10engines

lambchop -mr m

2012-01-30T13:57:00.003-05:00

Limited to only 200 copies worldwide and only available directly from Frocksteady, this hand numbered deluxe, foil stamped linen box (size ca. 32 x 32 x 3,5cm) comes with a double LP of Lambchop's newest release, the CD/DVD limited edition, a special download card for even more extra tracks (5 remixes), and eleven 30 x 30cm art prints of Kurt Wagners original paintings used in the artwork. 99quid.

burton 2013

2012-01-27T08:43:00.007-05:00

The winter sports industry is in Denver for their annual tradeshow (SIA 2012) and there are leaked shots and publicity shots all over if you look. A contact sent the above from the Burton booth, an iteration of the Ox Boot I think, but with a tweed upper? These guys are reading my mail. #tommylikey (ok looks sort of twill but hey, can dream...)

single malt flavour map -david broom

2012-01-26T17:08:00.008-05:00

How does a beginner find their way around? The whisky industry does not help itself with its regional classifications (Speyside, for example, stretches from Glasgow to Wick, with numerous whisky styles).

[David] Broom has plotted single malts in Scotland on a grid with four co-ordinates: delicate, light, smoky, rich. The horizontal axis plots the lightness or richness and the vertical axis plots the smokiness. "There isn't a 'best malt' position on the map either – it's an unbiased plotting device," he says.
-via The Scotsman

Post-Burns night, having splashed some whisky on haggis (not kidding), have been digging through this guy's stuff. Published author in his field and general go-to for whisky knowledge. Like the map/taste idea above. He talks about it below.

the swinging sporran

2012-01-24T14:38:00.004-05:00

Tomorrow is Burns Night, January 25th, the celebration of Scottish poet (and famous carouser) Robert Burns. Though dancing is not usually a part of the proceedings have been looking through this book above and its "lighthearted guide to the basic steps of scottish reels and country dances". It includes some background info on proper attire and conventions for attending a ceilidgh (pronounced kay-lee) but also hints at the reason why wearing Black Watch may be used as the default tartan for any wearer...

This legislation [the Dress Act of 1746 which forbade the wearing of tartan and the kilt -ed.] affected all Scots with the exception of those who had fought on the Government side (such as the soldiers of The Black Watch).

Won't rehash my previous Burns Night posts; see them all here.

desktop vacation -wilkins farmhouse cider

2012-01-20T14:04:00.005-05:00

Wilkins Farm in Somerset, England has a going concern in making rough or farmhouse cider.

There are chairs and newpapers to pass the time of day. The free taster is always half a pint and you will be encouraged to have more; good clean cider. Roger also sells cheddar [unpasturized, rind-on, let's go now... -ed] and stilton [see -ed.] as well as vegetables, chutneys and pickles, and eggs. Don't expect a quick visit, so allow yourself time... This is the real cider none of your concentrate and bottles down here... just Dry and Sweet Farmhouse Cider, which will be blended to suit your tastes, in glass or container.
- via Wilkins

Short doc below is little insight into Roger Wilkins himself and Somerset’s ciderhouse culture. "Dry with a splash" [of sweet -ed.] is supposedly the way to go...

10e at kaufmann mercantile -weaving harris tweed II

2012-01-19T10:09:00.007-05:00

My Harris Tweed contact Mike Donald has graduated as a certified weaver. Head over to Kaufmann Mercantile to read part two of our quite personal interview, about what this means to him but in a larger sense what is happening with the HT brand and the area.

One slightly off topic thing we talked about was connectivity on the island...

What about internet on the islands, I thought paradoxically you had fantastic broadband connections?
Broadband on the islands is one of the biggest issues I think we face and I hope it gets tackled by the Scottish government properly this year. It's very poor in some places. I'm lucky to have a 3MB connection which is average. Some places near the main town of Stornoway can get 7MB which is probably as good as it gets here but many of the remoter rural villages make do with a pretty lousy mast-to-mast wireless network at anything between 500KB and 2MB. It's very expensive too and really not good enough, especially if we want to keep young people and associated creative industries here.

BTW, have a look at your own Harris Tweed jacket... see those blue stamped numbers on the side, those correspond to the individual weaver that created the cloth. At some point I am hoping The Harris Tweed Authority will create a database or service so for S&G one could look up the numbers.

lambchop -gone tomorrow

2012-01-17T11:32:00.003-05:00

Lambchop - Gone Tomorrow by cityslang

Felt like a long wait... but check this new release from Lambchop. Worth it... The song above just debuted on The Quietus.

Lambchop's eleventh album Mr. M is due out through City Slang on 20th February, and will be accompanied by a UK and European tour.

get winterized -hat liner

2012-01-15T14:54:00.013-05:00

Mentioned these in one of the first-ever 10e posts. Hard hat liners work great for getting your caps into wintermode, or for an extra layer under your helmet to cover your ears. These are from Bullard, who contend to be the inventor of the hard hat; nice potted history at their site. A smooth acrylic knit. Button is a nice feature rather than velcro. I have a whole box of these...

pina -wim wenders

2012-01-13T15:52:00.003-05:00

Used to go to Sadlers Wells quite a bit when living in London. Do like a bit of modern dance. Wim Wenders has created this piece as a tribute to dancer and choreagrapher Pina Bausch. Showing in 3D. Could be quite intense I bet. Further reading.

fridays are tie days -andover shop

2012-01-13T15:10:00.004-05:00

Had my eye on this bow of Pops' for ages. Great spotted pattern; an oldy from The Andover Shop in Cambridge, MA. Funny thing, after wearing it for a while I began to feel the scratchy neck symptomatic of a reaction to horses... and Mrs 10e concluded that as Pops had worn the tie to feed the animals many times it must be the bow tie causing the reaction. Smart cookie. Changed ties and bingo, all good. Let that be a lesson to me I guess... Don't steal a horseman's tie.

the perfect suit

2012-01-12T11:15:00.002-05:00

BBC calls this "A witty exploration of the evolution of the gentleman's suit." Yup. This hour long programme features tailor Charlie Allen, Top Man designer Gordon Richardson, Sir Paul Smith, Patrick Grant and others discussing the history and evolution of suiting [? -ed] and the rejection of "the suit" as synonymous with dull. Also the idea of a suit as a man's "armour". I wonder whether the term suit descended from "suit of armour"... anyone?

dreich

2012-01-12T10:23:00.001-05:00

Scots term indicating a combination of dull, overcast, drizzly, cold, misty and miserable weather. At least 4 of the above adjectives must apply before the weather is truly "dreich". Phlegm should fly if this is pronounced properly...

before the snow...

2012-01-11T21:49:00.004-05:00

Our backhill was the first ski "run" around... pre-Bromley I think. That is Stratton in the distance.

[update -The above may not be true. Conferrring with some wizened types in Peru]

reblog -updated library symbol

2012-01-11T10:28:00.005-05:00

Library design consultant Aaron Schmidt has designed this alternate symbol for libraries, rather than the currently used "lone reader L" (which while simple and striking does present a potentially negative, isolationist attitude).

He notes, "There’s still room for solitary reading, sure. But there’s more going on. There are people. Not only do we need to think of our institutions in these terms, we need to convince the public to think of us like this too. Otherwise, more libraries will turn into kiosks."

I like it. I had never clocked that the older symbol represented an L have to admit...

giveaway -cuppow

2012-01-10T12:53:00.009-05:00

Turn a canning jar into a travel mug... This is genius on several levels but have to admit I like it even more cause local guys and ladies dreamed it up. And created all the media for it as well.

The one thing that always struck me about buying a dedicated travel mug was the amount of resources that must have gone into making the mug in the first place. The cuppow lid takes an existing object (the good ol' Ball jar) and transforms it into an acceptable drinking vessel with only a slight modification -the changed lid. Going to say the obvious right now; this would probably work great with cold, non-caffeinated drinks too...

Durable, made in the USA, BPA free, recyclable, and it doesn’t break the bank. Buy yours for $8 here.

Great video below featuring a critical mass of Somerville's Fringe studio types all highlighting the product and ensuing media for it. ~~They have been good enough to offer a giveaway to a 10engines reader; leave a comment or RT this and I will pick one from a hat at end of day.~~ Over. Reader @jgothorpe won it.

