All posts in Stuff I Like

Garden Project : Phase I – Start Seedlings

by John Locklair on January 29, 2012 in Garden Project with No comments

We are starting our annual vegetable garden project on time, for a change, this year. We planted some of our seedlings today and will plant the rest in 2 weeks. We’ll probably plant the ones we started today around Dad’s birthday, March 20th and then the rest around Good Friday. The kids are really able to help a lot these days and are very hands-on. We’ll post progress photos as soon as they start sprouting. Our goal is to NOT mix up the labels this year…we’ve found that it’s very hard to tell a cherry tomato seedling from a Better Boy tomato seedling, ditto for yellow and zucchini squash.

Here’s our tentative lineup for this year:

  • Better Boy Hybrid Tomatoes
  • Cherry Tomatoes
  • Straight Neck Yellow Squash
  • Zucchini Squash
  • Kentucky Wonder Green Beans
  • Silver Queen Sweet Corn
  • California Hybrid Bell Peppers

We may tweak the mix a little as we go along, but this is the initial plan. This is our first year trying corn, but we’re going to give it a whirl. We have to plant it in a square pattern instead of long rows to help with pollination. We may replace the green beans with something else – they “run” all over the place and take up a lot of space, but we may run them along the back fence or something this year.

Randolph Hall – College of Charleston

by John Locklair on November 12, 2011 in Photography with No comments

Randolph Hall is one of the original buildings at the school and is a center point of the campus. The raised part of brickwork behind the lamp posts is called The Cistern. It’s the cistern which, in ages past, was not filled with dirt, but water – for watering horses belonging to locals and travelers. Every Mother’s Day, the college builds a simple stage over the top of The Cistern and holds commencement ceremonies for graduating students. On either side of the center brick walk are expansive and lush lawns for relaxing, playing and studying…usually in that order. The massive oak trees were beaten, but not entirely broken by Hurricane Huge in 1989. They stand as a testament to the resilience of a city and a school. Lots of great memories in this place!

I made this photo of Randolph Hall to frame with my diploma. I liked the way the flag looked in this one…

On Being Prepared – A Product Review Series

by John Locklair on November 11, 2011 in Product Reviews, Tech with No comments

I’m a believer in being prepared. Go ahead…call me MacGyver (http://macgyver NULL.wikia NULL.com/wiki/MacGyver), but I carry several items around with me at all times and I use nearly all of them every day. A buddy recently asked me about the flashlight I carry, so I thought I’d do a review on it – it’s the BEST one for the money…I checked, over the past 30 years. While I was at it, I thought I’d do a mini review on each item that I carry. (OK, OK! So I’m also tinkering with my website content to see how different content affects site traffic and it’s “product review” content’s turn…still…)

