The Great Joys of Summer…

Two of the greatest joys of summer are

Cold, juicy watermelon

And fresh garden tomatoes

 

Watermelon screams summer to me and always has.  It was a regular family treat, to be eaten  after chilling on ice and sliced into chunks on the backyard picnic table. So very cool and refreshing, so sweet and juicy, running down your chin and staining your t-shirt.

I know it has become a  must-have, Fourth of July symbol but I’ve always thought the August and September Melons  have the greatest flavor, and we usually buy more then. My wife and I bought a 16 pounder last night and  about 10 pounds are left. I had watermelon for lunch. I’ve been known to eat watermelon for breakfast. I make a great Watermelon Ale. I think I’ll cook up a batch on Monday and it should be ready for drinking by the end of September.

I feel almost as strongly about tomatoes. Fresh from the vine, garden grown tomatoes. Not those  flavorless, gritty, imposters decorating the  shelve of your nearest supermarket, I’m talking about the kind of tomatoes your neighbor, or perhaps you, grow in your own garden, or the kind you can buy at farmer’s markets or your local food co-op right now. The kind bursting with tangy sweetness that you slice and serve with  a little vinegar and oil, some fresh chopped basil, a little pepper, some slices of buffalo mozzarella and a good crust bread. A cold beer goes well (perhaps a watermelon ale) or a glass of good Chianti. This is food paradise, my friends. I think I’ve just planned dinner. Watermelon for dessert.

I seldom eat anything but canned or sun-dried tomatoes in the off-season. I know the stores are stocked year round with red imposter and I sometimes succumb to a pretty face, but I’m always disappointed.

One last word on watermelon. A few years ago a produce man of my acquaintance told me to purchase watermelon by choosing  the melon that seemed to weigh the most relative to size. I’ve not had a bad melon since. I also like the  new seedless varieties which seem to have taken over the market, but kids who had never had a watermelon seed spitting contest with their friends and siblings, are really missing something.

 

effin two-a-days

Poky on the practice field.

I really hated two-a-days in high school. You know, in the two-week period before school starts when you’re practicing and working out twice-a-day in the heat. Still, it’s a sign that autumns it just around the corner. I know my friends and colleagues are getting ready to go back to school, but for the first time in 21 years I’ll not be among them.  One advantage of  being retired is that I am no longer in a position that requires my neutrality with regard to school sports. I’m a Poky fan. Go Indians!

Pocatello Ranks 6th…and that’s good!

Good article in the  Idaho State Journal this morning which reports that Pocatello ranks sixth in the nation in the Forbes magazine list of the 100 least expensive places to live. Folks I have said it here before and I will say it again, “Pocatello is a Great place to live!” Where in the Pacific Northwest can you find what we have here at such a low cost? Housing ins more expensive in Blackfoot for heaven’s sake and they don’t have a University with all that comes with it.  We have cultural diversity, we have culture, we have  dedicated people working to make Pocatello better. Think of the ISU Civic Symphony, The L.E. & Thelma E. Stephens Performing Arts Center, The Idaho Museum of Natural History, Holt arena and ISU Sports. We have a decent daily newspaper, the Idaho State Journal and a one year old Alternative Monthly, The Bannock Alternative  (Here’s to TBA going Weekly sometime in the not too distant future?)

Stephens Performing Arts Cntr.

In Old Town Pocatello, we have the Weekly Farmer’s Market, Revive at Five, the First Friday Art Walk and events like last week’s Pocatello Pride Festival, the Pocaroo Music Festival and  more. It seems like something  is happening every weekend. This weekend it’s  the Bluegrass Music Festival at the Bannock County Fairgrounds.

We have great Bars like the First National, The Flipside Lounge, and many other watering holes all over town. Something for everyone.  We have The PortneufValley Brewery for great beer , good food and good music. Like good food? In Old Town alone you can get Italian, Thai, Chinese, Sushi and Japanese Fusion, Greek, Indian and Tibetan, Colombian,  Mexican and  get great sandwiches with a side of homemade potato chips. Not a single one of these places is chain or corporate , just local folks doing their thing. In fact Old Town and all Pocatello has many, many locally owned and operated business. The box stores and   corporate behemoths haven’t killed us yet.

ISU Quad from Red Hill

Fishing Hunting, Skiing, we live in the great  the outdoors. Sure, Jackson has the Tetons, but can you afford to live there? You can afford to live in Pocatello amid  our own beauty and  yet the Tetons lie close at hand;  visit them when you want. Hiking and walking, mountain biking? Try the City Creek Trails, s Jack,  Scout Mountain, or any of the growing number of trails in the Portneuf  Greenway System. Last week on Gibson Jack I was hiking through beautiful Aspen groves, yet I was only 15 minutes from Downtown Pocatello.

Revive at Five

We have a great school system, despite the effort of the legislature and the governor to drive public education into the dirt. We have  religious diversity, political diversity, civic pride and a concern for the welfare of others. There is something here for everyone. It’s a great and beautiful place where you can afford to live. Pocatello deserves its high ranking on the Forbes list. Let’s just hope that it doesn’t cause too many people to want to move here.

