Mark McGee
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smackmegthermo.bsky.social
Mark McGee
@smackmegthermo.bsky.social
1.3K followers 650 following 2.4K posts
USAF vet. SR-71/U2 computer/planning/intel (not pilot). CoCoRaHS observer, Skywarn spotter near Berthoud CO. Happily married. If u r here to apply your purity test, assume I failed. Move along. #BLM
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smackmegthermo.bsky.social
3.5" of snow near Berthoud at 07:00. CO-LR-1295 Berthoud 2.4 SSW. Waiting for sample to melt for SWE/precip. #CoCoRaHS @bianchiweather.bsky.social
Photo of a deck and deck railing with a round dial thermometer. Trees and barn in background. A layer of snow on all.
December 3, 2025 at 2:17 PM
smackmegthermo.bsky.social
I can maintain sourdough and bake nice sourdough bread. I can cook a steak properly. I can make a nice pie. But none of this compares to making gravy properly.
December 3, 2025 at 1:50 AM
smackmegthermo.bsky.social
My 12" pizza ingredient cost. Flour (Kirkland AP Organic) 180gm: $0.33. Yeast: $0.02. Veg oil: $0.02. Tomato paste/sauce: $0.30. Cheese: $0.90. Artichoke hrts: $0.60. Pepperoni: $0.25. Red Bell Pepper/Other: $0.10. About $2.52. All best estimates. YMMV.
December 2, 2025 at 12:53 AM
smackmegthermo.bsky.social
Apple cranberry pie.
An apple cranberry pie, left, with the first slice on a plate to the right.
November 28, 2025 at 2:15 AM
smackmegthermo.bsky.social
Our friends have the crud and can't join us. So just two of us today. Do you think 5 quarts of stuffing will be enough? Sausage apple dressing with homegrown sage, parsley and sourdough croutons. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
A frying pan with onions, apples and celery being sautéed in olive oil and butter. A frying pan upper left with cooked sausage. A bowl with dressing: croutons, apples, sausage, celery.
November 27, 2025 at 4:19 PM
smackmegthermo.bsky.social
Apple cranberry pie. My first attempt at a lattice top.
A pie being filled with apples and cranberry sauce. A bowl of homemade cranberry sauce to the left. A bowl of precooked apple filling above. Apple cranberry pie with a lattice crust top before baking. Baked apple cranberry pie cooling on a rack. A brightly colored spoon holder above. To the right a pastry with the extra apple filling and cranberries in a small glass dish.
November 26, 2025 at 5:33 PM
smackmegthermo.bsky.social
Tuesday cooking prep. Turkey is thawing in the fridge since Sunday. Apple pie filling prepped. Always amazes me that it takes 3lbs of apples for a pie. Cranberry sauce w/maple syrup done. Busy tomorrow: apple/cranberry pie, sweet potato casserole and dinner rolls. Chop and prep veggie tray. 1/n
A stovetop with a sauce pan to the left with cooked whole cranberries. A large fry pan to the right with peeled and sliced apples beginning to be cooked. A whisk and a spoon holder above with a fork.
November 26, 2025 at 12:22 AM
smackmegthermo.bsky.social
Brilliant sunset this evening. Northern Colorado near Berthoud.
Wave clouds, brilliant orange at sunset, looking west towards Long's Peak.
November 24, 2025 at 11:52 PM
smackmegthermo.bsky.social
Always in trouble.
A photo of the Blucifer scultpure (a large blue horse standing on it's hind legs) next a police car with lights on and two officers nearby.
November 24, 2025 at 10:44 PM
smackmegthermo.bsky.social
Pizza this afternoon. Made three. Will keep us fed in the days leading to Thanksgiving.
A pizza on a cutting board after being sliced. The pizza has these toppings: pepperoni, artichoke hearts, onion, red bell pepper and cheese. A can of Coors with a Rockies coozie upper left. A cleaver above that was used to cut the pizza.
