#lemon and spice and naughty and nice

[thekats]

I may have made an oopsie while drinking with my mum last night (we were watching a show, she did not see this!)

[fifithefabulous]

SPcollect Dreamland Vol. 2 fragrances

Doppio Dropscythe: Gourmet wood fragrance

In the black forest in winter

Gorgeous masquerade

This is his masterpiece, a magical dream

Patchouli and Oud are a tall and deep forest

The cold and fresh smell of juniper berries comes to you,

Like the first snow in winter

Looking back, it feels like I have entered a warm and gorgeous masquerade ball

The aroma of roses and milk sugar creates a romantic waltz

The great magician salutes with his hands behind his back and invites you to join us for the first dance tonight.

TOP

Patchouli, Cocoa Bean, Oud, Sweet Orange

MIDDLE

Juniper berries, rose, dulce de leche, vanilla pods

LAST

Blackcurrant leaf, amber, cedar, musk

Elira Pendora: Floral fragrance

Walk like lilies

Blooming majestically in the dim light of morning

Morning dew drops on the white petals

Basil and pear bring a sense of wisdom and restrained elegance

The scent of melon and cotton is like her gentle fingertips

When dawn rises, mountain lilies and freesias bloom in the morning light

She walks gracefully in the quiet valley,

Bring a sunshine rain that purifies all things

TOP

Basil, pear, honeydew melon, cotton

MIDDLE

Mountain lily, freesia, rose, osmanthus

LAST

Vetiver, white musk, patchouli

Millie Parfait: Fruity fragrance

The black cat witch's special elixir

On a full moon night, sincerity brings wisdom

The naughty black cat overturned a basket of first-picked apples

Elegant daisies and lychees compose a lovely waltz

The Calamity Witch brews a sweet-smelling elixir under the moonlight

Orange blossom and sweet pea bring a spell of vitality and brightness

The bark of the red teak wood is engraved with words:

Produced by Witch, quality guaranteed. The effect is better on full moon nights.

TOP

Daisies, lychees, plums, apples

MIDDLE

Orange blossom, lemon, rose petals, sweet peas

LAST

Grapefruit, vetiver, red teak

Yang Nari: Gourmet floral fragrance

On the soft grassland

Shepherd Girl's Ditty

By her side, there will always be a happy season of falling cherry blossoms.

Use sweet peaches and honey to make a sweet statement to conquer the world

A plain with wild ginger flowers and lilies of the valley in full bloom, full of endless possibilities

Clean morning dew falls on fresh and innocent strawberries

It's such a nice weather today

Take a sweet nap with the sheep

TOP

Sweet peach, honey, pink pepper, wild ginger flower

MIDDLE

Sakura, lily of the valley, strawberry

LAST

Amber, sandalwood, frankincense

Shu Yamino: Oriental floral fragrance

In the mysterious mist dream

He holds the key to dreams

In the mist, an incredible encounter with the dream traveler

Bright bergamot and black tea aroma intertwined, refreshing and slightly sweet

Frankincense and papyrus are like his gentle and polite greetings

Walk through fields of peonies and irises in bloom

Travel through the wilderness scented by beeswax and teak wood

Follow the breath of orris root and explore the boundaries of dreamland

TOP

Bergamot, black tea, frankincense, papyrus

MIDDLE

Peony, iris, beeswax, teak

LAST

Ambergris, Orris Root, Bourbon Whiskey

Uki Violeta: Oriental citrus fragrance

Clear and awe-inspiring, quiet and healing

The cradle of dreams of stability

The reclusive dream teller keeps dreams

Under the starry sky, the scent of bitter orange and spices comes.

Guidance to those lost in nightmares in the direction of escape

Jasmine and sandalwood are whispers on the pillow

The silence of Guaiac wood is gentle and powerful

Listen carefully to a quiet good night song

TOP

Bitter orange, bergamot, pepper, cardamom

MIDDLE

jasmine, sandalwood, wine, rose

LAST

Guaiac wood, gin, orris root, amber

Artist: Kanose (@zhujichuzi) on X

Info, Vol. 1, Vol. 3

[effortentries]

Chicken tikka masala and lil bits about my life story so far.

The first recipe i have decided to attempt is Chicken tikka masala. I got the recipe from tiktok and i can say that it tastes extremely delicious. My dad even said that he would pay me to make it again for him.

For all of the recipes i’m going to add the recipe, the method i used to make the food and also a little bit about my life.

So let’s start this journey

Bismillah

Chicken tikka masala (tiktok version)

ingredients

2 Chicken breasts, cubed

Chicken marination:

1 Tbsp paprika

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp coriander

1 tsp garam masala

1 tsp red chili powder

1/2 tsp tumeric

1/2 tsp salt

2 large spoons yogurt

1/2 tsp garlic ginger paste

the juice of half a lemon

Set aside overnight or for a minimum of 4 hours.

Half an onion, finely chopped

Method

Cook chicken on medium heat in oil

Remove chicken from the pan and add it to a different bowl to rest while the sauce is being made.

Add onions to the pan

Add 3 large spoons of tomato paste

Add half a cup of water

Add one cup of cream

Stir the above ingredients together

Add the spices

1tsp of red chili

1 tbsp of paprika

1tsp of cumin

1 tsp of coriander

1 tsp of garam masala

1/2 tsp of black pepper

1/2 tsp tumeric

Cook all in medium heat until the mixture bubbles and the spices stop being raw.

Add the chicken back in and put the pan on low heat and incorporate everything together.

Garnish with dhanya and enjoy :)

And here begins my first story.

I was raised in a loving home. My most beautiful memories are with my mom, she’d do my hair into all different kinds of hairstyles when i was little, they always had to have cute little “goggles” as she’d call them at the ends of them. She’d plait my hair every day. And put little plastic flowers, or whatever pretty looking thing at the end of them.

I grew up Christian, my parents used to regularly attend an Afrikaans church close to tygerberg high school, and if they didn’t, then gospel songs would ring out every sunday from the TV and little me knew all the words.

Primary school, i kept the nice hairstyles until my mom said i was old enough to do my hair myself. Endless alice bands. I was obsessed with alice bands. I was extremely academically inclined, i was third in the grade in grade 5, grade 6 i was seventh in the grade and grade 7 i was fifth in the grade. I was a monitor for the primary school passages, patrolling all around to tell naughty little boys to tuck their shirts in and to walk in a single file line. I was in the representative council of learners where i’d run meetings, patrol every day during breaks around the school while hoping that all i was doing was enough for me to get into Rhenish girls high. It was.

I accidentally forgot a little part, well…not so little, In grade R i did ballet, then i decided to do the 360° switch to karate after i watched the karate kid for the first time. I carried on with karate throughout primary school.

Now, Rhenish girls high.

Driving to stellenbosch from brackenfell everyday was a challenge, tiring bus rides, but i knew that the education that i’d get at that school would be worth it all. And it was.

I got my black belt when i was in grade 9, i ended up quitting karate because balancing school, and it ended up being a challenge as my sensei wanted me to teach some classes to little children as well.

Grade 10 i dropped pure math, i begged my dad to do that, he looked like he wanted to cry but the decision was worth it in the end. Grade 10 was also when i went with raadiah to her Islamic society meetings, just as an observer.

Grade 11. A busy year, i was captain of 2nd team soccer. i was elected into the matric dance committee. That’s when my journey with graphic design began. I attended more islamic society meetings. I helped raadiah with hijab day, when i put the scarf on my head for the first time i somehow knew where my life would end up. End of grade 11 i was elected into the learner council.

Grade 12 i was…extremely busy? too busy? I was the school’s designated graphic designer, i converted to islam in january of that year so i was still learning a lot, I studied hard. I ended up with 6 distinctions Alhamdulilah. I had full academic colors, and full colors for culture since i did choir for all 5 years of high school

January of 2023 i was left to decide on UCT or Stellenbosch.

UCT offered me a scholarship for Bachelor of social sciences, i was also accepted for LLB but no scholarship for that.

