BEER BARN

[SilverSpike]

Love that beer tap on the fridge, JP!

Here is a mixed drink recipe that my wife just loves, kinda sweet, but it is her favorite.

Grasshopper

1 shot green or dark cream de menthe

1/2 shot light cream de cocoa

6 ounces cream or milk

Pour over ice and shake, and serve with a fresh mint sprig

 

Next drink recipe: Mint Julep

Remember to drink responsibily, and have a designated engineer in every cab.

[91rioja]

You know, you would think that after 37 years, I would learn to grill a pork chop!  Sheesh!  Internal temp of 150 is NOT the way to go.  45 mins on the grill over indirect medium, and what do you get?  Shoe leather.  My wife rarely eats chops, and every time I fix them, I mess them up.  Oh well, try again next time.

See ya'll at lunch.

Chris

[colvinbackshop]

Well, we did get a little bit of snow over night, but nothing to really speak of...just a dusting. So I still have outdoor chores that I can and should do. Darn!!

 

91: Pork chops on the grill can be really hard to do! For the most part I've given up trying and have gone to doing roasts. I have good luck there! 

But if memory serves (I was cooking at Deer Camp and having a few cocktails too), the one and only time I was successful with chops...I did center cut chops (about an inch thick, cause that's just the way I always have them cut) on an open grate over direct heat. They weren't on all that long, came off seared nicely on the outside and juicy tender inside. On the other hand...There was the year we had the steaks ON FIRE! They were WAY well done!

 

Here's that close-up, giving more detail, on one of my Meininger reefers. This one is fresh from the Paintshop, so it has no weathering, just a shot of Dull Coat.

 

[inch53]

Afternoon,, an old Mill here Joe,,
Well the MRR plan didn't work out to good today. Every time I turned around found something needed doing afore the cold spell, just the way things go I geuss. Did get some time on the layout, just not near what I wanted to, yet. Did get in a couple barley pops though.

Chris,,, when I'm grilling pork chops. I brown them on high heat to seal the juices in. Then turn it down low, for bout 5 to 10 minutes per side or till the juice runs clear when pressed. Comes out good most the time.  On charcol, put the fire to one side. When brown put the chops on the other side and turn them end for end, so one end doesn't get to done. Works the same on a campfire.

JB,,,, like the box car. Did you paint and decal it.  Best get to it, the wife will be home from work soon.
inch

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Set 'em up for everybody, whatever they want, on me. I'll pick up the next 2 pages.

Modems still on the blink, I'll be back when I can.

[mikesmowers]

Thanks Jeffrey,   Right now  I want a case of Jack Daniels for srarters   (no chasers).,,,,,,  Mike

[MisterBeasley]

Mike, you just can't resist the top of the page, can you?  That's OK, this round's on me.  I was given a "Technical Honors" award at work, which comes with real money.  So, I took a drive down to my LHS and ordered a Life-Like Heritage Series 0-6-0, with DCC and sound.  Beautiful little steamer.  Excellent detail and fine sound.  It will be my first sound engine, and it doesn't fit my 1960's layout at all.  At first, it will pull the "Excursion Train" of old passenger cars, but I'm planning to buy a few Jordan vehicles, and then I can swap out automobiles and locomotives and set the time machine back to the 40's.

 

[GUB]

Evening Everyone!

I'll have a Scotch on the Rocks tonight. Busy day, boss is back from Germany, so in all likely hood he will monopolize my time for the resy of the week and probably the next several.

Well I see it's been busy here since I last checked in. Our Thanksgiving Day Extravaganza went off without a hitch. Only two minor accidents, but no fatalities. The Cardboard Race Car had a blowout at the finish line. Driver had only minor scrapes and bruises. Also only one occupant fell off the deck. You'd think putting up railings would prevent this sort of thing. Oh well have another beer.At last count thirty-four relatives and freinds showed up. We had Turkey, Ham, Cabbage Rolls, Perogies, Mashed Potatoes, Yams and Squash and of Course Baked Beans. Lots of Beer and all told 14 bottles of wine consumed and of course we had 14 Pies. Wires must of got crossed on the pies. Pie for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. Apple, Pumpkin, some sort of Cranberry Apple Crumle and did I mention a Pumpkin Cheesecake and a sort of Apple Something or other Cheesecake - very, very good. I don't see a down side here. However the wife is telling me I can have pie only once a day now. Did I mention I LIKE PIE. Sorry for yelling. The Women won the all Canada trivia contest. Not by much though - 58% while the men got 52% and then of course there was the team of Max and Myself - we got everthing right while polishing off a bottle of Glendronach. Next year is the 10th aniversary of the Thanksgiving Day Extravaganza.

