Austin ModHouse

I know many people enjoy the holiday weekend watching football and relaxing.  we had work to do.  kat wants her '72 bmw 2002 back and I just can't get it done by myself. 

I'd spent small chunks of time removing what I could, trim, bumpers etc.

I needed a block of time to sand and prime the steel before it started to rust.  a few hours a day would've taken me a long time.  once we had bare steel, it is a race to get the primer on.  we sanded half a car per day (took two days for the two of us to strip it down to bare metal)

bare steel!

and by sunday afternoon we had the primer sprayed. 

kat did get to enjoy her turkey leftovers for lunch friday and saturday.  I enjoyed the dressing.  I start making the stock a week before the holiday and I collect many baguettes etc to make the bread crumbs/chunks myself.  I used about a lb of fresh shitake mushrooms, golden raisins and bartlet pear and a bit of duck prosciutto.  the earthiness of the mushrooms, richness of the stock soaked bread and brightness of the fruit is a real pleasure to eat.  YUM!  my favorite part of thanksgiving. 

we finally made a successful chinese radish cake!  it was delicious!  we substituted fresh shitake for dried and used a bit of the duck prosciutto.

also called law bock gow.  recipes vary greatly so we improvised.  here is a link for an example of the work involved

kat wants us to start bowling.  sunday morning at highland lanes is our new routine.  they have a deal from 7AM-noon, $7 all you can bowl includes shoe rental.  and since I have my own ball (and my name is Wes when I use it)... we roll.

my ball has only two holes, is 16 lb but I'm gonna make it work.  or wes will... I bowled an 86, that is an improvement.

sunday was cold and windy, we enjoyed a cheap ($18) lunch at new oriental market, a korean cafeteria and grocery.

so far, the kimchi and scallion pancake (top) is our favorite item they offer, $8.  the other two dishes are $5 each, including tax and each comes with soup that was hot, spicy and sour. 

we enjoyed the leftover thanksgiving wine sunday eve with indian food.  the 2008 Portal (pronounced poor-tall) spanish wine was showing better on sunday than on thursday.  this wine benefits greatly from a lengthy breathing period or decanting.  learned something new!

we had ordred this 18 ft double lane diecast-car racing track for thanksgiving.  we thought it would be fun to race while the turkey fried...  it didn't show up on time.  after ten days in transit, it arrived saturday.  we ran out and each bought a hotwheels car.  sunday eve we raced!

Posted by paul at 11:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

it was a holiday of success and failure, of overcoming obstacles and not dwelling on the mishaps, ups and downs....  sort of like life.  a well fed life.

the first failure, the turkey injector.  I tried to get as much flavor into the bird as possible.  we were missing the fitting that connects the needle to the tube.  most of it landed outside the bird. 

I fired up the turkey frying oil in the afternoon, I was on schedule.  but something didn't seem right.  the flame was pitiful.  it was a new propane cylinder...  we all double and tripple checked that the valves were fully open...   these two started doing math after timing a 5 degree temperature rise.  I didn't need to wait till they arrived at an estimated 375 degree arrival time, I went with my gut feeling; it would never be hot enough in within the allotted time with that flame.

the girls were inside finishing up the cooking and prep work, kids playing.

I made the executive decision to use the indoor burner to get the oil up to temp.  I knew we couldn't drop the turkey indoors, but I needed big BTU to heat the oil faster.  and while that was heating, Bill kept messing with the propane valves and safety features and whatever had been stuck, became unstuck and the big BTU flame returned.  BILL SAVED THE TURKEY!  and somehow I lost track of time while all this was going on. 

the oil quickly made it to 380 degree, we cut the flame off (don't want to be on youtube as another dumbass thanksgiving day fried turkey disaster)  and I slowly lowered the bird...  it sizzled and sputtered as it fried away, fry bird, fry away!

and nearly 40 minutes later (12.5 lb bird) the bird was floating.  we removed it and let it sit a while.

I think we were supposed to let it continue to fry a bit longer, the skin did not get as crispy as kat usually likes.  it was cooked all the way through, nobody went to the ER, but it could've been better

I don't really care for turkey, I had a back up protein.  three pork loins with chipotle cream gravy.

I was happy with my leek and cashew soup with sweet potato chip on top.  my roasted red pepper soup reduced too much and became thick and salty.  I floated basil infused greek yogurt on top to cut the saltiness. 

kids ate first.  while we ate, they showered us with paper airplanes from the second floor.  each had a note on it, "WE WANT PIE".  we agreed to serve pie, after, they each made a list of five unique things they are thankful for.  they made quick work of assembling thanks.

they did a great job with the lists, I think they enjoyed it. 

pie was served.

weather was just cool enough to enjoy a roaring fire.

and then it was done.

everybody went home.

and he came back for a second attack on the cheese plate, the morbier and naxos honey will do that.  got to get every bit!

