My buddy at work, Robert got his family a ping pong table for Christmas. I mention this because he asked me if I played. It has been years but when I was in the Air Force I was one dangerous man at a ping pong table. My room mate, Dave and I would at times wake up at 2 or 3 AM and go bash for hours. We practiced so much against each other that we were the only ones who had a snowball's chance in Hell of returning each others' serves. We'd barely clear the net and clip the back edge of the table. We'd both bought standard paddles with the rubber pips facing out, peeled the pads off one side, reversed them and glued them back on. This gave the sides of the paddle slightly different spin from each other. Mostly only against each other Dave and I also held in our left hands, ready to switch to... "The Ball Breakers". Used almost entirely for a smash, these were Old School sandpaper coated paddles. A good hard driven smash with a rubber faced paddle can bust a ball on the table but these nasty little jewels would send a broken ball directly from the paddle. Also a switch to the "BB" would back the other player far back from the table expecting a smash. This allowed a "butterfly kiss" to barely drop the ball over the net.
I don't have space in my house for a full ping pong table but I think I have enough plywood to construct a makeshift practice board in the yard. I've no illusions nor delusions of an immediate return to the table at my once 100% dominant form but also have no doubts that in short time Robert won't be inviting nor even allowing me over to play anymore!
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Norfolk Island Pines & Acorns
Not a whole lot has been happening here as of late. About the only semi newsworthy item is I picked up a couple of Norfolk Island Pine trees the other morning. I absolutely hated having the huge pines in my yard where I used to live. It seemed like if I ever got all the needles roke up, in less than 24 hours it would like I'd never been out with a rake. The Norfolk pines are rather a different breed though. They're potted plants for indoors. While still not my favorite houseplant the price was right (free). I do believe houseplants help the air in a house keep from getting musty so quickly. If these start to die off or I get tired of them I can always recycle them. Hopefully I can pick up replacement varieties I like better at a good price. While my decor can be best described as "redneck" I really do enjoy tropical houseplants.
Along with the pair of pines I fetched home a couple of empty cat litter buckets. Hey, rednecks love buckets! I use them not only as containers but trash bins, step stools and outdoor seating. When I had the trees and buckets in the truck I drove around a bit looking for anymore trash treasures. The only other offering I found was acorns. One spot had larger nuts than most I've seen around here. I'm not as up on my acorn ID as I once was but I'm thinking these are red oak acorns. I gathered up about 2-3 inches in one of my new buckets in about 10 minutes.
Still packed away in some box I have several Audubon field Guides, one of which is North American trees. Digging them out and brushing up on my oaks has been added to my list of things to do.
I had mentioned trying to use my leaf blower/vacuum to harvest acorns from Mom's yard but have come up with plan B which should be even better. I'll buy the gas and use her mower to suck and bag em up. If they get a bit broken up that'll only make it easier for the Quack Pack to eat and digest them. Added bonus: any leaves or growing grass or greens/weeds that get cut, sucked and bagged become extra free feed for ducks & geese and/or mulch for their yard.
Along with the pair of pines I fetched home a couple of empty cat litter buckets. Hey, rednecks love buckets! I use them not only as containers but trash bins, step stools and outdoor seating. When I had the trees and buckets in the truck I drove around a bit looking for anymore trash treasures. The only other offering I found was acorns. One spot had larger nuts than most I've seen around here. I'm not as up on my acorn ID as I once was but I'm thinking these are red oak acorns. I gathered up about 2-3 inches in one of my new buckets in about 10 minutes.
Still packed away in some box I have several Audubon field Guides, one of which is North American trees. Digging them out and brushing up on my oaks has been added to my list of things to do.
I had mentioned trying to use my leaf blower/vacuum to harvest acorns from Mom's yard but have come up with plan B which should be even better. I'll buy the gas and use her mower to suck and bag em up. If they get a bit broken up that'll only make it easier for the Quack Pack to eat and digest them. Added bonus: any leaves or growing grass or greens/weeds that get cut, sucked and bagged become extra free feed for ducks & geese and/or mulch for their yard.
Monday, December 28, 2015
Gravy
Homemade gravy isn't rocket science, kids. It is basically oil and a thickener. Thickener can be (most often) flour or corn starch but other options are out there. As for oil, my favorite is bacon grease. I generally start w/ about equal parts then cook it low until I get desired brownness. Darker for beef or dinner dishes, lighter for breakfast w/ biscuits. The oil can be any animal, veggie or mix you like. Gravy should be all about you. The oil/flour mix is what we call a "roux". It sounds French but I have no idea what the Hell it means. Once the roux is cooked to the color you want add a bit more of whatever liquid you want to make it the gravy you want. Water, wine, milk, tomato/veggie juice. Add more than you want because some of the liquid will cook off. Make the gravy your friend, keep stirring it. Then be patient. Unless you went stupid adding the juice it'll cook down. Add a little first, let it simmer then add more if you need.
I can't make a from scratch biscuit that a starving coyote would eat so I buy the frozen ones. If I'm starting to go into withdrawal symptoms from lack of biscuit I'll make do w/ the refrigerated canned things. Even a flip flop would be good w/ some homemade tomato gravy on it!
Two last things.... taste it at every step and remember S&P (salt & pepper) a little at a time. It's so easy to add but Hell to try to subtract.
I can't make a from scratch biscuit that a starving coyote would eat so I buy the frozen ones. If I'm starting to go into withdrawal symptoms from lack of biscuit I'll make do w/ the refrigerated canned things. Even a flip flop would be good w/ some homemade tomato gravy on it!
Two last things.... taste it at every step and remember S&P (salt & pepper) a little at a time. It's so easy to add but Hell to try to subtract.
The Weather Is A~Changing!
Last night and this morning it rained like a cow pissing on a flat rock! Following the rain the temperature is projected to fall like a paralyzed falcon. From a high of 80 F on Christmas day the weather man is saying we may hit a low of 30 F on January 4. It's only the second time so far this Winter we'll have had any kind of freeze and the "experts" don't expect it to last long.
All this is fallout from the front that sent tornadoes ripping through Texas to the northern part of Mississippi.
All I can do is thank God that here we'll get no worse than some cooler temps and pray for them that lost some, much or all.
All this is fallout from the front that sent tornadoes ripping through Texas to the northern part of Mississippi.
All I can do is thank God that here we'll get no worse than some cooler temps and pray for them that lost some, much or all.
Finishing Off The Crock Pot Round Steak
The round wasn't ready when bedtime rolled around so I let it cool for a while then stuck the crock in the fridge. Before heading home I bought a pretty large head of garlic and a medium large jalapeno pepper. Once home I first let the dogs out to take care of their needs while I fed the ducks and geese and fetched in another pair of fresh eggs. After a night in the cold box the beef grease was easy easy to spoon off the top. I let the crock come to room temp before putting it back in the heating part and warming everything back up. While that was going on I gutted the jalapeno and finely chopped about half of it along w/ about half of the garlic. I sauteed that mixture in olive oil and added it to the pot. Then I added a gob of butter to my pan and slow fried up a half pound of fresh mushrooms just until they began to release their perfume. The 'shrooms were small/medium size, w/ caps about the size of a ping pong ball which I simply quartered. Once they were ready, into the pot w/ them.
All that olive oil, jalapeno, garlic, butter and mushroom goodness was much too good to pour down the drain so the water used to deglaze and rinse out the frying pan went into the rice pot. A little bacon fat and flour in another skillet made a roux to thicken my gravy.
Put some of that on top of your head and your tongue will slap your brain out trying to get to it!
Sunday, December 27, 2015
Post Christmas Wal Mart Trip
I had to go to Wally World today. Thank God I got there early before all the wild ass hillbillies showed up for the post Christmas sale. The last flood we had washed my garbage can somewhere down the road. I hadn't painted my house number on it and I would have felt awkward knocking on doors asking , "Hey! Do you have my trash can?" so I figured it would be easier just to get a fresh one. Yes, I painted my house number on it in neon green!
After the other night's episode w/ some unknown (hopefully) 4 legged intruder I recalled reading somewhere most nocturnal animals fear one thing... other predators. And most predators eyes shine red when light hits them. Somebody wrote that small red lights look like eyes shine to them and scamper briskly when they see what looks to be such. So I bought two sets of 50 each red LED Christmas lights (1/2 price after Christmas sale at Wally World). I'll have them strung up and lit before dark tonight!
After the other night's episode w/ some unknown (hopefully) 4 legged intruder I recalled reading somewhere most nocturnal animals fear one thing... other predators. And most predators eyes shine red when light hits them. Somebody wrote that small red lights look like eyes shine to them and scamper briskly when they see what looks to be such. So I bought two sets of 50 each red LED Christmas lights (1/2 price after Christmas sale at Wally World). I'll have them strung up and lit before dark tonight!
Crock Pot Round Steak
When I was in my mid teens my Dad and step Mom often cooked round steak in the crock pot and served it over rice. Boy howdy! I could eat my own weight in that stuff! I recently bought 3 round steaks then after stuffing my grocery hole with Christmas vittles at and from Mom's sorta forgot about them. Thankfully I remembered them before they got rank, one day after the "sell by" date so still good to go. I didn't have any carrots or peppers for mirepoix but I needed to get them in the crock ASAP. As rare as can be I was even out of garlic and jalapenos! But I cut the steaks into hand sized chunks and tossed them into the pot. I added a couple small onions, stalks of celery (leaves and all, just not the bottom nor that little knuckle), a few bay leaves, some cilantro that was somewhat less than fresh, some Italian herb mix, kosher salt, black pepper and crushed red. I gave it a few splashes of soy sauce and "whatsishere?" sauce, about 1/2 a beer that was getting warm and filled her up w/ water. The I crunk the crock to full blast high It's about 11:15 AM here so I've got maybe 2 or 3 hours before I have to get some shut eye. Should enough water cook off before then I'll throw in a handful of frozen cherry tomatoes. If not it'll all be good. It is already smelling like Heaven in this house!
Saturday, December 26, 2015
Some Unidentified Excitement In The Kitchen
It's still warm enough here that I have doors and windows open. My front door has a storm door so it's secure but the back door only has one of them Magic Mesh screens on it.
As I was in my office writing my previous post Vlad was back here w/ me and Bella was in another room. All of a sudden I heard her yapping and a commotion in the kitchen. When Vlad and I got there Bella was out on the back deck and their food bowl was skidded across the kitchen w/ kibbles scattered everywhere. All I can possibly fathom is we had some unwanted & uninvited guest come through the back door. My best guess would have to be a cat. Possums are dumb enough to wander in anywhere but aren't really swift on escaping. I've a pair of soft BB pistols I'll keep at the ready in case I spy any felines and my 10 pump .177 caliber pellet rifle loaded should I see any possums. I've seen many a stray cat around here but surprising little wildlife for as close to the woods as we are. Squirrels are bountiful and I've seen 1 road killed corn snake. In the yard I have many wild song birds and have found a couple little brown snakes, some anoles, 3 or 4 geckos and 1 crawfish.
I have eaten possum before but can't honestly say I found it delicious so have no plans to put more on the menu. Many people say many things do but possum does not taste like chicken!
Well, Vladi is here behind me wrapped in his blanket napping. Bella is beside me trimming her toenails. All is quiet once again. When it's light out again I'll walk the fence line to check for any feet prints that don't look like any of ours. I don't enjoy killing or even hurting any critters, wild or domestic needlessly but I do believe in protecting my family. Yes, my dogs, ducks and geese are like family to me. Should I need to sting a cat's ass or bust a possum's head, so be it.
As I was in my office writing my previous post Vlad was back here w/ me and Bella was in another room. All of a sudden I heard her yapping and a commotion in the kitchen. When Vlad and I got there Bella was out on the back deck and their food bowl was skidded across the kitchen w/ kibbles scattered everywhere. All I can possibly fathom is we had some unwanted & uninvited guest come through the back door. My best guess would have to be a cat. Possums are dumb enough to wander in anywhere but aren't really swift on escaping. I've a pair of soft BB pistols I'll keep at the ready in case I spy any felines and my 10 pump .177 caliber pellet rifle loaded should I see any possums. I've seen many a stray cat around here but surprising little wildlife for as close to the woods as we are. Squirrels are bountiful and I've seen 1 road killed corn snake. In the yard I have many wild song birds and have found a couple little brown snakes, some anoles, 3 or 4 geckos and 1 crawfish.
I have eaten possum before but can't honestly say I found it delicious so have no plans to put more on the menu. Many people say many things do but possum does not taste like chicken!
Well, Vladi is here behind me wrapped in his blanket napping. Bella is beside me trimming her toenails. All is quiet once again. When it's light out again I'll walk the fence line to check for any feet prints that don't look like any of ours. I don't enjoy killing or even hurting any critters, wild or domestic needlessly but I do believe in protecting my family. Yes, my dogs, ducks and geese are like family to me. Should I need to sting a cat's ass or bust a possum's head, so be it.
Friday, December 25, 2015
Christmas At Mom's
I went the 1/2 mile to Mom's for Christmas dinner and everything was grand! As I've said before she was raised on a farm so she really appreciated the fresh ducks eggs I took her. My senile brother was there, he ate then watched TV for about 30 minutes before falling asleep (or into a food coma) on the sofa. Mom has a little 2 year old toy Poodle named Gracie who is as shy as my Vlad (Jack Russell) & Bella (Dachshund) are bold. When I first met Gracie I could only feed her tidbits of food if I wasn't looking at her. Today was rather special as she actually licked my fingers and let me pet her.
The menu was classic redneck holiday chow down. Baked ham, scalloped potatoes, green bean casserole, deviled eggs, slaw, yeast rolls and sweet taters. As usual after a big feed I brought home enough leftovers to eat on for the next couple of days.
As I was loading up to return home I noticed Mom's yard was absolutely covered with acorns. I have a gigantic oak in the Southeast corner of the front yard but have found very few nuts there. Another oak I would guess to be about 50 years of age inn the Northwest corner of the back yard has dropped a few handfuls of slightly larger nuts as windfall into my yard. This oak is actually on the outside of my privacy fence but is about 50/50 on my property.
Anyway, somewhere in my storage building I have an electric leaf blower/vacuum. If I can find it and the bag and enough power cords I'll go down and suck up a trash can load for the ducks and geese to eat. Mom's acorns are a bit larger than mine so I'll try to come up w/ some clever way to semi crush or at least open them up.
The menu was classic redneck holiday chow down. Baked ham, scalloped potatoes, green bean casserole, deviled eggs, slaw, yeast rolls and sweet taters. As usual after a big feed I brought home enough leftovers to eat on for the next couple of days.
As I was loading up to return home I noticed Mom's yard was absolutely covered with acorns. I have a gigantic oak in the Southeast corner of the front yard but have found very few nuts there. Another oak I would guess to be about 50 years of age inn the Northwest corner of the back yard has dropped a few handfuls of slightly larger nuts as windfall into my yard. This oak is actually on the outside of my privacy fence but is about 50/50 on my property.
Anyway, somewhere in my storage building I have an electric leaf blower/vacuum. If I can find it and the bag and enough power cords I'll go down and suck up a trash can load for the ducks and geese to eat. Mom's acorns are a bit larger than mine so I'll try to come up w/ some clever way to semi crush or at least open them up.
Thursday, December 24, 2015
Christmas Eve 2015 & Pineapple Plant
It's Christmas Eve, three hours until Christmas morning. It rained for much of the day yet is still warm enough that I have windows and doors open. I don't hear any people out singing carols, instead there are crickets singing their song. All in all it is a beautiful night with a full moon shining.
A few years back my Mom had a sun room built onto the back of her house where she grew all kinds of plants from seeds and cuttings. Among her many triumphs was a pineapple plant grown from a crown she cut off a fruit from the grocery store. Believe it or not the damn thing actually bore a Mississippi home grown pineapple! The plant finally got so large she got rid of it but alas, I had no room for it myself. Our local grocery has pineapple on sale this week for $1 each and I bought 3 to try and root like Mom did hers. I've always enjoyed having a bit of the outdoors in the home via plants and such. I'm hoping to get some assorted citrus, apple, cherry and avocado seedlings ready this Winter to set out come Spring. The avocados will have to be potted but the rest should be hardy enough to stick directly in the hopefully someday orchard.
I've dusted off a basket to put Mom's dozen duck eggs in so my Christmas "shopping" is done.
All that remains is to wish you all the best wishes this Christmas, in the New Year and the rest of your lives.
May God bless us all. Love & Peace.
