Domcat

We've suspected our cat was a gay homosexual from the first. Preliminary confirmation came with the first exhaustive grooming I incredulously witnessed him giving himself, a particular portion of which earned him the nickname "Felcher". If there was any doubt left, it has been banished by the arrival of Leathermouse.

"Sounds like your cat is stimulated by the smell of the leather," observed niemandsrose. She went on to advise us, "Try leather mice or real fur toys." It so happens that the pet store in Andersonville had mice made of leather, so I picked one up and tossed it to him once we were inside the door. OH MY GOD. I think the proper term is "apeshit". The rabbit-fur mouse was also a hit; wrestling with it for a while got him so excited that he tried to leap directly onto the mantelpiece, only to find himself hanging off the edge by his front paws.

While we were there, I stocked up on more cardamom-scented tea at Pars Grocery, where I also found tea made from borage flowers. I was intrigued, since the only use I've ever known for borage flowers is candying for decoration in the manner of violets. It turns out that گل گاوزبان (lit. "ox-tongue flower") isn't exactly the same as the borage of my youth (Echium amoenum vs. Borago officinalis). Be that as it may, it makes a lovely herbal tea.

We also poked into the corner liquor store in the homes of finding some of the things we've been looking for for a while, such as decent sloe gin (i.e. not DeKuyper) or Original Sin cider. No luck on either of those, but I did fatally weaken in front of a bottle of Zirbenz Stone Pine Liqueur (a.k.a. Zirbenschnaps) from Styria. Haven't tried it yet, but I'm looking forward to a dram after dinner. Searching for recipes, I discovered that it's another of the family firms in the Haus Alpenz stable which includes the Rothman & Winter Crème de Violette and Orchard Apricot that we're so fond of, so that bodes well.

Stanhope and the Austrian Martini

Stanhope

• 3 parts dry gin
• 1½ parts apricot brandy
• 1 part passionfruit juice
• 1 part orange juice
• dash of peach bitters [subtitute: Regans' Orange Bitters]
• dash of grenadine

Despite the surface resemblance to the Carla, this turned out a more interesting drink. Every one of the main ingredients came through in sequence in a single sip. This would be a lovely on a warm afternoon; must try it tall sometime.

Austrian Martini

• 3 parts Tanqueray [substitute: Bombay Sapphire]
• 1 part Zirbenschnaps

Stick to the recipe. The chief effect of the Zirbenz in this drink is to amplify the juniper in the gin. With a very smooth gin like Tanqueray, I think the effect might be rather pleasant, but Bombay Sapphire has plenty of junipery goodness as it is, so the end result with this combination is too much of a good thing.

If you're not already a massive fan of retsina (not to mention Pine-Sol), I would give Zirbenz a miss. Both monshu and I found it undrinkable straight and I think it'll be a struggle to find mixed drinks to use it up in. Most of those on the website (mint juleps made with Zirbenz and rye?) aren't very appealing, though there is another Austrian Martini recipe which calls for half as much of it and 1 part dry vermouth, a dilution which just might render it innocuous. Stay tuned...

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1. Ich habe für die Fastenzeit Süßigkeiten aufgegeben.
2. Ik heb voor de vastentijd de snoep aan de kant gedaan.
3. He dejado de comer dulces para la Cuaresma.
4. He deixat de menjar dolços per la Quaresma.
5. J'ai cessé de manger bonbons pour Carême.
6. Rw i'n rhoi'r gorau i fwyta losin am y Grawys.
7. Táim ag éiri as na milseáin ar feadh an Charghais.
8. 나는 四旬齋 동안 단 것을 끊고 있다.
9. 我戒大齋期的甜食。