Posted by paul at 10:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I had the studio lights out to take some pics of the orange van (I listed it for sale as we can't keep two vans at the moment).  #2 son saw the lights and asked, "will you take my picture?"  how could I refuse?  then he went to the steps and JUMPED.  we took JUMP pics for halloween, so I guess he figures every photo shoot is a JUMP shoot.

I put the camera down to adjust the lighting and he said "ok, I will take your picture".  I was a little nervous b/c a canon 5d mark II is a heavy camera. 

he did it!

BIGGER

#2 son had his own photo idea...

monkey see, monkey do, #2 had to do it too...

a couple pics of the orange van... 

big

big

#1 son would like to play you a song (his piano recital below)....

Posted by paul at 01:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I escorted the daughter and a friend to a day of the horsey lifestyle.  they received an english style riding lesson and horse care lesson from bel canto farms near wimberley

the daughter was happy to be riding the white horse.  but somebody later suggested it may not be safe, so she was paired with a much more docile horse.

fitted with boots and helmets, they assisted with saddling and bridling. 

PULL!

I've never really liked horses.  they're much larger and smarter than I am.  but the horse above, blue...  we were quick friends.  very gentle and seemed to enjoy human contact.  his eyes followed my every move.  I trusted him with my daughter. 

the girls had time with a trainer to become familiar with their horse.  and some instruction in "english style" riding.

BIGGER

the trail ride was short but nice.  a few obstacles etc.  it was near meal time and the girls had to work to keep them from snacking on grass.

BIGGER

BIGGER

Posted by paul at 12:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

BIGGER

a few years back I stumbled on a very cool midcentury modern home listed for sale, it was in Taylor TX. 

http://thezidellhouse.com/The_Zidell_house/About.html 

too far from our current situation to consider as a residence for ourselves, I couldn't get the place out of my mind.  I tried to come up with a reasonable scheme/excuse to somehow buy the place.  there was genuine concern that an unsympathetic builder would buy it for the land, scrape the house. 

as luck would have it, it found the right owner, who is also a photographer

with all the ideas and schemes I had for what could be done with the 6 acres, I couldn't have done a better job.  the owner has an annual party, this year it was a benefit for the bastrop fire victims.  UT architecture students exhibit build projects, a stage with some really great bands, BMX and skateboard half-pipe and dirt course....  and BBQ too.

it was great to see bmx-chicks in the mix

interactive cardboard construction events and fun.

leslie sisson (of the wooden birds) sounded great.

large format chinese checkers (above)

like getting inside a marshmallow

the bamboo is THICK.  a notch was cut out for a stage.  they auctioned a whole roast pig, but we were too shy to bid, and we don't have space for a whole pig.  somebody offered $20 for the ribs and it was done.

BIGGER

I only had $10 cash, I told brent (owner) that we'd buy some of the pig if possible.  he introduced us to another guy to settle the deal, a few minutes later that guy said we had to go find brent (again) and make a deal with him....  we came home porkless. 

kat really enjoyed watching mother falcon set up.  she found a nice bark seat.  that is the dirt bmx track in the background

they played three songs and it started to rain.  can't complain about rain. 

Posted by paul at 11:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

whenever I meet folks from dallas, the starck is sort of a dividing line.  either you participated, or you missed it.  similar to previous generations and all the folks who went to woodstock, or claimed to.

it was july 19 1986, I had plans to see the cure at the bronco bowl.  I had spent the past seven years in northwest louisiana, and I was quite nervous about visiting/going out in dallas.  where I came from, there was not a lot of tolerance and most people thought alike.  we were shocked to find that dallas was not like that at all, they seemed to be celebrating diversity, and mostly, they had better music.  back in NW louisiana, we had been hassled by a few "friends" for the music we had started to listen to, that had started to define and separate us (new order, the cure, the smiths).  a friend had suggested, if you go out in dallas, go to the starck.  we did, and we went home with a new outlook.  we realized we were living in the wrong place and something had to give.

there was usually a line to get in, people happy to pay $10 cover charge (a lot in 80's $).  entry was often granted based on the outrageousness/glamorousness of the attendant.  better yet, to be on the guest list or get "comp'd" (free entry).  we didn't have much for $ back in those days, so we eagerly pursued the guest list, comp and admit two passes.  there has been a lot written about the starck club, most of it true.  MDMA was legal, abundant and open (like ordering a drink from the bar).  people danced... everywhere and anywhere, on the stairs, on coffee tables, in the unisex bathrooms... 

the place was designed by phillipe starck, the most elegant glamorous place I'd ever seen, still.  precursor to the ultra lounge movement, his club design was modern, minimalist and clean.  regular folk often danced along side with celebrities.  I once went to an after party hosted by DIO after meeting him at starck...really.

 anyhow...  before I give up too much.  this past weekend, a group of original folks from the starck club; managers, bartenders, door personnel and patrons, got together for a reunion.  there is a documentary in the works from starck days, I'm sure it will fill in the blanks... let's just say that placed left a large impact on the lives of its patrons.  the ones that survived.  I'm sort of at a loss for words here, good thing they interviewed me for the movie...  or maybe not...

the gathering took place at the ghost bar, 33rd floor of the W hotel dallas.

there was drinking and dancing....

