An Ancient Beverage

He was a wise man who invented beer. - Plato

Now Plato lived some 2,300 years ago in fourth century B.C. and beer had already been around for a long time.

Tests performed on ancient pottery from Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq and parts of Iran, Syria and Turkey), indicate that beer was produced there some 7,000 years ago, and a 3,900 year old poem contains the oldest known recipe for beer. 

The process of making beer was passed along to the Greeks who then taught the Romans. Beer was important to the early Romans, but was eventually replaced by wine as the alcoholic beverage of choice, rendering beer at that time, fit only for barbarians. Obviously this opinion didn't hold for long as beer brewing has continued throughout the centuries and in many cultures. 

If you doubt the historical importance of beer, consider that the desire to make beer led people to give up a nomadic lifestyle to form villages, cultivate crops and develop agriculture, thus leading to civilization.

What started small thousands of years ago, rose to a multi-million dollar industry and mass production, is now returning to it's roots with this new concept of microbreweries and craft beers. 

Last night we met up with some friends at the tasting room of a local brewery. They have lots of different beers on tap, some with exotic names and flavors. However I chose Carolina Blonde, a cream ale, which is lower on the bitterness scale. It is light, smooth and refreshing, especially on a hot summer evening.



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Breathe and Enjoy Your Day!

You don't always need a plan. Sometimes you just need to breathe, trust and let go and see what happens. - Mandy Hale

Enroute to Skippers Fish Camp in Darien, GA

We did have a plan when this picture was taken. A very definite plan, indeed. Dinner at Skipper's. What was different was our choice of routes. This was by far more scenic and well worth the change to our plan. 

Not every aspect of every day of your life needs to be planned out to the letter. Sometimes it is better to just go with the flow and see where you end up. Allow your day to be like a Sunday afternoon drive in the country with no definite place to go. One of those you'll know when you get there kind of days.

So sit back, ditch your well-thought-out plans, take a deep breath and go where life leads you. You may find something great waiting for you just around the corner.


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Smiles Matter

Image Source: Wikipedia

It was only a sunny smile, and little it cost in the giving, but like morning light it scattered the night and made the day worth living. - F. Scott Fitzgerald

Smiles cost nothing, are easily given and may do more good you can possibly know. They can brighten days, change minds, modify opinions, enhance first impressions, bolster spirits and make both the giver and the recipient feel better.

Often we march through life with our faces in neutral, or worse, frowning or scowling at some injustice, whether real or perceived. If you see that person without a smile, give them one of yours. If you are that person, look around you and find something to smile about. 

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Troubled Times

Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe. - Albert Einstein

I have come across this quote often over the years and passed it by in favor of more upbeat, positive choices. Now I think it's time has come. It appears the world has completely taken leave of it's collective senses. I can't imagine, nor do I want to know, what goes through people's minds when they commit such atrocities as we have seen recently. 

Human beings are blessed with the ability to think and reason, and the capacity to feel empathy and compassion. We also have been taught the difference between right and wrong and good and evil. Yet there is so much anger and hate brewing around the world now, and groups that continue to perpetuate feelings of ill will and violence. 

I say it is time we get over ourselves and quit labeling and categorizing people and stop promoting violence against them. Whether your life matters shouldn't depend on what color you are, what restroom you use or what you do for a living.

We should just live our lives and tend to our own business and let others tend to theirs. I still believe mankind as a whole is good, but looking at recent events I'd say there are more than a few tainted apples in the barrel.




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What was I Thinking?

We are what we think...
All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make our world.  -Buddha

Often we find pearls of wisdom from many different people and cultures. When I first read this I wasn't sure that I agreed with Buddha's statement. We don't always act on what we are thinking, and thankfully so or many of us would be in a world of trouble.

However, I believe there is some truth here, and most certainly something to be taken away from this quote. 

On the negative side, too often we are hit with "What was I thinking" so we should guard our thoughts and be aware when what we are thinking is something with which we would not want make our world.

The converse is also true, and if our consciousness is filled with good, kind and loving thoughts, we can indeed make a better world for ourselves.

Have a safe and happy Fourth of July, everyone!



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