Cèilidh Nam Freumhan

Tag: learning

The Night They Put Lime in My Sazerac

A few years ago, I decided to start making my own cocktails at home.

There were several reasons for this. First, paying $15 for a cocktail is ridiculous. Second, too many bars serve inconsistent drinks. And third, there is nothing more disappointing than ordering a favorite cocktail and getting something completely out of balance.

The final push came on my birthday.

My spouse and I visited a local speakeasy that I had enjoyed before. It was a charming place: Prohibition-era cocktails, a small intimate room, and a password required to get through the door. Unfortunately, this visit was memorable for all the wrong reasons.

My spouse asked the bartender a question about one of the top-shelf bourbons. The bartender pulled the bottle down and slammed it onto the bar without saying a word. From that point forward, things only got worse. Our cocktails arrived in the wrong glassware, and they weren’t made correctly. At one point, my Sazerac arrived with lime in it.

A Sazerac.

With lime.

Some crimes cannot be forgiven.

On the way home, we stopped at a liquor store. I bought a few bottles and decided that if I wanted a proper Sazerac, I was going to learn how to make one myself.

It turned out to be one of the better decisions I’ve made.

Around that same time, I had watched far too many episodes of Bar Rescue. For all its drama, the show taught me something important: balance matters. A bartender who pours extra liquor into your drink isn’t necessarily doing you a favor. Every ingredient is there for a reason. The goal is not to taste the alcohol; the goal is to create something where the ingredients work together.

The more I learned, the more I noticed inconsistencies when I went out. At one upscale restaurant in town, I watched a bartender make two copies of the same specialty cocktail. They came out noticeably different shades of green. That should never happen. A cocktail should look and taste the same every single time.

These days, I have a growing collection of bar tools: jiggers, pour spouts, bar spoons, mixing glasses, strainers, and pretty much everything else a home bartender could want.

And before anyone says it: a pony is not a jigger.

A pony measures 1 ounce and 1/2 ounce. A jigger measures 2 ounces and 1 ounce. I will die on this hill.

I use those tools, too. Every pour gets measured. Every recipe gets followed. Consistency matters.

For what it’s worth, I make a heck of a Sazerac.

Historical reenactment.

June 9, 2026
Bring Back a Shrubbery!

As someone who has become increasingly committed to using what I already have, I’m always looking for creative ways to avoid wasting food.

Which brings us to three persimmons.

Two days ago, I had three persimmons that had become far too squishy for me to willingly allow into my mouth. It’s a texture thing, okay?

After some searching, I found a recipe for something called a shrub—a sweetened vinegar syrup that can be mixed into everything from bourbon cocktails to sparkling water.

Naturally, I had to try it.

The process begins by peeling the persimmons and squishing out the insides.

Shudder.

The resulting pulp goes into a bowl. The basic ratio is about 1:1 fruit to sugar, so I combined 1 cup of persimmon pulp with 1 cup of sugar. I also added roughly a tablespoon of ginger powder because it sounded like a good idea at the time.

I covered the bowl with plastic wrap and left it in the refrigerator overnight.

The next morning—at approximately 6:40 a.m., for reasons I still cannot explain—I strained out the solids and was left with about 2 ounces of syrup.

This will be great in yogurt or something later.

The solids weren’t wasted. I saved them in a separate container with plans to add them to yogurt later.

Next came the vinegar.

I chose apple cider vinegar because I thought it would pair nicely with the sweetness of the persimmons. Most shrub recipes call for a 1:1 ratio of syrup to vinegar, but since this was my first attempt, I approached it cautiously.

After all, you can always add more vinegar.

You cannot un-vinegar something.

I started at about 50% of the recommended amount and gradually worked my way up to around 75%, tasting as I went.

Once I was happy with the balance, I transferred everything to a mason jar and gave it a good shake.

Then I tasted it.

Wow.

This is going to be good.

At least this wasn’t days of work to only get 4 ounces.

At the time of writing, I haven’t actually used it in a drink yet. I want to give the flavors another day or two to mingle before I start experimenting.

Besides, I only ended up with about 4 ounces of shrub.

If it’s as good as I think it’s going to be, I need to exercise at least a little self-control.

June 6, 2026
Too Many Interests, Not Enough Lifetimes

This is not an actual photo of me – credit to ChatGPT for the image generation.

I have spent years feeling inadequate because there is so much I want to learn that I eventually become overwhelmed and end up touching none of it.

At the moment, I am studying four languages. I am still in the phase where my brain immediately reverts to French because it was the first language I learned outside of English.

There are currently four commonplace books in my bag. One of them is completely blank, just in case.

I carry a pen case full of stationery tools I “might need,” along with a Kindle Scribe.