Stellenbosch accepted me for BA law (my dream course), and seemingly didn’t give me a scholarship (they did, but their systems were so bad they only sent the money in may).

I picked stellenbosch, it was home.

Anyways, the food tasted amazing, my parents keep on asking it to make it again.

Maybe aunty can teach me how to make it taste better?

Next time, i’m going to speak about my revert story.

[goldenlaurelleaveswrites]

Days of December 14. Naughty

Prompt list

AO3

-------------------------------------------------------------

He glanced around the dim kitchen surreptitiously. No sign of Marinette. 

The coast was clear. 

He grabbed a cookie off of one of the many platters of food standing ready on the kitchen counter. Just waiting to be pulled out when the guests arrived. 

But he couldn’t wait any longer. 

The entire day, the house had been filled with the smell of holiday baking and cooking. The sweet scent of cookies had mingled with the smell of ham and canapés, leaving him salivating as he dragged himself through video conferences. 

The benefit of having meetings over video calls was that he was never far from Marinette if she needed him. The downside was that he had had to sit through the meeting, suffering from the ever-growing delicious smells that had wafted up from the kitchen. 

By the time he had finally finished with his meetings, Marinette had gone to freshen up before their guests arrived. And he had been forbidden from helping himself to samples. At least until the guests arrived. 

But one cookie wouldn’t hurt. And she would never know… 

He bit into the head of the gingerbread man, the delicious flavours of molasses and spices exploded in his mouth. Nutmeg, ginger, and cinnamon danced across his tongue, chased by the soft sweetness of the icing she had used to decorate the cookie. 

He had to hold back a moan. It was probably the most delicious cookie he had ever eaten. 

It didn’t last long. Soon, the gingerbread man was gone. He reached out and plucked a mini tart off of another try. 

The rich, buttery pastry almost melted in his mouth and contrasted with the sharp zing of the sweet and tangy lemon curd. This time, he couldn’t hold back a moan of delight. 

“Just what do you think you’re doing?” 

He jumped at the sound of her voice and whirled to see her standing in the doorway to the kitchen. Her ruby coloured sweater dress brought out the blue of her eyes, which were narrowed in a glare. 

“Those are for the party, Luka. You were supposed to wait until the guests arrived.”

As if by some miracle, the doorbell rang. 

“It looks like the guests are here now,” he said before he popped the rest of the mini tart into his mouth. 

She tried to frown at him, but the corners of her mouth were twitching into the ghost of a smile. “You’re still on the naughty list.” 

He made his way to the door to the kitchen but stopped when he was beside her. He wrapped his arms around her and leaned down towards her. She leaned up, eyes fluttering shut in clear anticipation of a kiss. He stopped just short of her lips. 

Her eyes opened, and she blinked up at him in confusion. With a smirk, he pressed a kiss to the bridge of her nose and then let go. 

He strode towards the door, leaving her sputtering in the hall. 

“What kind of kiss was that?” she called after him. 

“Our guests are arriving.” He tossed her a playful grin over his shoulder. “If I want to make it back onto the nice list, I can’t be selfish and leave them standing out in the cold just so I can kiss you!”  

[inlimahq]

You’ve been invited to Santana’s Se7en Deadly Sins birthday party; a sinful soiree to practice mischief and mayhem amidst your friends. This Friday, Club Halo is transforming into a den of sin and it’s going to be one hell of a party. The gates open at 9 pm and the chaos won’t stop until 3 am or until you pass out, whatever happens first. Food and alcohol will be provided. All guests will receive a gift bag courtesy of club owner Mercedes Jones.

INDULGE IN YOUR SINS

A different sin will be assigned to each room or area of the club, with themed décor, props and games to encourage all guests to have a sinfully good time no matter what circle of hell they find themselves in.

ACEDIA – Bean bags and a projector to play video games on can be found in the Sloth area. Don’t worry, you won’t be moving anything other than your fingers… and not even in a wanky way.

SUPERBIA – A photo booth and selfie area will be set up in the Pride & Vanity section. Vogue-offs will be held here, so get ready to react to the flash with your most vain pose.

AVARITIA – The Greed corner features a poker table. $10 = ten poker chips, including a dare chip. If you bet a dare chip and lose, the person who collects it gets to give you a dare. If you win someone’s dare chip, you’ll choose a dare for them to carry out.

LUXURIA – Abandon all hope all ye who enter the Lust-rave space, a room where you can only go in blindfolded, so you’ll rely solely on your other senses to have fun. Unless it’s a voice you recognize, chances are you won’t know you you’re twerking with or who you’re making out with. Blindfolds are included in the gift bag.

Those who don’t dare walk into the Lust-rave space, can partake in a rousing game of Strip Beer Pong. Some things cannot be unseen, so you’re encouraged to only strip down to your underwear. Wear something naughty, something nice or maybe lace to add some spice.

INVIDIA – Who’s got the best dance moves? The best abs? The best bottle juggling skills? Show off what you’ve got and make everyone else green with Envy.

GULA – The Gluttony area has tables loaded with food and drinks for the party-goers. Whether you’re a Sin & Tonic or On the Righteous Rocks kind of person, pick your poison carefully and remember, don’t drink and drive, call-a-cab.

IRA – The Wrath room has an inflatable punch bag and dartboards with famous villain's faces on to let the party guests take their anger out on. Also, there are blank canvases and spray cans for people to write the things they hate or make them angry.

BONUS! - SPIN THE SIN WHEEL

Let lady luck call the shots! Spin the wheel to find out what devilishly divine shot you’ll have to drink.

Pride (purple): Vodka, Blue Curaçao and Cranberry Juice. Envy (green): Irish Cream and Midori. Wrath (orange): Johnnie Walker, Jack Daniel and Jim Beam. Sloth (light blue): Lemon juice, Blue Curaçao and Coconut Rum. Greed (yellow): Limoncello Gluttony (pink): Tequila Rose, Peach Schnapps, Grenadine and Lemon-lime Soda. Lust (red): Whisky, Amaretto Liqueur and Cranberry Juice.

[avengerscompound]

Soup Weather

Soup Weather:  A Scarlet Witch Fanfic

Buy me a ☕ Character Pairing:  Wanda Maximoff x F!Reader

Word Count:  1303

Warnings:  Smut (Vaginal fingering)

Synopsis:  Wanda comes alive in the winter which makes it your favorite time of year.

Soup Weather

It was a cool crisp day.  Too early in the year for snow, but cold enough that you could wear a winter coat with a hat and gloves when you went outside.  Where any trip out had you return home with chilled cheeks and a numb nose.

Soup weather.

Which was nice because Wanda loved to make soup.

As soon as the weather cooled off if Wanda was at home she was making soup.  She always started with things that she cooked with her mother.  Sour soups that got their flavor from lemon or sauerkraut and were full of vegetables and meats. Sometimes chicken.  Sometimes it was herbed meatballs.  Sometimes it was mince stuffed into peppers.  They were always served hot and with love.  The kind of comfort food that the comfort comes not only from the way it warms you from the inside out but the way it fed your soul with the love she poured into it that had accumulated over generations.

As the season progresses she’d branch out through the rest of Europe Creamy potato soups from Germany.  Warm light consumes from France.  Chicken soups with noodles from Spain and thick pea and ham soups from the United Kingdom.

When she bored of Europe she’d venture into Asia where spice ruled the pot.  Red Lentil soups and Laksas and Phở.  The palate calming again when she reached China and Japan and turned to egg drop soup and dumpling soups, and ramen and miso.

She would do a journey through the world, and as she did, trips to markets became more regular as she searched for ingredients to use.  Small Asian greengrocers, and Russian Delis.  Large outdoor farmers markets and hipster specialty stores.

