Grandma Ruth and I took one of her granddaughters and one of mine out to lunch today.
Both Caroline and Laura are big fans of milk shakes, but neither had tried a malted milk.
Much as they were intrigued by the lure of essence of the inside of a Whopper candy, neither was brave enough to make the leap until I added that malt is a byproduct of brewing beer. (Not totally right, I know, but close enough to get the job done.)
Two malts went right down, to the detriment of the following lunch order, which went home in boxes for later snacking.
Laura, realizing the picture coincided with the spoon in her mouth.
So, the two firsts.
This is Francis, Caroline's big brother. He is fourteen, about two weeks younger than his cousin Laura.
When this picture was taken, at my 73rd birthday lunch, France was just back from a bicycling adventure. He and a schoolmate spent several days bicycling from Columbus back to their homes in Cleveland.
Early this morning he and his dad left for Virginia, to meet up with another cyclist. France will spend the next month cycling the TransAm Trail from Virginia to Illinois.
He spent last summer in southern Ohio, climbing rock faces with a school chum.
To his mother's dismay, he was incommunicado the entire time, and didn't set pen to paper once to let her know he was fine.
Recently Beth told me this same young man was heading off on a bigger adventure, and, be still her heart, intended to blog about it.
This grandma asked if she could give him a plug, and he said "Most certainly."
A click on the link under his picture will take you straight to Summit, his blog. So will a click on Summit.
Give him an atta boy, nice job young man.
And throw in one for his parents, too.
A kid like that would give me a heart attack. I still want my daughter o Tweet regularly so that I know that all is well and she's been grown for years.
ReplyDeleteThat's an amazing young man you've got there in your family, Joanne. His blog is very nicely done, and his range of interests and his accomplishments blow me away. And, yes, his parents deserve a big pat on the back for helping him along his way to adventure and not letting worry get in the way.
ReplyDeleteI've never had a malted milk. Am I missing something really good?
Do not miss your next opportunity to have a malt or scale a cliff, whichever comes your way first.
DeleteI get vertigo on the second step of a ladder, so I'll probably go for the malted milk only :)
DeleteSounds like Richard Branson's childhood. Love extra malt in my treats.
ReplyDeleteI used to buy malt tablets at the drug store. Been years since I've seen them.
DeleteI've never heard of malt tablets. Here in Australia Malt Extract Syrup is available in 1kg tins at supermarkets; I go through two tins a year.
DeleteIt is fun to see faces the first time they try a malt as opposed to a shake. All our homes keep malt powder available for upset stomachs. It works wonders.
ReplyDeleteLove his blog. And his attitude. This non parent thinks that letting children go to make their own mistakes and learn to fly must be very, very hard.
ReplyDeleteMalt? Not for me. Himself loves it though.
Yum on the malt shake and the burger! I can't imagine being out of touch with my son for that long at that age! He seemed like he is one for adventure though! Heading over to his blog now.
ReplyDeletebetty
I find it hard to believe the girls had never had malted milkshakes. When I was growing up, every milkshake I ever had came with malt added. It's just how my dad always ordered them, so when I got old enough to order my own I asked for malt every time. Now I get my daily malt by adding a spoonful to my morning porridge or just by having a teaspoonful of the syrup straight from the tin.
ReplyDeletegoing to check Summit right now.
Never had a malt shake, not even sure we have them here!
ReplyDeleteWell done that young man - I am going to his site right now to give him a spur on.
The knife through the burger, holding it all together, is a grim touch!
ReplyDeleteFrance has such an adventurous spirit. I look forward to his blog.
ReplyDeleteThat's a way to keep a Hamburger together! (Never saw that before :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to figure out how one might even eat a hamburger that big? Will definitely check out his blog. I like his spirit.
ReplyDeletemy son and his best friend decided that they would bicycle around the country after they graduated. they both bought good bikes and planned their adventure except for one thing. neither of them did any training, thought it would be easy to bike all day. After about three days they were done in and got a lift from a trucker to Louisiana where the other boys mom lived. I think they took the bus back here. they did, later, hitchhike to California and back. they dressed in brown suits so as to look like wholesome missionary boys and never had to wait long for a ride.
ReplyDeleteMy dad took us to a real soda fountain once so we could have a malt. My son tends toward incommunicado living, at least toward me.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
A malt milkshake that takes me back, it's been a long time.
ReplyDeleteChildren who do not write, the world is full of them, even the ones who never get off the phone forget their parents number.
Merle........
Hari om
ReplyDeleteMALTED MILK??!!!!! COUNT ME IN!!! [Ahem] ,,,, popping over the summit now, YAM (typing from Indiana) xx
My kids are in their 50's and I still want to hear from them... more often than I do. Malted milk... no way! I don't like milk chocolate, malted milk balls, milk shakes or any of that stuff. Okay, I'll admit it... give me a glass of wine anyday, and let's forget about that sweet stuff.
ReplyDeleteThat's a huge knife for a hamburger. Lol.
ReplyDeleteIt has been a long time since I had a good old fashioned malt! I visited the blog and that young man has a big adventure ahead. I am glad he is making a blog to keep his mom up to date.
ReplyDeleteOh the adventures he will have, the places he will see...A malted milkshake really brings up happy feelings. I know where I can get one, too.
ReplyDeleteHope he finished that hamburger.
That is one great burger he stabbed there.
ReplyDeleteThe adventurous ones often give Gramma's hearts a jolt! My 21 year old grandson lives in Colorado and works winters at a ski resort. He is an avid snow boarder and will post pictures of his antics on Facebook. Last year he was in an accident and lacerated his liver ...... "Don't worry Gramma, it is just a small laceration and I don't even need surgery!" He scares me!
ReplyDeleteWhat an adventurous young man. Glad he has a buddy to travel with. And the girls -- how can one live without ever having a malt shake when one is young. -- Ahh to be so young. -- barbara
ReplyDeleteyes a malted shake is heaven, not sure I can have those any longer but I remember they tasted so good; a lacerated liver and it was just small, yikes
ReplyDelete