30 Days of Thanks 2013

Leave a Comment

Thankfulness, day 1. I’m thankful for the gigs that help me provide for my family. And for French roast.

Thankfulness, day 2. My grandmother had a poem hung in her kitchen, and I am reminded of it today. “Thank you for these dirty dishes, They have a tale to tell. While others may go hungry We’ve all been eating well.” 

Thankfulness, day three. While I’m sad that Julia wasn’t able to come to my gig this afternoon with the rest of the family, I’m glad she understands commitment, and that she stuck to that which she said she would do. 

Thankfulness, day 4: I’m thankful for the support of coworkers after dealing with a difficult customer. 

Thankfulness, day 5. Although my votes aren’t usually on the winning side, I’m thankful for my right and responsibility to vote. 

Thankfulness, day 6. Entenmans chocolate covered donuts. Nuff said? 

Thankfulness, day 7. I’m thankful for a workplace where Julia can hang out with me for a couple of hours after school if needed. 

Thankfulness, day 8, an early one. I’m thankful for syncopated drum rhythms, incessant clean guitar lines, and a “bumpy” feeling bass guitar, which when combined together yield a little something we call FUNK! And this funk, when applied to Billy Rhythm, helps pull him out of a potentially foul mood. 

Thankfulness, day 9. For my friends in “the pit” of Charlie Brown. “My Aunt Marion was right. Never discuss marriage with a musician.” 

Thankfulness, day 10. I’m thankful for rainy Sunday afternoons which allow me to take guilt free naps. 

Thankfulness, day 11. Bill Batty, Sr. and his brother Thornton Batty, Jr, both US Coast Guard, with my uncle serving some in Viet Nam. Their father, my grandfather, Thornton Batty, Sr., a Coastie serving in the Aleutian Islands during WWII. His father, my great grandfather, F.C. Batty, US Lighthouse Service. His father-in-law was Sam Cavanor, the first lightkeeper on Ram Island off Boothbay. To those in my family who served on the sea, and to all vets. Thank you. 

Thankfulness, day 12. A lady came up to me tonight and said “My son is really enjoying your class.” I really needed to hear that. Thank you. 

Thankfulness, day 13. I’m thankful for firm pillows and warm Labradors. 

Thankfulness, day 14. I met with the boys’ teacher today. They’re doing pretty well for their first year in “school.” 

Thankfulness, day 15. After having other commitments every evening this week, tonight was family night. 

Thankfulness, day 16. I’m thankful for on the job training. When I started with Midcoast Internet Solutions in 1999, I knew very little about computers. Now my dozen + years of doing it lets me help my family and neighbors. 

Day 17: I’m thankful for Sunday dinners with my family. 

Thankfulness, day 17, part B. For my beloved wife Susan, who bought me dark chocolate Kit Kats to ease my cravings. That’s love, right there. 

Thankfulness, day 18. I’m thankful for friends who share donuts, and neighbors who share cider. 

Thankfulness, day 19. I’m thankful for the kids in my computer class. We had a great day today. 

Thankfulness, day 20. A couple three years ago, during a financial tight spot, I had to sell some drums. The first one to sell was the one I wanted to sell the least: my Tama Stewart Copeland signature snare. I’m thankful I was finally able to score one on ebay, AND at a price lower than I sold the first one for! 

Thankfulness, day 21 (I forgot to post last night). I’m thankful for learning, and those who love learning. 

Thankfulness, day 22. I’m thankful for my moms and their rolls. My Mom makes a light fluffy yeast roll, and she taught Susan how to make them. My mother in law makes a more substantial roll with wheat (or is it oat?) flour and a swirl of cinnamon in the middle. I have some of each in my house right now. 

Thankfulness, day 23. For all the bandleaders who throw gigs my way, thank you. My work as a musician enables my wife to be a full time mom, and we both appreciate that. 

Thankfulness, day 24. I Those who volunteer, or those who are called to serve, will at some point be required to do something they’d rather not. Thank for continuing to help, even though you’re not doing something too glamorous. Thank you for being the treasurer, for scrubbing the toilet, or helping with the dishes. 

Thankfulness, day 24, pt II. It’s 19°. I have a hot tub. Na na na na na na. 

Thankfulness, day 25: I’m thankful for the dedicated crowd of jazz lovers who turn out on Mondays, and especially thankful for whoever keeps putting those twenties in the tip bucket. 

Thankfulness, day 26. I’m thankful for my sons. What a great pair they are. I can’t imagine a more different set of twins, and yet they are so much a part of the other. Built in best friends they are. They go to bed in separate beds, but when I wake them up in the morning, one has joined the other. I love that. 

Thankfulness, day 27. For my daughter Julia, who is even more beautiful on the inside than she is the outside. Smart, caring, the whole package. I’m blessed to have her, and wonder how I could be a part of something so wonderful. (Then I remember she takes after her mother, and it all becomes clear…) 

Thankfulness, day 28. In Job 41, God said “Everything under heaven is mine.” I’m thankful He shares it with me! 

Thankfulness, day 29: For my good bud Deuteronomy. 

