When I was in sixth grade, a traveling opera company came to the Brookfield Middle School in Cary, North Carolina to perform for the student body. Several weeks before their arrival, an open casting was scheduled for students to audition for a part in the production. By all means, it wasn’t a large role, more of a background chorus… yet little ol’ me just focused on the fact that there was a chance to perform on stage and I was enthralled. The song we had to perform was ‘My Country Tis of Thee’ and the notes were just too high to reach so I scrapped the whole idea. This was before the days where we knew we could just “make it our own” and play around with the pitch to match our tone. Then again, the audition was for an opera so alto-voice-Lyndi most likely would have never made it. To this day, I love that song and will butcher the high notes like a pro! Singing is an attitude, right? When you sing a patriotic song you just HAVE to sing it with gusto!

 

As you are singing along today with friends, neighbors, loved ones, or your faithful old hound dog, remember to keep things happy and hopeful. We live in a beautiful land where there still are the freedoms that our founding fathers declared for us. What a blessing to live in the U.S.A.!

Of course, I cannot just chat with you and not recommend a food or drink. It just wouldn’t be right.  It only seems appropriate and extremely patriotic to introduce you to a recent cocktail I created for The Mountain Valley Water company based out of Hot Springs and the gorgeous Ouachita Mountains of Southern Arkansas. While they do compensate me for these creations, anytime they reach out to me and ask for a recipe using their spring or sparkling waters, I jump at the chance! What’s not to love about crisp pure American spring water?

Here is recipe for the MVS red, white, and blue cocktail that is vodka based with patriotic-colored ice cubes. Today is day to have some fun with your drinks!

Happy birthday, America!

Eat well, my friend. Eat well.

Lyndi