Tennis Elbow

Geez...I have had a blank post up about.  I guess my elbow hurt too much....

I have developed tennis elbow from something other than tennis.  My only other regular activity is computer stuff--and this year alot of it.  I think that my ergonomics were comprised when my new computer was set up while maintaining my old computer on the printer table (1) behind me which provided the best level. 

At the margin, small increments matter over time. Whether you are producing widgets or typing in a mechanically compromised way (poor leverage of reach and height), the good or the bad builds up fast.  In my case 12-17 hour days over a period of some months is the cause of my tendonitis.

I had a minor pain (prior to realizing what the problem was), and received a cortisone shot which completely eliminated the pain.  Unfortunately, the shot masked the problem entirely, so I did not have a chance to understand that the nascent symptoms were escalating under the veneer of the cortisone.

When the cortisone shot wore off, I realized how much inflammation I was experiencing.  It is bad enough where my regular routine is compromised---cooking, cleaning, working (computer), all contributing to the pain.  And bumping that sore area against a door jam is wince-inducing.

I've tried the arm band.  It felt good at first, but the benefit was either transitory or illusory.  It is possible that I'm just using it incorrectly.  I've avoided anti-inflammatory meds, but I'm simply not winning this battle.  Ice/heat combo provides some of the best relief. I'm not ruling out that I'm doing something strange with my arm during sleep that is exacerbating my symptoms.

I'm unused to having joint pain prevent normal activities.  I have a great empathy for folks with the chronic joint pain (from systemic or injury/use issues).  Husbando says that I just have to rest it completely, and that I should consider a sling.  

Right.

Douglas Van Howd Print

I was at a consignment shop and spied an English Setter flushing quail print.  The artist was Douglas Van Howd. The print is 119/750 and signed by the artist.  I didn't know who the artist was...in fact, I hadn't discerned the artist's signature until yesterday.  Been too busy to look. You can read about him here.

It's a largish 31.5"H x 39.5"W, and features an orange-belton English Setter flushing a covey of quail.  There's a pastoral quality to the print.  There is no title to the print unless it is beneath the matting. I did manage to stumble upon a picture of it after trying many key words. "Douglas van hows fall flush" was the one that finally yielded a hit.  I forget what I paid for it, less than $90 and far less than what it would have cost to frame the print alone.

I really love the way that it captures the point-movement of the Setter.

No I don't hunt, and my English Setters hunt and point whatever is in their periphery--mostly squirrels and biscuits. 

Sofa

My search for a new sofa ended thanks to Craigslist.  I found a beautiful Classic Leather, Keswick, sofa, pictured above, in like-new condition.  I paid $700 for it v ~$3700 that it would cost new.  Still, it was a premium price for a 10 year old sofa; but a difficult thing to find used in the condition that I wanted. Given the price I paid to the price that I would have had to pay, it was a good deal.  I gave my previous furniture to my daughter as it was in need of being reupholstered.  I had already upholstered 2x and slipcovered 1x.  I wanted to get something durable as we will sit on this piece every single day.

 My other furniture, made around 1930, ,had the most beautiful scale to it--smaller, very well made, with exposed carved wood on the base, the arm front face and the wings.  My daughter had the sofa reupholstered with companion fabrics for her chairs.  The sofa turned out beautifully.  It's worth noting that it costs as much to have a sofa reupholstered in a quality fabric as it costs to get a new sofa.  So, it is no wonder that people just toss out the old and get new.

My 'replacement' sofa was simply a sofa I had used to stage houses that I had bought for $150 at Rainbow Thrift and LGBT community thrift store.  It was like new, but it was singularly the most uncomfortable piece of furniture I had ever sat upon.  Out with the old to the Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters thrift and in with the new-old from people rehoming furniture.

The dogs, of course, were quite keen to sit on it first.

I have a leather loveseat that I purchased at a good discount from Haverty's 15 years ago. Unfortunately, the leather on the cushions on the seat spots are now completely worn through--that is surely showing the love.  This piece is the most singularly comfortable piece I have ever sat in.  It is perfect for watching TV.  Back is propped up by the comfy arms and the opposite arm makes the greatest foot rest.  I'm not sure if I'm ready to let this one go yet!  Reade suggests that he should get out the gorilla tape. 

It may come to that. 

Monetizing Thanksgiving

Holiday commerce seems to oozing into to every nook and cranny of our lives--to include encroaching on a holiday.  As if Black Friday were not enough, we have to co-op 6 p.m. - midnight on Thanksgiving.  Sacrilege!

I appreciated seeing the ads from Marshall's, Homegoods, and TJ Maxx bowing out.  I also across a an essay from last year from Ann Brennoff called What Black Thursday Protesters are Doing Wrong.  Her article has two major points--both poorly argued.

