My big project, today, was to use smart outlets to save energy by automatically turning off the power to chargers when they aren’t charging devices. Learned the chargers are already smart, drawing almost 0 watts when devices aren’t charging. I’ll look elsewhere for wasted energy.
Category: Home Living
A Preview of Things to Come
I consider myself firmly in an old-age sweet spot, sometimes called the Liberation stage. With the advent of the Covid pandemic, I’ve had to revise my criteria for Liberation. A year ago, Liberation included walking out of our home with only carry-on backpacks on our backs, catching a train to the airport, and flying off…… Continue reading A Preview of Things to Come
Pot Pie Redux
I baked a big pot pie, he cleaned up, more pot pie for dinner on Tuesday.
Internet of Things
Completed moving our Internet of Things over to a new hub. We can control all lights, temperature, etc., via our iPads, phones, voice (using smart speakers), wall switches, presence sensors (motion), or events (e.g., bright sunshine). It’s a geeky hobby.
Transforming Leftover Risotto
Leftover mushroom risotto reappeared as patties, elevated by a salad from warm places.
New Internet-of-Things Hub
Another at-home day: started moving 80+ Things managed by our Internet of Things hub to a different hub. Unlike the Samsung SmartThings hub I’m replacing, this Hubitat hub only needs to be connected to our home network, not the Internet. It’ll be more fast, secure and reliable.
Japan Comes to Me
I’m staying in, giving my brain a rest for a few days. Today’s excitement: the final countdown, just under five hours to go, 28-hour tonkotsu (pork bone broth). If I can’t go to Japan, then Japan can come to me
Mr. Têdé, Socially Distanced
Stayed home, recuperated, maintained social distance from Mr. Têdé.
Three-Day Bone Broth
Walked home, avoiding puddles, with ingredients from an Asian supermarket. Most Americans would throw out some ingredients, but I’ll use them for three days of slow cooking a chicken bone broth, then carnitas, then a pork bone broth. We are not in a hurry.
International Cuisine
Traveled to Japan via Hawaii with Spam musubi for lunch: sushi rice with rice vinegar, fried Spam with a shoyu/sherry glaze, nori, and sprinkles of furikake. The journey started in Austin, Minnesota, also known as “Spam Town USA,” home of Hormel