I went and bought mine w/ cold hard cash 30 seconds after watching this clip...

10e at kaufmann mercantile -why to shine shoes

2012-01-10T09:55:00.004-05:00

Had a whiz-bang assignment recently; interview 3 gents about why we shine shoes. Not the how but the physical and chemical, as well as psychological reasons for doing so. I asked a leather guy (Nick Horween), a style guy (Ryan Plett)and a shoe shine guy (local acquaintance Nicolo Timore of the Top Shelf Flea).

Read the result over at Kaufmann Mercantile.

that waiting for snow look

2012-01-09T12:09:00.004-05:00

Have been out on the hill twice so far, but waiting for that one big Vermont snowstorm to kick off the year. Here again is my hot tip for parents; check your local mountain for a lower-lift or beginner ticket + the U12 kids are usually free or maybe $5, so you can get out there for around $20 total. Stratton offers a lower mountain ticket for $15 which paradoxically then makes it the cheap option for ski/riding if you are taking beginner-ish kids with you.

Jacket: Burton Groucho in fowl camo.
Wool layer: Ibex Scout
Helmet: Bern (Watts). Keep saying, you should wear a helmet for several reasons... and they are probably all down in the lodge waiting for you.
Goggles: Anon Vintage.
Pants: Burton x Carhartt. Or your sno-sealed lined logger pants...
Tool: Leatherman Blast.
Socks: Darn Tough. Calf padded. Made in Vermont.
Coals to Newcastle. VT maple syrup. Drink it now and dream of snow.
Gloves: I still have a hard time finding something better (and certainly not cheaper) than Kinco lifty gloves.
Vest: Carhartt, pile lined. More pockets...
Boots: Burton Rover (w/ Red Wing).

Will also note that Stratton Mountain is currently celebrating its 50th year in operation with the release of a retrospective book by Hubert Schreibel [our old neighbor -ed.], a Burton x Johnson Woolen Mill run of bags (similar to those they did last year but a pleasing red plaid this time), a special Smith goggles make-up and reissue of the iconic "eagle" sweater from Stratton's Austrian invasion days. Further reading.

coleman -don't get stuck indoors

2012-01-06T15:55:00.004-05:00

Here's to a weekend of getting outdoors.

fridays are tie days -christmas pudding

2012-01-06T15:32:00.005-05:00

Def' a smart move to club your tie when working with lit brandy [well played bruv -ed.]. Pissed the pics do not show the halo of blue flame that was ghosting round the dish here. Anyhow it was suitably soaked and excellent. On me, Brooks Brothers 347 job. A workhorse tie and real favourite, hence pulling duty on Christmas dinner. Wearing it again as I type this infact...

the toothpick

2012-01-06T11:24:00.000-05:00

I like these historical narratives that are created using objects, e.g. the books Salt, and Cod. The Toothpick by Henry Petroski does something similar but happens to also intersect with the Maine logging industry and the story of American manufacturing generally. Plus, I bet you know someone who mysteriously started using toothpicks after seeing the movie Drive... this book is for them too.

The Maine Historical Society is holding a series of discussions in the upcoming months, "Extraordinary Histories of Ordinary Things" with The Toothpick as one focus. More info here. Sidenote, the book is also a testament to the power of research (and not using Google), as the author finds many mistruths online and has to dig for hard data with interviews and visits to various repositories. I'm a bit late to the party here as book out a few years ago but looking forward to this. Excerpt below;

The plain wooden toothpick, it may be argued, is among the simplest of manufactured things. It consists of a single part, made of a single material, intended for a single purpose–from which it gets its simple name. It is also among the most convenient and ready of things. It can be used directly out of the box–there being no instructions to read, no parts to assemble, no priming or booting required, and no maintenance expected. When it has served its purpose, it is simply discarded.
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The very simplicity and banality of the thing made the toothpick and its manufacture an artifact of tacit knowledge and trade secrets. Even in the late twentieth century, Japanese visitors who showed up at a Maine toothpick factory were turned away, lest they see the tricks of the trade. An American scholar, who should hardly have been seen as a potential competitor, was similarly denied entrance to a Minnesota counterpart. He had to go to Sweden to see some toothpicks being made.

Secrecy coupled with a dearth of reliable, confirmable documentary material makes the task of uncovering the real story of a common object a challenge for ordinary scholarship relying on the usual scholarly sources. But there are other sources of information, not least of which is the artifact itself and the documented social and cultural context in which it has been made and used. Much of the story of the toothpick must be coaxed out of the thing itself and its milieu. With patience, slivers of it can be teased out of even a closed box of toothpicks the way a stubborn seed eventually can be dislodged from between the teeth. Insights into the use and misuse of things can be gleaned from both the froth and the detritus of society.
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To an engineer, the challenge of mass-producing something like a toothpick with sufficient efficiency that it can be sold at a profit holds a special fascination. The origins and rise of the mechanized toothpick industry in the latter half of the nineteenth century make for a fascinating chapter in the history of manufacturing, as do the human stories of inventors and innovators such as Benjamin Franklin Sturtevant and Charles Forster, along with their inventions, their patents and patent rights, and their struggles through failures on their way to achieving successes. It is in this chapter of the story that the history of the modest toothpick assumes heroic proportions and provides especially poignant lessons for the technological enterprises of today and tomorrow.

oyster knives

2012-01-05T17:23:00.003-05:00

Just found a very informative article about the various types of oysters knives used traditionally, and now, and their variations. The journeyman below is a American design called a Boston ("Bostons feature long, moderately narrow stainless or high carbon steel blades with long oval-round or pear shaped wooden or synthetic handles"). A longer blade would make it a Boston stabber, Cape Cod or Cape Cod stabber. Love this sort of stuff... Excerpt below, or just go read the 5,000 word article here.

Any chef or meat-cutter gracious enough to loan out his or her fine cutlery is doing somebody a real big favor, as merely dropping a fine knife on the floor accidentally may ruin it forever. Telling someone to please not drop one's oyster knife is more likely to be interpreted as kind concern for another's foot rather than the survival of the oyster knife.
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Hence, a good knife-maker can't bank on all that much repeat business with his oyster knives, at least not in terms of replacement. A new oyster knife of high quality that is priced under US$ 20 is always a bargain - the price of merely one dozen oysters on the half shell ordered at a nice restaurant. The only way to beat that bargain price down even more and still end up with a quality oyster knife is to buy a good used one.
-via oysters.us

nerd alert -the origin of boba fett

2012-01-05T16:59:00.005-05:00

Been playing the card game "war" with the youngsters (teaches hand dexterity and maths...) with a Star Wars deck and started to think about Boba Fett; just where did he come in? Found this video [dodgy -ed.] and comments below after a bit of searching.

Fett was one of the first new characters to be designed for The Empire Strikes Back. He can trace his origins to rejected Darth Vader concepts that once had the Dark Lord as a rogue bounty hunter. Concept artists Ralph McQuarrie and Joe Johnston were most responsible for Fett's design. He first appeared in an 11-minute animated segment of the lamentable "Star Wars Holiday Special" television broadcast in 1978. Fett had another pre-Empire appearance in the daily newspaper strip story arc entitled "The Frozen World of Ota." Given that Fett and Skywalker meet for the first time in both stories, and Luke unwittingly befriends the bounty hunter each time, one or both of these tales is probably apocryphal.

Fett was the first new action figure for The Empire Strikes Back line of toys. He was originally available as a mail-away offer; kids would send in the appropriate proofs-of-purchase and Kenner would send the toy out. The original mail-away offers stated that Fett would feature a rocket-firing backpack, but safety issues dictated that the toy was released with the rocket glued in.

Fett's big-screen appearance had actor Jeremy Bulloch behind the mask, though the character was coldly voiced by Jason Wingreen. For his return appearance in the Star Wars Trilogy: Special Edition, various Industrial Light & Magic artists wore the armor.
-via Jedi Council forum

erskine's grain store -rural needs from a to z

2012-01-05T10:03:00.000-05:00

Christmas fell on a Sunday this year, so by the law of meatball lunches that meant that Erskine's Grain store in Chester VT had their customer "thank you" on the day before. Lucky me; we hit it on the drive up from Boston. Haven't been in a few years, though Pops never misses, but it is really something to add to the calendar if you live or visit in Southern VT.