  • A ridiculously large Champ Swiss Army Knife (http://www NULL.amazon NULL.com/Victorinox-Swiss-Champ-Pocket-Knife/dp/B0001GS19U/ref=pd_sim_sg_7)…NOT this one (http://www NULL.amazon NULL.com/Wenger-16999-Giant-Swiss-Knife/dp/B001DZTJRQ).
  • A Bullet Fisher Space Pen (http://www NULL.amazon NULL.com/Fisher-Space-Pen-Bullet-400/dp/B000095K9D) for an emergency pen that won’t leak in my pocket.
  • A SanDisk 8 GB Flash Drive (http://www NULL.amazon NULL.com/gp/product/B001T9CTRS/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B001T9EYFI&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0D52E4JXXA4XDB4PXAK2) for moving files to and from client computers.
  • A Zippo 6-foot pocket tape measure (http://www NULL.kyledesigns NULL.com/product/TMTAPE/Brushed-Chrome-Tape-Measures NULL.html) that I got at a trade show about 20 years ago.
  • A Mini Black Sharpie (http://www NULL.amazon NULL.com/Sharpie-Mini-Black/dp/B0026HFW12/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1321061705&sr=8-9), usually for writing kids’ names on cups at Moe’s (http://moes NULL.com/) on Kids-Eat-Free-Nights.
  • A Ronson Jetlite Windproof Lighter (http://www NULL.ronsonusa NULL.com/JetLite NULL.aspx)… you know, for making fire whenever I want to.
  • A half-ounce bottle of Purell Hand Sanitizer (http://www NULL.amazon NULL.com/Purell-Instant-Hand-Sanitizer-Original/dp/B00427BVH8/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1321062021&sr=8-5), for wiping kids’ hands after Moe’s…
  • A compressed 12″ x 24″ Lightload Towel (http://www NULL.amazon NULL.com/Lightload-Towels-Three-12x24-Survival/dp/B000UGVI4G/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1321062098&sr=1-1-catcorr), for mopping up messes, wiping noses, etc.
  • A Dunlop Jazz III Guitar Pick (http://www NULL.amazon NULL.com/Dunlop-Jazz-Black-Stiffo-1-38mm/dp/B0002D0CL2/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1321062202&sr=1-1-catcorr)…because I can never find one when I need it.
  • A pair of +1.75 reading glasses (http://www NULL.amazon NULL.com/OPTX%25221920-20-3PK-175-ClassicReader/dp/B00305GWQS/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1321062457&sr=1-1-catcorr). I buy 4 pairs at a time at the Dollar Tree.
  • A Streamlight MicroStream LED Flashlight (http://www NULL.amazon NULL.com/Streamlight-66318-MicroStream-LED-Flashlight/dp/B00143JZ08), the absolute best flashlight for the money. Ever.
  • I also carry a Streamlight Nano LED Flashlight (http://www NULL.amazon NULL.com/Streamlight-73001-Miniature-Keychain-Flashlight/dp/B0011UIPIW/ref=pd_sim_hi_2) as a backup, clipped either to my keychain or my jacket zipper pull.
  • About 24″ of duct tape (http://www NULL.youtube NULL.com/watch?v=dkqTH4-11wk) wrapped around my Blockbuster Video card. I use it all the time…the tape, I mean.
  • About 8 feet of black parachute cord as a 4″ Key Fob (http://www NULL.amazon NULL.com/Paracord-Chain-Black-Perpetual-Revolution/dp/B004RC116Y/ref=pd_sim_misc_1) for tying stuff down, fixing broken stuff, etc.
  • A Timex Expedition Watch (http://www NULL.timex NULL.com/Timex-Adventure-Tech-Digital-Compass/dp/B000SZNSWY?ie=UTF8&prevPageletDesc=DP%3AAccessories&suggestedItem=B000SZKGX8), including digital compass, alarms, timer for letting me know when the water for tea is boiling.
  • And last, but not least, my beloved Buxton passport size wallet with a small Moleskine softcover notebook (http://www NULL.amazon NULL.com/Moleskine-Ruled-Cahier-Journal-Pocket/dp/8883704894/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321066941&sr=8-1) in the middle + business cards, Bandaids, BC powder, a place where money is supposed to go, credit card slots, receipt storage, etc. There is no link on the wallet text because I am currently in search of this particular wallet. I will review it sooner than later and add photos. If you see one just like it, let me know. The one I have now is 7 years old and doing fine, but I want to get a replacement for, you know…(that day).
In addition to the stuff I carry in my pockets, I am never far from…
  • My iPhone 3Gs (http://www NULL.apple NULL.com/iphone/iphone-3gs/specs NULL.html)…phone, camera, video camera, document scanner (http://itunes NULL.apple NULL.com/us/app/jotnot-scanner-pro/id307868751?mt=8), email, internet, credit card processor (https://squareup NULL.com/), filing system (http://itunes NULL.apple NULL.com/us/app/dropbox/id327630330?mt=8), Bible, music and movie player, gaming system, weather radar, alarm clock… (BTW, the “s” does not stand for Siri. If you would like to contribute to my iPhone upgrade fund, please email me (john null@null johnlocklair NULL.com).)

So, that is my EDC (Every Day Carry) (http://en NULL.wikipedia NULL.org/wiki/Everyday_carry) list, as it’s called in society these days. I’ll get going on the reviews soon.

P.S. – Today is Veteran’s Day and I am reminded that I also carry a USAF coin from my friend Jonathan’s (http://plaidzebras NULL.blogspot NULL.com/) squadron. I promised him that I would carry it every day until he returned home, to remind me to pray for him while he is stationed overseas for an extended tour, and indeed for all of our military personnel and their families. Jonathan, I am keeping that promise every day and I thank you for all that you sacrifice for our freedoms.

My Alltime Favorite Ad

by John Locklair on September 24, 2011 in marketing with No comments

This is an amazing PSA put together by an agency in London. It is powerful and focuses on a simple, singular message, yet it somehow touches the full gamut of human emotion and relationship — with no words, no less. Let’s embrace life today and every day.

Firecracker Chicken and Squash Alfredo

by John Locklair on September 4, 2011 in Cooking with No comments

20110904-012907.jpg

I grew up with experimental cooking my whole life. My dad loved to try new things with sauces, seafood, etc. while my mom was the experimental baker in the family. Among other recipes, she has absolutely perfected her world-famous Banana Nut Bread (http://www NULL.sassylassiesbakery NULL.com)! I have had my own good ideas and bad over the years (one of the worst was probably Spam Fried Rice on a backpacking trip in college). However, last week I think I hit the jackpot.

Penny and the kids were up at her Mom’s house for supper and I came downstairs from work looking for leftovers in the fridge. I found some cooked penne pasta, a few crookneck yellow squash, a jar of sliced jalapeño peppers, a half-full jar of roasted garlic Alfredo sauce and two pieces of fried chicken. I was pleased at the prospects of this collection of items, so I got to work.