Thankfulness, day 30: Susan. 

Quick and Easy Cinnamon Buns

Leave a Comment

I love cinnamon buns in the morning. The combination of cinnamon and coffee really does me in. But I’ve got three kids; time in the morning to make risen, yeast based cinnamon buns doesn’t exist. I need something fast, so usually I turn to muffins. Here in New England, though, we’ve got a tradition of biscuit making, dating back to feeding sailors on long voyages. And, someone along the way invented this olde timey biscuit based cinnamon bun. If you’re looking for a raised, yeasty, Cinnabon style cinnamon bun, this isn’t for you. If you want a cinnamon bun you can have ready in 1/2 an hour with ingredients probably already in your pantry, here’s the recipe.

NOTE: I DOUBLE everything for the rolls, ’cause I like BIG BUNS (and I cannot lie). I don’t like too much icing, so I don’t double that part. If you like your cinnamon buns smaller, like the size of those that come out of the grocery store fridge section, use as is.

IMG_1080[1]Not a pretty picture, but it’s an iPod photo

For the rolls

  • 2 cups baking mix (Bisquick, Jiffy, etc. Here in my house, we use Jiffy, as that’s what my Mom always used), plus extra for rolling
  • 2/3 cup milk
  • 1/4 cup butter, softened
  • 3 tbps brown sugar
  • 2 tsp cinnamon

For the icing

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tbsp melted butter
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • milk (if icing is too thick)

Preheat oven to 425°. Mix the baking mix and milk in a bowl. Throw some baking mix on your work surface (as you would when flouring a board). Use a little more than you think you need, as you’ll need to be rolling later, and you don’t want this stuff to stick. Turn out the mix onto the “floured” surface. Put some baking mix on your rolling pin, and roll out into a rectangle. The mix is sticky. If you’ve made biscuits, that’s the feel you want. If you’ve never made biscuits, it’s sticky and fairly wet. Don’t over work, and don’t make the mix too dry. When I make them (again, I double the mix), my rectangle is like 18″ by 10″. Once you’ve got your rectangle, schmear the softened butter onto it. Make sure the butter is pretty soft, nigh on melted. Too hard and you’ll tear your dough. After the butter is on, mix the brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl, and sprinkle over everything. Leave one of the long edges bare; you’ll need that bare edge to seal the dough.

Now for the rolling… Start rolling on the OPPOSITE side of the bare edge. Just sort of flop over a couple of inches or so. I start at one end, and work my way to the other. Do it again. About four rolls or so later, you should be done with a big log. Cut the log into the thickness you want. Again, I double my recipe, and cut them about 1.5″ thick. Put the rolls with cut sides facing up on a pan. I use stoneware pans, and they don’t need to be lubricated. If using a metal pan, you might want a touch. I put my rolls close together, but not touching. Bake 15 minutes. Don’t overbake.

For the icing, melt a tablespoon of butter in a medium bowl. Add the powdered sugar and the vanilla and whisk. If it’s too thick, thin with a little milk. Go easy on the milk; a dribble will probably be all you need. 

After the rolls come out of the oven, wait 5 minutes before frosting. Enjoy!

Friday Fill

Leave a Comment

1. Why does it have to be warm enough for me to get the scooter out one day, and a few days later it’s snowing again?

2. Most people don’t like the metric system. They like the English system since it’s “familiar.” Yet most people don’t even know one tablespoon is equal to three teaspoons; most people think it’s four.

3. My favorite breakfast includes pot roast hash, eggs over medium, toast, and enough coffee to float a skiff.

4. “The Making of the Empire Strikes Back” was the last book I read before falling asleep the other night. (I usually read my Bible before going to sleep, but I did something different the night before last. I didn’t read anything last night; I was too tired and went right to sleep.)

5. I am SO glad I took a couple hours off from the office this AM.

6. A hot shower would make me feel better right now.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to playing “Hello Dolly” in the pit of a high school musical, tomorrow my plans include going to a pastor/deacon conference (I will represent the latter; I’m not called to be a pastor!) and Sunday, I want to have lunch with my Mom!

Friday Fill In

7 Comments

1. Bring your favorite side dish to share, and we’ll have a rockin’ BBQ at my place. Once the snow melts off the grill, that is…

2. Make sure you talk to everyone at the BBQ, so that all the people feel like they are included.

3. Some spare ribs and some brisket and a side of baked beans is exactly what I plan on bring to the BBQ..

4. Well, you see, I’m not sure how this FFI took on a BBQ theme; I did watch a BBQ show on TV last night with daughter Julia, so perhaps that’s it.

5. I can’t wait to have a BBQ; it won’t be too soon!

6. But what if the snow never melts? How then will we have a BBQ? Perhaps we’ll just have to have a party indoors.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to playing a gig with Blind Al at a BBQ stand (not really–no BBQ at all–but the gig is real), tomorrow my plans include playing with Steelin’ Thunder at a fundraising BBQ (again, real gig, no BBQ) and Sunday, I want to have extended family dessert time at Mert’s house, and I hope someone brings some BBQ!