This yearly tradition has been going on since the 1980s, and the offerings of tomato or Swedish meatballs, bbq venison, bread and cheddar, and get seconds chili provide a place to catch up with other customers you only vaguely know from previous meetings, and the staff who you see twice a month anyway. Sis won the raffle last year so I picked up her commemorative t-shirt.

They have the hard to find Woolrich made in USA buffalo hats. 'Course they do.

Had not seen these Fiskars axes in the wild. V tasty. #zombiehunting

Felt crushers. Must wear wool trousers at the same time. Great for snowmen too.

Huge selection of Hav-A-Hank bandanas.

Wall of work gloves. #heaven. The intern even liked the food. Hey kid, keep your Jolly Ball away from my chili.

walk-over

2012-01-02T12:11:00.009-05:00

Really is mind-blowing living in Massachusetts with the massive amount of shoe-making history that surrounds the state. Walk-Over traces its roots back to colonial times and thus [the naming rights at least -ed.] can lay claim to being the oldest shoemaking business in the States. Fired up to find another storied brand [shoes now made in PA I believe, by HHBrown?]. They are suede, and buck heavy on the site due to some Mark McNairy involvement I believe (see older post at Sartorially Inc with some historical commenting).

Liking these scotch grain brogues above. Available at Orvis. Matt at Men's Threads has some shinier photos. #winter

schuyler towne reveals the inner workings of locks

2012-01-01T10:54:00.000-05:00

This is Schuyler Towne, who is a " a mechanical security researcher" aka "competitive lockpicker". Consequently he is very interested in the construction of locks and making them more secure. There is some extreme geekery here, meaning education, and it is great. Or maybe you want to know how a master key works? Bam, video below. Fascinating stuff. He has a blog looking at vintage safes and locks that is really worth looking at too.

I wish I knew about him when we closed our front door with keys inside last month... His workshops would make a good corporate event I bet. He is pretty high energy generally (videos above are more mellow). I believe he may be speaking at the upcoming TEDxSomerville talks in Somerville, MA. Will keep an eye out.

sherlock holmes series 2

2012-01-01T08:29:00.000-05:00

It won't be on BBC America until May 2012 but it has landed in the UK. Love that they are doing Hound of the Baskervilles (with the twist being that Baskerville is the name of a military lab of some kind, well played). Have to say the Dr Moriarty character always been the least favourite of mine, wonder how this one plays out. Anyhow, a million clips and trailers out there. A few above.

The Arthur Conan Doyle stories themselves are mostly short 20-pagers. Perfect commuter reading territory. Many free in Amazon's Kindle store or via Gutenberg Project.

boston sour

2011-12-30T13:11:00.007-05:00

Old Mr. Boston Deluxe Bartender’s Guide (6th edition, 1946, or before; 1st ed. 1935)

2 oz rye or bourbon
1 egg white
1/4 oz simple syrup
1/2 oz lemon juice

Shake with ice and pour into 8-oz collins glass. Fill with seltzer water, decorate with lemon slice and cherry.

The above quoted from the fantastic but now-defunct DrinkBoston (nothing to do with the Mr. Boston brand btw, rather a blog from Boston). My brother can rip through the classics (as well as having developed drink menus for various establishments) and over Xmas couldn't resist serving up Boston Sours utilising Bulleitt and Araucana eggs [blue shells, no taste difference -ed.] from the henhouse 50 yards away. I just watch and learn.

fridays are tie days -cetacean

2011-12-30T09:59:00.002-05:00

Cetacean [def from Britannica Concise -ed.]: They are found in oceans worldwide and in some freshwater environments. Modern cetaceans are grouped in two suborders: about 70 species of toothed whales (Odontoceti) and 13 species of toothless baleen whales (Mysticeti). They have a tapered body, no external hind limbs, and a tail ending in a horizontal blade of two lobes, or flukes. Cetaceans must come to the water's surface to breathe through blowholes located on top of their head.

50cent tie from the thrift store.

gift idea -silpat by demarle

2011-12-23T12:54:00.005-05:00

NASA grade materials. Eye-pleasing woven material. Orange border. These silcon SilPat® mats by DeMarle are insanely non-stick sheets used for pastry and any other baking you do. Can be used in ovens up to 480 degrees, and can also be frozen without being structurally compromised.

Caution: Never use a cut or ripped Silpat® as glass weave could migrate to the food.

oma in the spectator

2011-12-23T10:12:00.004-05:00

Huge props to mum for generally being cooler than the other side of the pillow, but the newsflash is that the Christmas edition of The Spectator printed a letter she sent to them regarding presents/thrifting/thoughts on giving. It is in the print version only, in a section devoted to Thifty Christmas. Teaser below;

Secondhand /charity /vintage shops have plenty of treasures and the time and thought put into these finds are really the gift in themselves.

You can occasionally even give something that "money can't buy" nowadays, and a bit different from a catalogue or department store. Have always found that these really do surprise and delight everyone.

Put time and effort into the packaging and theme them up with other items for maximum effect e.g special tea with the tea cups or a book voucher tucked into a book.
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This all may sound a bit "homespun and worthy" but if you go regularly to charity shops -you will soon find it addictive and more fun than traipsing around crowded shops [and avoiding the babycarriage brigade!-ed.] and there is always the thrill of finding something unexpected or even antique if you are lucky that day.

This will get filed with her note printed in The Scotsman about cold winters; "Reach for a sweater!" #rockstar

the us open turns 30

2011-12-22T16:42:00.008-05:00

If the last post didn't make you feel old then this will. The US Open Snowboarding Championships turns 30 this year... coming March 4th-11th, held as usual at Stratton Mt, VT. If they are going to run with this retro red/blue theme and the Burton anoraks etc I'll be made up. Sweet. Looks like they have tweaked the event line-up again, this time no Friday night event (instead Saturday night Rail Jam), and Sunday reserved for the Junior Jam. Racing isn't coming back anytime soon looks like... maybe on the Friday afternoon? #suntanner

ox snowboard boot from burton

2011-12-22T15:10:00.005-05:00

The Ox Boot, from Burton. Some might call this vintage styling... for *ahem* others these boots look very familiar... like their first pair but now with everything you need and nothing you don't. The copy reads "good old days without the duct tape." These are mid-range for Burton (sub $300).

baghdad country club

2011-12-21T11:14:00.006-05:00

Book "trailers" are a relatively new sort of thing. This one is for a book/memoir about activities in the Green Zone of Baghdad and the creation of a bar called the Baghdad Country Club. Awesome trailer (animation by Colleen Cox, sound design by Pat Walters) does its job; I want to know more. You can read an excerpt over at The Atlantic then download the whole thing to your ereader via The Atavist. There are straight text versions and a multimedia option with accompanying maps, audio etc. You getting an iPad for Chrimbo? This has Xmas break written all over it.

late to the party -breathe owl breathe

2011-12-20T14:28:00.004-05:00

Micah Middaugh, Trevor Hobbs, and Andréa Moreno-Beals are Breathe Owl Breathe, out of Michigan. Swimming (linked below) may be deceptively simple, but def easy to get into. A few bleeps and squeaks more than their earlier stuff??

Found them through the awesome trail mix series of mix tapes over at Cold Splinters. Download them all then hit shuffle. Not all folky/country campfire music, but quite a bit.

tarzan of the apes

2011-12-19T13:19:00.008-05:00

Just finished the adventure classic Tarzan of the Apes, the first of more than two dozen in the Tarzan series by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Highly recommend. It is not a goof or a romp as many early, slightly campy film versions make out. Gorey. Bows and arrows play a large role in the story which was news to me, and the preamble of the Claytons arrival on the island (Tarzan's parents) is a great castaway-type segment. You can see the where the films (and later tv series) traced their jungle roar/yodel but in the book it is instead a throat-rending explosion into the sky, let out after each bloody kill. Again, good pulpy stuff.

