Establish A Perimeter

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Sunday, 8 PM EST, Jack is Back! Can't wait!

24 hours and counting.
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Muck Fichigan!

.Tomorrow is the great battle between Ohio State and that "team up North".














Go Buckeyes!

Ohio State is favored so lets hope it's a victory! They won't be in the National Championship game this year, but if you beat Michigan, it's a great year!

In case you need some fortitude for the game, here's a little bit of Woody Hayes.




Otherwise enjoy this.















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Grazing Day

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We have had snow on the ground since Monday and we are getting some more right now.  There is a Winter Storm Warning in effect with a Lake Effect Snow Warning attached to it.  Sounds somewhat ominous.  Luckily I am heading to bed and don't have to deal with it... at least till morning.

Here's what it looks like out our front window.



Not too bad.

Today was Grazing Day at work and there were lots of good things to eat.  I think we should do this more often, but if we did we could all pass for Macy's Thanksgiving Day ballons!

Here was the spread.  (At least before Chris got there with his Jello, which was peach flavored.)



All enjoyable.  I'm already looking forward to leftovers tomorrow.

Good night.
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Second Temporary Post

This a sample post using Windows Live Writer.

Always looking for a better way to blog

Lets try a photo,

Cool, seems to work. Now lets post.

Beef and Macaroni

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Beef and macaroni was one of my all time favorites during grade school and Jr High whilst I was growing up.

About six weeks ago I was hungry for this childhood favorite and it was my day to make dinner. I searched the web and found many versions. I settled on one I found on the Food Network by Paula Deen.

It was wonderful!

Just what I was looking for. Tonight I'm making it for the third time. Tomorrow is "Grazing Day" at work where everyone brings in food and we eat all day long (or so it seems.) I'm making this for sharing tomorrow. We'll enjoy some tonight, of course, but I'll take it to work tomorrow.

You'll find the recipe below. I have modified it from the original based on comments of others. The original is here.

This is just before adding the macaroni.



Then add the macaroni and stir it in.



After it's done it looks like this.



Very, very good. I think it will be a big hit tomorrow.

We serve it with sour cream on top and a side of cornbread. You can serve it tomorrow!

As promised, here's the recipe.

Bobby’s Goulash

2 pounds lean ground beef
2 large yellow onions, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
3 cups water
2 (15-ounce) cans tomato sauce
2 (15-ounce) cans diced tomatoes
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
3 bay leaves
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon House Seasoning, recipe follows

1/2 tablespoon seasoned salt
2 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked

In a Dutch oven, sauté the ground beef over medium-high heat until no pink remains. Break up the meat while sautéing. Spoon off any grease.

Add the onions and garlic to the pot and sauté until they are tender, about 5 minutes.

Add 3 cups water, along with the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, bay leaves, Worcestershire sauce, House Seasoning, and seasoned salt. Stir well. Place a lid on the pot and allow this to cook for 15 to 20 minutes.

Add the elbow macaroni, stir well, return the lid to the pot, and simmer for about 30 minutes.

Turn off the heat, remove the bay leaves, and allow the mixture to sit about 30 minutes more before serving.

Serve with garlic bread and a salad.

House Seasoning: 1 cup salt
1/4 cup pepper
1/4 cup garlic powder Mix the ingredients together and store in an air-tight container for up to 6 months. Use as a seasoning on meat and when cooking vegetables.

Enjoy!
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Early Morning Fog

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A couple of weeks ago, before the snow started to fly, we had some early morning fog.  I went out and captured this photo looking at the field across the street.  The sun was slowly burning off the fog as the light was illuminating the trees.



The next photo is in the back yard and you can see a layer of fog a few feet above the ground among the blueberry bushes.  This fog layer moved up and down like water against the edge of a boat.



By the time I left for work, the fog was all gone.  It was pretty while it lasted.
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Ride To Work With Me

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It's Sunday evening and it's snowing outside for the second time this winter. The fall leaves with all their color are on the ground and covered with snow.

A couple of weeks ago on October 31th, Halloween, I decided to take my camera with me as I drove to and from work to record some of the fall color. I simply shoot through the front or side windows of the car.

Here's what I see on my way to work.



This is along I-90 a few miles down the road. Many of the leaves have fallen but there are still spots of color.




The sky is clear and brilliant and the leaves are very colorful along this stretch.



There are other colors along side the road in addition to the fall colors.




More of those "blue light specials" keeping the speed down.





I get to drive along the lake shore every day. It's often beautiful and goes by quickly.





The "Hi-level" bridge over the Cuyahoga River and through downtown Cleveland has been reduced to two lanes because the structure is deteriorating. Right now it is undergoing an inspection by the state. They plan to replace it in a few years but for now it's only at 50% capacity.




We just crossed over the Rocky River bridge heading West and the local law enforcement officers like to wait just over the crest of this hill. Make sure you are going the speed limit!




There he is. Making money for the city and keeping the roads safe.




Driving down the streets of Bay Village and almost to work. There are a lot of oak and maple trees that line this road and their colors are great.




This tree is right behind the studio (which it up ahead on the left.) Even though there is a big part of it cut away by the power company, it's still one of the most spectacular trees along my drive. It's been a 44 mile journey and I've arrived at work.




We are heading back home now in the evening. I'm crossing the Hi-Level bridge again in the opposite direction (of course) heading towards downtown Cleveland. That is the Cleveland skyline from my vantage.




This is my exit, almost home.




Finally on our street. It's Halloween evening and this just up the street from our house. A lone trick-or-treator is running from house to house. It's actually dusk right now, however, the camera records the scene as brighter than it really is.

I hope you've enjoyed this drive back and forth to work with me. I'll be making the trip again tomorrow if you want to ride along. Let me know.
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