You would rug up in warm coats and hats and wrap each other in scarves before you left.  You would stay the whole time with your arms linked as you carried your reusable shopping bags, filling them with things on her list or just random things that took her fancy.  A selection of mushrooms and artisan goat’s cheese would make a mushroom soup with goats cheese crostini.  She’d use mini pumpkins and chestnuts to make a roast pumpkin and chestnut soup she’d serve in the pumpkin shell.

Soup season was special.  Wanda thrived in the cold weather.  She looked cute wrapped up in coats and wearing beanies.  She loved the built-in excuse to cuddle.  The way you didn’t try to roll away from her in bed because unlike in Summer, you needed the extra heat.  She loved spending time in the kitchen.  You loved seeing her smiling in the kitchen moving around the room as she added things to the pot on the cooktop.  You loved having her feed you spoons of warm, flavorful liquid to see if you liked it.  You loved how her cheeks and the tip of her nose turned pink from the cold.

That’s why when you stepped out into the street and realized you didn’t have a coat you weren’t annoyed.  You just moved a little quicker.  It had the dual effect of keeping you warm and getting you home sooner.

When you stepped through the door of your apartment you could smell cooking onions and meats with the spiced sour scent that told you she was cooking something from home.

You had expected to find her in the kitchen frying things off and adding stock to it but instead, she was curled up under a soft pink mink blanket, reading a book.

“Aww, no.  I missed prep.” You said, dumping your bag by the side of the couch

She looked up at you and smiled.  It was that smile that reminded you of a wood fire.  Warm and inviting.  “By a lot.  It’s in the slow cooker.  It’ll be done in an hour.  Is that all you were wearing?”

She was the perpetual mom.  The kind of person who just was one whether they had children or not.  Always worrying and wiping food crumbs off your face.  “I didn’t realize how much the temperature dropped.  I was okay when I left this morning.”

She lifted the blanket and patted the spot next to her.  “Come in here and warm up, you goose.”

“Did you just call me a goose?”  You asked as you kicked off your shoes and crawled up beside her so you were partially on top of her.  She wrapped the blanket around you and rubbed her nose against yours.

“You’re so cold.”  She whispered as she rubbed her hands briskly up and down your back.

“You should warm me up.”  You said with a suggestive tease to your voice.

“Why would I want those ice hands on me?”  She giggled.

“Hey, they’re my superpower.”  You said running them up under her sweater over her bare skin.  She shivered and flinched away from you until you reached her breast.  Even under the bra, the iciness of your fingers made her nipple harden and she moaned almost melodically against your ear.

“That’s not fair, and those aren’t superpowers.”  She whined.

“Tell that to my feet.”  You said pressing your socked feet against her calves.

She brought her face right up to yours, her eyes glittering.  “You are so lucky you are wearing socks or I would have tossed you across the room.”  She said before she brought her lips to yours.

You kissed slowly and deeply.  Lips caressing and tongues circling together.  You ran a hand up her skirt and between her legs. The heat from her body a stark contrast to the cold of your fingers.  She tensed and her muscles shivered as you moved your hand higher, stroking your fingers over her cunt.  The heat almost feeling like a furnace against you.

She moaned softly against your lips and she unbuttoned your pants and slipped her hand down into your panties.  You both moved like you were linked together.  Which might actually be true.  She always knew what you wanted, what you planned to do, how to curl her fingers just right to send pleasure coursing through your body and make you lose complete control.

As you ran your fingers in tight circles and random patterns on her clit, she did the same to you.  It felt almost like she was making the same patterns.  When you pushed two fingers into her cunt, the heat and wet squeezing around your digits, hers entered you too.  As you curled your fingers she curled hers and almost as if you were one you brought each other closer and closer to the edge.

Wanda broke the kiss, her head tilted back as she panted.

“God.  You’re so beautiful, Wanda.”  You said, completely breathless.  “I’m close.”

“I know you are.”  She said.  The husky breathless quality of her voice seemed to go straight to your core.

You kept fucking her with your fingers and she yours, each thrust and curl of your fingers pushing against your g-spot.

At once you both seized and came, burying your faces into each other’s necks.

Wanda pulled her hand from your pussy and licked her fingers clean, humming as she did.

“Taste good?”  You asked nipping at her lips.

“Yes, you naughty girl.  You always taste good to me.”

You smile and do the same with your fingers, sucking the salty tang of her pussy off your skin.  “You know what tastes good to me?”

“Me?”  She asked, teasing her lips over yours.

You gently brushed your lips over hers humming.  “Yes, but I was talking about the soup.”

She started giggling and swatted at your ass.  “You are a bad girl and bad girls don’t get delicious soup.”

Your laughter joined hers and you nuzzled in against her pulling the blanket up tightly around you both.  “No, bad girls get much better things.”  You hummed.

[yycwine]

Wines from Domaines Albert Bichot with Delphine de la Fouchardière

When: February 5, 2019

Where: Alt Hotel East Village Calgary

At the invite of our new friend, Tara Zenon from Delf Wines, we braved the frigid cold to taste through 15 wines from Domaines Albert Bichot with export director Delphine de la Fouchardière.  The house of Bichot have been in the wine business since 1831 and as a negotiant and grower, have gone through a quality revolution starting in the early 1990′s.  The company’s vineyards now total 6 estates that cover Burgundy from north to south and we had a chance to taste through a selection of these wines from the 2015 to 2017 vintages.  

To preface, it is important to note the friendly and informative approach of Ms. de la Fourchardière. Managing pouring and providing information to an audience of wine professionals is a challenge but she was up to the task. With a smile and quick wit, she’d showcase vineyard locations and provide harvest details and perspectives helping make sense of this complex array of wines. 

Starting in Chablis, we assessed the 2017 Chablis Village and the 2015 Grand Cru Les Vaudésirs from Domaine Long~Depaquit. Both wines showcased beautiful purity of fruit and terroir where notes of lemon, slate with the grand cru granted added complexity with secondary notes of straw, white tea and flowers.  The warmth and ripeness of the 2015 vintage is on display here, no doubt. Expect pricing to be in the $41 retail range for the regular Chablis and about $110 for the Grand Cru.  

Moving to the southeast in Burgundy about 100km, we arrived at vineyards  for some expressions of Chardonnay.  With all wines from the 2016 vintage, we started with the Bourgogne Hautes - Côtes de Nuits ($36), that showed a nice level of drink-ability with a round ripeness carried by lemony citrus and a clean, acid kissed finish. The Clos De Mouches Beaune 1er Cru ($160) was wound up tight still but the foundation for this wine from the Vineyard of the Bees is sound.  Lemon, grapefruit with solid core of mineral tinged acid make this hard to resist now. Cellaring to 2025 is highly recommended.  We rounded out the whites with Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru ($255) and this is everything you’d expect and more from fruit sourced from these pedigreed vines. Beautiful aromatics of white flowers, butterscotch and lemon carried the same elegant characters on the palate that included notes of hazelnut. The finish is long, evolving with time in the cellar only enhancing the total experience. 

From the Grand and Premier Cru vineyards where Chardonnay shines, we moved to the Còte de Nuits with a comparison of vintage and vineyard leading with the 2015 Gevrey - Chambertin Les Evocelles ($110). This village wine showcased a beautiful perfume and palate with notes of red currant, earth framed by sandalwood and a roundness in the mouth accentuated by the vintages hot, dry summer.  We moved to the 1er cru naughty neighbor vineyard of Romanee-Conti in the 2016 Vosne - Romanee Les Malconsorts ($255).  2016 had a tall order in following the almost perfect conditions of 2015 but this vintage of Les Malconsort has fine floral notes alongside layers of dark cherry. The pedigree of the terroir shines here and likely this is the closest that most will get to the storied wines of Romanee Conti. Certainly not inexpensive but not out of the realm of splurge / cellar worthy should the occasion call. The tasting finished with a duo of Grand Cru expressions from the great 2015 vintage and while these were wound up tight, it is easy to see what investing in these will bring: massive enjoyment. In terms of early accessibility, the Echezeaux Grand Cru ($327) led as a monolith of red and black berry with notes of licorice, spice, cola and a finish that soared for minutes. The Clos de La Roche Grand Cru ($375) was more stately and quiet than its Echezeaux kin with red berry fruit, oak notes and light spice carrying the experience. This one is built for the long haul and should be revisited in 2025 and beyond. Last but not least was the 2016 Charmes - Chambertin Grand Cru ($312) whose palate and aroma were eclipsed by the Echezeaux only by virtue of the Charmes being slightly more closed down. The structure, fruit and terroir were all present and if the opportunity presents to reassess this alongside the other great Grand Cru wines from 2015 say in 10 years, I would imagine a different outcome.  