Merlin
A few years back my Mom had a sun room built onto the back of her house where she grew all kinds of plants from seeds and cuttings. Among her many triumphs was a pineapple plant grown from a crown she cut off a fruit from the grocery store. Believe it or not the damn thing actually bore a Mississippi home grown pineapple! The plant finally got so large she got rid of it but alas, I had no room for it myself. Our local grocery has pineapple on sale this week for $1 each and I bought 3 to try and root like Mom did hers. I've always enjoyed having a bit of the outdoors in the home via plants and such. I'm hoping to get some assorted citrus, apple, cherry and avocado seedlings ready this Winter to set out come Spring. The avocados will have to be potted but the rest should be hardy enough to stick directly in the hopefully someday orchard.
I've dusted off a basket to put Mom's dozen duck eggs in so my Christmas "shopping" is done.
All that remains is to wish you all the best wishes this Christmas, in the New Year and the rest of your lives.
May God bless us all. Love & Peace.
Merlin
Happy Christmas
Without doing into a lot of boring details I'll just say Christmas has long been the most depressing time of year for me. While I am still not jolly, haven't put up any decorations or such I feel pretty good about the whole affair this year.
I'm sure much has to do with my being in a different house. This "new" house while some 40 years or so of age feels like the beginning of a new stage in my life. I have enough yard to call my own that I can plant fruit trees, grape vines, gardens, have my duck yard and plenty of room for my dogs and me to play in.. The girls have already laid enough eggs that I can take Mom a dozen.
But the main thing I believe that makes this Christmas different is how I feel in my heart and soul. While He's always been there for me I wasn't always right with God. I'm not gonna preach or tell anyone how to live. All I'll say is I got right with Him. No, I don't always do right but as I often say, "I am a work in progress".
The History Channel has been airing most of the Holiday shows I'm watching dealing with the birth of Jesus and nothing to do w/ Santa, reindeer or snowmen. My Christmas Day after having lunch w/ Mom will mostly be spent watching those, enjoying the quiet of the night (when I'm most usually awake). I'll contemplate the 30 something years between His birth and physical death on the cross.
No matter your religion (if any) we all can learn much from the words and deeds of Jesus of Nazareth. I'm no great thinker of deep thoughts but 1 guy I work with did give me a pretty good compliment. He said, "You know? He's got a certain redneck wisdom sometimes."
So here's my redneck wisdom for this Christmas season and beyond.... For whatever reason; race, religion, politics, sexual preference you and I may not agree on everything. We may not even understand each others' views. But as long as you don't try to force your opinions on me I'll respect your rights to them if you'll respect mine. Worship as you wish, if you wish. Let me live in peace and I harbor no ill will towards anyone who also wishes to live in peace. Violence only begets violence.
A John Lennon song I play a lot this time of year:
Happy Christmas (War Is Over)
And one for anytime of year:
Give Peace A Chance
Happy Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa, etc to all. Love your neighbor, Peace on Earth, Goodwill to all men and women.
I'm sure much has to do with my being in a different house. This "new" house while some 40 years or so of age feels like the beginning of a new stage in my life. I have enough yard to call my own that I can plant fruit trees, grape vines, gardens, have my duck yard and plenty of room for my dogs and me to play in.. The girls have already laid enough eggs that I can take Mom a dozen.
But the main thing I believe that makes this Christmas different is how I feel in my heart and soul. While He's always been there for me I wasn't always right with God. I'm not gonna preach or tell anyone how to live. All I'll say is I got right with Him. No, I don't always do right but as I often say, "I am a work in progress".
The History Channel has been airing most of the Holiday shows I'm watching dealing with the birth of Jesus and nothing to do w/ Santa, reindeer or snowmen. My Christmas Day after having lunch w/ Mom will mostly be spent watching those, enjoying the quiet of the night (when I'm most usually awake). I'll contemplate the 30 something years between His birth and physical death on the cross.
No matter your religion (if any) we all can learn much from the words and deeds of Jesus of Nazareth. I'm no great thinker of deep thoughts but 1 guy I work with did give me a pretty good compliment. He said, "You know? He's got a certain redneck wisdom sometimes."
So here's my redneck wisdom for this Christmas season and beyond.... For whatever reason; race, religion, politics, sexual preference you and I may not agree on everything. We may not even understand each others' views. But as long as you don't try to force your opinions on me I'll respect your rights to them if you'll respect mine. Worship as you wish, if you wish. Let me live in peace and I harbor no ill will towards anyone who also wishes to live in peace. Violence only begets violence.
A John Lennon song I play a lot this time of year:
Happy Christmas (War Is Over)
And one for anytime of year:
Give Peace A Chance
Happy Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa, etc to all. Love your neighbor, Peace on Earth, Goodwill to all men and women.
Monday, December 21, 2015
I'm Dreaming Of A Wet Christmas
Here in Mississippi we don't get much snow. The weather for Christmas day is probably going to be in the 70's F with a good chance of rain. It's all good. I pretty much got my fill of snow when I lived for 6 years in Colorado Springs, Colorado. While truly beautiful it is also way too damn cold for my old fingers and toes.
Measured For Straw Bales
I measured the bale of straw Joel gave me then measured the bed of my truck; length, width and depth. After accounting for the wheel wells I figure I can fit 5 bales per layer and safely tie down 2 layers for transport back home. All I need do now is call for pricing & availability, then go fetch em up. I'm thinking another 5 or 6 should make the duck yard look pretty good and eliminate most of the sloppy spots while giving the birds good forage for seeds and their feed among the straw. Of course I'll continue adding bags of oak leaves as my neighbors put those to the curb.
My back yard has several wet areas, mostly where I walk it seems. Whatever straw don't go into the duck yard will be distributed along my soupy pathways and assorted sloppy areas. If the straw is cheap enough I may even break up and toss a bale or 3 onto the Swamp should I decide to buy a second truckload.
I broke up the bale I had and put a couple flakes in the nest house for the hens. The remainder I busted up and scattered in their yard. I'm seeing a lot of wild birds flying in for a snack. If I see a few more doves I may get out my 10 pump BB gun and do some dove hunting.
My back yard has several wet areas, mostly where I walk it seems. Whatever straw don't go into the duck yard will be distributed along my soupy pathways and assorted sloppy areas. If the straw is cheap enough I may even break up and toss a bale or 3 onto the Swamp should I decide to buy a second truckload.
I broke up the bale I had and put a couple flakes in the nest house for the hens. The remainder I busted up and scattered in their yard. I'm seeing a lot of wild birds flying in for a snack. If I see a few more doves I may get out my 10 pump BB gun and do some dove hunting.
Sunday, December 20, 2015
Another 2 Egg Day & An Outhouse Story
I went out to feed the Quack Pack this morning as usual and found another 2 duck eggs. Upon closer inspection I noticed one is thinner, more elongated and more equally sized at both ends. The other is shaped more like a jumbo plus sized chicken's egg. I could very well be wrong (it wouldn't be the first time) but I'm thinking the longer is a Runner and the fatter is a Rouen.
It's a mere 5 days until Christmas but if the girls keep up the good work I'll have a dozen farm fresh duck eggs to give my mom for Christmas. She's nigh onto impossible to buy for as she has at least one of everything she could possibly want or need. But she's also an old school farm girl, she told me that she and my dad had ducks back too far for me to remember. I do recall as far back as I can that her parents, my grandmaw and pawpaw had chickens.
Hey! Who can say "no" to free food especially when it's farm fresh?
A quick story about grandmaw & pawpaw's chickens... Back when I was a wee fart neither set of my grandparents had indoor toilets. They had running water in the kitchen but other needs were taken care of elsewhere. We bathed in a #2 wash tub in the back yard. Other bodily functions were managed in a little shed farther out from the house. All lived far enough out of city (or town) limits that their chickens were 101% free range. Anyway G&P had one mean ass old rooster that probably didn't weigh much less than I did as a skinny young lad (or so he looked to me at the time). This cantankerous old cob loved nothing more than to make my life miserable. One day I was trying to get past that old cob to make a trip to the outhouse when he appeared and stood his ground about halfway between where I was and where I needed to be. What he failed to recall was that Pawpaw had an old brown mongrel dog, Brownie who was a close personal friend of mine. Good chance Brownie didn't like this rooster anyway. But as I had the rooster's attention out of the corner of my eye I saw a brown comet come around the corner at full tilt. Brownie to my rescue! He T-boned that rooster and all I heard was one very loud thud followed by Brownie growling and snarling, the rooster screeching for dear life! They rolled over and over each other probably a dozen times or more, some 10 yards. Finally Brownie figured he'd best not kill the old rooster or he'd get in trouble so he relinquished his grip.
And... that old bastard rooster to the day he died always got a nervous look in his eye and ran like Satan was coming for him every time he saw me. And I always managed to sneak a little treat for Brownie whenever we sat down to eat.
Thanks for everything, Brownie! I'll always remember and love you dearly, my old friend!
Rest In Peace.
It's a mere 5 days until Christmas but if the girls keep up the good work I'll have a dozen farm fresh duck eggs to give my mom for Christmas. She's nigh onto impossible to buy for as she has at least one of everything she could possibly want or need. But she's also an old school farm girl, she told me that she and my dad had ducks back too far for me to remember. I do recall as far back as I can that her parents, my grandmaw and pawpaw had chickens.
Hey! Who can say "no" to free food especially when it's farm fresh?
A quick story about grandmaw & pawpaw's chickens... Back when I was a wee fart neither set of my grandparents had indoor toilets. They had running water in the kitchen but other needs were taken care of elsewhere. We bathed in a #2 wash tub in the back yard. Other bodily functions were managed in a little shed farther out from the house. All lived far enough out of city (or town) limits that their chickens were 101% free range. Anyway G&P had one mean ass old rooster that probably didn't weigh much less than I did as a skinny young lad (or so he looked to me at the time). This cantankerous old cob loved nothing more than to make my life miserable. One day I was trying to get past that old cob to make a trip to the outhouse when he appeared and stood his ground about halfway between where I was and where I needed to be. What he failed to recall was that Pawpaw had an old brown mongrel dog, Brownie who was a close personal friend of mine. Good chance Brownie didn't like this rooster anyway. But as I had the rooster's attention out of the corner of my eye I saw a brown comet come around the corner at full tilt. Brownie to my rescue! He T-boned that rooster and all I heard was one very loud thud followed by Brownie growling and snarling, the rooster screeching for dear life! They rolled over and over each other probably a dozen times or more, some 10 yards. Finally Brownie figured he'd best not kill the old rooster or he'd get in trouble so he relinquished his grip.
And... that old bastard rooster to the day he died always got a nervous look in his eye and ran like Satan was coming for him every time he saw me. And I always managed to sneak a little treat for Brownie whenever we sat down to eat.
Thanks for everything, Brownie! I'll always remember and love you dearly, my old friend!
Rest In Peace.
Saturday, December 19, 2015
Work, Straw & Eggs
Last night at work was brutal to say the least but by the grace and with the help of God I survived. Night before last I noticed 3 bales of straw in a pickup truck but didn't know whose truck it was. Last night I figured it must belong to Joel, asked him and learned I was correct. I inquired as to where he'd gotten the straw and he said his dad had wheeled and dealed for it for free. When I said I needed some for the Quack Pack he offered to give me one free of charge which I gladly accepted. Then he said when they had horses they got straw, hay, etc at the Rankin County Co-op which is only a few miles down the road. Only 1 bale at a time will fit into the back of my CR-V so I'll measure the bale and the bed of my truck then math out how many I can fetch at a time w/ that.
As of Tuesday I've been finding one duck egg each morning. Today I doubled down and found a pair! Ergo most of the chicken eggs I have in the fridge are destined to be cooked and added to the dogs' food and/or Quack Pack feed. When I worked at the zoo all the barnyard fowl got finely chopped boiled eggs mixed into their diets (sans shells). My birds get theirs w/ shells plus added shells from the eggs the dogs and I eat.
A little while back I was at mom's and she gave me a big sack of roasted pecans that she had let get a tad overdone. Some are still quite tasty so I'm gobbling those. Them that are past palatable to me are chopped up for quackers & honkers.
As of Tuesday I've been finding one duck egg each morning. Today I doubled down and found a pair! Ergo most of the chicken eggs I have in the fridge are destined to be cooked and added to the dogs' food and/or Quack Pack feed. When I worked at the zoo all the barnyard fowl got finely chopped boiled eggs mixed into their diets (sans shells). My birds get theirs w/ shells plus added shells from the eggs the dogs and I eat.
A little while back I was at mom's and she gave me a big sack of roasted pecans that she had let get a tad overdone. Some are still quite tasty so I'm gobbling those. Them that are past palatable to me are chopped up for quackers & honkers.
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Eggs Vs. Eggs
I harvested another duck egg this morning bringing my total so far to 2. I still had a dozen and half chicken eggs from the store and decided to do a side by side taste test. 2 nearly identical skillets, started at the same time w/ just enough canola oil to prevent sticking. As the duck egg was larger I went w/ 2 chicken eggs. The first thing I noticed was the color of the yolks. The chicken egg yolks were yellow as usual but the duck yolk was almost orange. I slowly fried the eggs until medium w/ the white completely cooked but the yolks just starting to firm up around the edge but a syrupy run still to them. Right before plating I gave em all a pinch of Kosher salt and grind of fresh black pepper.
End result? No contest whatsoever! The store bought eggs while what I have become accustomed to fell flat while the fresh duck egg made my taste buds sing.
I feed my Quack Pack hen scratch & deer corn mostly that I scatter in their yard to let/make them forage. To every 100 pounds of that I add 50 pounds of laying pellets in 2 pans to minimize waste. They also get fruit and veggie scraps, acorns, a bit of old bread plus any bugs or grubs I digged up during the warm weather and whatever gets bagged when I mow our lawn. Lately the mower stuff has been hardwood leaves and nuts w/ some greens. I also save egg shells to crush and add to their feed as a calcium supplement.
They free range in an "L" shaped yard some 15' x 50' then 20' x 30' with a pair of 4' diameter kiddie wading pools. Every other day or so one pool is drained, rinsed and refilled w/ fresh water. I keep 5 gallon buckets at the corners of my house to collect as much rain water for this as possible. That task is more work than just opening a tap but I know the water is just water sans the chemicals the water treatment place adds.
Happy ducks make better eggs which make for a happy redneck!
End result? No contest whatsoever! The store bought eggs while what I have become accustomed to fell flat while the fresh duck egg made my taste buds sing.
I feed my Quack Pack hen scratch & deer corn mostly that I scatter in their yard to let/make them forage. To every 100 pounds of that I add 50 pounds of laying pellets in 2 pans to minimize waste. They also get fruit and veggie scraps, acorns, a bit of old bread plus any bugs or grubs I digged up during the warm weather and whatever gets bagged when I mow our lawn. Lately the mower stuff has been hardwood leaves and nuts w/ some greens. I also save egg shells to crush and add to their feed as a calcium supplement.
They free range in an "L" shaped yard some 15' x 50' then 20' x 30' with a pair of 4' diameter kiddie wading pools. Every other day or so one pool is drained, rinsed and refilled w/ fresh water. I keep 5 gallon buckets at the corners of my house to collect as much rain water for this as possible. That task is more work than just opening a tap but I know the water is just water sans the chemicals the water treatment place adds.
Happy ducks make better eggs which make for a happy redneck!
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Mr. Mack & Free Lumber
Tother day I went out to the front yard for some damn thing or another and saw Mr. Mack, my neighbor across the street and down 1 raking. I hadn't seen him for a few weeks so went over to see what was new w/ him & his wife, Ms. Jean. Turns out he'd been halfway keeping an eye out hoping to see me. As luck (or God watching over me) all turned out to my favor. He's got some assorted lumber scraps he was considering taking to the curb but wanted to offer me dibs (which I graciously accepted). Mostly it's fair to middling 2 x 4 some 4 to 6' long w/ some fire fodder in the mix. But the jewel of the lot is a 4 x 6 between 6 and 8 foot long. My brain is running wild with options for that baby! He said there's no time limit for me to fetch the lumber over to my house but I'll try and do it PDQ just to get it out of his way.
