dariarutherford

[dariarutherford]

I think some of the fast food chains and such are open, but I can say for sure that Java Jams is closed for Thanksgiving. But on the bright side, we're opening early for Black Friday and Small Business Saturday! Not that there's too many big stores right in town for Black Friday, but the latter is what's more important to me anyway, as a small business owner myself.

Alright, so what food places around here are actually open on Thanksgiving? I have a pretty extensive list of cafes & wineries so I suppose I could live on caffeine & alcohol, although that probably wouldn't be ideal. Especially on Black Friday & god knows I need to do a lot of retail therapy this year.

[dariarutherford]

Have you ever been to Kozier's Christmas Village? It's just about an hour outside of town and it's quite literally like walking through a Hallmark movie and it's amazing. And then as far as around Bearcreek... once it's a little more into December and most of the town's holiday lights are up, I like to pick a night to make some hot cocoa and walk around town looking at the lights and decorations.

I'm staring at the stack of legal briefs I have to go through this week before the holidays start to really make themselves known, and I can feel a little tiny part of my soul shriveling up. I'm gonna need distractions -- or rather, something to work towards -- so have at it: hit me with your favorite things to do around Bearcreek (or beyond!) at the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, so I can make a list of things to look forward to checking out once my inbox is a little less (chest)nuts.

[dariarutherford]

I'll be totally honest, I used trusty google to search winter-y fruits and fruits that would go in a Christmas white sangria, so I can't take all the credit. Oh yeah, for sure. Add a little Baileys to the coffee or even just regular hot chocolate? *Chef's kiss*. Especially now that they have it in so many great dessert flavors.

Pears and apples would be a good fit, especially if I can find a nice fruity prosecco to pair them with, hmmmm. I hadn't though of pomegranate -- I'll have to play with that and see if the seeds are festive or off-putting. Mixing a little alcohol with some coffee is pretty much my entire brand some days, ha.

[dariarutherford]

Well, anything I can do to save you a few bucks and keep you from corporate greed. I'll test out some recipes this weekend between working on pie orders for next week. Okay, but hot chocolate shots sound even more enticing than pudding or jello shots, if they aren't a thing already, they should be. Outside of the workplace of course, I don't have a liquor license and you also don't need to be fired from your job either.

For real? It's like the only thing that can get me into a Starbucks these days, you and Delilah have spoiled me with the good stuff. Apple is always a solid fall flavor, especially when caramel is also involved, 🥰 HELL YES, line 'em up like shots, it'll be fun. Or, y'know', be prepared for me to stop in like clockwork before and after work, that also works.

[dariarutherford]

Oh shoot, you know that's one of those along with the toasted white mocha that I haven't tried to make yet. Maybe I really should broaden my winter flavor menu... It worked well when I added apple to the fall lineup. And sold! That's a dozen hot chocolates, coming up throughout the next week, week and a half? Something like that.

If we're getting super extra nitpicky, I prefer white chocolate peppermint mochas, but I am an equal opportunity gal when it comes to chocolate, let's not be hasty. YES. GIMME. I will take a dozen and probably be back for more before Thanksgiving, please and thank you.

[dariarutherford]

Dom, they're the same flavors I do every winter. Am I repetitive and a little boring? Maybe. But at least I know my products taste good. Oh wait, actually I'm wrong, after playing around with the refresher ideas this summer, I did come up with a cranberry version for the holidays. But if you have any other ideas for the coffee, I'm open to new winter flavors to experiment with, and you can be the guinea pig I test them out on.

Sounds good to me, D! Fall was fun, but now I'm ready to open myself up to the cozy winter vibes. Speaking of, there's probably a handful of these I haven't tried yet, sooooo as your favorite, I get some free samples, right?

[dariarutherford]

It was mostly rhetorical, but I don't mind getting answers. Especially since you can't always assume it's the parents that raised the kids. Well it sounds like you not only have to try the eggnog latte, but also some actual eggnog. And when I say actual eggnog, I really mean store-bought, because even I haven't been able to perfect that recipe. And yes, that does mean I don't use homemade eggnog for my lattes either. Hope that doesn't burst any bubbles.

I know that probably isn't a serious question, but NYC? By my parents? Maybe I've just never had the right eggnog to make an informed decision. & I can put extra shots in it for the caffeine high which is always something I need.

[dariarutherford]

Hey, you know what I call that? Weeding out the weak links. If someone can't hear that response to the line and not find some humor in it? They are not the vibe you want in your life. Also, that response totally makes me realize even more why you're my best friend. Contradictory, I know, since I flirt with almost everyone. But, sometimes my flirting comes out sounding like that and then the person doesn't realize I'm hitting on them... whoops?

I should have known better, but somehow I didn't know people were that easy to scare/offend. Some guy at the hospital actually used the whole "did it hurt when you fell from Heaven" line on me today, and I told him no, but I did scrape the fuck out of my knees when I crawled up from hell; must be why my knees are so fucked. The man legit slowly backed away from me after saying okay. Pretty sure he started running as soon as he turned the corner. I'm quite proud of myself.

