tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7148498032208168352024-02-20T14:46:11.262-05:00pragmanticismprag·ma·tism | ro·man·ti·cismpete vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489398325160874093noreply@blogger.comBlogger185125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-714849803220816835.post-15902910408291093652011-04-20T09:00:00.002-04:002011-04-26T16:46:44.799-04:00Here I Dreamt I Was an Architect<img alt="" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5189/5630066258_931ea1dd18_b.jpg" width="500" height="874" />pete vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489398325160874093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-714849803220816835.post-73894345432614371712011-01-27T13:05:00.005-05:002011-02-18T20:55:31.764-05:00Hibernation<img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5214/5393592234_5f991d1ce2.jpg" width="500" height="287" alt="hibernation-1" /><br /><br />clad with radiance<br />the garden sleeps quietly<br />all winter to dreampete vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489398325160874093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-714849803220816835.post-33743777973419914852010-10-28T23:11:00.004-04:002010-10-29T15:34:55.867-04:00Domaine HudsonLast night the family enjoyed a <a href="http://wrappedupinaroyalblue.blogspot.com/2010/10/butternut-squash-tagine.html">delicious vegetarian dinner</a>, served with a sip of Gilbert Cellars Allobroges (Yakima, WA). This fine meal was promptly followed by second [carnivorous] dinner at Domaine Hudson in Wilmington. Dynamite <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charcuterie">charcuterie</a> platter with tasty Code Noir merlot (Rattlesnake Hills, WA).<br /><br />The allobroges was return luggage from a <a href="http://pragmanticism.blogspot.com/2010/05/seattle-ellensburg-yakima.html">trip to Washington</a> earlier this year. They make good merlot - which suffers a bad reputation, apparently. One winery owner refused to not serve it. <i>"What, you don't want to taste my merlot?"</i>pete vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489398325160874093noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-714849803220816835.post-12804522195984496512010-10-26T20:14:00.003-04:002010-10-26T20:19:32.646-04:00Mmmm, pie<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35108115@N06/sets/72157625249496876/show/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4012/5119321970_e5cda646c1.jpg" width="500" height="309" alt="" /></a><div align="right"><span style="color:#666666;"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;">Butternut squash and apple pie</span></span></div>pete vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489398325160874093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-714849803220816835.post-46634155669079367292010-10-18T16:00:00.013-04:002011-01-29T06:45:44.590-05:00New York CityAbigail and I spent the day yesterday in New York City. Drove to Princeton Junction and took the train to Penn Station <span style="font-family:courier new;">[33rd/8<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> Ave]</span>. The weather was perfect for a walk up 5<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> Avenue to Rockefeller Center past the ice rink. We continued to the southern entrance of Central Park then reversed towards brunch.<br /><br /><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2320/1882809107_e5524a20c7.jpg" style="border: solid 0px #000000;" alt="" /><br /><div align="right"><i><span style="color:#666666;"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;">"Bar Americain" by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/16944847@N08/1882809107/">don't fence me in</a></span></span></i></div><br /><a href="http://www.baramericain.com/newyork.php">Bar <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Americain</span></a> <span style="font-family:courier new;">[52<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">nd</span>/6-7<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> Ave]</span> is Bobby <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Flay's</span> restaurant, and despite some online reviewers grumbling about celebrity chef eateries I was excited to check it out. We were seated immediately in a mostly full dining room situated at street level. The first course was a trio of cold seafood cocktails including shrimp with cilantro-lime-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">purée</span>!, lobster with <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">avocado</span>, and crab with mango and coconut. There was too much black pepper on the crab cocktail, otherwise <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">everything</span> was delicious.