Why I Love Dopplr

I cross posted this on my own weblog but I thought I would post it here as well.

I have become a big fan of Dopplr over the last years.  It’s a service that allows you to plan and share your trips online.  It also does some fun things like track your personal velocity which as you can see, isn’t that impressive (Joi Ito’s personal velocity is that of a Whippet while Larry Lessig’s is the same as an elephant while Wendy’s is the same as a glacier) and also shows how much carbon you are emitting.

It also ties into Flickr and shows your photos for each of your previous trips.

Like all Web 2.0 sites, it allows you to share data with your friends and also contribute reviews of restaurants, places to explore, and places to stay when you travel.  It uses Flickr’s machine tags to link your own photos of places to places where you have been.  I have contributed to places all over the world but if you look at Arlington Beach on Dopplr, you can see how it works in a local community.

For those of you with an iPod Touch or a iPhone, there is also a great Dopplr app that allows you to find attractions and reviews of sites in your area.  I would have loved to have it when I was Chicago earlier this year.

One of the reason however that I have become a big fan of Dopplr is that as a family, it gives us a chance to visualize what the next couple of months have in store for us.  It let’s us look at our schedule, budget, plans, and goals and helps us find when we can go to the lake, do some travelling, and figure out when work is going to put demands on us.  Wendy is using Dopplr now as well and even Mark is going online to check out hers or my profiles to figure out when he needs to be packed.

The other cool way Dopplr is helpful is their annual report that is generated for all users.  Below is one for Barack Obama which gives you an idea of how much travelling he had to do in his run for President of the United States.

My friend Dan Sheffield who works for the Free Methodist Church in Canada uses Dopplr.  Dan’s world travels would make his annual report fascinating (to me anyways).  It reminded me that it would be an effective for any denominational executive or someone who both had to travel a lot and be responsible to a constituency. 

I would love to see my city councilor, MLA, MP, and other elected officials use Dopplr (I would give bonus points to anyone who actually gave honest reviews that made my travelling easier).  If you are using Dopplr and want to connect with me, you can find me at dopplr.com/traveller/jordon.

Original Tommy’s Chili Recipe

I have never eaten at Original Tommy’s but Jordon is a big, big fan.  In case you are like my husband and have a craving for Tommy’s without easy access (like when you are at the lake and a long ways from Los Angeles) here is the Original Tommy’s Chili Recipe that you can make at home.

• 7 Beef Patties (Ground Up)
• Flour (Amount equal to drained fat of beef)
• 14.5 oz can of beef broth
• 1 cups water (est.)
• 3 tablespoons chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne powder
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar
• 1/4 of a whole onion diced
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon onion flakes
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon of cumin
• Pinch of black pepper

1. Throw 4 of them on a plate and nuke on high for a minute, flip, and repeat. They should be fairly defrosted and ready to toss in the pan.
2. Take the beef, cook and crumble then drain the fat into a glass measuring cup. Add equal amounts of flour, mix, and microwave on high. Time varies but the Roux should turn reddish brown in about 3-4 minutes. Return the roux to the meat and finish cooking.
3. Once the chili is compiled with the flour, and all its ingredients reduce the heat to about a 3 (medium low) and toss a lid on the pan and simmer for about 5-10 minutes.

A Russian Orthodox Pre-Fab Church

You don’t see this everyday but here is a Russian Orthodox pre-fabricated church

 

You know, perfect if you want a small church to bring along with you to the lake or something.

Country Living Suggestions

Some fun suggestions by Sarah Richardson on rural living and decorating.

Open-concept shelving

Weekend getaways are often filled with houseguests and visitors. Between early risers and sleepyheads, lazy lunches, afternoon snacks, and big dinners, the kitchen tends to be in use all day long. Why not make the kitchen more self-serve and cut down on the number of times in a weekend that you are asked "where's the ...” I'm a big fan of long, open shelves where everything you use on a daily basis is in clear view. From grabbing a cup for early-morning coffee to putting away the dinner dishes, open shelves guarantee that everything is easy to find, and more important, easy to put away! My preference is for glossy trim paint on shelves; they are easy to dust and create a fresh backdrop for the dishes you are displaying. You can use antique architectural fragments such as corbels and spindles to provide both decorative and structural supports.

She also has a suggestion on how to paint a wood floor that many of us have at the lake.

Everyone has their own take on what looks most "country," but for me, there is nothing that compares with the satiny-smooth feel of painted pine floors on bare feet. It just says summer to me.

