His Master's Voice

You know the logo . . . ‘His master’s voice’ . . .  it’s been used in advertising for over 100 years!

There’s a story behind the image . . . meet Nipper.  Nipper is the little dog looking inquisitively into the horn of the phonograph.  Nipper was a real live dog. He was a stray that ended up in the home of painter Francis Barraud.   He got his name because he had a propensity to nip at people’s ankles.  Barraud observed that his dog was fascinated with the phonograph . . . he couldn’t figure out where the voice was coming from.  It wasn’t until three years after Nipper died that he rendered the iconic painting.

Originally named 'dog looking at and listening to a phonograph', the image didn’t garner much interest.  The response when he tried to sell the painting were

'no one would know what the dog was doing' and 'dogs don't listen to phonographs' . 

Apparently they were wrong because Nipper sure did!

In an attempt to make it more appealing, Barraud decided to modernize the painting by replacing the black horn with a newer style.  He approached Berliner Gramophone with a photograph of his painting asking if he could borrow a brass horn to use as a model.  The manager was so taken with the image he told Barraud he would buy the painting if he replaced the Edison cylinder machine with a Berliner gramophone.

A visitor to the gramophone company saw the painting and commissioned Barraud to make a copy for him.  The gentleman took the painting from England to the United States where he trademarked the painting and gave the patent to his partner . . . who happened to own the Victor Talking Machine company.  The Nipper painting soon became the brand logo the company and is still to this day.

Unfortunately, Barraud Barraud sold the rights to the Nipper painting, and only received two payments of £50 each.

Candied Orange Peel

This candied orange peel is made with an unusual method that makes it especially flavorful and aromatic.  You can roll the strips in granulated sugar or leave them plain, to use in cakes and breads, cookies, or to dip in chocolate.

Weigh the oranges whole, and take an equal weight of sugar.

Wash and scrub the oranges. Squeeze the juice through a strainer into a large pan. Mix the sugar with the orange juice.

Cut the peel in narrow strips.

Boil the peels in water, changing the water twice and replenishing it with boiling hot water kept ready for this purpose. Cook the peels until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain and set aside.

Bring the orange juice and sugar mixture to a boil, add to it the drained orange peel strips and boil 20 minutes.

Drain on racks, and when dry but still slightly tacky roll in sugar or leave as they are.

How my garden grows - First Harvest

We got our first harvest of the season!  Not surprisingly, it radishes.  Yums!  I love radishes.  None of that first little crop went to waste.  

Sauteed Radish Greens



Fresh from the garden, radishes have such lovely greens and they are delicious; slightly peppery in flavor and very tender.


1 Bunch Radish Greens
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
2 Garlic Cloves, Rough Chopped
Fresh Ground Pepper
Sea Salt
Lemon Juice


Saute garlic with the salt and pepper in the olive oil over medium heat. I cook them until they are just toasty brown . . . not burnt!  Add radish greens and saute until wilted and soft.  Keep an eye on them because the cook up very quickly.  Finish them with a squirt of fresh lemon juice.  Oh so good!  They didn't make it into my lunch . . . I ate them up right then and there!

Radish Sandwich

That’s right . . . I said it . . . radish sandwich.  Kind of like a cucumber sandwich only different.  Don’t knock ‘til you’ve tried it.  

2 Slices of Bread, Crusts Removed (if desired)

3-4 Radishes, Sliced Thin

Room Temperature Unsalted Butter 

Sea Salt

Wash and trim radishes.  Spread one side of each piece of bread generously with butter. Cover with the slices of radishes.  Sprinkle with salt.  

They are light and refreshing and delicious.  They make an elegant finger food served with a nice white wine such as pinot gris wine or chardonnay.  

The Evil Source Of Hitler: Basement Cat

see more Historic LOL

A day in the garden - First Zucchini Blossoms

Firewater Friday - All we need, really, is a change from a near frigid to a tropical attitude of mind.

The Monk Parakeet, also known as the Quaker Parrot, is a tropical bird is typically found in the steamy climates of South America.  Well, guess what?  We have them here in less than tropical New England, and not just a few of them, but whole populations of them.  They’re bright plumage and chatty squawking can be seen and heard in many towns. 

They've been around for the last 40 years.  Theories abound as to how they came to settle in such a northerly region.  Some say they were on the banana boats that used to sail into local harbors, others that there was an accident where a pet store truck that released a number of would-be pet parakeets en masse, still others that that a single escaped pair from a suburban family started the population explosion. 

They tend to nest by power lines because of the extra heat that the lines generate.  But there is a pine tree near our garden plot that is practically a monk parakeet condominium . . . the tree hosts several rather large nests.  Since they don’t seem to bother the garden, it’s pretty darn cool having them around.  It adds to the ambience. 

It’s very interesting that the little birds have managed to survive . . . nay . . . thrive in an area that would seem unsuitable for them.  A New England winter is a far cry from what they’re used to.  Although technically an invasive species, they have not disrupted the local ecology in any perceptible way.

Our area electric companies have different way off addressing the birds who’ve established their homes on power company light poles.  Connecticut Light & Power Company crews will remove twigs and other nesting materials from around the transformers and installing animal guards to keep the nests from going up in flames.  As opposed to United Illuminating, who’s policy it has been to capture the birds and have them euthanized by the USDA or shipped off to laboratories for use in experiments . . . yep, your tax dollars at work.   

A group of concerned citizens filed a complaint against United Illuminating on behalf of Connecticut’s monk parakeets. Until recently they have been under a court to stop killing the birds, but a new court order has lifted the previous ban.  It is unclear at this time if UI will pick up where they left off.

I say let them be.  They’re an odd and unique addition to our communities.  It’s fun spotting them in the most unlikely areas.  Carry on fine feathered friends!

   

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Tropical Mudslide

     2 Ounces Irish Cream

     2 Ounces Coconut Rum

     2 Ounces Kahlua

     2 Ounces Cream

     2 Cups Ice

Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth. Pour into a hurricane glass. Garnish with whipped cream and chocolate shavings. Serve.

A day in the garden