Monday Moods: Memories

I was out at Mt Vernon for a long walk recently, and this split rail fence reminded me of the place my family lived when I was growing up. The farm, about 60 miles north of Detroit was an old homestead. Before my grandfather bought it had been in the same family since the area was settled and logged out. Around the edges of the field, the edges of the farm, there were remnants of split rail fences. The original concept of a split rail fence was split trees, stacked in a zig-zag pattern. The fences could be built or repaired with few tools, an axe, a wedge and heavy hammer to split the rails, then just stack them. There were no fasceners involved, just gravity to hold them together. They could be moved as the needs of the famer changed. They would contain most livestock. As a kid we would find small sections of these fences around the farm and neighboring farms. 

There were also remnants of stump fences. The area had been old growth forest when it was divided up, the trees were cut and sent off to build cities, ships, and provide fuel for heat; leaving behind the stumps, many of them massive. The tree stumps, with a large dense tangle of roots, would be cut loose and dragged out by teams of horses, mules or oxen, and stood on edge to make a dense fence. This was labor intensive, but the end product was a very effective fence for keeping in livestock, and lasted for a century or more. 

I was nearly the last generation to see these remnants of the past, changes in farming have eliminated nearly all of the fence rows, farm fields now run right up to the side of the road, 60 years ago there was a 20-30 foot border of trees and weeds, and fence remnants between the road and the start of the planting.  

At the time the farm was home. For a few years after I moved away, I kind of thought of it as home. But I no longer do. It is where I spent my childhood. I have no real connection to the place. I have no family there. It is a lifetime ago. In the fresh light that distance and time provide, I can see the flaws and difficulties of the place. I am glad I left.  And yet, I am glad I saw things that few people have seen outside of photos, paintings, and historical recreations. 

The Sunday Five: Baking Life

 1: Have you ever watched the BBC show "Bake Off" or as it is known in the USA the "Great British Baking Show"? 

2: What was the first thing that you "baked?" 

3: Where either of your parents good at baking? 

4: What would be your "showstopper" bake? 

5: Given a choice, do you buy sweet or savory? 

My Answers: 

1: Have you ever watched the "Bake Off" as it is known in the USA the "Great British Baking Show"? Yes several seasons of it. 

2: What was the first thing that you "baked?" Either chocolate chip cookies or apple pie. 

3: Where either of your parents good at baking? My mother was good, my father never tried. 

4: What would be your "showstopper" bake? Bread. 

5: Given a choice, do you buy sweet or savory? Savory. 

Please share your answers in the comments. 

The Saturday Morning Post: The 4th of July

250 Years Ago Today a Fundamental Agreement was reached in a room full of anarchists to declare independence, and form a new country. A creative and bold move. A risky move to be certain. 

"We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately."
Benjamin Franklin 

Be bold in your creative endeavours. Think about what you need to say, and say it boldly. Take risks, do what is fundamentally right. 

Foodie Friday: Just ask

I didn't do a lot of research before this spring's grand adventure to find what was to be seen in the places we were going to be. Sweet Bear did, he bought advance timed entry tickets for several places, especially in Vienna. While in Vienna I did a couple of quick searches on my phone, including one for markets. I love exploring markets. And sure enough the major city market was one U-Bahn stop before the hotel. I don't remember what we had explored that day, but Sweet Bear looked exhausted, so I asked may I, get off and walk the market while you go onto the hotel to rest, I will be along in an hour or so for a nap before dinner.  He agreed. The Hotel in Vienna was really nice. 

The market was a mixture of new pavilions and older open sided stalls. In one of the newer pavilions was this wonderful organic fruit and veggie shop.  I went into look around, and asked "may I" pointing to the camera, "yes - thank you for asking" was the fast answer. 

The open stalls had a wide variety of fresh local produce and fruits. Again it made me wish I had a kitchen to play in. 

