LEAVES TURNING AND PEACH JAM - THE MALLORCA FILES - BEEF SOUP (STEW) (SPICY) - JIBBER JABBER

Friends in NH send this photo that Fall is starting to arrive. Then she goes to the kitchen to complete a batch of homemade peach jam. Mouth-watering in my world. AND, simple photo above is wonderful.

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 THE MALLORCA FILES

Now playing on Prime, this TV series is proving to be fun evening viewing. Each episode is a story told from start to finish, the actors are new to us and filming this series in Mallorca is magnificent. Three quick seasons. Give the series a few first episodes and I think you too will find this a refreshing change from much of current entertainment offerings.

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BEEF STEW (soup)

A last minute lunch date with family from Dallas found us at TAG'S RESTAURANT in Mt. Vernon, TX. Her and I had eaten our lunch at home an hour earlier, but went for the opportunity to visit with family rather than a lunch event. Neither of us were hungry. 

I am very much a soup fan and have written here many times on soups and stews made at home. So, the restaurant's offering of a beef soup (stew) was a good choice for personal interest and a small portion lunch choice.

The waitress called it "beef soup." Then later called it "beef stew." I also heard it referred to as "spicy beef stew" that day. 

Brother-in-law ordered chicken fried steak and from the soup above and his lunch, I have a wanting to share here in this post.

The bride and I have officially been here in Texas for 4 years now. Quite a few good eateries have been visited from Dallas to Shreveport, LA. All wonderful in their own way.

The small town square in Mt. Vernon, TX is a quick 4 block circle turn of some of the best restaurant choices we have encountered. For us, a 15 minute drive. Others come from much further away for steak, pizza, salads and a cold beer. All of the restaurants offer comfortable seating, personable wait staff/bartenders and meals in which we have yet to find any fault. Mt. Vernon is just a quick drive off of Interstate 30 that runs east/west through middle Texas. I digress.

In my opinion, any restaurant-prepared and served meal should be visually interesting from the get go. The soup above surprised me. Not what I am used to at home or from an eatery. I always expect soup to look like soup. Parts and pieces soaking in a broth. So, the above bowl of soup/stew peaked my interest visually. There is more than meets the eye in the making and plating of that bowl of soup/stew. The chef has a little secret and I think it probably simple. The beef broth was clear and the soup items cooked separate? I do not know. Full of flavor.

I had to decide how to dig in. Fork or spoon. 

During that discussion with myself, brother-in-law's chicken fried steak arrived and that meal trumped this bowl of soup which was already a winner for me. Long story short, the best chicken fried steak yet in our brief 4 years here. Brother-in- law, very picky chicken fried steak enthusiast, also agreed it to be the best serving and portion he has ever had and he has lived in in Texas his whole life. I won't even go into the mashed potatoes smothered in gravy. Why the best ever? None of breading fell off of any cut or bite. And flavor. And portion size.

The beef soup had a spicy kick. Just the right of amount of heat flavor. And not to beat a dead horse here, the photo above was more for me to take home to try to figure out ingredients, how it was made and plated. I am still in that process, but I cannot wait to get my hands dirty to see if I can even come close to repeating this at home. Stay turned. 

Other great Mt. Vernon restaurant choices? Steve-O's Pizza and Pub, The Chop House for steaks and The Bull Pen Grill & Cantina. I visit one of these restaurants weekly. If I did not enclose a link here, it was because I could not easily find a specific URL for that restaurant. I dislike using 3rd party sites. 

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JIBBER JABBER

This summer heat in east Texas has been "easy." It is hot yet still keeps us inside during mid-days, not killer hot and triple digits days after weeks after months. Temperatures to finish out this month of summer will be mid 90's with even a chance of thunderstorms. 

I have all but thrown in the towel on worldly events worrying.  When, not if. 

Extra food, water, meds and work healthy. Good friends, neighbors and like-minded folk. Stay away from crowds, believe your eyes and gut. Keep your knees bent. Have plans, add skill sets; keep on keeping on.

I appreciate your visit this week.

 

 

 
 

HOT - 3D PRINTING - MODEL POND YACHT COMPUTER DESIGNED PARTS

Hundred and two.  The heat hits like a wall and the humidity is there to finish the job. It is the price we paid coming home to Texas. In NH, it was the ice/snow and freezing for the winter months. 

Up at 4 AM, breakfast at 06:00 and outside chores were done by 08:00. We do not complain this season as summer has been mild by historic measurements. Most folks who make a weather comment during the day in passing acknowledge that it has been a mild summer. But August into September is summer at its peak. 

