Welcome!

Posted Sat, 08/15/2009 - 10:33 by David

I'm a photographer with a blog and a breadmaker in Portland, Maine. Learn a bit more about me here.

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Further Evidence of the Apocalypse

Posted Mon, 05/31/2010 - 20:29 by David

CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS<br /> This plaque was dedicated by Chapter 111 Alumni by former members of the Civilian Conservation Corps in memory of Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the members, who served at this post and other C.C.C. camps in Maine and throughout the United States between the years of 1933 to 1942.<br /> Dedicated August 1986

(Click the picture for a close-up view.)

New York Style Bagels

Posted Mon, 05/31/2010 - 19:36 by David

Click here for more great bread machine recipes that actually work from www.DavidBMerritt.com.

New York Style bagels
New York Style bagels

This recipe makes 6 large or 8 smaller bagels (or 12 to 16, if you use the amounts of ingredients listed in parentheses). It requires a fair amount of effort, but it's fun and the results are well worth it. These bagels should rival those in your local Jewish deli, if you're lucky enough to have one.

The secret to true New York style bagels is the barley malt syrup. It's what makes bagels really taste like bagels. Also, yeast loves malt syrup. You may be able to find it near the molasses in your supermarket or health food store, or home brewing supply store. My local market doesn't carry it, but I found it at Whole Foods. Trader Joe's probably carries it as well.

Angry Mob Play Set

Posted Sat, 01/30/2010 - 11:28 by David

Angry Mob Play Set


Every child should have one, for playing "Rampaging Villagers vs. Misunderstood Experiment Gone Horribly Wrong". Don't you think?

(Click the pic for a close-up view.)

Chocolate Brioche

Posted Tue, 01/26/2010 - 23:48 by David

Click here for more great bread machine recipes that actually work from www.DavidBMerritt.com.

Chocolate Brioche
Chocolate Brioche

There are those who might say that swirling sweet, dark chocolate through a loaf of rich, delicious brioche is unnecessary, it's gilding the lily, it's some sort of desecration. To those people I say, "What's the matter, didn't you get any?"

This recipe makes two 1 1/2 lb loaves, and like my Braided Brioche recipe on which it's based, the resulting bread is seriously not good for you.


First Tee of Maine 2009 Helicopter Golf Ball Drop

Posted Sat, 11/07/2009 - 12:00 by David
First Tee of Maine 2009 Helicopter Ball Drop
Slideshow        Album

On Saturday November 7, 2009, the First Tee of Maine held its First Annual Helicopter Golf Ball Drop at the Purpoodock Club in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. What on earth is a Helicopter Golf Ball Drop, you ask? I'm so glad you did.

The First Tee of Maine is Maine's chapter of the national First Tee program, which "provides young people of all backgrounds an opportunity to develop life-enhancing values such as confidence, perseverance and judgment through golf and character education". Its facilities are hosted by Riverside Golf Course in Portland, where I'm a member. (I originally got involved with the First Tee of Maine through the annual Junior Golf Classic.)

Pumpkin Carving - The Legend of Peter Peter

Posted Sat, 10/31/2009 - 12:00 by David
The Legend of Peter Peter
Slideshow                           Album

"Peter Peter pumpkin eater,
Had a wife and couldn't keep her.
He put her in a pumpkin shell,
So she damned his soul to eternal Hell."

So begins the version of the nursery rhyme the big pumpkins use to scare the bejeesus out of the little pumpkins late on a frosty night in October. And that's what I used as inspiration for my entry in the "Barnes' Umpteenth Annual Halloween Party Pumkin Carving Contest", seen here ready to make small children laugh on my steps Halloween night. ("That pumpkin's puking, Daddy!")

Halloween Costumes at the Gold Room with Motor Booty Affair

Posted Fri, 10/30/2009 - 12:00 by David
Motor Booty Affair
Slideshow          Album

Halloween is my wife's favorite holiday. She loves dressing up in costumes, and seeing everyone else dressed up in costumes, too.

This year we went to a concert/costume party at The Gold Room, featuring Motor Booty Affair. The music was great and some of the costumes were FANTASTIC.

Lesley dressed as a Southern Belle, and managed to get me into a hat, vest, star and boots such that I was plausibly a Sheriff. We went with our friend Kristen, who was a Viking Warrior. You'll see us in the pictures.

Before we went to the concert, we dropped in at a costume party at Kristen's cousin Cullen's house. There were great costumes there, too.

Halloween Costumes 2009
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You can never have too many costume parties on Halloween!

I definitely favor the home-made costumes over the store-bought variety. I really liked Shrek and Fiona. The transformer-like guy's costume was home-made, too. If there had been a contest at the concert party, he clearly would have won.

Click the links to see slide shows (or to visit the albums) of both the band and the costumes.

First Friday Art Walk

Posted Sun, 10/04/2009 - 19:51 by David
First Friday Art Walk, Portland Maine
Slideshow        Album

The First Friday Art Walk is just one of the many great reasons to live in Portland, Maine. The Art Walk is a free, self-guided tour of local art galleries and other venues that takes place on the First Friday of every month. On these evenings, downtown Congress Street is taken over by throngs of art lovers, artists, street performers, various freaks and geeks, and a few straggling commuters just trying to get out of the city. It's a blast, except parking is impossible.

If the mission of First Friday Art Walk is "to open the doors of Portland's visual arts community by joining together and introducing a wider audience to the unique vitality of the artists and venues of Portland", they certainly seem to be succeeding. More than 60 galleries and other venues open their doors to the public, many serving food and drink to a never-ending stream of visitors.

Common Ground Country Fair

Posted Sat, 09/26/2009 - 10:39 by David
Pictures 2009
Slideshow: 2009 Common Ground Fair
Slideshow                     Album
Pictures 2008
Slideshow: 2008 Common Ground Fair
Slideshow                     Album
Pictures 2007
Slideshow: 2007 Common Ground Fair
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Click the Pictures for Slideshows from each Fair

The Common Ground Country Fair (its proper name) is celebrated each year by MOFGA, the Maine Organic Farmers' and Gardeners' Association, at its Fairgrounds in Unity, Maine. 59,000 people took part in in the Fair in 2008. This year's Fair took place on September 25, 26 & 27.