<br /><br />Next came an order of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">frites</span> with <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">chipotle</span> mayo and a couple of cocktails. Abigail had a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pimm"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">Pimm's</span> #1</a> with fresh lemonade and cucumber, I had a bloody <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">mary</span>. Both were as delicious as they were small and overpriced. I moved on to an Arcadia Rye Pale Ale (Battle Creek, MI) for the next course: poached eggs with charred <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">tasso</span> ham and spicy <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">hollandaise</span>. Top eggs <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error">benedict</span>, and the potent <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error">sauce</span> paired well with the crisp <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error">hoppy</span> beer. Pocketed a mini-baguette and a few boxes of matches as we exited for the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-error">MoMA</span> <span style="font-family:courier new;">[53rd/5-6<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> Ave]</span> to be inundated with the nihilistic screams of the contemporary art scene, an <a href="http://fxreflects.blogspot.com/2011/01/abstract-expressionism-at-moma.html">extensive abstract expressionism review</a>, and a glance <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">through</span> the 20<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_21" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span>-century ward.<br /><br />After being ushered out of the museum we walked back to Penn Station, checked on the next Northeast Corridor train and popped <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_22" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">across</span> the street to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_23" class="blsp-spelling-error">Tir</span> Na <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_24" class="blsp-spelling-error">Nog</span> for a Guinness before the return trip.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"><strong>"Creativity and Imagination Shall be the Stability of Thy Time"</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:85%;">The <a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4139/4850071137_f687c1f770.jpg" width="500" height="341" alt="Creativity and Imagination Shall Be The Stability of Thy Times">LEGO Store</a> appropriation of <a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/229/475503798_03bdc4b11a.jpg">this</a>, above the gate to 30 Rock</span>pete vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489398325160874093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-714849803220816835.post-71363980185461827712010-10-15T10:30:00.016-04:002010-10-22T16:23:25.077-04:00Playoffs<img alt="red sky at night" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4092/5073110845_3d6a17baa3.jpg" width="500" height="309" /> <div align="right"><i><span style="color:#666666;"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;">Photo: DVD</span></i></div></span><span style="font-family:courier new;">FIGHTIN'S</span><br />The New Big Red Machine takes on San Francisco tomorrow night. Roy Halladay threw a nearly perfect no-hitter in his previous start for the Phillies and Giants ace Tim Lincecum struck out fourteen in his last appearance. Meanwhile, former Philly pitcher <a href="http://pragmanticism.blogspot.com/2009/10/game-one.html">Cliff Lee</a> has brought the Texas Rangers to their first American League Championship Series to face the Evil Empire. Crunchy October action.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">OCTOBER 21: LET'S TRY THIS AGAIN</span><br />Doc versus the Freak again tonight. Philadelphia is behind 3-1 to San Francisco in a series that has seen the team looking listless. Even last night, when they managed (finally) to score some runs, the mood was notably somber. When Jayson Werth followed Ryan Howard's double with one of his own to tie the game in the top of the eighth there was hardly a reaction. It didn't seem like they were planning on winning the game. That's been the feel for the last couple. <br /><br /><em>A victory tonight will bring the Phillies back to Citizens Bank Park, back to the fans, and maybe back to themselves.</em>pete vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489398325160874093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-714849803220816835.post-52033691372328382132010-10-13T11:43:00.008-04:002010-10-13T12:02:16.763-04:00RescuedThirty-three miners, trapped for more than two months two thousand feet underground, and a twenty-eight-inch wide precision drilled ray of hope. <br /><br /><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4037/5078091889_0cc64d0076.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt=""/><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rescatemineros/5078254386/"><div align="right"><i><span style="color:#666666;"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;">Photo: Hugo Infante</span></i></div></span></a><i>Our time on this earth is a gift, is it not?