"Carl's Lounge" (Off-Topic Discussion, Traditional Knife "Tales & Vignettes")

[leghog]

Randy is dealing with life (not health issues) and is taking a break for a bit.

 

[Wurrwulf]

Thank you, L leghog ! Hope all is well and to see you soon, Randy!

 

[Railsplitter]

This is probably a mundane subject to most but I felt compelled to post about it because it's a first time experience for me.

Believe it or not, I have never had Chestnuts before. A lady at our local Farmer's Market has a stand set up downtown and she is roasting up some Chestnuts. Said she got them from an elderly neighbor who has a Chestnut tree in her backyard.

These are literally "chestnuts roasted on an open fire" and they are delicious! Hard to believe that I've never had these before. I'm going back for more before she closes up for the day.

 

[WhittlinAway]

Mundane subjects often lead to memorable experiences.

Now that you mention it, I don’t think I’ve ever tried chestnuts either. Thanks for the inspiration to keep an eye out for them.

 

[Jack Black]

Randy is dealing with life (not health issues) and is taking a break for a bit.

Thanks for the update Leghog

This is probably a mundane subject to most but I felt compelled to post about it because it's a first time experience for me.

Believe it or not, I have never had Chestnuts before. A lady at our local Farmer's Market has a stand set up downtown and she is roasting up some Chestnuts. Said she got them from an elderly neighbor who has a Chestnut tree in her backyard.

These are literally "chestnuts roasted on an open fire" and they are delicious! Hard to believe that I've never had these before. I'm going back for more before she closes up for the day.

View attachment 807898

Mundane subjects often lead to memorable experiences.

Now that you mention it, I don’t think I’ve ever tried chestnuts either. Thanks for the inspiration to keep an eye out for them.

Wow, you guys have been missing a treat!

 

[Railsplitter]

I wholeheartedly agree, Jack. I just got back from downtown and unfortunately, the lady isn't there today.

 

[meako]

If you've ever had Japanese confections made of chestnut you would know they are the supreme world chestnut chomping champions

 

[r8shell]

Mundane subjects often lead to memorable experiences.

Now that you mention it, I don’t think I’ve ever tried chestnuts either. Thanks for the inspiration to keep an eye out for them.

They are great, but unfortunately, very hard to find around here.

 

[5K Qs]

Gary, sorry for the loss of your mother. I LOVE the shirt!! I LOVE that you love and wear it. The western/nautical theme is truly adventurous, and hey buddy, the fact you still wear the same size 29+ yrs later is fantastic let's just say I'm twice the man I used to be

You and me both Paul! Sorry for your loss GT
...
Here is a song by the Sheffield cutler's favourite 'poet', Joseph Mather (born 1837), who wrote this song about the gaffer who first demanded cutlers delivered 13 knives to the dozen (George Wostenholm would later push it to 14). Every cutler in the town knew the words, even some still alive today.
...

GT very nice and positive way to remember your mother. I'll echo Paul's envy, how do you stay trim after all the years? I can't even get into last year's clothes I fear

Thanks for the kind comments, Paul & Jack & Will. As for fitting into the shirt, remember that it's polyester, which has amazing "stretchability" in all directions! And, although my job doesn't require much physical activity, I try to get in 30-60 minutes of "vigorous" exercise at least 5 or 6 times per week. My weight didn't fluctuate much from the time I was 17 until about age 62, but I've put on 15 pounds (mostly a "spare tire") over the past 4 years. I've managed to cut back 5 of that, but I seem "stuck" on my current weight. Notice that I cropped my head out of the photo; I work out frequently, but I haven't found any exercises that help my face!!
Jack, those song lyrics are very interesting! Quite impressive vocabulary for "the working class" back then, and amazing how much biblical imagery and allusion is integral to the song.

...
What a sweet memory, GT! A fascinating shirt, to be sure, and it would appear to be very well made, you mother had skills! A wonderful way to cherish your mom's memory, I love it.