Note, there are serious 1914 Euro-centric views expressed about other nations and the noble white man's inherent superiority... a caricature of the black nanny, and it has been noted that by the 1969 (5th printing) further material had already been left out that was deemed "offensive to certain groups or nationalities". Still, think it is worth reading to see the foundation of this recognizable character.

You can read it free via the GutenbergProject or on your Kindle/iPhone app, again for free, via Amazon. Serious pageturner. Perfect commuter fare.

good old shredding -from poler

2011-12-16T16:53:00.007-05:00

From our friends at Poler (Portland based producer of camping gear within financial reach, and for kids too!) comes Adventure #006.

"Filmed in sketchy super-8 because the squadron of Poler helicopters we ordered is on back order."

Love it. Featuring Poler team riders Bryan Fox and Scotty Whitlake (10e faves for their low key demeanour and bombdrop style) riding Mt. Baker in a puking snowstorm. Maybe this will get the snow going on the east coast... Thx Benji.

mitchell's wool fat soap

2011-12-16T15:08:00.004-05:00

Mitchell's Wool Fat Soap was first produced in the early 1930's by Bradford [England -ed.] chemist Fred Mitchell who realised that the natural lanolin content of wool fat, which kept the hands of local sheep shearers and wool sorters so exceptionally soft, could also be beneficial to delicate complexions and sensitive skins.
-via Mitchell's

They had me at wool fat. Plus the soap comes wrapped in this attractive crinkly yellow waxed paper. Stocking-stuffer-tastic. Saw them this morning in Leavitt&Peirce in Harvard Sq. They also do a puck of soap that the shaving nerds [careful -ed.] seem to regard highly. #gifts

win this -native(x) scarf

2011-12-16T10:01:00.003-05:00

Sacrf has been won. Congrats Richard. ~~Little giveaway here thanks to the people at~~ NATIVE(X).

NATIVE(X) scarves are crafted with Pendleton Woolen Mills' 100% pure virgin wool and branded with a leather label featuring Native American artist, Nathaniel Wilkerson's Medeek design. 20% of profits go to the artist. "These iconic symbols of America's past have plenty of modern mileage, and are woven and constructed in the USA. Measuring about 62 inches in length and 5 inches in width."

~~Same rules as before, 10th person to comment, email me or RT this wins. You can choose from the more red (top) or hazel design.~~ If you don't win just jump over to the Native(X) site and snag one of these for a very reasonable $30; good stuff. Thx Mac.

chainsaw, fire and ott music

2011-12-15T16:11:00.001-05:00

Shot by @mns1974 with the Phantom Flex at 400-2500fps. Music "Planes on a Plane" by Patrick Doyle. You think the slowed down chain is cool?? Wait till you see the slowed down woodstove.

bookmark -matchstick lake

2011-12-15T08:55:00.001-05:00

Logging related posts and poutine reviews; showstoppers. Much more than that of course... Was recently contacted by Brian Marshall who is based in Ontario and works as a newly graduated Forestery Technician. His post from Radisson, Quebec is a must see. At once personal, his blog is also an insight into modern lumbering (think big machines; feller bunchers, skidders etc). Further reading at Matchstick Lake. Thx Brian.

orvis -mixed tartan shirt

2011-12-14T15:19:00.002-05:00

I can't pull these off but kudos if you can. Wrinkle-Free Pure Cotton Mixed-Tartan Shirt. But maybe don't try it with that sportscoat.

harris tweed + levis

2011-12-14T09:58:00.008-05:00

Harris Tweed elbow patches on Levi Strauss denim... 10engines kryptonite. More pics at Hypebeast. If you are shopping in Japan you get to choose which tweed used and where etc. Shoulder/shooting patch? #ideasforfree

n'eaststyle x shinysquirrel pop up shop in boston

2011-12-13T10:58:00.006-05:00

Friend and blogerella Christine Mitchell of N'EastStyle is co-hosting a shop-within-shop with Brooklyn based The Shiny Squirrel at Stel's on Newbury Street. This showcase features a mix of micro brands for men (Buckshot Sonny's, General Knot, Corter, Forestbound) and plenty of hardware for women (lobster claw bracelet jumped out, to me who knows nothing about it...)

Long/short if you want to see some of these brands live, or get a gift a little off the radar go have a look. They didn't have the Buckshot Sonny camo gloves on the first night, but I'm already wearing mine... Head to N'EastStyle for more pics of the goods on show.

Photo by Jon Gaffney of lacking self preservation

tretorn -obo gtx shoes

2011-12-13T10:05:00.009-05:00

Swedish based Tretorn sent these Öbo GTX waterproofed shoes for a hands on review. Stats: leather upper, waterproof treated and gusseted construction. GORE-TEX® waterproof lining. Textile sockliner of 100% post industrial recycled mesh. EcoOrthoLite® insole. Non-marking Rubber outsole. $170. [update: a little more info on the leather being used here; it is a full grain, aniline water proof leather w/ a slight pull-up. thx @tretorn]

Thoughts: leather definitely has a treated feel, and water runs off. Gore padded lining and cushioned insole suit it for cool weather I would think. Moc-toe aspect appeals. As other Tretorns I have tried these fit true if a hair small. If you planned to wear thick socks (winter) then I would suggest going up a half size -or my M.O. is to remove the liner if wearing thick socks, put it back in when not. Slight duck bill effect, raising front of shoe off the ground. Nostalgic gum rubber sole.

This would seem to sit at a gap in the market if you are looking for a more Scando-option than LLBean boots, or something less utilitarian than Tretorn's pull-on Stråla Vinter Klar (which I happen to like simply for that no frills aspect).

the knife man

2011-12-12T16:28:00.002-05:00

Amolador is the Portuguese word for grinder, or knife sharpener. These skilled knife sharpeners push their bikes through the streets, playing a distinctive tune on pan flutes to signal their presence.

Their bikes serve as a mobile workshop, with a sharpening stone mounted on the top tube, a tool box strapped to the back, and umbrellas draped over the handlebars.

Apparently there used to be many amoladors, but with the advent of cheap knives and scissors it's a dying profession which is too bad because it's pretty cool.

I found a Popular portuguese saying, "quando há amolador, há chuva": when the knife sharpener is around, it's going to rain.
-words and video by mattquann

what i have been doing on the weekends

2011-12-10T08:22:00.000-05:00

I recently had the opportunity to complete an 8 week internship in the William Munroe Special Collections that is housed downstairs in the Concord Free Public Library (above) in Concord, MA. Open to the public btw, but if you have an idea of what you are looking for I recommend you communicate in advance with the energetic and straight-talking curator Leslie Wilson. Quick note to the uninitiated; Concord and its residents were closely involved with pre- and post-American Revolutionary history (18thC), and was also a seat for the Transcendentalist movement of the 19thC (Thoreau, Emerson et al.), and much more. It is chockablock with history. Has history coming out of its ears...

The Special Collections also house related materials on the back to land movement of the 1960s as popularized by Scott and Helen Nearing, New England vernacular architecture, tools, and New England colloquial pastimes and music. #wheelhouse. These other materials made the reading room a place to delve into a wealth of Americana and frankly was a joy to visit.

The collection with which I worked was not for Thoreau-fanboys, but rather was photographs created by the Department of Public Works of Concord recording weather events, road construction, snow removal and the building of several reservoirs. That makes it sound perhaps a little dry, but there was a lot of social/historical data available from the photos about the men at work, the change in municipal plant, plus the weather event photos of a 1921 flood and a certain hurricane in 1938 were fantastic.

We did not scan the photos at this time, but produced a detailed online finding aid. The technician there happened to also be a streetscape buff, and provided this extra bit of info to the central image used above;

"The pic of the street light and wires is equally interesting as that particular light is 1910-ish (The second generation of incandescent lighting -- this is when they ran high voltage (ca 1,200 volts) to street lights, and the street light bulbs 12 volts, 200 watts each -- they had shunting devices in them so if the light went out the series circuit would remain lit).

One of the biggest complaints of this set-up was when if it rained hard, the voltage was so high that the wires at the fixtures would arc and light-up the area with a blinding blue/white light). The telephone poles not only show tons of party line telephone lines, but telegraph as well."