</i>pete vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489398325160874093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-714849803220816835.post-88479933558049645912010-10-12T13:27:00.007-04:002011-02-22T22:44:05.439-05:00October<img alt="lagoon" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4111/5073708920_2ed43863b6.jpg" width="500" height="375" /><br /><br />coffee goes cold fast<br />empty cove, tide is lower<br />the fish have gone southpete vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489398325160874093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-714849803220816835.post-79448647633543690262010-09-15T09:46:00.028-04:002010-10-30T11:00:18.642-04:00All the old showstoppers<a href="http://pitchfork.com/news/40053-christian-college-cancels-new-pornographers-concert-because-of-the-bands-name/"><img alt="cancelled-tnp-show" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4110/4993261270_b85ae1ee7d.jpg" width="500" height="366" /></a><br /><br />I was pleased to learn a few weeks ago that Calvin's Student Activities Office had booked the wonderful indie collaborative band <a href="http://pragmanticism.blogspot.com/2010/06/sing-me-spanish-techno.html">The New Pornographers</a> to perform on-campus this fall. Then dismayed (not entirely surprised) to see the show suddenly cancelled yesterday, hardly a month before the scheduled October 15th appearance. Speculation about donor politics aside, this is an embarrassing <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35108115@N06/3417175404/in/set-72157616318529483/">fiasco</a> of reactionary ignorance. <i>Turdburgers.</i><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;">The sad story: </span><a href="http://www.calvin.edu/admin/sao/resources/articles/new-pornographers-more.htm"><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;">Calvin College</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;">, </span><a href="http://pitchfork.com/news/40053-christian-college-cancels-new-pornographers-concert-because-of-the-bands-name/"><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;">Pitchfork</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;">, </span><a href="http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2010/09/calvin_college_cancels_the_new.html"><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;">Grand Rapids Press</a></span><br /><br /><object width="320" height="26" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000"><param value="true" name="allowfullscreen"/><param value="always" name="allowscriptaccess"/><param value="high" name="quality"/><param value="true" name="cachebusting"/><param value="#000000" name="bgcolor"/><param name="movie" value="http://www.archive.org/flow/flowplayer.commercial-3.2.1.swf" /><param value="config={'key':'#$aa4baff94a9bdcafce8','playlist':[{'url':'AcNewman.mp3','autoPlay':false}],'clip':{'autoPlay':true,'baseUrl':'http://www.archive.org/download/AcNewmanOnWyce/'},'canvas':{'backgroundColor':'#000000','backgroundGradient':'none'},'plugins':{'audio':{'url':'http://www.archive.org/flow/flowplayer.audio-3.2.1-dev.swf'},'controls':{'playlist':false,'fullscreen':false,'height':26,'backgroundColor':'#000000','autoHide':{'fullscreenOnly':true},'scrubberHeightRatio':0.6,'timeFontSize':9,'mute':false,'top':0}},'contextMenu':[{},'-','Flowplayer v3.2.1']}" name="flashvars"/><embed src="http://www.archive.org/flow/flowplayer.commercial-3.2.1.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="320" height="26" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" cachebusting="true" bgcolor="#000000" quality="high" flashvars="config={'key':'#$aa4baff94a9bdcafce8','playlist':[{'url':'AcNewman.mp3','autoPlay':false}],'clip':{'autoPlay':true,'baseUrl':'http://www.archive.org/download/AcNewmanOnWyce/'},'canvas':{'backgroundColor':'#000000','backgroundGradient':'none'},'plugins':{'audio':{'url':'http://www.archive.org/flow/flowplayer.audio-3.2.1-dev.swf'},'controls':{'playlist':false,'fullscreen':false,'height':26,'backgroundColor':'#000000','autoHide':{'fullscreenOnly':true},'scrubberHeightRatio':0.6,'timeFontSize':9,'mute':false,'top':0}},'contextMenu':[{},'-','Flowplayer v3.2.1']}"> </embed></object>pete vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489398325160874093noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-714849803220816835.post-11386929723577859732010-08-16T09:20:00.007-04:002010-08-24T22:31:05.458-04:00Stacking stones<img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4077/4892343762_ddf7164cc7.jpg" width="500" height="309" alt="stackin"/><br /><br />This year I'm adding perforated pipe to the dry stack stone retaining wall construction process (pictured wrapped in white filter fabric). The pipe's purported purpose is to provide a passage for water to flow through the wall, thus alleviating potential hydrostatic pressure that could cause rotation and failure. I'm fairly certain based on the performance of the previous installations that a good amount of crushed stone behind the wall ensures ample drainage, but we had extra pipe and filter material so I decided to give it a shot.<br /><br /><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4074/4925437950_29ae100c7a.jpg" width="500" height="289" alt="" />pete vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489398325160874093noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-714849803220816835.post-56339125091363942902010-08-03T13:55:00.024-04:002010-08-04T16:52:24.410-04:00Portable PeaksAfter spending another glorious long weekend on <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/1209422@N20/">Peaks Island</a>, a question emerges and remains. How to emanate whenceward the way-of-living that comes so easily there? Can the good aesthetic, social, and ecological vibes of the island be transmitted? <br /><br /><img alt="balanced rocks in fog" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4114/4855091461_3a6fdedbcc.jpg" width="500" height="375" /><br /><div align="right"><i><span style="color:#666666;"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;">Photo: <strike>D</strike>TVD</span></i></div></span><blockquote><b><span style="font-family:courier new;color:#666666;">Aesthetic:</span></b> This is art and craft. It is an aesthetic of <i>place</i>, not contrived and kitschy but homegrown and authentic. It is on display in the gardens and front porches; the look of wholeness and unity.