tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64681185726386249702024-03-14T02:35:31.954-04:00YamDankeeA bit of this, a bit of that: food, family, miscellaneous diversions, and life on the coast of Maine.YamDankeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02537584659269652487noreply@blogger.comBlogger212125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468118572638624970.post-18346234806379810202012-09-15T09:55:00.000-04:002012-09-15T09:55:13.585-04:00End of summer 2012 highlights reel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The Lobster Festival and the Union Fair<br />
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Four different houseguests, three days of sailing, two family gatherings, and a waxwing in the crabapple tree<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4GisUOuguwM/UD6OE7WIV0I/AAAAAAAABYE/EFXrfliwmq8/s1600/DownEast+Sail+%252712+030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="148" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4GisUOuguwM/UD6OE7WIV0I/AAAAAAAABYE/EFXrfliwmq8/s200/DownEast+Sail+%252712+030.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Foggy Jonesport</td></tr>
</tbody></table>A sailing trip Down East to Canada, just Himself and a friend from Outward Bound<br />
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<a href="http://yamdankee.blogspot.com/2012/06/tostitos-fish.html" target="_blank">Tostitos the Fish</a> succumbed to galloping fungus and went to be with Jesus<br />
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Thing One had a fantastic summer as an apprentice on the schooner <a href="http://www.schooneramericaneagle.com/" target="_blank">American Eagle</a><br />
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Back-to-school shopping (ouch)<br />
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And much, much more... but I've run up against my storage limit on this account, and life has changed enough since I started this little endeavor: the kids are busier, my job is more demanding, and when the dishes are cleared and homework is done and I'm finally able to sit down of an evening, usually around 8.30 or 9, someone else is invariably using the computer. <br />
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So the blog is slowing down. The occasional recipe or knitting project or shameless plug (which reminds me, I have one of those to share soon) or random thoughts. <br />
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Thanks for following.YamDankeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02537584659269652487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468118572638624970.post-82876890724498033832012-08-13T17:56:00.000-04:002012-08-13T17:56:37.814-04:00Family Affair<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LUXUjp-b6oQ/UCe7eZThFgI/AAAAAAAABUk/GlQvzlsTDSw/s1600/IMG_0623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LUXUjp-b6oQ/UCe7eZThFgI/AAAAAAAABUk/GlQvzlsTDSw/s320/IMG_0623.jpg" width="243" /></a></div>My mother was the oldest of five siblings. <br />
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She is survived by two brothers...<br />
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Because of the distance, though, and careers and busy lives and kids and grandkids, it's rare to get everyone - <i>especially </i>with their spouses - together in one spot. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>They were all here last weekend, though, and they spent an entire precious afternoon at my place.<br />
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Inevitably, the conversation turned to family history. Much of the lore is fairly common knowledge; some of it, though, comes out in bits from this person and pieces from another, depending on who talked to whom over the years. <br />
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There's great-great Uncle Buzz, born in 1893, who worked as a cook on a schooner on the Maine to Bermuda route. On one trip, the captain died, and Buzz, being the most qualified of the crew, brought the schooner home. Apparently he also had fair certain knowledge of the whereabouts of buried treasure (the existence of which along the Maine coast has long been rumored), which he took to his grave. Who knew?<br />
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Then there's my great-great-grandmother Maude, who was widowed young in 1897 and whose only daughter became the object of a custody battle with her late husband's family over an imagined inheritance (they lost). There are shadow stories of a second pregnancy which was forcibly terminated by the late husband.<br />
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Or how about my great-great-great-grandmother Etta, who is the first woman in the family who experienced clairvoyant dreams and visions? One of Etta's sons nearly lost his life in a terrible storm at sea - the details of which Etta could describe accurately before the son even came home to share his tale. (This gift is shared by my grandmother and one of my aunts, but skipped my line, thank heavens). <br />
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Someday we shall write a book.</div>YamDankeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02537584659269652487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468118572638624970.post-9616055365249117492012-08-12T08:01:00.000-04:002012-08-12T08:01:41.900-04:00A Room with a View<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I was in Portland last week for a manufacturing conference, which was held at the Holiday Inn by the Bay. <br />
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My room was on the fourth floor and it did, indeed, have lovely (if somewhat distant and fog-shrouded) views of Portland Harbor.<br />
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One was somewhat distracted, however, by the view in the foreground of the second-floor roof.<br />
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Which was a regular hangout for, and covered with the waste of, those pestilential herring gulls.<br />
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A small drama has been playing out in Rockland recently between an old dingbat who insists on feeding gulls, her neighbors, and the city fathers. <br />
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Said dingbat doesn't just toss out the odd crumb every now and again. No. We're talking cases and cases of bread, daily, and a scrum of hundreds of aggressive, defecating, squawking, extremely large birds, which trash not just the dingbat's yard but the neighbors' yards, while the neighbors are trapped in their houses to avoid the noise and mess.<br />
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Cars and window screens end up covered in caustic bird droppings. Feathers blanket patios. Small children are carried away bodily.<br />
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The city fathers got involved after a series of complaints. A new ordinance was written. The intrepid code enforcement officer has been going deep undercover to ensure compliance. The old lady still believes she is within her rights, so continues to feed the gulls. <br />
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Of course after years of daily feedings, the gulls are going to show up in her yard no matter what. Like they stalk fishing boats knowing that old bait is going to be tossed out. They've got used to humans making their wretched lives easier.<br />
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(Take this guy, for example. One of many at my Portland aviary which dropped by to nab a drink from the condensation draining off the rooftop HVAC units.) <br />
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Now the city is threatening fines of $2,500 per day and the dingbat continues to insist that she has to feed the damn things because - this kills me - she says they don't have anywhere else to go.<br />
