Disguised Blessings: Spring Fling Cocktail

April 16, 2011

Springtime in the Rocky Mountains is a sly and changeable beast.  She’s* like Angelina Jolie–seductive and mesmerizing and crazy, all in one package.

Take the other weekend, for example: Saturday, she wrapped us in balmy 80-degree weather, and we dusted off our grill, made lemonade and watched the girls jump themselves silly on the trampoline.  I got so excited that I invited a few neighbors over for Sunday lunch, and busied myself making cool salads and light appetizers.  Sunday dawned, and BAM! Within a few hours, it was snowing big, fat, wintry flakes.  We sulked a bit, wheeled the grill back into storage and reverted to Plan B.  Indoor grillfest. Carpet picnic.

We know this about Spring in our neck of the woods, but still, she manages to Punk! us every year.  We wag our tails in anticipation, break out the sunscreen, and then she shits in our backyard, just to show us who is boss. Meanie.

Luckily, we shook it off and our guests still came and we had a lovely meal. With board games instead of frisbee.  Plan B was actually quite fine.

I never was really comfortable with Plan B until I had children. I like routine, and predictability, and a road map for where I’m going.  I’m the girl who needs to be prepared for her own surprise party.  Not that anyone who knows me would actually throw me a surprise party–not if they wanted to live, anyways.

But kids are little walking, boisterous bundles of Plan B.  You either learn to flex those firm expectations or rendezvous with the Xanax on a regular basis.

And for that, I’m grateful; this rigid chick needed a little flex in her life.   Plan B. is still not my favorite prom date, but I can at least make my way to the dance floor.

These awkwardly cobbled phrases and metaphors bring me to the point I probably should have just blurted out at the beginning of this post, but thanks for staying with me.

You know that opportunity I spoke of the other day? The new territory? Well, it’s not going to happen the way I thought.

It still might happen–will hopefully happen–but it’s going to be a longer path to that end than originally planned. Things happen. Life happens. So I am embracing Plan B.

Honestly.

I think in this case, Plan B. is the better option for me. Plan A. was a little too hectic and a lot too fast for this tortoise.  This tortoise needs time and room to breathe, and a leeetle bigger compass to guide her.

She’ll make it, though. We tortoises always do.

The good news?  I’ll be around for a while, and able to channel my energies to other things that really matter.

Like this:

And anticipation of this:

And at the end of the day, one of these.

Spring Fling

adapted from Cooking Light magazine

serves 6


1 cup water

1/3 to 1/2 cup sugar, depending on how sweet you like your drink

1 sprig fresh rosemary or fresh thyme, whichever you prefer

1 cup fresh lemon juice, chilled

1/3 cup mandarin orange flavored vodka, such as Stoli, cold from the freezer (that where the cool cats store their vodka)

2 cups chilled Prosecco or other sparkling white wine

lemon or orange slices, to garnish

Combine first 3 ingredients in a small saucepan. Heat over high flame until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and let stand 10 minutes. Discard rosemary/thyme. Chill simple syrup mixture.

Combine sugar syrup, chilled lemon juice, mandarin vodka and Prosecco. Stir gently to combine and serve, either straight up or over ice, whichever you prefer.

* Is it just me, or is Spring most certainly a female? For some reason, I always think of Spring as a feminine season.  It’s the only season that I think has a gender. Anyone care to weigh in?

ps: Thanks for all of your support and love and high hopes for me these last weeks. And no, it wasn’t a book deal. :) But those of you who assumed that it was are in my good graces forever.

{ 48 comments… read them below or add one }

Natalie April 16, 2011 at 10:27 am

I looove little girl pigtails, and tasty summery beverages. This recipe is going into the Must-Try basket.

Have a great weekend!

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Erica@PLRH April 16, 2011 at 10:37 am

I’m glad you’ll be hanging around to keep up entertained with your stories and libations. Plan B isn’t so bad, is it?

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Erica@PLRH April 16, 2011 at 10:38 am

…keep US entertained

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jc April 16, 2011 at 10:47 am

Check your snail mail for chee this week.
!!!