Overall, this was an outstanding introduction to the wines of Albert Bichot and I am excited to see these wines in restaurants and fine wine markets across Alberta.  Thanks to Tara, Delphine from Albert Bichot and the staff from the venue Alt Hotel for the amazing tasting.  

If you liked this post, check out the review of the 2013 Ramoney Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru here

[justqcandles]

There is something so comforting and relaxing about candles, especially scented candles. A candle can create a cozy Christmas atmosphere or make a room look fresh and clean. Creating a mood isn't the only thing scented candles can do. Studies have shown that vanilla and other scented candles can have a significant effect on mood, and this effect is highly dependent on the scent of the candle. Here are some of the many ways Vanilla Scented Candle can affect your mood, from cooling to calming and everything in between.

● Elevate and improve mood:

The most remarkable thing that candle scents can do is improve your overall mood. Even if you don't feel sad or upset, candles can help you feel better. Sage and lemon are known to enhance and improve your mood.

Get the best Christmas time, Vanilla Scented Candle today!

The best Christmas scented candles usually contain oranges. The warmth of orange and clove Christmas candles speaks for itself. Candle providers are here for Naughty and Nice, the scent of your favorite Christmas candles. The cozy atmosphere on a warm winter day.

Whether you use a Sweet Orange Candleto brighten and enliven your spring day or a spice-scented candle to warm up your winter night, they have it all for you.

Source

[suninagarajan]

THE DOMESTIC DIFFICULTIES OF MAJOR GENERAL CHARLES SYLERIOUS FORESTER

When Medesh Madavana Ki, flutist of the Royal Court practises holding a note on a chord, he is attempting to mimic in octave and tempo, the Ptunooko bird whose mating call hangs in the morning mists over Hydrabha and Kai-Puriji like an apple in the air or a blossom on a tree. As the King’s Master of the Flute it is his task to entertain the Royal court and to inspire the court poets by creating a sound, known across India to be as sweet as sugar-paste and as lovely as a summer's day, …………………………………………..divine. 

The Ptunooko bird’s scarlet body and long sweeping cobalt tail evokes more Spanish Infanta or English Duchess than the humble parrot origins of the bird. But this does not deter them as they make free to descend upon the statues of the Gods in the many shrines of Hundyrabha where they take the winter sun.  

They do not fear providence because so sweet is their call that it will stop the soul and bring a tear to the eye, so the people of Hundrabha, like the people of Kai-puriji, whatever their caste or profession will offer prayers to the gods for the preservation and safekeeping of their songstryls.

When a Ptunooko bird who has made the journey from Kai-Purji, via Khassi to Hudyrabha for its winter sojourn, lands on the statue of Rama defeating the demons, the founding legend of Hudyrabha, it is not to commemorate the Gods victory in battle.  

Should the people in their ignorance ever forget the honour due to the God, there is, fortunately, another reminder of His triumph, for which the city is rightly famous.  For Rama ever mindful of the souls of his people, left for their protection that brave army that stood with him on the field of battle and defeated the foe, whose glory is still with us today.  The Chebawgua monkeys.

Given their history and association with the city it is unsurprising that the Chebawgua monkeys, veterans of Rama’s wars, are deferred to by the people and have free access to roam through Hudrabha at will, for it is thought bad luck for any in the city to harm a monkey or shew it from a kitchen or a garden or a parlour. 

They will take from table and purse and headdress with no thought for occasion or status. Many a Hudyrabha bride will be poorer at the end of her wedding day with stolen bangles or earrings or other valuable dowry items swiped from her unguarded purse, and it is not unusual for the mango’s to be pinched from market stalls or a lemon-ice lifted, with a long fingered whip, from a child’s sticky hand. 

So when a three year old female Chebawgua jumps into the open window of Colonel Rawlins’ office because she is attracted to the sleeve of the green and purple striped silk gown he is wearing, which she spies from her pear tree perch, Colonel Rawlins having long since concluded that whatever buffoon was in charge of the regulation dress code had never paid a visit to Kangalhi, had no notion of her naughtiness nor did he flinch when she compounded her felony with a swipe of her paw and drained the brandy from the bottle that the coolie had brought with his pigeon lunch, adding to her already perfect day. 

In fact Colonel Rawlins, man of the company, who had been in Kangalhi for eighteen months as that twit Harcourts’ second-in command, would not have noticed if a battalion of Chebawgua monkeys with Rama at its head had marauded through his office and invaded the parade ground. 

Colonel Rawlins, was a man who until an unfortunate gaff at a regimental dinner some two years ago, was doing quite nicely in the Company having risen through the ranks with much ease and little maneuvering.  He had made a bit of money in the Hindu wars and had seen some action in Flanders where he was appointed staff officer to the Duke -  of all things! 

In between a spot of horse trading, balancing mess bill and domestic accounts in a manner not dissimilar to a plate spinner at a fair, he had manage to pay of debts, tradesmen and bailiff enough as to avoided the clink most of the time, his dear fecunditious wife Annabelle having accommodate herself to Newgate less times than crows turn to manslaughter in their fifteen years of matrimony together, a matter of some pride to them both.

He had acquitted himself adequately enough to come to the attention of certain honorary military gentleman and there was even talk of promotion, but then an unwise joke made on that same commander, regarding an unfortunate habit with trumpets and trousers, recounted as an apple for amusement of fellow travelers one evening when the claret was flowing and the stories of battle proliferated as tomatoes on the vine. Put a rather unexpected and inconvenient dent in an otherwise promising and excellent career.

Due to him serving most of his commission both under the Duke’s command and at his side throughout the peninsular campaign and beyond, he had become known in the clubs, dining halls and better establishments of England as the “Duke’s Arm”. A reciter of tales  who was “as good as having tea with the Duke on the eve of the battle” as was muted by more than one pamphlet. 

It had taken Rawlins, a straight-forward sort of chap though theatrical of mind, some long awkward moments to realise that his dinner companions were no longer the braying donkeys of his amusements, as he sung like a songbird his liturgy of remembrances. He had felt, given the company and the nature of chaps in general and battle-hardened army chaps in particular,  that some earthier, saucier, amongst-men sort of humor was called for. This at first had been widely encouraged by the officers present, their ladies having long since departed seeking fairer society.  His stomach and his purse, hung on expectations that he would delight and enthral the company with an ever ready quiver of polished monologues in his actors folio. An able sort chap, with an eye for a chance, Colonel Rawlins layered his cake like a profiterole. 

It was both shocking and upsetting then, when a few days later Rawlins had started hearing rumours of overseas postings and phrases such as “ungentlemanly” and “not an officer”  were whispered in his hearing. Inevitably, and as in the way of things,  steps were taken and in order to avoid the embarrassment of all, or any unavoidable difficulty which might prove awkward in polite company, the Colonel quietly left his club.  

Perhaps just to spare His Graces blushes for a great reputation may hide a great many secrets, whatever the reason, within a fortnight of Rawlings’s regrettable lapse, he was dumped by the top brass on a packet ship headed for Kangalhi, a hellhole on the other side of the earth, to spend his days babysitting a pin-head with no prospect of seeing Annabelle or the children, or Duggans, or his Norfolk home again anytime soon.

Having spent three months on voyage and another two weeks in port, quarantined, the first thought that poured through Rawlins brain as he finally disembarked in Hudyrabha, his regimental sopheristry being a distant memory was, “it’s hot”. 

