rhubarb season

Rhubarb season comes later in the Upper Midwest and stays longer than in other parts of the country. I tried a new recipe for cinnamon-rhubarb muffins, and they were delicious! The batter relies heavily on sour cream, and it has a texture unlike any other muffin batter I've made.

I made Martha's rhubarb syrup again, and we tried it in champagne cocktails, which were sadly rather disappointing. Far too sweet! And I'm a Nordic type with a sweet tooth, so that's saying a lot. I'll try it again, but with brut champagne. On the other hand, a rhubarb gin fizz is amazing.

Rhubarb Gin Fizz

2 oz. gin

a generous dash of rhubarb syrup

club soda 

2 lemon slices

Pour the gin, rhubarb syrup, and club soda in a lowball glass with ice cubes. Stir. Top off with soda water, squeeze in a slice of lemon, stir again. Garnish with the second lemon slice. Relax and enjoy, preferably while sitting on the veranda.

I'm knitting a Buttermere shawlette with this lovely rhubarb-colored yarn that I picked up at last summer's Midwest Fiber & Folk Art Fair -- Knitting Notions Classic Merino Bamboo in "Ruby." Easy pattern, perfect for toting around with me. The picture just shows the plain-jane stockinette part, but I just knit the lace border, and let me tell you, it was so nice to knit. Lace is the best.

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Erik inherited my love of books, though he's more interested in gnawing on them than I am. He takes Sandra Boynton's smaller board books everywhere. I swear, that woman must sleep on a pile of money. 

 Showing off his lovely teeth! Another one is about to pop through on top.