Things on the bike and in the Bike Rev trailer… $127 (US) of groceries from two separate stores.3 liters of red wine4.4lbs. dog foodA gym bag full of wet clothsA canvas bag containing books and an extra cameraTwo portions of Chinese take out One (of the many) ways my bikes are therapeutic (to me)… IContinue reading “Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#393)…and how my bikes are therapeutic”
Tag Archives: urban simplicity
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”
And Now For Something Really Interesting…
I have long been interested in the history of the bicycle. I’ve also been to California numerous times, though never to Los Angeles. And quite frankly, I would never think of bicycle history and Los Angeles in the same thought. More likely, and this is stereotyping (please, Los Angelers, don’t send me hate mail), IContinue reading “And Now For Something Really Interesting…”
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”
The Miracle of Controlled Spoilage (or, the art of live foods)
Fermentation. That, of course, is what the title of this post is referring to. Every culture has their versions, and things you may not think of as fermented are in fact just that…beer, bread, yogurt, sour cream, buttermilk, wine, and of course all sorts of vegetable pickles. My favorite is kim-chi, or Korean style sauerkraut.Continue reading “The Miracle of Controlled Spoilage (or, the art of live foods)”
Curried Red Lentils with Shrimp, Potato, and Peas
This recipe is so easy and delicious you’ll wonder why you don’t make it more often. It’s a classic dal recipe that can be used with shrimp–as with this recipe–chicken, lamb, beef, or vegetarian. It’s good to make a large batch of the spiced lentils because they freeze well and you’ll have them in aContinue reading “Curried Red Lentils with Shrimp, Potato, and Peas”
A Garden of Eden in Hell
The above image is that of Alice Herz-Sommer, who is also the interviewee in the below short but very inspiring video. At 108 years young she is the oldest known living Holocaust survivor. A few years ago–at the age of 104–she wrote a book called A Garden of Eden in Hell, retelling her amazing lifeContinue reading “A Garden of Eden in Hell”
Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#391)…and a few comments about repairs
Things on the bike: A cardboard box containing two hand-crank pasta machines and two ravioli plates, a plastic bucket containing a partially mixed batch of Ezekiel Bread, and a canvas bag containing–among other things–a few books and a mini tripod. A couple comments: The reason the dough on the bike is partially mixed is becauseContinue reading “Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#391)…and a few comments about repairs”
Handmade Pasta
Homemade pasta is not only simple to make but also fun. And besides that I really believe it is one of the most brilliant foods there is. Think of it’s versatility, nearly every culture has a version of it, and its most basic form it is nothing more than a paste made with flour, andContinue reading “Handmade Pasta”
More Photos of Winter (the serious stuff)
The city of Buffalo, which is not only my home town but also the city in which I currently live, is of course located at the eastern most tip of Lake Erie. And it’s because of this, and eastern winds, that we sometimes get the brunt of sudden lake effect snow storms….storms that barrel acrossContinue reading “More Photos of Winter (the serious stuff)”
Lifecycle…a year in the life of a parked bicycle
This is really cool. Last year the design group, Red Peak, in conjunction with Hudson Urban Bicycles, parked and locked up a bicycle on a street in Soho…and then took a photo of it every day for a year; the result is this video. I was surprised it lasted as long as it did. Anyhow,Continue reading “Lifecycle…a year in the life of a parked bicycle”
A Few Photos of Winter
Winter, I think, is an amazing time to take photos…an amazing time in general, especially with the crazy weather we’ve had this year. The contrast of color-to-bleak and lush-to-stark inspires me. The above photo (birds in a tree) was taken yesterday when we had crazy-strong wind gusts…the birds just swayed back and forth in theContinue reading “A Few Photos of Winter”
A View From My Handlebars, a Couple Thoughts, and a Self-Portrait
There’s an old saying that I suppose could be used in many regions but it seems especially pertinent in Western New York, maybe you’ve heard it before…If you don’t like the weather, wait a minute. About 72 hours ago it was in the single digits Fahrenheit, then yesterday it warmed up to spring-like temperatures andContinue reading “A View From My Handlebars, a Couple Thoughts, and a Self-Portrait”
Everything is Amazing
Sometimes I just need a good laugh…and this guy makes me laugh. It’s a short clip of comedian Louis C.K. on the Conan O’Brien show some years back poking fun at the fact that everything really is amazing (but nobody is happy). It’s a video that’s been floating around the Internet for a while butContinue reading “Everything is Amazing”
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”
Refreshing Ride…
It was frigid to be on a bike today to say, to say the least. That’s a screen shot (below) of my computer as I left the house this morning (3F/-16C)…it “warmed up” to about 16F/-8C later in the day. In a couple days the temps are supposed to rise to nearly 40F/4C…with the crazyContinue reading “Refreshing Ride…”
Five Quotes from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) “A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.” “An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broaderContinue reading “Five Quotes from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”
Spiced Brown Rice with Shrimp and Broccoli
This is another example of how changing a few ingredients–but using the same basic method–can create an entirely new dish (click here). I seasoned this with somewhat Mexican or South West spices, but even this could be altered…changing the spices to curry or Mediterranean herbs would create an entirely new dish. Anyhow, this is howContinue reading “Spiced Brown Rice with Shrimp and Broccoli”
Mini-Cargo Bike
Well, after the recent spate of frigid and snowy weather I finally worked–a bit–on my winter bike…the Mundo, I’ve concluded is not meant for riding in extreme snowy and icy conditions. I hadn’t ridden this bike in likely 8 months and have to admit I don’t take the best care of it…it is, after all,Continue reading “Mini-Cargo Bike”
Urban Simplicty 