FROM THE HEART WITH GINI RIFKIN

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

The cowboy's second favorite drink.

Cowboys usually asked for whiskey when they bellied up to the bar, but tequila came in a close second. It became popular after the 1840's, especially in the South West area.

Last summer, the Berthoud Conservation Gardens had a special plant blooming, the Parry's Agave.

Each flowering plant has a giant stalk up to 20 feet tall, with 20 to 30 side branches. Each side branch produces hundreds of flowers. Often called century plants, agaves live many years before flowering, after which they sadly die. This succulent (not really a cacti) has been a source of human food and beverage for at least 9,000 years.

When an agave’s central bud is removed, the cavity fills with fluid. This nutritious juice is called aguamiel (honey water). When aguamiel is allowed to ferment it becomes an alcoholic beverage called pulque. The Aztecs fermented pulque from 1000 B.C. to 200 A.D..

When pulque is distilled it becomes mescal. But while all tequilas are technically mezcals, but not all mezcals are tequilas. Tequila is a high quality mescal produced only from the blue agave plant and grown only in limited regions of Mexico.

Sugars concentrate in the core of an agave just before flowering. If the leaves are trimmed away, the core can be baked or roasted. Native Americans of many Southwestern tribes pit-roasted agaves in an elaborate process that took three or four days of cooking!

Chunks of roasted agave were chewed and the tough fibers discarded. Roasted agave could also be pounded into cakes and dried for later use.

Agave leaves have strong fibers good for many uses. Sisal fiber derived from Agave sisalana is grown worldwide and used for inexpensive twine, rope, paper, fabric, filters, mattresses, and carpets.

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Around 1936, in Tijuana, Irishman called Madden, was known around the area for his Tequila Daisy. Though Madden admitted that the creation of the drink was a lucky mistake, it’s become one of the most celebrated in the U.S. (margarita in Spanish means daisy).

In 1974 the Mexican government declared the term tequila, intellectual property. This made it necessary for tequila to be made and aged in certain areas of Mexico, and it also made it illegal for other countries to produce or sell their own “tequila.

"Hey, Waiter. What's that worm doing in my drink? And please don't say the backstroke."

In the 1950's, when a mezcal maker discovered a moth larvae in a batch of his liquor, he decided the stowaway improved its taste. Since then, he started adding “worms” to all his bottles as a marketing strategy. The larva is usually either a red worm or a maguey worm. The red worm is typically considered tastier.

This weekend, why not sip a Sunrise or Margarita

and get lost in a good western story!

My Stories:

Western Romance: Break Heart Canyon * Undercover Outlaw * Cowboys, Cattle and Cutthroats * A Cowboy’s Fate*Special Delivery.

Contemporary Romantic Thriller: Fatal Recall

Medieval Romance: The Dragon and The Rose * Iron Heart *Promise Me Christmas.

Victorian Romance: Lady Gallant * Victorian Dream

Fantasy: The Fae Warriors Trilogy: Solace * Bliss * Portence

Blog www.ginirifkin.blogspot.com

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Monday, April 14, 2025

Tartan Day 2025

A beautiful day, with perfect weather for the annual Tartan Day celebration in Longmont, Colorado.

So fun, and so thankful to spend time with my sister. There were more tents this year, which equals more temptations for buying, and more lasses in gorgeous gowns and more handsome laddies in kilts!

Mary Queen of Scots granted us an audience.

Mary Queen of Scots of the Highland Rockies

Our favorite faerie, Lemon Drop, came by creating magical bubbles which everyone, young and old, enjoyed.

The Scottie dog rescue folks were on hand.

I had to buy a little dragon at the mountain mini shop. A creative store that uses recycle material in a 3-D printer.

Darla and Mark from Warp and Woolens demonstrated drop spindle spinning, floor loom weaving, and bobbin lace making. The lace was spectacular--what an underappreciated and nearly lost art.

A lively parade had us all cheering, and a group photo rounded out the afternoon.

Had so much fun, and then we went for ice cream, and a little thrift store shopping. A wonderful way to spend a Saturday.

Tuesday, April 1, 2025

Would your story make a great graphic novel?

