Homemade Martini

A true friend will tell you what you need to hear, not just what you want to hear.  And yesterday while we drank coffee and chatted, Carrie very kindly offered to help me wash my windows sometime. Well, they were a bit dirty but I promptly deflected the conversation away from my housekeeping flaws (and later at the library picked up a book on how to clean things).
So this morning while I sat quietly drinking my coffee on the couch and looking through my dirty windows at the lake, I decided today was the day.  Wash the windows and then go to the pool - so I did.
After the hot and sunny afternoon at the pool, I made a fabulous roast beet salad with goat cheese and arugula, and sipped some cucumber water.  How very spa, no?
But something was missing.  Those cucumbers floating in clear liquid begged for a higher purpose.  Somewhere between gazing out my clear windows and Edith Piaf, I felt the need for a cocktail.  Out came the Sapphire, the rest of the cucumber, the ice, St. Germain (thanks, Edith, for the French inspiration), the shaker, the glass.  Ah the ritual.  I placed a few cubes in the martini glass (with stem), and poured the cucumber water in to begin the chilling process.  I mean, we cannot waste the perfectly good water! Into the shaker went more ice, and then the gin, a splash of St. Germain, and a splash of lemon juice.  Cover the whole thing with a towel (because I am a wuss and don't like holding the cold metal) and commence to shaking it like a Polaroid picture.  Free the glass of the ice and the chilling water, and strain in the elixir.  Garnish with a few fresh cucumber slices.
Edith's album is over, but Madonna and I are enjoying a spectacular view of the water.  Right now as the sun is setting, I am not missing a single nuance of the colors - no dust or smudges are obstructing the shafts of light through the clouds.
Homemade martini - 7
Small edit - now that the sun's gone down I went out onto the porch and was inspired to add a baby mint leaf as a garnish.  Oh yes.