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Ganesh Chaturti on the Shenandoah

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Sometime last summer (during the height of the pandemic), “the shrine” on my property was designed by Allen Kitselman and implemented by Claudio and his brother.  On 9/12 it was properly initiated with a Ganesh Chaturi ceremony led by Karthik.

Here’s how that went down.

First, Karthik shared the significance of Ganesh Chaturti, read some ancient text, and made an offering.

Ready for the ceremony

 

Karthik leads the reading

 

Incense

 

Ganesh at the shrine (and everywhere else in the universe too)

 

In the verdant woods of Virginia

 

A gift for the mantle

 

Then it was off to the river for part two of the ceremony, a small prayer with an earthen Ganesha moorti which Jackie immersed in the Shenandoah river in a traditional way (plus kayaks).

We kayaked several miles together.  Had lunch. Saw eagles. Reveled in nature.  There was a cheeto sighting.

When we were getting ready to depart, the truck failed to start.  But we persevered (with some help from Skaggs and a trusty hammer).

 

And then some fabulous food and conversation.

All in all, an excellent day.  The shrine is consecrated and new friendships blossom.

Bindi people

 

About that Ramen

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Sushi

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Thanks to my friend Rio, a masterful sushi lunch in Ginza at Gonpachi. Best sushi so far this life.

フード, indeed

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The best ramen, tsukemen, cold noo-noos dipped.

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the makers of the best ramen in the hippest ramen space in town. Tokyo- Fuunji, thanks.

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Some like it RAW – put me on the Sushi Train.

The Conductor.

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Just meat.

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Kaiseki – catch it when you can.

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eaters, dressed for the part.

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Nishiki Market, Kyoto.

Protein Snack this, my friend.

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Fabulous fish flakes.DSCF0083.jpg

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And the Famous Bento Box. Prepackaged cooked food, room temp. Japan. Train food. Sticky rice superb.

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Roast Beast and Yorkshire Pudding

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Rare roast beef with Yorkshire pudding is one of my very favorite meals of all time. Heck, we’ll even have it for no apparent reason! Happy today day! Here are a few tricks to making a delicious beast.

Yorkshire pudding though incredibly simple ingredients-wise takes a couple of tricks. Trick 1: Start with warm ingredients and beat them to frothy. Cold eggs and milk will not work properly. Once the batter is beaten, refrigerate for at least an hour covered. (This allows the flour to do its gluten thing with the egg.) Remove from the fridge just about when you put the beef in so that there is time for the batter to slowly warm. Trick 2: cook it under the beast.

On the beef front, start with a standing rib roast. Don’t get it tied, rolled, or cut from the bone. The ribs provide lots of flavor.

Season the beast simply with an entire head of garlic, peeled with cloves sometimes cut lengthwise then inserted into the beef with a paring knife and a finger. Liberally apply lots of pepper and some salt.

Pop it in an oven preheated to 550. Immediately turn it down to 350. Plan to cook the beast 17 minutes per pound and no more.

Beef roasting at 350 (about 90 minutes in)

Beef roasting at 350 (about 90 minutes in)

Before adding the Yorkshire batter, turn the oven up to 400 and beat the batter to froth one more time. Remove some of the drippings below the beef to make gravy with (put into cast iron skillet). Add half a stick of butter under the roast to compensate. Then pour the batter around the beef.

The batter will rise if all is well.

Yorkshire on the rise under the beef

Yorkshire on the rise under the beef

Remove the beef on time, and check the temperature. Let the beef rest for 15 minutes.

Finished cooking and now resting. Rest your beef before carving!

Finished cooking and now resting. Rest your beef before carving!

Yorkshire with beast removed.  The drippings are ultra delicious.

Yorkshire with beast removed. The drippings are ultra delicious.

Serve to family and friends with a nice Cab.

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Et voilà.

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Why aren’t those chickens laying any eggs?

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Are the days too short?

Are the days too short?

Is it the weather?

Is it the weather?

Nope - somebody's been a'snackin!

Nope – somebody’s been a’snackin!

Farmer Craig’s Spread (Greenview Farm): No Okra In Sight

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One of these things is not like the other

One of these things is not like the other

I drove my awful Chevy Cruze rental car (who makes these things?!) down to visit farmer Craig’s organic vegetable farm operation in Rhode Island. The place is called Greenview Farm. Craig is a dear old college friend who started farming full time 20 years ago and never looked back. He has about 20 acres in cultivation now, rotating crops, building up the soil, and generally leaving the land in way better shape than it started in. His produce has a reputation for excellence and his business is thriving.

Impressive. Craig and Emily are utterly dedicated to what they’re doing. The addition of three monkeys to the equation is leading to the usual loving chaos.

Farmer Craig, aka Mr Okra aka Dr Feelgood

Farmer Craig, aka Mr Okra aka Dr Feelgood

The first greenhouse is about to get a new floor

The first greenhouse is about to get a new floor

Amazing to see this on November 18!

Amazing to see this on November 18!

Hearty broccoli.  Mine never looks this good.

Hearty broccoli. Mine never looks this good.

Yeah, I know, Kale.

Yeah, I know, Kale.

Gorgeous rich topsoil

Gorgeous rich topsoil

Cover crop of oats and peas will be plowed under in the Spring

Cover crop of oats and peas will be plowed under in the Spring

Winter crops still going

Winter crops still going

Keep em covered

Keep em covered

Seats two hippies

Seats two hippies

On The VERGE! Dubai – biggest, tallest, glassiest!

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First – go to the biggest MALL and don’t buy anything. oh, some Converse Allstar tennis shoes. buy those.

ahhhhhhhhhh!

ahhhhhhhhhh!

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Now to the Tallest Building on Earth..You pay a lot, You get a lot.

Video a history of tallest buildings – as you rise 125 floors in 1.46 minutes.

You have arrived – 148 floors!

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Dubai

Dubai

From the inside

From the inside. Son in glass.

Reflective Selfie

Reflective Selfie

Have a coffee and a baclava *at the window* while you sit 148 floors up!

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Back to the sweetest hotel in Abu Dhabi – Traders..

Traders hotel lobby

Traders hotel lobby

final dinner - beach and shisha.

final dinner – beach and shisha.

النهاية

Dubee Dubee Dubee Dubaiaiaiai.

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Yes, it’s big and new!

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Questions?

Questions?

If visiting this excellent city, you must not miss the old part – Deira Creek, and the Souks. Real people selling real stuff.

Like Golden vests..

Like Golden vests..

heading to spice souk.

heading to spice souk.

Riding the Dhow across the Deira.

Son in wood.

Son in wood.

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locals and tourists use the service.

locals and tourists use the service.

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Arabian Coast, Wadi Bani Khalid, Misfat Al Abrein – Oman

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Toes in the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman

Toes in the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman

Seabird

Seabird

hermit crab incognito.

hermit crab incognito.

stone and coral.

stone and coral.

Limestone Sinkhole  – from bikinis to burkas in this spot.
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Wadi – cool, clear, nearly empty.

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Son in Sandstone.

Son in Sandstone.

Al Abrein – Mountain Village. “Stoned me just like Jelly Roll..”DSCN0101

Ceramic pots hung in windows to keep water cool.

Ceramic pots hung in windows to keep water cool.

men wash in mountain stream.

men wash in mountain stream.

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