Don't we all dream of our stories becoming movies? We even know which actor and actress we would cast as the hero and heroine. We'd be thrilled to see our characters jump off the page into another medium.

Or how about a graphic novel,

or a Marvel comic?

For my Fae Warriors books,

the cast of characters, might look like this.

The Fae Warrior sisters:

Solace, holds sway over Air,
spirit of the East

Bliss, an empath,
with the ability
to compel.

Portence, controls fire,
spirit of the South.

The Heroes...

Tanner Jackson, Ex-Army Ranger, Solace's partner,
fearless in the face of
the enemy---human or Reptile.

Nate Calhoun, cowboy/scientist. Bliss' partner and the inventor of the laser shotgun.

Malachi, Fae/sorcerer and Port's partner.
Defender of "white" magic, he has a score to settle with Thurax.

Noodge, a Rapran (short for Rapacious Ranivorous) the Fae's faithful companion. He faces down gnarly Reptiles without hesitation.

Mother Nature, a tough love parent, overseeing all as she fights to save her favorite planet, Earth.

The Villains...

The Reptiles, alien creatures, primitive yet cleaver, with opposing thumbs, a penchant for weaponry, and a love for fighting.

Thurax, an otherworldly mercenary warrior, bred for fighting, and out for revenge as he seeks to lead the Reptiles to victory.

Xandora, obsessed with taking over planet Earth.
She's as insane as she is beautiful.

Hephaestus, god of fire and crafts, son of Zeus and henchman to Xandora.

Gorlock, would-be wizard, turned to the dark arts, resentful, and at odds with Malachi.

I'm still waiting for Marvel comics to calls 😻, but you can read the Fae Warriors Trilogy in its original form, paperback or e-book. Join the adventure.

Solace Available here...
Bliss Available here...
Portence Available here...

Until then Dream On....

Thursday, March 27, 2025

Denver's Oldest Restaurant, The Buckhorn Exchange

Located at 1000 Osage Street in Denver the restaurant opened its doors on November 1893 as a saloon called "The Rio Grande Exchange"

Now a National Historic Landmark, it had Colorado's first liquor license. The founder, Henry Zietz, was a colorful figure of the Old West, and in his younger years, was a scout with Buffalo Bill Cody. During those years, the great Indian leader, Chief Sitting Bull, dubbed Zietz "Shorty Scout," in reference to his diminutive stature.

The restaurant was located directly across Osage street from the Rio Grande Railroad yards. The second-story of the building was the Buckhorn Lodge which house railroaders for the night.

Each Friday, the railroaders scrambled across Osage Street to exchange their paychecks for gold. In return, Zietz also handed each man a token good for free lunch and a beer figuring a railroad man wouldn't stop at just one beer.

President Theodore Roosevelt visited in 1905, and purportedly asked Shorty Scout to hunt big game with him after dinner. Other presidents who dined there were Dwight Eisenhower, Jimmy Carter and

Ronald Reagan.

Other visitors or diners included Bob Hope, Jimmy Cagney, astronauts Scott Carpenter, Jack Swigert, Royals Princess Anne, Garth Brooks, Von Miller: Wayne Gretzky, and Dana White.

Not for the faint of heart, Buckhorn Exchange now is home to loads of historical artifacts and over 500 mounted animals.

Traveling Ken

The menu reflects the original offerings of long ago. Appetizers include: Rocky Mountain Oyster, Smoke Buffalo sausage, Grilled Duck breast, Fried alligator tail, boneless rattlesnake marinated in red chili and lime.

Colorado Springs Gazette

Dinner includes beef, of course. The famous Big Steak, anywhere from 1 1/2 pounds to 3 1/2 pounds, will serve 2 to 5 guests. Buffalo served several ways is available, as is wild game including elk, Cornish game hen, quail, duck and salmon. There are combo platters for the adventurous.

Buckhorn Exchange in Denver. Photo: Shelby L. Bell

Deserts are pretty basic with rocky road brownies, cheesecake, ice cream and sorbet, and Dutch Apple Pie.

Deserts are pretty basic with rocky road brownies, cheesecake, ice cream and sorbet, and Dutch Apple Pie. So if you are looking for something different food-wise, with great historical ambiance, try the Buckhorn Exchange 303-534-9505