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-family:courier new;color:#666666;">Social:</span></b> Being on a small island promotes a spirit of community. We wave to every car and pedestrian, and they wave back. Generations who return and return are bound by their mutual appreciation of what they've shared.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-family:courier new;color:#666666;">Ecological:</span></b> The proximity to nature and the inherent awareness of island ecosystem drives a strong sense of eco-logic. The tide rises, waves crash, fog rolls, rain falls. Creation is eminent, it demands awe and responsibility.</blockquote>The clues are there. Locality. Community. Place. Apprectiation. It is easy to forget about these things amongst the daily drudgery of congested roadways, monolithic megamarts, a sea of "development" that drowns ideas of vigor and beauty from our lives. In the face of a daunting challenge, small tacks in the right direction are victories. I'm starting by waving to neighbors from the car.pete vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489398325160874093noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-714849803220816835.post-50183236439427405582010-08-02T21:00:00.002-04:002010-08-03T20:28:21.523-04:00Bonus tracks word cloud<a href="http://pragmanticism.blogspot.com/2010/07/summer-2010-bonus-tracks.html"><img alt="bonus tracks 150 words" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4116/4857720939_55beb5570a_o.jpg" width="500" height="778" /></a><div align="right"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;color:#666666;">Powered by </span><a href="http://www.wordle.net/"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;">Wordle</span></a></div>pete vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489398325160874093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-714849803220816835.post-35957641143602081182010-07-28T09:59:00.018-04:002010-07-29T15:26:36.508-04:00haikuhand leans into wind<br />hold two up for the future<br />hope peace victory<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_mae/3374010823/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3547/3374010823_fd166e3d08.jpg" /></a> <div align="right"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_mae/3374010823/"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;">"objects in mirror..." [are closer than they appear] by vanessa mae</a></span></div>pete vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489398325160874093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-714849803220816835.post-15352322596283934012010-07-27T21:30:00.012-04:002010-08-02T23:43:41.319-04:00Garden goods, frankenmato, gyro burrito<img alt="lettuce, tomatoes, jalapeños, beans, carrots, beets" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4092/4836193459_6260e62ff3_b.jpg" width="500" height="666" /><br /><div align="right"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;color:#666666;">lettuce, tomatoes, jalapeño peppers, green beans, carrots, beets</span></div><br /><img alt="frankenmato" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4152/4836193665_c2b854dcbe.jpg" width="500" height="375" /><br /><div align="right"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;color:#666666;">it's alive</span></div><br /><img alt="gyro burrito" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4131/4836802308_3f9f22bb92.jpg" width="500" height="375" /><br /><div align="right"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;color:#666666;">braised beef, feta/sour cream/yogurt, cucumber, green pepper, olive, tomato, cilantro</span></div>pete vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489398325160874093noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-714849803220816835.post-89400638469742221232010-07-23T11:24:00.002-04:002011-02-22T22:48:58.069-05:00Morning in the garden<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35108115@N06/4817554235/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4075/4817554235_c04606c4eb.jpg" width="500" height="309" alt="morning in the garden" /></a>pete vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489398325160874093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-714849803220816835.post-86746358564897829782010-07-22T10:52:00.011-04:002010-07-27T17:21:44.965-04:00Bacon, lettuce, tomato<img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4122/4818176808_a7ae74b915.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="bacon lettuce tomato"/><br /><br />Microwaved two thin strips of bacon between paper towels for a couple minutes (to crispy perfection - wish I'd known bacon is microwaveable when I was in college). Picked a small ripe Yellow Brandywine and a handful of bitter greens (a sprig of mint found its way in there, too). Chopped the arugula/lettuce/mint and folded into mayo, toasted one side of two pieces of wheat bread, smeared the greens-mayo on both untoasted sides. Stacked, sliced, and consumed alongside Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere Whole Hop Harvest Ale. Tomato sandwich version three, we have a winner.