Woody & My IBF

Spirits. This is what they call distilled alcohol if it is not moonshine. There have been lots of spirits in the newspapers lately. This morning there was a whole article on allowing "craft distillers" in Pennsylvania to sell their bottles at the tasting places at the fancy distilleries. Buy local. Locavores. Whatever. I like anything that gets you relatively blotto that I don't have to buy at the Pennsylvania Liquor Authority stores. Witness Maker's Mark Mint Julep right from the Kentucky source. Also Jack Daniels (Tennessee) although that is rather plebeian. Pennsylvania thinks that spirits tastings will bring tourism dollars to the state. I'm not sure we want tasting and driving visitors. Anyhow, the Inky says that on-site tasting coupled with the annual distillery licensing fee (from $5,600 to $1,500) "just might be the economic incentive needed to make Pennsylvania a new focal point for growth in a national movement toward sartisoan alcohol that's expanding exponentially on the heels of the craft-beer craze". Also there are only three micro-distillers that make a total of 100,000 gallons. Betcha any good 'shiner can make that in a year with only one guy and cousin Rascal. I can just see the job posting at the state place you have to go before you can claim unemployment. "Professional Booze Taster. Must have experience."

There's a potato vodka guy who worked to pass the bill. Must not have a lot of distilling to do. He is convinced that it's going to make Pennsylvania a "craft distilling hub." In Portland there is a place called Distillery Row that attracts bus tourists. They have more than 20 spirits in just that city which is 17 more than Pennsylvania. Turns out that Maxwelton, West Virginia, Smooth Ambler Spirits is just nine miles from the Greenbrier. Damn. First I missed the apple pie 'shine and now I miss Smooth Ambler Spirits. Smooth Ambler sells their "high valley mountain air" story and "friendly folks" behind a small-production "grain-to-glass" spirit as made by "local artisans," according to the Inky. As far as I'm concerned, my 'shiners are the real local artisans and damn good entrepreneurs, not to mention real West Virginia folk and not University of Virginia graduates. Shine on.


This is Smooth Ambler's Exceptional White Whisky. "Sophisticated moonshine." Are you kidding me? Note to self: renew search for horse guy to set me up with some apple pie.

It is 19 degrees. It is time to peruse the seed catalogs and pretend it may get warmer sometime this year. I always get those Val-Pak kinda things with lots of postcards to fill in to get free catalogs as I have been targeted as someone who gardens. So have a bunch of other people. People who buy Hover-rounds (or however you spell it). I'm trying to understand how gardeners can be Hover-rounders. Hmmm. I do know that there is plant therapy at some nursing homes so that could be it. However, the Val-Pack or whatever also has a really great postcard: Take Full Control! ... with a Magnatrac. Become More Self-Sufficient! Conquer "impossible jobs"! Now this is a Hover-round for me. It is a front-end loader. Really. Note to self: order fava bean seeds and Magnatrac. This is a Magnatrac.

As an Eagles fan, I am delighted to find the topmost headline in the Philadelphia Inquirer to be Reid keeps job as Eagles coach. This is above Down to Wire in Iowa, although the latter is in larger type and has a picture. Continuing in  Section A is Andy Reid still loved... by some. This is next to U.S. seeks closer ties in Egypt and Libya moves toward new constitution. The New York Times top headline is U.S. Overtures to Islamists Reverse a Longtime Policy and I can't even find the Sports section. By all accounts, football is a very serious matter in Philadelphia.

This is Andy Reid with his boss Jeffrey Lurie. By the way, the Dream Team ended the season 8-8 and I have not put my windsock back up.