Thread Drift

[Kitsune06]

Hey! Home-made wines and beers can be much, much better than store-bought if you know what you're doing. DGF's ex brewed his own beer, made his own wines and meads. Very good. He was good enough that he could design recipes to his own specifications given ingredients. Impressive. I mean, I still don't like the guy, but his wine and mead were superb.

It's not too hard as long as you remember to sterilize everything like crazy, be careful about your recipes and watch the process. Don't let it go to vinegar, don't let it get too dry. Rack, rack, rack.

[KnottedYet]

I quit brewing beer because I couldn't quit drinking it.

(got me a little weakness of will power there. gotta watch those things, they'll sneak up on ya)

[annie]

Beer update - DH was not to be deterred. We are Canadian after all. The beer thawed while we were at work and as far as he's concerned, it looked fine. He drank a bottle, it tasted fine. We're going to give the other 5 dozen that didn't freeze to our beer-sharing buddy and keep the "bad" 5 dozen. I was more worried about the wine myself. We just bottled a batch (30 bottles) of our favourite Woodbridge Estates Cab. Sauv. which won't be ready for about a year (we just finished our last batch and it closely rivelled the store-bought Woodbridge Cab Sauv.) We have 15 bottles of gewurtz left - it's not bad either. And 30 bottles of Stagg's Leap Merlot which should be close to ready around Christmas. Next week, we bottle some White Merlot which we did just for fun. It's all made at a Wine Store so the quality is pretty good actually and I'm pretty picky. Of course, I do spend a bit more for the better quality stuff but it still comes out cheaper than store bought.

As for store-bought wine - my favourite drinking wine is a French Merlot. Bouchard Aine et Fils. Yummy. Not too expensive. $12 Can.

• LOVE pickled herring, and dark chocolate (although not together )

• I remember the "oh the humanity" comment about the hindenburg.

• Still snowing here. Yikes.

KG,

Good on you, bottling your own wine! I recognize both the Woodbridge and Stag's Leap names. Stag's Leap, especially, is a very impressive growing region. I can well believe you've got some fine wines there!!!

From what my beer distributors tell me (tho' I'm sure they say somewhat what the customer wants to hear), beer is able to survive more than one cycle of warming/cooling without adverse affects. So your once frozen beer is probably just fine. :::keeping fingers crossed:::::::::

I do NOT envy you the snow. Tho' your photos were beautiful. I'll enjoy it from afar, thanks.

annie

[annie]

I quit brewing beer because I couldn't quit drinking it.

NOT funny, but still.......... LOL! I can't help laughing! I'd have the same problem, I bet, if I bottled wine.

annie

[kelownagirl]

I can relate to the wine aspect... I enjoy beer but can stop after one. Now, if truth be told, it's a darn good thing margaritas are such a PITA to make...

[Kitsune06]

Knot- I see you making rich, cocolatey stouts or porters... maybe wheats?
I made an irish red once... very nice color, but I gave most of it away...

[KnottedYet]

Made some porters and some really hoppy reds. Made a "baby brew" and hand-drew a bunch of labels for it, then had a bratwurst and "baby brew" party a couple weeks after SKnot was born. Lots of people, lots of brats and beer, lots of fun. I had to take a nap halfway through.

I'm sure I'd've made a great picture a few minutes ago, crouched over the computer with my nose in a cup of warm saline. Very dignified! I caught my nose ring on my towel this morning, so it needed a saline soak to make it feel happy again.

[kelownagirl]

I had a pretty funny thing happen today. I have 3 8 year old boys in my class that are a huge challenge to me every day. One has a big time conduct disorder and takes up all of my energy every day just keeping a lid on him. Another is in a world of his own and it takes whatever energy I have to left, to get him to do any work during the day. The third is a cutie pie who has huge attention problems. I spend all day by his desk, taking stuff out of his hands, and trying to get him to follow what we're doing. His mother sends him to school in clean clothes every day but by the time he walks into the classroom in the morning, he is absolutely filthy from his hands to his soaking wet muddy pants. He doesn't even seem to notice.

Anyway, today he comes inside after lunch, it's about 12 degrees below freezing. He comes up to me, and shows me his raw red tongue. Instantly I know what he's done (do kids really do that?! I thought it was only in the movies.) I asked him why!?! Someone dared him to. Jeez, I'd like to strangle the kid who took advantage of him. But at the same time, if any one kid in my class was going to do it, it would be him...

[mimitabby]

Anyway, today he comes inside after lunch, it's about 12 degrees below freezing. He comes up to me, and shows me his raw red tongue. Instantly I know what he's done (do kids really do that?! I thought it was only in the movies.) I asked him why!?! Someone dared him to. Jeez, I'd like to strangle the kid who took advantage of him. But at the same time, if any one kid in my class was going to do it, it would be him...

omigoodness! i didn't think that REALLY happened!

you guys had SCHOOL today, with all that snow?

weather report; we are having hail and wet snow and in Kent 10 miles south
there are thunderstorms and snow. That's the "convergence zone"

I am hoping that tomorrow I can stay home and celebrate the day, but at this rate it's not going to happen

[Bikingmomof3]

I keep hoping for a snow day, but I do not think it will happen. Sigh.

DH would love to make dark home brewed beer.

Knot-I hope your nose is better.

[Kitsune06]

Knot- ummm nice technique. I'd personally use a couple cotton balls, one inside, one outside, both saturated... but... whatever works, ya?

[kelownagirl]

Oh yeah, we had school. As long as the busses are running and the power is on, we have school. Haven't had a snow day in the 12 years I've been teaching. One of the school buses was super late picking kids up today though. Almost an hour late. That's mostly because we live where it is really hilly and they have to climb to get the kids home. We were spinning out a bit gettng home ourselves today but the roads have certainly been worse. Everything was plowed and sanded by the time we left for work this morning anyway.

The kids all arrived in full snow gear - snow pants, toques, mitts, scarves, boots, and of course sliding carpets. They spent the whole lunch hour sliding down the back hill in the school yard. Lots of fun but not fun to supervise 700+ kids in the snow....

[annie]

Ow, ow, OUCH! Knot's nose and the boy's tongue.
Hope your saline soaking solution helped you, KN! But how do you breathe when your nose is in the water? I've got a picture, of heavy mouth breathing, trying NOT to suck in any water thru the nose........ My luck, I'd probably drown myself.

'nite all, sweet dreams! Don't go dreaming those scary ones.....

annie

[snapdragen]

thanks snap. i'll look into that.

Now that I'm home and have more time...

You might call/email your vet and ask about dosage. I buy Chloe this stuff Synovi. My brother gives his lab/collie mix tablets he buys at Trader Joes. Both Chloe and Gizmo are doing very well.

[Lise]

Hey, TD!

Turkey + cranberry relish sandwiches = yum. If you can add stuffing, even yummer.

Soda is the correct word. I don't know why I'm the only person in the midwest who calls it that.

My mom loves glucosamine for her joints. Buys it at Walgreens.

CVS has taken over Oscos in this neck of the woods, and it's a good, good thing.

It's 61 degrees at midnight. I <3 it! Soon to pass, though.

I am totally, totally whipped on J. And he is on me, too.

'night, TD!
......................
Hey, this is post #3,033 for me! What a great number! 3 x 3!