A Gift From The Quack Pack
As the late Gomer Pyle said, "Surprise, surprise, surprise!" I went out this morning to feed the ducks & geese and found the 1st of I hope many eggs to come. I've seen thousands of chicken eggs from the grocery and quite a few from birds of my own from tiny Bantam to jumbo Leghorn to Guinea fowl. At the zoo I encountered duck, goose, swan, peafowl, flamingo, even tortoise, corn snake, python and alligator. I'm not an "egg-spert" (Sorry, I simply could not resist that bad pun) but I can come up with a fairly educated guess as to what critter's butt an egg fell out of. The egg is too small to be goose so it's gotta be duck. I do know 2 of my 5 Rouens are hens and 3 are roosters. The 2 Runners I have no idea regarding their sex(es). But the egg is fairly small and elongated compared to most other duck eggs I've seen so I'm guessing it's a runner egg. It was laid out in the middle of the duck yard after I went to bed yesterday afternoon and before I got home from work this morning so hatching chances would be slim to none and slim done left town. Whatever to do w/ a solitary duck egg? Myself, I just wiped the leaves, mud and most likely some duck butt gravy off it and stuck it in the fridge whilst I hope for more in the future. The more and sooner, the better.
When I lived in Raymond, Mississippi I had a small flock of Seabright bantams, both silver and gold. After spending many hours on their enclosure and dollars on their feed I presented them w/ an ultimatum. "I been feeding y'all for some time now. It's nigh time for payback... eggs or legs!" The next afternoon when I returned from work I had 2 eggs in the nests. I was thinking my ducks were still too young for laying but gladly accept their gift.
When I lived in Raymond, Mississippi I had a small flock of Seabright bantams, both silver and gold. After spending many hours on their enclosure and dollars on their feed I presented them w/ an ultimatum. "I been feeding y'all for some time now. It's nigh time for payback... eggs or legs!" The next afternoon when I returned from work I had 2 eggs in the nests. I was thinking my ducks were still too young for laying but gladly accept their gift.
Sunday, December 13, 2015
Crazy Answers To Lame Questions
About 6 years ago the ACL in my right knee popped. I'd love to say it was something exciting like BASE jumping or chasing down a thug but here's the sad and lame truth... I was kneeling on the floor at work and stood up. POW! Ligament went bad. End of story. Luckily? it happened only about 90 minutes before the end of my shift heading into my weekend. After a couple hours at home hoping the pain would let up I gave in and went to the ER. When I got back to work I was still gimpy as Hell and everybody asked what happened. After telling a couple dozen people the truth I decided that the truth was too boring. My new story was, "Me and my girlfriend was having butt wild monkey sex. She caught her earring in her ankle bracelet and we fell off the pool table."
Just over a year ago I was fetching boxes home from work to pack prepping for buying and moving into my house. The last person to ask, "Are you moving? got this gem for an answer. "Naw. My girlfriend is just so damn ugly a paper sack won't work. I gotta put a cardboard box over her head."
Just over a year ago I was fetching boxes home from work to pack prepping for buying and moving into my house. The last person to ask, "Are you moving? got this gem for an answer. "Naw. My girlfriend is just so damn ugly a paper sack won't work. I gotta put a cardboard box over her head."
Saturday, December 12, 2015
Dumber Than A Wood Tick
Sometimes I have a way of expressing myself in ways not often heard, usually about the "Award Winning" knobs I work around. Here is a sampling of my terms used to describe them...
His crib had lead based paint.
He played w/ mercury a lot as a child.
His swimming pool was at the sewer treatment plant.
He's seen the inside of a short bus.
He dropped his chewing gum in the chicken yard and thought he found it 3 times.
If he was a coyote caught in a leg hold trap he'd chew off 3 legs and still be caught.
He's goofier than a shocked possum.
He's nuttier than a squirrel turd.
Did his mama work around a lot of radiation?
His parents must have dropped him a lot as a baby.
His mom must have taken part in LSD experiments.
Did his parents put model airplane glue in his milk bottle to calm him?
For Halloween he wanted to go as a turnip and forgot to take the plastic bag off his head afterwards.
I've seen better heads in a cabbage patch.
I bet rat poison agrees with him.
That boy must have drunk a lot of bad milk.
He shouldn't be in the breeding program.
The wheel is turning but the hamster is dead.
His crib had lead based paint.
He played w/ mercury a lot as a child.
His swimming pool was at the sewer treatment plant.
He's seen the inside of a short bus.
He dropped his chewing gum in the chicken yard and thought he found it 3 times.
If he was a coyote caught in a leg hold trap he'd chew off 3 legs and still be caught.
He's goofier than a shocked possum.
He's nuttier than a squirrel turd.
Did his mama work around a lot of radiation?
His parents must have dropped him a lot as a baby.
His mom must have taken part in LSD experiments.
Did his parents put model airplane glue in his milk bottle to calm him?
For Halloween he wanted to go as a turnip and forgot to take the plastic bag off his head afterwards.
I've seen better heads in a cabbage patch.
I bet rat poison agrees with him.
That boy must have drunk a lot of bad milk.
He shouldn't be in the breeding program.
The wheel is turning but the hamster is dead.
Holiday Havoc
I tell ya what... these past few weeks I could have more fun tangled up in a barbed wire fence! Starting a couple days after Thanksgiving my bowels were in an uproar. I finally got that unpleasant little malady cleared up and now I have the sneezing snot face. Hey! I'll try and look at the bright side... I'm still breathing. I generally stop sneezing and snotting a couple hours after I return home then start back up less than 30 minutes at work. Maybe I'm allergic to something there, possibly work! And Lord have mercy, if the tissue paper there was any rougher it would still have bark on it. also much to my good fortune I have the ability to ignore or block out a degree of crap not worth hearing. I am admittedly somewhat hard of hearing and can pretty well switch on "selective hearing". They've been playing Christmas music at work. Not that I mind Christmas music if done well but they have somehow found the world's worst renditions of every holiday song ever.
I love Nat King Cole or Karen Carpenter's "Christmas Song", Emerson, Lake & Palmer's "Father Christmas", Bing Crosby's "White Christmas", all the holiday songs by Celtic Woman and Trans Siberian Orchestra. Not "Frosty the Snowman" or any of the crap about Santa. Sorry but that makes me say, "Bah, humbug!"
I love Nat King Cole or Karen Carpenter's "Christmas Song", Emerson, Lake & Palmer's "Father Christmas", Bing Crosby's "White Christmas", all the holiday songs by Celtic Woman and Trans Siberian Orchestra. Not "Frosty the Snowman" or any of the crap about Santa. Sorry but that makes me say, "Bah, humbug!"
Friday, December 11, 2015
Guacamole
A#1 I don't like smooth, creamy guacamole nor "whipped" mashed taters. I like a bit of chunk in mine and do not at all care for the ingredients I cannot pronounce added to the stuff in a plastic tub from the store. I was having a guacamole Jones at work so got all I needed to mash up a batch. Here is the basic recipe, as always feel free to add, subtract or substitute to your liking.
2 avocados (ripe but not mushy), chopped and semi mashed
1 Roma tomato chopped
1/2 small yellow onion chopped
1 jalapeno pepper chopped
1 palm full of fresh cilantro chopped
Juice of 1/2 lime
Kosher salt to taste (about 3/4 teaspoon)
Fresh ground black pepper to taste (about 1/2 teaspoon)
Stir it up and dig in w/ chips, add to tacos or burritos, whatever rolls your socks up & down!
Toss avocado skins and lime pith into the compost bin. Lime zest goes into a jar (refrigerated) w/ my other citrus zest. Jalapeno seeds are set out to dry for next Spring's planting. Cilantro stems, mater trimmings, onion tops, bottoms and skins, jalapeno top and membrane go into a freezer bag for vegetable stock. Avocado pits supported by 3 toothpicks go into cups of water to sprout and make avocado trees. Again, I have heard avocado trees grown from seed won't make fruit but I saw someone on Food Network use the leaves as flavoring not unlike bay leaves. I have yet to try them but am always open to new ideas.
2 avocados (ripe but not mushy), chopped and semi mashed
1 Roma tomato chopped
1/2 small yellow onion chopped
1 jalapeno pepper chopped
1 palm full of fresh cilantro chopped
Juice of 1/2 lime
Kosher salt to taste (about 3/4 teaspoon)
Fresh ground black pepper to taste (about 1/2 teaspoon)
Stir it up and dig in w/ chips, add to tacos or burritos, whatever rolls your socks up & down!
Toss avocado skins and lime pith into the compost bin. Lime zest goes into a jar (refrigerated) w/ my other citrus zest. Jalapeno seeds are set out to dry for next Spring's planting. Cilantro stems, mater trimmings, onion tops, bottoms and skins, jalapeno top and membrane go into a freezer bag for vegetable stock. Avocado pits supported by 3 toothpicks go into cups of water to sprout and make avocado trees. Again, I have heard avocado trees grown from seed won't make fruit but I saw someone on Food Network use the leaves as flavoring not unlike bay leaves. I have yet to try them but am always open to new ideas.
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Homemade Olive Bruscetta
I was ready for a big sammich w/ all the goodies tother day, a redneck muffaletta on steroids if you will. The ready made mixed olive salad stuff in a jar at the store was $7.99 a pint. I knew I could make my own and probably better for way less. Here's what I came up with. It needs adjusting but so do all great things.
I started w/ a 4.25 oz can of chopped black olives. They was chopped finer than I had expected but that's what I had. I drained what little juice was in, gave a quick rinse and dumped in into a 2 quart bowl. Using that can as my measuring devise added equal amount rough chopped green salad olives w/ pimentos (rinsed). Chop and add 2 green onions, 2 large cloves garlic, a can measure of chopped yellow onion, half can of chopped pickled jalapeno pepper and a medium sized chopped dill pickle. I added about a teaspoon of kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flake, and 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning mix. Stir it all pretty well and add enough Italian salad dressing to get it to the juiciness you like. I used a little over 1/2 of a 12 oz bottle for mine.
This is in no way meant to be a recipe you should have to follow. It's just to say "Don't pay $7.99 for $3.00 worth of stuff you already have". There is no reason you can't (and know I will) modify this to endless possibilities. Add or substitute to our liking: shredded, sliced or chopped carrots, beets, radishes, leeks, fennel, celery, fresh or dried herbs, go crazy with it!
I started w/ a 4.25 oz can of chopped black olives. They was chopped finer than I had expected but that's what I had. I drained what little juice was in, gave a quick rinse and dumped in into a 2 quart bowl. Using that can as my measuring devise added equal amount rough chopped green salad olives w/ pimentos (rinsed). Chop and add 2 green onions, 2 large cloves garlic, a can measure of chopped yellow onion, half can of chopped pickled jalapeno pepper and a medium sized chopped dill pickle. I added about a teaspoon of kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flake, and 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning mix. Stir it all pretty well and add enough Italian salad dressing to get it to the juiciness you like. I used a little over 1/2 of a 12 oz bottle for mine.
This is in no way meant to be a recipe you should have to follow. It's just to say "Don't pay $7.99 for $3.00 worth of stuff you already have". There is no reason you can't (and know I will) modify this to endless possibilities. Add or substitute to our liking: shredded, sliced or chopped carrots, beets, radishes, leeks, fennel, celery, fresh or dried herbs, go crazy with it!
Sunday, December 6, 2015
Curb Shopping
My previous post was all about my "trash". This one is about other people's.
The dark blue 10' sofa, 1/2 of which is a hide a bed, the other half features a recliner complete with 2 way massage came from the curb. The only thing that could have made that find better would have been seeing Paul taking it to the curb, loading it into his truck and having it delivered!
The only furniture I own bought brand new are my bed, dining room set, 55 gallon aquarium stand (not the aquarium), one of my three book cases and an end table I bought when I was in the U.S. Air Force (1977-1982). Two or 3 pieces came from thrift stores and the rest came from the curb.
I love seeing people tossing pots and baskets of dead plants and sacks of leaves. Many of the "dead" plants need only some water and TLC to bring them back to glory. Others are truly dead and go onto my raised bed gardens, worm bed, compost bin or low spots in my yard. Bags of hardwood leaves are welcome in so many places on my bit of property. The ducks love rooting in the leaves for acorns.
While I did purchase my dryer new I have been using a "trash treasure" washing machine for well over 10 years. I knocked and asked if it worked before fetching it home. It is a "plain Jane" model, not a lot of bells and whistles. The only problem is it don't like to spin. The door has to be opened and reclosed before it'll go into spin cycle. Hey! Its knocked the skids out of my skivvies for over a decade and didn't cost me a dime, all I have to do is open and close the door to spin... that's a bargain to me!
The dark blue 10' sofa, 1/2 of which is a hide a bed, the other half features a recliner complete with 2 way massage came from the curb. The only thing that could have made that find better would have been seeing Paul taking it to the curb, loading it into his truck and having it delivered!
The only furniture I own bought brand new are my bed, dining room set, 55 gallon aquarium stand (not the aquarium), one of my three book cases and an end table I bought when I was in the U.S. Air Force (1977-1982). Two or 3 pieces came from thrift stores and the rest came from the curb.
I love seeing people tossing pots and baskets of dead plants and sacks of leaves. Many of the "dead" plants need only some water and TLC to bring them back to glory. Others are truly dead and go onto my raised bed gardens, worm bed, compost bin or low spots in my yard. Bags of hardwood leaves are welcome in so many places on my bit of property. The ducks love rooting in the leaves for acorns.
While I did purchase my dryer new I have been using a "trash treasure" washing machine for well over 10 years. I knocked and asked if it worked before fetching it home. It is a "plain Jane" model, not a lot of bells and whistles. The only problem is it don't like to spin. The door has to be opened and reclosed before it'll go into spin cycle. Hey! Its knocked the skids out of my skivvies for over a decade and didn't cost me a dime, all I have to do is open and close the door to spin... that's a bargain to me!
Separating My Refuse
I am a big fan of reduce, reuse, repurpose and recycle. Therefore I separate my refuse into multiple categories...
Dog Food: stale (not moldy) bread, freezer burned or past prime meats, some fruits and veggies, small amounts of leftovers, etc.
Duck Food: popcorn that didn't pop, veggie peels & trimmings, melon rinds, pumpkin guts, leftover pasta, cooked rice, dried and crushed egg shells, etc.
Seed: I save and plant avocado pits, cherry, plum, nectarine stones, apple, citrus, tomato etc seeds.
Compost: Onion skins, tops and bottoms, moldy bread, ashes, leaves that get tracked into the house, limp lettuce or celery, banana peels, citrus peels, etc.
Burn: old mail that has personal info, paper towels, snotty tissue, dryer lint, vacuum cleaner debris, Hamburger Helper boxes, etc. All these ashes are later added to compost bins or sprinkled in the duck yard or added to gardens directly.
Recycle: Most of my beer comes from a bottle so I have few aluminum cans. The little aluminum I do produce is set (bagged) on the curb the day after garbage collection day along w/ scrap metal I still find in my back yard (boxed) and assorted junk anyone else may be able to use. There's a fella I see driving around in a pickup truck towing a flatbed trailer who picks up much of this crap.
Just Garbage: We don't have a recycling program here for a lot of stuff that could be recycled... glass, plastic, tin cans, etc. so that just goes to the curb.
Dog Food: stale (not moldy) bread, freezer burned or past prime meats, some fruits and veggies, small amounts of leftovers, etc.
Duck Food: popcorn that didn't pop, veggie peels & trimmings, melon rinds, pumpkin guts, leftover pasta, cooked rice, dried and crushed egg shells, etc.
Seed: I save and plant avocado pits, cherry, plum, nectarine stones, apple, citrus, tomato etc seeds.
Compost: Onion skins, tops and bottoms, moldy bread, ashes, leaves that get tracked into the house, limp lettuce or celery, banana peels, citrus peels, etc.
Burn: old mail that has personal info, paper towels, snotty tissue, dryer lint, vacuum cleaner debris, Hamburger Helper boxes, etc. All these ashes are later added to compost bins or sprinkled in the duck yard or added to gardens directly.
Recycle: Most of my beer comes from a bottle so I have few aluminum cans. The little aluminum I do produce is set (bagged) on the curb the day after garbage collection day along w/ scrap metal I still find in my back yard (boxed) and assorted junk anyone else may be able to use. There's a fella I see driving around in a pickup truck towing a flatbed trailer who picks up much of this crap.
Just Garbage: We don't have a recycling program here for a lot of stuff that could be recycled... glass, plastic, tin cans, etc. so that just goes to the curb.
Friday, December 4, 2015
Another "Award Winning" Vacation
I don't like to piss and moan when things don't go my way. I'd rather make the best of what I'm dealt. That said, my vacation is almost come to an end and it's been another of many that was less than splendid.
