The Male Martha.
New England Living!
Cape Cod to Canada!

With all the hustle and bustle,stress and strife in our life, take a moment to Relax.....ALL WEEKEND!      Clean the house at a leisurely pace.    Read a good book and shut off the phone and the internet!    Try to be human and hang with friends.

                                   

The weather here in Maine is going to be very cold and wet, so what better way to warm the cockles than to have baked beans.    If your from another part of the country and never had this dish...well now is your chance.  

These beans take a lot prep and cook time, but there’s nothing better.  So start them in the morning..just like grandma would have done!   Sunday is the best day for this!

Ingredients:

2 pounds of beans (usually pea beans, yellow eye beans, soldier beans, jacob’s cattle)

1/2 pound of salt pork,

1/4 cup sugar,

1/2 cup molasses for light or 2/3 cup molasses for dark,

2 teaspoons dry mustard,

1/2 teaspoon black pepper,

1 1/2 teaspoon salt,

one onion (optional)

Preperation:

To Begin: two pounds of dried beans - usually Navy beans, yellow eye beans, soldier beans, jacob’s cattle. For those of you who have never had baked beans, they can be prepped in two ways:

1) soak overnight in cold water

2) par boil

If you choose option one: be sure the pan you choose will hold the two pounds of beans, once the beans have soaked up the cold water you are going to cover them with.

If you choose option two: par boil the beans (starting w/ cold water), until their skins break apart, when you blow on them.

On the day you bake the beans, preset oven for 375 deg. The first two hours of baking are at 375 deg, the last four hours are at 350 deg.

Whether you use option one or two, the next step is the same: Drain the beans and place in bean pot, then add the rest of the ingredients listed below.

1/2 pound of salt pork,

1/4 cup sugar,

1/2 cup molasses for light or 2/3 cup molasses for dark,

2 teaspoons dry mustard,

1/2 teaspoon black pepper,

1 1/2 teaspoon salt,

one onion (optional)

Maine tradition serves this bean dish w/ fried ham slices , coleslaw, or green salad. Brown bread, corn bread, or a homemade yeast bread are nice additions.

Relax and enjoy some fresh air, go for a walk or check up on that friend or friends you haven't been able to see in a while!

until we cook , shop and explore again!

Dan Viger

The Male Martha @ Home @ Hollis 5 Corners, Maine.

The year before last, I had found an excellent speciman of a wild apple tree in the woods..or what is woods today.   The land my home sits on was part of a very large farm with wide open spaces.    In the back of the property you can still see the remnents of a very large field used for farming. 

                                                              

The year I planted the wild apple tree or relocated I should say, I grafted bosc pear stock onto the tree.    What resulted was a fruit that looked like a yellow apple but tasted exactly like a pear.  Juicy,crisp..magnificent actually.  The tree made two fruits and that was it!    This year after pruning, we should see alot more fruit!

Today I did something very different.   An experiment actually!   Everything I have used with a number 8 rooting powder from hormex has taken root!  Absolutely everything from concord grape vines to female bayberry plants.

I am going to try starting a graft and a root cutting at once and see what the results will be.  I may be pushing my luck, but with a controlled environment and a wee bit of luck I may be starting something interesting!

You can do this with most any fruit tree, just make sure you try to get somewhere close to the same genous.

This is essentially surgery, so make sure that everything that touches the plant is clean if not sterile.   Bacteria can most certainly kill a plant.    A pair of pruners to cut a good strong runner or tip branch from the tree.    Cut just below a leaf node.

Do this with each tree.  next choose what end is going to be rooted.  I chose the apple cutting to be the root stock.  Cut the bottom next to a node at a 45 degree angle.  Next cut the top part creating a "V" cut.

With the pear tree cutting and make sure that you cut so that you create a wedge that will fit into the "V" cut make sure that you remove a bit of the bark around this cut.   dip both ends in fresh water and slip the pear end into the apple end so that it is a tight fit. 

Using a piece of tape,medical tape works best, wrap the two trees together very tightly as to let no further air into the wound.

Dip the apple end that you will be planting into your Number 8 or high strength rooting powder or gel.  

Make a divit into your pot, it must contain a very good potting medium.  If your potting soil contains a microrhiza...that would be perfect!   Place the cutting very deeply into the divit and press the soil around the cutting.  Let's see what happens over the next few weeks.   Keep the soil very,very moist but not sopping wet.

in about three weeks we should have a new tree with buds.   Patients is what you going to need with this project, because there is alot going on here.  Grafting and rooting.  Keep this in a sunny and warm area.     I'll show the results as they come along in a month or two!