[love this stuff -ed.]

how to shuck an oyster

2011-12-09T15:06:00.004-05:00

This is a few years old, but oysters dont change... Don Merry from Duxbury, MA (farmer to Island Creek Oysters) demonstrates shucking oysters by the lollipop method. Bam, now you know. Can do it with a bottle opener or screwdriver even. Nice tip about flipping it over too...

in praise of shetland sweaters

2011-12-09T12:27:00.002-05:00

Quickly; a "Shetland sweater" is one made of wool from a Shetland sheep, not one made in the Shetland Isles (100 miles north of the coast of Scotland) though the notoriously hardy sheep did supposedly originate there. Their yard may be ultra-fine (from the neck area) or more coarse, but the (often saddle-shouldered) crewneck sweater is generally from the rougher yarn. The sheep themselves have a wide range of colors and markings from coal black to brown to pure white but the white sheep are morepopular as the wool can then be dyed.

So what? So, these sweaters are hard wearing due to the rougher wool, generally inexpensive (in Scotland), hold their shape better than cotton, and thus have became a preppy staple. Top photo taken yday, below in 1989 (not same sweater but I guess my taste hasn't changed) just home from high school Christmas service (evidenced by kilt), cranking Galiga sound effects on the headphones. #geekery

parenting -merrell origins

2011-12-08T11:45:00.004-05:00

Attention shoppers, retro geekery ahead. These small person recreations of the 1980s line of Merrell boots are genius. If you are a parent guilty of styling out your kids as timewarp versions of themselves *cough* then look away... $60-$65. They have brought back adult approximations too. Nostalgic fugly colors and some brighter versions. See Merrell Origins for more.

reblog -carmex

2011-12-06T21:41:00.002-05:00

"Alfred Woelbing was a buyer at a Chicago department store back in 1937, but he didn’t much like working in the big city. So he began his own business, making silver polish in the basement of his home in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. It paid the bills, for the time being.

Alfred then decided to create a home remedy for a pesky condition that he’d often suffered: cold sores. After much experimentation over a hot plate, Alfred created Carmex, and then proceeded to sell it to pharmacies by going door to door. If they weren’t interested in purchasing his product, he gave them a dozen jars for free—along with a post card for a re-order. He figured that if he could sell one jar at every drug store in Milwaukee and Chicago, he and his wife could make a decent living.

It wasn’t long before Alfred’s home-based business was booming. Apart from a wartime hiatus in production due to lanolin rationing, Alfred’s company—now known as Carma Labs—grew steadily. For 35 years, Alfred made sales calls in Wisconsin, Illinois and parts of Indiana. He remained president of the company until his death in May, 2001...

Alfred died at age 100. Up until the age of 96, Alfred worked 8-hours a day, driving over 40 miles to get to work. Even after he stopped his daily routine, his presence was still felt. His son and grandsons continue the Carmex lip balm tradition today."
-paraphrased from MyCarmex.

Iconic original jar imho, though no shock that the original cold sore purpose slightly downplayed in the jar's later iteration as below. Slight irony alert that a product to treat cold sores can help spread them if you use an infected person's jar... I guess "don't share" is the answer at all times. Anyone else keep a jar in the glovey that either melts in summer or is rock hard in winter? I should probably rethink that habit.

The tubes (introduced in 1988) might be easier to work with in winter but something about the milky glass of the jars is so great. The smell is pleasant and the mouth feel is tingly due to camphor and menthol. Further ingredients.

vergennes laundry

2011-12-05T13:09:00.001-05:00

Photo courtesy of Travelling Near And Far.

Julianne Jones and partner Didier Murat created this bakery in Vergennes, VT (midstate, west side) last year after great feedback from their appearances at farmers markets, and a kickstarter campaign to finance the custom build dual level oven. Julianne is the baker and Didier makes the sweets. Serious about their espressos. Check their site for more; Vergennes Laundry. #mmmcroissants #roadtrip

Photos via Food and Wine, © Corey Hendrickson.

Photo via Pop Wars

starboard clothing co. -toile bow tie

2011-12-05T11:58:00.002-05:00

Another cottage industry tie maker you may/not have heard of, Charleston Clothing Co. Hard to find toile bow ties, but they have them. Look good. $45.

whole larder love -gets cooking

2011-12-05T08:48:00.001-05:00

Rohan Anderson of Whole Larder Love gets busy with a pesto made from gone-by rocket (called arugula in the US) and local (that is Australian) cheese and other ingredients. Fantastic. This guy is publishing a tabletop book of his blog but I'll say it again, thinking a cooking show might be in order as well...

no one regifts liquor

2011-12-04T20:13:00.001-05:00

#damnstraight #truth #packagestore Part of an ongoing series. All thriller no filler...

parenting -wool/cotton johnny

2011-12-02T17:56:00.003-05:00

From LLBean for the groms. Outer of wool for warmth and cotton layer inside for comfort. Put this uniuonsuit under a snowsuit and they'll ride snow all day. #camoboom

in the blood

2011-12-02T10:03:00.005-05:00

In The Blood is a film & live exhibit/show illustrating turn-of-the-century Maine lumbermen & river drivers. If you follow 10engines you'll know this is a favourite subject of mine, and have to say this is one of the the best productions of this sort I've seen.

ITB is ostensibly a documentary featuring interviews with retired loggers laid over uncommon archival footage and photos of rivermen and activities in the camp. If you have seen From Stump To Ship it is that on steroids, taking every advantage of technology but respectfully. The filmmaker Sumner McKane, also exhibits the movie as a show with live music; a few left if you live in Maine -check listings.

that christmas eve cocktail party look

2011-12-01T10:38:00.008-05:00

Soon it will be that certain winter evening in December and everyone headed out to the small church in the middle of town. One stop sign provides all the traffic control needed. Licorice keeps the small ones quiet. The Christmas "story" that night might be from Kermit's playbook. "The Orange" discusses the novelty and treat of oranges in rural New England in the 1940s and 1950s. One would have the wrap them in a blanket on the sleigh ride home so they would not freeze, but when that orange zest sprayed into the air you can imagine the freshness that would explode in a midwinter kitchen.

Afterwards the congregation heads to someone's house for food and drink. Is it our turn this year? Hope someone brings devilled eggs. You'll be dashing in an out of the house, and maybe pushing someone out of a snowy ditch so bring your gloves. One year I wore kelly green pants and Weejuns, no socks. Latest about 2 minutes... If you stay up late enough you can go out to the barn and see if the animals start to talk at midnight.

karlsson vodka

2011-11-28T12:38:00.006-05:00

Not going to lie, getting pulled in here by the whole backstory; former blender for Absolut [not at all my fave -ed] turns to create a once-distilled, unfiltered vodka made from new potatoes, again from Sweden. Serve it neat or w/ cracked pepper in loving 5D slo-mo. Mid priced $24 for 750cl. Well played video about the brand below discussing creating vodka as a value added product for the area (reminiscent of first cheddar then cheese generally as the value added savior of Vermont dairies), but also equating it with farm-to-table sensibilities. You know, the sort of bo-bo stuff for which I am a sucker... In that vein, I need to try Cold River vodka from Maine, similar idea.

lambswool rugby shirt -brooks bros.

2011-11-28T11:41:00.004-05:00

Imagine this goes over a shirt of some kind, even a tshirt, but like the idea of this slim woolen "rugby shirt" from Brooks Brothers. Could have a few other color options maybe, but it has started the slide into on sale land, currently $98. #watch

these guys are back this w/e -statler and waldorf

2011-11-24T16:54:00.000-05:00

After Felix and Oscar, but before Randolph and Mortimer there was Statler and Waldorf. They are every suited man's yin and yang... tweed suit (Waldorf) or pinstripes (Statler). Both shooting the french cuffs like absolute pimps btw... Looking forward to see them on the big screen this w/e with the family. Blue steel as below.

happy thanksturkey

2011-11-23T19:29:00.001-05:00

Sharpen the knives. Bake your own. Maybe some Champale... #3years #thanks

tim hayward deep fries a turkey

2011-11-23T12:00:00.007-05:00

Hayward, writer/editor of Fire&Knives and frankly one of the good guys in my view, has a bit of fun in this feature for The Guardian and deep fries a turkey. Good safety tips here as well (turn off gas when lowering turkey etc). Some friends of ours do this on the regular (Mr and Mrs QuailFarm if you have been following along...) and I can confirm that it tastes damn good. Deep fried quail ain't half bad either.

giveaway -eddie bauer "1942 yukon" down shirtjac

2011-11-23T09:22:00.002-05:00

I don't do a ton of sponsored giveaways so lets see how this goes... The PR folks from Eddie Bauer have provided a 1942 Yukon Classic™ Model Down Shirt Jacket to giveaway here on 10e. ~~The 10th person to leave a comment below, or RT this post on twitter wins.~~
We have a winner. Jason somebody. Send me your address before end of day Jason and EB will do the shipping. Good stuff. Thx for responses everyone else.

