It's been years since I decorated my house for any holidays, partly because I work most holidays so it's hard top get into the spirit. This year has been no exception unless being exceptionally without holiday spirit.
I'd planned on dressing as Father Christmas and going out to spread Christmas cheer but it simply wasn't within me to do so. Working in a grocery in the most obese state in America takes a physical toll on an old man so all my other projects had to be pushed aside as I have just been feeling beat down. I do enjoy music of all kinds as long as it is done well. However the Christmas music they played at the store this year was even worse than ever before.
The best part of Christmas has been going yesterday to Mom's for lunch. We had ham, dressing, peas, sweet taters, tater salad, greens and corn bread. She made a couple of pies for dessert but I was too stuffed to partake of the sweets.
The main thing was being with family and spending time together. My brother was there in body but his mind still isn't where it should be. It's heartbreaking to see a man once so strong and independent unable to do for himself.
My knees and back are hurting like Hell as of late so ASAP I'm going to have the doctors at the veteran's hospital check me out to see can they fix any of my worn out parts. I plan on going in for a check up in the near future but will put off any repairs as long as possible. I only live about a half mile from Mom but she has her hands full with my brother. The last thing she needs now or soon is to have me go down with any surgery.
I know this post sounds like a "pity party" but it is anything but that. We have a roof over our heads, food and water, warm beds to sleep in.
God is good always. It is Christmas Day. If you believe in His Son, Jesus join with me today and every day to celebrate His birth.
God bless us all, every one!
Sunday, December 25, 2016
Monday, December 19, 2016
Weather Roller Coaster
Saturday we had a high temp of 79 degrees F. Last night we had a low of 27 and tonight's is supposed to be around the same. A 50 degree change in about 24 hours is crazy even for Mississippi.
At any rate Mack & Tosh, my chinchillas aka "The lads" are enjoying fresh greens from our makeshift cold frame. It's merely a couple of 3' x 5' window frames (with glass intact) laid over a raised bed garden that I seeded with radish, carrot and beet seeds a few weeks ago. It's actually turned out to be one of my more productive experiments.
For myself I have a Crock Pot full of stew that I'm keeping warm. It started as a mess of collard greens but each day as I consume a heaping helping I add in some precooked meat or veggies and just just let it morph into something new each day.
Maybe someday I can figure out how to make an edible biscuit or maybe try some premixed stuff and make dumplings.
Stay warm, my friends and God bless!
Saturday, December 17, 2016
Dec 17, 2016
Things here are always changing, especially the weather.
A few weeks ago we had a cold snap where the lows were in the 20's. Today's high is supposed to be near 80. Then rain is in the forecast followed by a couple more nights in the 20's. At least we're officially over our drought.
I mentioned the other day Bella had caught a mouse and eaten half of it. She's showing no ill effects from that little meal and has as of late shown no concern about sniffing in, around and under the sofa so maybe we're mouse free for the moment. I'll leave the glue traps in place and check daily as well as harvest and place catnip around the house where I think rodents may enter before sealing any said points.
My dryer is now in need of replacing after some 6 - 8 years of faithful service. I noticed last week the shut off when open switch on the door wasn't working properly. Yesterday I loaded it up and ran it for some 30 minutes. When I checked the clothes they were still quite moist so I ran another 10 minutes. I checked again and the load was not only wet but cold so I can only figure the heating element has gone out. These days anything past the original factory warranty is borrowed time on anything one buys.
My dad had a refrigerator in his laundry room just for cold beer and such that was up at his parents' house when I was just a wee fella. It was an old model about only 5' tall, with rounded corners and a latch type door. It was quite a shock to me when I went to fetch a beer and not see the old machine there. Hell, that thing must have lasted a half century or so. I wish I'd known that it had crapped out and got tossed to the curb. I'd have loved to replaced all the workings and kept it going at least until the end of my days.
Anyway, I'll go online and check a few places and most likely buy a new dryer from the same good folks as I got my washer from. Speaking of the washer, it gets off balance easily so I need to check the level on it and if I can't cure that problem maybe the dryer delivery guys can.
Last note: The "holiday blues" have officially set in for me. Working in a grocery in Mississippi (the most obese state in the union) is physically hard on my old body and even before starting that line of work I haven't truly enjoyed the holiday season for quite a few years. My daughter, Alisa has invited me over for Christmas dinner and I'm always welcome at Mom's but I think I'll just stay here at home with my critters. I've had a sore throat for a few weeks along with assorted other "crud" symptoms that I'd rather not share with anybody except maybe that pack of knobs I work with. I've juiced a couple of lemons and added honey to take after my warm salt water gargles hoping to at least get my voice back.
A few weeks ago we had a cold snap where the lows were in the 20's. Today's high is supposed to be near 80. Then rain is in the forecast followed by a couple more nights in the 20's. At least we're officially over our drought.
I mentioned the other day Bella had caught a mouse and eaten half of it. She's showing no ill effects from that little meal and has as of late shown no concern about sniffing in, around and under the sofa so maybe we're mouse free for the moment. I'll leave the glue traps in place and check daily as well as harvest and place catnip around the house where I think rodents may enter before sealing any said points.
