Photos from a storm chaser

This is a short, six-minute, TED talk from Camille Seaman and it contains some awe-inspiring pictures of storms. That's all I have to say. You should watch this!

Three easy steps for grilling corn on the cob

I love to cook on the grill. Some of my expertise is just intuitive. The rest came from trial and error (what we call at our house "Todd experiments") and a great deal of online research.

I thought it might be useful to share some best practices, great ideas, and successful recipes about grilling.

Here are three easy steps for grilling corn on the cob:

1. Soak the corn on the cob, in its entirety with the husks, in cold water, for at least an hour.
   

• You can soak the corn longer. No harm done.
• I prefer to also place the corn in the refrigerator while soaking, although that isn't necessary.
  
  
2. Grill the corn.
   





• Because the husks have soaked up water it will help prevent them from catching on fire (a little flame can be expected).
• The outsides will darken and even blacken. That is OK.
• Slowly rotate the corn. You will know when, as each side turns from green to brown to black.
  
  
3. Remove the burnt outer husks, after the cob is mainly black and taken off the grill.
   


•  BE CAREFUL because the corn and husks will be extremely HOT to touch.
• I like to wear oven mitts or gloves to protect my hands.
• The first couple of black outer layers will easily peel away and the inner layers can be left on the cob to keep the corn warm until it is ready to eat.

This way to grill corn on the cob couldn't be easier and it yields great results every time. These three easy steps are essentially fool-proof and guaranteed by Charlie. Enjoy!

Out Stealing Horses

Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Out Stealing Horses is a novel with rich, beautiful descriptions that carry the reader through the memories of Trond Sander, an elderly man who leaves the city to live in a remote area. For some odd reason, I immediately connected with Trond, the narrator. His need for loneliness, reflection, nature, and the loyalty of his dog struck a chord with me. Maybe it was the fabulous flowing language and the precise time that was spent dwelling on just the right moments that carried me through his story. Or maybe it was the fact that growing old is both exciting and frightening. What kind of an old man will I be?

Trond tries to bury his lived life out in the wilderness, but he finds that his memories are a part of him, something he can never escape.

Moments of Trond's life are slowly revealed throughout the book. Out Stealing Horses sat on my bookshelf for years after I picked it up for the first time. I should have read it sooner.

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