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To all Rockland herring gulls, if the Camden Street Terrace smorgasbord dries up on you, may I suggest the thriving urban environment (and progressive food scene) 80 miles to the south?YamDankeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02537584659269652487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468118572638624970.post-62489830767360707842012-08-01T17:23:00.000-04:002012-08-01T17:23:33.525-04:00Recipe: Spicy Southwestern Chicken SaladThis is a refreshing and substantial summertime main dish salad (utilizing the tomato, cilantro and lettuce in this week's CSA share...). <br />
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Spicy Southwestern Chicken Salad<br />
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<b>Chicken:</b><br />
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2 tablespoons olive oil<br />
1 teaspoon cayenne (or to taste)<br />
1 teaspoon cumin<br />
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro<br />
1 teaspoon salt<br />
3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts <br />
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Combine the first five ingredients and coat the chicken breasts with the mixture. Refrigerate 30 minutes, then grill until done. Set aside until it's time to assemble the salad, then slice thinly.<br />
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<b>Tomato/onion vinaigrette:</b><br />
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3 tomatoes, chopped<br />
1/2 red onion, finely chopped<br />
2-3 hot peppers (like serrano, poblano, cayenne; the variety is not terribly crucial and a mix is good), or to taste, seeded and finely chopped<br />
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro<br />
1 cup olive oil<br />
1/4 cup red wine vinegar<br />
Salt & pepper to taste<br />
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Combine all the ingredients in a medium bowl.<br />
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<b>Salad:</b><br />
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1-2 heads lettuce (depending on size), washed and torn into bite-sized pieces<br />
About 3 cups shredded Cheddar, Jack or Mexican blend cheese<br />
About 2/3 of a 26-oz bag of frozen shoestring fries, baked according to package directions<br />
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Divide the lettuce among four dinner plates. Top with hot fries and shredded cheese. Arrange sliced chicken over the cheese, then pour the vinaigrette over everything.<br />
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Serves 4.YamDankeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02537584659269652487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468118572638624970.post-22704351467813967532012-07-25T07:49:00.000-04:002012-07-25T07:49:43.618-04:00Playing touristOur very dear friend, the Rev. Dr. D, came to see us for a few days.<br />
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This gentleman was the chaplain at my college way back in the day, and hired me as the chapel organist when I was a sophomore.<br />
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Then he retired and moved to Oregon. But he came back to Pennsylvania to perform our wedding.<br />
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Then he moved back to Pennsylvania.<br />
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We've kept in touch. He loves Maine and had been wanting to come back for a while, and we were one stop on his whirlwind summer vacation.<br />
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In spite of breaking his leg last October and being almost 80, he ran me more or less ragged.<br />
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Here's what we did over the course of two days:<br />
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Got ice cream at Dorman's and seafood at the Rockland Cafe. <br />
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(Not in that order.)<br />
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Visited the Penobscot Marine Museum.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Walked around Camden and drove up Mt. Batty.</div><br />
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Had a picnic lunch at Marshall Point.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JaLhfMVPQSw/UAxmnaZTEaI/AAAAAAAABOo/2qt-skKPn-0/s1600/038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JaLhfMVPQSw/UAxmnaZTEaI/AAAAAAAABOo/2qt-skKPn-0/s320/038.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>(I can completely understand how someone could get hung up on this place and spend a lifetime painting it.) <br />
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Met up with Thing One on the schooner American Eagle.<br />
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Went sailing.<br />
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Visited my grandmother.<br />
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Took about a bazillion pictures. <br />
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Revisited old memories and made new ones.<br />
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Had a blast.YamDankeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02537584659269652487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468118572638624970.post-80852376109772218152012-07-23T19:44:00.002-04:002012-07-24T07:35:00.558-04:00Recipe: Winter Harbor Mussels & PastaWe spent last Saturday night with friends in Winter Harbor, on the east side of Vinalhaven. It's a narrow channel which the more adventurous sailor can pick his way up, threading around sand bars and outcroppings of ledge. <br />
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I am not an adventurous sailor. Every time we go to Winter Harbor, I pour myself a glass of wine, lie down with a cold cloth over my eyes, and wait until I hear the anchor drop or the keel scrape bottom. Whichever comes first.<br />
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It's worth the aggravation of getting there, though. The scenery is amazing, and it's as good as landlocked, so a very sheltered anchorage. There are granite cliffs to climb and old quarries to explore. Bald eagles and osprey soar overhead. The water is lovely, warm (by North Atlantic standards) and a translucent green. And best of all, those sandbars at the tide line are loaded with mussels.<br />
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We gathered a mess of them and brought them home with us Sunday, cleaned them well and made pasta for dinner. <br />
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Winter Harbor Mussels & Pasta<br />
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3 lbs. small mussels (more or less), debearded, scraped, scrubbed, soaked and rinsed (or whatever it takes to clean them up)<br />
1/4 cup olive oil<br />
1 yellow onion, chopped<br />
1/4 cup minced garlic<br />
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes<br />
2 28-oz cans whole Italian tomatoes, undrained<br />
1 cup vermouth<br />
1/4 cup <i>each </i>chopped fresh parsley and basil<br />
Salt and pepper<br />
1 lb. linguini or spaghetti, cooked & drained<br />
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Heat the olive oil in a large pot. Saute the onion and garlic until the onion is tender. Stir in red pepper, tomatoes (with juices) and vermouth; bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until the liquid is reduced by 1/4 to 1/3. As it cooks, use a spoon or potato masher to crush the tomatoes.<br />
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Add the mussels; cover and simmer 5-7 minutes, until the mussels open. Discard any that remain closed. Stir in parsley and basil and season with salt and pepper.<br />
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Serve in bowls over hot cooked pasta, with plenty of bread for sopping.<br />
