Ummm, where the Hell did July go? I expected June to whiz by in a flash–we cram-packed that month with activities for the girls–but July? July was supposed to be savored. The girls still had plenty of things to do (I really do feel like I’ve spent most of the summer behind the wheel of a car) but it wasn’t crazy like June. Hmph. Danged if July didn’t go by with rocket speed, too. I feel kind of cheated.
The girls go back to school in a little over two weeks. Two weeks! It just doesn’t seem fair. It never does.
Just when the days start getting really steamy in the Rocky Mountains, it’s time to take the girls *gulp* back-to-school shopping. I’m not quite sure why they schedule the school year like this. When the girls begin summer break in mid-May, it’s not even warm enough to dip a toe in the swimming pool. When it’s time for school to resume, the days are so scalding that all you want to do is stay IN the swimming pool and never get out. But instead, you’re shopping for jeans and hoodies and Mary Janes.
I’ve seen a lot of Facebook posts and updates on Twitter from people lately declaring that they are “over” summer and can’t wait to send the kids back to school. I get it, I really do, but I have to say that this year, I’m not ready to send them packing yet. I’m not ready for the hellacious morning rush and the homework and the dreaded line of cars at school pickup. It makes me feel all jangly inside just thinking about it.
Alas, this is just my nature. I have two whole weeks of summer left to celebrate and instead I’m Mrs. Gloom and Doom because it’s almost over. Why do I do that? Man, I’m annoying.
Mommy needs to get a grip.
Maybe a nice drink will help. A liquid attitude adjustment, if you will.
This past week, I made a recipe for daiquiri popsicles. I saw a recipe for them and they sounded festive and fun and Hello! what’s not to like about an adult popsicle? You’ll hear more about the popsicles later. As I was squeezing roughly a kabazillion limes and stirring simple syrup, it dawned on me that I’ve actually never had a daiquiri. Ever.
The reason is that I’m not a real big rum person. I don’t really like the taste. Maybe it’s because of that one night in college where I had a few too many Captain Morgan and Diet Cokes, but we’ll just gloss over that little incident, mmkay?
In all seriousness, I don’t know what it is about rum that makes me pass it right by on my way to the vodka aisle. I just never think to buy it. This time, though, I was staring at a big old bottle of the stuff, purchased in the name of popsicles. I didn’t plan on making popsicles for the whole frigging neighborhood, and I’d hate to be wasteful…
So I got out the cocktail shaker and the cracked ice and made my husband and I a little summer afternoon libation.
Turns out, the daiquiri is a time-honored, classic cocktail for good reason. It’s delicious and really, really refreshing on a hot summer day. The tang of the lime juice somehow tempers the bite of the rum, so you don’t really taste it. Frankly, that’s kind of dangerous because a well-made daiquiri is so smooth and icy that it slides down WAY too easy. Just a word of caution, there. These suckers can add up if you aren’t careful.
If you’re hot and cranky, or hot and happy, or just plain hot, I highly recommend that you give a daiquiri a try. Heck, after one of these, you might feel just a teeny bit less depressed about summer’s inevitable swan song.
Classic Daiquiri
makes one
cracked ice
1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
2 ounces good quality light rum
1/2 ounce simple syrup
fresh lime, lemon or mint to garnish
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add lime juice, rum and simple syrup. Shake until super cold and frothy. Serve either in a chilled martini class or in a rocks glass, over ice. Garnish and enjoy.
*To make simple syrup, combine 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water in a saucepan. Heat on medium flame until the sugar dissolves. Transfer to a container and keep in the refrigerator.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ve been using rum instead of tequila in a watermelon margarita recipe all summer and DAMN is it good. And I totally agree that summer ending in two weeks is the saddest thing to ever happen.
My daughter is going back to college (yeah!) so I am kind of excited about her getting supplies and stuff to plan for the new year – even if three of the four classes she’s taking are online! And I am not much of a rum person either, but I’d gladly share that cocktail with you! :D