Christmas Dogs

Posted on December 25, 2011 by Steven Durland
dog skull

dog skull with mastodon bone in mouth

Here’s some possible evidence that dogs were domesticated more than 30,000 years ago, which is about 15,000 years earlier than previously thought. This dog skull was discovered in the Czech Republic by Archeologist by Mietje Germonpré, of Belgium’s Museum of Natural History and is considered by Archeology magazine to be one of the Top 10 Discoveries of 2011. For me the best part is that the dog was buried with a mastodon bone in its mouth. Have to wonder if it was a final treat or a spoil of battle. (via Boing Boing)

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Christmas Bourbon

Posted on December 25, 2011 by Steven Durland
bourbon barrels

Charring oak barrels for bourbon (from the NY Times)

There’s an interesting article in the New York Times online Christmas Day edition about the growing popularity of bourbon and some great pix of the bourbon-making process. For starters there’s this Manhattan recipe by Karla Ramsey that won a recent drink-mixing contest:

2 ounces Woodford Reserve Bourbon

1 ounce each of apple brandy and sweet vermouth

2 splashes bitters

1 red apple slice and 1 cinnamon stick, for garnish

Shake the liquid with ice and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with the apple slice and the cinnamon stick. Light the cinnamon on fire!

Yes. “Light the cinnamon on fire!”

On the other hand, and a slight cause for alarm from my perspective, the article tells how the various bourbon distillers are putting more and more effort into creating flavored bourbons, those boutique-esque concoctions they put front and center in liquor stores to try to win women over to the world of whiskey. Bourbon-and-honey, bourbon-and-cinnamon, etc. Oh well.

What I’m curious about is how did it ever come about that someone decided that whiskey would taste better if it was stored in a burned barrel? I just don’t see two guys sitting around tasting their latest brew…

Guy #1: Tastes pretty good but it needs something.

Guy #2: Maybe if we added some molasses it would give it a slight caramel flavor and color.

Guy #1: Instead, let’s try burning the inside of the barrels.

Guy #2: Why would that work?

Guy #1: Haven’t you ever tasted a burnt stick?

Guy #2: Oh. Top me off, would you.

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Your place mat or mine?

Posted on November 24, 2011 by Steven Durland

Maple place matI’m planning to participate in the Saxapahaw Holiday Market this year — December 10-11. For the event I’ve come up with sets of place mats featuring some of my art imagery that I think would make great holiday presents. These are vinyl place mats that can be used indoors or outdoors and wipe clean with a damp sponge. They would be great for picnic or patio dining, good for messy kids, they’re even good under pet food bowls.

There’s one special set I came up with for folks like me who think the best way to decorate a home is to come up with things that don’t show dirt. The set features four images of dirt. You can’t camouflage a mess any better than that!

They’re 16 inches by 12 inches and come in sets of four. It’s a mat textured vinyl so it’s not slippery. Come on out to the Saxapahaw Holiday Market and get yours, or, I’ve just put up an Etsy store so you can order them through the mail. Click here to check it out.

Click the thumbnails below to see the sets.

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Happy Thanksgiving

Posted on November 24, 2011 by Steven Durland
Gerret and the hot tub

The Gerret, ever vigilant

Messed up my back last week so I was up early this Thanksgiving doing a soak in the hot tub. Thankfully Gerret was there to make sure nothing bad happened.

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Art for Conservation

Posted on October 30, 2011 by Steven Durland
Gerret in front of Miro

Autumn, Gerret, Miro

Here’s a cool thing. It’s a web site called Art for Conservation where you can order archival quality prints of work by artists like, well, myself. What’s cool about it is that a portion of every sale goes to support conservation causes. (Note I said “conservation causes” not “conservative causes.” I realize there was a time when conservatives wanted to conserve things, but that’s not now. I could say more but it would ruin the moment.)

The Art for Conservation site let’s you choose a size and paper quality so your order can match your budget and the space on your wall. You can even order large stretched canvases. And not only will you help support conservation causes, but you’ll help to feed Gerret, Maggie and Irene. So this holiday season, buy American art. It’s the progressive thing to do.

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