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TKW April 16, 2011 at 8:02 pm

!!!

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TKW April 18, 2011 at 3:51 pm

jc, you wily Unicorn. You rocked my world today. Hugs and Herkys. xoxo

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Ink April 16, 2011 at 11:47 am

Unicorn, you are an Awesome and Official Mighty Chee Sprinkler.

Kitch, can I just say that the pic of your daughter is so beautiful? Lovely. Just like you.

Also: sometimes the Plan Bs surprise us and become Plan As, eventually. Better Plan As. But I send a hug for the process of necessary reconfigurations, which take tolls on us, too.

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Jenn M April 16, 2011 at 12:47 pm

My life is one big Plan B lately, and I am trying hard to embrace it. Glad to know I’m in good company when plans gone awry cause me to hyperventilate… (ok, maybe not that bad, but it’s not my favorite thing to deal with)

And, as a brand new mommy that has been craving a small taste of alcohol for several months now (two toddler boys and a third boy on the way? How could I NOT want a drink?!), thanks for the recipe.

I hope all works out the way you want. Tortoise-pace really isn’t so bad. You get to enjoy the scenery a lot more.

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TKW April 16, 2011 at 8:03 pm

Jenn M.,

You deserve a margarita. As big as a bath.

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Jennifer April 16, 2011 at 6:04 pm

Sorry your thing didn’t work out the way you wanted.

Baby Girl saw the pool floats and said they looked yummy. She thought they were gummies.

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bryan April 16, 2011 at 6:38 pm

I assumed that you had a book or two out there already ;~) I am happy that you are at peace with plan B… sometimes that is the precursor to your dreams that you didn’t even know about yet.

As for the drink, it is on my list for pool side libations this summer.

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Katybeth April 16, 2011 at 10:03 pm

Plan B–I know it well.
I’m not a flexible person. I use to always have a rain plan in case I was forced to bend—these days I am lucky if I can find the umbrella. Thing are usually Ok in the end though and if they aren’t ok- I know it’s not the end.

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Barbara April 17, 2011 at 5:09 am

Plan A doesn’t always work out, does it? Got to roll with the punches and move on to B. And then, once in a while, Plan A makes a surprise appearance. Enjoy the roses during life’s trip, Kitch,
AND the drink!

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Winn April 17, 2011 at 6:43 am

Good luck with plan B. I’m already onto plan F after blundering through and failing plans B, C, D and E. ;)

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Rudri Bhatt Patel @ Being Rudri April 17, 2011 at 9:31 am

I knew you would explain it with your wit and humor :). And sometimes Plan B isn’t so bad.

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Heather April 17, 2011 at 12:18 pm

Spring has been a bitch around here too! I got sunburned last Sunday and today I’m sitting in front of the fireplace with a sweatshirt and jeans and my favorite blanket! That drink looks truly delightful – can’t wait until the warmth breaks through for good around here to try it!!!

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subWOW April 17, 2011 at 12:49 pm

It snowed here yesterday. I cannot wait for some sign of warming up. In the mean time, looking at the pictures do help some. And the drink too of course.

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Contemporary Troubadour April 17, 2011 at 3:30 pm

Ahhh, Plan B. From one rigid chick to another, let me raise a finger and a glass simultaneously to that fun little option. We need it, need to get used to it, and wish it didn’t sometimes make us want to kick and scream. You sound like you’ve made much progress with it, though. I’m glad for you and hope that it works out on this round!

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TKW April 19, 2011 at 6:12 am

CT: Laughing at the “raising a finger and a glass…”

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rebecca @ altared spaces April 17, 2011 at 4:35 pm

I never really thought about it, but now that you raise the question in my mind…I need a little taste of spring to help me transition back outside again. I adore being outside. I mean I teach skiing. I have no trouble in all weathers. But. There’s something different about springtime/summertime than the bundling of brr.

This little dance with back and forth eases my way. The sun, then the flirting again with flakes: it’s confusing, but also a sort of easing. Hmmm. Helpful.

