Kamote

When I was a youngster in my province, I used to dig kamote (sweet potato) in the fields. My friends and I would gather about a bucket full of kamote and then we would roast it over an open fire. I like kamote roasted although sometimes we would also boil it.


Even now I am still fond of eating kamote either in the morning or as a midnight snack at work.

Kamote was introduced to the Philippines by the Spaniards. They brought the plant from tropical America. A kamote plant can produce several tubers. The tubers vary in color, size and shape. The taste is sweet. Practically the entire plant can be used for food. The leaves are often used as a salad or as addition to stewed meals with other vegetables. Fish, fresh or dried, often completes a meal with kamote leaves.

That's all folks! Thanks for reading.

Happy Thanksgiving!

My family celebrated Thanksgiving Day together with my mother, brothers and sisters. My youngest sister cooked pork pot roast and stuffed turkey while my wife brought Jambalaya. Not to be outdone, my daughter-in-law pitch in an orange chicken Filipino style. Dessert was courtesy of my niece and consisted of chocolate dipped pastries.


All I had were a thick slab of pork roast and several slices of turkey. My Opinel #6 helped in cutting the meat into bitesize pieces. Of course steak knives are available but I'm too lazy to stand up and get one especially after my third can of beer.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Reapairing a SAK Tinker Broken Tip

I finally broke the tip of my 84mm SAK Tinker. I used the blade tip to punch holes in a thick metal can instead of the awl and paid the price. Old people like me never learn.
It's an old and hard to find small version of the 91mm SAK Tinker.


Using a rotary tool I re-shaped the tip of the blade. The tip is a little bit rounded than before but nevertheless just as functional.


And after several passes through a whetstone and leather strop, it's good as new again.

That's all folks! Thanks for reading.

Jigsaw Blade Neck Knife

I found an old jigsaw blade lying around in our garage and I decided to make a small neck knife out of it. I didn't do any tempering or hardening of the blade. I just cut the metal into the shape I want but I was extra careful not to overheat it by dipping the metal in a pan of water from time to time. I used a rotary tool to do the job including putting the edge on it.


The blade: 1 1/4" cutting edge.


The tools I used for making the handle and sheath.


The wooden handle and the sheath is made from a branch of a tree I set aside a year ago and is fully dried. Unfortunately, I can't tell you the name of the tree because I didn't know what kind of tree it was.

That's all folks! Thanks for reading.

Everyday Used Knife

Some of you might be wondering what an EDU knife is. On the other hand, I bet most of you know what an EDC knife is. Well, according to a post by Woodsroamer, an EDC knife is a knife you carry everyday but is seldom used while an EDU knife is a knife you carry every day and gets used all day long. In other words, an EDU knife is your utility knife.

I myself carry 2 knives to work, a Swiss Army Classic SD in a key chain and a modified Kershaw Select Fire. I use the Classic SD for small cutting task or when people around me might be freaked out by a bigger knife. Otherwise, the Select Fire sees action most of the time at work.


I removed the serrations on the Kershaw Select Fire knife and cut off its pointed blade tip. The blade now resemble a wharncliffe profile which make it suitable for opening boxes. The Kershaw Select Fire also has a bit driver and 4 standard bits stored in the handle.

The mod on the blade and the bit driver and bits included make this knife a very useful tool in my workplace. An EDU knife indeed.

That's all folks! Thanks for reading.

Paracord Survival Bracelet with Compass, Ferro Rod and Whistle

This paracord bracelet is one of the stuff I bought after Christmas from eBay as a gift to myself. I liked it because it has the 3 things I always carry with me when I take a short hike or bike my favorite trail - compass, ferro rod and whistle. I thought having a spare of the essential things I need for the unexpected would add to my peace of mind and self-confidence.


The Paracord Survival Bracelet.


The compass is relatively accurate.


The ferro rod throws sufficient sparks.


But the whistle doesn't work. No matter how hard I blew on it all I hear is the sound of my breath, no whistle at all.

I informed the eBay seller about it and requested a replacement of the whistle. I am still waiting for the replacement to arrive. I hope the one I will receive will work well.

That's all folks! Thanks for reading.

P51 Can Opener

Used and unused P51 can opener stamped "US Shelby Co" bought from Amazon. Worn out after using it less than 20 times. See arrow in the photo above.

It doesn't work anymore. What is this opener made of - aluminum? Used to be steel, I know.

That's all folks! Thanks for reading.