5K Qs A unique and beautiful shirt GT. Your Mom's generosity and skills have given you not just a shirt but also a wonderful way to honor her memory, you are a blessed man.

That's really sweet GT thanks for sharing.
Michael

I love the shirt too, Gary !! Your mother had some real skills indeed ! Happy Birthday to your lovely Mother I have many things my mother made for me and I too cherish each piece

Dylan, James, Michael, and Gev, I appreciate your thoughtful words about my mom and the shirt she made. Gev, I'm glad you have some things from your mother to remind you of her!

...
That is a very cool shirt GT, all the more so, for being made with love, by your mother. I'm sorry to hear you lost her too soon.

I dig the maritime theme. One of my pastimes over the last few years has been searching out and collecting old work songs of all kinds - blacksmiths songs to time forging and heat treating; harvest music; convict and soldiers songs, and the like. This kind of metamorphosed into collecting and anthologising probably the richest vein of music attached to any ancient trade: sailors' sea shanties, or chanteys.

That shirt brings a lot of those songs to mind...

Thanks for the sentiments, Chin. I suppose we can't get you to sing some of the songs my shirt brings to your mind?!?

Im sorry for your loss professor, thats a shirt Macklemore would be proud of!

been away for some time working on some rings,

...

Thanks, Jack. Being the geezer that I am, with rather limited exposure to popular culture, I had to Google Macklemore! Those rings sure are cool, but the process is all very mysterious to me! (I remember THAT I read sort of a WIP thread about ring-crafting you once posted, but I apparently don't remember WHAT I read. )

Wear it with pride!

My Mom died 22 years ago today. I have a sweater she knitted which won BEST IN SHOW at the Mid South Fair (Memphis, TN) a couple of years before she died.

Sorry for your loss, leghog. Sounds like a fantastic sweater ; any chance we could see a pic??

Randy is dealing with life (not health issues) and is taking a break for a bit.

Thanks for the update about Randy. I hope he can enjoy the holiday season!

...
Believe it or not, I have never had Chestnuts before. A lady at our local Farmer's Market has a stand set up downtown and she is roasting up some Chestnuts. Said she got them from an elderly neighbor who has a Chestnut tree in her backyard.

These are literally "chestnuts roasted on an open fire" and they are delicious! Hard to believe that I've never had these before. I'm going back for more before she closes up for the day.

View attachment 807898

Mundane subjects often lead to memorable experiences.

Now that you mention it, I don’t think I’ve ever tried chestnuts either. Thanks for the inspiration to keep an eye out for them.

...
Wow, you guys have been missing a treat!

I've not ever tried roasted chestnuts either! When I visited my daughter in Spain about 3 years ago at Christmas/New Year, we saw numerous street vendors roasting them, but never tried any.

- GT

 

[Jack Black]

Thanks for the kind comments, Paul & Jack & Will. As for fitting into the shirt, remember that it's polyester, which has amazing "stretchability" in all directions! And, although my job doesn't require much physical activity, I try to get in 30-60 minutes of "vigorous" exercise at least 5 or 6 times per week. My weight didn't fluctuate much from the time I was 17 until about age 62, but I've put on 15 pounds (mostly a "spare tire") over the past 4 years. I've managed to cut back 5 of that, but I seem "stuck" on my current weight. Notice that I cropped my head out of the photo; I work out frequently, but I haven't found any exercises that help my face!!
Jack, those song lyrics are very interesting! Quite impressive vocabulary for "the working class" back then, and amazing how much biblical imagery and allusion is integral to the song.





Dylan, James, Michael, and Gev, I appreciate your thoughtful words about my mom and the shirt she made. Gev, I'm glad you have some things from your mother to remind you of her!


Thanks for the sentiments, Chin. I suppose we can't get you to sing some of the songs my shirt brings to your mind?!?