[dariarutherford]

Yeah, that's definitely another factor. Like how you crave a cold glass of fresh-squeezed lemonade in the summer, you crave pumpkin spice in fall or peppermint mocha in winter. I don't really have anything super specific for spring, though, now that I think of it. Usually my winter flavors just kind of phase out and then summer flavors start up in May. I might have to remedy that.

that actually makes a lot of sense. i'd never thought of it that way. plus, i guess i know it's autumn when it's pumpkin spice latte season, so there's that. lol. i love the season though, when it starts getting colder, halloween, all of it!

[dariarutherford]

Minter... you know I'm kind of surprised I'd never heard that before. I like it.

MINTER HAS ARRIVED!

[dariarutherford]

I think you could probably get away with sticking in a few of the same fruits as you do with the red. Pears and apples especially, and maybe even pomegranate? Oh I hear you, there's definitely nothing wrong with mixing a little alcohol with some coffee. Or vice versa.

The apple brandy really helps, honestly -- not too sweet, but keeps it from being too dry, as well. I'm thinking about experimenting with plums, but I'll have to let you know if it works. I thought you might like that, by the way -- I'm too much of a coffee drinker at heart to let the opportunity pass by, ha.

[dariarutherford]

Ooh girl, that's what I love to hear! I've actually always preferred the gingerbread to peppermint mocha, but I know I need to please the masses and I don't hate the minty goodness either. Speaking of sticking the candy canes in hot chocolate, I actually have an order of peppermint sticks in specifically for the hot cocoa orders! So even if you're not feeling the overloaded caffeine of the mocha, you can have it tamed down a bit in just a hot chocolate. Smart move keeping some in your desk, too. I knew I took a liking to you for a reason.

Peppermint mocha is MY JAM, be prepared to see a lot of me over the next couple of months. My basic white girl ass is easy to please, if it has peppermint and chocolate, I’m a happy bitch. There's a damn good reason I stick candy canes in my hot chocolate every year on Christmas Eve, and have a stash in my desk at work.

[dariarutherford]

Awesome! I appreciate it, Sam. And if there's any special hints you ever need me to drop around any of your siblings, especially Lottie, I got your back.

I'll do my best to pick both their brains for you. If Gabe comes in to order something Christmas present-worthy, I'll let you know. I can always tell him that it's on backorder or something like that.

[dariarutherford]

Oh, that reminds me, I have at least one friend I'll probably have to stop by and shop for. Think you can pick at Gabe's brain for me if he comes in, so that you can then help me pick out a good gift for him? I never know what all he has already or really any other knowledge about most of that stuff. Also ideas for your sister would be great, I mean I know she's my best friend so I should be able to figure it out on my own, but a little help never hurt.

I'll be there bright and early tomorrow and every day until you run out of stock. It's going well. With the Holidays coming up, people are starting to drop in for more than only comics. I've sold more action figures, and collectibles in the last week or so compared to the month before.

[dariarutherford]

Girl, where were you raised and who raised you? I grew up drinking eggnog every year for Christmas, obviously the non-alcoholic kind. I mean, I know it's definitely one of those drinks that isn't everyone's cup of tea. Kind of like candy corn at Halloween, but also like candy corn—it's kind of a staple to a holiday. But, I'm glad to hear you're willing to give it a try!

Just curious, eggnog always seems to make me think of old aunts & uncles that can't seem to hold onto their wigs after just a few drinks. If that's the case though I will make it a point to at least try it, since that's a pretty bold claim.

[dariarutherford]

Ooh, you know I'm not much of a dry wine girl, but semi-dry I'll definitely try at least once in awhile. Definitely hit me up once you've got the white one going - though I unfortunately don't have much for suggestions! Either way, I'm sure you'll figure it out and ugh, man after my own heart. A peppermint mocha martini?! Boy, you best be ready to see me at your establishment on the regular this holiday season.

Ahh, the curiosity at work, I see. It’s a semi-dry red Tempranillo with apples, oranges, cranberries, and pears, a splash of apple brandy, and garnished with a twist of orange. I’m working on a sparkling white variation as well, but I’m still testing out fruit combinations for that one (and suggestions are welcome!). Hopefully it’ll be ready in time for December along with our spiced honey old fashioned and the peppermint mocha martini, 🤞🏼

[dariarutherford]

Sounds great, we'll have them til we don't! Honestly, I could technically order the flavors year 'round. But like other businesses, it's usually better to keep certain flavors seasonal. Otherwise it could lose it's flair if you can get it all day everyday.

oh my god. i need to come in and order fifty billion pumpkin spice lattes because i never have enough and end up missing them when they're no longer in season. wait-- why can't you sell the flavors year round ? are apple and pumpkin flavoring just not accessible year round ?? i never understood that, it always was so weird to me why places stop carrying the flavors.