I was talking with one of my prefered vendors at the King Street Farmers Market last weekend, about cheese - his cheese man had a disk fusion in his neck and hopes to be back at the market this weekend, he and his cheese were missed. I bought a large block of 8-year aged cheddar. I mentioned the great markets in France, Italy, Germany, Austria. I really like the refrigerated trucks with the side that opens up to a display/ sales counter. He said, "yes, they know how to live." I assured him that the markets he is a part of are our version, and I am so grateful that I live near such a great market (there has been an active market in Alexandria for about 300 years.) Market life is not easy. The farmers/vendors are up early, often driving long distances in all kinds of weather.  My grandparents and my father were vendors in the Eastern Market in Detroit for about 30 years. 

Thursday Ramble: Daily Items

There is a genre on YouTube of videos of assumed to be famous people describing the things they carry with them on a daily basis, or that they never leave home without. Many of them are people I have never heard of, and many of them need a small moving van to carry all of the stuff they supposedly can't leave bed without. They should also all qualify for American Express Black Card if they can actually afford some of the items on their list. 

Here is my list of daily items: 

A simple analog Casio Quartz watch, one with an old fashioned round dial, numbers and hands. For years I wore digital watches, when I was studying for the Bar exam, I used the stopwatch in one to time my practice exams, knowing that I needed to answer 100 questions in three hours in the morning and 100 questions in three hours in the afternoon. An unanswered question is a wrong answer - and a failure to complete the questions is a major cause of failure. I used the watch to assure I would finish without panicking when I took and passed the exam. A few years ago I went back to a dial faced watch, because they are easier to set when I change time zones. I own a couple of valuable watches, and they never leave home, almost never get worn. The one I am wearing was less than $40, when the band breaks or the battery runs down, I will simply buy another one. It never leaves my wrist. 

I never leave home without my phone, but when I am home it is usually laying on the bedside table or desk, not with me. My current phone is a Google Pixel, simple, reliable, and it has a decent camera. It was a freebie from my overpriced service provider.  

When I am leaving the house, I almost always take a camera with me. A Nikon D5500 with an 18-200mm lens.  I own two of them, I felt so comfortable with the camera that when Nikon stopped making them, I bought a second one as a back-up. I have five other lenses for them. It is an exception to my general policy of not spending a lot of money on my daily carry, replacement cost, is about $800 for what often have on my wrist when I leave home. Overall I have probably $3,000 in the drawer of toys or tools.  

In my pocket when I leave the house, is a small leather case with a central zippered compartment for coins, and two side pockets with snap closures, one of them has cash and a credit card in it, the other one ID. Along with that is a leather ID case with my condo ID/gate card, and my subway fare card. My keys are on a brass snap and I only carry a couple of keys, the door key, and mailbox key. I only take a car key, if I am going to drive the car. Car keys are separate from my house keys. 

That is really kind of it. What do you carry everyday? 

 

My World of Wonders: July 1, 2026

Where have I been this week? The gym, the pool, the community center, the farmers market, out to lunch, the Grill, apt 608 to water the plants, Mt Vernon, the Old Town Waterfront, the outlet mall at National Harbor. 

Who have a talked with this week? My sweet bear, Amy, Brad, and  Marcell.  

What have I been up to in the kitchen?  Bland baked chicken and macaroni and cheese. Pork Stew. Hamburgers and potato salad. Fried chicken, with green beans and a tomato salad. 

What was exciting at the Farmer's Market? The cheese guy's supply is back and he is due back next week, he had surgery and has been out for a month or so. Pastry Boy is back, he had been out six weeks for surgery. He proved to be irreplaceable. 

What travel is coming up?  Indiana to see family this month, then Chicago for a board meeting, Syracuse in October for a conference, another board meeting in Philly next spring, and a cruise for later next spring. There will be another board meeting in Chicago in winter, and I should go see Family and Friends in Florida next winter. There will be plenty of time to rest when we are dead. 

What have I been reading? Class Clown by Dave Barry - I laughed so hard I had to stop and catch my breath. 

What is on the easel? An abstract poured paint work, kind of like Jackson Pollock. I was stuck, and a friend gave me a Bright Idea (her last name is Bright.) 

Travel Tuesday: He Went To Paris