Afternoon Siesta

So after four long days off filled with holiday eating, this fat-kid could really use an afternoon siesta.  Unfortunately in America a nap during the workday is frowned upon.  So I'll start the count down to five o'clock and consume a few caffeinated beverages between now and then.  By the time I'm done with supper later, I'll be ready to snuggle up on the couch and call it a night. Who's with me?

Speaking of caffeinated beverages, the Dunkin Donuts Mint Hot Chocolate has taken that special place in my heart normally reserved for the Dunkaccino.  Boy that stuff is good, but pretty heavy on the calories... all 310 of them!  I'll have to enjoy them now before everyone else's New Year's resolutions kick in worse than Catholic guilt.  Supposedly after January 1st, I should be replacing my preferred caffeinated beverages for two black coffees a day while chomping on almonds in order to boost my metabolism.  Well, seeing as how I don't like black coffee I can cut those calories out and exchange them for two glasses of red wine, although in America this is also frowned upon during the workday... oyyy, I should have been born European.

Vino

What do 16 pounds of pears, 3 gallons of water, and 10 pounds of sugar have in common?  In combination with some yeast, pectin, and a few other powdery substances: they can all be used to make wine!  This year's crazy weather has resulted in a very full pear tree, as opposed to last year when we maybe harvested six.  So what's a girl to do with an over abundance of these little green guys?  That's right.  Make wine.

Last year I bought a wine making kit to use with the peaches we harvested. My first attempt ever at processing wine came out pretty good. A little drier than expected, similar to a riesling, but pretty good none-the-less. This go around I am aiming for a sweet pinot grigio.  The key to this process is successful racking: filtering stages that reduce the fruit sediment and yeast yielding the clear liquid known as wine, aka Vino.  Plus, I have read that with pear wine you typically add in about six cups of honey midprocess.   I am no expert, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express once.  So, that's the game plan.

About three months from now we shall have a finished product.  I am a firm believer in planning ahead so I'd like to solicit ideas for names starting now.  Get your creative juices flowing and leave a comment.

Q&A Today

I have always been a sucker for those email questionnaires that go around.  I received this ten question one recently, but instead of sending it back out to the masses over email I figured I would post my responses on here.  I know, I am tempting the email gods by not forwarding to ten people in the next ten minutes but I think I'll be okay.

1. If you could eat lunch with one famous person, who would it be? Ryan Reynolds.  He's hot and funny, you really can't go wrong there.

2. What was the last film you saw in at the cinema? The Hangover II.  It was funny, but not as good as the first one.

3. What would you hate to be left in a room with? Spiders or snakes.

4. What inspires you? Love, life, money.

5. Beach, city, or country? Each for their own purpose.  Beach for vacation, country for living, city for working.