Favorite ritual

Just Another Day – Our days our organized around numerous small actions we repeat over and over. What’s your favorite daily ritual?

This is a daily prompt subject that I have answered already back in 2014, but I thought it would be good to think about it again and see if anything has changed. Although I still enjoy reading at night, I don’t do it every evening, so my new favorite ritual is something that happens in the morning: having the first cup of coffee. ☕

But before I can enjoy drinking it, there is the ritual of making the coffee. First, I’ll heat up 5 cups of water in the microwave. This is not to drink, but to get the semi-airtight carafe nice and hot. This is the key to keeping the coffee nice and hot for hours. After I fill the carafe with the boiling water and screw on the lid, I’ll fill up the kettle with filtered water, then get that going on the stove. I’ll set the kitchen timer for 7 minutes.

While the water is heating up I’ll get a paper coffee filter and put it in the ceramic filter holder, then rinse the filter under cold water. I’ll also put the coffee beans in the Coffee Grinder. When there is about a minute left on the timer, I’ll grind the beans, then put them in the Bee House Ceramic Coffee Dripper.

Just before the water in the kettle comes to a boil, I’ll empty the hot water out of the carafe, then put the ground coffee and filter holder above the carafe. Next, the water from the kettle is poured over the grounds… and soon, I’ll have perfect coffee for myself and Mariko! And that coffee stays hot for a long time in the carafe!

A perfect morning routine to wake myself up.

"Morning Coffee" USA. Texas. Cedar Park. 2015.
“Morning Coffee” USA. Texas. Cedar Park. 2015.

Friday!

Good evening! We made it to the end of the work week!

Today’s weather was pretty dang foggy this morning… rare here in Austin. Of course it slows down traffic, but so many drivers still like to tailgate. I find it crazy. But besides the added danger, the fog makes the drive in look really cool. A nice change of pace.

Tomorrow there will be rain, which I like once in a while. I’m really a sun/summer person but variety is good! It’s a pretty good mix of weather for me here in Texas. It only gets really cold a few days a year and the summers are blazing hot. I love the heat!

Today I met my friend for lunch at a new place for me, Salata. It’s a salad restaurant! I really liked it! Who would have thought I would like a salad restaurant… but I did. I noticed though that I did start to get really hungry in the late afternoon… but I held out until dinner.

"Salads" USA. Texas. Austin. 2015.
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/4, 1/125 sec, ISO5000
“Salads” USA. Texas. Austin. 2015.

Now I am ready to start the weekend! Take care with the stormy weather everyone.

Dinner at Noble Sandwich Co.

USA. Texas. Austin. 2015.
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/2.8, 1/60 sec, ISO500
Noble Sandwich Co. Sign. USA. Texas. Austin. 2015.

Tonight we ate dinner at Noble Sandwich Co. (formerly Noble Pig) and it was delicious! I had the Short Rib Burger, Mariko got the Creole Catfish sandwich, Bay had the Thai Chicken sandwich and truffle fries, and Koa had the Roast Beef sandwich. It was all yummy! We really enjoyed the pickled veggie garnish as well. Highly recommended to visit either of the two locations! (We ate at the 620 location)

USA. Texas. Austin. 2015.
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/3.2, 1/60 sec, ISO6400
Short Rib Burger. USA. Texas. Austin. 2015.

Deluxe Hot Dog

Deluxe Hot Dog
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/2.8, 1/60 sec, ISO800
Deluxe Hot Dog

Went deluxe on today’s hot dogs. Hebrew Nationals, Jarlsberg cheese, onions, tomatoes, pickles, jalapeños, yellow mustard, and Sriracha. I usually don’t dress up my dogs like this, but we had leftover fixings from last night’s burgers. This was a really yummy hot dog!