We had to cope with an old concrete floor, so we installed sleepers and a foil insulation, then nailed down tongue-in-groove pine floors, lightly sanded them, and painted them with a few coats of glossy barn-red floor enamel. If you want to be sure that the boards don't cup once installed you should purchase only well-dried wood, and keep to a width of five inches or less. Thin the first coat of paint with 25 per cent mineral spirits and the paint will soak into the boards and create a good strong bond. Don't shortchange yourself on time and be sure to apply at least three coats to get that great, glossy nail-polish finish (no manicure looks good with only one coat of polish and neither will your floor).

Views of the weekend

 
Wendy has posted a bit on the weekend over at her blog.

Cool New York deck in Apartment Therapy

Click here to see more.

Walden

I was at Indigo Books last night with Jordon and the kids and was looking around at nothing in particular when Jordon came up and showed me Walden by Henry David Thoreau.  I bought it and it is going to be my reading at the cabin this week.  Here is one of my favorite quotes from it…

I say, beware of all enterprises that require new clothes, and not rather a new wearer of clothes. If there is not a new man, how can the new clothes be made to fit? If you have any enterprise before you, try it in your old clothes. All men want, not something to do with, but something to do, or rather something to be. Perhaps we should never procure a new suit, however ragged or dirty the old, until we have so conducted, so enterprised or sailed in some way, that we feel like new men in the old, and that to retain it would be like keeping new wine in old bottles. Our moulting season, like that of the fowls, must be a crisis in our lives.

Grilled Pizza Recipe

This is an easy way to cook pizza during the summer without heating up the house from a hot oven.

2 pizzas

• 2 pizza crusts (6 inches in diameter)
• 1/4 lb hot Italian sausage (cooked and crumbled)
• 12 slices pepperoni
• 1 roma tomato (diced)
• 1/4 cup white onion (small in size, diced)
• 3 tablespoons pizza sauce
• 1 cup cheddar cheese (shredded)
• 1 teaspoon italian seasoning

1. Place the pizza crusts top side down on the grill. Grill on medium heat for 6 minutes until the crust gets crispy.
2. Remove the crust from the grill, spread 1 1/2 tbsp pizza sauce on each crust. Layer the pepperoni, italian sausage, tomato, and onion on the two pizza crusts.
3. Top the pizzas with 1/2 cup cheese for each pizza and sprinkle 1/2 tsp of italian seasoning on each pizza.
4. Place them back on the grill topping side up and grill for and additional 8-10 minutes rotating during the cooking until the cheese is melted and golden brown.

Oreo Smores Recipe

• 6 Oreo cookies, twisted apart so you have 12 halves
• 6 teaspoons peanut butter
• 6 dark chocolate squares
• 1-2 bananas, sliced into 1/4 to 1/2 inch coins
• cooking spray

1. Twist apart the Oreo's. If you break one, have a near by child eat it and twist apart another one until you have 6 perfectly halved oreo's.
2. Spread about 1 teaspoons of peanut butter on one side of your oreo pairs.
3. Slap a dark chocolate square on top of the peanut butter then set aside. Make some of these up in advance and place them on a tray.
4. Later at the camp fire.
5. Use a foil lined, sprayed mountain pie maker to cook sliced bananas. Flip the mountain pie maker to be sure boths sides are cooked- about 2 minutes. Use a fork to place hot bananas on top of dark chocolate, then top with other half of oreo.

Shrimp Satay With Garlic Peanut Sauce Recipe

Marinate the shrimp in this fun mixture of garlic, ginger, and ground spices, then thread it on skewer and grill until lightly charred. Leave time for 3 hours marinating.

• 1 small onion, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, chopped
• 3 large stalk fresh lemongrass, sliced
• 1/4 cup fresh ginger, minced
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon ground coriander
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 teaspoon ground fennel
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
• 30 large shelled prawns (about 1 3/4 lb)

Garlic Peanut Sauce

• 1/4 cup minced onion
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 large stalk fresh lemongrass, sliced
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon ground coriander
• 2 tablespoons Thai sweet chili sauce
• 1/2 cup coconut milk
• 1 tablespoon tamarind paste
• 1 tablespoon evaporated unbleached cane sugar (or regular sugar)
• 2 1/2 tablespoons natural-style peanut butter
• 1 teaspoon salt

1. In food processor, combine the onion, garlic, lemongrass and ginger and process to a paste. In large skillet, heat the oil. Add paste and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until browned, approximately 20 minutes.
2. Add coriander, honey, fennel seeds, cumin, turmeric, and salt to the skillet and cook over high heat, stirring until fragrant, about a minute. Scrape into a bowl and let cook completely.
3. In a large, shallow dish, coat the shrimp with the spice paste. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.
4. Soak 30 small bamboo skewers or 10 large in water for 30 minutes. Light the grill. Thread the shrimp onto the skewer, stretching them out. If skewers are long, put 3 shrimp on each.
5. Grill on high for 1 1/2 minutes per side, until nicely charred. Serve immediately with sauce.
6. For sauce: In food processor, combine onion, garlic, and lemongrass, and process to a paste.
7. In a large skillet, heat the vegetable oil. Add the onion paste and cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until brown, about 8 minutes. Add the coriander and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add Thai chili sauce and cook, stirring, for another 2 minutes. Add coconut milk and boil over high heat until thickened, about 2 minutes. Stir in tamarind concentrate, sugar, and peanut butter until smooth. Remove from heat and season with salt. Let cool: transfer to a bowl. Can be refrigerated for up to two days.

