It’s been quite a week of ups and downs. Bonus – mostly ups, but those few days of down can really put a sour spin on everything if you let it, and unfortunately, I let it. Working every weekend has thrown my weeks off, so happy Friday to me! These next two days of “weekend” couldn’t be more welcome.
My official week (last Tuesday) started off pretty well with two thick slabs of my vegan whole grain quinoa bread smothered with avocado, red pepper flakes, olive oil and goat cheese that was just starting to get past its prime.
I got a closing date for my house! This means furniture shopping! And since I’m poor and about to be mortgage-poor, this meant a trip to the relatively affordable IKEA (Disneyland for adults!) where I got two ten dollar side tables of questionable quality and a ton of pretty soft paper lights to glow up the new house.
We got caught in a snow flurry on the way back and pulled off for a hearty chicken ‘n cheddar potato lunch and a snake bite while watching the soft flakes plummet to the ground where they immediately melted.
It had warmed up a bit by the next day and I took the monumental photo of my car passing 18,000 miles! I don’t think you understand what a huge deal this is… I bought my car January of last year and had put 14,000+ miles on it by the time I left at the end of August. I’m so happy not to be driving hundreds and hundreds of miles every week!
The cabinets are in at my house! Well, they’re in the garage, but that’s pretty dang close!
On the drive back I passed Odell Brewing and said out loud, “If the Waffle Lab is there, I have to stop.” And it was. So I did. The Waffle Lab is a food truck with an incredible sounding menu that everyone raves about and I hadn’t had the opportunity to try. Go big or go home? I got the Front Range Chicken and Waffle smothered with rosemary gravy. I could’ve died of happiness. The softest, most flavorful savory waffle I’ve ever had with warming spices from the rich gravy and perfectly tender and crispy fried chicken. I paired that with a refreshing Leprechaun Session Pale (I couldn’t just go in to a brewery for the waffle – that would’ve been rude) and relaxed while enjoying the the ambiance of the bustling taproom.
I woke up to the most wonderful mail call anyone could ever hope for on Saturday morning. A huge box stuffed with a giant container of Bhakti Chai concentrate (I have been obsessed with this since I first discovered it at Crankstein last year), two gorgeous glasses, a cute hat and warm fuzzy sweatshirt greeted my day. I won part of this giveaway (the chai and glasses) on Lauren’s blog at the end of December and patiently waited for it to arrive. And waited. And waited. Finally last week, I sent Lauren a quick message asking if it might be on its way. Turns out they’d forgotten to send it over at Bhakti Chai, so they more than made up for it by including the adorable hat and sweatshirt! Thank you so much to both Lauren and the Bhakti Chai team!
I had my first mug right then and there. Half of the container is already gone. I LOVE BHAKTI CHAI!!!
Sunday was the St. Patrick’s Day celebration at the brewery. We opened at 10am to greet those people who needed an excuse to start drinking before noon and had a food truck/cart come in with corned beef and cabbage hash and fried eggs. Not the most visually appealing, but the perfect food to balance out a morning brew, I guess. I stuck with my mug of Bhakti.
The elk are back!!! Spring is really peeking its head around the corner, despite the blustery snow that’s on its way down from Wyoming right now. Oh wait… Yup, it just arrived. Flakes are flying right outside now.
I needed to blow off some angry steam I had after the last two days at work, so the archery range was in order. Apparently being pissed off really helps my aim.
Today has one final day of work on the books followed by a relaxing evening reading in front of the fireplace, and it couldn’t come soon enough.
Have I mentioned how much I love Bhakti Chai yet? Just checking.
Do you have any local food or drink companies that you’re obsessed with? Support local!
Like cooking artichokes requires a large pot. And wine.
Boil-over. My stove top and floor had needed a good scrubbing, to be fair.
Floor-scrubbing stress gone.
And success! I am most definitely investing in a steamer basket to save myself from another traumatic incident such as this.
I’m thinking most of you may have guessed by now, but I left Loveland Aleworks a while back to pursue some other endeavors that will be elucidated upon soon enough. These babies are officially out of retirement!
Mash!
Mash Mash Mash!
Fermentors – my happy view. Bonus points: What’s the difference between fermentors and fermenters? Answer in the comments for a chance to win a copy of Craft Beer for the Homebrewer! I’ll choose a winner on July 21st.
Rehydration/celebration/caustic cleaning time.
I started off Independence Day in the most Murika’n way I could think – Chicken and waffles smothered in rosemary sausage gravy and maple syrup from The Waffle Lab. If you ever get out to Fort Collins, this food truck is a must-try!
Kara and I went to watch the downtown parade which was incredibly quaint and cute. I love the small town feeling I get here! The rest of the day was spent lazing about with power naps interjected here and there, and completed with a taste of my old life in my new life!
Ahh, good old Firestone! I remember when they created 805 to be exclusively sold in the 805 area! Apparently that didn’t last long. I enjoyed the fireworks from the comfort of my own front porch while listening to music and sipping brews before all my friends flocked to my house with more beer to watch the local fireworks displays going off all around the neighborhood.
Now it’s time to start another crazy week!