Until we cook, shop and explore again!

Dan Viger

The Male Martha @ Home @ Hollis 5 Corners, Maine.

     

Guy's have finally got it....  Well some guys...    The "Gay boys" have always gotten it!!  Fashion..good skin care and looking your absolute best..no matter what !     If your gay and single....the competition can be fierce....   You want to land "the one"...  I was lucky with Rich.. I just opened the door and said!!   Welcome to my house of Love!

 

One girl I work with says "it's incresingly hard to distinguish between a str8 guy and someone who is gay... the lines are so blurred!"     

She might be right!!

Freeze!!  Turn this next video up...then continue reading!!

                       

 It's all about looking better! 

You don't have to buy mac...you can order on line through www.4voo.com     The other thing you can do if you have the Bawls......  Is to actually go up to MAC or Clinque counters in the larger city's or go to any Sephora make up counter and often find a male makeup consultant.  These are the proffessionals who can lead you in the right direction!

Yes... just like a women applying for a job... Men also have to look good... When your in sales or customer service..this can hold true more than you know!   It may even give you a boost in your interview for a job!   Looking good, being polished may give you that edge you need!  

Until we shop, cook and explore again!!

Dan Viger

The Male Martha @ Home @ Hollis 5 Corners, MAINE.

What a freaking fantastic change in the weather!!   Well for Maine anyway!!   The weather has warmed significantly and the snow clouds are on thier way out!!   With just 54 days until spring  I coudn't be more excited!!  Lets see whats growing and a few shot's of Hollis 5 Corners, Maine!

 Minature Daffodils and Pansies are in continuous bloom!

Spinich and Lettuce growing, growing growing.. not bad for two weeks!!

Save Money.. grow your own coffee...lol!!!   Maybe next year with the larger green house.. I can start doing up "The male Martha Blend....$1000.00 per pound?   Hmmm never know it could happen!!  LOL!!

  Spring Hyacynth...Pink of course!

Nothing like the Vanderbuilt gardens that Richard and I will be viewing in just a few short months ..for the festival of flowers..but it's pretty darn spiffy for weather like this in Maine!

  It hit 40 Today!!  No kidding!

The stress free chickens were in heaven!!

Until we cook shop and explore again!!

Dan Viger

The Male Martha @ Home @ Hollis 5 Corners, Maine!

What a great night out.. Chinatown and "The year of the Dragon!"   Although I have to admit.. the dragon last night was a little wet!   

Last night at Jade garden..  Can I just say WOW!!    Not only was it packed...but the food was amazing!    Yu Cao (the manager) greeted us almost immediately through the throngs of people clammering to get inside!     It was really amazing to be treated so special!     He is definitely one of the reasons why Jade garden 18-20 tyler street, Boston is as magnificient as it is!

I wish that I could say that blogging is my full time job...sadly it isn't!   This week was tough ..long hours between two hospitals.5 twelve hour shifts....and lot's of truly ill patients..makes for a very tired Dan...and of course the second I doze.. someone..named Richard....is there to take a picture!

On the Menu was: Peking Dumplings, Hot and Sour soup, Beef Chow Foon and General Tsao's Chicken!    

You may ask why we often go to Boston for chinese food....  Well..the reason is ..You can't get chinese food like this anywhere in Maine.    Although there are a few good resturaunts in Maine, more in the portland area,,,,service is usually poor and the food..(although locals would disagree) is average.   In five years of living in Maine.. I have yet to go to a resturaunt that makes me want to visit more than once.

Beef chow Foon on the left..and general Tsao's chicken on the right!

Look @ Rich.. always willing to share!!!   General Tsao's chicken is a spicy favorite of Rich.   Jade garden has an amazing way of preparing the light and crunchy batter with just enough spice to say.."Hey there!!".

The tea is a puh erh red tea.

Take a look at some other night time sight's around china town last night!!

Peking Duck anyone?

Who Knew Ga Ga had a resturaunt?????

Boston at night and any time...is one happening place to be..    You can feel a pulse..it's like no place else on earth...

  Ok I know.. A little much!!

Get out there and explore and  see some other cultures!!  Life is short..

Until we cook, shop and explore again!!

Dan Viger

The Male Martha @ Home @ Hollis 5 Corners, Maine.