<br /><br /><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4082/4817553887_5a7b7672a3.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="b.l.t."/>pete vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489398325160874093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-714849803220816835.post-42320356548218072242010-07-22T00:00:00.004-04:002010-07-22T13:55:44.090-04:00It's raining againRains, pours.<br /><br />Of course, living is water. Water and sun...<br />Ice don't live. Cold is dead. Life is warmth.<br /><br />Equilibrium is the end - Keep going!<br />Do it again, again is good. Again is life.<br /><br />Let it rain.<br /><br />Let it pour.<br /><br />Let it grow.<br /><div align="right"><em>Again</em></div>pete vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489398325160874093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-714849803220816835.post-83737507282565309692010-07-21T09:39:00.004-04:002010-07-23T01:08:43.589-04:00The wall, cont'd.<img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4116/4815400764_74cd06ed0d_o.jpg" width="500" height="308" alt="stone wall prep"/><br /><br />This summer we ordered two more skids of "Laurel Hill" Pennsylvania fieldstone for yet another dry-stacked retaining wall. This installment will repeat the gesture of <a href="http://pragmanticism.blogspot.com/2009/08/wall-part-three.html">last year's side yard project</a> (visible in background), creating a new tier of plantable space under and away from an existing thicket of forsythia hedge. The red flag on the lower left marks the center line of the view from the front yard to a focal oak tree in the back.pete vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489398325160874093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-714849803220816835.post-30893949385525168392010-07-20T11:41:00.020-04:002010-07-20T12:12:49.795-04:00Tomato sandwich, version two<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35108115@N06/sets/72157624418763365/show/"><img alt="fried green tomato sandwich" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4081/4812059547_7818fb5d9e.jpg" width="500" height="500" /></a><br /><div align="right"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:65%;color:#666666;">Click image to view slideshow</span></div><br />Fried green tomato sandwich with Souther Tier Un*earthly Imperial IPA (New York, 11%ABV, fantastic - I dug this beer more than Dogfish Head 90 Minute). Had to substitute panko breadcrumbs for cornmeal and added some cayenne pepper to the dredge, otherwise straight from recipe in <a href="http://gardenandgun.com/article/slices-heaven"><i>Garden & Gun</i></a> June/July issue. Breadcrumbs got kind of clumpy in the dredging process, not a good replacement. The end result was tangy and tasty on whole grain toast with mayo, but I think I'll wait for the rest of the tomatoes ripen, maybe after one or two more fried greenie attempts.pete vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489398325160874093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-714849803220816835.post-40522529734927322202010-07-19T10:12:00.001-04:002010-07-19T10:12:34.689-04:00Tomato sandwich time<img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4097/4808840216_d6264ac963.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Heirloom tomato sandwich" />pete vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489398325160874093noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-714849803220816835.post-69523239171200103552010-07-18T21:30:00.008-04:002010-07-19T17:44:33.236-04:00Away from the things of manI was happily introduced to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Versus_the_Volcano">this little gem</a> while spending the weekend with some fine folks in Ohio. So much style and meta-thematics in this existential goofball of a movie, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The first film pairing Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan (who plays three characters). Abe Vigoda and Nathan Lane cameo as south-pacific islanders. <i>Nice.</i><br /><br /><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4114/4809598043_12fb19379c_o.jpg" width="500" height="750" alt="joe v. volcano" />pete vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489398325160874093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-714849803220816835.post-29195240084882345932010-07-13T00:50:00.004-04:002010-07-13T16:02:20.239-04:00Curried Carrot & Zucchini SoupWhipped up a <a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4123/4789153508_269dcf5a78_b.jpg">garden</a> dinner last night, loosely based on <a href="http://ediblearia.com/2010/06/29/vegan-curried-carrot-soup/">this recipe</a> from a quality blog I recently discovered (via a Google Images search for <a href="http://ediblearia.com/2009/04/28/are-factory-farms-spreading-deadly-flu/">"CAFO,"</a> or Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation). In a slightly ironic twist, I was obliged to use a small portion of refined bacon fat that has been chilling in the fridge to cook the vegetables. Pictured below is the remainder from the preparation of the meal, destined for the compost pile. I've titled this photo <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBW2z0NZ5zA">"From Whence You Came."