I want to write a dissertation on the Scottish Highlands around the time of Culloden. Or perhaps another period of Highland history. I still cannot decide.

I want to learn to knit so I can make beautiful sweaters and shawls.

I am trying to grow my own food and learn how to can it, partially because gardening fascinates me and partially because apparently some part of my brain is preparing for a zombie apocalypse.

I want to make paper and ink.

I am going to spin my own yarn someday and dye it using plants I have grown myself.

I am designing a planner that actually fits the way I think and work instead of settling for something mass-produced.

I am binding notebooks by hand because it turns out I genuinely enjoy it.

For a long time, all of this made me feel like a failure. I constantly felt behind. Surely, if I were more disciplined, more focused, or more organized, I would already be proficient at half these things.

Eventually, though, I realized something important:

You cannot dedicate your entire life to mastering dozens of subjects simultaneously.

Some seasons of life are for language learning. Some are for gardening. Some are for theology, history, sewing, bookbinding, or note-taking systems.

Some days I spend hours studying Torah. Other days I spend six straight hours documenting Norwegian vocabulary and grammar rules in my learning compendium like a Victorian scholar who has just discovered Scandinavia.

And honestly? That is fine.

I have stopped trying to force myself into becoming a hyper-efficient machine optimized for productivity and mastery at all times.

Now I mostly try to ride the wave of whatever is currently lighting up my brain.

The interests eventually circle back around anyway.

You do not have to learn everything at once.

You just have to stay curious enough to keep returning to the things you love.

May 22, 2026
I Never Learned How to Study

Notebook phone table by Markus Spiske is licensed under CC-CC0 1.0

There have been several studies showing that people tend to remember information better when they write it down by hand. For me, that has absolutely been true. Hence the ever-growing stack of commonplace books around my house.

One study discussed in Scientific American explains that typing involves repeating the same simple finger movements, while handwriting creates distinct physical motions for each letter. According to Audrey van der Meer, who spearheaded the study, handwriting helps lock the motor and sensory systems together.

I won’t get too deep into the science here. That isn’t my area of expertise. But looking back, I wish I had been able to handwrite more of my notes in law school.

I tried for a week or two. Eventually, though, the professors spoke too quickly for me to keep up effectively by hand. I switched to typing instead, organizing everything neatly in OneNote by class, with individual pages for each topic on the syllabus. My organization system was solid. The problem was retention.

I’m also not the type of person who can compulsively reread notes over and over again. That makes it especially important for me to absorb the material the first time I encounter it, and handwriting seems to help with that.

In high school, we had spelling tests where we memorized vocabulary terms alongside their definitions. During the test, we had to fill in the correct word next to each definition. Because I had physically written the words down beforehand, I could often close my eyes and “see” the page in my head. Even if I couldn’t immediately remember the correct word, I could remember where it had been positioned relative to the others on the list.

That kind of visual and physical memory still seems to matter for me now.

At any rate, I love creating these various and often random commonplace books. I don’t have to learn at someone else’s speed. I can sketch diagrams where needed. I can reorganize information however my brain naturally wants to process it. For me, it’s simply a better system.

The funny thing is that I never really learned how to study. As a child, most schoolwork came easily to me, so no one ever thought I might need actual study strategies later on.

Over the years, I have Googled and browsed Pinterest trying to find the “best” note-taking system. One method that appears constantly is the Cornell Method, where the page is divided into three sections: a narrow left-hand “cue” column for keywords or questions, a larger note-taking section on the right, and a summary section at the bottom.

I tried it a couple of times and never found it especially helpful. Even the research surrounding the method seems somewhat inconclusive.

What I eventually realized is that I don’t need an elaborate system.

I just need something straightforward that works with the way my brain already processes information: plain notebooks, handwritten notes, and room to think.

No fancy handwriting. No planner stickers. Just paper.

And yes, I once asked ChatGPT for note-taking advice. It suggested mind maps.

I practically yelled at the screen.

They look so chaotic to me that I know I would immediately become irritated with my own notes and never look at them again.

May 18, 2026
What I’m Bringing (and Not Bringing) to Read on Vacation

Every time I take a vacation (which is rare the past few years), I always end up being overly ambitious about how many books I will get through. Even though I always have my Kindle, I still think I should pack 3 or 4 physical books too.

I considered taking two physical books and one commonplace book for this trip and studying a bit. Then I remembered that ships sway. Like…a lot. I try very hard to keep my handwriting neat and readable, so I don’t believe a swaying ship will be conducive in this particular endeavor.

Thus, I will only take my Kindle. I have the Scribe, which comes with a stylus, so I can either take notes in the book itself, or highlight things I might want to transfer into a commonplace book after I get home.

