Tag Archives: Simplicity

A View from my Handlebars

This was a view from my handlebars on my way to work this morning; I was at a traffic signal at this corner. There’s a lot going on in this picture. There were a group of guys doing something where they had to take up the sidewalk (pavements to my friends in the EU). I’mContinue reading “A View from my Handlebars”

Red Red

It’s been raining, sleeting, and hailing for most of the day today. Maybe that’s why these flowers caught my eye…their bright colors in the midst of a drab and grey day. Beautiful aren’t they. I took a couple of these this morning as I left my house for work, and a few more on myContinue reading “Red Red”

A Few Things I saw Today (natural and human-made)

We had a crazy wind storm yesterday and everything was blown about. And today I found the juxtaposition of things human-made and those natural to be an interesting combination. Here’s a few things I saw. From top-to-bottom: A rotten apple in the middle of the street.A small fabric ball on a rock.A sock in aContinue reading “A Few Things I saw Today (natural and human-made)”

A Few Things I Saw Today

From Top to Bottom: A waxing crescent moon with a star in view.A side view of Temple Beth Zion.  Twigs in melting snow.Dusk over Buffalo’s West Side. Urban Simplicity.

Five Quotes That Inspire Me

“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.”  —Albert Einstein “A life is either all spiritual or not spiritual at all. No man can serve two masters. Your life is shaped by the end you live for. You are made in the image of what you desire.” —Thomas Merton “Non-violence beginsContinue reading “Five Quotes That Inspire Me”

Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#399)…and a quick comment

Things on the bike…a gym bag containing two swim suits, two towels, and two pair of swim goggles; and a canvas bag containing a book, magazine, and camera. A quick comment…That’s my bike parked about 10ft from the door to the health club of which I’m a member. Being Monday I almost drove…my street hasContinue reading “Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#399)…and a quick comment”

The Times They Are A Changing…

I’ve posted this short video before but recently came upon it and it seems as fresh as when I first saw it, so thought I’d re-post (for those who may not have seen it initially). I originally came across it at the excellent Toronto based blog, The Urban Country. It’s only a minute long andContinue reading “The Times They Are A Changing…”

Five Photos of Snow and Cold

As mentioned in a previous post, we got a good taste of winter last night and today…frigid temperatures and a fair amount of snow. I wasn’t out a great deal–just enough to enjoy it–but I did snap a few photos. Even though the above photo was the last I took I chose to place itContinue reading “Five Photos of Snow and Cold”

Beauty in the Mundane: Five Photos of Vegetables, Ground, and Sky

The above photo, “Five Baby Carrots,” is an image of a few of the carrots I’ll be serving as part of a crudité tomorrow…carrots come in a lot of amazing colors (beautiful aren’t they). The next three photos are things I saw on the ground while walking: “Lone Acorn in the Evening Sun,” “Bent Grate”Continue reading “Beauty in the Mundane: Five Photos of Vegetables, Ground, and Sky”

A Few Photos of Snow, Slush, and Rain

  I’ve commented a few times recently on what wacky weather we’ve had this winter, it seems to change daily…but today hourly. The above photo and the one immediately below were taken this morning as I left for work. It had snowed a little overnight and there was ice on the roads, but as theContinue reading “A Few Photos of Snow, Slush, and Rain”

Three Photos and Six Recipes

Did you know that January is NationalSoup Month? Well it is, and rightly so. It’s perfect for the cold weather and seemsto nourish both body and soul. Soup is delicious and nutritious,and it’s easy to make. If you can boil water you can make soup. Andthere’s something about a simmering soup pot…it’s the originalcomfort food.Continue reading “Three Photos and Six Recipes”

A Few Random Photos

Here’s a few random photos I’ve taken over the last few days. The one above and immediately below were taken this evening, and were in fact the reason of this post…the sunset was so incredible–even on a cold night and in an inner city–that I felt the need to share it. They were both takenContinue reading “A Few Random Photos”

Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#390)

$132.72 in groceries, sundries, and dog food (and four slices of pizza), in a cardboard box and soda crate from  three separate stores.   Urban Simplicity.

Simple Stirfy…or, how to make something really quick and delicious with what you have

I’ve said this before, but some evenings cooking dinner in my home is like taking a mystery basket test. By the time I get home my son is hungry (and so am I) so time is something to consider…and there’s often just a scant few things in the fridge. Don’t believe the unrealistic TV showsContinue reading “Simple Stirfy…or, how to make something really quick and delicious with what you have”

Isaac’s Mexican Shrimp Recipe

My teenage son came to me and asked how to make a Mexican shrimp recipe the other day. I was a bit surprised…he was, after all, not simply asking what there is to eat (or why there’s “nothing” in the fridge) or what time dinner is ready. I’m joking, of course, I feel blessed toContinue reading “Isaac’s Mexican Shrimp Recipe”

Tacos con Carnitas de Pollo…and a few comments on Ezekiel Bread

Pictured above is one of the tacos I made for my son and I for dinner tonight, before it was rolled up of course. Buried under the vegetables and sour cream are the carnitas…delicious. But more on that in a minute. First I have a couple unrelated comments. Between urbansimplicity.com and urbansimplicty.wordpress.com there are nearlyContinue reading “Tacos con Carnitas de Pollo…and a few comments on Ezekiel Bread”

More Interesting Bikes

I came across these bikes on east 10th Street last evening while looking for the former residence of Kahlil Gibran (more on that in a later post). For those of you reading this that happen to live in a large metropolis (or a small one that is “bicycle progressive”) seeing bikes like this parked curbsideContinue reading “More Interesting Bikes”

Interesting Old Bike

I love old bikes…especially those that are still in use. This is an example; I came across it locked to a stand in Greenwich Village last night. In a city like New York you see plenty of old bike leaning around (probably less likely to get stolen than a shiny new one), but what caughtContinue reading “Interesting Old Bike”