I've not gotten a whole heaping of real work done around here due to "stomach issues". I know I could have chugged down a jug of the pink stuff or Imodium AD for the symptoms but I figured the squirts was my body's way of telling me something was amiss in my chitlins. I felt my guts had gotten something not too good and needed a good purging. So I ate soup, bread, fresh fruits and veggies & other mild foods while guzzling plenty of liquids. I'd heard a while back aloe juice is supposed to be good for aging and/or damaged joints (I have plenty of those). Water, tea, fruit juice were also swilled down by the gallon, mostly w/ a squeeze of honey just to keep things interesting and to keep my sugar from bottoming out.
The bright side to not doing much strenuous activity is my back is feeling much better. See? You knew I could find something to be happy about!
On a totally different note I received a check from the bank my house is financed through. It's an "escrow account refund" whatever that means. At any rate it's just over $100 unlooked for but quite welcome. I always pay a little extra on my monthly mortgage payment each month and it's added up to more or less a 13th payment this year. I'll just add that check to this month's payment.
Whatever spare change I have in my pocket at the end of each day goes into a jug. It's looking nigh onto time to sort, roll and cash that in as it's been over a year since last I did that. Just a very rough estimate is at least $100 easily. That coinage will go into the bank and onto the house payments as extra payment. I know $100 on a mortgage seems a pittance but I see it as $100 that I won't be paying interest on for the next 29 years.
I've not gotten a whole heaping of real work done around here due to "stomach issues". I know I could have chugged down a jug of the pink stuff or Imodium AD for the symptoms but I figured the squirts was my body's way of telling me something was amiss in my chitlins. I felt my guts had gotten something not too good and needed a good purging. So I ate soup, bread, fresh fruits and veggies & other mild foods while guzzling plenty of liquids. I'd heard a while back aloe juice is supposed to be good for aging and/or damaged joints (I have plenty of those). Water, tea, fruit juice were also swilled down by the gallon, mostly w/ a squeeze of honey just to keep things interesting and to keep my sugar from bottoming out.
The bright side to not doing much strenuous activity is my back is feeling much better. See? You knew I could find something to be happy about!
On a totally different note I received a check from the bank my house is financed through. It's an "escrow account refund" whatever that means. At any rate it's just over $100 unlooked for but quite welcome. I always pay a little extra on my monthly mortgage payment each month and it's added up to more or less a 13th payment this year. I'll just add that check to this month's payment.
Whatever spare change I have in my pocket at the end of each day goes into a jug. It's looking nigh onto time to sort, roll and cash that in as it's been over a year since last I did that. Just a very rough estimate is at least $100 easily. That coinage will go into the bank and onto the house payments as extra payment. I know $100 on a mortgage seems a pittance but I see it as $100 that I won't be paying interest on for the next 29 years.
Sunday, November 29, 2015
NFL
It's not often I have Sunday night off so I'm gonna make a sporting day of it. My 2 favorite NFL teams are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers & whoever is playing the Dallas Cowboys this week. My Bucs lost to the Colts earlier today but are "still in the hunt". While I admit to calling them "My Bucs" I love it (sarcasm here) when fans say "WE did this, did that, We won".I look em dead in the eye and say "Ya'll did? I didn't see your name on the roster. What position exactly did you play? New Orleans is the closest NFL team so where exactly were you during the game?"
5 & 20 Bags Of Leaves
I had scouted the neighborhood yesterday morn and spotted some bagged leaves that I could use but had a technical difficulty. Nothing like a flat truck tire to slow down a haul. To add insult to injury my compressor decided to stop working and became scrap. I was gonna put on my spare tire but among all my tools could not locate my (correct) lug wrench.
This morning I went to the tool store and lo and behold! They were having a Black Friday tent sale. I got myself a brand new 4 way lug wrench and compressor at rock bottom prices.
Ten minutes after arriving back home I was on the road to fetch some leaves. 19 bags of oak leaves, 18 of which fitted into the bed of the truck + 1 that rode in the passenger seat beside me in the cab. On the way from my original bounty I spotted a few more. Trip #2 yielded another bag of hardwood leaves, 4 pine straw and 1 shrubbery clippings. The hardwood stuff is for the duck yard and the other is for The Swamp. I've dumped all The Swamp stuff and 15 bags of Quack Pack stuff. I'll give them a little time to shred it down, scatter it, crap on it, etc before adding the remaining 5 sacks.
The HUGE oak in the Southeast corner of my yard is testament to the saying, "From tiny acorns grow mighty oaks". It would take at least 3 people my size joining hands to reach around it. The nuts it produces are wee nuts, about 1/4" across and 3/8" long. The squirrels must be stuffed w/ them by now. I went out for a little nut hunt today and in 10 minutes barely filled the bottom of a gallon bucket. Anyway, I pulled some dandelion and other wild greens enough to fill the bucket for Quack Pack treats. Well fed ducks & geese are happy and quiet D&G.
This morning I went to the tool store and lo and behold! They were having a Black Friday tent sale. I got myself a brand new 4 way lug wrench and compressor at rock bottom prices.
Ten minutes after arriving back home I was on the road to fetch some leaves. 19 bags of oak leaves, 18 of which fitted into the bed of the truck + 1 that rode in the passenger seat beside me in the cab. On the way from my original bounty I spotted a few more. Trip #2 yielded another bag of hardwood leaves, 4 pine straw and 1 shrubbery clippings. The hardwood stuff is for the duck yard and the other is for The Swamp. I've dumped all The Swamp stuff and 15 bags of Quack Pack stuff. I'll give them a little time to shred it down, scatter it, crap on it, etc before adding the remaining 5 sacks.
The HUGE oak in the Southeast corner of my yard is testament to the saying, "From tiny acorns grow mighty oaks". It would take at least 3 people my size joining hands to reach around it. The nuts it produces are wee nuts, about 1/4" across and 3/8" long. The squirrels must be stuffed w/ them by now. I went out for a little nut hunt today and in 10 minutes barely filled the bottom of a gallon bucket. Anyway, I pulled some dandelion and other wild greens enough to fill the bucket for Quack Pack treats. Well fed ducks & geese are happy and quiet D&G.
Final Vacation Week 2015
Lord have mercy! I'm on my final week of vacation 2015. My last night at work was Friday night and it was a monster! Early in the night I said to Robert, "I think the plan must be 'If we kill the old bastard tonight, we won't have to pay him for vacation'." A couple hours later he came to me and said, "I think you were kidding what you said earlier but I'm beginning to think you're right."
You have all heard the old saying, "You can't keep a good man down"... Hell, they can't even get me down! I try to avoid pain medications, even aspirin. I figure pain is my body's way of telling me not to do something. But my lower back is so sore that I have taken a couple of BC powders yesterday and today because I have things that simply must get done while I am off work. I am taking things at my own pace and not pushing too hard, just checking them off one at a time. We've got rain in the forecast a~coming so outside things are priority 1.
You have all heard the old saying, "You can't keep a good man down"... Hell, they can't even get me down! I try to avoid pain medications, even aspirin. I figure pain is my body's way of telling me not to do something. But my lower back is so sore that I have taken a couple of BC powders yesterday and today because I have things that simply must get done while I am off work. I am taking things at my own pace and not pushing too hard, just checking them off one at a time. We've got rain in the forecast a~coming so outside things are priority 1.
Thursday, November 26, 2015
Thanksgiving W/ Mom
My older brother works out of town and blew in last night and changed our plans to spend thanksgiving @ a big family affair. It was just him, our Mom and myself. Needless to say we had plenty of food and know what we'll be eating the next few days.
I got home from work this morning and set about preparing my beans and pork loin as soon as the ducks & geese were fed.
The loin was too long to fit as one piece in a gallon freezer bag so I cut it in half which made dividing leftovers easier. At 7:30 the loin went into the bag along w/ most of a 2 liter jug of ginger ale. At 7:45 I started the fire in the smoker. At 8:00 I pulled the loin, stuffed in the sausage and rubbed it w/ garlic salt & lemon pepper. All the prep was done for the beans so all I had to do w/ them was open the cans, brain & rinse them, mix all the parts and heat em up. I knew I was a bit pressed for time so kept the heat in the smoker high, between 250 & 300 degrees F. I was more roasting it in a wood oven than smoking, 1st time I've even done that but it worked out swimmingly.
A little after 11:30 I was at Mom's w/ my dishes, a watermelon, last cucumber and a sack of maters from my garden. She had made dressing, green bean casserole, tater salad, sweet taters, cabbage and deviled eggs.
While I was helping Mom my brother was out in his truck doing whatever he was doing. He's a bit of an odd bird even by my standards but more on him at a later time. Anyway about noon I went to the front door and hollered to him, "Come in, bow your head and get fed!"
After we'd all stuffed our grocery holes he laid on the couch and snored. Mom and I cleaned up, divvied up the many leftovers and visited for a bit. Not the big family to-do we'd 1st planned but still another fine day here on planet Earth to give thanks for. Let us never forget even when days don't go according to our wishes or plans to thank God. Everything goes according to His plan and I for one ain't ready to question that!
Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!
Ducks & geese for world peace!
I got home from work this morning and set about preparing my beans and pork loin as soon as the ducks & geese were fed.
The loin was too long to fit as one piece in a gallon freezer bag so I cut it in half which made dividing leftovers easier. At 7:30 the loin went into the bag along w/ most of a 2 liter jug of ginger ale. At 7:45 I started the fire in the smoker. At 8:00 I pulled the loin, stuffed in the sausage and rubbed it w/ garlic salt & lemon pepper. All the prep was done for the beans so all I had to do w/ them was open the cans, brain & rinse them, mix all the parts and heat em up. I knew I was a bit pressed for time so kept the heat in the smoker high, between 250 & 300 degrees F. I was more roasting it in a wood oven than smoking, 1st time I've even done that but it worked out swimmingly.
A little after 11:30 I was at Mom's w/ my dishes, a watermelon, last cucumber and a sack of maters from my garden. She had made dressing, green bean casserole, tater salad, sweet taters, cabbage and deviled eggs.
While I was helping Mom my brother was out in his truck doing whatever he was doing. He's a bit of an odd bird even by my standards but more on him at a later time. Anyway about noon I went to the front door and hollered to him, "Come in, bow your head and get fed!"
After we'd all stuffed our grocery holes he laid on the couch and snored. Mom and I cleaned up, divvied up the many leftovers and visited for a bit. Not the big family to-do we'd 1st planned but still another fine day here on planet Earth to give thanks for. Let us never forget even when days don't go according to our wishes or plans to thank God. Everything goes according to His plan and I for one ain't ready to question that!
Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!
Ducks & geese for world peace!
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Root & Fruit Storage
We all should know roots & fruits do well under cool but not cold storage for keeping fresh and flavorful. I've come up w/ my best solution (at least thru the Winter).
The Southwest bedroom of my house is no bedroom whatsoever since I signed papers to buy this place. It is a storage room for whatever I decide to store there. I've long since closed off the heat/cool vent so as the outside temperature drops it'll be the coldest room in the house. Sounds pretty good for cool storage to me.
In the Southwest corner of the aforementioned Southwest room (well out of the sunlight) I shoved in a small end table, 24" tall X 23" long X 18" deep. Atop that I a half dozen stacked ammo crates, (inside dimensions) 18" X 10.5" X 4" staggered in an "L" formation. Even laid North - South, Odd laid East - West. I cut cardboard boxes to fit the bottoms for padding but also allow full ventilation. Spuds, Sweet taters, carrots and (as a trial celery) all have their crates. Apples are in their own and I have one spare for whatever comes on sale next. I read somewhere that we're not supposed to store onions w/ our spuds. I go through onions like Croton oil through a widow woman so I just hang mine in the mesh sack they came in from the low cabinet handle in the kitchen farthest from the stove.
The Southwest bedroom of my house is no bedroom whatsoever since I signed papers to buy this place. It is a storage room for whatever I decide to store there. I've long since closed off the heat/cool vent so as the outside temperature drops it'll be the coldest room in the house. Sounds pretty good for cool storage to me.
In the Southwest corner of the aforementioned Southwest room (well out of the sunlight) I shoved in a small end table, 24" tall X 23" long X 18" deep. Atop that I a half dozen stacked ammo crates, (inside dimensions) 18" X 10.5" X 4" staggered in an "L" formation. Even laid North - South, Odd laid East - West. I cut cardboard boxes to fit the bottoms for padding but also allow full ventilation. Spuds, Sweet taters, carrots and (as a trial celery) all have their crates. Apples are in their own and I have one spare for whatever comes on sale next. I read somewhere that we're not supposed to store onions w/ our spuds. I go through onions like Croton oil through a widow woman so I just hang mine in the mesh sack they came in from the low cabinet handle in the kitchen farthest from the stove.
Sunday, November 22, 2015
Getting Ready For Thanksgiving Day & OMG Beans
For any readers outside the good ole US of A Thanksgiving Day here is officially the 4th Thursday of November. For some reason unbeknownst to me my supervisor has given me that night off.
As soon as I learned of this happy turn of events I called my mom to inquire of her plans. At 1st she had none so I was gonna either try to find a small turkey (right? they're bred and pumped full of hormones to make them ostrich sized 30 days after hatching) or a couple of chickens to toss on Black Beauty (my smoker). Yes, I am redneck enough that I named my smoker!
Anyway she called me later to say my cousin, Cathy had invited her (and me) over for a full blown Mississippi vittle~fest!
But instead of smoking a bird or 2 just for my mom and myself I'm going w/ plan B... B for better! I figure w/ a crowd of redneck men and wives, daughters and etc there will be turkey done all ways we 'necks do em... smoked, baked, deep fried so I'm gonna throw a curve ball, my famous (or soon to be... infamous?) violated pork loin! Everybody always brings a side dish or two or three so I'll make my version of what my best friend's brother calls "OMG! Somebody get me a band-aid, I just blew my ass out beans!"
My beans start by frying slow 12 oz bacon to bring out the fat but still keep the bacon floppy. Pull it and let it drain. Pour off 1/2 the grease and to the skillet add 1 short stick of chopped celery (leaves and all), 1/2 chopped bell pepper, 1/2 chopped jalapeno (seeds optional), 1/2 chopped medium onion and a couple cloves chopped garlic. Once the onion is translucent pull and drain the veggies. In that same grease brown a pound of ground beef and drain. In a baking pan mix all this stuff w/ 4 cans of beans of your choice (drained and rinsed). I like a mix of red, black, pintos, kidney but it's all up to you. Add a splash of soy sauce, Worchestershire, (I pronounce it as "what's 'is here?) salt, black pepper and a dash of cayenne. Lay the bacon on top, heat it through and check your local Army/Navy surplus store for gas masks!
As soon as I learned of this happy turn of events I called my mom to inquire of her plans. At 1st she had none so I was gonna either try to find a small turkey (right? they're bred and pumped full of hormones to make them ostrich sized 30 days after hatching) or a couple of chickens to toss on Black Beauty (my smoker). Yes, I am redneck enough that I named my smoker!
Anyway she called me later to say my cousin, Cathy had invited her (and me) over for a full blown Mississippi vittle~fest!
But instead of smoking a bird or 2 just for my mom and myself I'm going w/ plan B... B for better! I figure w/ a crowd of redneck men and wives, daughters and etc there will be turkey done all ways we 'necks do em... smoked, baked, deep fried so I'm gonna throw a curve ball, my famous (or soon to be... infamous?) violated pork loin! Everybody always brings a side dish or two or three so I'll make my version of what my best friend's brother calls "OMG! Somebody get me a band-aid, I just blew my ass out beans!"
My beans start by frying slow 12 oz bacon to bring out the fat but still keep the bacon floppy. Pull it and let it drain. Pour off 1/2 the grease and to the skillet add 1 short stick of chopped celery (leaves and all), 1/2 chopped bell pepper, 1/2 chopped jalapeno (seeds optional), 1/2 chopped medium onion and a couple cloves chopped garlic. Once the onion is translucent pull and drain the veggies. In that same grease brown a pound of ground beef and drain. In a baking pan mix all this stuff w/ 4 cans of beans of your choice (drained and rinsed). I like a mix of red, black, pintos, kidney but it's all up to you. Add a splash of soy sauce, Worchestershire, (I pronounce it as "what's 'is here?) salt, black pepper and a dash of cayenne. Lay the bacon on top, heat it through and check your local Army/Navy surplus store for gas masks!
Crazy Weather & Last Harvest
According to the Weather Channel today and tonight is forecast to be a high of 49 and low of 30 F. Thursday (Thanksgiving Day) is gonna be 74 & 59!