Now to get caught up:

Chris - Thanks for the recipes. If all goes well I will be serving the Shrimp at Friday Night's Church. But then again I just remembered something about Friday being TV Dinner Night. My wife has never experienced a TV Dinner. Where do I get Green Tomatoes this time of the year?

Mike - Congrats on the Butting Out. It is well worth it. Keep it up!

JB - Nice Fridge (International Harvester) and very nice Reefer. I can't beleive I just typed "nice reefer". Reminds me of the 70's ... which by the way I can't remember so well ...

Mr. B. - Motley Fuels. Is there any sigifigance to the name?

Silverspike - Thanks for the recipe for the Grasshopper. I have a couple of recipes for mixed drinks, but I hesitate to post the names here due to the subject matter suggested by the names. One is a Pink D __k and the other Slippery N____le.

Well, I think I will have another Scotch, walk home in the rain and the wind. Have a little dinner - PIE! and go to bed. Wait a minute it's to early for bed. Maybe I'll check some of the other posts. As I type there are two or three trains going through town. I love that sound. Reminds me of when i was a kid oh so long ago.

By the way, Bartender the next two rounds are on me. Let me know what the damage is tomorrow. Here comes another couple of trains. It's a good night!

GUB

[GUB]

Good Evening Once Again;

Yes I know I said I had to go. But on the way home I remembered something.

Inch - If I ever figure out how to post a sketch I would like to run something by you. That is my version of the Chatham Depot. You had mentioned there were pot belly stoves in two separate waiting rooms - Women's  & Men's. In my versions i imagine there is a waiting room on both sides of the centre portion serviced by fireplaces in each room. This is quite preliminary at this point.  Can I take a little Artistic Licence here?

GUB

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Got me a new modem and got the MAC adress recorded with SuddenLink. Guess what! It didn't work! I finally got tired of playing games with them and hacked the network and got the modem up and running at full speed.

[tomikawaTT]

Yo, Joe!  A round for the house and a Sapporo for me, please

I was given a "Technical Honors" award at work, which comes with real money.  So, I took a drive down to my LHS and ordered a Life-Like Heritage Series 0-6-0, with DCC and sound.  Beautiful little steamer.  Excellent detail and fine sound.  It will be my first sound engine, and it doesn't fit my 1960's layout at all.  At first, it will pull the "Excursion Train" of old passenger cars, but I'm planning to buy a few Jordan vehicles, and then I can swap out automobiles and locomotives and set the time machine back to the 40's.

No need to do that, Mister B.  Just number that little beauty "31" and letter it for the Strasburg, and you'll be off and running.  Later on, you can add an old Mantua camelback 0-4-0 - Strasburg's #7.

As of today (2006) #31 is in service, #7 isnt (too light!)

A little way off your island, of course - but not really out of your area.

Chuck

[MisterBeasley]

About time to wrap up another day.  I did get to just run trains around with the ladies both out of the house (and my hair) for the evening.

It was going to be the old King Coal Company, but that's been done so many times.  So, I took the name of the once-popular investment handicapper, the Motley Fool, and twisted it around a bit.  I'll have to admit, though, that the reference is probably too old and obscure.  I had trouble finding the logo myself.  Maybe the C. Montgomery Burns Coal and Oil Company, something he did before he got into the nuclear business?  Excellent.

 

[91rioja]

Evening ya'll!

Storming here right now, got a good line of thunderclappers rollin through.

Mr. Beasley, I can see an old man with liver spots on his head sitting in the chair in the office at King Coal Co. with his hands together saying that!

Ryan, I don't mean to be presumptious, but I know you have to have a good gumbo recipe around somewhere.  As a great man once said, "I will play (with trains) for gumbo".

I'll just have a quick Maker's over the rocks please.  Ya'll have a good'n.