His second thought was “it's damn hot”, the third thought, following closely on the heels of the second thought was, “lorks, if a man doesn’t get some good English beer down him quick, a man is liable to expire”. His fourth thought, on making his commanding officers acquaintance was “that imbecile should be flogged for stupidity”, but he settled finally on “Business is booming and business is good”.

He had arrived with the ever amiable Major Maitland, a clever young fellow with a talent for surveying, who had impressed his superiors with his map making skills. They had both some time ago returned from an expedition into unknown territory having spent the best part of eight weeks up country with some collie trackers looking at deposits.

He was eager therefore on his return to Kangalhi to check up on a little bit of business he was taking care of conducted well below the Company’s towering all seeing eye. For Rawlins, who despite his occasional lapses in judgement was an otherwise up to speed sort of chap, had noticed on his arrival in Kangalhi a certain loucheness of temperament, favoured by the Governer-General, which meant all sorts of opportunities were possible for a fellow with an eye to a chance. And if Harcourt was too busy amusing himself with his Mussel-women and drowning in Claret with the Nawab to know or care what he was signing, well that was hardly the concern of the Colonel. 

So it was that a packet of spices, that was meant for Liverpool, duty paid, might find its way to Bristol instead, duty paid.  And if customs men in Bristol were to inquire, they might discover that the license for such imports and taxes due had been signed by a certain Governor-General on behalf of the Company and decide to move on to other less impertinent enquiries instead. No mind then if it was that good christian lady in Bristol, Annabelle and not the Company man receiving goods on the quayside, duty paid.  

It is these concerns then, of a more personal nature, which occupy Rawlins mind rather than monkeys and lunches.  But what the Colonel doesn’t know, can’t know is that at this very moment Major General Forester and Sir Howard of the Boardroom, have Kangalhi in their sights and practices that exclude the Company from the Company’s business may henceforth be considered irregular.  

________________________________________________________________

Major General Forester too has a lot on his mind.  For having decided that the best way to move a donkey was through deception and cunning, his earthen toned mind, determined that the melody that had so intoxicated the Nazmin, french money, french brandy, french whores, might be sung again but to a different tune so as to spin an immutable Indian chief around a balance sheet.

The Governor-General’s efforts to secure the necessary accord, affections and approvals so ardently anticipated and salivated over by the Company, once reports of salt petre, ire ore and timber were known, had fallen far short of the necessary hoped for arrangements. It was at a house party and meeting of the Brayford Hunt, therefore, in the English countryside where Major-General Forester, oak of England, was assigned to the fray when Company man to Company man sir Howard, as smoothly as the unfolding of a newspaper at his English club, sermonised the matter like a Bishop in a pulpit and welcomed Forester into the temple of his mind. 

Once the problem of how to tickle the maharaja's appetites so as to make him forget his reason and follow the lady was posed to that eminent man, the Major-General, whose half framed image would one day grace a wall in a room in a castle in the English countryside conjured the answer wine woman and song. 

It was to Monty Woodehouse then, that excellent and reliable fellow whose relations the Major-General had known socially for some time, and who had acquitted himself so admirably as aide-to-camp for the Major-General’s sojourn in Flanders as to ensure that gentleman never ran out of Madeira, that Forester chose as his weapon of industry.  

Monty had no trouble purloining the several barrels of Irish Whiskey, French Brandy and good Claret, off-the-books, as was required and shortly disposed of the lady of understanding from an excellent London house. But as the gap closed between immutable Indian chief and balance sheet, there were more delicate matters still outstanding for it is often said by those of a military persuasion that to crack a big nut, one needs a big stick .

The noises of pilfering, piracy and derelictions of christian duty that had reached the lofty ears of the Company from their perch in Whitehall, had not overly concerned them. The solution being easily acquired in the form of instilled discipline in the ranks and the unfortunate gentleman’s poor motherless-daughters, the Miss Harcourt’s immediate transport to their fathers presence. 

Those gentle maidens, having acquired the required education in etiquette and deportment for the daughters of respectability and character, at Miss Packenham’s Establishment for Young Ladies of Quality and Society in Clapham, now lived in a modest home in Hampstead with their governess. And who, with that good lady, would be sent post haste on the Company’s account to provide to their dear father the privilege of responsibility in the Christian solace of Mary and Martha.

But with dismissals of “yes, yes, …………...it’ elemental” the ponderings that so obsessed the Chevalier’s palace of cognitive functioning in the English countryside was, “what if the chief should prove fickle?............ or disloyal, and disdain a ladies charms?”

Then the tibit from Kangalhi, pertaining to the health of the heir and the wonders of the alchemists in Germany from the bore at the evening at the Cuthberts, combined with his knowledge of his dear Gertrudes’ own health had revealed the solution to him as if a truth from a tablet. All that was needed was a chemist who could, in his wizardry, successfully infiltrate a noxious brew of chemicals into the elixir of youth:  Anthrophine.

Anthrophine, Carr knew, had been successfully provided to patients like his dear lady who labour under the travails of slow aortic functionings.  If it could be transported, Carr surmised that fateful morning in his office, or if not then made to appear like water into wine, then the immutability of the indian chief may just bend to a father’s care. So it was then that the honorable Lady and her agents and Sir Howard and the Major General, and their agents, scoured the country in search of an alchemist.

But as the head of logic at King’s was at pains to point out when that good Major General held him by the collar until his visage redden into a beatroot of pain, “whereby as alchemies being novel they are oftentimes hard to dissolve”, and that the learning the Major General so earnestly sought had not yet seen fit to arrive on these shores. To which the Major General made free to reply, “Balderdash!”.

So it was then that after twenty four years of blissful harmony bordering on disregard, as evidenced by the on-going survival of their second son Ernest, the good Lord having seen fit to remove that angel young Charles to his heavily cloud. The Major General had on several occasions needed to request of his dear lady, that she “bugger off!”   

Then, as if God himself had heeded the Lady’s cry, Montague Woodehouse, the most useful of chaps, whose Stuart ancestors had centuries ago left Holyrood for Westminster with the first Stuart King and worn the plumed hat of the cavalier for another, heard from one of his regrettable but necessary dalliances with the lower classes that a ship in the docks had recently delivered a cargo of vials to Scotland.

[tonyduncanbb73]

A Christmas-Themed Bar Pops up in Boston This Fall

“Miracle on the Charles River” almost has the same ring to it, right?

For those who get their holiday plans lined up early, this one’s for you. A pop-up Christmas bar will make its way to the Boston area this year, filling the Kimpton Marlowe’s Lobby Bar (25 Edwin H. Land Blvd., East Cambridge) with festive cheer for a month between Thanksgiving and Christmas. First launched in New York City in 2014, Miracle’s reach will extend to two other locations in Massachusetts as well this year: It will appear at the Citizen in Worcester (1 Exchange St.) and at Mystic Station in Malden (139 Pleasant St.), in addition to the hotel in Cambridge, from the day after Thanksgiving on Friday, November 24, through Christmas Eve on Sunday, December 24.

Owner and founder Greg Boehm created the pop-up bar on the recommendation of his mother, temporarily pausing work on opening his cocktail bar, Mace, in New York’s East Village. His pop-up bar brought holiday-inspired drinks and seasonal decorations to the unfinished space, and it was such a success that the idea spread among Boehm’s friends and colleagues. This year marks Miracle’s fourth return to its original space, and it will be under the moniker “Miracle on 9th.”

Those in Cambridge, Worcester, and Malden can expect plenty of holiday cheer and themed cocktails that range from a Snowball Old Fashioned (gingerbread bourbon, bitters, and lemon zest) to Run Run Rudolph (tequila, coffee liqueur, iced hot chocolate, and Mexican spices).

Facebook/Gabi Porter

The Miracle bar features custom glassware, including Santa mugs and coupe glasses, available for sale at certain locations. In the spirit of the season, 10 percent of glass sales will go toward the charity organization Action Against Hunger.

