Friday, January 28, 2011
Calling all arachnologists.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
On the horizon.
Just a note to myself or anyone who may have the notion to leave a comment about possible future topics. With any interest they could become regular topics in this blog.
1. Acutely Aware of the Obvious- For everyone who notices stuff.
2. Adventures in Gastronomy- For those of us who eat. (Great timing as I have just spent this week's grocery allowance on a diet program.)
These two topics should just about include everyone.
Another note: Comment settings have been changed as to allow easier access to posting your wonderful comments. (I hadn't gotten to that chapter in Google Blogger for Dummies yet.)
1. Acutely Aware of the Obvious- For everyone who notices stuff.
2. Adventures in Gastronomy- For those of us who eat. (Great timing as I have just spent this week's grocery allowance on a diet program.)
These two topics should just about include everyone.
Another note: Comment settings have been changed as to allow easier access to posting your wonderful comments. (I hadn't gotten to that chapter in Google Blogger for Dummies yet.)
Monday, January 24, 2011
The Baguette
If you have ever eaten one of my Mom's homemade baguettes, you may appreciate this. If you have ever owned a dog, you might appreciate this. If you have ever eaten one of my Mom's baguettes and you have ever owned a dog, you will truly understand.
My baguette was in the freezer. They handle the freeze well and even after thawing, slicing and toasting, are still a wonderful treat. My Mom made it and gave it to me after our Thanksgiving dinner. It was a treasure. If you have ever had one you understand. If not, a short description. The baguette is like a bread stick for Paul Bunyan. They are crisp and crunchy on the outside but not in a dry, powdery, cracker kind of way. The crispy, golden-brown crust protects the soft, tender, chewy, airy center.
On this fateful day, I had thawed the remaining 2/3 of my baguette and anticipated eating it with real butter and a thick covering of peanut butter. Even as it thawed on the counter I could smell it and couldn't wait to bite into the crust. Maybe with a bit of honey or jelly to add some sweet to the savory (When the baguettes are hot from the oven or even popped out of the toaster, the butter and peanut butter melt into the large holes in the bread. Making it a perfect carrier for spreads and toppings.) Ok, the baguette was thawed and ready for the toaster. time to prepare the spreads. You need to have your toppings ready for immediate application. You don't want your warmed baguette cooling down and losing moisture while you fiddle with sugarized honey or the lid on a jar of jelly that has naturally been glued in place. Everything must be ready.
The butter was at room temperature, good enough to spread on a baguette. The honey was fresh and fluid. The peanut butter was empty. Oh crap! No peanut butter! That's ok, the baguette has not been toasted yet and I will just run to the store. That is how good this is. I would go out in the 10 degree weather and drive 6 miles round trip just for some peanut butter for my Mom's baguette. Shoes, jacket and stocking cap for bald head. On my way.
The store was uneventful. Or seemed so, I only had baguette on my mind.
I returned home and bolted to the kitchen, open peanut butter jar in hand. I quickly stepped to the counter where my baguette had been. What? Had been? Where was it? I asked Deb if she moved it or ate it. I didn't really think she ate 14 inches of a baguette, but I was in a state of panic. Then I saw them.
The dogs looking at me, yet not looking at me. All three of them. Heads down. Only able to look as high as my knees and with a sideways glance at that. Absolutely no eye contact. Guilt.
Waves of emotion swept over me. Disappointment. Deb thougth it was a little funny and wanted to tell my Mom. Hell no. I couldn't tell her. I couldn't risk her not trusting me with a loaf of bread and not giving me anymore baguettes. It would be a secret.
Two months later, I can look back and think the baguette/dog incident was funny. I called my Mom and told her and she thought it was funny too.
My baguette was in the freezer. They handle the freeze well and even after thawing, slicing and toasting, are still a wonderful treat. My Mom made it and gave it to me after our Thanksgiving dinner. It was a treasure. If you have ever had one you understand. If not, a short description. The baguette is like a bread stick for Paul Bunyan. They are crisp and crunchy on the outside but not in a dry, powdery, cracker kind of way. The crispy, golden-brown crust protects the soft, tender, chewy, airy center.