Chris

[colvinbackshop]

Let's see...Where to start? Oh yaw, a round of cold ones for the house! First things first.

 

Mr. Beasley: I like your idea of the time machine. On the other hand, I think many roads ran steam, even switchers, into the 60's. I know that here in my area the DM&IR ran steam into 1962 or 64. And hey, it's your RR, you can do as you like. I don't remember if you are doing a freelance, but if so, that can really condense a timeline. I'm exercising modelers license running both old steam (2-6-0 Moguls) and SD-9's in an early 60's setting. We can do that! BTW, Mr.B, is the font size all better? It still looks really big here!

 

inch: Yes, I did the reefer. It started life as an undecorated Athearn BB. The lettering is dry transfers that I had custom made for my brewery. I do like the way it has all turned out! Only wish is that the fellow that did the transfers was still in business...I really do love the way they go on and look like it was truly painted!

 

Chris: I have some really good gumbo and "almost gumbo" recipes. I really got turned onto the Acadian while in the Bid Easy for a nieces wedding a few years ago and have tried duplicating many of the dishes we had while there. That is where the Etouffee idea came from...We had it at the Groom's dinner, along with soft shell crab and so many other yummy things that my mouth is watering even now as I think about it. And GUB regarding green tomatoes, you can also fry red, firm tomatoes. They are just as tasty, with just a bit different flavor.

 

Also GUB: A while back you asked how we came up with the user names we have on the forum.

In a nutshell, here is how I came up with "colvinbackshop":

For many years, all I had was a very small / limited space for my hobby. As a result, most of what I was doing was assembling rollingstock, a couple of steam locos from kits and structures. Along with that, I did the painting and detailing too...With a very "makeshift" spraybooth using a 20" box fan and sheets of cardboard in the widow to move some air. You would have to see it to believe it. Fortunately assembly, painting, detailing, bashing is a part of the hobby that I enjoy and need, so the little shop served well. When I finely moved into the Trainroom...The shop area was one of the first projects to be completed. Thus: Colvin Creek Railway + shop area (backshop, where the heavy repairs are taken on) = colvinbackshop. Here are a few pics of my Paintshop and the Backshop here at the CCRY.

 

 

 

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

I'll take a 5th of Jack Daniels and a large Coke.

It feels so good to be back online. I got bugs worked out of the modem last night and now I'm just zipping around! I took a trip around the world, in 80 nano-seconds.

[MisterBeasley]

Beer.  It's not just for breakfast anymore.

JB, the font size is just fine now.  It looks like all the other posts.

I think I caught the "first half of the 20th century" bug from looking at Bob Grech's pictures.  They're really works of art, and he sets the scene very nicely with the Jordan vehicles.  If I were starting over, I don't think I'd have any diesels at all, but as it is I've got an investment in both engines and rolling stock that's decidedly 1960's.  My yard is full, even with one train out on the main line, and I've still got lots of rolling stock in boxes.  So, I think it will be an adventure to remove all the newer stuff for a while and replace it with an earlier era.  I'm not planning to sell anything, so I can come Back to the Future any time I want.

Welcome back, Jeffrey.  I always feel really out of touch when I'm on vacation and can't log on, even when we visit the in-laws and have to live with dial-up for a week.  I've got a laptop from work now, and I try looking for free wireless access when I'm sitting and waiting somewhere, like when I'm getting my car inspected or picking up my daughter at school.  So far, the only success I've had has been at the "friendly" airports of Lihue, Hawaii, Phoenix, Arizona and Manchester, New Hampshire.  Money-grubbing airports like Honolulu or Boston have only a pay service if you want to go online.

 

[SilverSpike]

Evening ya'll!

Ryan, I don't mean to be presumptious, but I know you have to have a good gumbo recipe around somewhere.  As a great man once said, "I will play (with trains) for gumbo".

Chris

Chris,

What kind of Gumbo are you lookin to make?

I have many recipes, such as:

Duck and Andouille Gumbo

Chicken and Smoked Sausage Gumbo

Seafood and Smoked Sausage Gumbo

Gumbo Zherbes (vegetarian style)

Turkey and Sausage Gumbo

And many more........

[91rioja]

Afternoon all!