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theUngourmet April 17, 2011 at 11:31 pm

With all of the natural disasters bombarding our little planet these days I’ve been pondering the fact that in this life there are no guarantees and there just may be no tomorrow. I’ve been all over plan B and loving the ones I’m with….and great cocktails….of course. ;)

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Chiara April 18, 2011 at 1:53 am

I’m at Plan W these days… I hope I don’t get all the way down to Z and run out of plans. This cocktail sounds delicious. I might have to go buy some vodka and make it tonight.
Oh and spring is a female. Or at least Botticelli used to think (and paint) so.

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From Belgium April 18, 2011 at 4:11 am

As one who has recently embraced plan B I can officially declare Plan A a crazy mumbling idiot… (at least mine was)

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Abby April 18, 2011 at 6:11 am

Considering I’m in Michigan where it was 85 last Sunday and we have an inch of snow this morning, I would like to start with a cocktail and work backwards from there. However, that is apparently frowned upon in my professional establishment. Instead, I’ll crack a smile from your post and resort to Plan B–work and thoughts of a Spring I’m SURE will come at some point.

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BigLittleWolf April 18, 2011 at 6:55 am

Yeah. New territories. Maybe they’re overrated?

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Futureblackmail April 18, 2011 at 7:28 am

I agree with Chiara – I feel like I’m on plan W too!

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Malli's Mint and Mimosas April 18, 2011 at 8:24 am

Absolutely flavorful cocktail —I wouldn’t have thought of adding rosemary to a cocktail–sounds lovely!!
— agree that spring is the truly feminine season:)

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Jenna April 18, 2011 at 9:04 am

I hear you about the weather! When Adam and I left the house this morning to go to work/school, there was snow on the ground. SNOW. Honestly, if I can get a signed guarantee from someone that this will ensure a cooler summer, I have no problem with it whatsoever. 30s and 40s I can do, 90s not so much. Plus, when we’re chilly we’re more inclined to snuggling, which is The Purpose of My Life. So I can’t complain.

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faemom April 18, 2011 at 11:20 pm

Stupid Plan B! I’m a rigid Plan A girl myself. And nothing makes you learn how to dole out Plan B, Plan C, Plan D like kids.

Here’s to thinking outside the box!

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Sherri April 19, 2011 at 3:53 am

For the last like 5 or 6 years – with little ones constantly running about…. I have become a total “plan B” kinda girl :-). Not that I always embraced it, mind you, but….. yeah ….. am beginning to feel comfortable with Plan B situations. For the record…. spring here in the mid-Atlantic area is a big pain too – snow one day – sleet and rain the next – 80 degrees and sunny, then….. back to snow… Making me nuts.

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Wendi @ Bon Appetit Hon April 19, 2011 at 5:22 am

Kitch, my uptight, regimented self completely understands the Plan B anxiety. At least this time, Plan B involved a tasty adult beverage. If spring comes back to the Rockies, would you kindly let her know her presence is requested back East?

Not a book? Any more hints? Animal? Vegetable? Mineral?

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elizabeth April 19, 2011 at 7:49 am

Honestly? I really did think it was a book deal, and it’s a testament to how well you write that I was ready to shower the inevitable announcement with genuine happiness and not an iota of jealousy. :)

There’s something to be said for disguised blessings–I generally get very philosophical about this when it comes to considering jobs I wanted but didn’t get for whatever reason, especially when looking at them in retrospect.

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Justine April 19, 2011 at 11:11 am

If Plan B means having you around a bit more in these parts than I’m selfishly glad Plan A didn’t work out. Sorry. But the spring fling drink sounds pretty tasty. If it wasn’t for the wintry conditions here as well, I would be all over it. Instead, I’m dreaming about casseroles and hot chocolate. That’s so wrong.

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Gibby April 19, 2011 at 12:44 pm

Man, I wish I lived in your neighborhood so that I could plan-B it with you.

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Maria April 19, 2011 at 3:28 pm

Ah, Plan B. My nemesis, my friend. As long as you get there, friend, take the scenic route. Hectic is not fun, or good for you.

Here’s to Spring (that bitch) making her way to the Rockies. Summer has busted loose here, and Spring really never had a chance to stick around for a while. Hope you enjoy her!

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