The Wine Commonsewer™ tag:typepad.com,2003:weblog-100703 2024-12-24T08:27:05-07:00 TypePad Merry Christmas From The Family tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341cbb0453ef02c8d3c75e96200c 2024-12-24T08:27:05-07:00 2024-12-24T08:27:05-07:00 Good Morning Gentle Readers, I love Merry Christmas From The Family. Puts a smile on my face every time and it's pretty much my second favorite Christmas tune of all time. Not because I lived it, no. Most certainly I've... TWC

Good Morning Gentle Readers,

I love Merry Christmas From The Family. Puts a smile on my face every time and it's pretty much my second favorite Christmas tune of all time. Not because I lived it, no. Most certainly I've run across most of the guys that Robert Earl writes about in differing contexts, but our family Christmases growing up were pretty sedate. No crowds. No parties. Nobody was off to the Stop N Go for a box of tampons or some Marlboro Lights. 

Merry xmas family keene
Keen never imagined the song would make it onto an album until he played it for his producer, Garry Velletri. This guy was laughing as hard as I was..... I said to him, we're not gonna use this are we? And he said, Oh, we’ve got to use it. It’s one of the best songs.

Robert Earl's momma wasn't nearly as impressed. She phoned Uncle Joe and told him that Robert Earl has written the most horrible song that you've ever heard.

Texas Monthly has a great piece about the tune. Here's a Hint From Snelloise™. As soon as the link opens, save it to Pocket. That will get around the partial paywall and you'll be able to read the entire article in Pocket. Note: This often works with paywalls, but not always. 

Montgomery Gentry also does a nice cover, which means that you get a Twofer Tuesday™ on Christmas Eve. 

As Always,

 My Favorite Things tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341cbb0453ef02c8d3c6eff6200c 2024-12-19T07:58:10-07:00 2024-12-19T07:58:10-07:00 Good Morning Gentle Readers, I was always a Tijuana Brass fan and it wasn't just on account of that Whipped Cream album cover that so many of us adolescent boys were taken with. This video is an outtake from the... TWC

Good Morning Gentle Readers, 

I was always a Tijuana Brass fan and it wasn't just on account of that Whipped Cream album cover that so many of us adolescent boys were taken with. This video is an outtake from the Ed Sullivan show (circa 1965) and it just happens to be one my favorite Christmas tunes. I suppose that strictly speaking, it's not really a Christmas song. Except that it may as well. And doesn't that make it so?

As Always,

 Now We Are Real Homeowners~~Libby tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341cbb0453ef02e860dd3982200b 2024-12-17T17:39:45-07:00 2024-12-17T17:40:35-07:00 Good Morning Gentle Readers, I recently stopped by my son's place with homemade burritos, blueberries, coffee, and carrot cake (Pops is great! Brings us the carrot cake!). There was also a baggie of sliced ham for Latka, my grand-dog, who... TWC

Good Morning Gentle Readers, 

I recently stopped by my son's place with homemade burritos, blueberries, coffee, and carrot cake (Pops is great! Brings us the carrot cake!). There was also a baggie of sliced ham for Latka, my grand-dog, who was once best friends with Beans. The breakfast was neatly arranged on sturdy holiday plates, sealed with foil, and then stacked up neatly inside a heavy brown bag with handles that we had brought leftovers home from some fancy restaurant in. Can't say that I don't recycle. The bag was a dead give away, though. Logan spotted it and a grin widened across his face: Pops, did you bring us breakfast? 

IMG_9018_cr
Jacob had asked for some help installing his very first set of Christmas lights. He was gracious enough to call it helping, but, strictly speaking, it barely rose to the level of loose supervision. Sure, the importance of bringing the right drill bit along cannot be overstated. I also spotted him on the ladder a couple of times. But mostly we chatted and I played with the grandkids. Lucie and Logan proudly announced to every passer-by (from the back of the truck inside the shell) that they were playing inside Pop's truck. 

Now they're REAL homeowners. With Christmas lights.

IMG_9017_cr
 And three years ago today marked move-in day for the kids. Serendipity? 

As Ever,

 

 Talisker 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341cbb0453ef02c8d3c639fa200c 2024-12-12T10:53:44-07:00 2024-12-12T10:53:44-07:00 Good Morning Gentle Readers, TWC really likes Lagavulin and this ain't it. But, the Talisker is very good and very reminiscent of Lagavulin. My missus spotted it at Costco (maybe Sammies) at roughly forty simoleons, about half the price of... TWC

Good Morning Gentle Readers,

TWC really likes Lagavulin and this ain't it. But, the Talisker is very good and very reminiscent of Lagavulin. My missus spotted it at Costco (maybe Sammies) at roughly forty simoleons, about half the price of Lagavulin.   

Talisker scotch

If you're one to appreciate peat and smoke, I think you'll enjoy a wee dram or two of this. 

Here's what The Whiskey Reviewer had to say. 

Made by the sea, Talisker comes in a clear glass bottle, topped with foil and a cork stopper, and with that classic label inked with a map of the Isle of Skye. The whisky is bottled, not at 46% abv, but at 45.8%.

In the glass, this single malt has the lustrous, deep golden coloring of apple juice. The nose is a classic, practically the benchmark for a fragrantly oily, smoke, spicy whisky scent. Whiffs of green apple and sea spray add some complexity, giving you something to sniff at each time you bring the glass up for a sip.

The flavor is richly sweet at first, before a wall of smoke blows in. On the back, the flavor takes a turn to pepper and minerals, and this is what gets blended into a handful of ash and thrown into the aftertaste. For a whisky with such a big personality, the finish is surprisingly light, delivering only moderate warmth. Even so, that warmth just goes on and on.

As Always,