Font Size:     

Category: cooking/baking

Thur. Mar. 5, 2026 – finally the political spam stops

Warm and moist. Chance of rain. Chance of sun too for that matter. It got sunny and warm later in the day yesterday, and actual was a bit uncomfortable. Sure doesn’t feel like winter any more. I think Spring is firmly here.

Did a bunch of piddly stuff around the house yesterday. Put handles on a cabinet. Installed some of the changes to my networking. Fixed a couple of things. Sorted and put away some stuff. Kids were home in the afternoon and monopolized the washing machine, or I’d have gotten some domestic bliss in there too.

I did manage to cook a full dinner, which I’ve detailed in yesterday’s comments. I would like to be back at a point where I can cook more often. With the kids’ activities, and ours, I don’t see much of that coming up though.

Today I’ve got a couple of auction pickups. I need to go by my rent house too. Tenant called about the garage door not opening and getting jammed so I need to take a look at that. It might be something I can fix, and it might be something better left to a pro. At least we can deduct money we spend on hires, which we can’t do for my time and work.

D2 is on a school trip for the rest of the week. D1 will be rattling around the house and then at a friend’s for the weekend. I need to keep moving and keep doing stuff no matter how small. Movement is good.

Work. It’s what you do until you die. Hopefully, there will be plenty for me to work on for a couple more decades. I’d just like to be a bit more in control of what I do.

Always be working. Always be stacking.

nick

Read the comments: 36 Comments

Sun. Feb. 15, 2026 – nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition

It’s supposed to be clear and a bit cooler today, after yesterday’s overcast and then rain. We didn’t get the big storm that was predicted, but some people did. I guess we’ll just wait and see if it’s a nice day.

I had my non-prepping hobby in the morning Saturday. Sold a few things, but didn’t make any real money. Still nice to move some stuff along. I did buy one thing too, and it was an impulse purchase, and over my normal limit for that sort of thing. Oh well.

After that, I put stuff back into storage, and went home. Did a couple of things, then took a nap. Dang glucose intolerance.

Messed around on the computer, waited for D2 to finish her school thing, and then went out for takeout dinner. By then it had been raining a while but was starting to taper off.

Rain gauge says we got about 2.5 inches. That’s more than I thought.

Today I’m sleeping in and working the list. If it’s nice, I’ll do outdoor stuff, if not, indoor. Pretty prosaic.

Plodding even. But incremental improvement is still improvement.

Work on your stuff, and yourself. Stack.

nick

Read the comments: 65 Comments

Mon. Dec. 29, 2025 – interregnum … sorta

The cold front got here right on schedule. Temps yesterday started falling and the wind started howling, and it was only 45F when I went to bed. So I expect it to be cold today. Windy too. Pretty much the definition of a blustery day.

I did nothing of note yesterday. Wife read. Kids did their thing. I worked on a puzzle. And read. We ate leftovers all day. No fires, big or tiny. Too much wind.

Today W and the kids are headed home. I’m staying later, like usual, and will do some ‘wrap up’ things. We got the tree down last night, but I have lights to take down and put away. At home I’ll leave the lights and decor up until after New Year’s Day, but I don’t want them up here without knowing when we’ll be back up.

We’ll have a few more days of “between time” and then we’ll get into the new year and the rush to summer. But for now, it’s time to relax and reflect and recharge.

And stack of course.

nick

Read the comments: 42 Comments

Sun. Dec. 28, 2025 – another day ‘between the years’

Cool, but warming, and humid. Possibly getting cold tonight. Yesterday was just like Friday- other than being moist, it was a beautiful day. It’s a mild end to a mild year for us.

I arose late, somewhat sore and stiff, ate and did very little. I spent several hours working on a puzzle while W put Thompson’s Water Seal on the teak furniture. She sanded the top surfaces last visit. They look much better. Teak is pretty sturdy but it does benefit from maintenance.

I did manage some other very small tasks, and made dinner, so it was a pretty relaxed day.

We still haven’t decided if we’re headed home today, or tomorrow. I’ve got more small stuff I can do, and W wants to just do relaxing things and enjoy the place a bit. The only real reason to head home is D2’s plans and it might be easier to drop her where she wants to go on the way home tomorrow. (She wants to visit a friend who has a lakehouse on another sorta nearby lake.)

I’ve been pretty good about not thinking of all the things piling up on my lists. Mostly. Still, it niggles.

