DAILY PHOTO: Headstone Sales in a Tallinn Market

Taken in the summer of 2011

Taken in the summer of 2011

I can’t recall anywhere besides Estonia that I’ve seen headstones for sale in a run-of-the-mill market. It was a market with green grocers, florists, hardware vendors, sellers of trinkets, and headstone engravers. This raised many questions for me. Who buys the headstone? Does one buy one’s own? If so, isn’t there a risk of narcissism in the engraved epitaph? If someone else buys it, is it something one would buy for a loved one or a mortal enemy? I can see it going either way. If it’s for a loved one, one probably has it made after that person’s death, but if it’s for an enemy, one gets it made and delivered beforehand–perhaps directly onto the unassuming melon of said enemy.

Anyone who understands the Tallinn headstone market, feel free to enlighten me.

DAILY PHOTO: Barbershop Harmony Society

Taken March 2012

Taken March 2012 in Nashville, Tennessee

DAILY PHOTO: Budapest Alagút

Taken Summer of 2011

Taken Summer of 2011

DAILY PHOTO: Corrections Museum in Bangkok

Taken in October of 2012

Taken in October of 2012

An old prison complex turned into a park containing a museum of corrections.

DAILY PHOTO: Cristo Blanco in Cuzco

Taken in July of 2010

Taken in July of 2010

DAILY PHOTO: Prague at Steeple Height

Taken in the Summer of 2002 in Prague

Taken in the Summer of 2002 in Prague

DAILY PHOTO: Ed Sullivan Theater

Taken Summer of 2007.

Taken Summer of 2007.

DAILY PHOTO: Wind-up Bird

I caught this little bird mid-hop in Beijing, ironically near the Olympic sporting venue called “the Bird’s Nest.”
Taken in Beijing in the summer of 2008 near the Olympic venues

Taken in Beijing in the summer of 2008 near the Olympic venues

DAILY PHOTO: Ulan Bator Sukhbaatar Square

Taken in 2007

Taken in 2007

 

This is the town square in the center of Ulan Bator. Off-frame to the right would be the Parliament Building fronted by a massive statue of Genghis Khan. Ulan Bator is a in interesting mix of Oriental, Soviet, and modern.

DAILY PHOTO: The Brunswick Courthouse & Stew

Taken in the Summer of 2012.

Taken in the Summer of 2012.

Brunswick is a coastal port town in Georgia that claims to be the point of origin for Brunswick Stew. (A claim that is apparently refuted by Virginians.)

If you have no idea what Brunswick stew is, I’ve attached a recipe below that is from this website.

First the sauce:
In a 2 quart sauce pan, over low heat, melt ¼ cup of butter then add:
1¾ cups Catsup
¼ cup French’s Yellow Mustard
¼ cup white vinegar

Blend until smooth, then add:
½ tablespoon chopped garlic
1 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
½ oz. Liquid Smoke
1 oz. Worcestershire Sauce
1 oz. Crystal Hot Sauce or ½ oz. Tabasco
½ tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Blend until smooth, then add:
¼ cup dark brown sugar
Stir constantly, increase heat to simmer (DO NOT BOIL) for approx. 10 minutes.
Makes approx. 3½ cups of sauce (set aside – to be added later).

Then The Stew:
In a 2 gallon pot, over low heat melt ¼ lb of butter then add:
3 cups small diced potatoes
1 cup small diced onion
2  14½ oz. cans of chicken broth
1 lb baked chicken (white and dark)
8-10 oz. smoked pork

Bring to a rolling boil, stirring until potatoes are near done, then add:
1 8½ oz. can early peas
2   14½ oz. cans stewed tomatoes – (chop tomatoes, add liquid to the stew pot)
The prepared sauce
1 16 oz. can of baby lima beans
¼ cup Liquid Smoke
1  14½ oz. can creamed corn
Slow simmer for 2 hours

Yields 1 gallon