Category: Uncategorized

Obscure America: Joshua L. Cowen

Joshua L. Cowen

Joshua L. Cowen (1877-1965) began inventing things while still a child, and as an adult he patented the photography flash-lamp then secured a contract to produce mine fuses for the U.S. Navy. Another invention was a metal tube containing batteries with a light bulb on one end. His idea was to sell them to business owners to stick in their flowerpots to light up the plants in a store window or restaurant. He ended up selling his rights to a business associate who went on to mass produce the lights for people, not plants, as the American EverReady Company. Joshua then turned his attention to toy trains, which he had been interested in since boyhood. He began selling model trains as displays for shop windows, which proved wildly popular with customers who kept buying the displays. Joshua began manufacturing and selling the trains full time and built the company into the most successful model train company in the country. By 1953 it was the largest toy manufacturer in the world. And if you are wondering why you have never heard of the Cowen Train it’s because Joshua used his middle name for the company, Lionel.

Cheesy Beef And Noodles

We don’t make this recipe often, which might be why it is so delicious when it does arrive on the weekly menu.

Ingredients:

Ground beef – 1 pound

Egg noodles – I package

Small onion – diced

Diced tomatoes – 1 can

Whole kernel corn – ½ can

Onion soup mix – 1 package

Garlic – to taste

Water – 1 cup

Your favorite shredded cheese – a handful (or two!)

Instructions:

Cook ground beef in large skillet or pan until done then drain. Add all other ingredients except cheese and simmer around 20 minutes or until noodles are done. Sprinkle with cheese, and let stand until it is melted.

Assassination

Destroyed But Not Defeated By David Jacobi

The ritual slaying of the attraction

Is not easy to explain

Like the spirit of the Earth

In the most ample sense of the word

The intuitive part of consciousness

Jumps to a religious enthusiasm

Assuming, maybe too cavalierly

To understand the poetic magic

But the final ephemeral flicker

Blazed and burnt out

Like a brilliant comet

In his assassination

They are all dead

I have examined the bodies

They never heard the shot

That drained the vials and stood in silence

2011 By David Jacobi

An Outdoors Family

Our kids outside

Most every weekend when the weather was nice would find us outside. When our children were babies and toddlers we would take them to the local neighborhood park or drive to one of the Des Moines reservoirs and lay out a blanket on the grass and dump a box of toys in the middle. After a little parental encouragement they would usually understand that their boundaries were the blanket, and happily play away the afternoon. Sometimes they would fall asleep while playing, giving us a nice break for awhile. Once they had grown to full mobility the focus became more playground oriented. After that, at around age 6 or 7, we would explore the woods and streams around us (we always had a dog or two to tag along) and that led to road trips and camping, which we all loved. We would wade through streams, collect rocks, skip rocks, fish, hike trails. I usually tried to slip in a visit to a local landmark or museum, but the kids were always anxious to get back to the beach or their bikes. Our son went on to become an Eagle Scout and was a canoe guide for the Scouts in The Boundary Waters for several years. Our daughter and her family get out as often as possible and own both a camper and a boat. Shelly and I have really grown to enjoy the convenience of cabin camping…which reminds me it’s about time to plan our next getaway.

Almost There

Geese In V Formation

A warm beginning to March was chased in by a very cold February. Finally the temperatures drifted above freezing, and then higher. As the days went by the snow, which had been around since December, began to shrink. The snow banks grew smaller and the dark soil of the farm fields emerged. After the first week of March the snow covering the ground all around us was almost gone. The first storms in November had spread around a coating of soil that had blown off of the fields before they froze. Now that all the snow has melted there is a dirty layer covering everything, waiting for the spring rains to wash it off and soak it down. Within the first few days of March the birds began to return to the acreage, including multiple robins. The geese in their V formations are soaring back north, and closer to the ground the flies are buzzing around. Our dogs don’t really seem to care what season it is most of the time, as they roll on the ground as much as on the snow, and will eat anything they find most anytime. Of course as soon as I write about the coming Spring the National Weather Service has issued a a Winter Storm Warning for overnight and into tomorrow. I guess those lilac buds will have to wait a little longer to open up.

Obscure America: Animals

An Iiwi

Here are some obscure American animals. They might not be obscure where you live, but I don’t think I’ve seen any of these here in Iowa.

Amphiuma – aquatic American salamander with two pairs of small feet

Anhinga – long-necked fish eating tropical American bird

Anole – arboreal American lizard with ability to change color

Dowitcher – long-billed North American wading bird

Grison – weasel-like tropical American gray and black carnivore

Hellbender – large flat North American aquatic salamander

Iiwi – bright red Hawaiian bird

Vireo – olive-gray insectivorous American bird

Source: http://phrontistery.info/

Beef Vegetable Soup

This basic soup produces a delicious mixture of flavors when done, and smells pretty good, too. As usual, no measurements are given as I don’t use them myself. I put the piece of beef in a slow-cooker and build up the veggies around it until almost full, then add the liquids to completely cover it all. Season to taste.

Ingredients:

Beef

Vegetables (I usually use raw) such as potatoes, carrots, celery, onion, cauliflower, broccoli, etc. Sometimes I have added canned corn, green beans and peas. Use whatever sounds good.

Barley

Mushrooms

Garlic, oregano, basil, marjoram, thyme, rosemary, salt, black pepper, bay leaf

Beef broth

Tomato juice (sometimes I have used V-8)

Worcestershire sauce

Cook all in a slow-cooker on low for 6-8 hours or until done. Remove bay leaf before serving.