notes from the kitchen

“It's coming from the sorrow in the street,


the holy places where the races meet;

from the homicidal bitchin'

that goes down in every kitchen

to determine who will serve and who will eat.

From the wells of disappointment

where the women kneel to pray

for the grace of God in the desert here

and the desert far away:

Democracy is coming to the U.S.A.

Sail on, sail on

O mighty Ship of State!

To the Shores of Need

Past the Reefs of Greed

Through the Squalls of Hate

Sail on, sail on, sail on, sail on. “

Leonard Cohen – “Democracy”

This kitchen has no conflict and nothing homicidal taking place. Not even negligent manslaughter. Good things leave our kitchen for the table.

Last night we had NY strip steaks for dinner. I found them marked down at a grocery in Greeneville yesterday afternoon. I thought they would do to break in the grill pan we bought. We have aCuisinart Green Gourmet 11 inch square grill pan. I’m very pleased with the way it handles. The steaks came out perfectly, rare with a nice sear. We served them with fresh asparagus, baked potatoes, and watched the food vanish. The new range hood kept up with the stove top quasi-grilling on the lowest setting.

We did notice that one of the two halogen lamps in the hood is not working. It was quirky on install but worked all weekend with no problem. Last night, no light did it emit. Changed the two lamps around and the fault migrated to the other side. So it’s the expensive lamp that did not come with the hood. Gloria has to go to Greeneville after class. Lowe’s owes us a new set of lamps.

Out of the kitchen, all souls resident happy to be here.

Since midnight, 0.46 in of rain. There’s a solid band stretching back toward Knoxville that will most likely be with us all day. We’re going to have to go to Greeneville again, today or tomorrow. Gloria needs meds that require a physician renewal. I’d rather get this out of the way today, despite the rain, as we need to leave for Asheville around 1600 tomorrow. Dinner reservations at Wasabi at 1800 then a three hour dance at 2000-2300. It’s an hour and a half drive home in good weather. We’d hoped to meet our friend David Gans, who’s playing in Asheville tonight and tomorrow, but the logistics, seem to be lining up against that happening. If he can, he may make it by for dinner, we reserved a seat for him as well. If we don’t get to see him this year, there’s always hope for next.

I didn’t walk this morning. Our road is narrow, very curvy, and steeply banked. Nearly everyone drives right down the middle and far too fast. The general approach to driving here is that anyone can control a car or truck without using the brakes. In dry weather drivers often come far too close to anyone walking along the road. In wet weather, they see no reason to slow down. Add that proclivity to the layer of wet leaves on parts of the road, and the risk of injury increases to the point where some other form or exercise becomes advisable. I wore wheat jeans Monday and yesterday while walking. There was a slight mist Monday and light rain yesterday. Last night I noticed a large area of brown spots on my jeans, road moisture and other spray from passing vehicles.

This is the view toward home taken about 1400 yesterday returning from Greeneville.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Image taken by cell phone camera at Liberty Church and Guy Brown roads.


Our home is about four miles distant approximately below the red mark on the image. The apparent altitude is correct. The ridge line is the TN/NC border. The border is three miles south of and 3000 feet above our home.

Back to the kitchen. Since we will be dining out in Asheville tomorrow we will have soup tonight. Gloria will have an Italian Wedding soup, and I, a bean with bacon; both from cans. We have no good source of Japanese food locally. There are some teppan-yaki places but we really don’t want to dine with a bunch of strangers and we’ve seen the chef’s perform in other towns.

Back to the kitchen, again; after a trip to Greeneville for meds, light bulb for the range hood, bird seed, an ironing board, and various items from Wal-Mart. I’m happy to be home again and ready to have some dinner and then, later, a piece of cinnamon apple pie with cheddar melted over it.

Nothing earth shattering to add or subtract. Leonard Cohen fall tour leg starts in three days. It will be interesting to see what other fans post about the shows leading up to 1 November in Asheville.

Tomorrow should be a good day but it will be a long one. I’m looking forward to sleeping an hour later tomorrow and Friday, and much later on Saturday. We were hoping for a sunny drive over the mountains but rain is forecast every day until Sunday
Stay well.