My dryer is now in need of replacing after some 6 - 8 years of faithful service. I noticed last week the shut off when open switch on the door wasn't working properly. Yesterday I loaded it up and ran it for some 30 minutes. When I checked the clothes they were still quite moist so I ran another 10 minutes. I checked again and the load was not only wet but cold so I can only figure the heating element has gone out. These days anything past the original factory warranty is borrowed time on anything one buys.
My dad had a refrigerator in his laundry room just for cold beer and such that was up at his parents' house when I was just a wee fella. It was an old model about only 5' tall, with rounded corners and a latch type door. It was quite a shock to me when I went to fetch a beer and not see the old machine there. Hell, that thing must have lasted a half century or so. I wish I'd known that it had crapped out and got tossed to the curb. I'd have loved to replaced all the workings and kept it going at least until the end of my days.
Anyway, I'll go online and check a few places and most likely buy a new dryer from the same good folks as I got my washer from. Speaking of the washer, it gets off balance easily so I need to check the level on it and if I can't cure that problem maybe the dryer delivery guys can.
Last note: The "holiday blues" have officially set in for me. Working in a grocery in Mississippi (the most obese state in the union) is physically hard on my old body and even before starting that line of work I haven't truly enjoyed the holiday season for quite a few years. My daughter, Alisa has invited me over for Christmas dinner and I'm always welcome at Mom's but I think I'll just stay here at home with my critters. I've had a sore throat for a few weeks along with assorted other "crud" symptoms that I'd rather not share with anybody except maybe that pack of knobs I work with. I've juiced a couple of lemons and added honey to take after my warm salt water gargles hoping to at least get my voice back.
Friday, December 16, 2016
Collard Greens
I must admit I love me some greens; turnip, & mustard are good but I am a collard green eating fool! Lo and behold today I saw at the grocery collard & other greens for sale at a mere 99 cents for 3 bunches. They as do all greens require a long cooking time so I continued my "look around" and saw a 5 quart slow cooker for $17.99... one of which also came home with me today.
Cooking greens requires a somewhat large vessel for a decent helping as they do cook down and reduce quite a bit. Nothing goes better in greens than some sort of smoked hog meat. Smoked turkey necks are also quite tasty but the swine is divine!
I washed the cooker then set it on "low" for a few minutes while I prepped my vittles. I started with about 3/4 pound of thick sliced bacon cut into thirds and lined the bottom and sides of the pot with that. Then 1 bunch of greens with all the ribs removed. One medium onion was next followed by another bunch of greens. Then came 2 Anaheim peppers from the garden and the last of the greens. Salt, pepper and a few fresh crushed cloves of garlic topped it all off.
My friend at work, Robert says I can't cook anything without garlic, bacon and butter. I was thinking I'd proven him wrong as I hadn't used any butter in my greens... but there will be some in my corn bread. Maybe he's right!
I do like jalapeno peppers in my corn bread along with a small can of corn (can be either creamed or whole kernel) and I have a fresh jar in the pantry. Dribble some of the juice into the greens once plated and that's a meal fit for a redneck king!
Bella Vs Mouse
Bella, my dachshund and I have been trying to rid our home of field mice for some time now. Vlad, my Jack Russell terrier seems totally disinterested in the critters. Somewhat odd as his breed are supposed to be mousers. Bella seems more than willing to kill anything she can get her mouth on.
To make a short story long, yesterday I was down for a nap and heard Bella in the living room mousing once again. When I got up I found she had caught one, eaten the head and front quarters and ever so sweetly left me the torso and hind quarters... in the middle of the sofa! As Vlad hadn't partaken of the aforementioned offering I just chucked it out the front door for the neighborhood cats and/or mutts to consume.
I'll keep the traps set just in case there are more and I'm sure my killer will remain ever vigilant! Hopefully we're clear of mice at least for a while.
I've done some research and found catnip is supposedly a natural repellent for mice, rats & kin. When I lived in my previous dwelling I'd planted catnip for my cats who by the way didn't seem interested whatsoever. When I moved here I dig up several plants and set them out in the back yard. They are doing quite well so I have an ample supply. I'm shoving sprigs into all the cracks and cervices, in cabinets, under furniture, etc to make the little bastards feel most unwelcome.
To make a short story long, yesterday I was down for a nap and heard Bella in the living room mousing once again. When I got up I found she had caught one, eaten the head and front quarters and ever so sweetly left me the torso and hind quarters... in the middle of the sofa! As Vlad hadn't partaken of the aforementioned offering I just chucked it out the front door for the neighborhood cats and/or mutts to consume.
I'll keep the traps set just in case there are more and I'm sure my killer will remain ever vigilant! Hopefully we're clear of mice at least for a while.
I've done some research and found catnip is supposedly a natural repellent for mice, rats & kin. When I lived in my previous dwelling I'd planted catnip for my cats who by the way didn't seem interested whatsoever. When I moved here I dig up several plants and set them out in the back yard. They are doing quite well so I have an ample supply. I'm shoving sprigs into all the cracks and cervices, in cabinets, under furniture, etc to make the little bastards feel most unwelcome.
Friday, December 9, 2016
Crazy Crazy Weather
In the past few weeks we've gone from drought to near flood conditions here. Years back when I lived in Texas a friend from California said the four seasons there were "mud, flood, earthquake and drought". We're not far from that here and now. For months we've had temps well above average and now suddenly we're below freezing at night at least for last night and tonight.
