Happy Fourth!
I love fireworks! What is it about them? Can't see any live this year, so I am enjoying vicariously, thanks to YouTube.
Pearl
Yesterday, two friends and I took the long, long trip up to Tioga to eat barbecue at Clark's Outpost. It had been a few year since I was at Clark's, and my friends had never even heard of it, although they've lived here longer than I have.
The drive was, well, an adventure. For part of the trip we drove a county road that was graveled but unpaved (Rte 121 west): do not choose this route. Scenic, but a little unnerving. Instead, use Rte. 380 to 377, then go north.
My friends, after about 90 minutes of driving, including over 10 miles of unpaved road, were understandably hungry and crabby. Clark's storefront looks unimpressive, and pulling into the unpaved gravel parking lot, with all windows closed so the a.c. can blast against the orange pollution ozone alert and 102 degree heat, does not impress.
And then one opens the car door, steps out... and smells the barbecue cookin'.
Ahhhhhhh!
From there we floated to the front door.
I had carefully made reservations--since it was a Friday evening--but most tables were empty. A surprise to me. I recommend ALWAYS making reservations.
The three of us sat, ate, and--damn!--enjoyed.
We ordered appetizers: onion rings and fully loaded potato skins. Both were delicious, but I especially love the rings. The coating is thick, crunchy, chewy and the rings are substantial.
To order alcohol, one must join the club, a Texas tradition of dry towns, where only members can drink legally. We ordered Shiners, naturally, and one Negro Modelo.
One friend ordered the brisket beef/smoked turkey combination plate, including the collard greens and jalapeno black-eyed peas. The other ordered the brisket/sausage combo, with potato salad and fried zucchini. I ordered the beef/pork ribs combo, with red beans and cole slaw. The plates arrive fast--always--and at first glance, it doesn't look like much food. And in fact for a regular barbecue joint, it is a smaller serving... but then one starts to eat.
The beef is so tender, beautifully smoked on-site over three days, one doesn't even need a knife to cut it. It is so delicious, so tender, that it is a work of art. The ribs--ditto. Smallish, but tasty, succulent, plump. Bones do not dominate. Eaten with the dark sauce that comes bottled in old Grolsch beer bottles: be still my heart! The sausage, from a Dallas maker, are spicy, while the turkey breast--also smoked at Clark's--is mellow and, again, so tender it can be nudged into pieces with a fork.
Usually, I ignore the sides in favor of the main course, so as not to waste time or space. In this case that would be a mistake. All of our sides were superb seconds: my red beans and cole slaw were so good, I actually ate most of them.
Each plate comes with two slices of Texas toast, an onion slab (not slice), and half of a canned cling peach.
For dessert, one friend ordered the Dutch apple pie with vanilla ice cream, while I had the bread pudding with hard sauce. I recommend the pie--crunchy, complex, and overall delicious--and not the bread pudding. I am a huge fan of b.p., but this one was soaked in brandy and nutmeg. It was absolutely tasty, but so rich and overwhelmingly alcoholic, I wa afraid to be near the open candle on our tabletop. Wow! I ate about 1/3 of the total slab, which again was not over-sized or grotesque, but too much for me.
My friends, fans of Southern cooking, Tex-Mex cooking, and Texas food, were impressed. Me, too, but I was not surprised. What I love most about Clark's is that it is not out to impress: neither the decor, the wait staff (who are friendly and efficient, but not hanging over the table, thank God!), or the prices are out to stun you. It is, simply, good food that doesn't want to be the favorite baby of foodies and wanna-be gourmands. What for?
If you love it, you can order off their website, which also shows their menu and hours.
Take my advice: if you're in the area, visit. If you aren't, order something by mail. You'll be very happy.
Pearl
One of my favorite websites is 3191 Miles Apart, a website shared by Steph and Mav, two friends living 3,191 miles apart (see?) who share photo moments online. They don't include comments or comment--much--on their photos, but the photos provide quiet, lovely images or, actually, moment of life.
They have published two books, one of monrings and one of evenings, and a poster set as well.
I find their blog inspirational, both in its object and in the pictures they share. Their photography gives me a ot of pleasure while it challenges me to look differently at my own taking of pictures.
Pearl
One Year Ago today I was flying to London, ready to start my Oxford summer semester and my Parisian sabbatical directly after that. Sigh.
It's been a great year, but a long one. Here's a photo from Oxford, of the building at University College where my rooms were.
Given the heat and nasty air here in DFW, I'd rather be there... but then what about the bike?
Pearl
Now that I am a proud bike owner-rider, I have been scouting bike-friendly information.
