I read up on how to go about using a hot-air corn popper to roast the green beans I’d ordered from Sweet Maria’s, gathered all the necessary supplies, then proceeded to roast!

It went pretty well. It took longer than I had expected, but that’s probably just because the literature stresses  vigilance, as the process can change rapidly from one moment to the next.

I never heard the “second crack” sound, which was to have been my signal to stop roasting (or at least think about stopping). Instead, I stopped around 14 minutes, 10 seconds, when I started worrying I’d burn the beans.

I have to wait until morning to try them. Until then, they’ll rest in this handy CO2 -releasing can I got from Sweet Maria’s.

Friday night I had a whirlwind affair with the rodeo. I wish I’d gotten to there sooner (I had to work all day), so I could have seen more stuff.

cowsploitation

We intended to see Loretta Lynn, but she cancelled & we got George Jones instead. I love me some George Jones, but unfortunately, the ol’ Possum isn’t doing so hot. His voice was hardly even workable. It was sad. I have total respect for a dude who’s still trying to do what he loves at 80, but dang! that was a crap show! I saw him at Billy Bob’s back about 15 years ago & he was havin’ to take breaks between songs then, so I wasn’t expecting too much this time around…

The Possum's voice lives up to his other nickname: No Show Jones.

The rodeo was quite enjoyable, though! There was some pretty over-the-top patriotism, religiosity & misogyny, but other than that I loved it! I hadn’t been to one since I was a kid, but I’m already plotting my return next year. Turns out, I really enjoy seein’ a man wrestle a beast. Who knew?

Also, the Mutton Bustin’ event (where little kids grab onto a sheep and hang on as long as they can) was as cute as I’d heard it’d be.

Mutton Bustin'

Oh, and there was totally a baby kangaroo at the petting zoo!

Lil' Roo

Then, Saturday morning, I headed right up the road (from my place & from the rodeo) to Green Gate Farms to take a tour.

Green Gate Farm

It was a real nice tour & I learned a couple of things. The highlights were the critters & the artisanal ice cream. Green Gate raises some lard hogs (I don’t remember what they are called, sorry) along with chickens, meat hogs, sheep, goats & a horse. The baby goats were super-cute & friendly…

goaty goats

…as were the baby lard hogs.

lard hogs

piggy pets

After the tour, I bought some smoked ham, lard and lamb’s quarters from the farm stand, and tried the ice cream. I got the fresh mint with chocolate specks. It was delicious! Angel Young, the “ice cream & sorbet artisan”, was lovely to chat with, as well.

lamb's quarters (before)

—–

kedgeree (fish curry)

Yesterday, I made a yummy fish curry from this recipe and I fixed up those lamb’s quarters to go with. (I felt silly buying them at the farm stand, since they grow wild. I intend to forage some more soon. They have, something like 5x the nutrients of spinach.) I just wilted them in some oil I’d fried up some onions & garlic in. They were delicious!!

lamb's quarters (after)

And then Eero cleaned up the curry pot. Good dog!

Eero @ work

Look who I got for Hanukkah:

I have a feeling we'll be spending lots of time together...

Well, sticking to our “theme”, here’s my list for that 15 albums meme (off the top of your head, think of 15 albums that have stuck with you) for ya. Yeah, you’re hyped. I can tell.

1. One Sock Missing – The Grifters
2. Surfer Rosa – The Pixies
3. The Dusty Foot Philosopher – K’naan
4. Ted Leo + Pharmacists – Hearts of Oak
5. Goodbye Private Life – The Kiss Offs
6. Outta Here – The Gories
7. …Play 9 Songs with Mr. Quintron – The Oblivians
8. Red-Headed Stranger – Willie Nelson
9. Fear of a Black Planet – Public Enemy
10. Skull Orchard – Jon Langford
11. The Decline of British Sea Power – British Sea Power
12. The Marshall Mathers LP – Eminem
13. Old Enough to Sit at the Table – The Miracle Whips
14. Beggar’s Banquet – The Rolling Stones
15. The Mekons Rock’n'Roll – The Mekons

(And, of course, there are, like, a million records that should be on the list, excepting that I ran outta numbers.)

In other news: I’m an auntie!

Me & L

Oblivians fans - Memphis, 2009

ANTHEM!!!

Somebody should start a band that just covers indie-rock-type anthems. The older I get the more I use rock shows as personal pep rallies. I go, I get hopped up, I remember how much I love life, I return to said life more energized. Just like a pep rally.

I’m not gonna learn to play an instrument (or sing) just so’s I can start this band, so somebody’s gonna have to do it for me.

Please comment with song suggestions. I’ll get us started:

“Cut Your Hair” – Pavement

“Loser” – Beck

“Cannonball” – The Breeders

“I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone” – Sleater Kinney

“Now We Can See” – The Thermals

“The Eye of the Tiger Applies to Everything” – Superhopper

“No Lucifer”/”Waving Flags” (medley?) – British Sea Power

“Vamos” – The Pixies

“Bang Bang Rock & Roll” – Art Brut

And, duh…

“Tally Ho” – The Clean

“Blitzkrieg Bop” – Ramones

“Pill Popper Parts 1 & 2″ – The Oblivians

Ok. Must. Stop. Now. Your turn…

Automat, 977 Eighth Avenue, Manhattan., originally uploaded by New York Public Library.

I have lots of ideas, but I don’t have the time, capital, or inclination to act on them all. I’m gonna start posting free ideas here. Make them happen!

*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***

Someone please open an Automat in Austin. I think it would work particularly well on 6th Street. Downtown workers can eat lunch there, but it’d be open until 5am, so that drunks can eat before they drive home & service workers can grab food after work.

The food could be good, too. (I miss Go Bites which briefly sold amazing grilled cheese sandwiches outta a hole in the side of Emo’s. My fave had spinach, bacon, and truffle oil!)

There would be limited staff, so nice people wouldn’t have to wait on drunks. And it could be minimally furnished (picnic tables, concrete floors), so it could just be hosed down at the end of the night. Fear no puke!

Then I’m gonna mosey next door to the Mohawk to see The Thermals! I’ve been wearing their latest record out, enjoying the scientific/philosophical/self-centered bent of the lyrics. In fact, I’m really hoping they play “When I Died” tonight because I wanna see a bunch of pop-punk hipsters punch their fists in the air and yell, “Yeah, my spine!” Oh, and the band  gets punk rock bonus points for turning down $50k from Hummer.

Nummy!

It all started here (scroll just over halfway down the page). Then a couple weekends ago, I noticed them on the regular menu at China Palace and I ordered them suckers. Oh, baby. I was immediately in love.  Then last weekend, someone brought homemade ones to a party I was at. I got there late, so they were already cold. But still fairly tasty. Now I’ve had them at a couple of other places in town. And a friend sent me a good-lookin’ recipe, but I’ve had no time to cook lately. Soon, soon…

Buick Pirate

This tiny pirate is getting married in the Twin Cities this weekend. I’m SO there.