Decorating the Christmas tree

Some of mommy's more recent hair experiments

Thanksgiving

Thanks giving celebration in Botswana, a great night with great friends!

Breakfast

Every morning Julia and papa have breakfast together, while mommy gets her clothes and hair ready.

Hot in Botswana

It has been incredible hot this last week in Botswana....

 



bar at home

A little home improvement project: a small home bar.....

J1

Smoking meats - the full post



One of the things I always like so much about going back to the USA is the great BBQ places everywhere. Ever since our 2011 trip I have been wanting to make a smoker for smoking meats myself at home. Some research on the internet touched me that the "Big Baby dubble barrel smoker" is one of the best designs.

 

Our gardener and handiman Morris told me he could make it for me, and a few weeks later there was my birthday present:

 The wood goes into the bottom barrel, and the meat on the grid in the top one.

 I was warned by the books that it takes some time to learn how to smoke. The below picture is my first batch of ribs, we should have ordered take-away that night......The temperature was way too high and the ribs came out liek charcoal. The temperature gauge on the outside will tell the temperature, and I have found that between 200-220F works best. No pictures of this first batch of ribs....

 Second attempt: a beautiful Rib-eye. It came out much better, and certainly very tasty, but still crispy on the sides.

 Next a turkey, after brining for 24 hours, then smoking for 7 hours and basting with a syrup and oil mix. Really delicious!

 Next attempt: Texas style smoked brisket: this baby smoked overnight for over 18 hours! The result was better than what it looks like in the below picture.

 This picture does the brisket more justice, once it was sliced and smothered in BBQ sauce.

This is one of my favourites so far, and I have done these twice already! Smoked beef sausages. Yummy.

 Second attempt at spare ribs.....much better this time, and a great success.

 And tonight we did some chicken drumsticks, injected with a beer and chipotle mix and smoked for a couple of hours.....

 ....and then tossed in a spicy sauce.

Next will be some fish, I really want to try and smoke a whole salmon. Anyway, a great new hobby which is a lot of fun, and keeps me out of trouble (or not)...

Johannes

Gig

Jill playing music at a small farmers market 2 weeks ago

Writing

Julia writing her name...

volleyball is dangerous........

Because of a casual afternoon game of volleyball with friends.......



 .......I now have to walk with this until the first week of January.

J1

smoking meats

We are still here.....will try to post some updates in the coming days, have just been too busy since our trip from the USA.

 

However, a small preview of a new found hobby:

J1

random stuff pre-USA trip

Organising some pictures, here are some April and May shots:

 Oops, I was driving the (office) vehicle on the left, on the Western Bypass in Gaborone

 swimming lessons at Waterbabies

 camping trip during long weekend in May, at Stevensford game reserve

 with a special friend visiting from Botswana

some relaxing time in the music room at home

J1

US update

A picture update with what we have been up to for the last week and a bit (complete with some links to some of the websites):

 View from our lodge in Pinedale Wyoming, Lakeside Lodge

 Our (rental) ride in Wyoming, we would love to buy one of these

 float trip on the river getting started

 Julia watching the local cowboys train for rodeo, after eating at the Pitchfork Fondue

 The wedding venue, Ft William

 Next stop, visit to uncle Mike in Esterbrook Wyoming. This is the view from his place on Laramie peak

 Next stop: Denver, with some great Mediterranean food....

 ....and local microbrew

 Denver skyline from our hotel

 Next stop: Kansas City, with some presents from great grandma

 and great Mexican food

 supporting a local rally by the fire fighters in Jefferson City

 And a paddle down the Missourri River

 real holiday: a nice margarita (or two, or three....)

 visit to family in Humansville MO, feeding the catfish

 and trying the tractor..

 Back in Jefferson City: story time at the local library

 and the Cole County fair

and monster trucks

more soon.....

Wyoming

Some pictures of our first day back in USA, in Laramie Wyoming.

 College campus

 more campus

 public park after dinner

swings...

J1