POSTSECRET

Michael and I went to an exhibit yesterday. It was both amusing and disturbing. The exhibit is called Postsecret. The exhibit is made of postcards on which people write their secrets. Some secrets were funny. Some you smiled at and find yourself nodding your head. Some were sad and tragic. Awful things have happened to people and they felt they couldn't share their secrets in any other way. I walked out feeling a little unsettled. You can visit the web site for POSTSECRET at http://postsecret.blogspot.com/ . The day here in NWA was gray, cloudy, and very cold, but Michael and I did a little shopping and spent time visiting with each other. It was fun!!! A date before Christmas with my boyfriend was the perfect way to pass the time.

Happy Holidays Everyone

This holiday season finds us at home. Dominic came home from Subiaco mid-semester and is at home attending Fayetteville High School. Northwest Health System eliminated Michael’s whole department and he is at home being commodore and full-time Dad. Me, you ask? I’m still working at Siloam Springs in the ED. I guess it’s partially home now after 13 years.
We find ourselves on the cusp of change though. Dominic is a little over a year from graduation from high school. He’s still trying to contemplate what life after high school will bring for him. Michael is dreaming of a bigger boat and blue water. We are plotting, planning, and visualizing that dream. The hospital is the process of acquisition and the future holds some uncertainty.
Earlier this year, we ventured forth from the cozy confines of home. We visited the BVI again in the spring; it was beautiful. Each time we go to the BVI we find new beauty and adventure. We actually got caught in some blue water swells that tested our nerve and sailing skills. You can find the video on YouTube by searching “Mangione and BVI” or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3aCBc9u-og. We traveled with Jimmie and Sue White, also from Northwest Arkansas. It was a great time for making friends and new memories.
Then before the summer ended, we traveled to Aruba. Aruba is much farther south than we have previously ventured. This desert Caribbean island certainly is the play ground of the wealthy. So we swam with the locals, went off road riding, and looked for sailboats. Being away sometimes makes you appreciate home more. In contrast, travel to the BVI feels like home.
This upcoming year is hard to anticipate for us. Who knows what it will bring? We however hope that it brings love and a home filled with happiness and security to you and your family. We hope friends are near and bad times are banished.
Wishing you the happiness of the holidays and a fantastic new year!
Robin, Michael, and Dominic

Baptist Ford Bridge

Baptist Ford bridge is a 308' foot long 10 panel pony truss bridge constucted in 1930. It crosses the West Fork of the White River just south of Fayetteville in a small community called Greenland. This bridge is still used to today. It was the highway route that US 71 followed from Fayetteville to Alma. Perhaps more importantly this route was a major artery in the nation, allowing motorists to drive from International Falls, MN at the Canadian border to Port Barre, LA, imagine all the traffic that once crossed this highway. The new highway 71 which replaced this old highway was recently retired with opening of Interstate 540. There is little traffic on this old stretch of road. It was a fun stop on a warm fall day.

Smokin'

A couple of months ago, Robin and I purchased a Brinkman electric smoker from the local home store. It was inexpensive and I had been craving some good back yard bar-b-que. It seems that most of the bar-b-que joints in our area add something to the meat during the cooking process that generally doesn't agree with my delicate constitution. I think its liquid smoke or something similar. If bar-b-que is smoked with genuine wood smoke, it doesn't seem to bother me. So, armed with the possibility of slow cooking some delicious meats, enter the Brinkman electric smoker and a internet full of possibilities: mops, sauces, dry rubs, cooking techniques, and seasonings.

When it was warm, we tried smoking some ribs. Using the the 3-2-1 method outlined by some of the meat smoking forums on the 'net. This process is fairly simple and works really well. First the ribs are dry rubbed with a seasoning. I prefer Hugh's Rub. The ribs overnight wrapped tightly in plastic. The next day, the process is fairly simple: Fire up the smoker (uhm ok, plug it in), wait until things smoke, add the ribs, cook for 3 hours. Next, remove the ribs from the smoker, wrap tightly in aluminum foil with a splash of apple juice. Place them back in the smoker for 2 more hours. Remove from the smoker, slather on your favorite sauce, and back on the smoker for 1 more hour. This has produced some of the best tasting ribs ever!

The process worked very similar on Mom and Doug's gas fired model. Although the process went a bit quicker because it was difficult to maintain the 225 degree temperatures with the gas model. Still, we had delicious ribs.

Later, back home, we tried roasting a Boston Butt. Again, as with the ribs, we dry rubbed the night before. The butt cooked for about 8 hours and produced a delicious pulled pork. It was actually perfect. The brisket was next on the smoker, it wasn't as good. However with a bit more practice, I think I can get it just right.

This of course brings me to today. After Thanksgiving, the turkeys were cheap at the local mega-mart. We purchased a 14 pounder. This morning at 0600 (that's military speak for too early) I fired up the smoker (okay, I plugged it in) and got ready to smoke a bird. It's been on for 7 hours and looks just delicious. Tonight, it should be a great meal.

For the readers who might think that a 14 pound turkey is just too much food for 3 people. You've not met our son: Conan the destroyer. Who thinks nothing devouring a 24oz steak, or a pound of pasta, or an entire bowl of salad, or all three!

Snow

It wasn't much, but yesterday and much of last night it actually snowed. We played a heated game of scrabble yesterday afternoon in our comfortable clothes. I imagine that we were all trying to act like we were "snowed in". We certainly weren't and could have gone anywhere we pleased but were content to drink hot chocolate and lay around the house.

When I think back on the snow falls of my youth. They all seem much larger than snowfalls of present. Of course living in Eureka Springs adds a few hundred feet of elevation which I'm certain provided additional atmospheric ingredients to provide a proper snow. There were some great snow storms in our recent past. When the conditions were just right and it would snow for hours. Most people still remember these great Arkansas snowfalls because when the forecasters predict snowfall, militiant shoppers hastily purchase milk and bread at the local store.

But back to snow fall. I've got proof that it really can snow in Arkansas if the conditions are perfect. Here is a photo of a "proper snowfall" taken sometime in 1986.

So as the winter season approaches, we are prepared for the big snow storm.