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Serves 4 generously.YamDankeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02537584659269652487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468118572638624970.post-7668863201469697192012-07-23T18:49:00.000-04:002012-07-23T18:49:44.041-04:00Scenes from a weekend sailing trip<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l7mupnMRdGg/UAxqdOp_5qI/AAAAAAAABQA/8cvFlBL9Nhc/s1600/071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="248" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l7mupnMRdGg/UAxqdOp_5qI/AAAAAAAABQA/8cvFlBL9Nhc/s640/071.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carver Cove, Vinalhaven. I want that house.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IYO3wv54v9g/UAxqe-EwnnI/AAAAAAAABQI/j2rbyN2lQ8Q/s1600/072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="284" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IYO3wv54v9g/UAxqe-EwnnI/AAAAAAAABQI/j2rbyN2lQ8Q/s640/072.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Hen Island? Big Hen Island? Some island. Vinalhaven-ish.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pu8GRCK2cOM/UAxqgiwTc3I/AAAAAAAABQQ/dg8W1ufQbrI/s1600/077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="206" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pu8GRCK2cOM/UAxqgiwTc3I/AAAAAAAABQQ/dg8W1ufQbrI/s640/077.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some island, probably called Hen.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2TCZCKREEaQ/UAxqjYfnAmI/AAAAAAAABQY/QfNOiTXBctc/s1600/079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2TCZCKREEaQ/UAxqjYfnAmI/AAAAAAAABQY/QfNOiTXBctc/s640/079.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starboard Rock, Winter Harbor, Vinalhaven</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y-ANMmLBo1s/UAxqb_l_IgI/AAAAAAAABP4/jRsZnq8qVaw/s1600/056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y-ANMmLBo1s/UAxqb_l_IgI/AAAAAAAABP4/jRsZnq8qVaw/s640/056.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Monument, Fiddler's Ledge, North Haven</td></tr>
</tbody></table>YamDankeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02537584659269652487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468118572638624970.post-91117995058762645472012-07-22T16:28:00.000-04:002012-07-22T16:28:55.977-04:00And then there were noneTowards the end of Herman's illness, and particularly after we had him put down, Max went berserk. <br />
<br />
He started using the dining room carpet as a litterbox. <br />
<br />
He was uncharacteristically and violently affectionate.<br />
<br />
He figured out how to open the sliding screen door.<br />
<br />
And we haven't seen him since.<br />
<br />
Going from two cats to zero cats in a week is very disorienting.<br />
<br />
And heartbreaking.YamDankeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02537584659269652487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468118572638624970.post-47022257552670344192012-07-15T10:11:00.001-04:002012-07-15T10:19:36.019-04:00Herman, remembered<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dFf5VMefR3w/UAK_KyQvP2I/AAAAAAAABM8/8gkZgXxfW2A/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dFf5VMefR3w/UAK_KyQvP2I/AAAAAAAABM8/8gkZgXxfW2A/s200/003.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">I had to have Herman put down last week.</span><br />
<br />
He came to us in 1998, a half-starved stray who had taken up lodging at the feed store, with his brilliant green eyes and stubby tail and bones jutting out where bones shouldn't be. I brought him home and from the minute he took up residence, he radiated gratitude. <br />
<br />
I'm not anthropomorphising this. He was visibly, palpably content to be with us, and he was always around, always in the middle of everything..<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E6y9me4e1Ww/UALLtbrr9AI/AAAAAAAABNc/SAlUkjrhd7Q/s1600/DSC00637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E6y9me4e1Ww/UALLtbrr9AI/AAAAAAAABNc/SAlUkjrhd7Q/s1600/DSC00637.JPG" /></a></div>Leaping up the stairs first thing in the morning, when Thing Two's feet hit the deck, for a spot of play and cuddles. Greeting us at the door when we came home each day. Underfoot in the kitchen. Tucked in front of the fire. Sitting patiently by my chair at dinner every evening, waiting until I finished and pushed back so he could jump in my lap. Perched on the back of the recliner. On my bed every night, always keeping to the highest spot - my hip, or butt, or chest, or, if it was a really cold night, up around my neck.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">He was endlessly playful. Kittenish. A decent mouser when he could be bothered. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Very talkative; a cat you could dialogue with.</span><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eh4V11-mygQ/UALBTbglcWI/AAAAAAAABNQ/YKgmlZcihdc/s1600/May+3+2012+0021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eh4V11-mygQ/UALBTbglcWI/AAAAAAAABNQ/YKgmlZcihdc/s200/May+3+2012+0021.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">He had periodic respiratory infections that would slow him down a bit, but he always bounced back. Until this time. Something else was going on, and despite treatment, he declined very quickly. He stopped eating. He got scrawny again. And weak. It was his time. I stayed with him while the vet gave him the shot.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Days later, I still feel like I've been punched in the gut. I play the whole sequence of events out in my head in the middle of the night.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">He was our buddy, and his absence leaves a pretty big hole in this household.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qT5SiSSeH74/UALOaaPGFZI/AAAAAAAABNo/2rIhlAVDEY0/s1600/IMG_0507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qT5SiSSeH74/UALOaaPGFZI/AAAAAAAABNo/2rIhlAVDEY0/s320/IMG_0507.JPG" width="238" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span>YamDankeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02537584659269652487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468118572638624970.post-89897487027743897582012-07-07T09:39:00.001-04:002012-07-07T11:35:23.580-04:002012 Great Schooner RaceThing One called Thursday night.<br />
<br />
The fleet was gathering and anchoring off the breakwater in Rockland Harbor, in preparation for Friday's Great Schooner Race. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cBz3j454JTU/T_g30ItBUVI/AAAAAAAABK8/pZgmHqImmzQ/s1600/2012-07-05_16-10-22_393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="151" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cBz3j454JTU/T_g30ItBUVI/AAAAAAAABK8/pZgmHqImmzQ/s400/2012-07-05_16-10-22_393.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
It was a beautiful night. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-InfbbIqF0II/T_g3qQ_9-TI/AAAAAAAABK0/ttGpVqeAlRA/s1600/003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="103" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-InfbbIqF0II/T_g3qQ_9-TI/AAAAAAAABK0/ttGpVqeAlRA/s400/003.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
He asked us to come out.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jL2LE8dvKeI/T_g4MgGMLlI/AAAAAAAABLE/2baD1bRfyXY/s1600/017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jL2LE8dvKeI/T_g4MgGMLlI/AAAAAAAABLE/2baD1bRfyXY/s320/017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
(When your tall, confident, independent 15-year-old who has only been gone for four days calls and wants to see you, well, your heart lifts a little.) <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rvHOLhC9uNg/T_g4WT1zuxI/AAAAAAAABLM/1rCNV7F_Pu0/s1600/022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rvHOLhC9uNg/T_g4WT1zuxI/AAAAAAAABLM/1rCNV7F_Pu0/s320/022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>So we grabbed Chinese takeout and Wilson the Agoraphobic Goldendoodle, tootled across the harbor, dropped the hook and enjoyed dinner and the view.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f8zfDrNHM0s/T_g4nNV80yI/AAAAAAAABLU/yWmgx64HSdA/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f8zfDrNHM0s/T_g4nNV80yI/AAAAAAAABLU/yWmgx64HSdA/s200/026.JPG" width="185" /></a></div>Thing One rowed over after the small boat races. <br />
<br />
While he ate our leftovers, he filled us in on his adventures (which include going aloft, twice, untethered, while underway).<br />
<br />
Snatches of sea shanties in three-part harmony drifted over from the Stephen Taber and each schooner fired off its cannon.<br />
<br />
(Add cannons to Wilson's list of phobias.)<br />
<br />
