French Press Coffee Maker

Bodum 1928-16US4 Chambord French Press Coffee Maker

I remember seeing a French Press Coffee Maker in Packed To The Rafters. I kept thinking how cool that was . . . Plus I was wondering how it worked with the plunger and all . . . And the clean up — In the series I don’t recall seeing them clean the French Press — they just made the coffee . . . However, I do like the idea I don’t need coffee filters. Clear coffee cups are attractive. This may be a welcome change from coffee mugs.

How to Brew French Press Coffee the Bodum Way

French Press – Step 1:

For each 8-ounces of coffee, you want to brew; put 2 rounded tablespoons or 2 Bodum scoops of coarse-ground coffee into the carafe.

French Press – Step 2:

After the water has boiled; wait for 10-15 seconds before pouring into the carafe. Leave a minimum of 1 inch of space at the top. Stir with a plastic or wood spoon.

French Press – Step 3:

Place the plunger unit on top of the pot. Turn lid to close off the pour spout opening. Do not press down. Let the coffee brew for 4 minutes.

French Press – Step 4:

After the 4-minute brew has completed, gently press down the plunger and you are now ready to enjoy a delicious cup of French Press coffee.

Although I’ve given you detailed brewing instructions above, I believe seeing a video is a better way of thoroughly understanding the French Press Coffee making/brewing process.

This Seems Like Getting Back To Basics

I remember when I was a kid, my uncle was telling my parents about French Press Coffee. He even gave them a demonstration with this new coffee maker that you didn’t plug in . . . That was amazing. My parents loved their morning coffee and with the great build-up from my uncle, they were eager to try it. Well . . . I suppose I should stop my story right there, but what would be the fun of that — Once my uncle left, the French Press Coffee Maker was set in the cupboard and they brought out their tried and true electric coffee percolator.

What Do You Think About French Pressed Coffee?

I’m intrigued. I like the idea of grinding my own coffee beans. I don’t mind heating up the water to pour in the carafe. Waiting 4 minutes is no big deal. I don’t mind scooping out the bulk of the grounds. I suppose it all comes down to taste. That’s what coffee is all about. 

I’m also wondering how hands-on I want to be in this process. With my old Mr. Coffee I just go into auto mode, turn it on, walk away and when I return my coffee is done. It’s all a matter of changing my morning routine . . . I suppose I could make this work. I’m much more impressed by this process than the way I’ve been making coffee . . . I think I’d like to give it a try. I love the look of it. 

You decide what’s best for you. Thanks for stopping by!

Sharon

Making Changes — Improvements

Yesterday I Did A Major Facelift To This Website

I love this website. It has been part of me since 2014, but I had it hosted elsewhere before moving it — and losing the content. My point is that I’ve had this website or domain name for a number of years — It has gone through changes . . . as have I . . . some good, others not so much . . . no regrets — it’s all part of the journey. Where we end up hopefully is worth it.

I’m not necessarily a “joiner” . . . yet for the past 8 years I’ve been involved with an internet marketing group. I’ve been a Premium Member of that group for all that time. Last year or so they did a major upgrade and offered a Premium Plus Membership at twice plus the cost . . . I passed. At the time I didn’t feel the added services would benefit me. Then there was this 36 hour March Madness Sale cutting the price down to what I was paying for the Premium Membership. Of course this internet community was talking about how this was a “no-brainer” opportunity. I didn’t act right then. I slept on it. I woke up at 4 AM went to the website and upgraded to Premium Plus.

Why am I sharing this? It’s about timing. I was revamping this website. I needed a change . . . I had even thought of building a new website — even letting this one go . . . I was thinking of how this one has become just like another website I have. My other websites were created from this one more or less . . . I love Halloween, ghost stories, the paranormal . . . all that creepy stuff . . . but also paper crafts and whatever else interests me at the moment . . . But I digress . . .

How Serious Does One Have To Be To Be Taken Seriously?

Read More

You didn’t see that coming did you? Neither did I, actually.

I spent a lot of time yesterday seeing what my theme company had available for me to use in order to revamp this website.

It gave me inspiration . . .

Also some doubts about the direction I was going . . . or if I could make this work. Tough stuff!!

