O Tannenbaum (a view from my handlebars)

I saw these while riding on Delaware Avenue this evening, on a stretch that was once–about 100 years ago– called Millionaire’s Row  (now, the once stately mansions are all businesses). And it’s interesting in that while I don’t ride a bike on the sidewalk very often (pavements, to my EU friends) I do on thisContinue reading “O Tannenbaum (a view from my handlebars)”

Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#424) and the view from my front porch

As I arrived home this evening and walked my bike up the plank of gratefulness I turned and saw the image above. I’m not sure why but the swirly sky reminded me of a Van Gogh painting. Anyhow, on the bike…a canvas bag containing a book, a small Bible, a periodical, a journal, and aContinue reading “Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#424) and the view from my front porch”

A Chicken in Every Pot…

“A chicken in every pot and a car in every garage.” —Herbert Hoover It’s interesting that the above quote is attributed to the 31st president of America, but it is also said to have originated much earlier. And of course I would like it better if it ended with “and a bicycle in every livingContinue reading “A Chicken in Every Pot…”

The Flavor of Curry…

I love the flavor of curry (heck, I love the flavor of most spices in general). I love how spices look, their aroma (how they perfume the house when you cook with them), but mostly I love how they taste and that they can make even the simplest foods into something really flavorful and special.Continue reading “The Flavor of Curry…”

The View from My Handlebars…

It has been unseasonably warm the past few days…a high of 63f/17c today and as I type these words at nearly 10pm it is still 48f/9c. Odd. But it is supposed to get cold again in the next couple of days. Anyhow, rather than snow it has been raining. And it’s interesting that when IContinue reading “The View from My Handlebars…”

Here’s Winking At You (two pug pics)

Okay, so I never thought I would be one of those people. You know the type…posting pictures of their dogs or cats in various poses all over the Internet. But every once in a while I feel the need to share a couple of my two pugs because they bring such joy into my lifeContinue reading “Here’s Winking At You (two pug pics)”

Warm Weather and a Recipe…

Okay, so as I type these words it is 4:00pm in the afternoon, December 3rd, and it is a balmy 55f/12c…and I am typing in Buffalo, NY, where we are known for our often harsh winters. I’m sure we’re going to get a taste of it soon enough (though last year it hardly snowed atContinue reading “Warm Weather and a Recipe…”

Things That Can Be Carried on a Bike (#422 & #423)

#422 (above)…A camera bag containing two cameras, a cardboard box containing 3 loaves of freshly baked bread, a dough rising bucket, a new derailleur (for my son’s bike), and a broken derailleur. #423 (below)…$212 (€163) in groceries. Urban Simplicity.

The Entire Kernal…

Beautiful isn’t it? Bread made with 100% whole wheat flour and just a few other ingredients. If you’ve been to this blog before you know that my diet is the antithesis of a low-carb or gluten-free diet…the bulk of my diet consists of bread, rice, and pasta (with vegetables, meat, and fish). And for thisContinue reading “The Entire Kernal…”

Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#420 & #421)

#420…a 6ft/1.8m Christmas Tree. #421…a cardboard box containing a few groceries, a book, and an acoustic guitar. Urban Simplicity.

The Usefulness of a Bike, and a Couple Photos that Make Me Feel Small

I mentioned in a previous post regarding using a bike (especially a long-tail) as a platform to stabilize a camera, and in that post I was using a small tripod that was primarily for compact or at least lighter cameras. Well, since then I have gotten a couple new (used) cameras that are considerably heavierContinue reading “The Usefulness of a Bike, and a Couple Photos that Make Me Feel Small”

Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#419), and a view from my handlebars

On the bike: a cardboard box containing a quart of milk, a jar of peanut butter, a jar of jelly, a bag of dog food, and a double order of Chinese takeout food. Chronologically,  these photos are in reversed order. The image below I took on my way to work this morning. Look at thatContinue reading “Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#419), and a view from my handlebars”

Arroz con Frijoles y Carnitas

I made this for dinner tonight…mmm. Easy and delicious. Really delicious (if I do say so myself); I am very full as I type these words. It’s a basic brown rice pilaf recipe (use any of these recipes) with the addition of black beans and carnitas (click here for a recipe and pics). Urban Simplicity.

Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#416 & #417), a Brief Story Behind it, and a Simple Recipe

#416 (first photo above)…a canvas bag containing a few books; a double plastic bag containing a cooked turkey carcass, and a few vegetables for mirepoix. #417 (second photo above)…a cardboard box containing 18 pint contains full of still-warm turkey broth. Okay, so here’s the deal. Nearly every year, after our Thanksgiving feast at one ofContinue reading “Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#416 & #417), a Brief Story Behind it, and a Simple Recipe”

Enough Already!

I already have enough disposable stuff…I don’t need to take part in the madness that retailers named “black Friday.” And it’s now creeping into Thursday as well…being called “grey Thursday.” What’s next, “beige Wednesday?” And do we now–instead of wishing each other a Happy Thanksgiving–say Happy Grey Thursday? I noticed a few years ago thatContinue reading “Enough Already!”