Her first point is that those of us who would express disdain for stores opening for Thanksgiving shopping are making the flawed assumption that everyone would rather be eating with their families rather than earning money.  If the assumption fails on the part of those supporting privileging the holiday as a shop free holiday (assuming that people would rather not be working), then it also fails on the part of those doing the finger wagging (assuming that people are grateful to be away from dysfunctional families).

There's just one problem: Who made them the boss of us? How do these people actually know that the guy who is working the register at Target doesn't appreciate the money? How can they be so certain that the gal gift-wrapping your packages at Macy's even has a family she wants to spend Thanksgiving with? Not everyone does, you know. Some people dread the holiday and are more than happy to spend it earning some money.

That some people dread the holidays and would rather work is likely a small portion of the retail population conscripted to work--and using that argument as an anchor for an essay is weak.

But who are you -- Black Thursday protesters -- to tell us that you know what's best for us? I don't recall electing you, and yet you want to impose your values on me.

Perhaps the Black Friday protesters are those that are affected by a family member that has to work on Thanksgiving. Perhaps it is the meal's cook. It's a holiday so daycare is not open.  Perhaps the person is working because they were threatened with losing his/her job if they didn't show up--not because they appreciated the pittance of traveling to work for 4 hours of pay.


"Protesting" is not about foisting one's values on others. Rather, it is about giving voice to one's opinions about what we consider objectionable actions.  And, yes, objectionable actions are things that abrade against our values--which is why women's suffrage, racism, police brutality, child labor and a host of other issues emerge into the public conscience.


Her second point, which I believe is important (but poorly argued) has to do with not making a selective argument while ignoring the larger issue:
Thanksgiving happiness doesn't just come in one shape. Shop or don't shop, that's your choice. But don't make Thanksgiving a holiday about labor rights when you ignore it the other 364 days a year.. . . Social activism? Folks, it's a 365-day-a-year commitment, although you'll probably want to take off on Thanksgiving.
Here's where I think that Brenoff has a mixed up argument.  The objection is about monetizing the space between Thanksgiving and Christmas and changing it to 'including' Thanksgiving. It feels that we have pimped out our last outpost of non-commercialized space.  If enough of us treasure the holiday enough to NOT SHOP, then we can absolutely let our opinion be known.  But if the collective we is so titillated by the too-good-to-pass-up door buster sales, then that simply reinforces another set of values that the shopping public has embraced.

I'm opting out.



Kitchen Quick Thoughts: Handy Things in Your Kitchen

Here's a few things to consider for your kitchen outside of the 'mandatory' things. These are quick thoughts--not meant to be comprehensive, or even fully thought out.

  1. Silicone Mitts  --  I finally broke down and bought some.  They don't get wet; don't compress and reduce the insulation when you are carrying heavy pieces and have to hold them longer because your instructions on "move that" aren't carried out with the alacrity you expected, and you are left holding the pan.  Your hands are worth it.
  2. Flour sack cloths:  You can get these by the dozen at Sam's.  Keep a dedicated couple for straining food stuffs that require fine straining.  It's a fine stand in for cheescloth; and coupled with a conical sieve you can do wonders.  (I made some homemade marscapone cream cheese for less effort and cost than finding/buying it at the store..  They make great cleaning rags too, but don't mix them up.  I put some border stitching on my cleaning one so nary the two should meet (and they shouldn't).  
  3. Glass cutting board:  Not to cut on, but set it over your unused stove burners or on the counter beside the stove to provide for additional space.
  4. Painter's Tape and Sharpies:  great for labeling containers for your advance ingredient prep.  Sharpies on their own allow you to mark plastic bags.  You think that you'll remember...but after a certain age, you just will NOT remember what is in that Ziploc bag.
  5. Plastic Page sleeves and binder clips:  The sleeves  are great for slipping in your recipes--to keep them spill free.  A binder clip allows you to hang it easily (utensil stand etc) putting your recipes in easy reading reach without taking up valuable horizontal space.
  6. Cooking string:  If you cook alot and don't use string, this will up your game for keeping a roasting hen from relaxing in the oven to making stuffed roasts.  There are dispensers, or simply put it in an old creamer bowl so that it does not wrangle with other stuff in your junk drawer.
  7. Wooden utensils: They are stiff and work hard. Just don't put them in the dishwasher.  Here are some lovely examples at http://www.woodspoon.com/
  8. Mineral Oil (food grade) and Paraffin Wax (food grade):   Show your cutting boards some love--and all of the other wooden items in your kitchen.  Melt 1 part wax to 5 parts mineral oil.  (I did mine in the microwave).  Pour it in a Mason jar.  Use a dedicate terry cloth to oil your boards and put in a ziploc back afterwards. A great gift idea. (Also, your hands will love it too!).
  9. A cup hook by your sink to hang a kitchen towel:  This will keep a towel handy, and decrease your use of paper products. 
  10. A mat in front of your sink area:  this will soak up the spills and splashes from your sink (particularly when working with oversized pans.).

