Monthly Archives: January 2009

Cookin’ Italian

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When it’s cold out and I can’t ride my Harley or spend much time outdoors without freezing my buns off, I like to spend time in my kitchen with my partner and “batch cook.” That is, in anticipation of a busy week ahead, I cook foods that can keep well frozen or refrigerated for the upcoming week. That way, when I get home from work, I can just pop something in the oven to heat up, toss a salad, set the table, and we’re ready to dine well.

Today, my partner and I made home-made ravioli. The photo shows me running the pasta through a roller connected to our KitchenAid mixer. The roller is a special attachment that you can get for the mixer. It works great!

We made three batches of ravioli which freeze really well, and also a lasagna layered with home-made noodles that I had made last week. I made a great cheese mixture of ricotta, mozzarella, asagio, parmesan, and romano cheeses which we used for the ravioli. I had a lot of it left over after making the ravioli, so I thought that we could use the rest of it in a “small” lasagna. The lasagna will make two meals for both of us.

All together, the cost of the ingredients — flour, eggs, cheeses, spices — was less than US$10. For five filling main course dishes for two people, that’s pretty good!

We don’t eat out — not (necessarily) because we’re cheap or because my partner doesn’t like to be around people — but because we prefer to eat in the home we built, and enjoy my creations. I also have a rather strict diet. Unfortunately, there are a lot of things that I can’t eat without getting sick. Thus, by cooking my own meals, I can ensure that nothing goes into the food I eat that will make me ill.

The ability to cook was inherited in my Italian blood, and borne out by watching my Nonna (Italian grandmother) and my Mom cook over the years. My Mom’s spirit was with me, too. I say that because every time I see a rainbow cast from a Native American “suncatcher” that my Mom gave to me for good luck in our new house, I think it is my Mom visiting us. Today as I was rolling pasta though the press, my partner noticed a rainbow from the suncatcher on my boots. Thanks, Mom, for visiting, and sharing joy with us in our kitchen as we cooked, laughed, talked, and enjoyed several pleasant hours.

Life is short: wear your boots while you cook!

Vintage Frye Boot Catalogs

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I was going through some drawers yesterday and came across two catalogs for Frye boots. The catalogs were undated, but in doing some research, I found one catalog was produced about 1973 and another in 1975. I scanned the pages from these catalogs and posted them on my website. The company sure could produce a great catalog back in the day!

Vintage Frye boots are really cool. I wore them all the time in high school and college, and still wear them frequently to this day. There’s nothing quite like the original Frye boots.

I learned in my research that the John A. Frye Shoe Company was founded in 1863 in Marlborough (or Marlboro), Massachusetts, and continued to produce their shoes and boots until the company was purchased by Reebok, International, in 1987.

Reebok held the company only for two years. In 1989, they sold it to a British holding company by the name of Hanson Industries. Hanson licensed the Frye name to the Jimlar Corporation, based in Great Neck, New York in 1993. Jimlar bought the Frye company name and assets from Hanson outright in 1998. Boots continued to be made under the Frye name in Massachusetts until 2003, when Jimlar closed the plant, and outsourced bootmaking to China.

Since the manufacture of Frye boots was moved to China, it is my opinion that materials and workmanship have suffered. If you want real honest-to-goodness Frye boots, search using the keywords “vintage Frye boots” on eBay.

Meanwhile, have a look at my old catalogs. Enjoy!

95 Years Young

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On Monday, December 29, a friend called to say that a gentleman who lives in the retirement community nearby was celebrating his 95th birthday, and had always wanted to go for a ride on a Harley with a “biker dude.” She wondered if I could fulfill his birthday wish.

Granted! The weather cooperated. It was chilly, but not unreasonably cold. I wore full leather (breeches, tall boots, leather shirt and jacket.) I showed up at his place at 11:30. His two sons and a grandson lifted him gently onto the back of my throbbing machine. He was wrapped up warmly in a parka and longjohns. We gave him a pair of warm gloves and a fitted him with a full-face helmet. Off we went!

I took him for a ride on the 3-mile circumference road around the community. He laughed out loud all the way. What sheer joy!

When we arrived at the restaurant where he was to celebrate his birthday lunch, a huge crowd was there to greet us. His family lifted him gently off my bike, and he had the biggest smile on his face as his helmet was removed. I’ll never forget the look on his face — and on mine — as I was in the very fortunate position to bring joy to this nice man, his family and friends, and to show that us “big bad booted leathered Harley-riding bikers” can be gentle souls, as well.

Life is short: show those you care about that you care, and bring smiles to all around.

S-xy New Year’s Greeting

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When I arrived home at 12:30 this morning from my friends’ place where I always go to celebrate New Year’s Eve, I found my partner waiting for me decked out in boots, chaps, sexy mesh shirt, and Muir cap. He handed me my Muir cap and took off my shirt. I had on my leather side-laced jeans and Chippewa Hi-Shine boots, which is what I wore to the party.

My woofy partner and I enjoyed some fun by our Christmas tree to ring in 2009. Whew! What a great way to begin the new year!

Happy New Year, everyone!