It was time to drain and replace the water and filters in my outdoor Jacuzzi tub so that was the chore this past weekend. I keep the hot tub running year-round, even during the winter, so it is important to keep it in top shape at all times. Nothing like sitting in there and having frosty, icy hair.
Driveway Refurbish
I had a tar-and-chip driveway that was installed over 9 years ago. It was showing its age, and I’ve lost my constant battle with weeds that seem to find a way to grow back in sections every year. So today, I had a new one installed.
It started with the crew from Keystone Tar & Chip Paving first removing all visible vegetation, re-defining the edges along the lawn, leveling and grading the entire length of the driveway, then compacting the graded surface using a 5-ton vibratory combo set of rollers. They then applied a vegetation preventative on the compacted surface, and proceeded with the main job: two individual layers of chip seal consisting of first, hot liquid asphalt (or tar) at the rate of 1/2 gallon per square yard, followed by crushed limestone gravel (or chips) at the rate of 1 ton per 500 square feet. After each coating, the 5-ton vibratory combo rollers went over the newly applied layer for further compaction while workers manually fine-raked and brushed for an even surface. All these in about 5 hours.
They also gave me tips on what herbicides to use to prevent weed growth, and further enjoy the new driveway for at least the next decade.
Chocolate Salami
I don’t know why I’ve never made these before. Just a few simple ingredients, and totally delicious. I think I’ll make more for holiday gifts later this year.
Chocolate salami with crunchy biscotti and pistachios.
Live Edge Bench
Also got this live edge walnut bench delivered this past weekend. A great match for the dining table for when additional seating is needed.
iPhone 18 Pro
Took delivery of the new iPhone 18 Pro this past Friday, on the 18th. Burgundy this time, a bit different from my usual blacks or silvers.
Oui, oui! Blanquette de Poulet!
French cooking has a way of making rustic, country-style comfort food such as this chicken blanquette appear plain and simple when presented. But there’s nothing plain or simple about it. Blanquette, from the French word blanc, meaning white, is the whole point of the dish. Nothing gets browned — not the chicken, not the vegetables, nor the mushrooms. None of the ingredients try to compete with the others for color. And that keeps it as delicate-looking as it tastes.
It only took me 2 hours to gently prepare this delicately crafted dish, but oh, was it worth it! As with most French dishes, the sauce is the show. This delight of a dish pairs well with steamed white rice, mashed potato, buttered noodles, or slices of crusty sourdough.
No Prophets
Current read … I’m back to actual physical books from the local library. E-books just don’t suit me except when I travel.
Ominous Weather
These ominous-looking clouds appeared this past weekend just before the summer thunderstorm rolled in. Shortly after, the downpour began.
Ominous clouds before the thunderstorm.
Friday Night Dinner
I recorded a video of a favorite chicken recipe for a regular Friday night family dinner, inspired by Binging with Babish’s Spatchcock Chicken Roast with Chicki-churri Sauce. This one’s a real winner.
Mindless Task Calms the Mind
With a podcast on the AirPods, bucket hat and sunglasses on, and lots of sunblock, mowing the yard (all two and a half acres of it), can take over two hours of a mindless task. But it can also be calming, and the time outside in the sun is always time well spent.
Summer Social
[25 July, 2026]
On the last weekend of July, I hosted a summer BBQ party at home with some friends/previous co-workers. They brought appetizers, side dishes, desserts, and drinks, and I provided the mains. Starting the midnight before, I smoked a whole brisket, Texas-style, on the Big Green Egg, and on the day of, I prepared everyone’s favorite ‘paella mixta’ (with Spanish chorizo, chicken, and shrimp). We all had a great time catching up with everyone and enjoying the good food.
Family Visitors
[16-19 July, 2026]
My niece and her family who relocated to Maryland came back to visit with us over a long weekend for some now-rarer-than-usual family time. Of course, what is a Filipino reunion without lots of food and eating? We had great weather, great eats, and overall, a great time together back in Ohio just like the good old days!
"Expanding" an Area Rug
I did some furniture re-arranging in the living room, largely repositioning the sofa and the Eames lounge chair/ottoman. That threw off the overall symmetry and placement of the pieces relative to the “area rug” under them, and the overall space in general.
The solution was to “expand” the rug by placing five additional FLOR tiles to one end of it. That’s the beauty of FLOR tiles arranged as area rugs — flexible enough in terms of size and placement, and compatible enough in terms of style and color even if you didn’t plan for a larger one (with different-style tiles) in the beginning. I’m pretty happy with the result.
Blue Hour at the Homestead
… and a freshly mowed lawn. Favorite time of the day.
Moka Pot Coffee and Challah French Toast
[4 June, 2026]
On a day when the only thing on the calendar is a “4-Mile Outdoor Walk”, I sometimes indulge in a more-lavish-than-usual home cooked brunch of crispy bacon and thick cut Challah bread French toast, sprinkled with fresh blueberries and doused in rich maple syrup, accompanied by slow-brewed coffee on the Moka pot.
Needless to say, I don’t eat like this everyday.
Freshwater Salmon Lox
[23 May, 2026]
My friend Brad regularly goes fishing for freshwater salmon on Lake Erie and never comes home without a healthy catch. This time, he gave me both fillet sides of an entire salmon, around 4 and 1/2 lbs, cleaned. I cut the tail ends for a regular salmon dinner bake, and the rest I cured in the fridge over 4 days in a melange of Kosher salt, sugar, ground multi-colored peppercorns, chili pepper flakes, fine-chopped dill and juniper berries, and just for extra flavor, a good helping of Hendrick’s gin. Unlike most color-enhanced salt water salmon you can buy in the store, the freshwater variety is quite lighter in color, which is characteristic of non-salt water fish.
Of course, it was delicious! But Brad will never find out just how much. He is allergic to seafood!
New Plants in Old Containers
[16 May, 2026]
Every year, I buy flowering, if not colorful, annuals that I plant in several old containers in my Japanese-inspired rear courtyard. This year was no different, except that I bought a bunch of perennials instead. I guess I got tired of pulling out old plants and replacing them with new ones every year. In addition to saving money, it also gives me back a lot of time that I can spend on another “favorite” task every spring — pulling weeds and errant grass amongst the permanent ground cover in the courtyard.
Additionally, I also re-built a 4-year old succulent pot that’s been adorning my indoor dining table. Easy-maintenance and quite resilient, these succulents should be good for another 4-5 years, I reckon.
Upping my Sandwich Game
I’ve been trying to up my sandwich game recently, building up on previous efforts with my must-try sliders with sweet potato fries, and of course, famous breakfast sandwiches: egg soufflé on ciabatta; and egg, cheese, and bacon on either brioche bun or everything bagel.
This time, I added my classic favorites: a Reuben and Italian pesto+prosciutto. Trying to find the right balance of high quality meats, dressing, the right cheeses plus the rest of the necessary accoutrements, on proper bread, is a fun and tasty adventure, one that I’ll continue to expand into other sandwich types. My other favorite, a lobster roll, perhaps? Bon appetit!
Breaking The Spell
Current read … on the Kindle reader. Not from the public library this time, and my first e-book in a while.
New Clock
Just recently got this new two-sided classic-style analog wall clock from Dulton, a well-known Japanese homewares manufacturer and seller. It would be the latest addition to my growing collection of iconic and interesting timepieces. In case you couldn’t tell, I am fascinated with unique and oversized clocks. Big time!
