Conversations

Have you ever just listened to people around you in a public place?

Since I have to find free WiFi for the time being I have to keep visiting places to sit (hopefully quietly) and look at Pinterest, my Esty, Facebook and then here my blog friends.

Well in my little town there is no place peaceful. McDonalds just doesn't get it.

Today I am at Barnes and Noble. The people in the Cafe are talking quietly but I have heard so many interesting conversations.

Two men in front of me- In what I thought were military uniforms, speaking what sounds like French?

Maybe they are pilots.

We do have both an airport and a military base in Dayton.

Just odd to hear another language except Mexican here.

We won't go there will we.

An older couple beside me-She says to her husband after they finish their coffee, "So what do you want to do now?" They were so cute I had to speak to them. I said "The only thing to do on a rainy day is shop or nap." He said he wanted to nap. She wanted to shop. LOL. I told her she had 1 hour to buy something bright and fun then they had to go home for a nap!

I love talking to complete strangers.

A couple of women beside me- "Suzie turned out well, but...."

I stopped listening, don't want to hear gossip.

I just looked over at the coffee counter an a woman has at least 12 books in her arms. I hope she puts them all back when she is done looking at them. I HATE it when people bring magazines into the cafe area and then just leave them for the workers.

"Isn't that what they are paid for?"

No! They are paid to make coffee not clean up after you!

Sorry, I just had to get on my soap box for a minute.

Well I am really going to make an effort to post 1 time a week throughout December. Things are getting into a rhythm now and I can make time to think a bit these days.

I am really hoping we can afford to get the Internet thing to plug into the laptop soon. I miss keeping up here daily.

Have a great week and pay attention to people around you, they can be lots of fun!

Cold Brewed Coffee

My Guilty Pleasure! Yum, Mocha's
I love mocha's but in the summer it is to hot for me to drink hot drinks. I have just not been able to "warm" to that idea. So iced coffee was a great discovery for me. Then I truly became a coffee snob when our local coffee shop started offering "Cold-Brewed" coffee. It was soooo good! I looked it up on the Internet and found my favorite toy. The Toddy. This is the Toddy. They are offered at Borders bookstores, Seattle's Best coffee shops, on line and I'm sure other places. I started using Seattle's Best Saturdays blend but have tried their Beach house blend for my past 3 batches and it makes a good cup also.

Now these are the next necessities. Your milk, or half and half, (which Land o Lakes has great fat free half and half) chocolate and a mug. Getting the right mix is not an exact science. It depends on your taste, the size of your mug and whether you use milk or half and half. So here is the basic simple steps to a great cold cup of coffee.

Open up you Lb of coffee.

Take a few minutes to sniff that wonderful aroma!

I have a hard time getting past this step!

I did not stick my face in the bag, the blue around

my mouth is reflection off the bag.

Get out your grinder and grind up that coffee!

My kitchen smells like heaven. (Will there be coffee in heaven? I sure hope so.

Any way after you have it all ground you will put it into the Toddy.

Sorry about the out of focus image but can't you just imagine that wonderful smell!!! Go ahead put your nose right up there and close your eyes and breath in. Nothing? Well where is your imagination?

Now you add 4 cups of cold water slowly. Let stand for 5 minutes and add 5 more cups. Make sure all grounds are wet. Then I cover with a plate and let it sit overnight or 12 hours. Sorry I forgot to tell you, you do have to plan ahead. When you make your last cup, mix up the next batch so the next day you are ready to go. This is what it will look like after you add the water.

Now you don't usually have to give me an excuse to buy cute antiques. When I found these adorable small spoons I knew what I was going to do with them. Perfect for stirring my coffee! Aren't they beautiful? It's all about the experience as well as the taste :)

What comes out of your Toddy is a very concentrated mixture that you will keep in the carafe in the frig for up to 2 weeks.

I usually put equal amounts of coffee and half and half then add liquid chocolate (hold over mug, squeeze for a count of um... 6 to 8. depends on how fast you count. lol) then stir. Add water, taste then add water till the taste is good to you. For me it's half mixture and half water. Again it depends on the size of your mug and your personal taste.

The final product! Yum, Miranda just finished baking fresh blueberry scones so I feel a cup of freshly made Cold-pressed coffee calling me. Have a great day!