Tick Tock!

I'm on my 3rd sinus infection in as many months...a record for me.  I went to Patient First.  I'm the TG cook, and I can't let this get ahead of me.  The doctor said that the pollen, mold and pollution counts are very high this year causing more problems  (and my regular doctor noted similar escalation in patients affected). 

Afterwards I went to BJ's to get a jump on TG shopping.  I think that I've got 99% of what I need.  I was a little peaked after my hunting and gathering.  I didn't do any of the EPA cleanup needed (though I've been chipping away at it). Probably just as well as my tendinitis in might right arm has come back.  The doctor gave me a cortisone shot, and I've had no problems until this week.  Falling apart!

One of the suckey things about Thanksgiving is that you still have to feed your family in the 2-3 days ahead of time while you are schlepping and prepping.  I wished we could just eat cereal or sandwhiches!

We were given a deer hindquarter and a tenderloin.  The hindquarter was so small and lean, I simply fed it to the dogs.  I whacked the bone parts with my Chinese meat cleaver.  Dexter wouldn't touch it which surprised me.  I knew that Daisey wouldn't.  I could cont on Greedy #1 (Angel) and Greedy #2 (Ella) to enjoy it.  They did.  With gusto.

The tenderloin I cooked in my new DeBuyer pan. I soaked it about an hour in a solution of weak vinegar which helps draw the bloodout.   I rinse, pat dry and then season with salt/pepper.  I then put a small amount of oil in the pan and get it shimmering hot.  I put the tenderloin in whole and sear all over.  It is medium rare. I served with a red wine sauce (red wine, butter, red fruit jelly/preserves and some thyme). 

I have found that make very thin slices to within about 1 inch of the other side, and then cutting a serving section through provides a lovely presentation (imagine a book--the cut sections are the pages and the long end the spine).  I then spoon the sauces over it so that it gets into the slices.  It really is lovely. 

I made lamb shanks this evening.  I got 2 for just under $17.  I've never made lamb shanks.    I pulled out the DeBuyer pan again and shimmered some oil, patted dry, salt and pepper.  I then seared the heck out of them before putting them in sweated onions, celery and carrots all roughly chopped with some rosemary and thyme.  I put them in the oven on very low temperature.  I made a pan sauce with a roux starter and then spooned in some of the braising liquid.  I cooked red potatoes in the microwave and smashed them in a soup bowl.  I spooned the vegetables from the braising liquid over, sliced the meat off the bone (it fell off), and then spooned some of the pan sauce over.  I made homemade biscuits (using White Lily flour, which makes the best biscuits).

I would have never guessed that the meat was lamb.  I love lamb; I know that many think it 'gamey'.  But this I could not recognize as lamb.  Really, really good. 

The pleasures of good food--and the pleasure of cooking it with good equipment. 

Dolma

About two weekends ago I made some dolma (meat stuffed cabbage).  I see from my blog that about a year ago I made some, and I was "Meh!" for the recipe. Gosh, I don't even remember making it.  It was that unimpressive!  But.....I did some recipe scouring (a/k/a recipe immersion where I consider all options and do my Frankenstein recipes...grabbing a bit of this, and that from various recipes).

I emerged from my immersion and elected to make this recipe:

http://howtoexpo.com/recipes/stuffed-cabbage-rolls-dolma



I did a few things differently.  (1) substituted beef for pork/veal/beef mix (which I saw in another recipe and would recommend); (2) I put diced tomatoes  and V8 juice in the pot. I think that my Nanny used diced tomatoes and tomato juice, but I never have that on hand.  I figured V8 would be a fine substitute.  It was.  The seasonings were perfect, and I would not change a thing (from my adaptation).  Also, my Nanny would put this in Pyrex dish and cook in the oven.  I used the stove top method, and I would stay with that.  I also cut part of the bottom core out of the cabbage and put the whole head in salted boiling water, removing the softened leaves with a pair of tongs and laying them in a pan.

The aroma from the pot was wonderful.   I did not have yogurt, but I did have sour cream.  I will definitely make the suggested accompaniment (yoghurt/garlic).  Frankly, I don't remember these being served with such an accompaniment at our house.  But....I cannot imagine NOT eating them with such.  They really were that good.

I had leftover meat and cabbage (as the cabbage head got too small to roll).  I just chopped up the remainder cabbage and threw the meat mixture in the pot. 

Now, though I consider myself a good cook, I rarely swoon over anything that I make.  Well...I swooned over this dish...as did the men-folk.  It actually tasted as good or better has what my Nanny made.  This will be my go-to recipe (with changes that I noted).  I so appreciated Marriette publishing her video.