Friday morning was a beauty, too. The schooners jostled for position by the starting line, off the lighthouse at the end of the breakwater... <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8KkM0byUjMw/T_g5ULQaD2I/AAAAAAAABLc/HwY4QwhWnBY/s1600/2012-07-06_11-34-31_910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="107" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8KkM0byUjMw/T_g5ULQaD2I/AAAAAAAABLc/HwY4QwhWnBY/s400/2012-07-06_11-34-31_910.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E1Op9vUurJY/T_g5k8nswqI/AAAAAAAABLk/9hC7BsF-Nf8/s1600/2012-07-06_11-48-29_728.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E1Op9vUurJY/T_g5k8nswqI/AAAAAAAABLk/9hC7BsF-Nf8/s320/2012-07-06_11-48-29_728.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MB_s_BOTFcM/T_g5sBead5I/AAAAAAAABLs/sbF-Ngjdyi8/s1600/Summer+2012+Schonner+Race+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MB_s_BOTFcM/T_g5sBead5I/AAAAAAAABLs/sbF-Ngjdyi8/s320/Summer+2012+Schonner+Race+010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>...then spread out across the bay as they caught the wind.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8owyBGHeW9c/T_g56-4IhnI/AAAAAAAABL0/1TlE6nrVmEA/s1600/2012-07-06_11-43-15_385.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8owyBGHeW9c/T_g56-4IhnI/AAAAAAAABL0/1TlE6nrVmEA/s320/2012-07-06_11-43-15_385.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rGS3TQ2K7CM/T_g6DTiKd8I/AAAAAAAABMk/tlBt6njxTKw/s1600/Summer+2012+Schonner+Race+054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rGS3TQ2K7CM/T_g6DTiKd8I/AAAAAAAABMk/tlBt6njxTKw/s320/Summer+2012+Schonner+Race+054.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Schooner American Eagle making Owls Head</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eEpqPBsQEkg/T_g57WvqHWI/AAAAAAAABL8/Tg1HKFrt42E/s1600/2012-07-06_11-51-44_976.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eEpqPBsQEkg/T_g57WvqHWI/AAAAAAAABL8/Tg1HKFrt42E/s320/2012-07-06_11-51-44_976.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hivr5922tvE/T_g6BJuI-fI/AAAAAAAABMU/Gh8Q4ABcL0w/s1600/Summer+2012+Schonner+Race+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hivr5922tvE/T_g6BJuI-fI/AAAAAAAABMU/Gh8Q4ABcL0w/s320/Summer+2012+Schonner+Race+017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
One can only imagine what it must have looked like a hundred years ago, when Rockland was a hub of shipbuilding and lime transport and the harbor was crowded with vessels like these, and much larger than these. <br />
<br />
We're hanging on to a bit of history here. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kpycd25kc70/T_g7AzP53qI/AAAAAAAABMw/wvuDMPf6TqM/s1600/Summer+2012+Schonner+Race+036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kpycd25kc70/T_g7AzP53qI/AAAAAAAABMw/wvuDMPf6TqM/s400/Summer+2012+Schonner+Race+036.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>YamDankeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02537584659269652487noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468118572638624970.post-68805116828059333102012-07-05T17:23:00.000-04:002012-07-05T17:23:41.388-04:00Just being kids (2012 edition)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u2wVIW6SB_c/T_IQLBOu-1I/AAAAAAAABKM/Rzl2LflVQgI/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u2wVIW6SB_c/T_IQLBOu-1I/AAAAAAAABKM/Rzl2LflVQgI/s200/002.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><a href="http://yamdankee.blogspot.com/2011/07/just-being-kids.html" target="_blank">The gang</a> got together here last weekend.<br />
<br />
Looking back at the pictures of them from just a year ago, the mind boggles at how much they've grown. <br />
<br />
Thing One's friend M, back from his first year at MSSM, has really gelled as a person, it seems; another friend, T, is headed there in the fall to finish out the rest of his high school career. <br />
<br />
They're all physically much bigger than I am. <br />
<br />
They all have jobs.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fANLLXmfRR8/T_IQYwYmmAI/AAAAAAAABKU/ffefgj8073Q/s1600/2012-06-30_17-10-32_760.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fANLLXmfRR8/T_IQYwYmmAI/AAAAAAAABKU/ffefgj8073Q/s320/2012-06-30_17-10-32_760.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
But get them all together on a beastly hot day and they play Frisbee and soccer and capture the flag (with the sprinkler running at midfield) and have a campfire with S'mores and swing on the swings and go swimming in the lake with [most of] their clothes on and eat a shocking amount of food. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VZohjIW7rXE/T_IRegsTYiI/AAAAAAAABKc/So86WZi7zjg/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VZohjIW7rXE/T_IRegsTYiI/AAAAAAAABKc/So86WZi7zjg/s320/009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Monday morning we deposited Thing One on the schooner and we'll see him probably one night a week between now and mid-August.<br />
<br />
Dammit.YamDankeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02537584659269652487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468118572638624970.post-87671706535107878132012-07-03T18:58:00.000-04:002012-07-03T18:58:59.386-04:00Weirdo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cTfeakHKsOk/T_ISKZxxU5I/AAAAAAAABKk/XWUcOeKQJZo/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cTfeakHKsOk/T_ISKZxxU5I/AAAAAAAABKk/XWUcOeKQJZo/s400/001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Who does this? </div>YamDankeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02537584659269652487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468118572638624970.post-3868159964747057182012-07-02T17:06:00.000-04:002012-07-02T17:06:51.267-04:00Three things I love about where I work<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ft6GxlRr2bQ/T_INLnIjhmI/AAAAAAAABKA/16lKPGvbZLk/s1600/2012-06-12_14-54-52_791.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ft6GxlRr2bQ/T_INLnIjhmI/AAAAAAAABKA/16lKPGvbZLk/s200/2012-06-12_14-54-52_791.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>1. I can wear jeans every day<br />
<br />
2. I can swear a lot<br />
<br />
3. The plastic poop warYamDankeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02537584659269652487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468118572638624970.post-57139119083790391772012-06-29T17:34:00.000-04:002012-06-29T17:34:51.527-04:00In Memoriam 2.0<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yrXV9loAXqE/T-4bsO_SehI/AAAAAAAABJ0/twiH_QTet0c/s1600/Dad_at_Susan's_Wedding,_Shown_at_Service,_Clarksville,_Tennessee,_February_2012%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yrXV9loAXqE/T-4bsO_SehI/AAAAAAAABJ0/twiH_QTet0c/s400/Dad_at_Susan's_Wedding,_Shown_at_Service,_Clarksville,_Tennessee,_February_2012%5B1%5D.jpg" vca="true" width="260" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A couple of weeks ago we held a memorial service for my </span><a href="http://yamdankee.blogspot.com/2012/02/in-memoriam.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">great-Uncle Lew</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A man like that needs more than one memorial service, see; this was his third, after one in Florida where he retired and a second in Tennessee where he had his career.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This one was for the benefit of my grandmother, who can no longer travel, and the Maine family who couldn’t make one of the others.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A bit of background, if I may.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back in the 1940s, </span><a href="http://yamdankee.blogspot.com/2011/08/side-of-family-i-should-have-been-born.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">as I’ve mentioned here before</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">, my grandmother went one way and my Uncle Lew went another, theologically speaking. