.

After a lengthy time considering whether indecision was, or was not my problem, I selected a Chilean Malbec. I do enjoy the spices and lush fruity characters that this thick skinned varietal can lend to the palette.

It began with the grape juice.

Then I added some of the yeasty little microorganism starter bits.

Checking the sugar levels using a hydrometer was a piece of cake! Mine came in at a 1.1 here. 

that's about 13% alcohol content

Sulfites are added to prevent oxidation and the juice is tucked away to work its fermenting magic.

Over the course of a few months measures are taken such as adding fining agents and transfering the contents into a secondary and tertiary container to remove sediment. This process is known as racking.

A bit of patience is indeed necessary when making wine as this delicate process is timely. It required several straightforward visits to this delightful little shop.

Meanwhile in Adobe Photoshopland, 

I took to label making and came up with this lovely:

I figured since it's a seductive Chilean red, I decided to name my wine "Inciendar", which translates from Spanish to "to set aflame".

How perfectly fitting.

Only I soon learned that the font was a trifle bit too scanty to show up on a bottle, so I made the appropriate changes and came up with this:

I have to admit that on my final day back in the shop I got a wee bit misty eyed.

Who would ever want this fantastical fun to come to an end?

bottling the contents

corking the finished product 

Ah yes, all good things must come to an end, but I've taken great delight knowing this is only the beginning as freshly corked wine is always in need of age.

So in the end, making a good wine requires practicing patience. I've found that learning and doing so can help you to feel satisfaction, understood, accomplished, calm, peaceful, relaxed and remarkably happy.

It can also put you on the path to winemaking.

Just a little love and a little time

Now time for these bottles to sit and age for a bit.

I'll give another one a go say 3-4 months from now. 

Come August it's a wine date.

I'm just giddy with anticipation, and I think a good surprise is well worth the wait.

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Venture Much? Alchemy's Dinner with Six Strangers

For adventure dining at its finest

have a looksie

here:

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Five ways to be happy

1). Free your heart from hatred

2). Free your mind from worries

3). Live simply

4). Expect less

5). Have a deep relationship with yourself

Happy Monday

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A Blue cheese grilled cheese while there's still some April left

 Manchego, Morbier and a Gorgonzola Picante

Peppery arugula from the garden, fresh figs, 

and sliced slivers of pear.

Toasty french bread, Tupelo honey and candied pecans. 

Fixings fixing to meet their maker...

This is not the grilled cheese your mother made you.

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Be happy while you’re living, for you’re a long time dead - Scottish Proverb.

Now do me a favor,

smile.

 

Yes, that's much better.

Please stay there.

Being sad is just so very exhausting.

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You cannot be lonely if you like the person you’re alone with

 

You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection.

-Buddha

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Flash Mob Monday

Picture if you will, navigating your path through the main concourse of Grand Central Station when a sudden assemblage of what seems to be common pedestrian traffic, randomly breaks into synchronized behavior.

Part anarchists, part peacemakers, 

gathering for no other purpose than to provide spectators with an unexpected moment of spontaneous joy.

The result?

The coordination of over 200 people freezing in place on cue in the highly congested New York terminal to create this spectacle.

Oh, those modern day flash mobs, seizing urban playgrounds with their hand-picked niceness. 

Refreshing our day after day mundane routines, and breathing new and invigorating life into our spirits, 

even if just for a fleeting moment.

A few of the better known friendly mobbers.

In lieu of demands with angry clamors, 

The Hug Mob protests include carrying signs that read "Free Hugs" as they march through metropolitan regions delivering snuggles and bear hugs to unsuspecting bystanders, while propagating love in the wake of their path.

The pillow fight mob is a hoot and a half, as out of the blue, cushioned-wielding, assailants break into a feathery battle within the city limits. 

The scream team organized a zombie mob where an unexpected outbreak of the living dead spilled onto the city streets to delight and entertain us, 

or perhaps they were after our delicious, meaty brains?

Getting caught up in the middle of a pie fight mobstorm is a guarantee for silly, good fun.

Nobody needs to know that the ammo actually consists of shaving cream piled onto paper plates.

Then of course, there's the No Pants Subway Ride, a delightful gathering of bold citizens going about their daily route, only instead they do so while pantless for your amusement.

If these public displays of mutual affection and sneak attacks of joy don't put a smile on your face,

then just go ahead and resign from the human race.

You should be beaming from ear to ear with so many happies from the very sight of such organized displays of love and kindness.

A fantastical day this one, to you.

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If nothing ever changed, there would be no butterflies

Have you a dream for going?

Or are you the blind wind blowing?

Hitch a ride on the back of a butterfly 

and flutter the day knowing

that you'll soon arrive

See you then, my friend

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Simmery Summer Sangrias

Feeling a whole lot like the summertime these days down in the Southern California parts, which calls for the refreshing coolers of the warm sunshiny season.

Please enjoy the following South American chilled recipes

Melon Mint Sangria

White sangria sparkler

Honeydew and pear sangria

Strawberry basil sangria

Peach grapefruit sangria

Thai basil sangria

Don't forget the white sangria popsicles

Take a resty break, 

have a cool one (or three).

I think this was exactly the kind of cocktail Mungo Jerry was thinking about when he wrote this feel good bit.

If not the music, enjoy the spectacular chops

Be well, my friends.

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