Eric Heupel
@ericheupel
Father, oceanographer, science illustrator, artist, photographer, brewer, owned by 3 cats and 2 dogs. Profile pic is me (grey beard) with my son at concert Banner is a hand carved stencil I made inspired by Japanese textiles. Linktree:
Turned out great! I do need to adjust the ratio of dark espresso chocolate to semi sweet chocolate - or increase the honey. Brenna loved it but with cocoa, chips and the espresso dark chocolate it was a little bitter for me. Still good, but I put butter and a light sprinkle of sugar for half of mine
Great way to start the day (yes I am a serious night owl) they turned out a little too small (next time 3.5-4” diameter I think) and a little too dense a crumb, but the flavor is excellent. Toasted up with butter then added some home made triple berry jam.
Time to add the “mix-ins” - the dough already has 40g of cocoa, a 40g shot of espresso (plus sourdough starter, rye and bread flour, salt and water), now adding 100g split between semi-sweet chips and an espresso dark chocolate. Man I hope this turns out like I hope!
All the veg for tonight’s Thai charred beef salad came out of our own garden!!! Woot! This is the stuff for the marinade. Mash Thai chili peppers, garlic, cilantro stems and a little salt into a paste then add fish sauce, lime juice, palm sugar and a little water. That becomes the marinade/dressing
Every night after dinner Brenna and I watch 1 show together (Currently ST:TNG) and this motley crew joins us every night. front to back: Oreo, Grace, & Mac
Mac has now claimed my side of the bed including using MY favorite blanket (Critical Role/Deven Rue map of Exandria) as HIS blanket. Is nothing Sacred????
Oreo thinks he’s human, worse he’s on my side of the bed using MY pillows!
Started the day watching the local Belmont, VT (village in Mt Holly?) parade a great small town Americana parade, then gentle hike at Buttermilk falls, followed by a slightly harder hike to the Ice Fields in Green Mountain National Forest. Grace (border collie) led the whole way back Good girl!!
Nature just after dark in the mountains of Vermont where we are to escape the fireworks, people and craziness and, maybe, just maybe, refresh our spirits. Running on empty these days. But, just put the next edition of the journal to bed, so many figures including several phylogenetic diagrams… ugh!
Oh yeah, best thing I coulda done to help my mental health today. Of course poor Brenna and my waistline won’t appreciate me returning to baking on the regular, but, wtf gotta go out on a good note.
Grace (the pup) and Oreo (feline) have been friends since we rescued him (neighborhood stray). They occasionally curl up together and cuddle - usually he cuddles up to her belly.
Family celebration since one of the brother in laws came east to attend 50th college reunion at Conn College. I fixed 5 lbs of brisket and 4lbs of pulled pork plus corn bread at my mother in laws… fun times! Grasping and celebrating the little things!
Mac (the Black lab) has ignored soccer balls since he joined us 2 years ago - much to Grace’s joy - seems no more!
After sharing some aged gouda cheese, Luna and I finish our nightly dates with a good brushing while she plays with one of Mac’s favorite toys ( leather, a type of felt, and rope) she LOVES it as much as he does and probably plays with it as much or more than he does.
These two I swear! Notice that Oreo (the cat) is not puffed tail, his belly is fully exposed. This is play for both of them.
That toy was much loved for all of 3hrs. His enjoyment was maximal, but at $9 on sale, not sure we will repeat this one. But in its defense it was a SOLID 3 hours of happy playing.
My partner is used to having water color classes Tuesday nights, but not from now till Fall, so we are now having Tuesday Night “art dates” - both of us sitting at dining room table doing art together, adult beverage, music in the background. In 2 hours I did several sketches this my favorite.
Poor Mac, he sat at the top of the stairs for 2+ hours like this waiting for me to come home from New Bedford.
Pectinid Workshop done!!! I was given a bunch of stickers (have a brand new Nanuk gear case to cover) as measure of thanks from one of the even hosts. Gonna take a while to completely cover this case but it’s gonna be fun!
New Bedford Whaling Museum has one of the largest and finest collections of scrimshaw in the world. I always love studying one or two pieces in detail. Especially ones mariners carved for their lovers back on shore.
Someone left us a wonderful scallop gift! Freeze Dried Scallops. I’m told very popular in China. It looks like aquaculture’s bay scallops, though they have been replacing with their native Chlamys varia species. About the size of a silver dollar. Should I try one?
Now that I have everything setup and have taken the “official” photos I think my work is done (well, show up Monday to pack things back out and get “paid” in lobster. lol in 1700s Groton CT workers rebelled for being paid in salmon and lobster now I am all for it (well from a non-profit at least)