Bobwhite Quail

Bobwhite Quail The Early Bird Catches The Worm

Bobwhite Quail Mother's Day Card

What's the most refreshing drink in the world?

1. Lemon/Lime Water

Juice of one half lemon/lime in a glass of pure water with fresh mint and ice cubes.

2. Organic whole milk in a glass bottle

If you don't have whole milk, add 2 tablespoons of heavy cream and 3 tablespoons of water to two cups of skim or 1% milk.

3. Coconut Water

Cut or smash open a young organic coconut, and pour out the water, then drink. Full of refreshing, delicious enzymes and nutrients.

4. World's Most Refreshing Drink-- Dogh?

Iran can get hot. Which is probably why Persia produces the most satisfying hot weather drink we know. It's called dogh (or dough or dugh) and it blends salty yogurt with mint, cucumber, and club soda. You can buy it at Persian stores or restaurants but we prefer to make our own versions of this frizzy creamy dream by blending kefir (fruity or plain) with seltzer water and ice (photo left). Mmmmmmmm.

5. Banana Mango Juice

Banana Mango Juice: Buy it at whole foods or put two mangoes, three bananas, and ice in a blender and create a smoothie.

6. Lemon-Orange water *or* Plain Orange Juice With Fizzy Water

Orange Juice: Take orange juice. Add fizzy water and garnish with a slice of lemon. Sip from a straw.

Lemon-orange water: 

Ingredients:

1 navel orange, sliced

1 lemon, sliced

2 quarts water

ice

fresh mint

Directions:

1) First, slice your lemon and orange in thin slices (about 8 for each)

2) Fill your pitcher half way up with ice.

3) Add your lemon and orange slices. (in a decorative manner).

4) Fill with your water (I use bottled)

5) Pour in a glass filled with ice and about 5 mint leaves.

7. Best Lemonade Ever

1 ¾ cups white sugar

8 cups water

1 ½ cups lemon juice

8.  Cucumber water

What you need is something refreshing, not too flavorful or sweet and easy to make. Hello cucumber water!

Cucumber water is possibly the most refreshing drink I've personally tasted. And it's natural.

So how do you make cucumber water? It's pretty simple. There's two ways you can do it, but both need a bit of prep time, so it helps to know ahead of time when you've got guests coming. With the first method, which gives you the most flavourful water, you blend up a cucumber before hand and then pour it through a very fine strainer (I like to line a sieve with cheesecloth). Let this concoction drip through in the fridge overnight. The resulting cucumber juice is mixed with a pitcher of water (you can stretch this out this depending on how strong you like it - I like mine with just a hint of flavour).

The other method is to cut up a cucumber into small chunks, cover in the amount of water you want to drink and let it soak in the fridge overnight. In the morning, strain the mixture and discard the cukes.

For my own personal recipe I like to add a few other things. Mint makes the drink even more cooling and refreshing. If you add mint, blend it in with the cucumber in the first method, or, if using the second method, chop the mint and let it soak with the cucumber chunks in the water overnight. I also like to add a squeeze of lime before serving or you can place a half lime in with the concoction you're soaking overnight.

When all is said and done you've got a subtly flavoured, refreshing beverage you can serve over ice. I find it's surprisingly addictive, so make a bunch or it'll be gone in no time.

8. Passionfruit Puree with Strawberry Puree with water and ice

9. Aqua Fresca

Ingredients:

4 cups drinking water

2 cups fresh fruit

1/4 cup sugar

2 teaspoons lemon or lime juice

lime or lemon wedges for garnish

Preparation:

In a blender combine water and fruit. Puree until smooth. Pour mixture through a sieve into a pitcher or serving container. Stir in lemon or lime juice and sugar. Add additional sugar to taste. Garnish with a lemon or lime wedge.

10. Lime Slush ties with Watermelon Slush

Watermelon Slush

6 ice cubes

2 cups cubed seeded watermelon, blended in a blender

1 teaspoon honey

Lime Slush:

7-8 tablespoons lime juice


1 12 ounce can 100% white grape juice concentrate


5 fresh mint leaves


lots of ice (enough to fill the blender)


cold water, as needed

Blend juice, juice concentrate, mint, and ice. Add small amounts of water to help the mixture blend well. Blend on high until ice is smooth. Serve in glasses with sprigs of fresh mint.

Top ten songs to listen to when you're in a melancholy mood

1. "Wild Horses" by Susan Boyle

2. "No", by Shakira

3. "Make Me Wanna Die", By Taylor Momsen

4. "Only Girl in the World", By Rihanna

5. "F***ing Perfect", by Pink

6. "Right Now (Na Na)", by Akon

7. "If Everyone Cared", by Nickelback

8. "Whiskey Lullaby", by Brad Paisley

8. "Letter to Me", by Brad Paisley

10. "Breakaway" by Kelly Clarkson

White Owl Flies Into And Out of The Field By Mary Oliver

Coming down out of the freezing sky

With its depths of light

Like an angel, or a Buddha with wings,

It was beautiful, and accurate,

Striking the snow and whatever was there

With a force that left the imprint

Of the tips of its wings —five feet apart —

And the grabbing thrust of its feet,
And the indentation of what had been running
Through the white valleys of the snow —
And then it rose, gracefully,
And flew back to the frozen marshes
To lurk there, like a little lighthouse,
In the blue shadows —
So I thought: 
Maybe death isn't darkness, after all,
But so much light wrapping itself around us —
As soft as feathers —
That we are instantly weary of looking, and looking,
And shut our eyes, not without amazement,
And let ourselves be carried,
As through the translucence of mica,
To the river that is without the least dapple or shadow,
That is nothing but light — scalding, aortal light —
In which we are washed and washed
Out of our bones.