Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA
Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Vegan Invisible Burrito


In my occasional posts about what does a vegan eat, here is another example. Yes, technically it's not a burrito (translation "little donkey") since it not wrapped in a tortilla but, I could just as easily have wrapped all this up in a tortilla - I just didn't for this particular meal.

Simply stated, vegan food has neither animal parts nor animal products included. More specifically, no meat, seafood, nor dairy - that means no beef, pork, chicken, fish, ostrich, yak, lobster, clams, etc., no milk, cheese, butter, lard, etc. A good rule of thumb (although not all-inclusive) is "nothing with eyes or a mother."

Start with steamed brown rice, add cooked or canned (rinse and drain) black beans, green peas, diced yellow squash, diced zucchini, diced onion, diced red pepper, ( I like dicing stuff...) non-dairy cheese, salsa, spring mix lettuce, and a perfectly ripe avocado. Serve hot or cold. Instead of using salsa, one could use tomato sauce and pour it all over pasta or use salad dressing and call it a salad instead. The squash, zucchini, onions, and peppers were not cooked but could be. If there had been corn, or tomatoes, or broccoli in the fridge, I might have included them, too. The more colors the better seems to be a good rule for me.


Monday, June 18, 2012

Public Speaker Training, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA


Conquer that fear of public speaking early in life!!  Fear of public speaking, also known as glossophobia, is one of the most widespread phobias among humans. I speculate that whomever built this treefort for his/her kid(s) is a frequent public speaker (perhaps even a fearful one) and wants his offspring to gain comfort early in life - a platform from which to practice speaking to an audience gathered below.


Sunday, June 17, 2012

Jonathan Young Mill, Orleans, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA


Originally built in the 1720's in South Orleans on Cape Cod, this windmill was moved to other locations before being finally dismantled, restored, and returned to its current central Orleans location. (Its actual color is typical New England weather-faded cedar gray - my photo takes artistic license). 

Note the curve of the blades. Although in the two thousand year history of windmills, the early folks didn't know the physics of why it worked the way it did, they did learn that certain curves and placements both generated more efficiency and reduced overspeed during very strong winds.



Saturday, June 16, 2012

Seaport District, South Boston Waterfront, Boston, Massachusetts, USA


Performing shows since 1984, the Quebec, Canada based Cirque du Soleil is in Boston this summer. They erected their tents in Boston's Seaport District for a month-long run of shows. I went to see it and would have to say it is among the very best live-performance events I have ever attended. The creativity, artistry, and skill of the performers was beyond belief. I'm disappointed I waited 25 years to see my first performance. (No photos permitted inside the big tent or during performances).

Folks arriving an hour before the show.

Riggers performing last minute checks on the tents.

Tents reflected in a tractor-trailer truck.

The Seaport District is a busy port, not just home to performances.  The Carnival Glory was about to sail to Canada.

I liked the reflection of the water as the ship pulled away from the dock.

Waterfront eateries were doing a booming business on this clear, 72 degree early evening.

Others enjoyed a peaceful sail on Boston Harbor. The Airport Hyatt is at left, the Logan Airport Traffic Control Tower is distant at center - my former place of employment where I was the air traffic manager for five years.

Flowers blooming and flags waving at Boston's World Trade Center.

A working fishing boat finished for the day.

Even the pigeons seemed to be enjoying themselves playing catch the shadow.


Friday, June 15, 2012

Cape Cod National Seashore, Nauset Light, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA


Nauset Light is just north of Coast Guard Beach on Cape Cod. This steel plate lighthouse replaced the original wooden Three Sisters lighthouses.

The former Three Sisters lighthouses are restored/preserved and relocated west of their original location.

Nauset Beach.


Thursday, June 14, 2012

Cape Cod National Seashore, Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA


Coast Guard Beach, the 8th best in the United States in 2011 rankings established by "Dr. Beach," a coastal  expert from Florida who generates annual ratings.