I went out this morning and picked all my maters; ripe, semi and green, 5 watermelons; 1 slightly larger than a football, the rest around grapefruit sized and a couple pods of okra. The okra and mater plants are still covered w/ flowers and the okra has a piss pot full of podlings about thimble sized. The freeze will most likely make this the last harvest of the year but I am as ever thankful to God Almighty for what He's given me and humbly ask that next year will be even better.
I went out this morning and picked all my maters; ripe, semi and green, 5 watermelons; 1 slightly larger than a football, the rest around grapefruit sized and a couple pods of okra. The okra and mater plants are still covered w/ flowers and the okra has a piss pot full of podlings about thimble sized. The freeze will most likely make this the last harvest of the year but I am as ever thankful to God Almighty for what He's given me and humbly ask that next year will be even better.
Don't Mash The Wrong Button!
My Sweet Lord! Somehow tother day I mashed the wrong button on my computer keyboard. It has taken my 3 days of mashing buttons and cussing out loud to be able to even view my own blog.
I admit I do struggle w/ technology at times. Hell, my TV remote control has FIFTY THREE buttons on it. When I was a kid my dad's TV remote control was to say, "Boy, go change the channel!"
I admit I do struggle w/ technology at times. Hell, my TV remote control has FIFTY THREE buttons on it. When I was a kid my dad's TV remote control was to say, "Boy, go change the channel!"
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Another Flood & Bacon Roast Beef
Last night a storm front blew through bringing torrential rain for several hours. My canine kids, Vlad and Bella couldn't be forced outside to "make pee pee and boom boom"! As parched as we were during the Summer I believe we have made up for this month alone. After the rain naturally the temperature has dropped. But all is well as I now have my electric clothes dryer up and running. My heater has kicked on a couple of times (thermostat set at 65 F) and I am now wearing more clothes than before and cooking inside rather than grilling and smoking outside.
If you've read any of my vittle related posts you know I love bacon. I've cut way back on my pig belly consumption because of the salt therein but was feeling the call tother day. I think I told y'all about a "violated pork loin". Take a long thin knife and make an "X" cut long way through the center of a loin and shove a sausage in it. Well, I made a bacon wrapped and filled beef round roast....
Start w/ a beef round roast (the leanest one in the market) about 2.5 to 3 pounds. The one I bought was more cone shaped than the rest. Starting at the point I went in w/ a sharp knife and staying about 3/4" from the sides and end made a pocket which I lined w/ 1/2 pound of bacon. I filled the cavity w/ celery, onion, carrot, bell pepper, garlic and jalapeno. Then I wrapped the whole thing w/ more bacon and put it in a foil roasting pan w/ more of them veggies, taters, a sweet tater and handful of cherry tomatoes from the garden. A couple hours covered, low and slow then maybe 15 minutes uncovered, high and hot. Serve over a bed of herbed rice.
If you've read any of my vittle related posts you know I love bacon. I've cut way back on my pig belly consumption because of the salt therein but was feeling the call tother day. I think I told y'all about a "violated pork loin". Take a long thin knife and make an "X" cut long way through the center of a loin and shove a sausage in it. Well, I made a bacon wrapped and filled beef round roast....
Start w/ a beef round roast (the leanest one in the market) about 2.5 to 3 pounds. The one I bought was more cone shaped than the rest. Starting at the point I went in w/ a sharp knife and staying about 3/4" from the sides and end made a pocket which I lined w/ 1/2 pound of bacon. I filled the cavity w/ celery, onion, carrot, bell pepper, garlic and jalapeno. Then I wrapped the whole thing w/ more bacon and put it in a foil roasting pan w/ more of them veggies, taters, a sweet tater and handful of cherry tomatoes from the garden. A couple hours covered, low and slow then maybe 15 minutes uncovered, high and hot. Serve over a bed of herbed rice.
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Got Wood?
Well, I went & checked out the oak @ curbside today and fetched most of it home. Most went into the smoking pile to be sawed & split into usable sized pieces. Some smaller crap went into the swamp.
The swamp runs down hill from West to East so I laid the more rotten branches North to South or vice versa, mostly at the West side. Some smaller branches, twigs, etc. went into the fire pit to burn off whist I have the opportunity. It's a good chance of rain tonight so I'm gonna fire it up and burn it off now.
Now I have in my smoking wood pile: hickory, plum, a little pecan and a heaping helping of oak!
The swamp runs down hill from West to East so I laid the more rotten branches North to South or vice versa, mostly at the West side. Some smaller branches, twigs, etc. went into the fire pit to burn off whist I have the opportunity. It's a good chance of rain tonight so I'm gonna fire it up and burn it off now.
Now I have in my smoking wood pile: hickory, plum, a little pecan and a heaping helping of oak!
Monday, November 16, 2015
My Vehicles & Bubba
I have 2 vehicles; Casper, a white 1997 Nissan pickup w/ just over 103,000 miles on him and Sexy Red a "Basque Red" 2014 Honda CR-V I bought on Valentine's Day, 2014. She's almost at 6K miles and nearing ready for her 1st oil change. (Ok, I don't get out much!)
Anyway last time I took Casper out for a spin he was chugging and sputtering pretty badly. I put him on the battery charger for some 13 hours or so and now he seems ready to haul anything the neighborhood places in my sights. He's also due for an oil change which I can do myself.
Casper was named by my friend, Arlester. I was just calling him "Little Truck". Arlester, aka "Bubba" is a 6' 4" (or more) 325 pound (or more) colored fella I worked w/ when he named Casper. Bubba needed a ride home after work one morning and even w/ the bench seat all the way back he was squished and folded in ways a big man ain't supposed to fold!
Hey! Talk about scary strong? One morning we had just gotten off work and somebody had parked too close to Bubba's car for him to open his door and get in. His solution? He hunkered down, got his big mitts under the wheel well of the offending vehicle, picked it up and moved its ass end about 2 or 3 feet! I know the man well enough to realize he's really just a big ol' softie but... DAMN! God have mercy on anyone who really pisses him off. As Andy Griffith said one time on The Andy Griffith Show, (more or less), "I'm generally a peaceable man. However I can be riled into action."
Any fool who riles Bubba into action God have mercy on his soul for I fear the big man will wreak havoc upon his ass.
Anyway last time I took Casper out for a spin he was chugging and sputtering pretty badly. I put him on the battery charger for some 13 hours or so and now he seems ready to haul anything the neighborhood places in my sights. He's also due for an oil change which I can do myself.
Casper was named by my friend, Arlester. I was just calling him "Little Truck". Arlester, aka "Bubba" is a 6' 4" (or more) 325 pound (or more) colored fella I worked w/ when he named Casper. Bubba needed a ride home after work one morning and even w/ the bench seat all the way back he was squished and folded in ways a big man ain't supposed to fold!
Hey! Talk about scary strong? One morning we had just gotten off work and somebody had parked too close to Bubba's car for him to open his door and get in. His solution? He hunkered down, got his big mitts under the wheel well of the offending vehicle, picked it up and moved its ass end about 2 or 3 feet! I know the man well enough to realize he's really just a big ol' softie but... DAMN! God have mercy on anyone who really pisses him off. As Andy Griffith said one time on The Andy Griffith Show, (more or less), "I'm generally a peaceable man. However I can be riled into action."
Any fool who riles Bubba into action God have mercy on his soul for I fear the big man will wreak havoc upon his ass.
Sunday, November 15, 2015
ELO
Tother day as I was channel surfing I happened across a special treat... Jeff Lynne's ELO live at Hyde Park. It was already in progress so I only was able to record the final 45 minutes but it was excellent! It brought back so many happy memories and I think I misted up... and maybe even snotted (once).
If you're old enough to remember ELO go to YouTube or whatever music thing you have on computer, cell or other 21st Century device I have yet to master and relive some grand times. If you're too young do the same w/ your techno gadgets and enjoy some real music!
Turn To Stone
Mr. Blue Sky
Telephone Line
Sweet Talkin' Woman
Just to list a few and lest we forget Electric Light Orchestra's
Roll Over Beethoven
If you're old enough to remember ELO go to YouTube or whatever music thing you have on computer, cell or other 21st Century device I have yet to master and relive some grand times. If you're too young do the same w/ your techno gadgets and enjoy some real music!
Turn To Stone
Mr. Blue Sky
Telephone Line
Sweet Talkin' Woman
Just to list a few and lest we forget Electric Light Orchestra's
Roll Over Beethoven
The Leaf Harvest Begins
When I got home after work this morning I saw Paul down the street had done roke the leaves out of his yard and bagged em. Naturally I went down and snagged em! Right at 20 sacks of good oak and other assorted hardwood leaves, a few sticks and stuff but nothing I can't work around.
The duck and goose yard has become almost a quagmire after all the recent rain (also they've defoliated it worse than Agent Orange would have done). I'm thinking a bag or 2 into each of my compost bins, 1 or 2 into my raised bed garden and the rest in the Quack Pack's enclosure. I'm gonna set a couple or 3 aside in case the weather forecast is wrong (what are the odds?) to pour on the floor of their house so their flappy feets don't stay wet and get cold. hey! Quack Daddy loves the Quack Pack!
My truck hasn't been running right as of late so I had to pull about 10 trips on the shoe sole express to fetch my bounty home.
I'll be off work Tuesday and Wednesday nights this week so hopefully I can tinker on the truck and help its performance Tuesday.
Regular trash pick up here is Monday & Thursday. Lawn debris: That is piles of loose leaves, pine straw, limbs, etc are picked up on Wednesday. Another neighbor has some fairly rotten looking oak limbs at curbside that I've got my eyes on. If they're as rotten as 1st impression they'll become filler in the swamp. If they're not too bad I'll lay em aside my fire pit. And if they're still good oak they'll go into my smoker wood pile. Anyway I am small and lazy but hard headed. If I want these damn logs I'll tote em home across my shoulder!
The duck and goose yard has become almost a quagmire after all the recent rain (also they've defoliated it worse than Agent Orange would have done). I'm thinking a bag or 2 into each of my compost bins, 1 or 2 into my raised bed garden and the rest in the Quack Pack's enclosure. I'm gonna set a couple or 3 aside in case the weather forecast is wrong (what are the odds?) to pour on the floor of their house so their flappy feets don't stay wet and get cold. hey! Quack Daddy loves the Quack Pack!
My truck hasn't been running right as of late so I had to pull about 10 trips on the shoe sole express to fetch my bounty home.
I'll be off work Tuesday and Wednesday nights this week so hopefully I can tinker on the truck and help its performance Tuesday.
Regular trash pick up here is Monday & Thursday. Lawn debris: That is piles of loose leaves, pine straw, limbs, etc are picked up on Wednesday. Another neighbor has some fairly rotten looking oak limbs at curbside that I've got my eyes on. If they're as rotten as 1st impression they'll become filler in the swamp. If they're not too bad I'll lay em aside my fire pit. And if they're still good oak they'll go into my smoker wood pile. Anyway I am small and lazy but hard headed. If I want these damn logs I'll tote em home across my shoulder!
Saturday, November 14, 2015
Gonna Try & Start Community Gardening & Sharing
Perhaps my looks (long beard, camo clothing and all) DO put me at a disadvantage regarding people coming to knock at my door to meet me (not including the Jehovah's Witnesses).
Hey! When I was getting ready to replace my fence I went and knocked on the door of the folks whose back yard adjoins mine. They didn't answer so I left a "call me" note. They never called. My momma went and knocked and they invited her in!
Anyway Miss Virginia across the street accepts me for who I am under all the whiskers, Mr. Mack & his wife talk to me when they see me, Miss Shelley talks to me on occasion, Roxy and her crew have asked me for help and only been refused once and Paul has helped me when I had to replace a circuit breaker.
To make a short story long I'm gonna start introducing myself whenever I see any of my unknown neighbors out and about and ask if they do any gardening, fishing and/or hunting. I've mentioned before I do not hunt as I cannot tolerate the cold.
We all live on a cul-de-sac with some 10 or 12 homes on it. I'm thinking we could and should all get together and A#1 get to know each other on sight at least. Then if I know the people 2 houses down love squash and I have an over abundance I know where to take it. If he's deer hunter and can spare extra pound of venison, too sweet! I love to fish so if I catch more than I need I'm ready to share. Miss Virginia told me her fig trees bear abundant fruit. Fish for figs sounds like a plan to me.
And if I bring a mess of catfish to you, don't feel you NEED to give me anything. Just enjoy it and don't let it go to waste!
If you see somebody you don't recognize around my house keep an eye on them and I'll do the same for you.
Maybe someday we can all gather together in the "knob" at the end of the street and have a street party!
Hey! When I was getting ready to replace my fence I went and knocked on the door of the folks whose back yard adjoins mine. They didn't answer so I left a "call me" note. They never called. My momma went and knocked and they invited her in!
Anyway Miss Virginia across the street accepts me for who I am under all the whiskers, Mr. Mack & his wife talk to me when they see me, Miss Shelley talks to me on occasion, Roxy and her crew have asked me for help and only been refused once and Paul has helped me when I had to replace a circuit breaker.
To make a short story long I'm gonna start introducing myself whenever I see any of my unknown neighbors out and about and ask if they do any gardening, fishing and/or hunting. I've mentioned before I do not hunt as I cannot tolerate the cold.
We all live on a cul-de-sac with some 10 or 12 homes on it. I'm thinking we could and should all get together and A#1 get to know each other on sight at least. Then if I know the people 2 houses down love squash and I have an over abundance I know where to take it. If he's deer hunter and can spare extra pound of venison, too sweet! I love to fish so if I catch more than I need I'm ready to share. Miss Virginia told me her fig trees bear abundant fruit. Fish for figs sounds like a plan to me.
And if I bring a mess of catfish to you, don't feel you NEED to give me anything. Just enjoy it and don't let it go to waste!
If you see somebody you don't recognize around my house keep an eye on them and I'll do the same for you.
Maybe someday we can all gather together in the "knob" at the end of the street and have a street party!
Rewiring Electric Clothes Dryer
Bringing my electric clothes dryer from the mobile home (trailer) to the brick home necessitated changing the power cord from a 4 wire to a 3 wire connection. The trailer cable included a (4th) ground wire which for some reason electrical experts deem unneeded in a permanent structure. I was able to complete over 90% of the job using only my handy dandy Gerber multi-tool. I had to use an adjustable wrench my (grandpaw called it a "fit-all") to loosen the ground lug. In all it didn't take over 30 minutes. The hardest part was reconnecting the vent. There wasn't much hose to work with and even my skinny 145 pound ass was cramped getting it together. With God's help everything went more smoothly than expected and when I mashed the power button everything worked like a champ!
So now no matter how cold and/or rainy I can dry my clothes all Winter long... even throw my britches in for a quick warm up before I put em on!
So now no matter how cold and/or rainy I can dry my clothes all Winter long... even throw my britches in for a quick warm up before I put em on!
Thursday, November 12, 2015
Over 2000 Views... Keep Going or Not?
I know it may seem like much but I just saw I have over 2000 views! That's something special to me! So tell me: Should keep posting or kiss it off as another something that didn't work out as well as I could have hoped?
Okra & Herbs & More
Well, well, well! I done harvested almost a gallon freezer sack full of okra and maters. The mater plants are covered w/ flowers and green maters and okra is still flowering and budding new pods. I've a watermelon ready to pick and one more may make something good before the frost sets in.
Most of my herbs have seeded. I saw somewhere that after seeding the herbs don't have as strong a flavor but I'll make the most of what I have. I'll drop some seeds where the parent plants are (and leave the roots, years ago I had some dill that almost became a tree), harvest the leaves for seasoning and seeds to plant in other areas of the yard next year. Wasting as little as possible I'll chuck the stems into a freezer bag for soup stock.
We're looking at temps in the low 40's or high 30's next week. All the green maters that don't pass muster will go into a freezer bag for salsa, maybe? Any little okra that are still tender will go into the sack.
Looks like my peas are about pea'd out for the year but I'm gonna try sprouting my own bean sprouts and micro greens. I've got Granny Smith apple and avocado seeds in cups to start for next Spring along w/ (just for "Why not" a couple of almonds I shoved into a cup o' dirt).
Most of my herbs have seeded. I saw somewhere that after seeding the herbs don't have as strong a flavor but I'll make the most of what I have. I'll drop some seeds where the parent plants are (and leave the roots, years ago I had some dill that almost became a tree), harvest the leaves for seasoning and seeds to plant in other areas of the yard next year. Wasting as little as possible I'll chuck the stems into a freezer bag for soup stock.
We're looking at temps in the low 40's or high 30's next week. All the green maters that don't pass muster will go into a freezer bag for salsa, maybe? Any little okra that are still tender will go into the sack.