I have been taking notes about some stuff that needs to be bolstered here, or replaced. I let that slack off for a bit, but some basic stuff needs refinement. I really really need some secure storage here… and to sort out the networking.

But that’s for another day. Stack what you can, while you can. And stay frosty.

nick

Read the comments: 27 Comments

Fri. Dec. 26, 2025 – store returns day

Cool, mid 60s all day, and maybe some overcast? It was pretty grey most of yesterday, so I expect the same today. It was 67F when I went to bed but also very wet.

We spent the day eating, opening presents, cooking, and playing board games. We played Catan in the afternoon, and Ticket to Ride after dinner. I had terrible luck with both games, and D1 dominated.

Santa brought good stuff, everyone was happy with their gifts. I got a couple of tools and another Morakniv. My fisherman friend brought be a box of 9mm for my next range day.

The oven roasted duck was a very simple recipe but was delicious. I made chopped carrots sauteed in butter with marjoram, and sauteed cabbage and onions as sides, with a loaf of shelf stable bread and some baked garlic clusters with blue cheese as appetizers. We were too full for dessert.

It’s only the second time I’ve made duck. It was cheaper than hamburger at Costco, and the kids liked it the first time, so I tried it again. Success. We’ll have a lamb roast this weekend,and probably a sirloin cap roast as well. They’re defrosted, and easy to cook, so they’re on the menu.

The “summer kitchen” idea of having an oven in the garage worked out well again. I’m glad to have that heat out there and not in the kitchen. I am thinking about where to put a 2 burner stove, and maybe a place for the deep fryer out there too. If I can get a small stainless steel table, about 2ft or 2x3ft, that would be perfect.

The prep for the week was to bring up the 5 buckets of Wise emergency food I got from that estate sale. At $6/ bucket I’m not too disappointed that two of the buckets are breakfast stuff, and three are essentially side dishes and soups. That’s typical for emergency buckets sold to preppers. Worth adding to the stacks, not worth buying at full price unless you supplement them and can’t get Mountain House.

Other than cooking, I tried not to ‘work’. Mostly succeeded.

Today I’ll take a look at networking and cameras. That should occupy me but not be too taxing.

Even on the holidays, always keep improving. And stacking if it doesn’t take away from family time.

nick

Read the comments: 39 Comments

Fri. Nov. 28, 2025 – a pause that refreshes?

Cold. Yeah, seriously, 50F is cold here. I’ll have to run the heat if it doesn’t warm up. Cold morning, nice day. Like Thanksgiving Day.

Well, we did the traditional feast yesterday. Kids contributed with pies and a casserole. I just ate. And while they were cooking I did some sorting and disposal of canned food, some work on my cameras, and a couple of other small things. I took it easy, but didn’t want to lose all my momentum.

Today I’ve got a couple of auction pickups to do. One for resale, one for Christmas presents. I’ve got some people covered, or more than covered, and some that are currently present-less. And I haven’t found good White Elephant gifts for my non-prepping hobby get together. That means I’m on the prowl for good/appropriate gifts.

I also have stuff to do on my truck, like headlight replacement, radio install, stereo install, cleaning… and stuff to do around the house. Many of my neighbors started their Christmas decorating already, so I might do some of that today too. Who knows? If I make plans the universe is bound to screw them up somehow, so better to just see what I get done.

The first pass through my stored canned food tells me I need to do some more culling and cleanup. Add that to the list. Buying food and stacking it is a solid prep though.

I’m always gonna tell you to stack something, even if it’s just good experiences. They can keep you warm and sane when the going gets tough.

We can all use a little help when that happens.

nick

Read the comments: 82 Comments

Thur. Nov. 27, 2025 – Thanksgiving day, US

Cold. By Texas standards anyway. It was in the 50sF last night and damp, so it felt even cooler. Probably it will be cold, then cool, then warm today with sun and clear skies. Nice.

I spent yesterday doing small things on the list. I got several done, and kept moving forward. Baby steps are still steps, right?? For an unhurried day, there was a lot going on. We even had some carnivore drama in the back yard to deal with.

D1 had a date, and the guy seems nice. She had a good night and was beaming. Her previous dates have been pretty lackluster, so I’m happy for her, but I’m still a dad with my little girl going out with boys. Kid is tall, in good shape and confident. Nice change from the emo simps.

Between D1, D2, and their friends, I’m coming to think that their emotional maturity is a couple of years behind where I’d expect it to be. Certainly it’s behind where my generation was. There are a couple of reasons that could be, 2 years of pandemic and social media are the obvious possibilities. And of course, we’re mostly talking about middle and upper middle class white kids. The hispanic kids have a different experience and point of view from what I can see.