Related articles

• The 3/50 Project: Perfect for Pocatello (billspeasoup.wordpress.com)
• Riverfest: Another Reason To Love Pocatello (billspeasoup.wordpress.com)
• Pocatello Pride Celebration (billspeasoup.wordpress.com)
• One more reason to love living in Pocatello: Portneuf Valley Farmers Market (billspeasoup.wordpress.com)
• Happy Birthday, Pocatello Co-Op (billspeasoup.wordpress.com)

PARTY DOWN IN OLD TOWN!! Sponsored by the Flipside Lounge

Time	Saturday, August 27 · 5:00pm – 11:00pm
Location	Parking Lot Across from Whitman Hotel on Main St. Pocatello, ID
Created By	Catagory3, Kc Andrew Hensley, Jamie Bailey
More Info	Old Town Block Party!!!!! ALL AGES!!! FREE!!! Boy Eats Drum Machine: http://www.facebook.com/boyeatsdrummachine the angry orts: http://www.facebook.com/theangryorts Category 3: www.facebook.com/Catagory3 DJ Haze DJ Tooie:http://www.facebook.com/pages/DJ-Tooie/147156678667387 DJ Skittish: http://www.facebook.com/DJSkittish Vendors, food and crafts! There will be beer served in the beer garden.

Happy Birthday, Pocatello Co-Op

The Pocatello C0-Op turns 4 this week and they are celebrating all week long. Stop by and help them . If you’re not a member, consider becoming one, but don’t let not being a member prevent you from enjoying this great store. It’s local vegetable season. They do special order.   Here’s their special invite to you:

The Co-op is turning 4! We would love for you to stop in and help us celebrate! Everyone will be honorary members all week, from 8/22-8/27, and will save 7% at the register and 15% off of special orders. If you are not a member and shop that week you will be entered into a drawing to become a member.

And to show our members how grateful we are we will enter you in a gift certificate drawing, one entry for every $10 you spend in the store. You can use the gift certificate for in-store purchases or special orders.

We are so glad to be here for everyone and can’t wait to see you here!

Thank you Pocatello, for four fantastic years, and many more to come!

Pocatello Pride Celebration

Among the many things happening this weekend, perhaps the most significant is the Pocatello Pride Celebration which actually started yesterday (Thursday) and continues through tomorrow. On Aug. 20 the Pride Festival will take place in the Old Town Pavilion from 2-10 p.m. This will be a family friendly environment that will include booths for face painting, hair coloring, balloons, dunk tanks and more. Sounds like a load of fun and I hope everyone gets an opportunity to participate. I know that the bigots and christo-facists always get their panties in a twist  over this festival ant his year has been no exception, but folks, Pocatello is for all of us. Unfortunately the death of my father-in-law  has me involved in family life events and I’ll be unable to participate this year but I shall attend in spirit.

Gibson Jack

Layla walked me for a few  miles on Gibson Jack this morning, another of the many great trails close at hand here in Pocatello The trail is within the Pocatello Ranger District of the Caribou National Forest. . Just a few miles out on the old Bannock Highway, turn right on Gibson Jack road and drive to the dead-end where the trail begins. The trail follows Gibson Jack creek for most of the route and allows for about an 8.75 mile hike with a 2200′ gain in elevation It’s a medium difficulty trail and sees a lot of use on weekends but was uncrowded today. We encountered only two other people. Wear good shoes and watch your footing as there are stretches of loose, rocky trail  and it would be easy to turn an ankle. In addition to pedestrians and mountain bikers, horses are  sometimes seen on the trail o there could be a road-apple hazard. The scenery is magnificent, wildflowers abound and dogs love it. there are enough points along the way for dogs to water or wade in the creek.  Really good hike in the fall with lots of Aspen and other foliage. Hope you enjoy the pics.  See you on the trail.

Looking back toward the gap.

Nice view of the burned side of Chinese Peak from Gibson Jack.

 

Something feels different, not bad, but different!

  My educator friends are getting ready to return to school and I’m not, for the first time in 21 years. Feels different  for sure.   But it doesn’t feel bad, just different. There new things  do and new avenues to explore , but this week is the first time it has felt different. I’ll enjoy my retirement, such as it is, and  spend some time with other interests and perhaps develop some new ones. Take some classes at ISU? Learn to weld? Art classes? Distinct possibilities, for sure. I’ll have to find some part-time work soon, as I need to supplement the pension and SS  a bit so we can have a few extras.  I have plans for the Blog too, so keep checking.   To all of my friend who are returning to their classrooms, keep fighting the good fight. You are my heroes.

The Burn!

Burned area as of about 10a.m. Seenfrom Portneuf Rd.

For about the past 24 hours firefighters have been dealing with a brush fire south of town. Probably close to 3000 acres have burned and as of a out 10a.m. this morning  it was only about 20% contained, according to the ISJ.  Folks were evacuated from homes and businesses in the area but the evacuation order has now been lifted. One home destroyed, luckily no injuries reported. Communications facilities atop Chinese Peak were threatened.  Police are investigating the possibility that the fire was started  by some minors doing stupid stuff.

Brain Food?

Starts at 6:00pm, Center Street Clubhouse.