It's summertime: swimming, faux-jitoes, and a new friend

Summertime has really arrived the last few weeks in Colorado - 90 degree days, afternoon thunderstorms, and the urge to find a good cool drink.  We've also been a bit bored of the dog park lately, so we've made an effort to find new places and ways to tire Zoe out in the evenings.  Hence, the discovery of this park:

This wide open space was recommended by one of our favorite dog park friends, and comprises about two square miles of mostly empty grass, trails, and river.  It's not officially an off-leash area, but is so isolated that we break the rules and let Zoe run around without one.

It also has a nice lake, which has led to our new mission for the summer:  teach Zoe to swim.  This has so far met with only minor success.  Mostly she jumps around, chases sticks, and sometimes swims two feet before stopping to shake water all over us.

 

It's been a nice way to end the days, as well.  It stays light so late that James and I have greatly enjoyed spending an hour or more outside, playing with the dog and catching up at the end of the long work days.

Also great when it's hot and summery:  new summertime drinks!  I recently introduced James to mojitoes, which have gone so well with some of the Caribbean cooking we've done lately.  Last week, I didn't have the limes to make them, so I made my own version with what I had on hand.  The name is courtesy of James.

Faux-jitoes  

10 mint leaves

2 tablespoons sugar water (recipe below)

1 shot Bacardi white rum

1 shot Malibu Island Melon rum

8 oz. lemon lime flavored carbonated water

Make the sugar water by combining one cup water and one cup sugar.  Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, and let simmer until the sugar is fully dissolved. 

Put two tablespoons of sugar water and 10 mint leaves in a glass and muddle. Okay, I'll be honest - I see all sorts of drink recipes that call for "muddling", and I don't have a muddler or really even know what one does.  I use the pestle from my mortar and pestle to crush the mint leaves some.  If you don't have one, just cut or tear them up to release some flavor.  

Add ice, both shots of rum, and the carbonated water.  Mix and drink -- feel free to add more sugar water or lime juice to sweeten it up a bit if necessary (or more alcohol to liquor it up).

In other news, this little guy had joined our household:

 Zeddicus is a guinea pig from a broken home who needed somewhere new to lay his hat, so we offered to take him in.  So far he's mostly just hung out in his little cave, shivering in fear, but we have hopes that he'll come out his shell soon.

Speaking of fear, Zoe is afraid of everything in the universe, and has been making this noise pretty much constantly since Zeddicus arrived yesterday. 

Needless to say, this did not contribute to a good night's sleep last night.  So hopefully that will calm down some as they adjust to each other.