Microblog

Posted Burger Journey.

Did a science experiment: measured soil moisture with an inexpensive (as little as $2 apiece) capacitive sensor wired to a cheap Arduino computer which communicates wirelessly with our home hub. If I deploy this system, the biggest expense will be waterproofing the circuitry.

On our July 4 walk: the neighborhood was a backdrop for a group of Hmong women in traditional dresses. The Twin Cities are home to over 65,000 Hmong people.

After “Foraging for Brioche Buns” yesterday, ground chuck took center stage today. Cycled over to our old neighborhood to an actual butcher shop, Lowry Hill Meats. Tomorrow, we grill thoroughly curated(!), hopefully not cremated, hamburgers.

My bicycling theme today was ‘Foraging for Brioche Buns.’ Eventually struck gold with buns from the very excellent Rose Street Patisserie. I’ve double-bagged and frozen them until July 4. We only make hamburgers once or twice a year, so they need to be good.

On our cycle ride: breakfast view, Lake Harriet.

Celebrated over grilled cheese sandwiches and beer at Longfellow’s. We had been to my oncologist and agreed to resume drug therapy because my tumor is waking up: the therapy could work for years. As a student, I celebrated poor grades, good grades less so. Grateful for good healthcare.

Met a friend early (8:00 a.m.) to cycle to an unassuming bakery in the Frogtown neighborhood of St. Paul. Trung Nam, owned by a Vietnamese family, makes some of the best croissants in town. They sell out fast, hence the early start.

In Northeast Minneapolis, cycled past a node in the global industrial breakfast cereal supply chain.

Hundreds of runners unexpectedly surged towards us, just as we reached the middle of a bridge. The starting line for the Rainbow Run 5K was just beyond the bridge in Boom Island Park.

Locked up my bike outside the Twin City Model Railroad Museum. In a dark room where the lights had failed, other nerdy old guys were pointing their phone flashlights at tables filled with surplus models that were on sale. I did likewise, looked, but didn’t buy.

My first (almost) veggie paella tasted pretty good, but I need to cautiously work on developing a deeper, more caramelized base crust (socarrat). Used Arborio rather than Bomba rice (I’ll do that again next time), and chicken (rather than veggie) broth.

The trails were so lovely today. Ferns on Brown’s Creek State Trail.

Cycled to Wisconsin across a rarity: a working lift bridge for pedestrians and cyclists. Rode in a friend’s truck part-way, then cycled the Gateway and Brown’s Creek State Trails to Stillwater where the bridge crosses the St. Croix River. A new bridge now carries vehicle traffic.

Leftover mushroom risotto tasted pretty good: made patties for dinner. The mushroom, lettuce, tomatoes, and asparagus are all Minnesota-grown.

Posted How to Control a Houseplant Irrigation System.