Anyone traveling for the holidays and worried about missing out on this bit of festivity in the Boston area, not to worry: Miracle will be in more than 50 locations around the world (yes, world) this year. For a look at the full cocktail list, see below:

Cocktails

Christmopolitan Vodka, elderflower, dry vermouth, spiced cranberry sauce, rosemary, lime, absinthe mist

Muletide Mezcal, amontillado sherry, allspice dram, ginger, lemon

Bad Santa (served hot) Mulled red wine, tawny port, orange liqueur, spices, golden raisins

How The Gimlet Stole Christmas Gin, pine-caraway sage cordial

Run Run Rudolph Blanco tequila, coffee liqueur, iced hot chocolate, Mexican spices

You’ll Shoot Your Rye Out Pumpkin spiced rye whiskey, Budweiser, marshmallow syrup, egg

Snowball Old Fashioned Gingerbread bourbon, wormwood bitters, lemon zest

Fa La La La La, La La La La Gin, aquavit, hazelnut liqueur, cardamom, vanilla, lemon, egg white, club soda

Yippie Ki Yay Mother F****r! Barbados rum, cachaca, Trinidad overproof rum, purple yam-coconut orgeat, pineapple

Jingle Ball Nog Cognac, amontillado sherry, peanut butter, almond milk, pandan, cream, nougat syrup, egg, nutmeg

Shots

Nice Shot Rum, peppermint, chocolate

Naughty Shot Bourbon, cinnamon

[longislandweekly-blog]

Christmaspolitan (Photos by Melissa Horn)

Snowball Old Fashioned

Bad Santa

Christmas Carol Barrel

Koala-La La La, La La La La

Gingerbread Flip

Run Run Rudolph

Yippie Ki Yay Mother F****r!

Jingle Balls Nog (Photo by Noah Fecks)

And A Partridge In A Pear Tree

Nice Shot and Naughty Shot

Looking for something new to do this holiday season? Expand your holiday cocktail repertoire by stopping into Miracle, the beloved Christmas-themed pop-up bar launched in 2014 in New York City that will continue spreading holiday cheer in Rockville Centre. Open from Nov. 23 through Dec. 30, Cork & Kerry Rockville Centre will be transformed with nostalgic holiday décor and a signature cocktail menu with new cocktails like the “Snowball Old Fashioned,” “Christmas Carol Barrel,” and “Bad Santa” among several others.

“The growth of Miracle and the love that guests have for this concept has been completely amazing,” said manager Joann Spiegel. “Our partnership with Jeff ‘Beachbum Berry’ will be a fun and new way to elevate our Sippin’ Santa locations this year as the love of tiki continues to grow in the U.S. Our partners across the world continually overwhelm us with their creativity and festive good spirits, and we can’t wait to see what’s in store for all of our locations in 2018.”

Spiegel, together with esteemed bartender Nico de Soto of Mace and Danico, have created the much buzzed about roster of Christmas concoctions served at all Miracle locations, all of which will be served in Cocktail Kingdom’s custom Miracle glassware, from mugs to coupes, highballs and rocks glasses.

Miracle on Long Island will also join locations around the country in selling holiday mugs featured on the signature cocktail menu with 10 percent of all sales donated to Action Against Hunger, making the perfect gift that keeps on giving. There’s no better way to get into the holiday spirit than to make plans for a visit.

Located at 24 South Park Ave., Rockville Centre, NY. Open daily from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. For more information, visit www.miraclepopup.com.

COCKTAILS

Christmapolitan

Vodka, Elderflower, Dry Vermouth, Spiced Cranberry Sauce, Rosemary, Lime, Absinthe Mist

Snowball Old Fashioned

Butterscotch Rye, Spiced Demerara, Wormwood Bitters, Orange Zest

Bad Santa (served hot)

Hot Milk Punch with Barbados Rum, Trinidad Overproof Rum, Batavia Arrack, Pineapple Juice, Lemon Juice, Almond Milk, 8 Spices, Coconut Water, Coconut Oil

Christmas Carol Barrel

Aged Rum, Aquavit, Amaro, Pumpkin Spice, Demerara Syrup, Lime, Vanilla, Angostura Bitters

Koala-La La La, La La La La

Gin, Pine, Dry Vermouth, Lime, Eucalyptus Syrup, Orange Bitters

Gingerbread Flip

Bourbon, Gingerbread Syrup, Elemakule Tiki Bitters, Whole Egg, Nutmeg

Run Run Rudolph

Prosecco, Gin, Mulled Wine Puree, Lemon, Cane Syrup

Yippie Ki Yay Mother F****r!

Sweet Potato Barbados Rum, Cachaça, Trinidad Overproof Rum, Dry Curacao, Marshmallow Orgeat, Lime

Jingle Balls Nog

Cognac, Pedro Ximenez Sherry, Brown Butter, Cinnamon, Cherry, Vanilla, Almond Milk, Cream, Sugar, Egg, Nutmeg

And A Partridge In A Pear Tree

Reposado Tequila, Pear Brandy, Mezcal, Spiced Demerara Syrup, Lime, Egg White, Club Soda, Angostura Bitters, Cinnamon

SHOTS

Nice Shot

Rum, Peppermint, Chocolate

Naughty Shot

Bourbon, Cinnamon

Have a little fun this holiday season with fun cocktails, including Christmaspolitan, Bad Santa and Jingle Balls Nog. Looking for something new to do this holiday season? Expand your holiday cocktail repertoire by stopping into Miracle, the beloved Christmas-themed pop-up bar launched in 2014 in New York City that will continue spreading holiday cheer in Rockville Centre.

[justqcandles]

Vanilla Scented Candle, Sweet Orange Candle

How Does Vanilla Scented Candle Change Your Mood?

There is something so comforting and relaxing about candles, especially scented candles. A candle can create a cozy Christmas atmosphere or make a room look fresh and clean. Creating a mood isn't the only thing scented candles can do. Studies have shown that vanilla and other scented candles can have a significant effect on mood, and this effect is highly dependent on the scent of the candle. Here are some of the many ways Vanilla Scented Candle can affect your mood, from cooling to calming and everything in between.

● Elevate and improve mood:

The most remarkable thing that candle scents can do is improve your overall mood. Even if you don't feel sad or upset, candles can help you feel better. Sage and lemon are known to enhance and improve your mood.

● Relaxation of body and mind:

Some candle scents are used to relax the mind and body. These Vanilla Scented Candle are widely used in spas and salons to create a stress-relieving environment. Lavender and sandalwood are most often used for relaxation and entertainment. While lavender can show immediate results, sandalwood needs some time to relax.

● Raise the level of happiness:

While there are scents that can improve your overall mood, there are also scents that can make you happier. Vanilla Scented Candle is the most common candle used to increase happiness. They can also promote feelings of relaxation and joy. Vanilla scented candles not only make your home smell like a stove but also increase your happiness.

● Improve focus:

Sometimes it can be difficult to concentrate. People often chew peppermint gum to focus and wake up their brains. If chewing gum isn't your thing, you can light a candle and enjoy the same benefits.

● Relief from anxiety:

Fear is something that most people face at some point in their lives. If you are a little scared, you can light a scented candle. The best scents for anxiety are apple scents, but frankincense is also a great option to combat anxiety. The latter often reduces stress and can play an important role in reducing the effects of anxiety.

● Find a fragrance for every mood:

As mentioned above, vanilla candles and other scents can do much more than just improve the smell of the room. Distinct scents will do different things for your mood. Some help with anxiety, while others can help you focus or improve your overall mood. No matter what's going on in your life, you can bet a scented candle will heal you somehow!

Advantages Of using the Orange-Scented Candles

"Definition of orange scent: happy and cheerful. A scent reminiscent of a hot summer day". Light lemon color; The world of orange is full of flavors. Regardless of how you know and love it, the freshness of the orange is undeniably beautiful and is one of the reasons it has thrived as an essential oil for aromatherapy.