The box-quilted shirt/jacket features a polyester shell with StormRepel® finish, 550 fill goose down, and polyester lining. Snap-closure front, two chest pockets, and shirttail hem. A woodsy version of a coach's jacket maybe?? There are a bunch of quilted down shirts around currently it seems, at various price points. This is a chance to get one for yourself.

Good timing, ValetMag ran a feature yday about quilted shirts, including this one; go have a look here.

a boy's thanksgiving day

2011-11-23T07:37:00.001-05:00

Serendipitous browsing is a term, commonly used to describe a physical library experience; the accidental find of a useful item that was catalogued and shelved near the item the reader wanted. It has been taken up as one of the benefits of libraries and physical research (rather than online). Others conversely believe online browsing is fantastic for serendipitous learning. Not the exact same thing, but I'll take them both. Myself, love rummaging in a library and finding books you never heard of.

Looking through the cookery/homesteading shelves at the Somerville Public Library found this pamphlet shaped item, The American Frugal Housewife. Dedicated to those who are not ashamed of economy (1833) by Lydia Maria Francis Child.

Have you ever heard of A Boy's Thanksgiving Day?? How about it's common title Over the River and through the Woods? She wrote that too. Child was born in nearby Medford, MA, infact her grandfather's house (of "to grandfather's house we go..." fame) is a mile away from the serendipitous Somerville library shelf. V cool. The lady herself sounds like she was a real force; abolitionist, women's rights activist, opponent of American expansionism, Indian rights activist, author... Remember this is only 50 years after the United States gained independence.

Back to the serendipitous find though; The American Frugal Housewife title prepares you. Plenty of tough love, lack of frivolity and children being "seen and not heard" type of stuff but also definable ways to take care of your possessions, re-use things, grow vegetables etc. The intro sentences are great;

The true economy of housekeeping is simply the art of gathering up all the fragments, so that nothing be lost. I mean fragments of time, as well as materials. Nothing should be thrown away so long as it is possible to make any use of it, however trifling that use may be; and whatever be the size of a family, every member should be employed either in earning or saving money.

'Time is money.' For this reason, cheap as stockings are, it is good economy to knit them. Cotton and woollen yarn are both cheap; hose that are knit wear twice as long as woven ones; and they can be done at odd minutes of time, which would not be otherwise employed. Where there are children, or aged people, it is sufficient to recommend knitting, that it is an employment.

In this point of view, patchwork is good economy. It is indeed a foolish waste of time to tear cloth into bits for the sake of arranging it anew in fantastic figures; but a large family may be kept out of idleness, and a few shillings saved, by thus using scraps of gowns, curtains, &c.

You can see/read it all via googlebooks. Irony of an objectifiying blog recommending a book on frugality does not escape...

teroforma -martini stones

2011-11-22T16:13:00.005-05:00

These soapstone cubes from Teroforma have been around for a bit, but I never understood the draw of making your whisky colder. Further I would say adding a splash of water is a good idea to get the nose going. It is a cool idea no doubt. HOHO! You almost missed that pun... Apparently this is a take on a Scandinavian drinking tradition. Anyhow, just thought of a use I can really get behind; martini stones. Keep everything cold and no dilution. Just found this great video about The Vermont Soapstone Company in Perkins, VT that has benefited/survived due to this product. Have a look.

orvis -tweed and ventile jacket

2011-11-22T09:57:00.004-05:00

Perhaps taking a leaf from Nigel Cabourn's playbook, Orvis have created a wind and water proofed upper (using cotton Ventile®) with 100% wool Scottish tweed body on this Everest Jacket. $695.

the 32 rules of thanksgiving touch football

2011-11-21T14:46:00.003-05:00

Another cracking pice by Jason@WSJ. A few highlights below, but head over and read the whole The 32 Rules of Thanksgiving Touch Football

1. If you have a healthy relationship with your family and speak to them all the time, you're playing touch. If you see your family only once a year, it's tackle.

9. Two completions is a first down. Not as simple as it sounds—just ask the 2011 Indianapolis Colts.

17. No show-off football lingo. No screaming "trips left" or "zone blitz." Uncle Dale doesn't want to play the "nickel package." He wants to get this stupid game over with, have a vodka and stand in the kitchen eating stuffing with his hands.

morning bulles

2011-11-21T10:40:00.006-05:00

Classic exchange during You Only Live Twice;

Osato: I always take a glass [of champagne] in the morning. You should try it.
007: It's bad for your liver, isn't it?
Osato: Nonsense, it adds a sparkle to the day.
007: I'm sure it does.

Champagne for breakfast. Those 1960s execs had it made... Just discovered this sub-$20 sparkling, Jean-Francois Merieau Bulles [meaning bubbles -ed.] Brut. Available as 80% chenin blanc / 20% chardonnay or 90/10 it really does have the tiny tiny bubbles representative of more 'spensive champoo. This Loire valley méthode champenoise is almost creamy, and fractionally undercarbonated, or at least not hypercarbonated. This fellow Jean-Francois Merieau is a relatively young gun but has taken over his father's St. Julien de Chédon property [source interwebs -ed.] Need to *ahem* try it a few more times but $20 is a tough pricepoint to find winners... might have one here.

pawlet game supper 2011 -roundup

2011-11-18T14:10:00.013-05:00

My in-laws were at the Pawlet Game Supper two weeks ago (home turf) and took some pics as we could not make it. Again, this is a community style supper put on by, and for, the volunteer fire department of the town of Pawlet, Vermont. It is held on the first day of deer season and features the trinity of bear, deer, and moose (with chicken pot pie rounding out) and squash, pies and lots of cheddar cheese. It is pretty much a belt buster. Long tables and a wait to get in create a great atmosphere. We make it every other year; last year did the double bill and hit the fireman's breakfast the next day 2 towns over...

Anyhow here is the round up from November 12, 2011. Thx Mike.

The fantastic Mach's store in Pawlet almost got washed away by Irene in September. If you visit, you can look down through the overhang (featured below) and see the river (Flower Brook) going underneath.

Waiting in line at 6-7pm on a Vermont November is not a joke. Not too bad this year looks like.

Each table gets macaroni salad, pickles, rolls and butter, and a plate of cubed cheddar.

Rug rats and Libble D hats. The wool count pretty high as well.

THAT is what I am talking about. Paging Wm. Brown... Venison meatloaf? Yup.

Yes that is a Ball-wine-glass. You can get yours here.

A slice of Americana. Or go crazy as below. The joke is; the supper is free -you pay $12 for a slice of pie.

fridays are tie days -black watch regimental stripe

2011-11-18T10:01:00.004-05:00

This is barely perceptible as a regimental stripe when worn which is half the point. Of all plaids, Black Watch is often deemed the most universally accessible, and appropriate for non-clan affilaites (though I have never seen of heard of anyone being bothered by what tartan you wore). Further reading. Anyhow, along those lines, for those that are sensitive about regimental stripes (ie not wearing them if you don't belong) I recommend the Black Watch Reg' Stripe.

don & john's blaze orange headquarters

2011-11-16T20:31:00.003-05:00

If you head out into the woods from now on, smart idea to blaze up. I'm still looking for an orange nylony earlflap, brimmed cap like out of some Buffalo Bills tailgating party circa 1979. You know the ones? Gas station fashion. Stormy Kromer or Jones style work too.