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I have entered into re-learning all that I have forgotten in the past 15 years regarding computer-generated drawings. I taught Autodesk Inventor and thoroughly enjoyed the learning and building objects using computer programs. In the mid 2000s, this technology was well integrated into the high school curriculum with 3D printing/prototyping in its infancy. We had demonstrations brought into the classroom so students could see the next step in computer design. To "print" an object representative of a student design and be able to hold it in our hands was a marvel. Today, it is commonplace for high schools offering robotics as a norm. Design in the computer, print parts and pieces that fit together with movement around three axis. Single ideas developed into working models. 

I have shared a few posts of a hobby of designing and building self-sailing pond yachts. A sport developed in the late 1800s with all parts and pieces made by hand, I have enjoyed the historical aspect and the associated work in my small shop. Why not bring today's technology into this hobby experience? But first I need/needed to re-learn all that I have forgotten inside computer design and drawing. Just maybe adding a small 3d printer to bring all of this full circle. 

 My first pond yacht build sits on my desk collecting dust and urging me on to the next model.

  

A few parts and pieces have been designed as a part of my new learning curve. Every day a new small problem solved with seemingly a million miles of learning yet to travel. 

Second drawing of Braine Steering Quadrant completed. Maybe a 3D print next week. I am still not happy with a final design. 

This bow deck plate is just fine.

Several copies of the very original computer drawing from 4 months ago. A good friend printed the above Braine Quadrants so I could hold in hand the idea of that long-ago invented device. Even a copy using carbon fiber filament.

 

Not many folks will recognize this set of tools. This is what I used to learn how to make engineering drawings in Jr. College, 1964/65. The old mechanical pencil, lead, dividers and an the ink pen that was the last step in completing any working engineering drawing. 

Every line, dimension and all lettering was overwritten using that pen. One mistake with blotchy ink rendered the drawing "broken" and was every draftsman's worse nightmare. The whole drawing had to be tossed away and started over. No pressure there!!

Today I make mistake after mistake as I re-learn computer design drawing. I push escape, right click delete or highlight a large area and remove it all with the push of a button. I double click the dimension to change it and can populate all the dimensions of a large drawing so that every aspect of the design adapts correctly to a single dimension change. 

I push a button to complete a working fully dimensioned paper drawing. I can send the drawing over the net to anyone anywhere. And like the copies in the photo above, someone somewhere else can make my designed parts and mail them to me. And for the most part in today's world, this is just child's play compared to the advances in this industry. 

Even better, I can purchase a printer that will build these parts for me on a near by desk. I am sure you will see all of this develop over the months ahead. Bumping 80, the mind is still alive and working. No memory, but the mind in the moment seems to be fine. 

Did I mention that I am bumping 80 and the mind still seems to be working?

 "Make me a sammich? Just hit enter." I am sure my day will come soon, when I drive in to pick up a robotic made sandwich. I will have to do it just to say that I did. Why not?

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Slow and quiet days here. Simple gifts. Thanks for the visit.

 

AUGUST SUNRISE - CANNON ESCAPES - CAJUN STIR FRY - BIRD HOUSE BUILT AND DELIVERED - OLYMPICS - JIBBER JABBER

 Just over the rise another Texas sunrise showed us what we are missing in the early mornings. Short lived and magnificant.

As we left the driveway, we noticed that Cannon had gotten out of his gate and gave our neighbor a quick call. Apparently, the grass really is greener on the other side of the fence. Cannon turned around as his owner called and headed home at a trot. Morning traffic in east Texas.

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CAJUN STIR FRY

One of our favorite dinners. Homemade Cajun seasoning and what you see in the photo. The shrimp seem to step up their game in this dish. Flavor, texture and all of that.

There are many homemade Cajun seasoning recipes on the net. We held off on the Cayenne pepper portion and traded the salt portion with garlic salt. We double the recipe and filled up an old pickle jar. The flavor heat is perfect for us. The sausage is Earl Campbell's Original Smoked Sausage. The shrimp always have peak flavor in this dish.

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"THE BEST JOB IN THE WORLD"

Cast to the big screen and turn up the sound.

PART II 

Yep, in my younger flying days, I would have done this day after day and not complained.

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BIRD HOUSE COMPLETED

 

Much different from any bird house I have built. 

The bride wanted one and so did the neighbor lady. Finished hers this morning and delivered. Happy girl! 

Should be able to get my wife's out by next weekend. Made from old chicken house barn wood and corrigated tin roofing. 

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HEY, ITS THE WEEKEND!

 JIBBER JABBER

Our local town barber shop is remenicient of barber shops of days past. He knows everyone in town and is tuned into all the happenings of our little town. Sense of humor and conversations are always jovial and welcoming. 

He asked me if I was watching the Olympics causing me to fall into the perverbial rabbit hole. I told him that I have always enjoyed watching the Olympic games. The opening ceremony and all events. I have become accusteomed to the games played on a global stage and, of course, fond of all of the winners in their events, no matter the nationality. Olga Korbut's back flip is one of the reasons I always watched. Olympians always brought their best game.  She was a champion in a heartbeat and the world loved her. To this day!

