Author Archives: Joe

Five More Photos of Spring

These photos were taken over the past couple weeks…definitely not the last couple days. The reason I say this is the past couple days we have been experiencing the outer edges and remnants of a Nor’easter that has really pummeled much of the east coast. We (Western New York) were lucky in that we’ve onlyContinue reading “Five More Photos of Spring”

A Cold, Wet Day and Evening..good for practice

Today–as the title of this post stated–was cold and wet. Not the dangerous frigid cold you get in mid-winter, but that bone-chilling wet-cold that can only come in the spring. And it’s been sort of snowing and raining for the better part of the day. Anyhow, I mentioned in a previous post how dismayed IContinue reading “A Cold, Wet Day and Evening..good for practice”

Two Signs of Protest

The above image was borrowed from Face Your Farmer, and the below one has been floating around the internet for quite a while. I like what they say and I believe them both to be true and accurate…but that’s not why I do both these things (at least not the only reason). Each year IContinue reading “Two Signs of Protest”

Lebanese-Style Chicken-and-Brown Rice (sans boeuf ou d’agneau)

Yes I’ve posted this recipe before–or many variations of it–but it’s one of my favorites and I can’t help but post it again in hopes that more people try it. This is yet another variation of the classic Lebanese Chicken-and-Rice recipe that I grew up with. While this version still has toasted vermicelli, I usedContinue reading “Lebanese-Style Chicken-and-Brown Rice (sans boeuf ou d’agneau)”

Lebanese-Style Chicken and Brown Rice (sans boeuf ou d’agneau)

Yes I’ve posted this recipe before–or many variations of it–but it’s one of my favorites and I can’t help but post it again in hopes that more people try it. This is yet another variation of the classic Lebanese Chicken-and-Rice recipe that I grew up with. While this version still has toasted vermicelli, I usedContinue reading “Lebanese-Style Chicken and Brown Rice (sans boeuf ou d’agneau)”

La Menthe Vinaigrette (ou citronette)

This is by far my favorite vinaigrette sauce. And I consciously use the word sauce rather than dressing because it is more than a salad dressing. This can be used as a dip or drizzled over poultry, seafood, or meat..and of course used as a salad dressing (it is in fact the basis to theContinue reading “La Menthe Vinaigrette (ou citronette)”

Now This is Interesting (a brief story)

Most who visit this blog know that I like bikes…a lot. I ride mainly for transportation, but also because I enjoy it. And some also know that I am not entirely car-free, but car-lite (I own one small late model pick up truck and a small fleet of bikes). Sometimes it seems silly that IContinue reading “Now This is Interesting (a brief story)”

Five Quotes from John Muir

Photo Credit: National Park Service John Muir (21 April 1838 – 24 December 1914) “Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.” “In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.” “God has cared forContinue reading “Five Quotes from John Muir”

Five Photos of Flowers…and a few words

I took these photos mostly in a neighbors front yard when I arrived home from work late this afternoon. The sun shone just right that they almost seemed illuminated. Interestingly, of the three cameras that I own, the smallest of them–a teeny Sony Cyber-Shot that I purchased for $99 two years ago–takes the best closeContinue reading “Five Photos of Flowers…and a few words”

Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#424)

A nylon bag containing a computer, a canvas bag containing an extra camera, an electronic reader, two books, a journal, a small tripod, and various writing tools; a dough rising bucket containing a small paper bag which contains a smaller plastic tub of homemade gravy; a round tin resting atop the dough rising bucket containingContinue reading “Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#424)”

Oatmeal-Flax Bread (whole wheat, of course)

In an effort to make ever healthier breads, this is my latest one. It’s really just a variation on a them of whole wheat breads. This one simply includes oatmeal and flax seed. The big difference is that you have to add even more water to the dough because the oatmeal and flax absorb some.Continue reading “Oatmeal-Flax Bread (whole wheat, of course)”

Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#423)

Payday today, the house was bare with essentials. After a brief steam and swim I ran errands and did some shopping. This is what I carried on–or pulled with–the bike tonight from 4 separate stores:  Two bags of of dog food, $67 in groceries, vitamins, sundries, a bottle of red wine, a canvas bag containingContinue reading “Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#423)”

Raw Vegetable Salad with Oil-Braised Garlic and Near East Spices

This vegetable salad is so delicious it’s making my mouth water as I look at the picture; it’s also exceedingly easy to make. You can use whatever vegetables you prefer, or whatever seasonings you prefer. The recipe is below, but these are the basic steps. Slice, chop, or shred whatever vegetables you like.Put the vegetablesContinue reading “Raw Vegetable Salad with Oil-Braised Garlic and Near East Spices”

Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#421)

Two nylon bags, a canvas bag, 3 books, an electronic reader, a pocket Bible, a camera, a tripod, a magazine, a laptop computer, a journal, and various writing implements. Urban Simplicity.

A Few Test Photos…and a few words, too

I just purchased an inexpensive used camera from someone off craigslist today. I now have three cameras and none cost more than $99US. This is not meant to be a braggart’s statement, but just to reinforce that one does not need a $500 camera to take good pictures. Anyhow, and this is interesting, I think,Continue reading “A Few Test Photos…and a few words, too”

Four Photos of Flowers (and how they inspire me)

It’s interesting. I like many adults have suffered from sleep problems for most of my life. It’s rare for me to sleep more than 6 hours. But every so often I do. My body crashes. Last night was one such instance. I went to bed around 1:00am–which is late for me–and didn’t wake until nearlyContinue reading “Four Photos of Flowers (and how they inspire me)”