Author: Ed

City Slickers Come in All Sizes!

It's been said that, "Clothes make the man." And, after looking at these two city slickers, we'd have to agree!

Of course, as any hearty New Englander will tell you, it's much more than style that influences a guy's wardrobe. When the weather turns unfriendly, many Bostonians reach for the comfort and security of reliable rain gear. Soggy city slogs on a wet and windy day are always more fun when you slip on your slicker. That's why Puggy and Jay pull on the best protection they can find.

Although we asked both of them if they intentionally chose the same style and color, each insisted he had purchased his slicker online without any help from the other.

Either way, we thought you'd enjoy seeing this dapper duo as they set out on their damp walk.

For more about former Sunday Dog Puggy, go to "Puggy's a Pug!"

And, get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

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Words: Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino

January 19, 2014
The Kitchn’s “Kitchen Habits of Good Cooks” Series Is Our Friday Link

All this week, a great series featuring some great cooks has been running over on one of my favorite places to learn about food, The Kitchn. They're calling it "Kitchen Habits of Good Cooks."

That link will take you to cookbook author and Chinese food guru, Grace Young. From there you can click through to the rest of the series from the bottom of each post.

Young suggested, "Use a Chinese soup spoon for tasting. I like a Chinese porcelain spoon because it allows me to taste hot food without scorching my lips."

She is so right. These spoons are cooler to start with and then cool the soup or sauce as you lift it from the pan. They also have a flatter surface that lets a couple of puffs of air from the cook chill it more.

(Why does blowing on soup cool it? Here's an answer from Indiana University.)

As you can see in the photo, I immediately made space on the salt and pepper tray that sits beside my cooktop for a supply of Chinese soup spoons. Mine fit perfectly in a stainless steel frothing cup.

The "Kitchen Habits of Good Cooks" series continues with a bit of philosophy from Jacques Pepin, small kitchen wisdom from Tom Hudgens, money saving habits from Beth Moncel, and today's entry from their own staff, 18 Daily Habits That Make Life in the Kitchen Better.

Be sure to scan down for the readers' comments on each post. This is a great food community and you'll find more tips and tricks from generous cooks.

Here's a link to more of our own "Tips & How To" posts.

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Penny Cherubino

Related articles

Vegetable Literacy Is Our Friday Link

15 Skills Every Cook Should Know – The Kitchn's Best of 2013

"Food Spot" Conversation Is Our Friday Link

January 17, 2014
The Kitchn’s “Kitchen Habits of Good Cooks” Series Is Our Friday Link

All this week, a great series featuring some great cooks has been running over on one of my favorite places to learn about food, The Kitchn. They're calling it "Kitchen Habits of Good Cooks."

That link will take you to cookbook author and Chinese food guru, Grace Young. From there you can click through to the rest of the series from the bottom of each post.

Young suggested, "Use a Chinese soup spoon for tasting. I like a Chinese porcelain spoon because it allows me to taste hot food without scorching my lips."

She is so right. These spoons are cooler to start with and then cool the soup or sauce as you lift it from the pan. They also have a flatter surface that lets a couple of puffs of air from the cook chill it more.

(Why does blowing on soup cool it? Here's an answer from Indiana University.)

As you can see in the photo, I immediately made space on the salt and pepper tray that sits beside my cooktop for a supply of Chinese soup spoons. Mine fit perfectly in a stainless steel frothing cup.

The "Kitchen Habits of Good Cooks" series continues with a bit of philosophy from Jacques Pepin, small kitchen wisdom from Tom Hudgens, money saving habits from Beth Moncel, and today's entry from their own staff, 18 Daily Habits That Make Life in the Kitchen Better.

Be sure to scan down for the readers' comments on each post. This is a great food community and you'll find more tips and tricks from generous cooks.

Here's a link to more of our own "Tips & How To" posts.

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Penny Cherubino

Related articles

Vegetable Literacy Is Our Friday Link

15 Skills Every Cook Should Know – The Kitchn's Best of 2013

"Food Spot" Conversation Is Our Friday Link

January 17, 2014
A Bee Is Never As Busy… Shoot the Quote

"A bee is never as busy as it seems; it's just that it can't buzz any slower."

