Leland,

I didn't intend to occupy space in Texas, let alone for as long as I have. I tagged along with a spouse who got a job here. I hope to escape one of these days. Trouble is, the kids need to be near their Dad more than they need to be in Washington, though just barely. I'd love to sign my daughter up for the Mountaineer's Basic Climbing Course this spring--she's old enough now, and it would certainly give her a good focus.

As to Lapsang Souchong--I just did a big batch of salmon (something whole I found frozen at Albertsons, a pink meat, not red, but anything tastes better when you smoke it!). You know that was a joke--I have never used tea in my brine. I didn't use any Lapsang and it turned out fine. Though I guess you could use it if you didn't have a smoker handy and wanted the smoky flavor. ;-D

I remember Langendorf--I lived in West Seattle until I was 11. We went on a tour there during school, just like my kids go to the Mrs. Baird's bread factory here in Fort Worth. Next to the Miller Brewing plant. We joke that the yeast train makes just one stop. Wasn't Langendorf over near the Rainier brewery? Maybe there's something to that!

Hedge clippers! Ha! Just drop the bag on the bread board and use the kindling hatchet to lop off the top. Then put the hatchet back next to the white and black two-burner trash-burning stove. Those things were ubiquitous in homes when I was a kid, but now I realize I mostly saw them just in the Northwest. Must have been from Washington Stove Works in Everett, or someplace local like that.

SRS