On this fateful day, I had thawed the remaining 2/3 of my baguette and anticipated eating it with real butter and a thick covering of peanut butter. Even as it thawed on the counter I could smell it and couldn't wait to bite into the crust. Maybe with a bit of honey or jelly to add some sweet to the savory (When the baguettes are hot from the oven or even popped out of the toaster, the butter and peanut butter melt into the large holes in the bread. Making it a perfect carrier for spreads and toppings.) Ok, the baguette was thawed and ready for the toaster. time to prepare the spreads. You need to have your toppings ready for immediate application. You don't want your warmed baguette cooling down and losing moisture while you fiddle with sugarized honey or the lid on a jar of jelly that has naturally been glued in place. Everything must be ready.
The butter was at room temperature, good enough to spread on a baguette. The honey was fresh and fluid. The peanut butter was empty. Oh crap! No peanut butter! That's ok, the baguette has not been toasted yet and I will just run to the store. That is how good this is. I would go out in the 10 degree weather and drive 6 miles round trip just for some peanut butter for my Mom's baguette. Shoes, jacket and stocking cap for bald head. On my way.
The store was uneventful. Or seemed so, I only had baguette on my mind.
I returned home and bolted to the kitchen, open peanut butter jar in hand. I quickly stepped to the counter where my baguette had been. What? Had been? Where was it? I asked Deb if she moved it or ate it. I didn't really think she ate 14 inches of a baguette, but I was in a state of panic. Then I saw them.
The dogs looking at me, yet not looking at me. All three of them. Heads down. Only able to look as high as my knees and with a sideways glance at that. Absolutely no eye contact. Guilt.
Waves of emotion swept over me. Disappointment. Deb thougth it was a little funny and wanted to tell my Mom. Hell no. I couldn't tell her. I couldn't risk her not trusting me with a loaf of bread and not giving me anymore baguettes. It would be a secret.
Two months later, I can look back and think the baguette/dog incident was funny. I called my Mom and told her and she thought it was funny too.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Shopping List
I had to do it. I had to venture into the south Walmart. I dreaded the thought. I drove into the parking lot and my fears were valid. The lot was half full and there were just as many shopping carts in the lot as vehicles. Apparently the store is so severely understaffed, they don't have anyone for "cart patrol" . I knew I was in for a long shopping experience.
I roamed the store and managed to find everything I had on my shopping list. Now to the checkout line. I knew it was going to be painful. Yep, I was right. All five checkout lines are full. At 5:29 pm, I picked the shortest line. I was wrong. It was the shortest line, but I was riding a turtle. My back was getting sore so I rested my elbows on the handle of the shopping cart. I lifted a foot up onto the bottom rack of the cart. My tin poked me in the hip and I felt the weight of polymer and steel on my hip. I started to daydream of what would happen if someone tried to rob the till in front of me. My stomach reminded me that I only had an English muffin for breakfast and that was 10 hours ago.
Ok the line moved forward another three feet. I hate coming here. It puts the crab in my apple.
My turn. The cashier must have detected a bit of hostility on my face as he asked me if I had found everything I was looking for. I said "yes". He rambled on in a pleasant tone as I loaded my cart as quickly as I could. Finally I was free. Only 23 minutes of actually standing in line. 23 minutes. It was not even a record.
I pushed my cart to my pickup in the -5 degree weather and loaded my items into the cab. I pushed the empty cart to the cart corral and gave it a shove. My cart rolled up to another cart. This other cart had two Walmart bags in it. Better take a look.
I picked up the two bags that had been tied shut. I could make out cat food in one of the bags. Hum, I have a cat. I looked at the other bag, frozen pizzas. I like pizza. But wait, there is something else, no way, it is... the gateway meat. Bacon. Yes, a pound of bacon, just waiting to be rendered into crispy, salty, smokey goodness. On any given shopping day, any combination of these three items could have been on my list.
A few thoughts went through my mind but only one stuck. I picked up the two bags and started to walk back into the store I hate. I walked up to the greeter and his sidekick and told them that someone had left these bags in a cart in the parking lot. I offered them the bags. In return I received an open-eyed, slack-jawed stare. I said the bags were not mine and extended my arm out to them. The man took the bag, I turned around and I walked out.
Bacon, pizza and cat food were not on my shopping list.