It will be interesting to watch how this generation grows up.

But, that’s all for later. Today we take the time to pause and give thanks. There are always things to be thankful for, even at our darkest hours, and Thanksgiving Day gives an opportunity to stop, take stock, and find those things.

I’m thankful for Bob giving me this opportunity, and for Barbara’s faith and trust. I’m thankful for all of you who stop by and share your lives and thoughts with me and the rest of this community. I’m thankful for the world we live in, for the beauty of the natural world and everything in it. I’m thankful for the opportunity to love and be loved, and for my family and the support they give. I’m thankful to be alive. When I was young, I never thought I’d see 26 years of age, and here I am 33 years past that point.

There have been good times and bad during those years, but they made me who I am and I’m ok with that. They have all been a gift; one I’m glad to share with the people in my life. I look forward to many more, no matter the challenges and heartbreak that may be ahead of us.

Thank you all,

nick

(stack something good)

Read the comments: 50 Comments

Wed. Nov. 26, 2025 – cooking today

A bit cooler, and clear today. It got chilly last night. I still expect it to be high 80sF or even into the 90sF like yesterday by late afternoon though.

I was less productive than I’d hoped on Tuesday. I did get the grocery shopping done. That’s a good thing.

Today should be more small tasks and cooking pies, as well as getting prepped for tomorrow’s feast. We are cutting back on sides for Thanksgiving dinner, but there will still be some french meat pie, and several dessert pies. And a 12 pound bird.

And while I feel like a slacker that we didn’t go to the BOL, this is a much more relaxing plan.

I feel the need to adjust to the kids’ plans and to encourage the desire to work that D1 seems to have found. Building good kids is sort of the ultimate prep, so I’m trying to be flexible. We have much to be thankful for, and where we celebrate that thankfulness isn’t as important as taking the time to do so. Besides, if you are smart, you take your joy where you find it.

Build. Improve. Stack. Live.

nick

Read the comments: 60 Comments

Fri. Nov. 14, 2025 – half way through November already…

Cool and damp, followed by warm and damp, but the radio said no rain for a few more days. Back to watering the lawn I guess. It’s still very nice in the afternoon.

I did some small things, including trying a new way to cook dinner. I tried a pork roast in the crock pot without all the liquid, going for a slow bake. It worked out better than I expected, although I chickened out and added 1/2 cup water so the new potatoes and onion wedges would have something to cook in. I think it’s a good choice when I have to leave the house and won’t be home when a roast would have to go into the oven. It was well past 150F in 3 1/2 hours on the crock pot’s high setting. I would normally put it in the oven at 320F for about an hour for the 3 pounds. It might take an extra 20 minutes after that.

Packet gravy, and heat and eat bread rounded out the meal.

Today I don’t have any pickups so I can work my list. That’s my plan anyway. Nose to the grindstone, feet to the fire, once more into the breech…

And some sort of stacking is always appropriate.
n

Read the comments: 61 Comments

Wed. Oct. 22, 2025 – hoping to catch up, knowing I won’t

Cool, and warm later. Some clouds. Probably not any rain though. And that’s what yesterday was like too. Just gradual changes day to day, and soon we’ll be headed into Winter. Such as it is in Houston.

I got nothing done yesterday morning, except sleep. I can rationalize that sleeping helps fight off any infection from the little disease bags, but it’s a rationalization and part of me regrets the loss of usable time. Part of my likes to sleep though.

In the afternoon, I did pickups, getting some housewares for here, 100ft of direct burial gas line, small engine parts, and some Christmas decorations. The gas line will go to the BOL against the possible eventual need to replace my main line to the house, or for future use either in a shop space, or second living area. It was so cheap I couldn’t say no.

Then it was home to leftovers for dinner, some auction stuff, and a tiny fire by the water feature…

Today, I’m going to try to wrap up the wall repairs, and get as far along on the pantry project as I can. Now W is talking about repainting the whole laundry room instead of just doing the 2×8 ft repair area in a match color. I think I’ll at least get primer on it, and that might be “good enough” with the cabinet covering most of the repaired area. I don’t want the project to take forever.

And there is the rest of the list that needs work, including a Costco run for paper products and anything that might be on sale this period. There is always more to do.

Stack, work, improve. Do what you can.

nick

Read the comments: 83 Comments
// ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- // end of file archive.php // -------------------------------------------------------------------------------