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My grandmother and Uncle Lew loved each other deeply, but the two branches of the family have always regarded each other with some suspicion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Uncle Lew’s side exists in good-humored trepidation of the morally superior and judgmental Baptists, while my grandmother’s line compresses its collective lips in grim disapproval of the worldliness and wickedness of the faithless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This mutual wariness was visited upon the second generation and most of the third, and it accompanied my grandmother, Aunt Gerry, and a couple of dozen uncles, aunts and cousins from around the country into the Thomaston Baptist Church for the memorial service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The eulogy was interesting because the minister didn’t actually <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">know </i>my Uncle Lew; but knowing my grandmother, naturally he made assumptions about Lew, and thus expelled bushels of warm air about St. Lew living his life for the glory of God and similar twaddle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sure it gave my grandmother great comfort but the rest of us had to stifle the urge to laugh out loud and/or bean the ordained one with a well-flung hymnal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The afterparty, however, was at MY house, which is a twaddle-free zone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We drank, we swore, we laughed, we played Frisbee (aging uncles and younger cousins together), we grumbled about politicians, we ate too much and drank some more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Baptists declined the Frisbee game and the wine, endured the rest because they were outnumbered, and tried not to show they were having a pretty darn good time.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">(And since my grandmother went home to rest after the service, there was no need to <a href="http://yamdankee.blogspot.com/2010/11/thanksgiving-subterfuge.html" target="_blank">conceal the wine</a>.)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Uncle Lew would have loved it.</span></div>YamDankeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02537584659269652487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468118572638624970.post-25722200500849264982012-06-29T17:30:00.000-04:002012-06-29T17:30:09.181-04:00Eating local<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">CSA and CSF season has started up again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Somebody say glory!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Although I am not best pleased with how Port Clyde Fresh Catch is evolving the CSF.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Two years ago, a share was an entire fish (or many fishes if they were small, like sole), and it came in a big plastic bag with a twist tie and you picked it up from the back of a truck at the farmer’s market.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you ordered your share pre-filleted, you had the option to also receive the “racks,” the carcasses, which make amazing chowder, and if you’ve never chased your young children with a three-foot cod corpse you haven’t lived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Then last year, they did away with the rack option and stopped selling at the farmer’s market.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This year, a share is two pristine vacuum-sealed bags, neatly labeled and bundled in mesh; pickup is at an upscale gourmet market; and each of the bags has exactly one pound of fish in it – not the same kind of fish, though, so if it takes the entire share to feed your family, you wind up with some interesting juxtapositions (monkfish and Atlantic redfish, for example).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The fish is still excellent, but now it feels far removed from the slightly rough-edged boat-to-table model which we loved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Anyway, the season has started, so we’re getting back into the mindset of eating what’s ready when it’s ready and not really knowing from week to week what the menu is going to look like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Great fun.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Last night’s dinner was <a href="http://yamdankee.blogspot.com/2011/08/recipe-roasted-scallions.html" target="_blank">roasted scallions</a> from Farmer Tom, <a href="http://yamdankee.blogspot.com/2012/06/recipe-rice-cooker-pilaf.html" target="_blank">rice cooker pilaf</a>, and a <a href="http://yamdankee.blogspot.com/2012/06/recipe-baked-fish-with-herbed-vegetable.html" target="_blank">cod/haddock medley (courtesy of the new, improved CSF) baked with a vegetable and herb topping</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Feels like summer.</span></div>YamDankeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02537584659269652487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468118572638624970.post-11391423553808572292012-06-29T17:28:00.001-04:002012-06-29T17:28:20.810-04:00Recipe: Baked Fish with Herbed Vegetable Crumb Topping<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Baked fish with herbed veggie crumb topping</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 medium yellow onion</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2 stalks celery</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 carrot</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 stick butter</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2 tablespoons minced garlic</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 – 1 ½ cups plain dry bread crumbs</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">½ teaspoon dried thyme</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pinch red pepper flakes</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Salt & pepper</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2 lbs. fish fillets (cod, pollock, haddock or hake)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">¼ cup snipped fresh chives</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">¼ cup chopped fresh parsley</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Preheat oven to 350.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Trim/peel and finely dice the onion, celery and carrot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Melt the butter in a large skillet and sauté the diced vegetables and the garlic until tender.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add enough breadcrumbs to make a loose mixture (not too dry).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Season with thyme, red pepper, and salt and pepper to taste.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Place fish fillets in glass baking dish and sprinkle the crumb mixture evenly over the top.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bake uncovered for 20 – 30 minutes, until thickest fillets flake easily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sprinkle with chopped fresh chives and parsley and serve.</span></div>YamDankeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02537584659269652487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468118572638624970.post-37382282667924807842012-06-29T17:28:00.000-04:002012-06-29T17:28:10.145-04:00Recipe: Rice Cooker Pilaf<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Definitely not the first or only person to think of this – in fact, I just googled it and got plenty of hits – but I’m posting it anyway because I started doing this a few years ago on my own without any help from the interwebs.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Rice Cooker Pilaf</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Measure the desired amount of rice for your rice cooker, subbing orzo for some of the rice, say a 3:1 ratio (approximately) of rice to orzo.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sautee the rice and orzo (and a chopped onion, if you feel like it) in a bit of oil until the rice is toasted and the orzo is golden brown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Place the rice mixture in the cooker, add chicken broth to the appropriate fill level, and hit the start button.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Easy peasy.</span></div>YamDankeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02537584659269652487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468118572638624970.post-1668547807494491782012-06-18T16:57:00.000-04:002012-06-18T16:57:01.897-04:00Lined curtains for a sailboat: A pattern, of sorts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Among the other upgrades to <i>L'Heretique </i>while she was on the hard for the winter, we had her tricked out with new cushions. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BrkCiHoZpJ0/T9-TZ0eCcMI/AAAAAAAABJU/RnXn2cucSnQ/s1600/016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BrkCiHoZpJ0/T9-TZ0eCcMI/AAAAAAAABJU/RnXn2cucSnQ/s320/016.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The old cushions</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Fetching though the 1975 tweed plaid was, the foam was shot. It was long past time.<br />