</a> Click the image to view a slideshow of the assembly of this early harvest soup.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35108115@N06/sets/72157624358079483/show/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4119/4788589669_58d367c8fd_b.jpg" width="500" height="666" alt="compost-bound"></a>pete vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489398325160874093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-714849803220816835.post-56813036409319021872010-07-12T12:20:00.013-04:002010-07-13T20:12:23.577-04:00Summer 2010 Bonus TracksApeman <span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#666666;">The Format (Kinks cover)</span><br />Automatic <span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#666666;">Weezer</span><br />Major Tom (Coming Home) <span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#666666;">Shiny Toy Guns</span><br />The Ghost Inside <span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#666666;">Broken Bells</span><br />Priority <span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#666666;">Mos Def</span><br />Don't Let Go <span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#666666;">Pacha Massive</span><br />I Need You <span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#666666;">Lynyrd Skynyrd</span><br />Across 110th Street <span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#666666;">Bobby Womack</span><br />Summertime Thing <span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#666666;">Chuck Prophet</span><br />July, July! <span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#666666;">The Decemberists</span><br />Right Moves <span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#666666;">Josh Ritter</span><br />Wondering Where the Lions Are <span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#666666;">Bruce Cockburn</span><br />East to the West <span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#666666;">Michael Franti & Spearhead</span><br />Beginnings <span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#666666;">Chicago</span><br />Things Are What You Make of Them <span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#666666;">Bishop Allen</span><br />Holdin' On Together <span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#666666;">Phoenix</span><br />Armistice (2nd Line Version, feat. Rebirth Brass Band) <span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#666666;">MuteMath</span><br />Moth's Wings <span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#666666;">Passion Pit</span><br />Nobody Lost, Nobody Found <span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#666666;">Cut Copy</span><br />Tumbling Dice <span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#666666;">The Rolling Stones</span><br />Life On Mars? <span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#666666;">David Bowie</span><br />100% <span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#666666;">Chromeo</span><br />The Bleeding Heart Show <span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#666666;">The New Pornographers</span><br />Camarillo Brillo <span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#666666;">Frank Zappa<br /><br /><br /><i>Is that a real poncho - I mean, <br />Is that a Mexican poncho or is that a Sears poncho? <br />Hmmmmm, no foolin'.....</i></span>pete vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489398325160874093noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-714849803220816835.post-18911023170162091302010-07-09T09:32:00.016-04:002010-07-19T17:43:54.772-04:00First fruit with roots<img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4094/4776576019_7edd67a2c9.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="first tomato of the season"><br /><br />An early ripe Yellow Brandywine heirloom tomato and a couple of freshly pulled carrots (amazing flavor).<br /><br />We're growing a variety of tomatoes from seed this year: fuzzy Garden Peach, dark purple Black <strike>Cherry</strike> Crimson, bright citrusy yellow and classic red Brandywines.pete vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489398325160874093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-714849803220816835.post-19481440520221208852010-07-06T16:45:00.012-04:002010-08-02T21:25:34.759-04:00Closer to homeAlone in a tall room.<br />Buzzing glow of fake sun <br />Glances across the window while <br />Darkness eases everywhere else.<br /><br />Sleepless awareness taking hold.<br />Undistorted by melting worlds <br />and fluorescent illusions. <br /><br />From somewhere not me <br />an ancient courage awakes. <br /><i>This thimbleful of chaos?<br />This universe, this eternity?</i><br /><br /><i><b>I AM</b></i><br /><br />Unlock the door, step back <br />into the blue-black night. <br />Rediscovering old everything <br />The road looks different than before. <br /><br />I'm getting closer to my homepete vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02489398325160874093noreply@blogger.com0