My names not Cooper, but check me out!

February 24, 2009

Working a barrel around 2003.

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Look at me... I'm crazy. CRAZY! I took that barrel apart and scraped it and whupped it up. Then, I put it all back together again. I don't think there were any coopers in my family, but I put my wife, the hard-core genealogist who also whups it up, on that one :)

I have a good friend named Jay Cooper... whose mother was my 2nd grade teacher in elementary school. And yes, they had coopers in their history. With a name like that, you'd better.

But as of now, to the best of my knowledge, my father was the closest thing in our family. I inherited all his winemaking equipment back in 2000 and in it was several tools used by the cooper. Look at that band banger next to the bucket of beeswax. I promptly put it all to work. I've been making wine since 2000, and this cool little 5-gallon barrel that he had needed a refurbish. It was taken care of and it's become a sentimental thing to me now. These pics just show the process. I was successful in this event and I'd do it all over again. I'd whup it up!

Tags: wine , jason , cellar

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Funny thing happened in Rabbit Hash, KY

January 18, 2009

Another cold Sunday found us paddling over the rough, Ohio river waters to Rabbit Hash, KY. We meet at the public landing in Rising Sun to paddle across to see the best kept secret in Kentucky, Rabbit Hash. The General Store attracts many awesome musicians. I mean, awesome. It's almost like a rites of passage thing for any serious musician in the midwest area to play the General Store. If they don't play it free, it's very cheap. They are not playing here for the money, I'll put it that way.

We canoe over there, well, because we like to canoe anyway... and Rabbit Hash it right across the river from Rising Sun. A little walk up the bank on the other side, and you're right in the middle of Americana. Imagine this, you walk in, and you're greeted by the locals with a genuine welcoming smile, there's cornbread and taters on the wood stove, and a buffet of other country-folk food brought by the locals placed there to help yourself. No cover, no charge, just buy your beer, play nice and be merry. Be yourself.

A few friends of mine head over about once a month and I'm in attendance whenever I can. There's ALWAYS great bands that play in the General Store... sometimes in "the barn". Last time I was there, we watched the "Gregory Morris Group." Today, we saw "The Tillers." Just plain out good times, good friends, true music, the good people of Rabbit Hash and the best dutch oven corn bread this side of the Appellations.

But you know what made today's visit exceptionally awesome? As I was shaking hands with the locals and listing to the Tillers rippin' on the dobro and stand-up bass, I was bending over to ladle out a some chicken and and dumplings off the stove and I bump hands with... Jean Robert de Cavel, yeah, that one, the biggest chef in Cincinnati, and he has his little girl with him. And he wasn't the only one with a kid there. This place is essence of my most nostalgic place on earth.

Many of you know my love of cooking... and food/wine experiences, so I'm really interested in what Jean Robert is eating, or not eating. Last time I saw him was at Seven Days for SIDS at the Cincinnati State Culinary Institute... next to the likes of David Cook (Daveeds, in Mt Adams) and other culinary dignitaries. Seeing Jean Robert ladle out the same dumplings as me, is like meeting Donald Trump partying in a trailer park. This goes to show that a true culinary experience... has to be found, and it's alive and well in Rabbit Hash.

The General Store can probably only hold 35-40 people legally. It was shoulder room only and everyone is just happy. Happy on a Sunday. Happy in general. Man, it's really what the doctor ordered.

Tags: canoe , jason , music

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Rabbit Hash Barn trip to see Gregory Morris Group

September 12, 2008

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We did a trip over to Rabbit Hash to see the last show in the barn for the year before they move things back into the General Store. We love Rabbit Hash. We meet on the banks of the river in Rising Sun, Indiana and canoe across the river... which is really a step back into Americana. In Rabbit Hash, the local pets run for Mayor and they insist on keeping life simple.

Imagine... instead of a long line to pay a cover to go inside a place that you really don't care for, we walk right in, no cover, grab a bowl and help yourself to the most delicious home-cooked food in Kentucky. The locals are awesome and anyone who knows the secret of Rabbit Hash becomes a regular.

On this trip, we saw the Gregory Morris Group really lay it down. Shoes came off, corn-bread crumbs hit the floor and the barn was shakin' - Cant wait till the next trip back to Rabbit Hash. Check out the pictures and videos. Sorry about the quality, we only went with what we could canoe over in!

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Tags: jason , music , friends

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The state must love me... for Jury Duty

August 15, 2008

Jury duty... our civic duty. Something that each of us are supposed to do at least one time in our life. Maybe you've been called for it, maybe you've done it... maybe you've done it more then once?

Well, I'm only 36 and I've been called four times now. It's getting old being a whiner. Is that what I sound like? I know my obligation to this country is still lingering over my head since I've talked my way out of it each of the previous times. But, for good reason, in my opinion. Everyone knows I'm P.O.A. for my dad and if I'm not running across country to and from work, or busting late hours at the office, I'm trying to get a second to be a dad, and a decent husband.

Apparently my letters of woe have been taken seriously, because they just throw my name back into the hat to be called again... and the cycle repeats.

They tell you to bring a book, there will lots of waiting, and you will likely be presiding over something intensely wild, like traffic or seat belt offenders. It pains me to think that I could spend a week, or 3 days, or even a day of my life for $10 bucks an hour and worse, more time that I don't have to spare. Kids need fed, bills need paid and ailing dad needs assistance, family wants attention, feeling guilty not being there. Life is cruel sometimes. But, maybe these are the tests that if we pass, we're really are a man worthy of God's countenance upon us.

I think our system is broken, in many ways, but I'll keep it to one thought. If you can afford a lawyer dream team, it all comes down to knowing the granules of the law and having a set of people who want to save your ass, i.e. money. The jurers in there typically don't know the law enough, myself included I'll admit, to possibly offer any intelligence on evidence evaluation, proper ethics associated with the field, the list goes on. Others, arguably couldn't pass a 5th grade civics test. But, most of us with a shred of brain, feel that an offender who beats an officer's head in, or a son that wipes out his family, should be put away for a long time. Again, enter the dream team.

I know it sounds like I'm making excuses, but... I *really* am not interested. Ashamed, maybe a little... How life is right now, still not interested.

Tags: jason , rants

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Flat Rock Canoe Trip

January 05, 2008

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On a brisk, late December morning, the crack of dawn found the fellas and I heading to St. Paul to find some more Indiana water... and some scenery.

A couple of canoes, cameras and some MRE's provided a the fun for the day. The sights included an screeching eagle, a flock of wild geese dragging their wings in the water as they took off, loads of natural rock and river formations and some wild, very cold water.

Take a look at these fine photos and videos and you'll agree that winter is as beautiful as summer.

Tags: jason , friends , canoe

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