Sloppy Joes Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 2-3 stalks celery, chopped
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup barbecue sauce
• 1 tablespoon firmly packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• salt and pepper
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon vinegar

Directions

1. In a large skillet, brown ground beef, celery and onion.

2. Drain the fat.

3. Stir in remaining ingredients, simmer covered, 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

4. If Joes appear too loose, leave cover off and let moisture evaporate.

5. Cook until it's the consistency you like for serving on toasted buns, with french fries and cole slaw.

Creamed Peas on Toast Recipe

My grandfather used to eat this as a treat during the Great Depression and we used to have it as a treat when he would come and visit when we were kids.  We still have it as a treat once and a while and it’s great on a cool day at the cabin.

• 1 can green peas
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 1/2 cup milk
• buttered toast
• salt
• pepper

1. On stove in small pot melt butter and add flour slowly to thicken it.
2. When it is almost like a paste add the milk and stir.
3. Continue stirring on low heat until the mixture thickens.
4. Add the drained can of peas and stir for a few more minutes.
5. Pour hot mixture over a buttered slice of toasted bread, add salt& pepper to taste.

Curry Veggie Dip Recipe

• 1 Cup mayonnaise
• 6 Tbsp. Heinz ketchup
• 3 tsp. medium curry powder
• 2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tsp. grated onion (or chopped very fine)
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced or crushed
  dash of salt and pepper

Combine and chill for one hour before serving with raw vegetables.

Spicy Hash Brown Quiche Recipe

• 4 cups leftover baked potatoes or frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed
• 1-1/2 tsp. seasoning salt
• 1-1/2 cups (6oz) shredded monterey jack hot pepper cheese
• 1 1/2 cups cooked, crumbled sausage  (or use diced, cooked ham)
• 1-1/2 cups (6oz) shredded Swiss cheese
• 2/3 cups half and half cream
• 3 eggs

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Grease 10-inch pie plate. Press hash browns onto bottom and up sides of pie plate. (This is the crust.) Sprinkle with salt. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, until crisp on edges. Remove from oven, reduce temperature to 350 degrees. Sprinkle pepper cheese in crust. Top with about 1 cup sausage. Sprinkle Swiss cheese over sausage layer. Briskly whisk Half and Half with eggs. Pour over other ingredients. Scatter remaining sausage on top. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Serve with salsa on the side. Makes 6 servings.

Baked Pancake Recipe

• 1 egg
• 1/3 C flour
• Pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg
• 2 drops of vanilla
• ½ C milk

Preheat oven to 375° F. Melt 2 Tbsp. butter in a cast iron skillet, or other ovenproof baking dish (corning, pyrex), until bubbly but not brown. Whisk the other ingredients together and pour into hot pan. Bake 8-10 minutes, until golden brown. Slide onto plate and fill with fruit or preserves, fold and sprinkle with confectioner’s sugar and serve.

Egg and Cheese Casserole Recipe

• 4 eggs, slightly beaten
• 2-1/2 cups milk
• 6 slices bread, crumbled
• 8 oz grated cheddar cheese
• 1 tbsp. dry mustard
• Salt and pepper to taste

Combine ingredients in an 8” glass casserole dish. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Place casserole dish in a larger baking pan with ½” water, bake at 350° for 1 hour and 15 minutes. There are many good variations on this basic dish, depending on your mood.  You can spice it up with salsa and cooked crumbled sausage, or just throw in some cooked bacon.  Or sauté some mushrooms and onions and add them to the mix if you have time. Serves 4-6.

Recipes for the Forest Ranger

The handwritten "Lookout Cookbook" was issued in 1938 throughout the U.S. Forest Service's Northwest Region. The book was developed for lookouts and fire crews to "fix any number of pies, cakes, egg dishes, soups, sandwiches, sauces, entrees and vegetables" in remote areas with the most basic ingredients and available cookware.

You can find the recipes here.

The Small House Book by Jay Shafer

For those of you who are interested, you can purchase Jay Shafer’s The Small House Book at Amazon.com or right from Tumbleweed Tiny Houses.