Photo via Lacking Self Preservation

parenting -kid gloves

2011-11-16T12:21:00.005-05:00

Been chatting with other parents about gloves for small kids. Mittens I mean, as gloves get too fiddly. Maybe next year bucko... anyhow, have settled on these Tidbit Mitts from Scott. They are small enough so they can grip things but beefy enough to feel warm. Some colors from this year, some from last, but you can get them at various retailers (incl. Marshall's) for about $10. I'm really not into camo-everything, especially for kids, but anything other than default black gets a look.

robert j would have been 80 today

2011-11-14T15:51:00.005-05:00

Robert J. Lurtsema, the host of WGBH's classical music program, Morning Pro Musica, he of the bass tones and pregnant pauses, a New England radio institution in the late 70's and 80's, would have been 80 today. Further reading.

Though Morning Pro Musica is not on the air anymore, the Dawn Chorus, also called Birds of Morning, is still used by WGBH Classical at 7am and 8am. It is the greatest way to wake up on the weekend. Set the alarm.

nogginflogger hot sauce -review / gift for you

2011-11-14T09:40:00.007-05:00

NogginFlogger hot sauce brewed in Maine by a chef/dad/blogger Peter Dockendorf, sent in to 10e for a taste test. Not hot hot, i.e. you won't ruin your dinner, and almost no vinegar overbite -good. Wouldn't mind seeing a hotter version too perhaps? But this is squarely in that zone of fruit/heat/smoke. Ingredients: Aged Cayenne Red Peppers, Distilled Vinegar, Dried Chili Peppers, Spices, Lime Juice, Garlic, Salt, Onion.

Tried it on fried chicken and scrambled eggs. Lathered it on the chicken, v v good. I have an extra bottle to giveaway - first one to comment gets it.

don't be a turkey -from the package store

2011-11-13T20:49:00.003-05:00

10e at kaufmann mercantile -weaving harris tweed

2011-11-11T14:11:00.002-05:00

We all had to do a presentation (high school, late 1980s) and most just muddled through it, probably mumbling. A buddy from Inverness announced that his topic (the Highland Clearances) was far too big to discuss in one evening and he would like to do a two part talk over two evenings. Taking the same approach here.

Over the last year I've communicated a bit with Mike Donald, a guy from Glasgow connected to the Harris Tweed Authority, and writer of The Croft blog. He was the one that organised The Harris Tweed Ride a few months back. Anyhow, he has moved back to the Western Isles off the north-west coast of Scotland to enroll in a training program that is intended to bring young folk back into the trade of weaving Harris Tweed.

I recently interviewed him for Kaufmann Mercantile. Will catch up with Mike again in a few weeks to learn more about the process, but you can read part 1 here.

power moby dick

2011-11-11T12:25:00.002-05:00

Damn me. I never understood the first line of Moby Dick "Call me Ishmael." Got it now.

The site Power Moby Dick doesn't so much interpret Moby Dick but rather reveal the history and meaning of words in the text. V v helpful. You can make up your own mind on author's intent. Plus they have links to every conceiveable related resource on the web and beyond.

woodsy wifi amtrak posters

2011-11-10T13:50:00.001-05:00

You can see the whole series via adsoftheworld.

that breakfast w/ the preschoolers look

2011-11-10T12:06:00.005-05:00

Ours and the other small kids love croissants. They are impossible to eat w/o making a mess, who doesn't like them? I am not Captain Cutaway Collar but my British shirts do have them. Usual suspects above but'cept blue ticking pocket square by Wm. Brown Project.

10e over at cbtr

2011-11-09T12:21:00.006-05:00

One of my go-to, stealth picks is the British site Caught by the River. Won't explain it all again [agrarian-mod? -ed.] but they run a feature called The Nature Book Reader which is a collection of reviews (almost high-5s) to "great lost nature books". Long/short, was really chuffed to have been asked to contribute, I submitted a note about one of my faves; Tall Trees, Tough Men. Have mentioned it twice before on 10e but never at length. Read my thoughts on Robert Pike's book over at CBTR.

liberty tool co.

2011-11-09T10:13:00.003-05:00

H.G. "Skip" Brack salvages tools from all over New England to resell at affordable prices, in an effort to support his local economy and craftsmen. Further reading

This wentup on ACL yday, and a 10e reader sent it in too. "If we don't have it.." etc.

miso, tempura and sushi -via the guardian

2011-11-08T10:51:00.007-05:00

Great videos via The Guardian featuring Yoshinori Ishii, executive chef at Japanese restaurant Umu in London. Somewhere he makes the comment "Western cooking is about mixing flavors whereas Japanese is about taking them away, revealing the essence of a flavor". Almost makes you believe you could do this... Keep the batter cold, that is secret of tempura. Nice, got it now. [Guardian vids are often a bit glitchy to embed, you can start here if needed.]

Plus, just found the perfect gift for the man who has everything. Shark skin grater, to grate your own wasabi fresh from the root. $15 for a small one.

lobster recycle

2011-11-04T11:28:00.008-04:00

Once you start to keep a chicken bucket (i.e. a pail under the sink to throw food scraps to feed to the chickens) it feels criminal throwing food in the trash any other time. Somehow you imagine it makes the eggs taste even better. They love oyster shells btw, to pick at for calcium, goes into the egg shells. Anyhow, they seem to love lobster; they can get at all the little nuggets of meat we missed.

At our house there is a continual ~~fight~~discussion about what to do with the lobster shells after dinner. Do we keep them in the lobster pot till morning and attempt to make bisque? Or just give up on that dream (think we followed through once) and give it all to the chickens? One spring I opened the back porch door to see a lobster pot still full of shells and corn, and ice and snow, that someone had obviously put there after dinner many months earlier with the plan to make bisque in the morning. I guess winter got in the way...

e b white -one man's meat

2011-11-03T14:52:00.002-04:00

Picked this up at our library's book sale last w/e (there were 2 copies actually) and have only just started it - but can see this is going to be a reread for years to come. E.B. White moved with his wife to a farm in Maine from NYC in the late 1930's and among other things wrote a monthly column for Harper's from there. This book One Man's Meat is a collection of those works I understand.

''One Man's Meat'' is too personal for an almanac, too sophisticated for a domestic history, too funny and self-doubting for a literary journal. Perhaps it's a primer: a countryman's lessons that convey, at each reading, a sense of early morning clarity and possibility.
-via NYTBooks

Sidenote; it was in his barn that White began to follow the activity of a certain spider that became the source material for his book Charlotte's Web (1952).

parenting -great day for up

2011-11-02T11:30:00.004-04:00

Just discovered this snappy Dr Seuss book Great Day For Up and highly recommend. Departing from the usual Seuess-ical world here the rhymes seem crisp, and more humourous than others from the Dr.

Illustrations by the Englishman Quentin Blake; recognizable as the artist for many Roald Dahl books. He is much more than that though, including being voted Children's Laureat in 1999. Further reading. Nice little sting in the tail at the end. Parents will enjoy.

mpw loves rhubarb -me too

2011-11-02T09:09:00.006-04:00

Thought I'd seen all these.. .but this clip of Marco in Yorkshire is worth the price of admission. Also, since rhubarb costs almost $5 a pound why dont more people grow it?

Think The Great British Feast book might be on the Christmas list again... What? You never had a chip butty? (Buttered roll or bap, filled with french fries. School lunch circa 1981)

jwm shirts through the lens of ptc

2011-11-01T11:45:00.007-04:00

The guys at Palmer Trading Company have created a refined shirt-jac with Johnson Woolen Mills; The General Sherman in heavy wool. The site shows it in grey herringbone, black and blue; there is a red possibly too. Nails. More here.

We built the General Sherman shirt to be slim fitting. Simple enough to be worn over a t-shirt and heavy enough provide the comfort and warmth of New England outerwear. [$235]
via PTC

scorsese on film

2011-10-31T14:36:00.003-04:00

This interview, a film clinic really, with Martin Scorses is almost 20 years old but makes you want to go to the movie theater right now. Someone on IMDB has listed Scorsese's favourite films here. Have to admit I've only seen 7 of them; something to work on.

switchback brewing co.