Looks like my peas are about pea'd out for the year but I'm gonna try sprouting my own bean sprouts and micro greens. I've got Granny Smith apple and avocado seeds in cups to start for next Spring along w/ (just for "Why not" a couple of almonds I shoved into a cup o' dirt).
Care & Maintenance of A Great Beard
It's been a bit more than 2 years since a razor has touched my handsome face, little less since scissors have trimmed it. Perfect strangers give me kudos. When I 1st met my new "cousin", Christina and her husband, Lars who live in Switzerland (another story for later) one of the 1st things she asked was "May I touch it?"... Bless his heart, Lars I fear will never grow a full man~beard. But naturally, I answered "as long as Lars don't mind you touching another man's face, you certainly may."
I have had many ladies and some gentlemen comment on my beard, all positive, thank you. Some ladies have even asked to touch it. As long as their hands look clean I agree and I always get the compliment "It's so soft!"
Here's my (no longer) secret to a soft beard, guys and gals... Water wash and condition daily, shampoo every other day and once a week or so comb it thru w/ coconut oil. Let the oil set for about 30 minutes then rinse w/ warm water. Brush 2 or 3 times daily in calm weather, as needed on windy days. I'm not losing the hair on my head... I know where it is, right there in the tub drain! But I have more on my jowls and chin than on the top of my noggin so I care for what is growing more than what's going away!
George Carlin:
"See my beard?
Ain't it weird?
Don't be skeered,
It's just a beard."
I have had many ladies and some gentlemen comment on my beard, all positive, thank you. Some ladies have even asked to touch it. As long as their hands look clean I agree and I always get the compliment "It's so soft!"
Here's my (no longer) secret to a soft beard, guys and gals... Water wash and condition daily, shampoo every other day and once a week or so comb it thru w/ coconut oil. Let the oil set for about 30 minutes then rinse w/ warm water. Brush 2 or 3 times daily in calm weather, as needed on windy days. I'm not losing the hair on my head... I know where it is, right there in the tub drain! But I have more on my jowls and chin than on the top of my noggin so I care for what is growing more than what's going away!
George Carlin:
"See my beard?
Ain't it weird?
Don't be skeered,
It's just a beard."
Saturday, November 7, 2015
A Flood Of Biblical Proportions
Last night came a flood of Biblical proportions! Rose's, one of the hybrid dollar store/department stores around here had their parking lot flood and some of the restaurants nearby had customers flooded in and will most likely have water damage. My back yard has mini rivers running through and I had to go 3 doors down to fetch up my garbage can. Hey! At least the quack pack are loving it!
Blew Something Else Out In My Knee
I've had problems w/ the ACL in my right knee for some 6 years now. Yesterday something else snapped and I could barely walk at work. When my ACL blew out the doc at the ER sold me a leg immobilizing race, crutches, pain pills and told me to RICE the knee. Rest, Ice, Compression & Elevation. Whatever blew out this time came along w/ some easily noticeable swelling and pain. At least at last break my supervisor said he hoped the knee would get better. That concern from him probably was more from himself than me and came from the fact that I told him if it hurt worse tonight than last night, for the 1st time in 7 years I'd call in .
Anyway, I'm icing it down and trying to rest it as much as possible.
Anyway, I'm icing it down and trying to rest it as much as possible.
Monday, November 2, 2015
Post Halloween Curbside Harvest
Today was the 1st garbage day after Halloween so I cruised the neighborhood to see what I could find. It turned out even better than I had hoped for. I got 2 big ass uncarved pumpkins and saw several more at another house that'll probably hit the curb sooner or later. Two local gardeners had cleared out their okra patches so I fetched those stalks home to help fill in the swamp. One batch (of almost 40 plants) had a butt load of pods that had not only gone to seed but had actually started sprouting due to all the recent rain. Every time I moved the stalks some sprouted seeds would fall. I also harvested about half a 5 gallon bucket of edible okra. Some is too old and woody to eat as is but I'll add them to my vegetable stock pot. I picked up 2 big bags of pine straw for the swamp and 4 small sacks of hardwood leaves for my compost bins. The jewel of the day was 2 full almost brand new 4' x 8' sheets of wood lattice.
Avocados
I've long had success growing trees from avocado seeds and often give the trees (some 4 feet plus tall) as housewarming gifts. I read or saw on TV somewhere than you basic Hass avocado, the one most often seen in stores won't make fruit if grown from seed... They have to be grafted. I know it sounds weird but hey! The fruit won't ripen until it's picked. That's rather abnormal to me. Anyway, avocados are supposed to be "good fat "especially for us w/ digestive issues and next week I see they'll be on sale for 88 cents each. Well, well, well... I saw on some cooking show a fella was using avocado leaves to add a certain special taste to a slow roasted pork. That's right! I'll be growing avocado trees (in pots) and give it a taste test.
Sunday, November 1, 2015
Spring Forward, Fall Back... Smoke Another Pork Loin But Don't Attempt A Biscuit
I don't know if Daylight Savings Time ended or began at midnight but anyway I have an extra hour before going back to work tonight. I've got one of my favorite parts of the hog, boneless loin in the smoker even as I type this. I rubbed it down w/ peanut oil and crusted it over w/ a mix of Italian seasoning herbs with kosher salt & lemon zest that had aged and married together in my fridge for a while. I'm gonna let it open smoke for about 90 minutes or until it gets a good bark on it then put it in a foil pan w/ onion, carrot, bell pepper & the Country Pleasin' sausage I didn't cook and shove into my grocery hole yesterday. I'll let that bad baby simmer for "until it's done".
Story behind "until it's done"... I've never been able to bake a biscuit a starving dog would eat. My dear late gran, (my mom's mom) was the best biscuit baker God ever put on planet Earth. I asked her to teach me how she made em. She never measured anything except "a couple scoops of flour" the rest was "a little salt" or "a pinch of baking powder". I was doomed from the get -go. Then when she put em in the oven I asked how long to bake em. She put her hands on her hips, looked at me as if were the dumbest person to ever walk the Earth and said, "Until they're done!"
When I care to take the time I can bake yeast bread, garlic bread, cheesy bread. I've even baked loaves of braided regular flour, rye and whole wheat bread but still to this very day my dogs still won't eat my biscuits.
Story behind "until it's done"... I've never been able to bake a biscuit a starving dog would eat. My dear late gran, (my mom's mom) was the best biscuit baker God ever put on planet Earth. I asked her to teach me how she made em. She never measured anything except "a couple scoops of flour" the rest was "a little salt" or "a pinch of baking powder". I was doomed from the get -go. Then when she put em in the oven I asked how long to bake em. She put her hands on her hips, looked at me as if were the dumbest person to ever walk the Earth and said, "Until they're done!"
When I care to take the time I can bake yeast bread, garlic bread, cheesy bread. I've even baked loaves of braided regular flour, rye and whole wheat bread but still to this very day my dogs still won't eat my biscuits.
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Friday, October 30, 2015
Happy Halloween And My Beard's Birthday
You may be thinking I know Halloween but beard's birthday? Simple as can be. October 31st is as we all know All Hallow's Eve or Halloween. November 1st is the 2 year anniversary of my not shaving. Now when somebody asks how long did it take to grow my beard I say, "2 years for the length, 56 years for the color!"
Frozen Salmon Tastes Like Cardboard
The store where I work has frozen salmon fillets on sale this week or however long they wish to run it. It's 1.25 pounds for $6.99 in a vacuum sealed bag "to seal in freshness". I bought one, smoked it and it tasted like smoked cardboard. I'm not in a locale that has access to fresh salmon but I must say I'll not be buying frozen again. When I lived in Colorado trout was the fresh from the river or lake fish. Here in Mississippi catfish is the gill breather of choice although we also eat crappie, bass, and brim whenever we rip their lips. Myself, I love a good old fried gar as well as any other finned fare. I've seen on TV some smoke gar and catfish. I ain't tried either yet but am more than open to trying em.
May Have To Put The Quack Pack In At Night
It's Friday morning now. I was off work Tuesday & Wednesday nights. One or both nights I was awake between midnight and 2:30 AM. Not having to be at work I was watching the idiot box and let my canine children, Vlad & Bella out to do their business. Redneck that I am I stepped out to do mine (only #1, not #2) as well. The rain we've had + the cooler weather + the moon being some 3/4 full my ducks & geese didn't know that most humanoids are trying to sleep at that time. They were running about their enclosure honking & quacking as if it were broad daylight.
Almost Like Second Spring
The rain we've had the past few days has brought my gardens back to life even better than the first crop. Tomatoes, okra and herbs are producing like wildfire. Sadly the corn is as dead as a fence post but I've picked a couple of cucumbers and 1 of 5 Meyer lemons off my tree in the front yard. They're rather small, only slightly larger than golf balls but quite sweet and tasty. As much as I want to gobble them all down at once I am limiting myself to one every other day or 3 due to gastritis or what my buddy, Robert calls my "rotten old man guts". The tomato plants are literally covered w/ green maters and yellow blossoms. Tomorrow or the next day we're forecast to get torrential rain so I'm praying that it won't be too much or too hard. I gathered a pocketful of maters the pother day that were split from too much rain and chucked em into the freezer. Waste not, want not!
Monday, October 26, 2015
Veggie Stock
Trying to save a dime whilst waiting on a dollar I started another savings bag for my freezer. I've 2 small chest type freezers, by the way. Anyway, any veggie pieces and parts I don't give the ducks & geese I'm bagging for soup stock. Any over ripe tomatoes (no sun burned, wormy or otherwise possibly nasty) and leftover bits, onion & garlic skins & ends, carrot tops, pepper ends and guts (except seeds for planting), etc all go into the freezer bag. A lot of my herbs are going or have gone to seed so when I cut them down I'll put the leaves in one jar and the stems will go into my stock bag and later stockpot.
Anything like cucumber or carrot peelings (I rarely peel carrots before cooking) lettuce butts or wilted greens go directly to the quack pack after a good chopping as do the shells from the few peas I'm still picking. I read or heard tomatoes are a member of the nightshade family ergo their leaves aren't good for man nor beast to ingest so into the compost bins w/ them.
Next Spring I want to try a few out of the ordinary crops like Salsify ( aka Oyster Root), Leeks, Celeriac as well as native foods most people call "weeds".
Anything like cucumber or carrot peelings (I rarely peel carrots before cooking) lettuce butts or wilted greens go directly to the quack pack after a good chopping as do the shells from the few peas I'm still picking. I read or heard tomatoes are a member of the nightshade family ergo their leaves aren't good for man nor beast to ingest so into the compost bins w/ them.
Next Spring I want to try a few out of the ordinary crops like Salsify ( aka Oyster Root), Leeks, Celeriac as well as native foods most people call "weeds".
Thank God For Rain
I'm not sure it's true but I wouldn't doubt when heard we haven't had rain here since July 3rd. Yesterday it finally rained thanks to the hurricane down Mexico way. It rained all day and has stopped for the 1st time at about 8:30 AM today. It's supposed to rain most of the day today and into tomorrow for most of the day. Not a hard driving rain but a for the most part gentle, soaking shower. This parched ground was crying out for it.
The quack pack? Lord have mercy! They are loving it! Any of my neighbors who were previously unaware that I have ducks & geese in my back yard and are still unaware have to be deaf! I've only had the pack since I think May of this year when I ordered them online as day old babies but I have never seen (or heard) them this raucous. When they run across their yard their feet slapping in the mud sounds like a standing ovation at a concert. Miss Virginia across the street told me a week or so ago she loves to her them "sing in the morning". Hey, Sunrise to sundown they're singing and dancing!
The quack pack? Lord have mercy! They are loving it! Any of my neighbors who were previously unaware that I have ducks & geese in my back yard and are still unaware have to be deaf! I've only had the pack since I think May of this year when I ordered them online as day old babies but I have never seen (or heard) them this raucous. When they run across their yard their feet slapping in the mud sounds like a standing ovation at a concert. Miss Virginia across the street told me a week or so ago she loves to her them "sing in the morning". Hey, Sunrise to sundown they're singing and dancing!
Fall Festival
Saturday one of the local churches had its Fall Festival. There an old friend whom I hadn't seen in 16 years when we worked together at the zoo was doing an animal show. He'd brought ferrets, hedgehogs, reptiles,etc. We caught up on old times and I must admit I had more fun around people than I have had a many a moon. Part of our jobs at the zoo was doing "touchy~feely" meet & greet the public w/ some of our smaller, friendlier animals which I always enjoyed. PK has long worn khakis and a pith helmet doing his animal shows and now he's sporting dreadlocks past his shoulders. Myself, I wear a chest deep beard and more often than not camo. Kids, we looked like 2 wild men from Borneo ready to go rhino hunting together!
Friday, October 23, 2015
CAVEAT EMPTOR
Caveat Emptor, Latin for "Let the buyer beware". Last week I saw some stuff at the grocery still in the case marked in large red letters "KEEP REFRIGERATED". It had been left out and was room temperature. I sent it to claims to be tossed and be rid of. The next night it was in the mark down section on sale for 1/2 price. I've seen a lot of out of date stuff there before so before you buy anything out of the markdown section check and double check dates and "keep refrigerated" labels. If you find something out of date or possibly rotten take it to the store manager and raise Hell! I don't have kids of my own but I ask, "Would I feed my mama this?"
I love a bargain but please check dates and look for "keep refrigerated/frozen" before buying out of the "bargain" bins. I love you all too much to see you get food poisoning trying to save a little money. Heads up... Also before you buy any animal product, SMELL the package. If you can smell the critter, leave it! If it's rank enough you can smell it through the wrap you do not want to shove this in your grocery hole. Especially fish! If it smells like fish it ain't fresh.
I love a bargain but please check dates and look for "keep refrigerated/frozen" before buying out of the "bargain" bins. I love you all too much to see you get food poisoning trying to save a little money. Heads up... Also before you buy any animal product, SMELL the package. If you can smell the critter, leave it! If it's rank enough you can smell it through the wrap you do not want to shove this in your grocery hole. Especially fish! If it smells like fish it ain't fresh.
Thursday, October 22, 2015
The Front Garden Still Bears Fruit
Every couple of days I harvest a few pods of okra, a pod or 2 of peas and a pocketful of tomatoes. I've almost a gallon freezer bag full as the growing season draws near its end. My melons were quite disappointing. For some reason the flower end didn't "heal up" right and looked like a gigantic hemorrhoid so the fruits more or less rotted on the vine. At least the ducks & geese enjoyed them.
I thank God for what I have managed to grow this year and am sure that w/ His blessings next year will be better.
Who knows? I may even get a few eggs from the ducks and geese, perhaps a few muscadines. Later I hope for more than 5 lemons from my Meyer lemon tree and some produce from my other fruit trees.
I thank God for what I have managed to grow this year and am sure that w/ His blessings next year will be better.
Who knows? I may even get a few eggs from the ducks and geese, perhaps a few muscadines. Later I hope for more than 5 lemons from my Meyer lemon tree and some produce from my other fruit trees.
Trying For Another Vacation Week
I swear I don't know what my supervisor's problem is. Last week I told him I was ready, willing and able to take my last week of vacation ASAP. This week nobody is on vacation but next week Square Head is. I guess I'll have to draw the dumb SOB another monthly calendar.
Saturday, October 17, 2015
Cooking With Herbs
Trying to follow Doctor's orders I am watching my intake of salt and (God help me) spices. I could eat my own weight in my favorite finger foods, grilled cheese stuffed jalapeno peppers wrapped in bacon and deep fried stuffed jalapenos. I could eat a 6' long BLT w/ fried green tomatoes on it.
But trying to eat better and ergo live longer I am adapting my diet and actually finding things that are palatable... I am easing back on the pork and what I do have is grilled or smoked (no bacon for the past 2 weeks already). Since I am being Shanghaied into cutting back on salt and spice I have turned to cooking w/ more herbs. I smoked a pork loin tother day after rubbing it well w/ olive oil and almost crusting it w/ dried Italian seasoning mix from the grocery (oregano, marjoram, thyme, rosemary and sage). I'm harvesting a bit of dill & lemon basil from the garden and sassafras leaves from the woods. Hey, why pay for gumbo file' powder when it's free for the picking as long as you ain't afraid if getting ticks? Pick the leaves, dry em and grind em. It's that simple.
A naked baked spud is about as boring as it gets, right? Well, all the stuff that makes a spud worth cramming into my grocery hole is on my "avoid" list. I'm renaming that right now my "watch and limit" list! I clarified some butter (that's fancy pants talk for melting it and spooning off all the foamy stuff) and mixed it 50/50 w/ olive oil, added some Italian seasoning and put it in the fridge for my taters. It's nothing to call Mama and brag about but it's rather tasty especially w/ a bit of fresh dill and/or basil.
