Wild West

Okay So…
Driving home from Colorado took us through wide open spaces, beautiful scenery and a look at the history of the Wild West. I am always looking for the culinary bent to towns; we passed through Chugwater Wyoming where they have a chili cook-off in June. We are thinking of entering.
Further along the road a billboard advertising the annual Testicle Festival.
Now those of you know me well - my tendency to exaggerate for the sake of the story, knows even I cannot come up with this stuff.
The “Testy Festy” happens at the end of August in the town of Clinton Montana, the billboard ended with “Have a ball” ! What can I say?

Absinthe makes the heart grow fonder

While imbibing the illegal beverage with brave friends - thoughts of the artists and poets of the nineteenth century contributed to the mystique of the famous beverage. Did Van Gogh really cut off his ear under the influence?
The most dramatic thing that happened is the ceremony involved with the pouring of the smuggled spirit. A shot of absinthe is poured into beautifully etched glass - an ornate slotted spoon is placed across the rim of the glass and 2 cubes of sugar is placed on top. Cold water is poured through the top that turns the spirit milky. It is a licorice flavor similar to Ouzo.
Conviviality reigned!