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And of course the old curtains (navy) didn't match the new upholstery (moss green), which is how I got sucked into a sailboat project.<br />
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(Himself spent three years nagging me to make the <i>cushions</i>, so I consider myself lucky for getting off relatively lightly here. And the new upholstery doesn't match the laminate on the table, so there's another project for <i>him. </i>Ha.)<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ea1frvFFmmM/T9-T13_j6cI/AAAAAAAABJc/JrPkXFEEHP4/s1600/003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ea1frvFFmmM/T9-T13_j6cI/AAAAAAAABJc/JrPkXFEEHP4/s200/003.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">His projects</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wWdTLNIR0e0/T9-T-CgBIlI/AAAAAAAABJo/RoIFMOQ6-dE/s1600/063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="159" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wWdTLNIR0e0/T9-T-CgBIlI/AAAAAAAABJo/RoIFMOQ6-dE/s200/063.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hers projects</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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Anyhoo, to the curtains.<br />
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Our Sabre 28 has two long windows in the main cabin, each requiring two large panels (roughly 13 1/2" high and 33" wide), and four small windows in the head and v-berth, needing eight small panels (roughly 11" high and 12" wide). <br />
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To the finished size add margins for the hem: 2" for the sides (1" each side), 1 1/4" for the bottom hem and a bit more for the top pocket seam - 1 3/4" for the smaller panels and 2 1/2" for the larger. <br />
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So we needed four panels cut to 17 1/4" high and 35" wide, and eight panels 15" high by 14" wide. Three yards plus a fat quarter (which was all the local quilt shop had) and some ingenuity (one of the small panels is pieced together) of fabric was just sufficient. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ujcml0CUMME/T8PaXN12xeI/AAAAAAAABH0/rEjcSSdunt0/s1600/002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ujcml0CUMME/T8PaXN12xeI/AAAAAAAABH0/rEjcSSdunt0/s200/002.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Newspaper templates are helpful. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_7Hcf4tQP_0/T8NUv82nMzI/AAAAAAAABEs/g3J9PoCbRDQ/s1600/008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_7Hcf4tQP_0/T8NUv82nMzI/AAAAAAAABEs/g3J9PoCbRDQ/s200/008.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>As is a drywall T-square for measuring and marking. <br />
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It works. Shut up.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yq0W0BiYPpY/T8Kkmb7Sr7I/AAAAAAAABDg/0hKYaV-bjFo/s1600/009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yq0W0BiYPpY/T8Kkmb7Sr7I/AAAAAAAABDg/0hKYaV-bjFo/s200/009.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Now, cut a panel of muslin to correspond to each curtain panel - except make the muslin about 2" shorter and 1" narrower than your curtain panel measurements.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0S6hZ0FzVxM/T8Kk-K-ZySI/AAAAAAAABDo/CbxKGSW5hyI/s1600/010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0S6hZ0FzVxM/T8Kk-K-ZySI/AAAAAAAABDo/CbxKGSW5hyI/s200/010.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>For each panel, pin the muslin to the curtain fabric, right sides together. This will be the bottom of the curtain. <br />
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If your fabric has a directional print, this is where you want to confirm what's top and what's bottom. Ripping out stitches sucks.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NM_DxVrTDwg/T8KlVWqDt8I/AAAAAAAABDw/s2q_G8G2k54/s1600/011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NM_DxVrTDwg/T8KlVWqDt8I/AAAAAAAABDw/s2q_G8G2k54/s200/011.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Stitch a 1/4" seam.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dtySxFwDGHc/T8KlmSW3yTI/AAAAAAAABD4/MXqRSi698iY/s1600/013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dtySxFwDGHc/T8KlmSW3yTI/AAAAAAAABD4/MXqRSi698iY/s200/013.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
With the wrong side facing up, press the seam toward the curtain fabric...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fql6fBTfkuc/T8NYgiUpdgI/AAAAAAAABFU/Z8PrbAM4PrE/s1600/026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="117" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fql6fBTfkuc/T8NYgiUpdgI/AAAAAAAABFU/Z8PrbAM4PrE/s200/026.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>... then bring the muslin to the top of the curtain panel, folding up 1 1/4" of the curtain fabric. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DAbLH2SiOVg/T8KmC_DEqOI/AAAAAAAABEI/PhN5AlqdM2M/s1600/028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DAbLH2SiOVg/T8KmC_DEqOI/AAAAAAAABEI/PhN5AlqdM2M/s200/028.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Press the 1 1/4" fold.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z7EvYbqbbb4/T8NWmh-xGXI/AAAAAAAABE8/97mnyJtm9AI/s1600/0282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z7EvYbqbbb4/T8NWmh-xGXI/AAAAAAAABE8/97mnyJtm9AI/s200/0282.jpg" width="170" /></a></div>This will be the bottom hem of the panel. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BxDLhevQBn0/T8KmUZu5dhI/AAAAAAAABEQ/rkQ53SmhA_4/s1600/032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BxDLhevQBn0/T8KmUZu5dhI/AAAAAAAABEQ/rkQ53SmhA_4/s200/032.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> Now fold each side edge in a quarter of an inch, press...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EzPicM0ACqo/T8KmlvLgX1I/AAAAAAAABEY/YEDX5rF-pgE/s1600/035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EzPicM0ACqo/T8KmlvLgX1I/AAAAAAAABEY/YEDX5rF-pgE/s200/035.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>...fold over 3/4", press again, and pin.<br />
<br />
(You will notice up there at the beginning when I gave the finished measurements I said "roughly." In case anyone is doing math here and about to post a comment pointing out a mistake or three.)<br />
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<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EYZnKuwvGBE/T8Kmurj1P6I/AAAAAAAABEg/nefF_Rj9aTM/s1600/037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EYZnKuwvGBE/T8Kmurj1P6I/AAAAAAAABEg/nefF_Rj9aTM/s200/037.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Stitch the side seams.<br />
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<br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
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Almost there.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FOqJwbHPL1M/T8PYqQ4ahAI/AAAAAAAABHU/Lk4P72SJ3cs/s1600/047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="127" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FOqJwbHPL1M/T8PYqQ4ahAI/AAAAAAAABHU/Lk4P72SJ3cs/s320/047.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Fold and press the top seam - 1/4" for the smaller panels, 1/2" for the larger. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VoQlyoMriNw/T8PYyUbg4MI/AAAAAAAABHc/SfBS1MgkTGs/s1600/052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="106" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VoQlyoMriNw/T8PYyUbg4MI/AAAAAAAABHc/SfBS1MgkTGs/s200/052.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> - then fold another 1 1/2" and press again. Pin.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H8W1qwUfkbs/T8PY9FrY2wI/AAAAAAAABHk/PmGdHGbx_wY/s1600/059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H8W1qwUfkbs/T8PY9FrY2wI/AAAAAAAABHk/PmGdHGbx_wY/s200/059.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Stitch along the edge of the fold. Voila - a rod pocket.<br />