But today's world stage of Olympics and Olympians have changed beyond my imagination. 

The pit of my stomach and my love for the games now forces me to adapt to these changing times or not watch. I chose to not watch and hope that in some grand moment, sports will return to the basics of competition where the players are all even on the field and when Clydesdales put a tear in my eye. Where the skill sets of the individual or team are not tainted. Bumping 80 now, I do yearn for days of old. The first time I saw the above commercial is still parked deep in my memory.

 I watched this young atletete compete. To this day a champion. 

I know days of old are just that. But history is so rich and I will always miss many of those days and friends.

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Amd I will leave you this. Beef short ribs from the pellet grill. A Sunday cook.

The best yet from the Pit Boss and it was nothing more than some salt and pepper, time and slow cooking/smoking. About 9 hours all and all. 

We find these beef short ribs a Wmart. Somewhat spendy but we do get 6 meals out of a cook like this and maybe easier to justify.  And it is fun.

Sunday's still bring that wanting to gill a chunk of meat and why not. 

Thanks for the visit this week.

JULY 24 IN THE HISTORY BOOKS - BIRDHOUSE BUILD - JIBBER JABBER

 Over a week now with temperatures in the 80's and on/off rain here in the Piney Woods. Locals say they have never seen these July temperatures and weather patterns in their life times. Soooo, unusual yes and no one is complaining. 

Most folks also say that all of this is a welcome relief from the norm of triple digits day after day. The second cutting of hay fields is on hold for the rain to let up. Summer weather turns warm/hot again w/o rain.

I have put off yard work to a point now where simple weed eating will be small harvesting. My fault. I have found excuse after excuse as to why I should not put on long pants, work shoes and get to it. The price I pay.

The field below is just an example of the green that surrounds us here. Several horses run free daily feasting inside their own personal acreage. The movement of them walking by the fence always catches my attention. A new family of deer, with their youngsters, also feeds daily in these fields.

Volunteer cantaloupe have come on for no reason other than Mother Nature has found a way to spark life into some old seeds left over in last year's compost pile. That material found its way into gardens planted this season. 

I have hung the weight of this melon on an orange string in so that its weight does not strangle itself on vine holding it on the wire mesh. Seems to be working.

Given Mother Nature and God have much more control of my garden this season and "me thinks" I should save seeds from these few maturing cantaloupe. 

Our Friday chicken dinners happened Tuesday this past week. Calling ahead and ordering the 10 AM pick up worked much better than hoping the chicken would be ready while I shopped. Fried chicken and Texas are " thang." Twelve pieces for $13 is an OK deal. 

My wife was already sitting at the lunch table when I arrived home. Visualize fork in one hand and knife in the other. There was look in her eyes that said "just put the chicken on the table and suspend with the storytelling." Local fried chicken has its way with us!

And it was good.

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TWO WING MISS BUDWISER TESTING 1995 

Days and times when Budwiser was Budwiser. This video well portrays public respect for that company. And a company that associated itself with the greatness of men and machines. It also displays the ability of what man can build and in doing so push the limits of new technology and create sport that would own a summer weekend in Seattle at the Hydroplane Races. 

I cast this video for my wife to watch with me. I told her to watch Chip Hanauer "ring this boat out" on the straight away. The sound of that winding up as it passes is hard to put into words. Turn up the sound and enjoy. As I watched this video and saw Chip Hanauer appear, his name immediately popped into my mind. I cannot remember the name of the local grocery store at times, yet moments in history like this come to the tip of my tongue.

Names like Ted Jones, Bill Muncey, Lee Schoenith and Slo-Mo-Shun V, Slo-Mo-Shun IV, Miss Thriftway, Gale V are drivers and names of hydroplanes you most likely have never heard of. 

If we did not go to the sit on the banks of Lake Washington to watch the race, we spent the day in front of the TV watching every minute from start to finish of that days broadcast. 

"Those were the days my friends, those were the days." Like the days we would spend watching the Olympics, the Superbowl and the Oscars.

A bit of history. I remember this moment as if it was yesterday.

And this happened over the Lake Washington crowd one race weekend. Yea! I have shared this here before.

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BIRDHOUSE BUILD / JIBBER JABBER

Birdhouse for neighbor has started. She saw this at a harden center, took a picture and I told her that I would make one for her. The barn wood is from an old chicken house tear down, pressure washed and set out to dry for a few weeks. Quite different from any other birdhouse I have built.

Well, we made it though July 2024. Historic days and weeks have past. Three months till elections as we peek into the abyss. 

Summer is officially here in east Texas. It is August and triple digits coming next week and will hang around for awhile. My better half said we have "done this before and we will do it again." Chores done by mid-morning.

Appreciate the visit.