Things Are Growing Like Crazy

Things are really heating up this summer!  No, I don't just mean the weather, although it has been rather hot lately.  I mean in terms of just about everything else.  Cinnamon and Paprika have been dancing three times a week, just finished a performance, and are getting ready for another feis.  Allspice has entered the workforce.  He is working two jobs actually.  He does yard work at one job and works full time on a farm.  He is definitely learning a lot!  Even I have been running and working like crazy.  I just started a job that I absolutely love!  It is part-time and I get to work from home with some amazing people.  It is a growing experience for me, that's for sure!

I meant to write sooner, but.....well now you know. 

I did want to share some pictures with you of my garden.  Remember the pictures from a few weeks ago?  You can see them here.  Well........here are some new pictures!

The tomatoes are as tall as Cinnamon and are loaded with green tomatoes.  We have already picked several zucchini too!

The peppers are growing  and we have had a lot of fresh lettuce for our dinners.  Yes, those are cucumbers!  Winning round two on that one!

Even the pigs are huge!!!  Percival (the white one) and Chaucer (the red one) have been fun to raise this year, but I have to say they are the laziest pigs we have ever had.  They sleep next to the feeder so they can simply sit up, eat while sitting, and then immediately lay back down again.  LAZY!!!!

Well, Jack is about the only thing not growing like crazy around here, but he sure gives good hugs!

And a hug is always welcome around here!

Have a great weekend!!! 

Eureeka! Iced Coffee Heaven!

I love iced coffee.  Make that a 16 oz, soy, Kahlua, and dark chocolate mocha.  Divine and EXPENSIVE!  Making that delicious drink costs me sixty cents more just because I am dairy free.  I don't even like soy, but rice milk in coffee is awful!  I prefer coconut milk, but I have yet to find a single coffee stand who has coconut milk as a substitute.  This sweet little concoction costs me close to five bucks!  Five bucks!  Ridiculous!  So, I skip it more often than not and save the splurge for a special occasion. 

But, here is the problem:  The Shop.  A great little coffee shop just a quick little walk from the studio where the girls dance.  Less than a hundred yards.  I sit in my car, waiting patiently, trying to read away the wait time, and I swear I can smell it.  I can hear it call me (not to mention Cinnamon and Paprika can hear it too!).  The tug-o-war in my head is almost painful and I end up reading the same page four times.  It is amazing if given enough time in the car next to The Shop how many special occasions I can come up with! 

Why not just make it at home?  I admit I have tried and it tastes nothing like The Shop!  NOTHING!  The coffee ends up tasting watered down.  Terrible, not divine.  There has to be a better way!  And then I found it.

I was dinking around on the internet the other day and I came across "iced coffee" on a google search.  I saw a link to Pioneer Woman and decided to check it out.  I read her blog post and decided to give it a try.  Yesterday I bought my own supplies: coffee, an 8 quart bin (I halved her recipe), Kahlua syrup (for Cinnamon and I), dark chocolate sauce, and orange syrup (for Paprika).   I spent about 35 bucks (or approximately 7 coffees).

Last night I made the "liquid gold" and let it sit all night long.  This morning I strained it and made an orange mocha for Paprika and a coconut, Kahlua, dark chocolate mocha for me!  The results!  Out of the mouth of Paprika, "This is as good as The Shop!"  Yes, yes it was true!  It was as good as The Shop.  I was a bit more skeptical, it still had to pass the ice melt phase.

Well, I am here to tell you it passed the test....with flying colors!  The last sip was as good as the first!  And the best part.....an iced coffee now costs me 83 cents!  For the same 7 coffee investment I made, I get 42 (yes, you read that right) 42 coffees!  Don't ya just love the internet.....sometimes!