I"m still at work so I'll just have a coke for now.  In following with colvinbackshop's lead, GUB, I got my name from a variety of Spanish wine (Rioja) and the best year ever for it (1991), thus 91Rioja.

Ryan:  lemme see, chicken and sausage or seafood and sausage sound really good.  For that matter anything cajun works for me.  Just give me a few pints of Fat Tire to wash it all down with and I'm as happy as a pig in slop.

I'll check in later; I think I hear the boss comin. . . .

Chris

[mikesmowers]

    Evening all,   First off I would like to say I Am Sorry for the post yeaserday, it was one of those days where everything I did was wrong. Ever had one of those days?  So in an effort to kep peace  and friendship here will you all allow me to buy you a drink?
           Today has been a lot better,  I started building another structure, it will be the Coleman Fuel and Oil Co. I think I am going to order some doors and windows for this one and see how they work, I have always made my own but they are not even clost to scale.
      Again Sorry for the outburst, that is not my style.                    Mike

[jeffrey-wimberly]

We've all had those days. They have been and always will be a part of life.

[inch53]

evening all, double brandy Joe, gotta sore throat.
Been over to the funeral home for visitation of some freinds we lost last Fri. in a car crash, 4 in the car, one made it though and is home now. Horse Fly lost his wife, son and daughter in law in an instant. He'll recover, but be along time for body n soul both.

MR. B ,,,, sounds like a good plan for running steam and diesels. I've got 2 steam engines and run as tourist trains. My layouts set in the late 50's early 60's.

GUB,,, glad your get togaither went well. Your dinner sound bout like our thanksgiving feed here. Just add green bean cassorrol,, apple salad, broccoli bean salad [for me]and the wife's home made yeast rolls and 3 loaves of her bread. She makes 8 pumpkin pies, we eat 2 two here, then the kids each take one home. Not kidding, seen this bunch eat a 22# turkey and 16# ham and not have enough to make broth or beans from the bones, and thats just the kids and grandkids.
If ya get it figured out , how to send me a stick picture, Be glad to look at it. Was going to head N. this weekend, but plans have changed. We 4 burthdays last month in the family and 3 this month, so we're doing all the parties at one time this year on Sat. evening.

Jeff, glad you be up an running again, hope it stays that way.

JB,,, you did a mighty fine job on the box car, mighty fine. I like to find somebody to do some decals for the YSL, that's within my price range.
Like your shop area, mines a bench in the train room in front of a window [but I get to watch trains outback], most of my painting is done outside or in my shed, when it's cold.

Ryan,,, sea food gumbo is one my farvorites. Had a good freind, Garver, [WW2 vet] that came down to the AL, knew how to make your Byou gumbo. He had a cabin down there in the swamps. Said me n them would get along just fine. He'd make it on stag nights at the legion, never did last long. He never did give me his recipe,.  #1 makes makes a gumbo thats great.

Mike ,,, no worry feller, you don't know how many post I've wrote and never posted and some I wish I had of

Another double here Joe, stuck with 3 grandsons, and one s a teenager, while grandma an mommy out running round. Wonder if I have enough duct tape. Have a gooden ya'll
inch

[jeffrey-wimberly]

If you mean enough duct tape to keep the teenager quiet (impossible), I doubt it.

[colvinbackshop]

Mike: Didn't realize it was an out-burst! Thought you were just dong some venting! Today has been one of those days for me! Started out BAD at 0730 and just never got any better! Just want to throw in the towel, hang it up, or kick A_ _!! Glade I can come to the Beer Barn tonight.....Maybe I can let it all go!

Joe, cold ones all around!

 

Ryan, Chris and inch: I too have some great gumbo / soup recipes! One of my favorites is based on a soup I had years ago at the Zidder Zee in Albuquerque NM. I've told folk that if you like seafood...you'll love this soup! I cooked it you a group of 50 that I was catering two summers ago...and it was a big hit. Even got to set out on the veranda that night and do a bit of drinking with the "big shots"! If you would like it posted or on a PM...Let me know.

 

Chris: You mention Fat Tire....Wow, don't know of too many folk that even know about it. I love the stuff too. I can't get it here in MN., but when ever I head south, I'm a-lookin' for it. You have also mentioned anything Cajun and étouffée. Can you or Ryan...or anybody else give a translation to étouffée?

