Newly Arrived: Dougal Harris Tweed Jacket by Harris Tweed Scotland

 

I'm nothing if not a believer in self-gifting, especially during the holidays.  Of course, I also believe in self-gifting throughout the year, but that's a story for another post.  I had discovered this great 'Dougal' Harris Tweed limited edition jacket from Harris Tweed Scotland a little more than a year ago but had been hesitant to add it to my wardrobe because honestly, I've got so many Harris Tweed Jackets, it's becoming increasingly difficult to justify adding one more to my wife (thank god she loves and is patient with me).  This jacket as I mentioned was a limited edition issue from Harris Tweed Scotland, but back from 2012, so very few of these jackets are still available, and I was able to locate them for sale new from the fine people at Parkins School and menswear (UK based) who still have a limited supply of sizes available.  I have also seen them in limited sized at the Fine Swine (US based)

In any case, I had been looking to add a Prince of Wales Tweed in brown to my jacket collection for a while and so this 'Dougal' is an answer to my prayers.  Of course, being Harris Tweed and a limited edition jacket, just makes doubly irresistible.  Featuring suede elbow patches, slanted pockets, 2 side vents, leather buttons, and the black ‘Centenary Label’and a beautiful crimson/burgundy lining.

This like every Harris Tweed Jacket I've owned is a quality build and in this case the tailoring is very nice as well with better than usual pattern matching on the seams.  Case in point the center back seam is spot on:

The Close-ups:
Provided for my own enjoyment and for that of my tweed obsessed brethren: The pattern of the Dougal jacket contains burgundy, orange, beige and brown which creates a classic check plus the addition to a bit of extremely subtle green and yellow just to add a bit of subversiveness). This Harris Tweed is one of their 'lightweight' weave (630gm per meter) which apparently is 20% lighter than the 'Normal' weight Harris Tweed, but I must say even the 'lightweight' feels very substantial to me.

I only received the jacket today and so have had a limited opportunity to build outfits around it but no doubt, that will become a wonderful addition to my wardrobe and I'm looking forward to experimenting with color and pattern matching this new addition. For today I've combined it with a paint blue Oxford cloth shirt, Cream White Aran Sweater, Selvage Denim from Bravestar, Brown Ryan boots by Grenson.  

Fair Isle slipover from Jamison's of Shetland

I must say I've been eye some new Fair Isle knitwear for some time now and have only just recently pulled the trigger, mostly because with so many possible colors and patterns quite frankly I've been unable to come to a decision!  Anyway, one night after browsing the internet, and having a couple of
Laphroaig 10s to bolster my resolve, I ordered this great looking Fair Isle slipover by Jamieson's of Shetland and it's having arrived, I couldn't be happier.

I made my purchase from Dick's Edinburgh, who typically stocks a very fine collection of traditional country clothing and including the aforementioned Jamieson's, I couldn't be happier with their fast and efficient service.  

I chose the color/pattern named 'Fawn' (They also offer this color/pattern in a jumper), which offers really wonderful dark Grays, Natural Browns, Mustard, Green, Blues, Purple and Burgundy color pallet.  Typically, I find myself attracted to the brighter/bolder Fair Isle colors/pattern combinations, but these deeper (almost brooding) colors really spoke to me on that evening (perhaps the smoky whisky's effect) and quite honestly, still speak to me now.  It's got the same depth of color that I love about Harris Tweed.  I have to imagine that it's really got to be a reflection of the depth of beauty of both the Scottish landscape and Scottish character itself.  

 I think it is both bold and subtle with all the colors of fall that I love an will match the bulk of my burgeoning Harris Tweed jacket collection, so there you go.

Firehouse (Wacky) Tacky Mustache Wax - It's the Shit!!

Just a quick post to share with you my experience with my latest mustache wax from Firehouse.  This stuff is excellent and very firm holding.  I found them via a Reddit forum chain while shopping for a wax that would last more than a few hours.  Reading raves about Firehouse brand, I ordered straight away.  Within about a week, I had received my new wacky 'Tacky' mustache wax all the way from Flora, Missippi!  Made in small batches by an actual Fireman, this stuff is hand blended and poured is loving care, by a man clearly determined to keep upper lips tidy worldwide.