I've still some greens and roots growing in my makeshift cold frame but all exposed greenery is pretty much done for this year.
I did stop by the "dry goods" store before the cold front came in and got some fresh long drawers... 1 shirt and 2 bottoms.
Looking out my office window I see a blue bird Sun shiny day out there but it's still what I call "ass biting cold".
On a different note, I finally found some dates (the fruit, not hot babes) that still have the pits in them. I'll do some online research to see if I can germinate them and if so, how.
Back to my mice problem, I did snare one in a glue trap. It seems a horrid way to die even for vermin, being stuck face first in a glue trap so I ended its torment as humanely and quickly as possible. A pop to the noggin with a soft shot BB gun to its brain.
I know some people may ask "how is that humane?" But to those I pose this question. Should the mouse chew the insulation off the wiring in my house and it burns down would any of us have a place to live?
I've still some greens and roots growing in my makeshift cold frame but all exposed greenery is pretty much done for this year.
I did stop by the "dry goods" store before the cold front came in and got some fresh long drawers... 1 shirt and 2 bottoms.
Looking out my office window I see a blue bird Sun shiny day out there but it's still what I call "ass biting cold".
On a different note, I finally found some dates (the fruit, not hot babes) that still have the pits in them. I'll do some online research to see if I can germinate them and if so, how.
Back to my mice problem, I did snare one in a glue trap. It seems a horrid way to die even for vermin, being stuck face first in a glue trap so I ended its torment as humanely and quickly as possible. A pop to the noggin with a soft shot BB gun to its brain.
I know some people may ask "how is that humane?" But to those I pose this question. Should the mouse chew the insulation off the wiring in my house and it burns down would any of us have a place to live?
Friday, December 2, 2016
Dec 2, 2016
Well, I survived the Thanksgiving blitz at work and finally got my vacation. I've mostly been enjoying some R&R.
The weather is the main story here. A few nights ago we had some severe thunderstorms and tornado watches. Most of the really bad weather hit Alabama and Tennessee so prayers to the folk there. We did finally get significant rainfall here but more is still needed before our burn ban can be lifted.
Meanwhile Bella and I continue our mouse hunt. I've seen one field mouse and either an offspring thereof or a house mouse in the living room.
As far as eliminating the critters I'd rather (A) live trap (B) snap trap or shoot w/ soft shot BB gun to assure a quick kill. It seems I'm going to have to pull out all the stops and buy some glue boards.
As much as I hate the idea of any of God's creatures (except flies and cockroaches) ending their lives stuck to a sticky trap I hate having a mouse run loose in my home even more.
Not that I have anything personal against mice but I don't want my home burned down from a rodent chewing on the house wiring insulation.
I'm still trying to fix my old computer, an emachines W3118 so I can get back to writing my book, "The Journals of Merlin". It's my take on Merlin and all the King Arthur tales. If I have to take the old machine to the shop I'd take the hard drive out because I want this story to be all mine until I'm done and ready to publish.
Well, that's all for now. Take care, God bless and peace on Earth.
The weather is the main story here. A few nights ago we had some severe thunderstorms and tornado watches. Most of the really bad weather hit Alabama and Tennessee so prayers to the folk there. We did finally get significant rainfall here but more is still needed before our burn ban can be lifted.
Meanwhile Bella and I continue our mouse hunt. I've seen one field mouse and either an offspring thereof or a house mouse in the living room.
As far as eliminating the critters I'd rather (A) live trap (B) snap trap or shoot w/ soft shot BB gun to assure a quick kill. It seems I'm going to have to pull out all the stops and buy some glue boards.
As much as I hate the idea of any of God's creatures (except flies and cockroaches) ending their lives stuck to a sticky trap I hate having a mouse run loose in my home even more.
Not that I have anything personal against mice but I don't want my home burned down from a rodent chewing on the house wiring insulation.
I'm still trying to fix my old computer, an emachines W3118 so I can get back to writing my book, "The Journals of Merlin". It's my take on Merlin and all the King Arthur tales. If I have to take the old machine to the shop I'd take the hard drive out because I want this story to be all mine until I'm done and ready to publish.
Well, that's all for now. Take care, God bless and peace on Earth.
Friday, November 25, 2016
Thanksgiving 2016
Yesterday was Thanksgiving Day here in the good old U.S. of A... I went to Mom's and filled my belly almost unto bursting. I usually cook with more herbs and/or spices than Mom does but all in all it was a pretty good feast. We had the traditional turkey along with dressin'. Up North they call dressin' "stuffing". Down her in the South we call it "dressin'" without the 'g' at the end and "stuffing" is what we do to our grocery holes with the dressin'.
Anyway, we also had baked sweet taters, butter beans, sweet peas, rolls, mac & cheese, gravy, peach cobbler, cheese cake and probably a few more that I can't remember. All I know is when I got home I let Vlad & Bella out for a while and was ready to pass out as soon as they came back in.
The temp is still unusually high here for this time of year and we're still in drought conditions but I'm enjoying the weather.
Back in September I asked for the week of Halloween for my last week's vacation but didn't get it. The other night my supervisor asked when did I want my vacation and I said, "I don't care". Well, last night the schedule was posed and I'll be on vacation. Hopefully I can get some things done around here and perhaps even upgrade my blog to show some photos.