A CUP OF JO: NYCity Bike Types
GWADZILLA: D.C. guy who rides bikes and writes philosophy about riding bikes....
ECOVELO: I love this blog for its style as well as its commitment to green living.
VELIBE: Paris's system of rent your own bikes, available all over town for short term rentals.
FAT CYCLIST: Funny guy, interesting blog.
COPENHAGEN CYCLE CHIC: Wonderful pictures, and not all "spandex" stuff, for riders lite like me.
NEW YORK TIMES: Urban cycling and the gender gap.
CHANGE YOUR LIFE. RIDE A BIKE: A great blog about people across the country riding bikes for lots of reasons.
BIKE SKIRT: Girls and bikes.
SHE RIDES A BIKE: Flagstaff, Arizona woman writes about biking and style. My kind of blog.
Pearl
Our campus is built around two elements: an oval central drive and a four-story, red brick, domed hall. Here is the hall:
The class I'm teaching this summer is in this building, on the top floor.
Inside, the entry hall is open, with a dome and circular skylight.
The gallery runs in a circle around the hall, leading off to two wings.
This particular window gives a great view of both the campus and downtown Big D.
Here's a better view.
Pretty, isn't it? From here, you can really ignore the blazing heat of early evening.
Pearl
'Cause I know everyone is waiting: pictures of The Bike.
I've been out riding it the last two days, and it goes like a dream. Next: covered panniers with a rear rack.
Oh, and here's the new sofa, too:
Pearl
It's been some time since I wrote about my frugal plans. But as you can see, the coupon clipping paid off. Witness: new bike plus accessories.
I am still clipping, but the big reward I am giving myself next month is to pay off a credit card completely, using the monies I earned teaching summer school. This is not as huge as it sounds, perhaps, given that the balance is in the low four-figures (but the APR was 20-some%), but it is a great reward for me. The class has been great fun--and since it is the second time I have taught it, this gives me the chance to perfect a few rough places from the first run.
But the good news is being able to pay off the credit card and buy the sofa. Of course, buying the sofa also gave me a $150 gift card I can (and will!) use on IKEA items over time. Plus donating my former sofa to charity.
Sigh of relief.
The next frugal move is to talk my wireless/phone service, second credit card, and electricity down to better deals.
Pearl
Here it is.
Well, it would be, but I am being restrained by my computer for "administrative issues" so it won't let me download photos. It doesn't recognize me an administrator... which basically means that my computer is telling me that I am not the boss of it.
Which is true... but I digress.
The blue bike in the foreground: my exact bike.
I rode The Bike home and felt the wind flying through my hair. Whee!
OK, I have short hair cut extra short for summer heat and wore a ball cap... but still: Wheeeeeee!
Remember this post on frugality back this spring? Well, I got the front basket (detachable, too!)
the bell
and even light blue color-coordinated grips.
All on monies saved from coupons, deals, EBates, and selling books on Amazon. Now I'm goin to start saving for the next "big" project: a new mattress and box spring. Good times.
Whhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Pearl
Yes, it is Friday, which is a No Class Day. My big plans include:
1. Picking up THE BIKE: walking to the shop, getting my photo taken (the shop's Friday ritual!), then riding home. Ah, exercise... in the blazing/relentless/nasty DFW midday heat... good plan, eh?
2. Dinner out with girlfriends at chic local eatery featuring pizza and salads: Fireside Pies.
3. Laundry (gotta love the No Class Day, which translates to Home Rituals and Cleaning Day).
4. Reading the latest issue of Dwell magazine, my new favorite magazine. I dream of buying/building a small pre-fab house... also Entertainment Weekly and Fast Company.
5. Reading about Parisian visual culture of the 19th century. More interesting than it sounds, perhaps.
6. Replying to emails I have neglected all week.
7. Tuning my radio to Michael Jackson tribute stations, hopefully for the pre-scary years. Rest in peace, MJ.
8. Feeling envy about my friends' trip to Scotland: weeks in that lovely country, visiting Edinburgh, Glasgow, and the B&B I stayed in the Mactalla.
9. Did I mention picking up THE BIKE? Oh, I did.
Pearl
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Recent Comments
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Brynn said:
I hope you enjoy your bike, despite the blazing heat. It's been awfully hot here too, but it hasn't stopped... read more
on Friday plans -
Aubrey O. said:
That's the IKEA I go to! Well, when I get a chance...it's not too often since I'm about two hours... read more
on #1 Summer Goal
I know! I couldn't resist it once I saw it, and the bell has a great sound, too. read more
on Finally!