(BIG)

bonnie was my GF, she used to work the door at the starck.  (1990 pic below)

DALLAS FOOD:

you know we had to sample some of the best D has to offer.  it wasn't easy.  from what I could gather from yelp, Dallas does not have the same adventursome eating spirit we appreciate here in austin.  I played it safe, scardello's cheese shop near oak lawn and lemmon.  I used to live about a block from this intersection, my old apartment has been replaced with condos (as most everything since I was there 15 years ago, uptown has really increased its density)

I would've loved this place back then.  great cheese selection, wine by the glass and a friendly knowledgeable staff.

the cheese plate "set up" (the nuts and fruit and bread) is $5, cheese and meat is market price (by the lb.)

that der scharfe maxx was GOOD! 

the meddlesome moth:

I will say that we were surprised at the portion size and low price of eating in dallas compared to austin.  I pledged to try the bone marrow, and it was delicious, $9

kat loves pork belly.  the portion you see on her plate is only one third of what was served, but easily what passes as a full single portion in austin.  the price was only $12! 

the meddlesome moth is listed as a gastropub, good food and good beer.  they have an amazing selection of belgian beers on draught.  beer prices were also very resonable.  we liked this place, a lot.

E.A.S.T. (east austin studio tour)

we spent saturday and sunday visiting the studios of friends.  mark meyer (austin modhouse architect), susannah blanton, sharon kyle kuhn, chris levack and the other guys at splinter.

hawkeye makes brass bobbles on the metal lathe for our kids, this is her third year to get a bobble.

chris levack has been making fence sections from wood scraps and, has just finished the new austin skate park of his design.

we caught the Treacher of Others playing both days.

bowling:

yep, I have my own two hole bowling ball with custom bag and all.  more on that in the future.

highland lanes, $7 per person all you can bowl from 7-noon sunday. 

Posted by paul at 11:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

we took full advantage of the perfect weather this past weekend, visited our wimberley place and the wimberley market days.

one of the popular vendors "when pigs fry", has fresh made spicy pork rinds.  she sells out every time.  go there first or they'll be gone

made by JKB products

210-842-7555

kids like the marble stand.

market days now has an "icehouse" with bratwurst and draft beer.  it was another popular market days destination.

kat cleaned up our cabins near market days and I ran over to our cabin on the blanco we are fixing up.  the concrete floor had a real rough broom finish and we are planning to put VCT down on the first floor.  I applied a skim coat of resurfacer.

eichler and I went down to enjoy the river for a few minutes before heading back to town (wimberley)  (BIG PIC HERE)

beautiful fall colors.  (bigger version link)

some friends came down from austin to join us for dinner at the leaning pear.

Posted by paul at 10:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

neighbors  host a really nice halloween party.  it's a great way to start the evening, good food, drinks and the kids just LOVE to run and play in their yard (actual grass and flat land are somewhat rare in west lake hills)

walked home and caught the low fall sun hitting the face of the house.  LOVE this time of year. 

bigger

quick costume photo shoot:

an unedited jedi jump pic below

#2 son refused to get into his costume, "I DON'T WANNA BE A WOLF!!! OK?!  i DON'T WANT TO WEAR A WOLF COSTUME!"  I could see there was no getting around it.  but then he insisted on having his picture taken, he started putting himself into each frame.  I managed to convince him to put on a luchador mask for pictures.

"Hi-YAH!"

whatch out for that boot!  comin' at ya!

then he refused the mask and decided to wear a headband he'd made at school.

BIGGER Chell

the daughter has been obsessed with all things portal.  she makes portal drawings, listens to music from the game, has a portal app on her iphone etc.  we helped her with her costume but she'd given up any hopes of a portal gun.  I surprised her with my effort on halloween day.  #2 son was convinced I'd made a real portal gun, especially when the sun went down and I stuck a blue glow stick in the barrel and it had a blue glow.  he kept asking to hold it.

we painted the barrel black after the photo shoot.  then she was fully satisfied with it.

kat came home and figured out #2 just needed some food.  we'd been so busy we forgot to feed him.  she then sweet talked him into his costume!

BIG

there is no real trick/treat action on our street.  we head over to lost creek and meet up w/ friends.  it's a really nice neighborhood with just enough density and kids living there to make it the perfect trick/treat experience.

after trick or treating... he got to hold the portal gun.

"can I shoot a bluuuue portal, and then, aaaa ORange portal?"

he was not gonna to let go of that portal gun, so happy with it.  being able to hold it was better than the treats collected.

bigger boot action

Posted by paul at 10:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)