In 2008, a used house in the U.S. averaged $244,000. That is far more than the average American can afford. Jay Shafer shatters the myth that affordable housing needs to be cheap. In his book, Jay reveals the ugly truth about residential planning and the needless overbuilding that is, in part, to blame for today’s mortgage crisis. Did you know that you can’t build a house as tiny as the one Jay lives in? That is, unless you know the loopholes! He's done the research, and shares it with you. You'll learn why it’s necessary to build on wheels, and see the process of attaching a house to a trailer with step-by-step instructions and pictures. Jay Shafer, the author, personally built a dozen tiny houses and lived in 3 different ones. He is recognized as a leader in the Small House Movement.

Composting at the cabin

We have a large compost bin at home.  We haven’t thrown away anything compostable for several years while the compost produced has made a big difference in our soil quality in my gardens and also on the lawn (which had no top soil).

At the cabin we would like to compost more but we have raccoons, skunks, and squirrels which I imagine would make quite a mess with a rotting food source to explore.

I found this post on Small House Living on how they had composted in a small space and I loved her solution for composting.  The process for composting in small spaces is here but I like the simplicity of using a Rubbermaid container for a compost bin.

Our solution was so cheap it was free. We ended up re-using a 10 gallon plastic “storage tote” that one of our house guests left. The secure lid was essential as we don’t want rodents paying a visit. Various websites recommend poking 1/4″ holes in the bottom for ventilation and drainage, although if you’re composting indoors you can poke those holes on the sides instead.

My concern is that it will attract the skunks to the cabin.  I have had a couple of run ins with skunks at the lake (and the rule of the family is that if you get sprayed at the cabin by a skunk, you stay at the cabin) and I would prefer to keep avoiding the skunks, rabid raccoons, and crazed squirrels…

Tiki Escapes Tropical Products

 

These custom Tiki bars come from a company from Orillia, Ontario that specializes in Tiki and other tropical products called Tiki Escapes.  If you are looking for something different but a lot of fun, this could be a great option.

Sheds for Living

 

Some more UK inspired sheds/living quarters.  For more information, check out Sheds for Living. via

Houseboat on the River Thames

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live on a houseboat on the River Thames?

Cottage Design Ideas from House and Home

Here is a gallery of cabin design ideas from House and Home.  Below are some of my favorites. via

Light Up Your Cottage with Glass Jar Lanterns

The details can be found over at HGTV.

Compact beach chalet by studiomama

What a great looking small beach chalet by studiomama.

 
 
 
 
 

As the designer describes it.

The 388 sq ft structure is built on galvanized steel stilts to prevent flooding. The outside of the chalet is clad with cedar shingles and the inside is clad with sawn softwood. Because the land slopes away from the breach, both internal and external steps were constructed to create a level surface inside. Adding height to the rear of the chalet meant that their was space for a mezzanine level that now serves as a sleeping platform. With an oblong-shaped window above it providing lovely views over the country side. Behind the kitchen is the children's bunk beds and the bathroom. The sea view is the focus of the simple living space.

For me, it is that large window above the loft that seals the design.

studiomama also has designs for these rather cool pallet chairs on her site with instructions on how to build on yourself.

via

The Cube

I am a big fan of the Cube, especially how it blends seamlessly into the side of the mountain.  Peter Frazier of UI Architects designed it to be an unobtrusive and uncluttered work space as well as a guest house and meditation room.  What a great space to work and relax in.

 
 

Texas Tiny Houses

This came from the Tiny House Blog and features houses made of salvaged lumber and building materials from Texas Tiny Houses.

To Brad Kittel’s way of thinking, everything should be tinier in Texas.Well, maybe some things.

Kittel builds and sells a line of undersized houses that can serve as anything from a backyard hideaway to an intimate bed-and-breakfast cottage to an artist’s loft and workshop.

His tiny houses are made from salvaged lumber and building materials, and even though the smallest ones are generally about 200 square feet, they come wired for electricity and outfitted for plumbing, including a shower and toilet and a loft for sleeping.

“One person could live comfortably here, maybe even two people,” the 52-year-old Kittel said while standing inside a modestly furnished model on his manufacturing site where Interstate 10 and Texas 80 meet south of Luling.

“It wouldn’t do for a family with kids, but these things are roomier than they might look.”

 

Creative Reuse Architecture

Infiniski, a green architecture and design company based in Spain and Chile have constructed a number of beautiful houses from recycled shipping containers, pallets old train rails and various other bits of whatever they could find.

 
 

Treehugger has this post on shipping container architecture that also uses shipping crates (like the ones that milk, pop, or beer come in).  The BBC has more.