Sugar in the City

Sugar

Sugar in the city. Sitting at a Chicago dog park wondering when her friends will arrive. She is also waiting for warmer weather.

Summer Memories

Rufus, Roses and Sunshine!

Rosenthal Magic Flute Mini Vase

Rosenthal Magic Flute Mini Vase

This diminutive vase caught our eye in the recent issue of Town & Country magazine.  And we were surprised by the listed price - only $35!   Mind you it is only 4 1/2" high.   But that's part of what we like about it.   Perfect to hold a bloom on the vanity in our bathroom. 

We were even more surprised to find it on sale at Lord & Taylor for $14!  Every other store had it listed at $35 including Bloomingdales and Bergdorf Goodman.  And then we found a promotional code (WINTER) that gave us an additional 20 percent off.   Bringing the price down to around $11.

So we ordered 8 thinking they will make great gifts.   Or, perhaps, perfect for a dinner party for 8.  One vase at each place setting holding a single flower.  Perhaps we should buy in bulk and resell on ebay!   Our boat has come in and we are ready, so ready, to sail!

To get one, or more, for yourself visit the Lord and Taylor website.   And don't forget to enter the promo code during checkout.

Haters Gonna Hate

We're excited!  The new season of Downton Abbey starts tomorrow night.

We visited the Shop PBS website and found a number of their Downton Abbey t-shirts are on sale for $9.99 (regularly $25.00).  We then searched around and found a promotional code (CROSS25) that gave us an additional 25 percent off.  So they ended up being about $7.50.   Unable to pass up a good sale, we ordered 4 different ones and got free shipping.

Our favorite is Haters Gonna Hate featuring the villains everyone loves to hate--Thomas and O'Brien. A must-have for any Downton Abbey fan.

Tune in tomorrow for the start of season 4.

Happy Holidays and... A Festive Drink Recipe

Yes, it is that time of year again.  Time for a good, stiff festive drink!

We found what looked to be an interesting recipe.   And with the help of Brother Kent and GamGam we found all the ingredients.  We used Templeton Rye.  The VERY BEST rye whiskey, in our opinion, and it's produced right here in Iowa.  But, alas, we couldn't find any of the other exotic ingredients in our home state.   That's where Brother Kent and GamGam come in.   Brother Kent picked up the St. Elizabeth's Allspice Dram at the Village Bottle Shoppe in Lafayette, Indiana and the Punt e Mes vermouth at Lambrecht's Liquors in St. Joseph, Michigan.  GamGam found the root-beer liqueur produced by Art in the Age at Tiffany's Wine and Spirit Shoppe in Kalamazoo, Michigan.   

When it was time to mix, GamGam taught us how to create a twist of orange.  What fun!  How festive!

 

Instead of making cocktails one at a time, borrowing a mixology trend, we prepared them in batches and served with flair.

Most of us agreed we liked this strange brew, a spiced wintery cocktail.  Even GamGam who after a few declared, "it tastes like a dental office smells."  So, naturally, we christened our holiday drink The Root Canal.

The Root Canal

12 ounces bonded rye

12 ounces Punt e Mes vermouth

3 ounces root-beer liqueur (preferably Art in the Age Root) 

1 1/2 ounces allspice liqueur (preferably St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram) 

24 ounces water

Combine the ingredients in a pitcher and stir well. Chill for at least 4 hours, until very cold. Serve on the rocks with orange twists.

Downton Abbey's Hugh Bonneville has a Tibetan Terrier

Hugh Bonneville on the line.

We were happy to learn that Downton Abbey's Lord Grantham, actor Hugh Bonneville. has a Tibetan Terrier.

"I have a Tibetan terrier. I'm still not sure if Teddy's a genius or very thick. It's a fine line," the actor recently revealed in an interview with the BBC.

Bonneville says he has also learned that dogs and their owners do, indeed, tend to be very alike in character.  "Mine is a Tibetan terrier who gets under everyone's feet, then stops to lick himself for no reason, so we all fall over him."

Then, we came across this piece written by Teddy for Tattler.

WHAT'S IT LIKE TO BE...TEDDY, HUGH BONNEVILLE'S DOG

Let's get one thing straight. I don't live at Downton Abbey. I am Hugh's real-life dog - his actual best friend and not some part-time, performing gimp. Jealous? Me? Not at all. Isis the lab may get to hang out on set with Hugh, Shirley MacLaine and Dame Maggie Smith, but he's never allowed into any of the Crawley bedrooms and, when the cameras stop rolling, he's just like any other hound.

I get to sleep on Hugh's bed. It's a pretty cosy spot. Normally, it's just me, Hugh and Mrs Bonneville, unless the cat sneaks in - then it gets a bit crowded. I always maintain my dignity by keeping quiet and staring into space until I have him to myself again. When I'm not eating anything I can find, you'll catch me barking at nothing, sniffing any available crotch or being dragged like a sack of potatoes across the hall for a walk.

I think exercise is overrated but, once I get into the woods, I give in and let Hugh have his wretched romp, while I stalk twigs and have the occasional argument with my tail. If I'm feeling really frisky, I'll roll in some fox poo. This never has a happy ending. I have to have a bath afterwards and I loathe any type of grooming. I'd like to sue whoever invented the electric dog-clipper for cruelty. And I categorically refuse to win Crufts. Ever.

It's That Time of Year....

The Obama's holiday card arrived today.   A pop-up card featuring Bo and Sunny!

You may remember that last year's card featured a beautiful rendering of Bo painted by an artist from Iowa.

The Daily Mail in London is reporting that this year's card is going for $150 on ebay, but we wouldn't part with ours!  At least not til it hits $1500!

The holiday card, a tradition that stretches to the early 20^th century, began with the country’s notably hushed president: “Silent Cal” Coolidge.