Stretching along  the entire Atlantic Ocean side of the Cape Cod landmass, this national park offers many beaches, salt marshes, kettle ponds, woods, dunes, pine barrens and lighthouses that harken back to an unspoiled land of yesteryear. 43,500 acres big, the protection of this national treasure was signed into law by President John F. Kennedy in 1961, thus securing this beautiful habitat for future generations. Standing on the beach here facing east, all of the 50 states are behind me (but only part of Maine).

An example of government at its best, our National Park Service oversees 490 properties for the enjoyment and posterity of the American people.

The former Coast Guard station.

A strolling couple.

A row of dormers on the inland side of the roof.

Reliable transport through the adjacent salt marsh.

A long dead tree trunk is situated on a tidal flat that floods twice daily with the tides.

Outgoing tide in the adjacent salt marsh.

This fellow, recently deceased, is about to become a meal for some lucky creature(s).

Must be die hard New Englanders - they are here at the beach and they are going to lay out even though it is cool, windy, and cloudy.


Wednesday, June 13, 2012

General Store, White Horse Beach, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA


I like living in a town that still has many unpaved lanes and also a General Store. Truth be told, I don't shop  there very often but I like the throw-back feel of life before malls, box stores, chain convenience stores, and online ordering took over our commerce system. I say that as a typical hypocrite in that I shop at box stores and order online, thus leading to the continuing demise of small mom-and-pop stores. But at the same time, I'm skeptical of a future when everything either comes from Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Apple, or the government. Uh oh, I'm sounding like a cranky old man railing against progress. But I sure do like it when the UPS or FEDEX truck stops at my house - presents!!


Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Cape Cod Canal, Bourne, Sandwich, Massachusetts, USA


Whether walking or cycling.......

......tourist cruise boating or.........

....fancy pleasure boating (and a random cormorant drying his wings) or........

........sailboating or......

........fishing boating - lots of small vessels use the Cape Cod Canal to shave off 160 miles by not having to travel the ocean around Cape Cod.

Some folks decline exercise and just sit and watch the vessels traverse the canal.

Some folks just prefer to sit, read a New York tabloid, and bake their flesh in the hot sun.

Others bypass the canal completely and go directly to Scusset Beach State Park which is immediately adjacent to the canal on the north side.

The routine I've worked out is to begin my walk from the Sagamore Recreation Area parking lot (free parking shown above at the red dot).  There are restrooms and a water fountain adjacent to the lot. One mile west is Herring Cove which also has restrooms and a water fountain. One-and-a-half miles east is the Fishing Pier that also has restrooms and a water fountain. There are half mile markers on the paved path so I can determine exactly how far I want to walk - usually four miles - one mile east and back and one mile west and back - never too far from water in or water out - my kind of place at this point in life.

Many disparage the two auto bridges that cross the canal - too old, too narrow, too ugly, etc.  But just think for a moment about the creation of those structures. 80 years ago, someone had to imagine, then design and engineer, then actually build them without the modern tools and machines we have today.  Those were some can-do folks back then.

Today, I extend a thank you to the US Army Corps of Engineers who maintain the canal and support the recreational aspects for us all.


Monday, June 11, 2012

Antique Cars, Heritage Museums and Gardens, Sandwich, Massachusetts, USA


Ever hear of the saying, "that's a doozy?" It is supposedly derived from the Duesenberg automobile made in the early 20th century. The company was founded in Des Moines, Iowa in 1913. A "doozy" has come to mean "out of the ordinary" after the automobile which was very fancy and ornate.

This exhibition of antique automobiles offers many early automobile designs lovingly and painstakingly restored to original condition - maybe even better than original.  Below is a very small sample.

1931 Duesenberg

A shiny floor clean enough to eat on.

1932 Packard

1930 Cadillac

1919 Pierce Arrow

And a huge floor to ceiling window/door for moving cars in and out.


Sunday, June 10, 2012

Three Days Three Beaches, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA


White Horse Beach - one of those days when the wind blows so hard that it's only comfortable walking downwind.

Priscilla Beach - one of those days that starts off overcast and cool and by mid-morning the clouds start to burn off and it warms up to a perfect 72 degrees Fahrenheit.

Manomet Bluffs Beach - one of those days when it's just plain perfect - light breeze, low tide, and 72 degrees.

I'll enjoy all of them!