Happy Thanksgiving and love to all!
Merlin
Anyway, we also had baked sweet taters, butter beans, sweet peas, rolls, mac & cheese, gravy, peach cobbler, cheese cake and probably a few more that I can't remember. All I know is when I got home I let Vlad & Bella out for a while and was ready to pass out as soon as they came back in.
The temp is still unusually high here for this time of year and we're still in drought conditions but I'm enjoying the weather.
Back in September I asked for the week of Halloween for my last week's vacation but didn't get it. The other night my supervisor asked when did I want my vacation and I said, "I don't care". Well, last night the schedule was posed and I'll be on vacation. Hopefully I can get some things done around here and perhaps even upgrade my blog to show some photos.
Happy Thanksgiving and love to all!
Merlin
Sunday, November 20, 2016
Never A Dull Moment
Seems there's never a dull moment around here. If you've read some of my previous posts you know I have a duo of male chinchillas aka the lads aka Mack & Tosh. I'd expanded their living quarters by cutting a hole in the top of their previous enclosure and wiring on another cage that I already had. The original bar spacing was 3/8" and the new upper level was 1/2"... Much to my chagrin a male chinchilla some 10 weeks or so of age can get through 1/2" bars. Fortunately I was able to recover the rascal before Bella, my dachshund got to him.
I was checking on Facebook on some other things and clicked on the local pet sales site and found a one piece cage about the same size as that I'd rigged up, all 3/8" mesh for $40.00.
A few quick texts back and forth and I was back home w/ the lads' new home. It was deep into the afternoon for me and I had go get some sleep before work so I merely hosed the crap out of the thing and set it aside to dry.
Now the lads are all set up in their new home with 2 shelves for them to leap and play upon, and as always their dust bath bowl and a new hide box. They seem to be liking it so I'm loving it.
The previous cage owner said they has a bird in it and there were some sprouted seeds in the bottom which gave me an idea. I can get some small plastic pans and sprout bird seed for the lads to have fresh greens to nibble on. If I start one bowl a day for a week the lads should have fresh greens every day!
I was checking on Facebook on some other things and clicked on the local pet sales site and found a one piece cage about the same size as that I'd rigged up, all 3/8" mesh for $40.00.
A few quick texts back and forth and I was back home w/ the lads' new home. It was deep into the afternoon for me and I had go get some sleep before work so I merely hosed the crap out of the thing and set it aside to dry.
Now the lads are all set up in their new home with 2 shelves for them to leap and play upon, and as always their dust bath bowl and a new hide box. They seem to be liking it so I'm loving it.
The previous cage owner said they has a bird in it and there were some sprouted seeds in the bottom which gave me an idea. I can get some small plastic pans and sprout bird seed for the lads to have fresh greens to nibble on. If I start one bowl a day for a week the lads should have fresh greens every day!
Saturday, November 19, 2016
Church Food Drive
There's a church literally a stone's throw from my home. I don't attend but that's a totally different story. Anyway, if not for the ditch/creek in between I could walk there more quickly than drive.
Last week they dropped off an empty grocery sack with a note that they'd be back by today around 9:30 AM to fetch them up for a food drive for the less fortunate.
There are only 11 houses on my cul-de-sac and I am semi-pleased to report that 4 of the 11 filled their sacks. That's better than one third so it's not too bad but we could have done better. I usually do most of my grocery shopping on Saturday morning and one or two extra sacks of food wasn't going to make or break my budget.
We're expecting a cold front to come through this weekend so I set to thinking what would be most appreciated? I know what I like of a cold day so I loaded up on chicken soup, ramen noodles, hot cocoa and some canned veggies to add to almost anything for homemade soup or stew.
What originally got me to thinking seriously about moving out of the trailerhood was when a tornado ripped through. It missed my trailer by a barely comfortable margin and my brother's by an uncomfortable one. A huge oak broke a trailer in half right next to his but the storm didn't even blow the leaves off the trees in his yard.
I at that time lived only 3 miles from the grocery where I work and am shamed to say I by myself donated more than a $1 million a week grocery did. One of my coworkers asked what I was doing the day after and I said I had to go to another store to buy stuff. He kept pressing the issue until I said "It's for my neighbors who lost everything in the tornado, butt hole!" Then he started for some reason saying I was "trying to buy (my) way to Heaven". I was so close to finding out which of us could kick the piss out of the other. Instead I asked did any of his neighbors lose anything. Turned out some lost all and he did not a thing to help them.
So to make a short story long some say "Give until it hurts". I say instead "Give until it feels good".
Last week they dropped off an empty grocery sack with a note that they'd be back by today around 9:30 AM to fetch them up for a food drive for the less fortunate.
There are only 11 houses on my cul-de-sac and I am semi-pleased to report that 4 of the 11 filled their sacks. That's better than one third so it's not too bad but we could have done better. I usually do most of my grocery shopping on Saturday morning and one or two extra sacks of food wasn't going to make or break my budget.
We're expecting a cold front to come through this weekend so I set to thinking what would be most appreciated? I know what I like of a cold day so I loaded up on chicken soup, ramen noodles, hot cocoa and some canned veggies to add to almost anything for homemade soup or stew.