  • I put the chicken in the toaster oven first.
  • Then I poured some olive oil in a medium frying pan, added a pat of butter (a trick my mom taught me last week) and turned on the heat.
  • I sliced the squash, cut the slices in half and added them to the pan, along with a dozen jalapeño slices.
  • While I was sautéing the veggies, I pour a bowl full of the cooked penne pasta into a large pasta bowl, added a tiny bit of water and microwaved for one minute. I covered the pasta with Alfredo sauce and microwaved for another minute.
  • I like spicy food, so I liberally added Mrs. Dash (a great mix of salt-free spices), cayenne and black pepper to the veggies and on top of the sauce.
  • I took the chicken out of the oven, sliced and chopped it into bite-size pieces.
  • I added the chicken and veggies to the pasta and sauce in the bowl and tossed it lightly with a fork to mix everything.

I don’t know if it was one of those “things-always-taste-better-when-you’re-camping” things or not, but it was one of the best meals I’ve had – and the fact that it was made entirely out of left-overs made it even better!

Lowcountry Crab Dip

by John Locklair on November 24, 2008 in Cooking with No comments

With the holidays upon us, I thought I’d post a favorite recipe or two. This one is for Lowcountry Crab Dip — nothing exotic, just really good. Let me know how it goes over at your next party.

Lowcountry Crab Dip

  • 8 oz. cream cheese
  • 6 oz. crab meat
  • 2 oz. sharp cheddar cheese (finely grated)
  • 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tsp. horseradish sauce
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • Cayenne pepper to taste if you want to give it a little kick

Preparation is pretty easy: mix all ingredients in a bowl. You’re done! This goes great with most crackers, my favorites are Triscuits (I like those new little triangle shaped ones, too), Wheatstone, Captain’s Wafers and even the old standard, Ritz. This makes a rather small bowl full, so you may want to use your math skills and make a bunch. Bon appetit!

Chest-of-Drawers Project

by John Locklair on October 14, 2008 in Woodworking with No comments

This was a project that I took on back in 2002. Penny and I found this old, solid poplar chest-of-drawers at Page’s Thieves Market (http://www NULL.pagesthievesmarket NULL.net/) in Mt. Pleasant for $50. We had in mind to refinish it and put it in our foyer. This particular project only took a couple of weeks, most of which was stripping multiple coats of shellac, varnish, stain and at least two different paint colors from the wood.

Addendum… March 5, 2011 — Well, the chest-of-drawers is still here! We have THREE kids now, so it is rapidly becoming moving toward looking more like an antique than it used to. Logan, our 3-year old boy loves to throw things over the rail right above it, so it’s got a few character dings now. Still love it though…

Creative Ideas for Leftover Christmas Turkey

by John Locklair on December 30, 2007 in Cooking with No comments

This year, Penny’s mom cooked a great ham AND a turkey breast for Christmas dinner. Somehow, we ended up with the whole half of the leftover turkey (which was GREAT!). So, after a few days of straight leftover turkey, dressing, gravy, etc., we decided to come up with some alternative creative ways to take advantage of that great gift of food to us. Here’s what we came up with so far…

Turkey Quesadillas: Easy lunch item. Chop the turkey slices into relatively small cube sort of shapes and saute in olive oil with whatever creative spices you have on hand… mine happened to be black pepper, cayenne pepper, jerked chicken spices, Mrs. Dash, blackened steak seasoning and a little powdered garlic. While that is sauteing, spray a little olive oil on a medium hot griddle, throw on the tortilla and your favorite shredded queso (mine is pepper jack, but I have to shred it myself – the girls like colby jack). Add the turkey on one side and any side items you may have, like sliced black olives or jalapeños. When the cheese is mostly melted, fold in half, flip once and you’ve got a great lunch. Serve with mexican rice, sour cream and hot taco sauce packets from Taco Bell. If you need some packets… call me — we have a bunch in our pantry, somehow.

Spicy Turkey Salad: Great for lunch or dinner. Over pure iceberg lettuce, cut into cubes, I add the following: the same sauteed turkey from the quesadilla recipe from above, diced or cherry tomatoes, shredded cheese, black olives, garlic croutons, sunflower seeds or cashews, real bacon bits, chopped broccoli if you like it, grapes actually add a nice sweet touch to the spicy stuff, and finally, a packet of Chick-fil-A Spicy Dressing (I confess that I ask for an extra packet every time I get a salad there, but my friend who owns our local CFA said it was A-OK.). Now, I should probably mention that even though this is technically a salad, which are typically considered a healthy meal choice, I cannot vouch that it is good for you or anything — but I think it tastes really great — and it MUST have less fat than say… a Big Mac.

Other ideas that need less explanation could be:

  • Turkey and Broccoli Casserole
  • Turkey Noodle Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
  • Turkey Chili
  • Turkey and Black Olive Pizza
  • Turkey Salad with spicy mayo, sweet pickle cubes, a little diced celery and cayenne pepper…  on your favorite toasted bread.

Let me know what you think and what ideas you have in the comments section. Enjoy!