It was basically a wake up call telling me to stop messing around and get serious. Yes, I’m a senior citizen . . . all the more reason for me to have my act together and stop playing around. I can enjoy what I’m doing, but I do need to get serious about it.

That was the reason for the upgrade . . . And my reason for sharing this here. There are times we have to get out of our comfort zone. Try new things. Learn new things. Discover new things. There are plenty of opportunities available to us . . . if we would only acknowledge them . . .

Recognizing opportunities and acknowledging them . . . knowing our limitations and doing something about it. Life is fluid . . . ever changing whether we’re ready for it or not. And changes that may not be something we want . . . so it’s important to get out in front and turn the tide in the direction that works best for us. I suppose it’s about being pro-active rather than re-active.

Thanks for stopping by! Leave me a comment to let me know what you think of this post and the revamping of this website.

Until next time!

Sharon

Who’s on First – Abbott & Costello

Abbott & Costello’s Comedy Skit Who’s On First — A Baseball Classic

Who’s on first, What’s on second, I Don’t Know is on third . . . I could listen to this all day!

Enjoy!!

Sharon

Back To The Rafters Review

It’s Truly Unfortunate How A Wonderful Series Can Come Back With All The Fan Fair And Be Awful . . . With A Few Exceptions

I was feeling guilty by not warming up to Ruby — the youngest of the Rafter children . . . Then I read the reviews on Amazon . . . Here’s one I think is worth discussing here . . .

Reviewed in the United States on September 20, 2021

I saw a talk show in December 2019 that had most of the cast of “Packed to the Rafters”. They were discussing Amazon bringing a continuation series to Amazon streaming. Well, I was there for that! Filming was, of course, delayed due to COVID. “Back to the Rafters” is finally here and I binge watched all 6 episodes. The entire original cast were there, with the exception of Jessica Marais. She was replaced by Georgina Haig, whom I found a lot better. She’s a lot more mature and softer. Not as brittle.

No one has really changed, except Ted afflicted with Alzheimer’s. Michael Caton, you rule! Julie still thinks she knows all and can fix everything. Just want to shake her. Dave, I like Dave. He is correct. You can’t live your life for your kids. Before you had ’em, you had a life. Of course, J & D got married at like 18 when she got pregnant. So, they didn’t have much a of life before kids. Ben is still the non listener. All about him and what he wants. Takes after Julie, I think. He can get to be a pain. Nathan, the woe is me boy. Nothing works out for Nathan. He likes to run, but maybe he has found an anchor afterall. Now for Ruby. Super irritating. Now that kid needs a huge time out. If a second season is in the works, less of Ruby. Can’t stand her. Carbo hasn’t changed. Nothing new there. Retta, I’d like to see more of her, not just in one episode. Edward is cute and not irritating. Cassie, why? She and Ben just do not gel. I think that a different actress would have been better. Tessa, loved her and the earth mother vibe she gives off. Donna, she’s changed a bit and I like it. She likes to have a little fun now. Paddo was a nice addition. A gentle spirit and good that Dave has someone to relate with. I watched all of the original series last year between TubiTV and Hulu. I enjoyed the first couple of seasons more than the later ones, except for Jessica Marias. She just grated on me. I liked the fact that the first couple of seasons didn’t have more than a couple of dramas going on in each episode. Then, the dramas increased within each episode. Those full grown kids just being stupid, wasteful, nonchalant, inconsiderate and just plain idiots was hard to watch sometimes. But, I continued watching to see how things turned out for some of the characters. This continuation isn’t bad and I’m glad that they have moved part of the story to another place, but lose Ruby, the bratty kid, tone Julie’s efforts to run everyone’s life, make Ben address his it’s all about me issues, make Nathan be ok with who he is, make Rachel a warrior (she half way there) and Dave, he is the only one with some common sense in the sea of Rafter’s. He can stay the way he is.

I’m Not 100% In Agreement With This Review — But . . .

Of course we all have our opinions. We click with some characters more than others . . . I like Ben . . . Nathan, not so much . . . Ruby . . . makes Nathan look all right . . . I was warming up to Rachel . . . I’m still upset that Mel died . . . oops!! spoiler . . . And I’m not too fond of Ted . . . too bad the writers had to give him  Alzheimers, but that is life . . . Not something any of us want to experience.

