CheeseMonger

Hi friends- I'm looking to get out of the US for about a month+ this winter, give or take, probably January if it matters. I'm fortunate that I can work completely remotely, and can manage the time difference. My preference has always been deep dives into a single place- check my history for that if you wish. So, I'm looking at somewhere maybe west of Lisbon? I loved Porto, but felt I gave Lisbon short shrift last time, and really enjoyed that city. What do you, my worldly compatriots, recommend?

So, obviously some of your questions have been answered....and boy howdy. I've been rewatching the season, and the whole nasty plot against Howard was Kim! Jimmy is a short order cook- great on his feet. Kim is the driving force behind this whole complicated, involved, and dare I say- audacious plan. I see on other forums about how Jimmy "corrupted" Kim, but I think he lit a fire in her. And she loves it. Well, until the consequences.

My cable provider is doing a "watchathon" week, with free Starz, HBO, Showtime, so I'm catching up on some things, and hoping that Gaslit is good. The Martha Mitchell story definitely needs more notice- it's bonkers. I hope that they do her justice.

I know..... I knew it was coming, (except that he was supposed to run) that scene was just brilliant.

Reading though this just now after 18 months of lockdown/covid/restrictions makes me so grateful that I got all this travel in when I did. It also makes me want to get back out there soooooo much. I wonder if the world will ever be open like that again. I essentially travelled based on 1) what looks interesting and with delicious food, 2) what's the travel situation to get there, 3) where can I sleep, and 4) what's the visa situation, and how long can I stay? It was really all so easy. Me + a carry-on bag for about 6 years. I thought I was doing it before I got too old to manag

Put it on a baked sweet potato.

Is anyone interested in participating in a seed exchange? I have 4-5 cool varieties of tomatoes that I plan to harvest seeds from- also have wild plum pits that I foraged this year (and can go get more), and some meaty cucumbers. (I'm in Colorado). There are pods on my french breakfast radishes that I assume are seeds. I'm a bit of a newbie about harvesting/saving seeds, but I feel this could be a fun project, and maybe we can all learn something.

I've been pretty lucky this year. Most of my seeds were in storage for 6 years! and still produced. I planted tons of tomatoes, which started ripening about 2 weeks ago. I have: Romas, San marzanos, little red pears, pomodoros, mortgage lifters and some orange one that I'm not sure what it is. My rancho gordo beans grew- and produced! I didn't plant many of them, and the yield/plant isn't great, so I'm going to save what I harvested and plant next year. Alubia Blanca, Midnight Black and Domingo Roja all were successful. Lots of Romaine and Butterhead lettuces, but boy you have to ca

I have a basil that gets sun all day, and one that gets sun in the afternoon on. The full sun basil is not happy at all- look a bit like yours, with thin sad leaves and quickly bolts. The semi-sun basil is much happier. Still have to watch it for bolting, though.

Oh mongo, how awful! I know how much you love your gardening, especially now when it's one of the few allowable activities. I cherish mine, for sure. I'm sure A is crushed. I don't know if this will help you, but I've enclosed my raised bed in chicken wire- mostly to keep out the prolific bunnies. Perhaps a winter project is to build a chicken wire fort? Maybe if it doesn't keep the little shits completely out, it will deter them. I'm so sorry that you lost it all

This may be a sacrilege to mention, but the happiest plants in my fledgling garden are.... Rancho Gordo beans! I have Alubia Blancas, Midnight Blacks and Domingo Rojos, and they are all about 3 inches tall and thriving.

bolderite mentions Kelly Whitaker, but he's got a new one in Denver called The Wolf's Tailor: https://thewolfstailor.com/ That's been mentioned in some article as a top 6 new restaurant in the country. Haven't been, but thought I'd throw that out. I have been to both Basta and Oak in Boulder. Black Cat in Boulder I like because the food is excellent, and most comes from his own farm east of town. One interesting thing I like in Denver is Comal Heritage Food Incubator. It's essentially a daily takeover by a different group of immigrants, and I've never failed to be impressed by the mission

Tyrannosaur, with Olivia Colman and Paddy Considine. Dark as F. Colman has, to me, been that great actor in the background, that's finally getting her just rewards. She's phenomenal, multi-faceted, sad, sympathetic. Considine, holy crap. The opening of the film had me believing there was absolutely no way I would every give a rat's tiny ass about this horrible man. And then I did. Amazing performances. Highly recommended. (another from channel 4)

I've been pretending that I live in the UK and have been pointing my VPN there to watch BBC and Channel 4 shows. Channel 4: Traitors- a 6 part series about a young woman in London just after WW2 who's using her position to spy for Americans trying to root out Russians in English g'ment. Very entertaining. I love spy stuff, and this is pretty well done. And has the bonus of Keeley Hawes in it. Great clothes. The Virtues: A somewhat predictable story told in a very compelling way. The lead actor- Stephen Graham is mesmerizing. He can be a sensitive caring dude, and when drunk, a col

Everything I've read about her, or seen on TV, tells me that she was really a great lady. I'm glad we got to know her.