Dandelions are considered by most here weeds. After rinsing off the dog pee I see them as food. They add a welcome wild freshness to salads and I encourage their growth in my yard. I've read in magazines they can be boiled like collards, mustard or any other greens. I haven't tried that route yet but maybe next year I can pick enough to make a mess.
I'm still getting a pod or 3 of okra every day or 3 and ditto w/ the cherry tomatoes and even a pod of peas when least looked for. I'm just cleaning em off, wiping them dry and tossing em into a freezer and and into the freezer. Almost have enough for a big pot of boiled okra w/ a few maters and a pea or 3 to throw onto the boil. A lot of people don't like boiled okra because of the slime. Hey, a little slime never hurt anybody!
But trying to eat better and ergo live longer I am adapting my diet and actually finding things that are palatable... I am easing back on the pork and what I do have is grilled or smoked (no bacon for the past 2 weeks already). Since I am being Shanghaied into cutting back on salt and spice I have turned to cooking w/ more herbs. I smoked a pork loin tother day after rubbing it well w/ olive oil and almost crusting it w/ dried Italian seasoning mix from the grocery (oregano, marjoram, thyme, rosemary and sage). I'm harvesting a bit of dill & lemon basil from the garden and sassafras leaves from the woods. Hey, why pay for gumbo file' powder when it's free for the picking as long as you ain't afraid if getting ticks? Pick the leaves, dry em and grind em. It's that simple.
A naked baked spud is about as boring as it gets, right? Well, all the stuff that makes a spud worth cramming into my grocery hole is on my "avoid" list. I'm renaming that right now my "watch and limit" list! I clarified some butter (that's fancy pants talk for melting it and spooning off all the foamy stuff) and mixed it 50/50 w/ olive oil, added some Italian seasoning and put it in the fridge for my taters. It's nothing to call Mama and brag about but it's rather tasty especially w/ a bit of fresh dill and/or basil.
Dandelions are considered by most here weeds. After rinsing off the dog pee I see them as food. They add a welcome wild freshness to salads and I encourage their growth in my yard. I've read in magazines they can be boiled like collards, mustard or any other greens. I haven't tried that route yet but maybe next year I can pick enough to make a mess.
I'm still getting a pod or 3 of okra every day or 3 and ditto w/ the cherry tomatoes and even a pod of peas when least looked for. I'm just cleaning em off, wiping them dry and tossing em into a freezer and and into the freezer. Almost have enough for a big pot of boiled okra w/ a few maters and a pea or 3 to throw onto the boil. A lot of people don't like boiled okra because of the slime. Hey, a little slime never hurt anybody!
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Trying To Eat Healthy
My Sweet Lord, eating healthy ain't easy! I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't. The things I have to avoid for high blood pressure are fine for my gastritis but the things I can have avoid for gastritis are supposed to be good for my blood pressure! A baked spud, no salt, butter, bacon or cheesy, greasy (BP) or green onions, tomato, or garlic (gastritis). Popcorn... plain. I'm gonna try a spritz of olive oil and a sprinkle of Italian herb seasoning (not too spicy, I have to watch that)... If it tastes horrid to me I can always give it to the dogs and/or ducks and geese. I did find a hot air popper for my corn regularly $24.99 marked down to $7.99. My old popper cooks the corn in oil so maybe the hot air popper will produce edible results. Y'all please pray for me that I can find something that don't taste like cardboard that won't kill me!
Sunday, October 11, 2015
New Fish In The Tank
For some crazy ass reason one of the first things I set up in my new home was a 55 gallon aquarium. I have another 35 gallon tank in the corner, It's one of the 5 sided tanks made to fit into the corner of a room. Nobody in the 35 yet I'm trying to find some "old school" green sail fin mollies for it but a couple weeks ago I finally got some babies for the 55. A red tiger oscar, red fin (or rainbow) shark and a plecostemus. Feel free to spell check on the pleco! Anyway, the oscar is already visibly larger than when I brung him home. I had several in assorted talks when I lived in Colorado, developed a relationship w/ the pet store owner and would get nickle sized babies, grow them to hand sized and trade them for more babies, tanks, etc.
Saturday, October 10, 2015
Decide To Be Happy
Just a few minutes ago I was taking an armful of laundry to the clothesline to dry. Much to my dismay I felt a freshly squeezed dog turd squish up between my bare toes.
I had 2 choices. Either A#1 I could get all worked up over stepping barefoot in dog crap in the back yard or B#2 I could be happy that I didn't step barefoot in dog crap in the living room. Now Vlad and Bella usually do their dirty deeds in the back corners of the back yard by the fence but on occasion they leave me an unexpected and unwelcome present. Sometimes right there in the middle of the floor for God and everybody to see and admire. I chose to be be happy and thank the good Lord I didn't step in their leavings either unshod and know it then and there or even worse shod and track it all over the house until it was all worn off.
That's how I take life. One dog turd or duck/goose butt pudding stepped in at a time. We can get angry because we didn't see it and stepped in it... Or we can be happy it was in the yard instead of the living room. (Ok, the ducks and geese stay outside so have no opportunity to crap in the living room).
When life gives you lemons you can make lemonade... Or get some tequila & salt and have a party!
Yes, I did wash my feet off before I came back inside the house!
I had 2 choices. Either A#1 I could get all worked up over stepping barefoot in dog crap in the back yard or B#2 I could be happy that I didn't step barefoot in dog crap in the living room. Now Vlad and Bella usually do their dirty deeds in the back corners of the back yard by the fence but on occasion they leave me an unexpected and unwelcome present. Sometimes right there in the middle of the floor for God and everybody to see and admire. I chose to be be happy and thank the good Lord I didn't step in their leavings either unshod and know it then and there or even worse shod and track it all over the house until it was all worn off.
That's how I take life. One dog turd or duck/goose butt pudding stepped in at a time. We can get angry because we didn't see it and stepped in it... Or we can be happy it was in the yard instead of the living room. (Ok, the ducks and geese stay outside so have no opportunity to crap in the living room).
When life gives you lemons you can make lemonade... Or get some tequila & salt and have a party!
Yes, I did wash my feet off before I came back inside the house!
Clothesline Or Dryer?
It's getting that time of year I fear. Not only is it dark when I go to work but lately it is well before sunrise when I return home. The temperature is lovely now but will all too soon be ass biting cold (at least to me). When I lived in my mobile home code required that my electric clothes dryer had 4 prongs. Here in a brick home the outlet is only 3. I bought a 3 prong power cord but since I had my clothesline I put connecting the dryer on a back burner priority wise. On a scale of 1-10 it was an 11. The shorter days, cooler weather and increased precipitation that comes with our Autumn becoming Winter has jumped that little rewiring project up to about a 9. I can still hang laundry in spare rooms and such to air dry (and I most certainly shall) but when it's freezing out there's nothing like warm from the dryer socks and britches when I hit the front door.
When I lived in Colorado the weather there was bat shit crazy. One day I was working on the loading dock, took my shirt off and got a sunburn before lunch time. Quitting time was 5 PM but we closed early and all left at 3 because it was snowing so hard. The britches I had on the clothesline I could hold out like a board (after I broke the ice off the line). I only lived a couple of miles from work but still had to time it right, roll down my window, catch and snap my driver's side wiper blade to break off the ice. I made it home safely (obviously or I wouldn't be writing this now) stoked up my Buck wood burning stove and hunkered down. My 2 best amigos were Ken and Dan. Ken worked construction and brought me a truckload of scrap 2 x 4's and such from his job site at least once a week. Dan ran his own landscape business, "Dan's Mile High Landscaping" .... free ad there, Dan! But he brought me any trees he cut down, limbs he'd trimmed and even some sod for my dead ass back yard. In Colorado at the time there was a dump fee for anything you took to the dump. Dan brung his tree cutting timber for me to burn in my wood stove to heat my house and leftover sod to try to build up my backyard. Win/win!
When I lived in Colorado the weather there was bat shit crazy. One day I was working on the loading dock, took my shirt off and got a sunburn before lunch time. Quitting time was 5 PM but we closed early and all left at 3 because it was snowing so hard. The britches I had on the clothesline I could hold out like a board (after I broke the ice off the line). I only lived a couple of miles from work but still had to time it right, roll down my window, catch and snap my driver's side wiper blade to break off the ice. I made it home safely (obviously or I wouldn't be writing this now) stoked up my Buck wood burning stove and hunkered down. My 2 best amigos were Ken and Dan. Ken worked construction and brought me a truckload of scrap 2 x 4's and such from his job site at least once a week. Dan ran his own landscape business, "Dan's Mile High Landscaping" .... free ad there, Dan! But he brought me any trees he cut down, limbs he'd trimmed and even some sod for my dead ass back yard. In Colorado at the time there was a dump fee for anything you took to the dump. Dan brung his tree cutting timber for me to burn in my wood stove to heat my house and leftover sod to try to build up my backyard. Win/win!
Squeeze Bottle, Condiments & Deli Ware
Since my blood pressure has been high as of late I decided to buy a squeeze bottle to squirt oil into my frying pan instead of just slopping it in straight from the jug and then trying to eyeball how much I want to keep and pouring the rest into a jar for later. Hell and high water! An empty squeeze bottle carried a $2.99 price tag! EMPTY! A squeeze bottle with not so fine a tip fill of mustard costs 89 cents. You know which road I took! I have a jar of mustard that was nigh onto empty, now it's nearly full again. Smells like it'll take a couple more washings to get all the aroma, taste and taint out of the mustard squeezer but I wash a few dishes nearly daily (unless I opt for paper plates and plastic ware) so it's no big deal. I got a bigger bottle albeit w/o the fine control nozzle and saved myself $2.10.
I see that a taco joint that I won't name is now selling their taco sauce in grocery stores. For the price of one taco I can fill my pockets with about 3 bottles of sauce. At the deli I get 1 or 2 packs of mustard and mayo for now and a pocket full for later along w/ any other condiments ( salad dressing, hot sauce, etc) they may have for my convenience.
Hey! As long as I'm there I may as well pick up enough plastic forks, knives and spoons to last me a couple days or so. Cheap is good, free is better!
I see that a taco joint that I won't name is now selling their taco sauce in grocery stores. For the price of one taco I can fill my pockets with about 3 bottles of sauce. At the deli I get 1 or 2 packs of mustard and mayo for now and a pocket full for later along w/ any other condiments ( salad dressing, hot sauce, etc) they may have for my convenience.
Hey! As long as I'm there I may as well pick up enough plastic forks, knives and spoons to last me a couple days or so. Cheap is good, free is better!
Friday, October 9, 2015
Helping My Neighbor
Ms. Virginia, across the street and up one house has one of the must lush lawns and some of the best plants on the street. Palm trees, banana plants, flower beds out the wazoo, it's quite obvious she loves digging in the dirt and watching things grow. After an hour or so of taking care of my critters and sech I stepped out the front door and seen she had a running butt load of sacks of soil & such in the back of her SUV. Nice guy that I am I went and helped her move it into her back yard. As tended as her front yard is her back yard reminded me of my dear little grandmaw's. Every which way I looked there was something else to see! She mentioned maybe moving some of her "nanner" plants come springtime so I'll let her know any runners or shoots can find a home in my yard.
She did say she loved hearing my ducks "sing" every morning and as a light misting of rain was falling the quack pack was indeed singing! Her grown son is wheelchair bound and as such can't get out and about very much. Ergo one of my next higher priority projects is making my back yard more handicapped friendly. It would take a Herculean effort to make it to where he could get up close to them but I figure it's the least I can do to at least make a ramp and pad so we can wheel him in to see the quackers from across my back yard.
She's a nice lady and I reckon it takes so much work on her part to care for her son (and the zoo closest to us is run down and in a rough part of town) a little (or little more) effort on my part is worth it to see them smile. I can put out extra feed corn for the tree rats aka squirrels and if not make his day I can at the very least entertain him for a little while.
She did say she loved hearing my ducks "sing" every morning and as a light misting of rain was falling the quack pack was indeed singing! Her grown son is wheelchair bound and as such can't get out and about very much. Ergo one of my next higher priority projects is making my back yard more handicapped friendly. It would take a Herculean effort to make it to where he could get up close to them but I figure it's the least I can do to at least make a ramp and pad so we can wheel him in to see the quackers from across my back yard.
She's a nice lady and I reckon it takes so much work on her part to care for her son (and the zoo closest to us is run down and in a rough part of town) a little (or little more) effort on my part is worth it to see them smile. I can put out extra feed corn for the tree rats aka squirrels and if not make his day I can at the very least entertain him for a little while.
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Back From The Doctor's Office
Well, I finally went to the doctor's office to get checked out. I hate going there because at my age I know I probably won't get any good news. But I finally concluded that not knowing about a problem don't mean it ain't there. I spent about 4 hours there, didn't get all my questions answered but enough that I know I probably won't drop dead anytime soon and after 4 hours was ready to get the Hell out of there.
My main concern was high blood pressure and chest pains. My pressure wasn't too high while I was there so they seemed more concerned w/ my chest pains. They took blood & urine samples, EKG and chest x-rays. The EKG looked great so we know my heart is still healthy enough for sex! LOL They didn't mention seeing anything horrific in my chest x-rays so I'll assume I still have 2 functional lungs.
I did almost have a heart attack when after insurance paid 80% I still had to cough up $430 and another at the pharmacy before they said insurance would cover the $102 for my 30 days' prescription.
For those of you who have never had an EKG it is painless except for one thing. The stick like a dozen sensors mostly on your body. It takes longer to place them than to perform the test. I am admittedly a hairy chested man. Ripping them damned sensor stickers off was almost as bad as having the needle stuck in my arm for blood work. 4 hours and the most pleasant thing was peeing in a jar and I paid $430?
Anyway I guess they thought my chest pains were more urgent matter than blood pressure and I was finally diagnosed w/gastritis. No problem, right? Not for me! They expect me to have no more than one 12 oz beer a day? No caffeine? No mint, garlic, onions, spicy food, citrus, tomato based, fried and/or fatty? Just slice my damned throat if I can't shove that into my grocery hole! My diet is salty, spicy, cheesy and greasy! I reckon I can either eat them rice cakes I first thought were coasters or buy a box of Hamburger Helper, dump it into the compost bin and eat the box!
My main concern was high blood pressure and chest pains. My pressure wasn't too high while I was there so they seemed more concerned w/ my chest pains. They took blood & urine samples, EKG and chest x-rays. The EKG looked great so we know my heart is still healthy enough for sex! LOL They didn't mention seeing anything horrific in my chest x-rays so I'll assume I still have 2 functional lungs.
I did almost have a heart attack when after insurance paid 80% I still had to cough up $430 and another at the pharmacy before they said insurance would cover the $102 for my 30 days' prescription.
For those of you who have never had an EKG it is painless except for one thing. The stick like a dozen sensors mostly on your body. It takes longer to place them than to perform the test. I am admittedly a hairy chested man. Ripping them damned sensor stickers off was almost as bad as having the needle stuck in my arm for blood work. 4 hours and the most pleasant thing was peeing in a jar and I paid $430?
Anyway I guess they thought my chest pains were more urgent matter than blood pressure and I was finally diagnosed w/gastritis. No problem, right? Not for me! They expect me to have no more than one 12 oz beer a day? No caffeine? No mint, garlic, onions, spicy food, citrus, tomato based, fried and/or fatty? Just slice my damned throat if I can't shove that into my grocery hole! My diet is salty, spicy, cheesy and greasy! I reckon I can either eat them rice cakes I first thought were coasters or buy a box of Hamburger Helper, dump it into the compost bin and eat the box!
Saturday, October 3, 2015
Well Rested & Getting A Little Done
I've been off work since Tuesday morning and finally feel like a well rested semi-human being again. I've gotten a few put off little chores in and out completed... mostly just rearranging boxes (and emptying a few). I patched the Quack Pack's 5' diameter pool w/ some plastic sheeting, glue and duct tape. Not the cheap cloth crap from WalMart but real construction grade metallic duct tape. They're happy, happy, happy!
I smoked a batch of chicken thighs but all the commercial BBQ sauce is loaded w/ high fructose corn syrup so I made my own. It's a little sweet, spicy and smoky. A couple more tries and it should be good enough to share. Hint #1: No corn syrup is in it. Hint #2: Tomato paste, honey and pickled jalapeno juice are in it. Hint #3: I slow cook it in my smoker.
