Category Archives: Crafts and Hobbies

The “Summer Kitchen”

I’m a big fan of a certain television show wherein the host travels around the country interviewing people who cook on unusual, outdoor setups. It’s compelling for two reasons: first, it’s just nice to see folks standing around a fire and cooking a meal without a lot of fake time constraints or competitive judging. Second,Continue reading “The “Summer Kitchen””

‘Wich-Craft

I’ve written too much here about the relationship the people of Maine have with the weather. Be it a gallows-glee at an incoming storm, or the quiet spite reserved for warm and muddy spring days. I won’t belabor those points here, beyond a simple reiteration that springtime in Maine amounts to two (2) weeks ofContinue reading “‘Wich-Craft”

A Fixed Point of Light

There have been times in my life where the power has gone out. Where the wind howls and buffets the windows; where the doors strain and groan against their frames. Where the darkness is impenetrable and unending, with the thickness of damp wool. In those times, I’ve focused on a fixed point of light. InContinue reading “A Fixed Point of Light”

Kitchen Essentials, Part III – Accessories

Well, we covered knives and boards in Part I, then took on pots and pans in Part II, so onward to the real heart of a good kitchen setup: the accessories. I am a kitchen minimalist. I don’t like drawers overflowing with nonsense, or countertops covered in gadgets. As a general rule, if I haven’tContinue reading “Kitchen Essentials, Part III – Accessories”

(Inter)Dimensional Lumber

I’ve long held some secret beliefs about the nature of space and time, and of our reality, and all of them stem from working with dimensional lumber. This was recently brought, once again, to the forefront of my mind when Mrs. 10Chickens suggested I build a desk for our oldest to have a dedicated spaceContinue reading “(Inter)Dimensional Lumber”

Kitchen Essentials, Part II – Pots and Pans

Well, you’ve got yourself a knife and board. Next up: invaluable, mutli-functional, buy-it-for-life pots and pans. If you’ve been reading this blog, you know my favorite piece of cookware in the kitchen is my giant cast-iron skillet, Ol’ Faithful, and we’ll get to that. The reality, though, is it’s not the first thing I’d buyContinue reading “Kitchen Essentials, Part II – Pots and Pans”

Keepers of the Arcane

In my youth in rural Maine, when my parents would travel out of town on business, my brother and I would frequently stay with our next-door neighbors; an elderly couple. I cannot say enough nice things about these people. They were the consummate New England neighbors, but more than that, they seem to have beenContinue reading “Keepers of the Arcane”

Kitchen Essentials, Part I

We’ve had some inquiries about the gear we use, and a few questions about setting up a kitchen for the first time with the bare necessities, so we figured a quick post was probably in order. Over the years, I’ve gone through all kinds of phases and philosophies of culinary acquisition. In my early youth,Continue reading “Kitchen Essentials, Part I”

Back to the Woodpile

When things feel awful and out of control, I typically default to some combination of exercise and organization an attempt to remind myself that I do, in fact, have the ability to effect change and progress, if even symbolically. In my days as a trial attorney, this typically meant something as simple as cleaning myContinue reading “Back to the Woodpile”