So What Are The Benefits Of Sweet Orange Candle?

According to experts, the orange scented candle is a mental massage. Do you need a fast burst of energy or just want to get rid of the stress that is hindering you? A simple orange scent loosens almost all of these figurative knots and makes you fresher and happier on the go.

Get the best Christmas time, Vanilla Scented Candle today!

The best Christmas scented candles usually contain oranges. The warmth of orange and clove Christmas candles speaks for itself. Candle providers are here for Naughty and Nice, the scent of your favorite Christmas candles. The cozy atmosphere on a warm winter day.

Whether you use a Sweet Orange Candle to brighten and enliven your spring day or a spice-scented candle to warm up your winter night, they have it all for you.

Source

[harryandmeghan0-blog]

Inside Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's glitzy royal wedding reception party

New Post has been published on https://harryandmeghan.xyz/inside-meghan-markle-and-prince-harrys-glitzy-royal-wedding-reception-party/

Inside Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's glitzy royal wedding reception party

NEWLYWEDS Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had a right royal knees-up at their lavish afterparty, complete with “naughty” speeches, and James Corden playing the court jester.

The bride and groom danced the night away with Harry’s favourite house tracks and Elton John on the piano while guests tucked into “dirty burgers” and candyfloss, The Sun reports.

These were washed down with a cocktail featuring ginger and rum named When Harry Met Meghan in an apparent nod to Harry’s red hair at the bash at Frogmore House.

Prince Charles had royal wedding guests in stitches with a speech about changing Prince Harry’s nappy before a firework display ensured the night went off with a bang.

Harry — introduced by best man William — also delighted guests with an emotional “off the cuff” speech, and drew a rapturous reception when he referred to Meghan as his wife for the first time.

And Wills also didn’t disappoint — reportedly making a “naughty” speech before Meghan broke tradition and stood up to thank the Royal family for “welcoming” her.

A guest at the wedding told the Daily Mail: “Charles spoke about feeding Harry a bottle and changing his nappy, and then said, ‘look how well he turned out.’

“That’s about as embarrassing as it got.

“He ended it calling him, ‘My darling old Harry, I’m so happy for you,’ which was very sweet,” the guest said.

“He said he was very pleased to be asked (to walk Meghan down the aisle) and happy to help out.”

Charity boss Suhani Jalota told The Sun guests were left wiping their eyes during the emotional speeches. “Some people were even crying. I think it was just a very, really nice atmosphere to be in where everybody felt really loved,” Ms Jalota said.

In a particularly touching moment, Prince Charles reportedly paid tribute to Meghan and detailed Harry’s childhood, before complimenting the couple on how “beautiful” they looked.

James Corden also played a surprise role as compere on the night, hosted by Prince Charles in a $538,000 glass marquee in the grounds of Windsor Castle.

Meghan and Harry were earlier seen heading to the more intimate reception, attended by 250 guests, in an E-type Jaguar with the licence plate bearing the date of their wedding.

The bride looked stunning in her second dress — a lily-white Stella McCartney halter neck silk crepe gown, and shoes from Aquazurra.

She also had on an emerald-cut aquamarine ring which Princess Diana wore just weeks before her death in August 1997.

Harry looked dapper in a tuxedo as he helped his wife into the eco-friendly electric version of a 1968 Jaguar E-Type and drove them the 800m from a private apartment in Windsor Castle to the black tie evening reception.

FULL ROYAL WEDDING COVERAGE HERE

Meghan’s girl squad saves the day

‘Who invited him?’: James Blunt’s hilarious retort

Gross reason for Suits star’s ‘bored’ face

Meghan’s post-wedding shock

What people missed about this empty chair

The newlyweds’ arrival was only the latest break in royal tradition for the couple, who were praised for a modern ceremony.

The smitten couple earlier delighted more than 100,000 well-wishers with a romantic kiss on the steps of St George’s Chapel.

The after-party followed a more formal lunchtime reception hosted by the Queen at Windsor Castle, where guests nibbled on luxury canapes.

These included Scottish langoustine wrapped in smoked salmon with citrus crème fraiche as well as warm asparagus spears wrapped in Cumbrian ham with mozzarella and sunblush tomatoes.

They also dined on poached free range chicken in a lightly-spiced yoghurt with roasted apricot and croquette of confit Windsor lamb, roasted vegetables and shallot jam.

They were treated to bitesize slices of the stunning $90,000 lemon and elderflower wedding cake designed by East London baker Claire Ptak.

But the evening was more informal with guests dancing the night away to house music curated by Sam Totolee, who performed at Pippa Middleton’s wedding.

Their first dance was said to have been Whitney Houston’s I Wanna Dance With Somebody, according to The Mail.

A guest told People: “Harry promised that all the Americans wouldn’t steal the swords and said, ‘Please, when you leave, be quiet as you don’t want to wake the neighbours,’ which was quite fun.

“It was more than you would ever imagine it to be. It did feel like we were really part of their very special occasion. It just felt about the two of them, which was great.”

The beaming Royal paid tribute to his bride, and joked that guests should leave quietly to avoid waking the neighbours.

Elton John later brought the house down with a barnstorming set — after Prince Harry quipped: “Can any one here play the piano?”

The superstar played a set including Lion King classic Circle of Life, Tiny Dancer and I’m Still Standing.

FULL ROYAL WEDDING COVERAGE HERE

Diana’s lookalike steals spotlight

Truth about ‘missed’ curtsy

Celebs dazzle at royal after-party

Royals’ touching tributes to Diana

Fergie is back in Royal blue

Meghan stuns in second dress

Charity boss Suhani Jalota told how the speeches left guests wiping their eyes, and said a raucous cheer went up when Harry finally referred to Meghan as his wife.

She said: “Some people were even crying. I think it was just a very, really nice atmosphere to be in, where everybody felt really loved.

“Essentially, it was just about how Harry was as a child and growing up. And now just about the couple and how beautiful they are together.

“So I think it was just about their personalities and how they gel really well together.

“He [Harry] was talking about his wife and you know everybody was clapping because it was the first time he was using that term for Meghan so it was really nice.”

Jalota, who founded the India-based Myna Mahila charity, told how Elton John then wowed guests with a small concert.

She said: “He was incredible. It became like a mini-concert in the reception area. It was great.”

But the party was lacking a father-of-the bride speech after Meghan’s dad Thomas Markle Senior pulled out of attending over health fears.

While both princes reportedly impressed attendees at the evening function, some guests may have been left disappointed by the omission of the groom’s late mother in speeches.

According to the Daily Mail, a guest at the reception said there was “no mention of Diana in the speeches”.

After the reception ended, boozed-up guests reportedly travelled to the trendy Chiltern Firehouse in London to carry on the night.

Some of the A-listers who attended the wedding held an “after-afterparty” at the bar in Marylebone at around 1am.

The nuptials at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle featured a showstopping sermon from an American preacher and a moving rendition of Stand By Me by a black gospel choir.

Bishop Michael Curry’s lively speech had viewers talking — it was either a much-needed injection of power and passion or a rambling, “WTF” moment.

At various points in his rather lengthy speech, those inside the chapel could be seen smirking and stifling giggles — and that includes several members of the extended royal family.

Meghan’s wedding dress was designed by British designer, Clare Waight Keller of Givenchy and contained an incredible hidden tribute to Commonwealth nations in the veil.

Kensington Palace said Meghan chose the designer for her “timeless and elegant aesthetic, impeccable tailoring, and relaxed demeanour.”

This story first appeared in The Sun and is reproduced here with permission.