What originally got me to thinking seriously about moving out of the trailerhood was when a tornado ripped through. It missed my trailer by a barely comfortable margin and my brother's by an uncomfortable one. A huge oak broke a trailer in half right next to his but the storm didn't even blow the leaves off the trees in his yard.
I at that time lived only 3 miles from the grocery where I work and am shamed to say I by myself donated more than a $1 million a week grocery did. One of my coworkers asked what I was doing the day after and I said I had to go to another store to buy stuff. He kept pressing the issue until I said "It's for my neighbors who lost everything in the tornado, butt hole!" Then he started for some reason saying I was "trying to buy (my) way to Heaven". I was so close to finding out which of us could kick the piss out of the other. Instead I asked did any of his neighbors lose anything. Turned out some lost all and he did not a thing to help them.
So to make a short story long some say "Give until it hurts". I say instead "Give until it feels good".
Thursday, November 17, 2016
Keeping The Kids Happy
The temps here are finally dropping to near normal range but we're still some 6" below for rain levels since September.
That means I'm still harvesting greens for the chinchillas and lizards... grass, dandelions and assorted "weeds". I just fetched in what we call a "mess" of greens for them all, making them happy, Happy, HAPPY!
The chinchillas, Mack & Tosh, aka "the lads" are going crazy pulling the greens from the upper tier of their enclosure to the lower to be gobbled down.
The Sugar Gliders, Ruth & Naomi, aka "Papa's Wee Possums" are going crazy over some sliced apple and a bowl of honey and organic baby food green beans.
Rupert, the hedgehog is still grumpy as he can be!
That means I'm still harvesting greens for the chinchillas and lizards... grass, dandelions and assorted "weeds". I just fetched in what we call a "mess" of greens for them all, making them happy, Happy, HAPPY!
The chinchillas, Mack & Tosh, aka "the lads" are going crazy pulling the greens from the upper tier of their enclosure to the lower to be gobbled down.
The Sugar Gliders, Ruth & Naomi, aka "Papa's Wee Possums" are going crazy over some sliced apple and a bowl of honey and organic baby food green beans.
Rupert, the hedgehog is still grumpy as he can be!
A Field Mouse In My House
A while back I saw a wee green anole lizard come into the house. I wasn't concerned as they eat bugs and such.
Lately Bella, my dachshund has been after some critter so I figured she was chasing the lizard. Well, the other night I spied what she was after and it wasn't a lizard after all. It is a fat ass field mouse! Much larger then your basic house mouse, an adult field mouse is about the size of a weanling rat. I do know my rodents so know the difference between a field mouse and half grown rat.
That said, I have declared war upon the aforementioned critter. I've a pair of live mouse traps too small for him/her and one rat sized snap trap a bit too large. I'd much prefer catching the beast alive so I'm looking at getting or making some live traps. If I do manage to live catch the varmint I'm quite unsure what to do with it. IF push comes to shove I have seen the mouse a few times in my living room and have a pair of "soft shot" BB pistols capable of denting a beer can at 8' range to take it out. I hope it don't come down to killing him/her but I can't allow mice running loose in my home.
Lately Bella, my dachshund has been after some critter so I figured she was chasing the lizard. Well, the other night I spied what she was after and it wasn't a lizard after all. It is a fat ass field mouse! Much larger then your basic house mouse, an adult field mouse is about the size of a weanling rat. I do know my rodents so know the difference between a field mouse and half grown rat.
That said, I have declared war upon the aforementioned critter. I've a pair of live mouse traps too small for him/her and one rat sized snap trap a bit too large. I'd much prefer catching the beast alive so I'm looking at getting or making some live traps. If I do manage to live catch the varmint I'm quite unsure what to do with it. IF push comes to shove I have seen the mouse a few times in my living room and have a pair of "soft shot" BB pistols capable of denting a beer can at 8' range to take it out. I hope it don't come down to killing him/her but I can't allow mice running loose in my home.
Friday, November 11, 2016
Veterans Day 2016
Today is November 11, 2016 and Veterans day here in the good old USA. Everybody who knows of me and/or claims to know me knows I am a veteran. I spent 5 years active duty Air Force, 4 Navy Reserves and 3 Army National Guard.
I stopped by the local "we sell everything" store today to replace my green porch light which I noticed had burned out. The green light is to let vets know they are being remembered and the bulb costs less than one dollar. Now my front porch is bathed in green light again and I have 3 spares for when that bulb burns out.
Maybe Veterans Day means something to me because I am a veteran. I don't ask for any special treatment as such. I enlisted the first time because I felt it was what I wanted to do and it was right. I enlisted in the Navy Reserves and Army Guard because I needed extra income and was still ready, willing and able to serve my country.
Now don't get me wrong. I don't want anyone thinking I did anything special. I did not. But so far I have gotten one and only one "Happy Veterans Day" so far and I damn well doubt I'll get any more. That's cool as Veterans day isn't something we veterans say "Happy" to each other for. We tell each other "Thank You!"
I don't go to the free or reduced lunches at any restaurant for Veterans Day. It's a day to remember all the great men and women who paid the ultimate price for your and my freedom. All gave some, some gave all. I just hope all Americans and our allies take a moment to observe a moment of silence for those who gave all.