John - un-reformed:

Just a little dap will do you as they used to say: 

As the title indicates, this stuff is the 'shit'.  I've tried a couple brands of mustache wax over the past couple of years and that always had to re-apply 2 or 3 times per day and even then by lip weasel refused all taming.  Not with the Firehouse 'Tacky' - just a bit will keep my stache tamed for the day with perhaps a minor re-application after eating, which is expected since I'm heavy with the serviette, for fear of wearing more food in the upper lip that makes it into my mouth and also tend to give a splash with fresh water after meals to keep things fresh.

John fully tamed (upper lips at least):

Yes, in the can this stuff is dark, but it goes no with no discernible color change and has a wonderful smell of beeswax and wood smoke that is just wonderful.  The product is a Landless Gentry recommended product.  If you are looking for a firm holding Mustache wax to tame your fury lip dubby, you won't find better than those from Firehouse. 

Mushroom Hunting in Bavaria

Amelie styles my pocket square - clever girl:

Beginning of our afternoon, it's been cool mornings, and warm afternoons here in Bavaria mostly these past weeks and I'm a bit overdressed.

A couple of weeks ago, my family had a very fun outing hunting wild mushrooms near where we live in Bavaria.  Lead by my Mother-in-law Annemarie, who has been collecting wild mushrooms for many decades, so this is knowledge my wife and I think (being mushroom lovers) is worth learning.  Mushroom hunting (OK, some people say collecting) is a very traditional fall time activity here in Bavaria, typically in late September or early October, the mushrooms are gathered from the mossy floors in local forests.  Many families have favorite spots, which are often closely held secrets, where they find their favorite varieties.  The Bavarian forests (especially on hilltops, which are cooler) are often moist and moss-covered and the perfect environment for wild mushrooms, which grow in nearly infinite varieties.  These run the full spectrum: deliciously edible, bitter but edible, inedible, poisonous and yes, even deadly poisonous, so it pays to go with someone who really knows what to look for AND who you trust with your life. 

Annemarie proved to be a wonderful teacher and very patient rejecting as many of our finds as accepting them:

They grow them big in this forest:

The varieties we were hunting often grow hidden in the moist forest undergrowth

Amelies is very pleased to find this beauty!

One of the ones we were after had a large chustnut brown top and an orange underside:

  Two hours hunting and we've collected quite a few mostly of 3 to 4 varieties:

Some of the little ones are tasty too: 

Most of the ones we collected had a very distinctive honeycomb matrix underside (this variety was also orange on the underside, which is unmistakable) as opposed to gilled or finned undersides which we didn't pick.  I can not stress enough how dangerous an adventure wild mushroom hunting can be.  There are most certainly varieties in our local forest which will kill you and to no have a guide with decades of experience is foolhardy!  For additional information on common mushroom varieties:  https://inhabitat.com/3-edible-mushrooms-that-are-easy-to-find-and-how-to-avoid-the-poisonous-ones/

This one and another species which was bright red also are poison!!  Some species are so dangerous that you wouldn't want to touch them:

These look lovely, but please don't eat:

Three Generations of Zondler ladies:-)

 After our trip, Annamarie showed my wife Andrea how to clean and prepare them.  Cooking them in a simple cream sauce, one doesn't even need meat, the mushrooms are meaty enough.  These guys look grotesque, quite honestly, but will prove to be very yummy:

 Simply cooked in a cream sauce and served over noodles is about perfect.  Annemarie is a classically trained cook, having attended finishing school in France, as was typical of girls of her generation, and which sadly is almost never done these days.  Her skills have proven a delight to three generations of the family.

  The mushrooms varieties  are cooked separately in order to enjoy the subtly different flavors and textures:

 Allas Amelie at 10 years old, has not yet discovered her love of mushrooms (she would rather hunt them than eat them).  No matter - all the more for us!! 

If you love mushroom like I do, good God, what a treat - all the more joy in the knowledge that they had been gathers from our local forests just hours before!

Annemarie has a book for many years, which describes in detail with photos of several hundreds of varieties of wild mushrooms which grow in Germany (this book may even be specific to Bavaria).  The thing that impressed me is how very similar the photos of the various mushrooms can sometimes look between varieties which are edible to the ones which are poisonous.  Annemarie only picks ones that are very, very distinctive looking and NOT the varieties that closely resemble poisonous ones.  I think based upon our one-day outing, I feel pretty confident to pick two or three varieties.  Although, I hope to go again next year in order to solidify my knowledge.

All together this was a very fun family outing, which came to a very tasty conclusion.  I so thank Annemarie for her enthusiasm and for being such a love for sharing her knowledge and cooking skills.  And I'm thankful for my wonderful family for this fun adventure in the Bavarian countryside.