– with Hannah Paine, news.com.au

[yorkshirewines]

Santa's checking his list...he's checking it twice to see whose been naughty or nice...at $179.99 Champagne Louis Roederer Brut Cristal will put you at the the top of the nice list! Stop in at Yorkshire Wines & Spirits and grab it one while the savings last! 97 Points By - James Suckling : Deep pinot-driven presence is the first and lasting impression. Power with control. Superfine bead, bread and spiced biscuits, candied ripe red fruits and a sense of tight-knit complexity. Some grapefruit, lemon pith & gently flinty notes too - impressive nose. In the mouth it is rich, powerful, mouth-filling and flavorsome with a core of the same biscuity red fruit flavor, savory nutty notes and a wrap of assertive, persistent acidity that holds rich powerful flavor deep and focused whilst maintaining a polished, gently creamy texture. Long chalky bread and biscuit finish. A superb pinot-driven vintage. 97 Points By Decanter: Fantastic from the start. A colossal power of beautiful rumbling Pinot maturity. It's like chewing on the ripest grapes from Ay and Verzenay. At the same time ultra stylish: unmistakable Cristal essence of peach and mango sweetness, pineapple, coconut, vanilla, sprightly acidity and citrus blossom. Many similarities with 2002 but with a clearer Pinot touch. Shop Online: Yorkshirewines.com Phone Order: 212.717.5100 #Champagne #Brute #Sparkling #Bubbly #Yorkshirewine http://ift.tt/2Bml5MK

[twelvebyseventyfive]

Texsom: Germany’s finest – VDP Grosses Gewächs

This TexSom tasting focused on Grosses Gewächs: these are wines produced from top vineyard sites in Germany by members of a high-end producers club called the VDP, which began life in 1910. As with all things to do with German wine, things are complicated, and explaining the details of how the VDP’s vineyard classification isn’t a simple business.

VDP stands for Verband deutscher Prädikatsweingüter (which translates as the Association of German Superior Quality Wine Estates). Fortunately, it’s simply abbreviated as VDP. There are around 200 members (you get invited to join after expressing an initial interest), and each member is reevaluated every five year. It’s an elite grouping when you consider that Germany has 30 000 winegrowers.

The whole point of the VDP is grading terroirs, with a view to recognizing the best. Since a revision in 2012, vineyards are classified on four levels:

VDP Grosse Lage (equivalent to Grand Cru)

VDP Erste Lage (premier cru)

VDP Ortswein (village level)

VDP Gutsein (regional)

Only the first two tiers are allowed to mention the vineyard name on the label. So a Grosses Gewächs (GG) is a top wine made from a Grosse Lage by a member of the VDP. These wines have to be dry (under 9 g/l residual sugar), and they are the wines we tasted in Wiesbaden. There’s one more layer of complexity: for each region, only certain varieties can make GG wines. If you see GG on a bottle, then you know it is pretty serious, and that it’s made in a dry style (trocken) from a top vineyard site.

In some ways, this classification is an attempt to recover what was lost with the German wine law of 1971, and amalgamated 30 000 sites and consolidated them into 3000 accepted vineyards. At this time, quality was defined by must weight. This lost a lot of the differentiation of interesting terroirs.

Gutswein is high calibre entry level wines and come from an estate’s holdings. Ortswein comes from the villages best vineyards, but ones that aren’t higher graded. Other varieties can be used. Erste Lage comes from a premier cru vineyard as designated on the old maps. Maximum yield is 60 hl/ha, and only traditional varieties are allowed. The Ahr, Mittelhein, Mosel, Nahe and Rheinhessen don’t use this classification. They go from Orswein to Grosse Lage. Grosse Lage is grand cru equivalent, with traditional varieties and maximum yield of 50 hl/ha. VDP Grosses Gewãchs is the name for a dry wine from this site, and each producer can only produce one GG from each site.

To illustrate how confusing German wine can be, one of the wines included in this tasting labelled in the tasting sheet as a Grosses Gewächs actually isn’t. Louis Guntrum in the Rheinhessen isn’t a member of the VDP. But owner Konstantin Guntrum thinks his Hipping holdings are GG standard, so he trademarked the name ‘Louis Guntrum Grosses Gewächs’ which he uses on the label. It’s a subtle and naughty move that even confused the organizers of this tasting.

THE WINES

Rainer Sauer Silvaner Escherndorfer Lumpen 1655 GG Sylvaner 2014 Franken, Germany Lovely stuff. A bit saline and very mineral with a nettley, herby edge to the citrus fruit. Has a lovely texture: quite stony and mineral with nice precision and a salty finish. 92/100

Gut Hermannsberg Riesling Niederhauser Hermannsberg GG 2013 Nahe, Germany This is a monopole. Beautifully floral with aromatic citrus fruit. The palate is linear with really complex, detailed, midweight citrus fruit. It has lovely precision and keen acidity, but it integrates so well into the wine. Has a lovely stony mineral quality, too. There’s a roundness to the fruit, even though there’s high acidity. 94/100

Louis Guntrum Riesling Niersteiner-Hipping Louis Guntrum Grosses Gewachs 2012 Rheinhessen, Germany Note: this isn’t a VDP GG. Good concentration and quite a deep colour. Some herbs and a hint of petrol, showing some development to the melon, pear and ripe apple fruit. A bold, rich style, showing a bit of development. 90/100

Clemens Busch Riesling Pündericher Marienburg GG 2013 Mosel, Germany Lovely intensity here with compact, dense citrus fruits and a keen, stony minerality, good acidity and a touch of honeyed richness, as well as a hint of cream. Really vital and intense with a touch of sweetness and lively acidity. A lovely wine. 94/100

Dr Loosen Riesling Urziger Würzgarten Alte Reben GG 2014 Mosel, Germany This has lovely concentration of powerful but elegant citrus and ripe melon fruit. There’s some richness here with an alluring, fruit-driven palate with good acidity really well integrated, and a bit of sweetness (9 g/l residual sugar). It’s fruity and delicious, but also serious at the same time. Generous and fine. 95/100

Eugen Müller Riesling Spätlese Trocken Forster Kirchenstück ‘Cyriakus’ 2014 Pfalz, Germany This isn’t a Grosses Gewachs because Müller isn’t a VDP member. Supple, dry and fresh with pure citrus fruit. Nicely textured with a linear lemony drive. It’s very pure and quite mineral with a faint hint of smokiness and mintiness. Lovely tension here. 92/100

Von Winning Riesling Forster Kirchenstück GG 2014 Pfalz, Germany Fresh and linear with a lovely lemony undercurrent to the palate, which has some melon and pear richness, as well as some apple notes. Lovely acidity here with a bit of warm spiciness hiding in the background. Lovely density here with a lingering lemony finish. 93/100

Robert Weil Riesling Kiedricher Gräfenberg GG 2015 Rheingau, Germany Really intense, fresh, dry and with high acidity (8.3 g/l), and lovely linear lemon and grapefruit characters. There’s a wonderful mineral core to this wine dancing in and out of the concentrated citrus fruit and the faint hints of lanolin and spice. Very fine and expressive. 94/100

Find these wines with wine-searcher.com

from jamie goode's wine blog http://www.wineanorak.com:/wineblog/riesling/texsom-germanys-finest-vdp-grosses-gewachs For Fine Wine Investment opportunities check out Twelve by Seventy Five: http://www.twelve-by-seventy-five.com/

[fishchowder]

lemon garlic butter sauce for salmon that *professional chef voice* complements a Fine Orange Soda

under the assumption that you’re cooking for two (or one if ur naughty like me)

my friend bergs made this for me when i visited them in richmond so i guess technically this is their recipe but w/ parsley LOL

minced garlic (i normally use 2 spoonfuls)

butter, how much depends on how much salmon/whatever you have, 1/4 a cup is ideal aka half a stick? i think? just do half a stick if ur not sure

lemon juice, probably at least 1/4 a cup also. i sorta try to match or do less than the butter

salt

black pepper

parsley

thyme

rosemary

dill

cook butter, lemon juice, and garlic in a pan until everything’s nice and mixed and heated, pour it over your salmon in a glass container or foil and then bake it w/ it submerged in the sauce-- add the rest of the spices on top

i normally bake at 425F for 12 minutes, it should be 6 minutes for every inch thick the meat is, rounding up

OR: heat olive oil in a pan, burn that bitch, put the sauce over it