The bread knife and smooth honing steel arrived this morning, between feeding Myka and getting ready to cook a pork chop and over easy egg. I unwrapped the delivery, got two items washed and in the knife block, and the boxes and paper in the recycling bin. Then I cooked and ate the chop and egg with one of the new paring knives.
I had concerns about the bread knife fitting in the block, but the slots are opened at the bottom, and the bottom of the back row is over two inches above the counter. So the bread knife extends out the bottom, but it stays well about the counter surface. And the tip of the knife is rounded, so it’s not a hazard. And the slot is wide enough with margin to hold the hump in the blade near the handle. So the block is now full. Now there are four knives that aren’t part of the new collection, and they can be replaced by knives that are not too deep (like the second Matsato). But the collection is complete by the standards of my needs, except a flexible filleting knife, which I have in storage.
I made the store run last night during the closing hour, as I slept through the opening hour yesterday. I got an unsliced loaf of sourdough from the bakery to test the bread knife. It has a cross slit top, which will make for a proper test for the knife. I have 2 lb of butter, honey, and artisan jellies for the test.
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I also got gold potatoes, avocados, minis, chips, and a fresh loaf of bread on the store run. So there will be spudacados (pork loin) and chili spudacados, along with the pork chops (3 more), chili cheese dogs, and the sourdough. I need to thaw a tub of chili. I had chicken fajita tacos yesterday for a late lunch. If I decide on the off chance that I want more variety, there will be burgers and tamales available.
I also stocked up for Myka, kibbles, canned food, and Temptations (surf mix). She was thrilled to see it all line up for her inspection. I got litter not that long ago, so she is set for the time being.
I finally got a start on the gallery album of AI in the art nouveau style of Alphonse Mucha. Five images from Google’s ImageFX engine were the first images that I Photoshopped, uploaded, and configured. I have nine more from NightCafe to follow the process. I was building toward this project when they found the tumor on my kidney, and it went on the back burner. There was so much else draining my energies that it took a year and a half to get back on track with it.
http://gallery.fringewood.com/thumbnails.php?album=6
In thawing a tub of chili, I’ll be down to one pint in the freezer. This compels me to want to inquire about the jams. If they are no longer being held, I can buy a couple of quarts. I have enough of the pint tubs to hold more than a gallon, so a couple of quarts would not be a problem, except finding room in the freezer. A quart is considerably cheaper than 2 pints, so that would be the way to go for a stock.
A lot of napping during the days. Not on a vampire schedule, but it’s leaning that way.
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I got to test the bread knife, and it was all it was hyped up to be and more. I was genuinely impressed with how easily it slices bread perfectly. Razor sharp crust without crumbs. It is hands down the best I’ve ever used.
Unfortunately, the honey needs replacing, unrefined and unfiltered, that sped its demise. Dark. Oh well, there is straight butter, jellies, peanut butter, cheese… I won’t have trouble making the loaf disappear. The avocados are not ready yet, so it’s chili cheese dogs tonight. Spudacados will follow on the avocados’ schedule.
I’m thinking about spaghetti when the chili and pork loin are gone. It should be cool enough for daily pasta boils. Then something Zatarain’s. But I have a bag of spuds to do in first. I should not get carried away.
I got two more of the Mucha renderings in the gallery. The NightCafe renderings need more and more difficult retouching, taking longer and demanding more, so the progress will be slower than at first. But at least the project has come to some fruition. It got dropped back when I discovered the kidney tumor. So, getting it online is a bit of a benchmark for me. Now I’m going to deny that there was a lot of laziness in there. Lumpin’ too. But that I got the focus together and felt comfortable jumping in is encouraging. It’s also a reminder of why I’m retired. My skillset is still there. I haven’t lost anything except my stamina.
Waiting for the dryer to finish, so I can fold laundry.