Summer Adventures and Unexpected Treasures

Just getting out of town and looking at new things stimulates the brain, making life that much more interesting.

This little gem is a bird's nest ball.  It is the dribs and drabs of alpaca yarn stuffed into a ball for birds to gather to feather their nests.  Wouldn't that be pretty (and soft!)?

A little shop in Grand Rapids, Ohio sold these, along with other rather impressive products.  Grand Rapids was a charming town that is well maintained and scenic as well.

What's next?  MEAD MAKING SEMINAR!  Woot!

Ain't No Party Like a Pork Rind Fest Party

....and that may be a good thing.

Arriving at mid-day with family members, there wasn't much to recommend the festival devoted to the lowly Pork Rind.   Sure, the table to purchase bags of fried pig skin was long, but other than the other food booths, and an odd spattering of misc. booths, there wasn't much going on.  

Later in the day, there was live music.  At the spontaneous phone call of a friend, it was possible to return later in the evening to check out a very different scene, and a very different crowd.

The fried random food crowd now added Budweiser to its offerings.  I can't remember the last time I drank a "Bud."

Recognizing other people who are also in attendance at the Pork Rind Festival is a combination of "hey I know someone" and "I don't want to be seen here" (especially if you're in the beer tent).  But it's sort of a bonding experience, "yeah, I am here and I am only semi-ashamed."

Summer Fun Include Politically Incorrect Photo Opps

And this is one of them...

It is Cliche. It is Delicious

Some have great disdain for people who post food and drink pictures on their blogs and Facebook page.

This, however, is laughable.  Food and drink blogs and pages are incredibly popular!  Why?  Because 1. it looks good and 2. you can bet it tastes good and 3.  the detractors simply have the jealousy.

That is why I bring you, dear reader, the purple aura:

While it had many delicious sounding ingredients, I strongly suspect similar results could have come from Grape Fanta and vodka.

But, the name is good, isn't it?