Kin Hubbard (American Journalist, 1868-1930)

Does this bee from the Copley Square Farmers' Market bring a dose of sunshine to a winter week? It is here to tell you about a new BostonZest feature, "Shoot the Quote."

One of our regular assignments is to provide a front page photo for the Back Bay Sun. While these are often related to an event or have a caption that describes the people in the photo, sometimes they are simply a picture we love with a quotation. Here's an example.

“Sailing a boat calls for quick action, a blending of feeling with the wind and water as well as with the very heart and soul of the boat itself. Sailing teaches alertness and courage, and gives in return a joyousness and peace that but few sports afford.” George Matthew Adams (American newspaper columnist, 1878 – 1962)

Some week's, like in the case of the sailing photo above, we take a photo and then find a quote that fits it. Other times we have a quotation we love and we go out and, "shoot the quote." That is, we try to take a photograph that fits that quotation.

Here's an example of a quotation that we had and took a photo to express it.

“How softly summer shuts, without the creaking of a door.” Emily Dickinson (American poet 1830-1886)

Want to Play Along?

Now we're going to play shoot the quote with any of our readers who would like to join in. You can make this a private challenge that will have you looking at the world around you through a different lens.

Or you can play officially and send us a link to the photo, post it on your own internet space, or you can add it to our Flickr Group. We hope to post or link to some results with the photographers' permission.

Here's the first quotation we'll be shooting and we hope some of you will join us and share your interpretation of these words.

"Shadow owes its birth to light."

John Gay (English Poet 1685-1732)

So pull out that phone or stalk the words with your favorite camera and shoot that quote.

Gift certificate Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino

January 15, 2014
A Bee Is Never As Busy… Shoot the Quote

"A bee is never as busy as it seems; it's just that it can't buzz any slower."

Kin Hubbard (American Journalist, 1868-1930)

Does this bee from the Copley Square Farmers' Market bring a dose of sunshine to a winter week? It is here to tell you about a new BostonZest feature, "Shoot the Quote."

One of our regular assignments is to provide a front page photo for the Back Bay Sun. While these are often related to an event or have a caption that describes the people in the photo, sometimes they are simply a picture we love with a quotation. Here's an example.

“Sailing a boat calls for quick action, a blending of feeling with the wind and water as well as with the very heart and soul of the boat itself. Sailing teaches alertness and courage, and gives in return a joyousness and peace that but few sports afford.” George Matthew Adams (American newspaper columnist, 1878 – 1962)

Some week's, like in the case of the sailing photo above, we take a photo and then find a quote that fits it. Other times we have a quotation we love and we go out and, "shoot the quote." That is, we try to take a photograph that fits that quotation.

Here's an example of a quotation that we had and took a photo to express it.

“How softly summer shuts, without the creaking of a door.” Emily Dickinson (American poet 1830-1886)

Want to Play Along?

Now we're going to play shoot the quote with any of our readers who would like to join in. You can make this a private challenge that will have you looking at the world around you through a different lens.

Or you can play officially and send us a link to the photo, post it on your own internet space, or you can add it to our Flickr Group. We hope to post or link to some results with the photographers' permission.

Here's the first quotation we'll be shooting and we hope some of you will join us and share your interpretation of these words.

"Shadow owes its birth to light."

John Gay (English Poet 1685-1732)

So pull out that phone or stalk the words with your favorite camera and shoot that quote.

Gift certificate Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino

January 15, 2014
Sparrow Balancing Act at the Bird Feeder

For these sparrows the suet feeder in a Commonwealth Avenue garden is part diner and part amusement park.

While the flock of sparrows took turns at the feeder, on a nearby branch a woodpecker found his own supply of tasty tidbits.

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Penny

Related articles

The Case of the Disappearing Bicycle…

Winter Feeder Birds: Indentifying Woodpeckers

January 13, 2014
Sparrow Balancing Act at the Bird Feeder

For these sparrows the suet feeder in a Commonwealth Avenue garden is part diner and part amusement park.

While the flock of sparrows took turns at the feeder, on a nearby branch a woodpecker found his own supply of tasty tidbits.