I smoked a batch of chicken thighs but all the commercial BBQ sauce is loaded w/ high fructose corn syrup so I made my own. It's a little sweet, spicy and smoky. A couple more tries and it should be good enough to share. Hint #1: No corn syrup is in it. Hint #2: Tomato paste, honey and pickled jalapeno juice are in it. Hint #3: I slow cook it in my smoker.
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Time Off From Work
Well, my vacation request finally came thru and I am off work for the next 9 nights. I'm usually off Tuesday & Wednesday nights unless someone else is on vacation then who knows? But somehow my boss got it right and after my T&W "weekend" I have 5 nights vacation and then another T&W "weekend" for a total of 9 nights out of Hell.
I took most of today as just time to relax, decompress and get my head back where it needs to be. I'm fidna go for a health checkup so I did a sort of self diagnosis/inventory of aches, pains, etc and made a list of things I want/need to discuss w/ the Dr.
Also made a list of things I want/need to do around the house, garden and yard.
I'm gonna try to work out how to post new pictures and videos on here so I can share my gardens and ducks&geese and such w/ y'all.
I took most of today as just time to relax, decompress and get my head back where it needs to be. I'm fidna go for a health checkup so I did a sort of self diagnosis/inventory of aches, pains, etc and made a list of things I want/need to discuss w/ the Dr.
Also made a list of things I want/need to do around the house, garden and yard.
I'm gonna try to work out how to post new pictures and videos on here so I can share my gardens and ducks&geese and such w/ y'all.
Monday, September 28, 2015
Clean The Tub & Clear The Drain
Ok, I am long time divorced and consider myself single. Sometimes keeping a spotless home is not high on my priority list. I was getting an unsightly case of bathtub ring composed of soap scum, body scum, body hair, etc.... And my tub was draining slowly probably mostly because of the hair. I read the ingredients on a $5.00/quart bottle of drain cleaner and saw the main ingredient is sodium hypochlorite w/ some soap added. Heads up, kids! Sodium hypochlorite is nothing more than common $2.00/gallon household bleach! Get a jug of $2.00 bleach, slosh it all around your tub... bathtub ring is gone! As it works its way down the drain it eats away the hair and cleans it out.
OR.... you can pay $5.00/quart for drain cleaner = $20.00/gallon and you still have bathtub ring. It's up to you.
OR.... you can pay $5.00/quart for drain cleaner = $20.00/gallon and you still have bathtub ring. It's up to you.
Getting Some From The Gardens & Curb
I've been getting a few peas and okra from the garden each day or 3, tossing em into a freezer bag and into the freezer. A few grape and/or "Tommy toe" tomatoes which I usually gobble straight off the vine. There are a couple more what the grocery calls "personal" watermelons (I call em "bowling ball") that may make edible size before Autumn goes into Winter. This morning I pulled up 3 radishes, et them and gave the greens to the quack pack.
The folks at the corner are moving or have moved. At any rate yesterday I saw a slew of yucca cuttings and some magnolia limbs. Naturally I fetched em home. The limbs went into the swamp until I have time to cut em up into smaller pieces and send em back into the swamp to decompose and become better fill material. The yucca went into becoming part of my privacy/security border.
Also tother day I was channel surfing and saw Bobby Flay was cooking something using yucca root which I didn't know was edible. By the time I tuned in he'd already finished w/ the root so I missed his recipe but I'll be looking for the plant aka "Spanish dagger". I don't know if it's true or not but I want to say I heard years ago that even more years ago the Native Americans used the flowers like shampoo. No idea if they got a good head of lather or not.
On a similar note to the yucca I'm keeping my eyes peeled for palmetto. When I worked at the zoo there was 1 in the alligator exhibit that nigh needed its own ZIP code! The zoo is where I got my 1st banana tree shoots back some 15+ years ago but never managed to get any palmetto to grow.
The leaves are turning color and starting to fall. I'll be out there trucking em home for compost along w/ anything else I see a use for here.
The folks at the corner are moving or have moved. At any rate yesterday I saw a slew of yucca cuttings and some magnolia limbs. Naturally I fetched em home. The limbs went into the swamp until I have time to cut em up into smaller pieces and send em back into the swamp to decompose and become better fill material. The yucca went into becoming part of my privacy/security border.
Also tother day I was channel surfing and saw Bobby Flay was cooking something using yucca root which I didn't know was edible. By the time I tuned in he'd already finished w/ the root so I missed his recipe but I'll be looking for the plant aka "Spanish dagger". I don't know if it's true or not but I want to say I heard years ago that even more years ago the Native Americans used the flowers like shampoo. No idea if they got a good head of lather or not.
On a similar note to the yucca I'm keeping my eyes peeled for palmetto. When I worked at the zoo there was 1 in the alligator exhibit that nigh needed its own ZIP code! The zoo is where I got my 1st banana tree shoots back some 15+ years ago but never managed to get any palmetto to grow.
The leaves are turning color and starting to fall. I'll be out there trucking em home for compost along w/ anything else I see a use for here.
Before It Starts My Vacation Gets Better
I'm not saying my supervisor, Ron is dumb but sometimes the look in his eyes says, "The wheel may be turning but the hamster is dead."
But how and why did my vacation get better even before it begins? Simple. When I get back to work from mine, he's taking a week off!
But how and why did my vacation get better even before it begins? Simple. When I get back to work from mine, he's taking a week off!
Sunday, September 27, 2015
Razor Blades?
November the 1st will be the 2 year anniversary of my officially not shaving. According to beard contest rules (yes, there are official rules for measuring a beard) mine is over 12". Last night at work I must admit I thought I was being set up as a joke. A customer asked me where in the store are razor blades. I finally realized he was serious and said, "Sir, you are obviously asking the wrong man that question... but we can go find em together."
Friday, September 25, 2015
Injury Update
Last week at work I nearly filleted my left index finger. A normal person would have probably gone and gotten a couple or 3 stitches. I just pinched the meat together and Super Glued it together. Tother day I stepped on a piece of glass left in my yard by the sellers and sliced my right foot pretty deeply. Again a normal person would have gone for a few stitches. Again I went for the Super Glue. Before y'all think I'm crazier than I really am cyano acrilate adhesive a.k.a. Super Glue has been used for a long time in veterinary medicine and more recently in human medicine. Finger and foot are still a but tender, I have a bit more gimp in my step to add to my bad ACL (it's a ligament in the knee) but in time the hoof and hand will heal.
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Loving The Sofa
Hey! The "new" sofa is already becoming like a member of the family. It's long enough that Vlad, Bella and I can all pile on it for a power nap. They do love 'em some Papa. When I'm back here in the office writing this they're curled up on the floor next to me. When I go to bed we all pile up together. Now we have room for all of us to stretch out on the sofa together. And I have them armrest pouches to keep my remote controls and pocket junk in!
Let's Get Crazy
A while back Square Head "quit" and walked off the job. It took our supervisor by surprise so badly that now the supervisor pretty much kisses his butt. Since that card has already been played I'm going another route to get what I deserve and have earned, dammit. I'm just gonna act lizard crap crazy. Not bi polar or even tri polar but quad polar.
First the supervisor tried saying he forgot about my vacation. Now his story is he thought I had taken all due me and I was joking. Piss on my leg and tell me it's raining but stick to your story, okay?
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
"New" Sofa
I'm a huge fan of "curb shopping" aka letting someone else's trash be my treasure. I came home from work this morning and saw my neighbors across the street and down one may or may not have bought a new sofa. At any rate their old one was sitting on the curb so I had to go check it out. A dark blue 2 piece sectional, 10' long, the right half is a hide a bed and the left side is like 2 Lazy Boy recliners. Hey! This bad boy is in better condition than the undefined color sofa that was parked in my living room. The seat by the arm has a built in massage which may or may not work, I didn't find the power cables to it. I thought the bed side was heavy until I began hoisting the recliner side into my truck. But the main thing is I upgraded my living room furniture so my old can go curbside. Maybe someone else has one worse than it and they can upgrade! My neighbor lady across the street and up one saw my "new" sofa in the truck and offered to help me unload it and bring it in. She's about my age I reckon and I didn't want to chance her ripping a chitlin so I thanked her and told her I could manage. I'm not quite as dumb as I look but am twice as strong. The only drawback w/ the new sofa is that it is 10' as opposed to my old 7' model. I used to have about 3' on either side to walk around. Now I can only go around one way but I ain't complaining. I've already test napped it and it is comfy! I'll probably try out the hide a bed soon. A few years back my dad, brother and I were up at deer camp moving a bunch of crap and throwing some out. My brother said of me to our dad, "Look at that! Not an ounce of fat on him but as strong as an ox!" (I normally weigh in at about 145 and joke that if I go over a buck 50 it's time for a laxative.)
I didn't have a (clothes) washing machine at least 10 years ago or more. Coming home from work I saw one on the curb. I knocked on the door and asked if it worked. It did and still does. It won't go into the spin cycle unless the door is opened and reclosed but it knocks the skidders out of my skivvies and was free.
I didn't have a (clothes) washing machine at least 10 years ago or more. Coming home from work I saw one on the curb. I knocked on the door and asked if it worked. It did and still does. It won't go into the spin cycle unless the door is opened and reclosed but it knocks the skidders out of my skivvies and was free.
Sunday, September 20, 2015
Strummin' The Banjos
Years ago I made a fretless banjo. Then a few later I bought a "real" banjo. I'm sitting here strumming and picking out a semi melody on one or the other, trying to keep my blood pressure down. I damn near filleted my left pointer finger at work last night so my playing is worse than usual. All I ask is, y'all pray for me, all right?
Saturday, September 19, 2015
A Special Kind Of Stupid
I believe here in the South we started saying "special" instead of "retarded". And then we followed it by saying, "Bless his heart". Well, my supervisor has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is special. Bless his heart.
Remember when I asked for the 2nd week of September as vacation and he forgot? Now I believe he wants a week away from me ASAP.
I'm usually off Tuesday & Wednesday nights so I drew a calendar just showing the days of the week. I didn't put days of the month to confuse him further. I pointed and said, "If I can have my usual Tuesday & Wednesday as soon as you can work it in your schedule and the next week Tuesday & Wednesday, ok? Now, the Thursday thru Monday twixt & tween as vacation, I''ve got things I really need to do in my yard before it gets ass biting cold.
Bless his heart! It took me 5 minutes to show him how any 7 day period don't have to start w/ Sunday to equal a week. And another 5 minutes to explain to him that Thursday thru Monday is in fact 5 days.
I gave him the calendar I drew to keep for himself. Then he said (Bless his heart) and I quote, "You're already scheduled to work this Saturday". I almost bit my tongue off before saying, "Saturday, Sunday & Monday ain't in this dog race. Lookie here. I want my usual nights off 2 weeks in a row as soon as you can make it happen. The 5 nights in between instead of being at work I want my vacation".
Does anybody else not comprehend what I'm asking? Is it that complicated? Or is he really special ?Bless his heart!
Remember when I asked for the 2nd week of September as vacation and he forgot? Now I believe he wants a week away from me ASAP.
I'm usually off Tuesday & Wednesday nights so I drew a calendar just showing the days of the week. I didn't put days of the month to confuse him further. I pointed and said, "If I can have my usual Tuesday & Wednesday as soon as you can work it in your schedule and the next week Tuesday & Wednesday, ok? Now, the Thursday thru Monday twixt & tween as vacation, I''ve got things I really need to do in my yard before it gets ass biting cold.
Bless his heart! It took me 5 minutes to show him how any 7 day period don't have to start w/ Sunday to equal a week. And another 5 minutes to explain to him that Thursday thru Monday is in fact 5 days.
I gave him the calendar I drew to keep for himself. Then he said (Bless his heart) and I quote, "You're already scheduled to work this Saturday". I almost bit my tongue off before saying, "Saturday, Sunday & Monday ain't in this dog race. Lookie here. I want my usual nights off 2 weeks in a row as soon as you can make it happen. The 5 nights in between instead of being at work I want my vacation".
Does anybody else not comprehend what I'm asking? Is it that complicated? Or is he really special ?Bless his heart!
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Autumn Is In The Air
Well, Autumn is here w/ its cooler weather. The leaves will be falling from the trees and as soon as most people rake em up, bag em and take em to the curb I'll be coming along to fetch em home. A couple early bags in each of my raised bed garden, worm bed, compost bins and Quack Pack yard then I can dump a few into the Swamp to break down. I'm thinking about building 2 more raised beds for a total of 3 and come Spring border 2 "regular" slightly larger garden ares on either side of my back yard for "The Three Sisters": corn, beans and squash. I do love me some yellow crookneck squash; fried, baked, grilled, boiled, Hey! I could go "Bubba Gump" on that!
This is my 1st Autumn in this neighborhood so I don't yet know how many people go to what degree of Halloween & Thanksgiving decorating. I'm hoping there are at least a few that go whole hog so after the holiday is done I can fetch up some free for the hauling bales of straw (just not pine straw). My yard in the trailerhood had 3 ridiculously large pine trees so if I got it all roke up, 24 hours later nobody knew except for me and my back. But regular grass straw I'm seeing the use of at least 6 or 7. Without trying I can see ways to put another half dozen to use. A little imagination, effort and what I read in a magazine could use any and all up to 100 bales or more. As good as God has been to me I just don't see 100 bales though! Lol
Anyway I have a few insulating tricks up my sleeve to be put into play before Winter arrives. My electric bill over the Summer has been around $100 per month and my gas bill nonexistent. When Old Man Winter comes knocking I'll be burning some gas to keep my nose, toes and all parts in between warm. The only reason I don't hunt is because I simply cannot handle the cold. Maybe when deer season arrives I'll be able to barter for at least some offal to make sausage or dog food and perhaps even a hide or 3. We'll see what comes my way.
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Choctaw Burgers
Speaking of good vittles, I started slobbering at a memory of something I put in my grocery hole many, many years ago at the Choctaw Indian Fair in Philadelphia, Mississippi. Not to be politically incorrect nor nothing but there was a couple chubby little middle aged squaws (close to my age now) sitting around an open fire tossing burgers on a grill. They smelled good (the burgers, I didn't get close enough to smell the cooks) so we all ordered one each. At the first bite I knew there was something different, maybe special about these sammiches. A couple more bites and I knew it... Pork sausage! I fiddled around w/ the ratio and finally got pretty close. 2 pounds of beef + 1/2 pound of sausage (I prefer the hot & spicy). If you wanna experiment, you can make a smaller batch but I do feel mixing it by hand must be the key. Gotta show that meat some love! Shove one in your grocery hole and tell me it ain't good!
Chicken/Pork Rub Recipe #2
Y'all know I usually make my chicken/pork rub w/ 1 jar of garlic salt and 1 of lemon pepper. I used up about 1/2 a jar on a pork loin I did a while back and wanted to try something a little different on my next loin. To about 3/4 jar of the usual stuff I topped the jar off w/ ginger, dumped it all into a mason jar and mixed well then put it back into the "measuring jar/sprinkler".
Again, I pumped the loin full of ginger ale then rubbed it all over w/ the mix. It was beyond bodacious!
Also I saw on some cooking show a fellow makes what he calls a "violated pork loin". It does indeed look violated when sliced but Good Golly Miss Molly it is good! Pretreat your loin as you wish... brine, marinade, rub or whatever. Then take a long thin bladed knife and poke an X thru it lengthwise. You may have to go thru both ends to make a complete passageway thru your loin. Then take your favorite sausage and violate the loin. I prefer Country Pleasin' brand make in Florence, Mississippi. If you've never tried it you've never experienced pork sausage as it was meant to be! Anyway, after you've violated your loin toss that bad boy on the smoker or in a pinch I reckon you could even wrap it up and use (God forbid) the oven.
Again, I pumped the loin full of ginger ale then rubbed it all over w/ the mix. It was beyond bodacious!
Also I saw on some cooking show a fellow makes what he calls a "violated pork loin". It does indeed look violated when sliced but Good Golly Miss Molly it is good! Pretreat your loin as you wish... brine, marinade, rub or whatever. Then take a long thin bladed knife and poke an X thru it lengthwise. You may have to go thru both ends to make a complete passageway thru your loin. Then take your favorite sausage and violate the loin. I prefer Country Pleasin' brand make in Florence, Mississippi. If you've never tried it you've never experienced pork sausage as it was meant to be! Anyway, after you've violated your loin toss that bad boy on the smoker or in a pinch I reckon you could even wrap it up and use (God forbid) the oven.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)