Pimm's and Ginger Ale

One of my new year's resolutions is to try new things.  Food, drink, and travel are some of the ways I am going to stick to this one.  So I am starting a few days before January 1st with a new drink.  First up is Pimm's.

Pimm's No.1 is a gin-based drink produced in the UK. It can be served on ice.  It's also taken with lemonade ( a carbonated variety), with fresh fruits, and with ginger ale.  I tried it straight over ice and must admit that I did not like the taste at all.  So I decided to give it one more try using ginger ale.  I had on hand my favorite Ginger ale, Blenheim.  I adore it's spicy formula.  Just look for the red bottle tops if you like an extreme ginger flavor. 

 Classic Pimm’s Cup Recipe

6 ounces Pimm’s #1
12 ounces ginger ale

You can add slices of cucumber, strawberries, lemons, oranges, apples, and/or mint.  
I chose to leave out these out and concentrate on the liquids this time.




And the verdict?  I liked the taste of Pimm's mixed with the spicy Blenheim Ginger Ale.  The sweetness of the Pimm's softened the bite of the ginger ale while the ginger ale covered the Pimm's after taste.  It didn't make my top ten list so I doubt I will be drinking it again but I did love the frothy foam on top.

William Few Jr. (1748-1828)

This red oak stands as a living memorial to William Few, Jr.  It is located in the State Botanical Garden in Athens, GA.

William Few was a statesman and patriot.  He represented Georgia at the constitutional convention that drafted the U.S. Constitution.  His signature, along with Abraham Baldwin’s, is on the document.

Born in Maryland, Few moved to Georgia during the mid-1770’s.  In addition to serving as a delegate to the constitutional convention, William Few also was a judge, state representative, and U.S. Senator. 

In 1799 he moved his family to New York.  There he was active in politics and banking.  148 years after his death his remains were moved from New York to St Paul’s Cemetery in Augusta, Georgia.  

Inspiring Words

"This is my invariable advice to people:  Learn how to cook, try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless, and above all have fun!"
--Julia Child, "My Life in France"

If you would like more information about the book, "My Life in France," please click on the link below.  It'll take you to Avid Bookstore, a wonderful independent bookstore in Athens, GA.

http://www.avidbookshop.com/book/9780307277695

Faces of the First World War

Fort Gordon, Georgia

There's a great site in the UK concerning the First World War. It's the First World War Centenary. According to it's website the   "IWM (Imperial War Museums) is leading the First World War Centenary Partnership, a network of local, regional, national and international cultural and educational organisations."  There doesn't seem to be much interest in the United States about remembering the 100th anniversary of this war.  It seems to me that we, as Americans, would be interested in the conflict that cost over 116,000 American lives.  It's also the conflict that made a whole generation grow up fast.  

Harold C. Hutchens is seated with the young man on his lap.

My grandfather, Harold C. Hutchens, was one of those young men.  He grew up in Tallopoosa, Georgia, a small town located in north Georgia close to the Alabama border.  He played baseball and studied law at the University of Georgia.  Then in 1917 he served in the 82nd Division out of Fort Gordon, Georgia.  After the war he stayed in France and studied at the University of Toulouse until 1919.

Here's his diploma.  I love how ornate it is.

City Lights of Commerce, GA

Recently I went back to Commerce, Georgia where I lived when I finished high school a long, long time ago.  Unlike most of North Georgia not much has changed in Commerce.  One thing I did notice was that the city had moved the monument to Bill Anderson.  At least I remember it being on the other side of the railroad tracks but then I have been away for a long time.

A graduate of the University of Georgia, Bill Anderson was working at WJJC in Commerce when he wrote the song City Lights.  Ray Price recorded it in 1958 and the song spent 13 weeks as the number one record on the new Billboard County Chart.  I highly recommend you listen to Mr. Anderson's account of writing his first hit.  You can check it here:
http://uga.edu/livinghistory/video/bill-anderson-city-lights/

Whisperin' Bill went on to record over 40 albums and has had seven number one hits of his own starting with Mama Sang a Song (1962).  Yet with all of his success he continues to remember Commerce.  He has returned several times to perform at benefits and raise money for the Bill Anderson Scholarship Fund at Commerce High School.  In fact, as of today tickets are still available for his upcoming benefit on November 16th.  Tickets are available from WJJC at http://www.wjjc.net/billanderson.html

As a graduate of Commerce High School I just have to say thank you Mr. Anderson.  We love you.

Remembering Federico Garcia Lorca

Today is the anniversary of the Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca.  I have linked his name to a great site called Poemhunter.com where you can ready some of his work.  Do yourself a favor and read some of his poems.

Five things I am loving this week:

1. The Legend of Pancho Barnes and the Happy Bottom Riding Club. (DVD)

It's a great and inspiring documentary of Florence "Pancho" Barnes one of greatest American pilots ever. It's available for instant streaming on Netflix or you can purchase the DVD. I think this is a must see for everyone but especially for women. Pancho was a strong, independent woman who lived life on her own terms.
If you want to read more about her check out the book The Happy Bottom Riding Club: The Life and Times of Pancho Barnes

2. Black Berry Smoke

Love their sound. They definitely have their roots in southern rock but they are so much more. Check out "Good One."

3. SeaSnax Roasted Seaweed Snack

Their slogan is "strangely addictive" and it is. I love this stuff. If you live in Athens, GA then you can pick some up at the Daily Co-op. SeaSnax has several flavors but I highly recommend the wasabi flavor.

4. Ocean Spray Cran-Grape Sugar Free

They have single drink mix packets. What a great find! I love, love the Cran-Grape but I need and want the convenience of the single drink packets. Now, I have a quick drink that will help me kick the soda habit. And it tastes great too.

5. And finally number five. The first show on ABC that I have watched in years.

GCB or Good Christian Bitches or Good Christian Belles depending on where you live.

This is a hilarious show starring Kristin Chenoweth. The show may be set in Dallas, Texas but it reminds me of a lot of people that I grew up in Georgia. Check out the show before the "moral majority" and fake "Christians" succeed in getting it off the air.