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Penny

Related articles

The Case of the Disappearing Bicycle…

Winter Feeder Birds: Indentifying Woodpeckers

January 13, 2014
Sunday Dog, Rufus – One Big, Lovable Puppy!

There’s nothing quite like watching a puppy at play in the snow, especially when that puppy is a big, lovable Leonberger named Rufus!

At only four months of age, Rufus is already the size of many full-grown dogs and could reach 145 pounds, or more, as an adult.

Despite his dramatic presence Rufus displays his breed’s ability to move with a certain agility and coordination – an almost fluid motion. And, by the look on his face, it's a useful technique when you're not too sure about the clicking camera pointing your way.

Rufus is named for William II of England who was known as William Rufus (or William the Red for his ruddy complexion.) While our Rufus shows shades of rusty red, it’s not necessarily what he’ll look like as an adult. In fact, a Leonburger’s coat may change color throughout its life.

The breed was born in the mid 1800s in Leonberg, Germany after crossing a Newfoundland, St. Bernard, and Great Pyrenees. And, if you look closely, you might see some Rufus relatives in that handsome face.

In Simon & Schuster's Guide to Dogs, the Leonberger personality is described as, “steady, affectionate, and alert, with a sweet expression.” He is “an outstanding water dog,” with “webs between its toes,” (no doubt from his Newfie relatives).

We were especially taken by those eyes! There’s so much going on in there.

Rufus, you’re a fascinating puppy and we’re looking forward to watching you grow. Thanks for being this week’s Sunday Dog.

Say hello to all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs, (including: Meet the Leonberger)

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino

January 12, 2014
Sunday Dog, Rufus – One Big, Lovable Puppy!

There’s nothing quite like watching a puppy at play in the snow, especially when that puppy is a big, lovable Leonberger named Rufus!

At only four months of age, Rufus is already the size of many full-grown dogs and could reach 145 pounds, or more, as an adult.

Despite his dramatic presence Rufus displays his breed’s ability to move with a certain agility and coordination – an almost fluid motion. And, by the look on his face, it's a useful technique when you're not too sure about the clicking camera pointing your way.

Rufus is named for William II of England who was known as William Rufus (or William the Red for his ruddy complexion.) While our Rufus shows shades of rusty red, it’s not necessarily what he’ll look like as an adult. In fact, a Leonburger’s coat may change color throughout its life.

The breed was born in the mid 1800s in Leonberg, Germany after crossing a Newfoundland, St. Bernard, and Great Pyrenees. And, if you look closely, you might see some Rufus relatives in that handsome face.

In Simon & Schuster's Guide to Dogs, the Leonberger personality is described as, “steady, affectionate, and alert, with a sweet expression.” He is “an outstanding water dog,” with “webs between its toes,” (no doubt from his Newfie relatives).

We were especially taken by those eyes! There’s so much going on in there.

Rufus, you’re a fascinating puppy and we’re looking forward to watching you grow. Thanks for being this week’s Sunday Dog.

Say hello to all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs, (including: Meet the Leonberger)

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino

January 12, 2014
“Food Spot” Conversation Is Our Friday Link

One of the best area food conversations this week is over on the Chowhound Boston Board. It's titled, "Best non-restaurant food spots in Boston (or other "foodie" recommendations)" and includes a few of our favorite spots.

James Hook & Company was on the list. This place has been our traditional source for holiday lobsters and the Dungeness crabs we love for our occasional crab feasts.

No list of great Boston area food purveyors would be complete without mentioning Formaggio Kitchen in Cambridge and the South End Formaggio. A visit to our cheese corner will give you a sampling of the cheeses we've enjoyed from these shops.

And, Formaggio is also a starting point when we're inspired to explore the food of a specific region with friends.

A Chowhound regular, 9lives, added Polcari's in the North End to the list and reminded me how long it's been since I've spent an afternoon popping in and out of shops in that neighborhood.

Hop over to this conversation and read the growing list of places you may love or may not have explored lately. Add your own two cents if you wish or just see what others have to say.

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a holiday gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2008-2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino

January 10, 2014