2011-10-28T16:28:00.003-04:00

Switchback is a small brewery in Burlington, VT that has been in operation since 2002. They only create a few beers, and you can only get it on draft (or small kegs) in about 100 mile radius of the brewery. OK made up that part but you only really find it in VT, NH and southern ME maybe. Their Switchback Ale is the standby; reddish-amber looks and craft beer pedigree with a non-agressive nor heavy taste. Just discovered it recently and can confirm that it tastes fantastic round a campfire. They describe it thus;

Five different malts, select hop varieties, and our own specially cultivated yeast create an ale which leads with hop flavors and a subtle impression of fruit (our yeast’s contribution), followed by a palate pleasing malty finish. Our process uses the yeast to naturally carbonate the beer, and we leave it unfiltered... This ale contains 5.0% alcohol by volume. IBU 28.

fridays are tie days -handlebar magazine

2011-10-28T10:18:00.003-04:00

Handlebar Magazine (who do not seem to endorse nor ever talk about mustaches btw) have an article on ties; including a few quotes from yours truly. You can read it here.

somerville library book sale tomorrow and this weekend

2011-10-27T13:44:00.005-04:00

I volunteer for the Friends. Will be manning the book sale Saturday and Sunday afternooons. Cheap, cheerful treasures. #alliteration

The Friends of the Somerville Public Library will hold their Fall Used Book Sale on Friday October 28th 1-4 PM, Saturday October 29th 10-4 PM, and Sunday October 30th 1:30-3:30 PM. The sale will be held at the Central Library located at 79 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA.

This year’s collection of books for sale includes most categories, but is particularly strong in the Arts, Science Fiction, Classic Literature, Cook Books, Children's Literature, Foreign Language, and lots of Audio-Video materials including vinyl records. There is also plenty of fiction.

All proceeds from the book sale are used to support cultural and educational programs at the library including the popular museum pass program. Leftover books will be donated to local non-profit groups and the Prison Book Program.

The Friends of the Somerville Public Library is a not-for-profit organization that helps the library and its branches to provide programs, services and materials not covered by the library's normal operating budget. If you would like to become a member of the Friends, or volunteer to help with the book sale, please contact the Friends by email at: FriendsSomervillePublicLibrary@gmail.com

pawlet game supper -nov 12th

2011-10-27T08:47:00.000-04:00

The Game Supper is on. Saturday November 12th, 2011

The famous Pawlet Game Supper, will return to the firehouse (155 Route 133, Pawlet VT). Recently got to try elk (smooth as butter) but look forward to this stew-based freezer cleanout too. See our past coverage of the supper here and here. Plus it is a mindmelting view driving through the Mettowee Valley from Dorset to Pawlet around 5pm. Autumnal sundown. Fantastic.

Folks come from near, far, and even from deer camp for this event for good reason: it's a time-honored Vermont tradition, a great meal, and a fun time. The game will include bear, deer, and moose, and as always there will be an array of delicious side dishes and pies of all types baked by your friends and neighbors. All proceeds benefit the volunteer fire department, helping us provide emergency response for Pawlet and surrounding communities 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We begin serving at 5pm. Hope to see you there!

Interested in donating meat or doing some cooking for the game supper? Please get in touch!

chestnut spread

2011-10-26T13:26:00.004-04:00

Photo from an excellent product blog from the UK called -ABLES, not sure who the author is.

Chestnut spread... sounds more inviting as Creme de Marrons de l'Ardeche non?... From the Clement Faugier confection company, using chestnuts from the rural, south central Ardeche department in France. Some add it to ice cream, I just spread it on toast. This is the time of year to try it.

sam lovel's camps

2011-10-25T14:07:00.006-04:00

Written by Rowland Evans Robinson in 1889, Sam Lovel's Camps (subtitle Uncle Lisha's friends under bark and canvas) was a sequel to his successful Uncle Lisha's Shop. I had not heard of it before... thought I was up on my 19thC Vermont writers, obviously not.

Robinson created a whole world built around the fictitious town of Danvis, VT populated with farmers, trappers, loggers and canucks. In many of the books (including here) he wrote the dialog in full-on Yankee dialect. Or French-Canadian drawl. Practically impenetrable. Read and enjoy the dry humored explanatory note below.

This and many of his other works can be read and downloaded at the Internet Archive. I found this Forest&Stream published first edition a little while ago; inscribed inside "to father, 1892". Take that Kindle...

His parents were abolitionists, and he wrote his best works later when he was blind. Further reading at The Atlantic Monthly who wrote a fantastic obit for him in 1901.

13 o'clock -alterna films

2011-10-24T14:34:00.004-04:00

Winter is coming, some states have snow, some resorts are even open... You want to get fired up? Enough to start sniping gear on eBay to kit out your kids? Alterna shoots HD, in focus and tons of color. Featured them before on 10e. Yeah, wish this had a different song behind it honestly, but give it a chance; the mix of riding is great. You can buy the full movie from them here.

wham -back but thankfully they never left

2011-10-19T14:56:00.005-04:00

You might have to be a child of the 80s living in Britain to remember Wham bars. And probably have to have lived in Scotland to remember Wham Brew Bars (basically Irn Bru flavoured).

Long short, McCowans confectioners with their small factory in Falkirk could not make the finances work for this top selling UK sweety, and so have gone into receivership. This sent ripples of nostalgia around some quarters [sweet shop reference -ed.]. The Wham legacy was however pulled from the fire by an English confectioner, who will begin to make them in York. The Skegness Standard tells me a few more jobs wil be lost as the old packing plant is closed too.

I asked Oma to go into a few sweet shops in Edinburgh and scoop up some of the (what I thought might be last) examples of these classic sweets. Finally, in The Toddle-In (featured on 10e before here)... well I'll let her words speak for themselves.

totally scored!
Wham Bars
Irn Bru
Highland Toffee Bars -no cows on the wrapper anymore (more like a chew bar ) ah well those were the days

got the lowdown on the takeover etc from guy in shop and he said we are "safe" for supplies for about 6 mths

classic old dear shop assistant eating her lunch behind the counter and totally ignoring me
so the guy served and gave me the latest
evidently McCowans were going to go in with Millers who are famous for Pandrops (Uncle Bill used to sneak us one in Aberdour Church as the sermon was about to start!)

you don't get all this buying online
even if it is grams now and not a 1/4 of whatever ---- and some of the packaging has changed

rhymes with borrow -thoreau

2011-10-18T11:17:00.004-04:00

From Thoreau's Walden by Tim Smith.

I have spent the last few Saturdays in the Special Collections below the Concord Free Public Library (founded 1873). There is a mass of pre- and post-revolutionary information, and the archive is also a magnet for Transcendentalist research. I am not looking at anything to do with Walden, or related writings but you can't help but pick up this stuff by osmosis. Thoreau was addressed as thawr-oh in his time... (rather than tha-roh) so you can too.

no worries at the package store

2011-10-16T20:07:00.001-04:00

how to tell the difference.... -via caught by the river

2011-10-14T10:37:00.006-04:00

I hope this series continues. All illustrations by Jon McNaught for the excellent Caught By The River. Bit more info at the end...

How to tell the difference between a swallow, a swift and a house martin.

How to tell the difference between a grasshopper and a cricket.

How to tell the difference between a frog and a toad.

How to tell the difference between a primrose and a cowslip.

Cover illustration by Jon McNaug again. This new release An Antidote To Indifference is "the inky version of Caught By The River". If you dont have CBTR (to its friends) on your reading list, it began as a site passionate about angling, music, books, films, nature and pubs and has added everything from watching birds and urban rambling to poetry, art and gardening. Sound a little Radio 4 for you? It is fantastic. Really encourage you to take a look.

Anyhow, this printed work An Antidote To Indifference is basically a bionic fanzine. As they say; "Some of the pieces have appeared on the site before, a few are previously unpublished and any mistakes are unintentional – the budget didn’t stretch to a subeditor. As with here on the site, An Antidote To Indifference is all about the writing. Limited quantities of the fanzine will be available through the Caught By The River webshop. This is a one off print-run, once it’s gone, it’s gone!"

unofficial title sequence for 'the adventures of tintin'

2011-10-13T12:00:00.003-04:00

I rarely reblog from the front of the vimeo page, but this is great. Featuring elements from each of the 24 Tintin books; music composed by Ray Parker and Tom Szczesniak. Conceived by James Curran (@slimjimstudios).