There are no cocktails today. There is only beer.
Bass Ale, which is a fine beverage on a hot day if you've been digging in the garden (me) or slaving over a hot stove (MizBubs.) It's an especially good choice, not too malty, hoppy but not too hoppy, and when you can get it at the Jewels for $10.99 a 12-pack, it's the smart choice. I'd be happy swilling down Pabst Blue Ribbon on a day like today, but my bride has a discerning palate, so I'm happy to spend the extra $5.00 to make her happy.
That's just the kind of guy I am.
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After spending the afternoon living the Las Vegas lifestyle (drinking champagne poolside) at the hot librarian party we returned home wondering how to spend the dog end of Sunday afternoon. Next thing I knew MizBubs had chicken marinating and ancho peppers roasting on the grill. I grabbed some native plants that I'd picked up earlier in the week but hadn't had a chance to plant yet. Because I'm good at grunt work, but not so good with the big-picture stuff, I asked my better half to point out some good places to put them in. She obliged, and an hour later we had wild ginger, prairie smoke, wild lupines, and showy and false sunflowers tucked into the welcoming earth.
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I know I've talked before, at irritating length, about how much time we've been spending in the garden these past few weeks. Today was no exception. I could be doing laundry, organizing my closet, sorting through stacks of paper and books that have taken up near-permanent residence at the end of our dining room, but no. Seriously, no. Here's why not:
It is so much more satisfying to stand in the grass barefoot, beer in hand, watching dozens of bees buzzing around your garden. Here's what I saw:
Sunflowers starting to bloom at the back of the house
Nasturtiums near the side garden
The aptly-named bee balm in the side garden
Brown-eyed Susans, bee balm and some kind of aster that hasn't flowered yet
More bee balm
Rattlesnake Master and some stuff MizBubs got from a coworker. The mock orange bush we got earlier in the spring is kind of hidden behind it.
And, finally, we're in the back corner of the yard, at the pond. When I leave for work in the morning there are always at least ten or twenty birds hopping around here.
And then it's time to go inside and eat.
Hope y'all had a good weekend.
It is so much more satisfying to stand in the grass barefoot, beer in hand, watching dozens of bees buzzing around your garden. Here's what I saw:
Sunflowers starting to bloom at the back of the house
Nasturtiums near the side garden
The aptly-named bee balm in the side garden
Brown-eyed Susans, bee balm and some kind of aster that hasn't flowered yet
More bee balm
Rattlesnake Master and some stuff MizBubs got from a coworker. The mock orange bush we got earlier in the spring is kind of hidden behind it.
And, finally, we're in the back corner of the yard, at the pond. When I leave for work in the morning there are always at least ten or twenty birds hopping around here.
And then it's time to go inside and eat.
Hope y'all had a good weekend.
16 comments:
MizBubs has good taste. Bass is one my favs too. I was surprised recently to discover leinenkugels on the shelf of my local package store in Connecticut. Six warm little sunset wheats tipping their midwestern caps reminding me of home. I told the store guy how siked I was that he had it and asked if they carried honey weiss or any others. Dude was elated- looks at me and says 'you mean there's others?'
MizBubs was quite a catch.
That's good news about the Leinies. Tell your store guy to get the other flavors and it will feel just like the midwest for you. I know how hard it is for you to deal with those east coast liberal elites.
Lovely!
I had the same type of day.
My organic produce guy gave me about a dozen herb plants (for free!) that he never got planted so I did that early this evening, well...half of them.
Then I made a delicious dinner, you know one of those where you leisurely spend about 2 hours preparing everything.
I could have been doing the wash. But why when WalMart sells clean underware & boxers so damn cheap?!
You are living in some sort idyllic paradise or something.
Sounds like a nice day.
Bubsy,
You know I love you, but I am deathly afraid of sunflowers. I am afraid I won't be able to visit until November.
I love the Easter Island head by the pond.
Sounds like a lovely day. I spent mine frantically throwing shit into boxes.
Lulu, we've been thinking about you all weekend actually. Don't worry too much about packing. If you forget something you can just get it at the Dhaka Target.
Kim, sunflowers?!? Jeez, they don't have snakes coming out of them or anything. What's the deal?
Splotchy, it was.
Jin, that's exactly the kind of dinner it was. MizBubs kept me out of the kitchen and worked her magic there.
Wow you have a lovely garden! I'm so jealous.
I know I've talked before, at irritating length, about how much time we've been spending in the garden these past few weeks.
I never get tired of these posts. It's nice to see someone who's found that zen spot of being happy where he's at.
see while I love looking at a beautiful garden you couldn't pay me enough to work on one. I think its because my mom made us do it when we where little
Write Booth says, "Bass Ale? F*ck that sh*t! Pabst Blue Ribbon!
BTW, I dig the flowers and the ginger, Farmer Bubjeans.
Your yard is magical. All that other stuff can wait till winter.
I almost bought me a 12 pack of Bass this weekend too. I'd say it's my favorite ale.
Great garden pics!
Coolcat, I actually was inspired by the pics you've been putting up. Side note--one nice thing about globalization has been the relative ease of buying good imported beer at a good price. I remember how Bass and Guiness used to be really expensive compared to American beers. Of course, there are a lot more good American beers now than there were 25 years ago too.
Barbara, thanks. You're another blogger whose outdoor pics I admire. I like that back deck of yours.
WP, thanks. And that Booth quote was indeed going through my head as I stood in front of the beer cooler deciding what to buy.
Katy, it's a shame your ma put you off of that stuff. Gardening has turned into one of my great pleasures, it's one of the nicest gifts my bride ever gave me.
Johnny, thanks!
Becca, thanks! And thank you for stopping by! I'm flattered that you did. Maybe I'll post a pinup or two tonight in your honor!
I love(d) Bass Ale for years. But have recently enjoyed Negra Modelo. It's like a tastier version of Bass.
Thanks for referring to "The Jewels." You know, TenS hates when people do that.
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