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.
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