I stopped by the local "we sell everything" store today to replace my green porch light which I noticed had burned out. The green light is to let vets know they are being remembered and the bulb costs less than one dollar. Now my front porch is bathed in green light again and I have 3 spares for when that bulb burns out.
Maybe Veterans Day means something to me because I am a veteran. I don't ask for any special treatment as such. I enlisted the first time because I felt it was what I wanted to do and it was right. I enlisted in the Navy Reserves and Army Guard because I needed extra income and was still ready, willing and able to serve my country.
Now don't get me wrong. I don't want anyone thinking I did anything special. I did not. But so far I have gotten one and only one "Happy Veterans Day" so far and I damn well doubt I'll get any more. That's cool as Veterans day isn't something we veterans say "Happy" to each other for. We tell each other "Thank You!"
I don't go to the free or reduced lunches at any restaurant for Veterans Day. It's a day to remember all the great men and women who paid the ultimate price for your and my freedom. All gave some, some gave all. I just hope all Americans and our allies take a moment to observe a moment of silence for those who gave all.
Thursday, November 10, 2016
Reclaiming The Duck Yard
It's been a few weeks since I was forced to give up my ducks. True I was given a form to fill out for a permit to keep them but the requirements were simply outrageous. The Quack Pack seem happy on their lake, Angie and her family & friends are keeping them all fat and healthy.
Now my attention turns to converting the former duck yard into a garden. I've removed all of the fencing except that which separates me from my neighbors, raked all the straw and other debris into piles for burning when the burn ban is finally lifted. We're still some 6" behind in rainfall just for Autumn here so any open fires are out of the question for the foreseeable future.
The 15' wide swath that was the duck yard has about a 12" drop in 30' in the Southeast section so I've set up some wooden barricades to make terraces to keep that corner from flooding as it did last year, drowning my goose eggs. Free oak leaf season is coming nigh so I'll use sacks of those to deep mulch before adding top soil.
The Quack Pack had eaten all the grass and weeds in their yard to the point that it was either a dust bowl or a mud bog depending on rain. Now all the uneaten seeds are sprouting so I reckon all the fowls' poop must have enriched the soil a bit.
Next year I'll have no fresh duck eggs but I'm hoping for an excess of okra, tomatoes, peppers, corn and beans. I'll try again with birdhouse gourds and possibly luffa (sponge) gourds.
When life gives me lemons I grab a bottle of tequila, some salt and have a party!
Now my attention turns to converting the former duck yard into a garden. I've removed all of the fencing except that which separates me from my neighbors, raked all the straw and other debris into piles for burning when the burn ban is finally lifted. We're still some 6" behind in rainfall just for Autumn here so any open fires are out of the question for the foreseeable future.
The 15' wide swath that was the duck yard has about a 12" drop in 30' in the Southeast section so I've set up some wooden barricades to make terraces to keep that corner from flooding as it did last year, drowning my goose eggs. Free oak leaf season is coming nigh so I'll use sacks of those to deep mulch before adding top soil.
The Quack Pack had eaten all the grass and weeds in their yard to the point that it was either a dust bowl or a mud bog depending on rain. Now all the uneaten seeds are sprouting so I reckon all the fowls' poop must have enriched the soil a bit.
Next year I'll have no fresh duck eggs but I'm hoping for an excess of okra, tomatoes, peppers, corn and beans. I'll try again with birdhouse gourds and possibly luffa (sponge) gourds.
When life gives me lemons I grab a bottle of tequila, some salt and have a party!
Wednesday, November 9, 2016
Election Day
Election Day was yesterday and it was actually raining here. The rain started the night before and was much needed and most welcome.
At any rate I did go out in the rain to vote even though I have been feeling a bit under the weather. Some of my friends said they weren't going to vote but I encouraged them to do so. If they didn't want Mrs. Clinton nor Mr. Trump to vote for the last name on the ballot i.e. the least likely to win... but at any rate to VOTE and make your voice heard.
I'll not tell who I voted for, only this... Long before the election I'd decided that if I voted for the winner I would not gloat, if for the loser I would not pout. I believe religion and politics are best kept to oneself unless one is in the business of religion or politics.
Donald J. Trump is the new President-Elect of the United States of America, no matter who likes it or not. Now it is the patriotic duty of all Americans and even citizens of our allies to support him.
I did watch some of the election returns on the news and I must admit the station I was watching did seem a bit (a lot?) biased towards one candidate over the other. Now the news reporting is more two faced than I thought possible.
One second they were crowing about how we need to come together as one Nation. The next second they were picking apart exit polls and the people polled by sex, race, religion, education... almost as if to say "If you don't like Trump, here are exactly the people to blame".
Anyway, the election is over & the results are in. All I can hope and pray is the real winners are the American people. Like it or not, America seems to be the world leader so perhaps if we Americans can someday get along, so can the rest of the world.
At any rate I did go out in the rain to vote even though I have been feeling a bit under the weather. Some of my friends said they weren't going to vote but I encouraged them to do so. If they didn't want Mrs. Clinton nor Mr. Trump to vote for the last name on the ballot i.e. the least likely to win... but at any rate to VOTE and make your voice heard.
I'll not tell who I voted for, only this... Long before the election I'd decided that if I voted for the winner I would not gloat, if for the loser I would not pout. I believe religion and politics are best kept to oneself unless one is in the business of religion or politics.