I am also one of those people who packs a ton of stuff “just in case” I want to use it. For example, when I go to work, my bag contains my Kindle; a pen case with a variety of Zebra Mildliners, some washi tape, correction tape, a straightedge, two mechanical pencils, lead refills, and an eraser; at least two of my commonplace books; my planner (which is in its own purse); and if there is a morning/early afternoon baseball game, my tablet. Yesterday, I was excited to read during lunch, so guess what I forgot to pack? See? If I don’t have it, that’s the only thing I want.

So…I have to be firm while packing. Kindle, planner, maybe one commonplace book. Oh, and I suppose I should pack clothes.

Stacks of black notebooks on a table with evergreen holiday decorations by Courtney Robertson is licensed under CC-CC0 1.0

May 11, 2026
My Garden System is Getting More Sophisticated (What’s Working)
The garden overview photo was taken as I began this three-hour tour.

On the left side is a cover crop of clover that I definitely did not plant. That is supposed to be a row of greens, but unfortunately nothing has grown enough for me to distinguish between actual food and the three-leaf version of a leprechaun’s dream.

Why Everything Is Numbered

I have a tendency not to plan things out, which becomes problematic when trying to grow food and medicinal herbs.

So everything is divided into numbered beds. What you don’t see is why they were placed where they were.

The bottom half is all herbs:
- #1 loves water
- #2 likes a moderate amount
- #3 prefers it drier, grows taller, and would otherwise shade the others
The rest is organized by nutrition, water needs, and companion planting.

My Planting Spreadsheet

This spreadsheet tracks:
- frost dates
- indoor starts
- transfer dates
- direct sow timing
I had to start marking completed tasks with little stars because apparently I cannot be trusted to remember what I already did.

Eventually I’ll rewrite it in fountain pen like the rest of the commonplace book, but growing actual food takes priority.

The Commonplace Book

This idea sprouted (yes, I did that intentionally) from a terrible mistake last year: I didn’t know what any of the herbs looked like beyond the seed packet photos.

So I started drawing the herbs and writing what they’re useful for.

I’m doing something similar with vegetables, but without pictures. If I can’t recognize a tomato by now, I clearly have other issues that need immediate attention.

Also, I’m not sure why I decided to write my capital A’s like that. I appear to be passing notes in 7th grade English.

Starts Actually Worked This Year

Last year my starts failed because I made too many mistakes to recover from and ended up buying starts.

This year they germinated.

I’d like that entered into the record.

Improved Trellises

I still haven’t built proper trellises because I refused to ruin my cozy “don’t leave the house” weekend by going to the home improvement store.

Instead:
- I flipped two tomato cages upside down and secured them to fence posts for cucumbers
- I used another tomato cage for pole beans, buried to the first ring
Elegant? No.

Functional? We’ll find out.

Bonus Content

This photo is similar to the previous one, but I believe everyone deserves to see my good boy.
April 25, 2026
How to Get Started With Your Highland Adventure

I have dedicated a commonplace book to this topic, in order to have everything in one place. So far, it is divided into: gardening plans, 18th century history, and recipes.

Here are some steps you can try:

Tip #1 – Figure out what aspect of Highland culture you’d like to dig into

Do you like history? Food? How to wear various types of tartans? All of the above?

Tip #2 – Find a way to organize your notes and thoughts

I like to keep as much as possible analog; I find that the act of writing things down helps me remember. I have also used my bujo, but the bujo fills up quickly and I don’t care to make a new one every month. Digital note-taking apps are available as well: Goodnotes, Microsoft OneNote, Evernote, and Notion, among others. I haven’t found one that works for me, but use whatever you need to to keep everything straight.

There is scarcely anything to which I am so feelingly alive as the honour and welfare of my country, and, as a poet, I have no higher enjoyment than singing her sons and daughters.

Robert Burns

Tip #3 – After finding your note-taking method, make a list of what you think you might need (yarn, food ingredients, etc.)

Google will be your friend here; there are lots of great resources that will help you find exactly what you need for your project.

Tip #4 – Give something a try

After finding out what you need, and getting all of it, try it out! If you want to crochet or knit, there are sites with free Outlander patterns (if that’s what you are looking for, otherwise there are free patterns all over). If you want to cook, there are plenty of Scottish recipe sites, both vegan and non-vegan. The best way to improve at something is to just do it.

Tip #5 – Share your work

This last tip is purely optional; I know I have trouble showing people anything I am working on, though I can share my cooking results with my spouse at any time. Even if it looks weird.

Make this project work for you!

If you want to research and/or just enjoy Highland culture, do what makes you happy in the way that makes you happy. And feel free to contact me, whether you have a question, want to share something you made, or just want to express your thoughts.

April 23, 2026