National Days | Pam Webb

Archive for the tag “National Days”

30 Jan 2026

Celebrating Winter‘s Drink of (my) Choice

While frosty beverage choices abound in summer, there are only a ~~few~~ a couple worth mentioning when discussing a warm up in winter.

To clarify—this discussion concerns itself with non-alcoholic options. Oh, and I don’t do coffee. So, that leaves—

Hot cider immediately brings to mind homemade donuts. Sleigh rides somewhere hovering with that thought.

Over the years I’ve shied away from hot cider, probably because most of my experiences are from gatherings where packets of the stuff sit in the basket next to tea packets. The water from the big silver urn is always scalding hot making the first sip excruciating and by the time I think it’s cool enough to drink the hot cider is now tepid cider and has lost its appeal.

Hot Mulled Cider Day is celebrated on September 30–much too early, and seems to hasten the end of fall and evoke the arrival of winter.

And what’s mulled got to do with cider? Hot cider is simply heating up apple cider whereas mulled cider is simmering apple cider with cinnamon and spices along with oranges bits or even cranberries.

If they could package that up I might think more kindly about hot cider.

The next choice is my go-to-winter warm up. I confess I drink it throughout the year (especially on rainy days).

There is a difference between cocoa and hot chocolate though. Hot cocoa is sweeter and lighter—think Swiss Miss packets, while hot chocolate (real hot chocolate) is melted chocolate mixed with cream creating a rich, almost decadent drink.

I sipped and savored several menu offerings as part of my research for an article about where to find cocoa/hot chocolate locally in my fair town. Ah—the perks of being a freelancer.

Inspired, I dabbled and have created my own mix trying to find that middle ground between easy and savory. A mug of my mix sometimes suffices as supper it is so filling and satisfying.

The wonder of hot cocoa/chocolate is how amenable it is to additions–flavors ranging from raspberry to hazelnut and then there is whipped cream, marshmallows. So much versatility *Yum*

If you missed Hot Cocoa Day on December 13th, you can celebrate Hot Chocolate Day January 31. That’s right, it’s time to fill your mug and settle in and enjoy the perfect warm up.

I hope to take advantage of my Panera $2 off coupon to honor the day. I’ll also buy a treat. And enjoy both by their fireplace. I wonder if I can reserve it…

Posted in Reflections and tagged Cocoa, food, Hot Chocolate, National Days, seasons

28 Jan 2025

5 Comments

A Bit of a Puzzle

January 29th is going to be a puzzling day. Literally.

It’s National Puzzle Day. And we are finding puzzles have found their way into our lives.

I grew up with puzzles. My dad had a special table set up and would spend hours piece by piece putting together some scenic masterpiece. I wasn’t too interested in doing puzzles then and barely acknowledged them over the years.

When my hubs sprang his knee skiing it looked liked the long winters were going to get a more tedious since heading up to the slope would no longer be a viable option.

Of course I brought him books from the library. On a whim I brought home a puzzle because why not? There is a free puzzle exchange on the lobby.

As Hemingway said “One puzzle leads to another.” Well, he kind of said that.

We have now been puzzling for several years and we have come to realize there are some etiquette aspects:

Borders first. Creating the perimeter makes it easier to get the picture in perspective.

Sort pieces. A half dozen plastic picnic plates do nicely in separating out the many pieces into a manageable order.

Clean Hands. Yeah, learned that one day while eating my almond butter with honey toast.

No Pets. Cat hair. Dog hair. Not good companions with puzzle pieces.

Track Pieces. Drop a piece. Oh, oh. Better find it. Or at least mark “piece missing” on the box. Don’t forget to circle the place.

No hogging. Sharing is caring. Set a timer if needed. *Oh no, honey. That a general comment—no worries*.

Break down. Just like the last person to use the milk replaces the milk, the last person to finish the puzzle breaks it down and puts it in the box.

Those are the basics. Did I miss any?

Happy puzzling.