I roamed the store and managed to find everything I had on my shopping list. Now to the checkout line. I knew it was going to be painful. Yep, I was right. All five checkout lines are full. At 5:29 pm, I picked the shortest line. I was wrong. It was the shortest line, but I was riding a turtle. My back was getting sore so I rested my elbows on the handle of the shopping cart. I lifted a foot up onto the bottom rack of the cart. My tin poked me in the hip and I felt the weight of polymer and steel on my hip. I started to daydream of what would happen if someone tried to rob the till in front of me. My stomach reminded me that I only had an English muffin for breakfast and that was 10 hours ago.
Ok the line moved forward another three feet. I hate coming here. It puts the crab in my apple.
My turn. The cashier must have detected a bit of hostility on my face as he asked me if I had found everything I was looking for. I said "yes". He rambled on in a pleasant tone as I loaded my cart as quickly as I could. Finally I was free. Only 23 minutes of actually standing in line. 23 minutes. It was not even a record.
I pushed my cart to my pickup in the -5 degree weather and loaded my items into the cab. I pushed the empty cart to the cart corral and gave it a shove. My cart rolled up to another cart. This other cart had two Walmart bags in it. Better take a look.
I picked up the two bags that had been tied shut. I could make out cat food in one of the bags. Hum, I have a cat. I looked at the other bag, frozen pizzas. I like pizza. But wait, there is something else, no way, it is... the gateway meat. Bacon. Yes, a pound of bacon, just waiting to be rendered into crispy, salty, smokey goodness. On any given shopping day, any combination of these three items could have been on my list.
A few thoughts went through my mind but only one stuck. I picked up the two bags and started to walk back into the store I hate. I walked up to the greeter and his sidekick and told them that someone had left these bags in a cart in the parking lot. I offered them the bags. In return I received an open-eyed, slack-jawed stare. I said the bags were not mine and extended my arm out to them. The man took the bag, I turned around and I walked out.
Bacon, pizza and cat food were not on my shopping list.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
My last Cody Beer!!!!
Cody Beer!!!
This is a home brew concocted by a friend and fellow coworker. (Friends give you free beer, right?) It deserved the full studio photography session, which was a rush job because I was thirsty. The beer did the job. I would have loved it with a ruben sandwich and a zesty dill pickle but it is almost time for me to go to bed. Thanks Cody, it was a priviledge drinking this one!
Dana R. Middleton
Friday, January 14, 2011
Blogger
Day 2 and still playing with Blogger. I am trying to get some of my own pics onto the main page and I am not having any luck.
Thought for the day: Choose words used in speech carefully. Write words with extreme caution.
Thought for the day: Choose words used in speech carefully. Write words with extreme caution.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Entering the blogosphere and Scotch eggs.
Welcome. My first blog entry and I realize I am suffering from writer's block. Maybe I should have thought about that eariler. At least creating this blog kept me from spending money on camera equipment and going out to eat.
The Scotch eggs I had for breakfast are still hanging with me anyway. Breakfast in a ball. Perfectly portable pork and poultry protein packages. I had never heard of them until two days ago. Then I was bombarded with info about them. I saw them on a friend's Facebook page, saw them on the internet, discussed how to make them and then a coworker showed up and had two of them in his lunchbox. I went from having never heard of Scotch eggs to having two of these breakfast balls sitting within eating distance of me. All within a 20 minute time span.Where have they been hiding? Where have I been hiding? What other fabulous fare am I missing?
They looked so good, I had to make my own. The ground pork sausage from the grocery store in Linton was perfect.
When I read an item on a menu and ask myself "What in the world is that?", I will remember these words from my mom and dad, "Don't miss the boat!", and I will order it.
Scotch egg
The Scotch eggs I had for breakfast are still hanging with me anyway. Breakfast in a ball. Perfectly portable pork and poultry protein packages. I had never heard of them until two days ago. Then I was bombarded with info about them. I saw them on a friend's Facebook page, saw them on the internet, discussed how to make them and then a coworker showed up and had two of them in his lunchbox. I went from having never heard of Scotch eggs to having two of these breakfast balls sitting within eating distance of me. All within a 20 minute time span.Where have they been hiding? Where have I been hiding? What other fabulous fare am I missing?
They looked so good, I had to make my own. The ground pork sausage from the grocery store in Linton was perfect.
When I read an item on a menu and ask myself "What in the world is that?", I will remember these words from my mom and dad, "Don't miss the boat!", and I will order it.
Scotch egg
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