The Europe In My Backyard

The Beautiful Castle Inn on Riverside...Roof

It's coat and hat season!

Daniel on his way down from the tallest tower...

Mischievously brewing beer!! (This was the fast/easy part. Some of the parts were long and dull)

Shake it shake it shake it!

Yes, we had our do-over at the Castle Saturday night! It was so much fun--not just because there was yummy food this time, but we got to meet/chat with some of the other guests, most of whom were there celebrating anniversaries or even their wedding night! The first couple we met ended up telling us crazy stories about their kids growing up for about an hour over dessert and coffee. The next morning, I put my foot in my mouth after breakfast by talking in a phony English accent in front of *gasp* Actual English People! Then we climbed to the top of the turret and I felt better.

On Sunday, we brewed a Summer Wheat beer! Oh my goodness, I had no idea there was such tedium involved in beer-brewing! Which means I made good progress on my current reading material and got a wee bit snippy at poor Daniel.

Speaking of Daniel, when I got home this evening, he greeted me with homemade mango lassis! They were delicious! Here is his "recipe" which does not, of course, include proportions:
1 Mango
Honey-flavored Greek Yogurt
Vanilla Ice Cream
Cinnamon
Tumeric
Whipped Cream (for garnish, with more cinnamon on top)

Just go for it. I'm sure it will be a delightful beverage even if you use a different ingredients ratio.

Also, here is the recipe I used for homemade apple cider!
http://chaosinthekitchen.com/2008/10/homemade-apple-cider-because-you-can/
It does take about 3 hours to make this from scratch, but that mainly involves letting it do its thing on the stove while you read a book...

..a book like Dracula! It's Halloween Season!! Read it!

Not to include too much random info, but this is what Daniel discovered while looking up costume ideas for Sweeney Todd:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macaroni_%28fashion%29
If you've ever wondered over the "and he called it macaroni" line from Yankee Doodle, this will make you feel better.

A poem about how you can't escape yourself. And sometimes selfishness makes things that should be incredible less incredible. With an ending on a positive note:

Foreign ports, apart from hanging spice,
Sharp ginger fog in bright-cloud gold-spun air,
Heat haze that makes the harbor's dancing wave,
Be lost, be found, are just another fare.
So find yourself--a sea, ashore, appalled
At all the Failures following your flight
The cruel, new-found friend already lost
To tennis players, babbling and bright;
The envy haunting wit and wisdom both;
The fear that fakes a headache for the night;
The self-absorption preying on today
That kills Adventure bite-by-bitter-bite. 
Still, don't despair:  You will be everywhere,
But truth, and Love, and grace are also there.