Here is a funny story...I have a foreign exchange student who is working as a manager with my girls swim team this season that is from Belgium and speaks French. His English is as good as my French...In other words, we're having one heck of a time communicating. But, just because I had posted the recipe the other day, and not really knowing what the French meaning was, I asked. Well...three days later after looking at a number of different spellings, with English / French dictionary in hand, we have come up with "verb; chock". Sorry, but I'm chocking my shrimp?? Maybe it's Cajun French, French Canadian, Acadian......? Any ideas?

 

Thanks for the kudos on the reefer inch...I'm pretty proud of it. And BTW,

I may have a handle on someone who could / would  make decals for you, at a reasonable price! Maybe do the artwork (if you need it) too. We'd have to do some talking...here or on the PM thing.

[MisterBeasley]

Black coffee and an onion bagel, heavy on the cream cheese.  (Just like what's on my desk at work right now.)

A bit if a departure for dinner last night - Eggplant Parmesan.  The little woman picked up a fresh, organically-grown eggplant at a local farm stand.  Also had some G-scale rigatoni with home-made pesto, and broiled garlic bread.  Cooks for a long time in the oven, so I'd already had enough beer by the time we got to the table - switched to a glass of milk.

Nice reefers.  Don't be afraid of making your own decals.  All it takes is the right decal paper (inkjet or laser, clear-backed or white-backed) and you can do it yourself on a computer.  You'll need some Microscale Liquid Decal Film.  I'd also advise Micro-Set and a spray-on coating, but you need those even for regular decals.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning and top 'o' the day to all of ye.

I'll have some lamb chops and a big cup of Irish coffee.

 

[inch53]

Mornin, irish coffee Joe, abit cold outside this day.
Grand daughter J Bird spent the night here, think she be here all day. They put her other grandma in the hospital last evening. Think she's got meningitus, running test, geuss we'll find out laters today.

Jeff,, no I didn't have enough duct tape for the kids. They kept chewing through it.

JB,,,, I'll let ya know on the decals. I need somebody smarter than me to do it on this thing. I sure can't figure it out, know what I want, just can't get there from here.

Mr. B,,, may try your idea for the decals, but like I just told JB, don't know how yet.

Jeff,,,,, I'll pass on the lamb chops. Don't care for mutton less it's BBQ

Best get ta mornin chores afore my helper wakes up. Hope ya'll has a gooden
inch

[SilverSpike]

Colvin, I looked up the literal translation of étouffée and here is what I found:

In French, the word "étouffée" means, literally, "smothered", from the verb "étouffer" meaning "to stifle, choke or suffocate."

Usually I make a shrimp or crawfish étouffée and serve it over rice.

[MisterBeasley]

Mr. B,,, may try your idea for the decals, but like I just told JB, don't know how yet.

Are you implying that I know how?  The fact is, I have made precisely one sheet of decals.  The first time I put one into a bowl of water, all the ink immediately dissolved and settled in the bottom of the bowl.  Then I read the directions.  Since then, I've had pretty good results.

For the price of a trip to the theater to see a Jennifer Lopez movie, you could be sitting down in your basement putting your own decals on freight cars.  But remember, they won't let you drink a beer in the theater.

[colvinbackshop]

Well...Guess you know (by now) I'm not an English major!

This now makes all the sense; smothered, "to stifle, choke or suffocate."

Thanks.

[91rioja]

Hey all,

After the day I've had, I need a beer!

Colvin, drop me a PM and I'll hit you with my email; I'll gladly take any Gumbo recipe or even etouffee off your hands (Ryan, that goes for you too).  It's gettin colder here, so time to do some spicey smothered things.  And like you, I can't get Fat Tire here in NC.  The last time i had any was about 2 years ago when our Production Manager went back to Colorado to pick up the rest of his belongings.  He had a Uhaul that was only half full, and asked if any of us liked Fat Tire.  I had him bring me back 3 cases (I think he brought back 5 of his own).  Wish I had one now.

Oh well, I'm heading to Hilton Head South Carolina tomorrow morning early.  Can't wait, finally some time off from work to do nothing.

Ya'll have a goodn.

Chris