annie blog

Those of Y’all Who Live in STL
should know that April Smith and the Big Picture Show will be at Off Broadway(right across from the Lemp Brewery) on Thursday night. Jon and I saw this band open for Langhorne Slim in February and they were great. April Smith has a fantastic voice and the music is hard to define but fun — the Riverfront Times calls it “songs that suggest vaudevillian folk, vocal jazz and genteel pop”. It’s kind of spunky. All the members of the band are super capable, and the drummer has the best drummer face I’ve ever seen.

So, if Thursday finds you wanting something to do around 9 or so, you should head on over there. Tickets are 8 bucks, you pay nothing to park, the beer is nice and, who knows, you might even get to see Beatle Bob in action. That alone would be entertaining as all get out.

You’ll have a blast — so, go!

He Left Me a Note
just where I would find it. I opened Word to type his assignments for the day and there it was — he had left it on Friday.

I’m going on my vacation now! I can’t take your academics any more!!! I’ll see you in September.

He says it like it is, that one.

He Left Me a Note
just where I would find it. I opened Word to type his assignments for the day and there it was — he had left it on Friday.

I’m going on my vacation now! I can’t take your academics any more!!! I’ll see you in September.

He says it like it is, that one.

He Left Me a Note
just where I would find it. I opened Word to type his assignments for the day and there it was — he had left it on Friday.

I’m going on my vacation now! I can’t take your academics any more!!! I’ll see you in September.

He says it like it is, that one.

I Know Nothing About Sangria,
after all, I’ve never even had any except for that which I have made. But, going by how readily this recipe was consumed and how throughly it was complimented at a recent party, I think that I should share the recipe again.

Sangria
1 bottle of wine (I use cheap cabernet)
2 oranges; 1 sliced, 1 juiced
1 lemon, sliced
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup triple sec (some recipes call for Grand Marnier but triple sec is way less expensive and tastes just as good)

Put the sugar and citrus slices in a pitcher. Mash them around for 30 seconds or so or until the sugar is dissolved. Stir in the juice from the orange and the Triple Sec. Stir in the wine. Refrigerate.

Some notes:
— Be sure to make this 2 hours ahead of time (up to 8 hours is good).
— At the party, what most people really liked that this sangria wasn’t too sweet. I think that is due to using a mild (cheap) cabernet instead of a merlot or something like that. I actually used a boxed wine from WalMart, believe it or not. And, since I was making it for a party, I quadrupled the recipe by doing the fruit mashing in a big bowl and then dividing the fruit mixture between 4 gallon-sized freezer bags which I then filled with the appropriate amounts of orange juice, triple sec and wine. I refrigerated the sangria in the bags. This made for easier transportation and transferring to serving containers once at the party location. So, that’s an idea for you, too.

This is yummy. Make it soon!

I Know Nothing About Sangria,
after all, I’ve never even had any except for that which I have made. But, going by how readily this recipe was consumed and how throughly it was complimented at a recent party, I think that I should share the recipe again.

Sangria
1 bottle of wine (I use cheap cabernet)
2 oranges; 1 sliced, 1 juiced
1 lemon, sliced
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup triple sec (some recipes call for Grand Marnier but triple sec is way less expensive and tastes just as good)

Put the sugar and citrus slices in a pitcher. Mash them around for 30 seconds or so or until the sugar is dissolved. Stir in the juice from the orange and the Triple Sec. Stir in the wine. Refrigerate.

Some notes:
— Be sure to make this 2 hours ahead of time (up to 8 hours is good).
— At the party, what most people really liked that this sangria wasn’t too sweet. I think that is due to using a mild (cheap) cabernet instead of a merlot or something like that. I actually used a boxed wine from WalMart, believe it or not. And, since I was making it for a party, I quadrupled the recipe by doing the fruit mashing in a big bowl and then dividing the fruit mixture between 4 gallon-sized freezer bags which I then filled with the appropriate amounts of orange juice, triple sec and wine. I refrigerated the sangria in the bags. This made for easier transportation and transferring to serving containers once at the party location. So, that’s an idea for you, too.

This is yummy. Make it soon!

I Know Nothing About Sangria,
after all, I’ve never even had any except for that which I have made. But, going by how readily this recipe was consumed and how throughly it was complimented at a recent party, I think that I should share the recipe again.

Sangria
1 bottle of wine (I use cheap cabernet)
2 oranges; 1 sliced, 1 juiced
1 lemon, sliced
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup triple sec (some recipes call for Grand Marnier but triple sec is way less expensive and tastes just as good)

Put the sugar and citrus slices in a pitcher. Mash them around for 30 seconds or so or until the sugar is dissolved. Stir in the juice from the orange and the Triple Sec. Stir in the wine. Refrigerate.

Some notes:
— Be sure to make this 2 hours ahead of time (up to 8 hours is good).
— At the party, what most people really liked that this sangria wasn’t too sweet. I think that is due to using a mild (cheap) cabernet instead of a merlot or something like that. I actually used a boxed wine from WalMart, believe it or not. And, since I was making it for a party, I quadrupled the recipe by doing the fruit mashing in a big bowl and then dividing the fruit mixture between 4 gallon-sized freezer bags which I then filled with the appropriate amounts of orange juice, triple sec and wine. I refrigerated the sangria in the bags. This made for easier transportation and transferring to serving containers once at the party location. So, that’s an idea for you, too.

This is yummy. Make it soon!

One More Graduation
picture. This one is from a different graduation.

How can this boy be finished with grammar school? Where did the time go?

I’m so proud of him.

One More Graduation
picture. This one is from a different graduation.

How can this boy be finished with grammar school? Where did the time go?

I’m so proud of him.

One More Graduation
picture. This one is from a different graduation.

How can this boy be finished with grammar school? Where did the time go?

I’m so proud of him.