I enjoyed the first few seasons of Packed To The Rafters . . . some of the latter ones were not as good . . . in my opinion. It could be a generation gap thing on my part — or I’m a bit of a snob . . . working class people aren’t criminals . . . yet Dave’s biological father had that element . . . and the family embraced it — giving second chances and all that . . . they are “family” . . . And what happened to Dave’s biological mother after we got Nathan’s kidney . . . traveling . . . in the later seasons she wasn’t mentioned. It makes me wonder if the Rafter’s (Dave, Julie and Ruby) left to get away from the riff-raff . . . Hopefully, if there is a second season, the Jennings clan won’t be visiting.

This “woke” thing . . . why does every new series have to be PC and “woke” . . . There have been lots of reviews about other series on Amazon that viewers didn’t like because this “woke” crap has filtered into the story . . . We want to be entertained — to escape the problems of the world and our own lives . . . We don’t appreciate being told how to think and what to believe. We don’t like pushy salesmen . . . so why would be accept an ideology that is contrary to logic and common sense!!! Give people credit for having some brain cells.

Too Bad I Didn’t Find Pictures With The Other New Cast Members

I like Tessa and Paddo. The country setting was what Ben had wanted at one time . . . I don’t know about Ruby . . . if she’ll settle down  — maybe it’s the “woke” brainwashing of public schools . . . at least in the USA . . . but we do spread our filth at times . . . Australia has seemed to have gone hog wild with the lock downs . . . Just an observation in oppression — so very “woke” of them!!

I should get off this topic . . . hopefully there will be a second season with more common sense and family harmony . . . We can have our daily life problems . . . but we don’t need to bring nonsense into the mix.

Thanks for stopping by! Leave me a comment — I’ve been receiving a bunch of spam lately. Don’t appreciate it, but it gives me something to delete. 

Sharon

Have You Watched Packed To The Rafters?

Packed To The Rafters

It’s a great title for a series about a family . . . kids leaving the nest . . . and returning . . .

It’s unfortunate that there has to be spoilers in reviews . . . That’s just how it sometimes has to be . . . So . . . that’s your warning.

I enjoyed this series. I even took a look at Back To The Rafters — I did want more . . . I’m not too sure about that . . . I haven’t warmed up to the youngest of the four Rafter children — Ruby . . . I’m keeping an open mind . . . I do wonder if there will be a second season of Back To The Rafters . . . Time will tell . . .

My Posts Seem To Be A Jumble Without Much Organized Thought

Yet, I see TwoCansOnAString.com much like a kitchen junk drawer . . . We need it!!

I suppose with blogging we do what feels good at the moment . . . How it comes together isn’t the issue — It’s that the content is there!!!

Wow! A Trailer Of Back To The Rafters

Be sure to sign-up for Amazon Prime if you don’t already have it!!!

I should have a link for you to click either in the footer or the sidebar . . . I don’t want to be pushy . . . But why aren’t you a Prime Member? Give yourself the gift of Prime!!!

 

An Interesting Cast Of Characters — The Family, The Neighbors . . . Friends . . . Co-Workers . . .

This is truly a heartwarming series . . . I cried . . . I also found myself becoming uncomfortable . . . Perhaps some things hit close to home or it shed light on my not being as opened minded as I’d like to be.

We all have opinions. We view things differently . . . We may accept the choices others make — perhaps we don’t like it or would make those choices in our lives . . . In my case, I may not truly understand . . . This could be the reason I watch such Prime Video series — to gain a better understanding of life — choices one can make . . . and see how things progress.

Life is full of lessons . . . some we learn . . . some we ignore . . . some we are not even aware . . .

I’m sure I’ve missed the boat on a lot of what life has to offer . . . I try to have an open mind . . . We do have our own priorities, thoughts, beliefs and opinions . . . I do wonder why we warm up to some and others we don’t — or even want to ignore and hope will just go away . . .

This is a series worth watching. Perhaps you’ll become reflective as I have . . .

Thanks for stopping by!

Sharon