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<br />
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<br />
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Press one more time to set the stitches. And that's it! Hang them and enjoy.YamDankeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02537584659269652487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468118572638624970.post-18505238486760529892012-06-18T16:44:00.000-04:002012-06-18T16:44:05.950-04:00Tostitos the FishLike we needed another critter...? This thing survived the end-of-term 9th grade science project so Thing One got to keep it.<div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QBPJIhkMTnw/T9-TCBnWeLI/AAAAAAAABJM/I8XcgOT13mc/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QBPJIhkMTnw/T9-TCBnWeLI/AAAAAAAABJM/I8XcgOT13mc/s320/006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div>Yay.</div>YamDankeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02537584659269652487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468118572638624970.post-821616026400734492012-06-12T18:35:00.000-04:002012-06-12T18:35:55.626-04:00Shade for sheepThose are, indeed, what you think they are. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lCcNF8dHde0/T9fDZMkFqBI/AAAAAAAABI4/O9gSId4hMek/s1600/2012-06-12_09-56-09_485.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="361" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lCcNF8dHde0/T9fDZMkFqBI/AAAAAAAABI4/O9gSId4hMek/s640/2012-06-12_09-56-09_485.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Beach umbrellas. In a sheep pasture behind my office. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rrNCRxNpvk4/T9fDumnhR_I/AAAAAAAABJA/XRhx-XX8wg4/s1600/2012-06-12_09-56-11_5542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="444" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rrNCRxNpvk4/T9fDumnhR_I/AAAAAAAABJA/XRhx-XX8wg4/s640/2012-06-12_09-56-11_5542.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
For shade, apparently.<br />
<br />
And yes, in case you were wondering, the person who owns them has named every single one.YamDankeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02537584659269652487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468118572638624970.post-26675349125158475342012-06-10T15:03:00.001-04:002012-06-10T15:05:03.941-04:00Allegheny College Choir Reunion 2012<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lNqNKFIquWo/T9TtcVGDvwI/AAAAAAAABIk/C2mK5bmIo4w/s1600/May20$03+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="233" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lNqNKFIquWo/T9TtcVGDvwI/AAAAAAAABIk/C2mK5bmIo4w/s320/May20$03+(1).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Senior Recital, 1994</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Every three years, my college's regularly scheduled reunion bash includes a gathering of choir alums. <br />
<br />
The school's choral program has its roots in the St. Olaf tradition and there have been only three directors since its inception in the 1920s, the third being my teacher, Ward Jamison. <br />
<br />
To say that we choir kids are passionate would be an understatement. Any given reunion year draws 150, 200 singers from the graduating classes of 1940s to present. <br />
<br />
But this year was special, because Ward and his wife Vicki, my voice teacher, are retiring after 31 years. This year more than 300 of us came back. The auditorium stage had to be built out to hold everyone.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PV84K30L5EA/T9Tu4BOhEnI/AAAAAAAABIs/VclRBtKI99M/s1600/2012-06-01_19-59-46_211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PV84K30L5EA/T9Tu4BOhEnI/AAAAAAAABIs/VclRBtKI99M/s640/2012-06-01_19-59-46_211.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Rehearsals ran from Thursday night through Saturday morning, with the concert on Saturday afternoon.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pZN1fyHxBAg/T9SS9sR2P9I/AAAAAAAABIY/t30FafAKphQ/s1600/0282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pZN1fyHxBAg/T9SS9sR2P9I/AAAAAAAABIY/t30FafAKphQ/s320/0282.jpg" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2012</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
And then Ward passed the baton. <br />
<br />
How bittersweet. Many tears, but also a celebration of my mentors' careers and a joyful welcome for his successor, my friend James who graduated a few years after me and has gone on to get a doctorate and teach at the college level and generally make his parents proud. James is married to the lovely Carol (also an alum, and a soprano like Vicki) who will be joining the faculty as a voice teacher (like Vicki). <br />
<br />
The end of an era, but the beginning of a new one. <br />
<br />
The next choir reunion, in 2015, will coincide with the college's bicentennial.<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">
James is already planning the program.</div>YamDankeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02537584659269652487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468118572638624970.post-12965690502028603912012-05-28T13:19:00.001-04:002012-05-28T15:34:12.055-04:00Memorial Day in Camden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Memorial Day. <br />
<br />
Before the tourists show up. Before the mob scene in Thomaston every July 4th and before the giant commercial endeavor that is the annual Rockland Lobster Festival. Memorial Day is an intimate, small-town celebration of heroes and each town honors its own. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6jou_-1rlAo/T8OuPWCLXfI/AAAAAAAABFg/BG_3VPkDqHo/s1600/003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6jou_-1rlAo/T8OuPWCLXfI/AAAAAAAABFg/BG_3VPkDqHo/s320/003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
In Camden, there is a small ceremony on the Public Landing<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GBp4xR3YPr8/T8Ou96GhTMI/AAAAAAAABFo/jRoN9Ue9gC8/s1600/012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GBp4xR3YPr8/T8Ou96GhTMI/AAAAAAAABFo/jRoN9Ue9gC8/s320/012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Then comes a parade, led by an Honor Guard and the Cub Scouts.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CEyaaDSiN1Q/T8OvFFZtHWI/AAAAAAAABFw/kA9xHMM_tWw/s1600/011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CEyaaDSiN1Q/T8OvFFZtHWI/AAAAAAAABFw/kA9xHMM_tWw/s320/011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
They paused here by the village green to lay a wreath at the veterans' memorial.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NdClSMmX558/T8OvbP8jI1I/AAAAAAAABGA/6oj-whLt7XU/s1600/018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NdClSMmX558/T8OvbP8jI1I/AAAAAAAABGA/6oj-whLt7XU/s320/018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
A moment of silence; a trumpet player stepped from the ranks of the high school band...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X2twca1eP8E/T8OvqAOMzZI/AAAAAAAABGI/6aohsdgx0lk/s1600/021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X2twca1eP8E/T8OvqAOMzZI/AAAAAAAABGI/6aohsdgx0lk/s320/021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
...and played Taps while the wreath was laid.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9BRTP4dAcEo/T8Ov53YdGfI/AAAAAAAABGQ/hk1QhhKT1F8/s1600/024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9BRTP4dAcEo/T8Ov53YdGfI/AAAAAAAABGQ/hk1QhhKT1F8/s320/024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The rifle salute nearly caused Wilson the Agoraphobic Goldendoodle to spontaneously evacuate.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7xfQo8Sbgfc/T8OwQ2E0tvI/AAAAAAAABGY/VzfNzMZFUaY/s1600/027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7xfQo8Sbgfc/T8OwQ2E0tvI/AAAAAAAABGY/VzfNzMZFUaY/s320/027.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Then the parade moves on. Thing Two is there in the center with the tenor sax. By the time this day is out the kids from Camden Hills will have played for ceremonies in Rockville, West Rockport, Camden, Rockport and Lincolnville and marched in two parades.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HkqeTUv6U2M/T8OwhDQzP6I/AAAAAAAABGg/dthDitRxU14/s1600/028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HkqeTUv6U2M/T8OwhDQzP6I/AAAAAAAABGg/dthDitRxU14/s320/028.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
