-
My Go-To Cookout Meal
When it comes to cookouts, I tend to keep things pretty simple. I’m not trying to reinvent anything or impress anyone with fancy techniques. I just stick with what works and what people enjoy eating. Most of the time, my go-to cookout meal starts with ribs. Either St. Louis–cut ribs or a full rack of spares, depending on what I can get and how many people are coming over. I season them up, get them on the grill or smoker, and let them take their time. Ribs aren’t something you rush, and that’s part of what I enjoy about making them. Alongside the ribs, I almost always make MOINK balls.…
-
A Small Engine Project That Started It All
I’ve always liked messing with small engines. There’s just something about taking one that won’t run, figuring out what is wrong with it, and getting it to fire off again that never gets old for me. I’m not talking about having the best tools in the shop or knowing every trick in the book. Half the time it’s just patience, paying attention, and not being afraid to take something apart and see what is going on. One project in particular takes me all the way back to first grade, and looking back now, it was probably the one that started all of it for me. My bonus dad had a…
-
My Favorite Camera and Why I Use It
People ask me now and then what the best camera is. I always give the same answer—the best camera is the one you have with you. That’s really why my favorite camera is the one I’m using at the moment. I’m not chasing the latest model or the most expensive gear. What matters to me is having a camera close by and being willing to use it. Over the years, I’ve learned that good photos usually come from paying attention, not from having the fanciest equipment. Most of my photos are taken with an entry-level Nikon D3500. It’s simple, dependable, and comfortable to use. I don’t have to fight with…
-
Why I Started This Blog
I’ve spent a lot of years messing with simple hobbies. Working on engines, taking pictures, standing around a grill at cookouts. Somewhere along the line I realized those were the things I looked forward to the most. They slow me down a little, keep my hands busy, and give me something worth remembering later. This blog started as a place to keep all those moments together in one spot. I’ve always liked learning by doing. In the garage you figure things out by turning wrenches and making mistakes until something finally works. Photography isn’t much different. You pay attention, try again, and once in a while you get something you…