Donald J. Trump is the new President-Elect of the United States of America, no matter who likes it or not. Now it is the patriotic duty of all Americans and even citizens of our allies to support him.
I did watch some of the election returns on the news and I must admit the station I was watching did seem a bit (a lot?) biased towards one candidate over the other. Now the news reporting is more two faced than I thought possible.
One second they were crowing about how we need to come together as one Nation. The next second they were picking apart exit polls and the people polled by sex, race, religion, education... almost as if to say "If you don't like Trump, here are exactly the people to blame".
Anyway, the election is over & the results are in. All I can hope and pray is the real winners are the American people. Like it or not, America seems to be the world leader so perhaps if we Americans can someday get along, so can the rest of the world.
Saturday, October 29, 2016
Watermelon For Everybody
I harvested my largest watermelon yesterday and everybody got some. Either I wasn't paying attention to the seed packet or I'd forgotten but it was a yellow instead of red fleshed melon about 9" across and some 14" long. I cut myself a big chunk off one end and gave Vlad & Bella some. Vlad is a madman when it comes to watermelon but Bella is rather "So what? It's just watermelon".
Mack & Tosh, the chinchillas seemed to enjoy theirs pretty much judging by what's left of the rind. Elsa, my ferret as have all my previous ferrets had a grand time with hers. All the lizards pigged out but what surprised me was my sugar gliders, Ruth and Naomi. I gave them a slice that was bigger than the both of them and they gnawed that thing out to the green of the rind!
They were so happy with their treats during cherry season I was left wondering what could I find to get them jumping for treats like cherries did. I just may have found the answer, home grown watermelon! Now watermelon home growing season is about to pass so I'll have to find something else to temp my wee possums' taste buds.
Needless to say I am saving some of the seeds to plant next Spring. I'll just get em in the ground earlier next go around.
Mack & Tosh, the chinchillas seemed to enjoy theirs pretty much judging by what's left of the rind. Elsa, my ferret as have all my previous ferrets had a grand time with hers. All the lizards pigged out but what surprised me was my sugar gliders, Ruth and Naomi. I gave them a slice that was bigger than the both of them and they gnawed that thing out to the green of the rind!
They were so happy with their treats during cherry season I was left wondering what could I find to get them jumping for treats like cherries did. I just may have found the answer, home grown watermelon! Now watermelon home growing season is about to pass so I'll have to find something else to temp my wee possums' taste buds.
Needless to say I am saving some of the seeds to plant next Spring. I'll just get em in the ground earlier next go around.
Watching Our Weights
Well, I bought a scale today and weighed myself alone, then with Vlad and lastly Bella. According to the charts a man of my age and height should be somewhere between 142 and 176 pounds. When I worked outside my weight would usually go from 145 at the end of Summer to 160 at the end of Winter. According to these new scales I weigh 135.8 pounds. You know, I always felt at my best when I was running 145-160 so my goal is to get back to 145-150 by Winter's end.
I looked online about dogs' weights and I see my canine kids need to lose almost as much as I should gain. Vlad, my Jack Russell son weighs 22.2 pounds and supposedly should be between 14 & 18. But he don't look fat at all!
Bella, my dachshund is another story as she looks like a tube of bologna! The info I gathered on her breed says she should be a mere 10-12 pounds but I can't believe she should (or could) get that slim. She is a "big girl" at a hefty 24.4 pounds.
So here are our goals for now:
I want to get to 150 pounds
Vlad should be able to drop to 20 and we'll see how he looks
Bella the same, down to 20 pounds and we'll see if she has a waist again.
I've rooted through some "stuff" and found their collars but not their leads yet. As soon as I locate the leads we can take walks again. Vlad used to love playing fetch with a football that I called his "feetsball" until he poked (impaled?) so many holes in it that it was more like a leather frisbee. I'll find him another at the dollar store soon. Bella never actually went for the ball but she chased Vlad and was our "cheerleader".
I looked online about dogs' weights and I see my canine kids need to lose almost as much as I should gain. Vlad, my Jack Russell son weighs 22.2 pounds and supposedly should be between 14 & 18. But he don't look fat at all!
Bella, my dachshund is another story as she looks like a tube of bologna! The info I gathered on her breed says she should be a mere 10-12 pounds but I can't believe she should (or could) get that slim. She is a "big girl" at a hefty 24.4 pounds.
So here are our goals for now:
I want to get to 150 pounds
Vlad should be able to drop to 20 and we'll see how he looks
Bella the same, down to 20 pounds and we'll see if she has a waist again.
I've rooted through some "stuff" and found their collars but not their leads yet. As soon as I locate the leads we can take walks again. Vlad used to love playing fetch with a football that I called his "feetsball" until he poked (impaled?) so many holes in it that it was more like a leather frisbee. I'll find him another at the dollar store soon. Bella never actually went for the ball but she chased Vlad and was our "cheerleader".
Thursday, October 27, 2016
News Around Merlin's Garden
I guess the main thing here is the weather. The entire state of Mississippi is still under drought conditions and temps are still running some 10 degrees F above normal. Coming into late October I have the doors open wide and enjoying the mid 80's as highs and mid 50's as lows.
I've prepped everything I need for my cold frames but have had no need to set them up yet. It's feeling more like late Spring than Autumn here.