There were old cars...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jF1rU831Aes/T8Owv6KTBUI/AAAAAAAABGw/IeYjqShq5Gs/s1600/035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="139" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jF1rU831Aes/T8Owv6KTBUI/AAAAAAAABGw/IeYjqShq5Gs/s320/035.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
...and the Little Leaguers...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1qK7HX5Y_6Q/T8OwqlLksII/AAAAAAAABGo/wW7MHOywOEs/s1600/032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1qK7HX5Y_6Q/T8OwqlLksII/AAAAAAAABGo/wW7MHOywOEs/s320/032.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
...and every single damn fire engine in the town department...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BYqBM3IP6FI/T8OxAit5QzI/AAAAAAAABG4/HPiNkfsSV00/s1600/040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BYqBM3IP6FI/T8OxAit5QzI/AAAAAAAABG4/HPiNkfsSV00/s320/040.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
...and time to say thank you.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WIcvLgmaUUE/T8Ox1C15N4I/AAAAAAAABHA/SkQS6svBmK0/s1600/004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WIcvLgmaUUE/T8Ox1C15N4I/AAAAAAAABHA/SkQS6svBmK0/s320/004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6sIT_0tOOIM/T8Oyn0iUSYI/AAAAAAAABHI/CtlgdKlXR8o/s1600/043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6sIT_0tOOIM/T8Oyn0iUSYI/AAAAAAAABHI/CtlgdKlXR8o/s320/043.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>YamDankeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02537584659269652487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468118572638624970.post-82216393443619688542012-05-26T13:20:00.000-04:002012-05-26T13:20:54.737-04:00Middle School Band Concert 11/15This. Was. So. Painful.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QCOEo5lOE9M/T8EQnBUaUPI/AAAAAAAABC8/Ua5hRv_9Qos/s1600/2012-05-21_20-21-58_450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="163" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QCOEo5lOE9M/T8EQnBUaUPI/AAAAAAAABC8/Ua5hRv_9Qos/s400/2012-05-21_20-21-58_450.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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Saint Patricia, the new guy is not.<br />
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Only four more to go, if I can convince Thing Two to stick with it.YamDankeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02537584659269652487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468118572638624970.post-87653956584818511872012-05-21T16:48:00.000-04:002012-05-21T16:48:46.354-04:00They're baaa-ack<div style="text-align: center;">Remember <a href="http://yamdankee.blogspot.com/2011/08/creative-property-management.html" target="_blank">these guys</a>?</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yc29uSmzas4/T7qpJb-6VII/AAAAAAAABCg/7a8yTFW4AUc/s1600/2012-05-21_13-08-40_941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yc29uSmzas4/T7qpJb-6VII/AAAAAAAABCg/7a8yTFW4AUc/s400/2012-05-21_13-08-40_941.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Worked out great last year. We're doing it again. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0b9Q-lqS_b4/T7qpXfmdvdI/AAAAAAAABCo/c4BonfVCyXk/s1600/2012-05-21_13-09-10_141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0b9Q-lqS_b4/T7qpXfmdvdI/AAAAAAAABCo/c4BonfVCyXk/s400/2012-05-21_13-09-10_141.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Would you believe the couple who owns them has named every single one of them? There are, like, two dozen of them. Must be weird taking a packet out of the freezer that's marked "Q-Tip" or "Mr. Freckle."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IRYKD9Y_-Uo/T7qplHE6Y8I/AAAAAAAABCw/A4wOPhmAF3s/s1600/2012-05-21_13-12-26_402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IRYKD9Y_-Uo/T7qplHE6Y8I/AAAAAAAABCw/A4wOPhmAF3s/s320/2012-05-21_13-12-26_402.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>YamDankeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02537584659269652487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468118572638624970.post-4513262241158014372012-05-20T16:21:00.000-04:002012-05-20T16:21:39.015-04:00Le Weekend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kv4XM-uVuCo/T7j0mE6cOWI/AAAAAAAABBU/pGsd7s7eULQ/s1600/042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
<img border="0" height="256" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kv4XM-uVuCo/T7j0mE6cOWI/AAAAAAAABBU/pGsd7s7eULQ/s320/042.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
It was <i>that </i>sort of weekend. <br />
<br />
In the low 80s, light cool breezes, not a cloud in the sky.<br />
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Everything deciduous bathed in shades of springtime green.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kYpLUJ0Pqmc/T7kq0z8UsmI/AAAAAAAABCU/IC1Jq6VZbDo/s1600/045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="169" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kYpLUJ0Pqmc/T7kq0z8UsmI/AAAAAAAABCU/IC1Jq6VZbDo/s200/045.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>The sort of weekend when you take the cover off the boat and open up all the hatches.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7_TbIsNDNnk/T7j0yV6CJYI/AAAAAAAABBc/kYYCRFJQDV0/s1600/043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7_TbIsNDNnk/T7j0yV6CJYI/AAAAAAAABBc/kYYCRFJQDV0/s200/043.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>The sort of weekend when you air all your bedding and do seven loads of laundry and <i>almost </i>don't have to use the electric dryer, except you only have so many linear feet of clothesline.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WKipyrnE2_U/T7j1NjmT9mI/AAAAAAAABBs/7drNbbv4JLs/s1600/039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WKipyrnE2_U/T7j1NjmT9mI/AAAAAAAABBs/7drNbbv4JLs/s320/039.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>You <i>know </i>you shouldn't set out your basil because it could still freeze, but it's <i>that </i>sort of weekend, and you just can't resist. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Alg9gmuKxoo/T7j8aAuGqBI/AAAAAAAABCI/s4oCqG-OptY/s1600/018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Alg9gmuKxoo/T7j8aAuGqBI/AAAAAAAABCI/s4oCqG-OptY/s320/018.jpg" width="257" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zt1qMjj2qXk/T7j8OO4a9gI/AAAAAAAABB4/tjVyKKM8R04/s1600/025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zt1qMjj2qXk/T7j8OO4a9gI/AAAAAAAABB4/tjVyKKM8R04/s320/025.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The sort of weekend you just <i>have </i>to play outside. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J8XcybRqApE/T7jxSDHDbaI/AAAAAAAABBA/BS_00wlQSik/s1600/May20$02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J8XcybRqApE/T7jxSDHDbaI/AAAAAAAABBA/BS_00wlQSik/s200/May20$02.jpg" width="137" /></a></div>On Saturday, Thing One turned 15. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m50wKYCSYSM/T7j05CXe_OI/AAAAAAAABBg/NEdqmzy30g0/s1600/029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m50wKYCSYSM/T7j05CXe_OI/AAAAAAAABBg/NEdqmzy30g0/s200/029.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>(He got a full set of Grundens for his summer job, but the biggest hit was this coffee worship t-shirt.)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x0a3U-us_l0/T7jxfdkZXXI/AAAAAAAABBI/eye0PUnnSVU/s1600/May20$01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x0a3U-us_l0/T7jxfdkZXXI/AAAAAAAABBI/eye0PUnnSVU/s320/May20$01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>And on Sunday, Himself and I marked 17 years of matrimonialocity.<br />
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<i>That </i>sort of weekend.<br />
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All good.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>YamDankeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02537584659269652487noreply@blogger.com0