November 23, 2025 at 11:43 PM
smackmegthermo.bsky.social
Trying the "Classic Beef Stew" recipe from Jennifer Segal. I used an open roasting pan. Has wine, balsamic vinegar, tomato paste and such. It has filled the house with amazing aroma.
A roasting pan with beef, potatoes, carrots and onion in a broth of wine, beef broth, balsamic vinegar and tomato paste.
November 18, 2025 at 12:58 AM
smackmegthermo.bsky.social
It is Homemade Bread day today. Enjoy the #sourdough!
An oblong loaf of sourdough bread cooling on a rack.
November 17, 2025 at 10:12 PM
smackmegthermo.bsky.social
National Homemade Bread Day. #Sourdough Monday. 90% white organic AP flour, 10% organic whole wheat flour.
An oblong loaf of sourdough bread cooling on a steel rack.
November 17, 2025 at 3:02 PM
smackmegthermo.bsky.social
Apple cranberry pie. Make homemade cranberry sauce and cook a bit longer than recommended for a thicker sauce. Apples on the bottom, cranberry sauce layered on top. Because the cranberries are pre-cooked, the top crust doesn't sag. A combo that is not over-sweet.
A pie being filled with apples and cranberry sauce. A baked apple cranberry pie.
November 15, 2025 at 5:57 PM
smackmegthermo.bsky.social
Aurora visible to the naked eye near Berthoud CO.
Night photo of a red/purple aurora with light green below. A pine tree to the left.
November 12, 2025 at 2:56 AM
smackmegthermo.bsky.social
Seeing it way down here at 40°16' N!
Photo of the night sky illuminated by a red purple aurora. A pine tree to the left.
November 12, 2025 at 2:43 AM
smackmegthermo.bsky.social
From south of Berthoud.
A brilliant sunset looking toward Long's Peak.
November 11, 2025 at 12:12 AM
smackmegthermo.bsky.social
#Sourdough Monday. Sourdough rye demi loaves to give away to friends. 80% organic AP flour, 20% organic whole rye flour. Trying out new smaller bannetons.
Two smaller loaves of sourdough bread on a steel cooling rack.
November 10, 2025 at 2:51 PM
smackmegthermo.bsky.social
Chicken, spinach and red bell pepper quiche.
A quiche in a pie pan cooling on a steel rack. The top of the quiche is decorated with cut red bell pepper pieces and scallion leaves to mimic tulips.
November 9, 2025 at 10:27 PM
smackmegthermo.bsky.social
Introduce yourself with:

One Book 📚
One Movie 🎥
One Album 💿
One TV Show 📺
Book cover of "The Shipping News" Movie poster for "Treasure of the Sierra Madre" Album cover of Dire Straits first album. Photo of the cast of "Barney Miller."
November 8, 2025 at 3:22 AM
smackmegthermo.bsky.social
I voted last week. I have received confirmation that my ballot was received and counted. Easy process here in Colorado. Got a nice Columbine sticker for my efforts.
A voting sticker with a single Columbine flower that adds "He Votado!" (spanish) and "I Voted!"
November 4, 2025 at 11:09 PM
smackmegthermo.bsky.social
80° in the neighborhood on the 2nd of November. #NOCO
Screenshot of a wunderground map near Berthoud CO showing local reporting stations. Temperatures listed from 77 to 80 degrees.
November 2, 2025 at 8:03 PM
smackmegthermo.bsky.social
Sunrise in Northern Colorado.
Bright orange sunrise on the horizon. Trees and shrubs in the foreground.
November 1, 2025 at 1:20 PM
smackmegthermo.bsky.social
Happy Halloween! Shrimp fried rice is on the menu tonight. I hope you have plenty of trick or treaters! We usually have none. ☹️
A cutting board with a plate of raw shrimp, a slice of red bell pepper, green onions, two brown eggs, and garlic. A pot of cooked rice above. Butter, a bowl of bean sprouts and a bowl of peas and carrots to the right. Ingredients for shrimp fried rice.
October 31, 2025 at 11:07 PM
smackmegthermo.bsky.social
October 28, 2025 at 12:18 AM