Thanks, Jack. Being the geezer that I am, with rather limited exposure to popular culture, I had to Google Macklemore! Those rings sure are cool, but the process is all very mysterious to me! (I remember THAT I read sort of a WIP thread about ring-crafting you once posted, but I apparently don't remember WHAT I read. )


Sorry for your loss, leghog. Sounds like a fantastic sweater ; any chance we could see a pic??


Thanks for the update about Randy. I hope he can enjoy the holiday season!




I've not ever tried roasted chestnuts either! When I visited my daughter in Spain about 3 years ago at Christmas/New Year, we saw numerous street vendors roasting them, but never tried any.

- GT

Joseph Mather was an avid reader, with a scholarly knowledge of the bible apparently, but he never learned to write. We owe it to Sheffield cutler John Wilson, for writing down the words to Mather's songs, as well as a number other popular local cutler's songs

When I was a boy, we collected chestnuts by the sackful, to roast at home. They really do make great food for free

 

[Peregrin]

We have a chestnut roasting pan around here somewhere. We'd find them in the back 40 and roast them in the fireplace. Haven't done it in years though. They are good! A favorite offering of some NYC street vendors too.

 

[Will Power]

Chestnuts are excellent roasted but they're versatile - not at all bad raw as they're sweet (watch out for grubs inside)They make a good stuffing for poultry and the French&Spanish makes cakes and desserts with them in, wait for Jolipapa to see this he'll elaborate Beautiful tree too.

 

[Bartleby]

Here is a song by the Sheffield cutler's favourite 'poet', Joseph Mather (born 1837), who wrote this song about the gaffer who first demanded cutlers delivered 13 knives to the dozen (George Wostenholm would later push it to 14).

I just gave it a listen, from the music, my wife thought it was some form of Christmas Carol LOL! Well, it is almost like a 19th c. Christmas Carol written by the psalmist who wrote psalm 109! Great stuff, thanks Jack!

 

[Bartleby]

A favorite offering of some NYC street vendors too.

That's where I first had them. Didn't see them for quite some time after moving to DFW in the 80's. I lucked out years later, my wife (a native Tulsan) and I introduced my daughter to them from roadside farm stand vendors in Oklahoma.

 

[JB in SC]

Our family loves Chestnuts. Unfortunately, the American Chestnut has almost vanished due to a blight that decimated the eastern population. There are still stands and individual trees scattered across the country, but nothing like those present in the late 1800's.

This photo (1920) of a dead American Chestnut in the GSMNP gives you an idea of what was lost.

 

[screened porch]

Chestnut trees could be split into 4x4s to make a very tidy log cabin.

I haven't eaten a roasted chestnut in years- have to keep my eyes peeled.

 

[Jack Black]

I just gave it a listen, from the music, my wife thought it was some form of Christmas Carol LOL! Well, it is almost like a 19th c. Christmas Carol written by the psalmist who wrote psalm 109! Great stuff, thanks Jack!

LOL! A pleasure my friend

Our family loves Chestnuts. Unfortunately, the American Chestnut has almost vanished due to a blight that decimated the eastern population. There are still stands and individual trees scattered across the country, but nothing like those present in the late 1800's.

This photo (1920) of a dead American Chestnut in the GSMNP gives you an idea of what was lost.

That's very sad What a tree!

 

[mrknife]

5K Qs they are made via lost wax process. so this was the most interesting piece of the bunch. https://imgur.com/a/y54Tc see how it was a wax model? this gets attached to a tree and all of it is covered in plaster. Then the wax is melted out and molten silver is poured into the cavity. Once hardened, these pieces are snipped off the tree and I get my rings.

 

[Peregrin]

Not so good, but better then nothing, Super Moon shots from tonight in Syracuse.

 

[mrknife]

Not so good, but better then nothing, Super Moon shots from tonight in Syracuse.

awesome shots, very reminiscent of the star wars movie i was watching!