I did finally expand the chinchillas' cage the other day. I realized the easiest route was to add the unused larger mesh enclosure on top of their previous one story home. Once I'd settled on a game plan it only took a half hour or so to almost double their space. The main thing is the lads are happier with more room to explore and play in.
Uneaten feed seed is beginning to sprout in what used to be the duck & goose yard and will probably become my main vegetable garden. I cut some planks and floored what was their laying house and is now a tool shed for hand tools like rakes, shovels, etc.
The City of Pearl requires a building permit before I can put a roof on my deck and/or have a parking area roofed in so that's my next project... getting permits. Living within city limits isn't as easy as I thought it would be for a redneck!
Saturday, October 22, 2016
Weather Update
Well, for the first time in a long time the temperature is expected to drop below normal if only for a day or two. The entire state of Mississippi is now officially under a burn ban, an odd thing for such an historically wet weather state. By the time the weekend is in full swing we should be back in the 80's and above normal temps.
We're not expected to see any more rain in the foreseeable future and are still some 5" below normal there. The cracks in the soil of my yard are quite noticeable and the grass crunches under every step except during or soon after my daily waterings.
There is nothing anyone other than God can do about the weather so I'll continue to water the gardens a bit and be thankful that the high temps are around 80 F and the lows are in the 50's. That's fine and dandy for me! As we're having little or no rain I can use my clothesline to air dry my laundry. When the heat index was in the 110 F range by the time I got to hanging stuff on the far side of the line the stuff on the near side was almost dry... only I was dripping wet from the sweat.
We're not expected to see any more rain in the foreseeable future and are still some 5" below normal there. The cracks in the soil of my yard are quite noticeable and the grass crunches under every step except during or soon after my daily waterings.
There is nothing anyone other than God can do about the weather so I'll continue to water the gardens a bit and be thankful that the high temps are around 80 F and the lows are in the 50's. That's fine and dandy for me! As we're having little or no rain I can use my clothesline to air dry my laundry. When the heat index was in the 110 F range by the time I got to hanging stuff on the far side of the line the stuff on the near side was almost dry... only I was dripping wet from the sweat.
Thursday, October 20, 2016
Dogs On Diets
My friend, Gail, from whom I got my boy, Vlad has a Jack Russell terrier named Rocky. Seems everybody likes to talk trash about "the Rock" because of his weight. She sent me some pictures of him the other day and all I could say was, "OMG!"
A Jack Russell should be around 16 pounds and my Vlad is maybe a couple above that. I jokingly say Bella, my dachshund isn't a weenie dog, she's a bologna dog. But Rocky is admittedly morbidly obese at 31 pounds! All dogs should have a visible waist, Bella does not.
So Gail and I made a pact to get our canine kids back into a healthier weight zone. Limit the treats. Buy a lower fat, higher grade dog food. Exercise them more.
I've the much easier task ahead of me, to drop maybe 2 pounds off Vlad and 4 or 5 off Bella. Gail has to get poor fat Rocky to lose almost 50% of his body weight. We love our dogs like our own children and treats make them happy. But treats also make them fat so it's time for tough love.
Sometimes when a sack of dog food gets damaged the store where I work will mark it down and sell what's left at a reduced price. More often than not I buy those as something to change up Vlad & Bella's diet. I'll continue to do so but only the hi pro, low fat stuff. When the marked down isn't available I'll pay full price.
My friend at work, Debbie who is also an animal lover told me dogs don't know how much treat they're getting, they only know that they are getting. It makes sense to me as when I give treats, V&B don't kick back and savor the flavor.... they gobble it down as quickly as possible.
One last thing about treats... those rawhide things! I read somewhere that they are probably only slightly less bad than rat poison because of the chemicals they are treated with. If you don't have any, don't buy any. If you do, throw them away.
A Jack Russell should be around 16 pounds and my Vlad is maybe a couple above that. I jokingly say Bella, my dachshund isn't a weenie dog, she's a bologna dog. But Rocky is admittedly morbidly obese at 31 pounds! All dogs should have a visible waist, Bella does not.
So Gail and I made a pact to get our canine kids back into a healthier weight zone. Limit the treats. Buy a lower fat, higher grade dog food. Exercise them more.
I've the much easier task ahead of me, to drop maybe 2 pounds off Vlad and 4 or 5 off Bella. Gail has to get poor fat Rocky to lose almost 50% of his body weight. We love our dogs like our own children and treats make them happy. But treats also make them fat so it's time for tough love.
Sometimes when a sack of dog food gets damaged the store where I work will mark it down and sell what's left at a reduced price. More often than not I buy those as something to change up Vlad & Bella's diet. I'll continue to do so but only the hi pro, low fat stuff. When the marked down isn't available I'll pay full price.
My friend at work, Debbie who is also an animal lover told me dogs don't know how much treat they're getting, they only know that they are getting. It makes sense to me as when I give treats, V&B don't kick back and savor the flavor.... they gobble it down as quickly as possible.
One last thing about treats... those rawhide things! I read somewhere that they are probably only slightly less bad than rat poison because of the chemicals they are treated with. If you don't have any, don't buy any. If you do, throw them away.
Rain... Finally!
Today we got the first real rain we've had in months. Almost half of the state of Mississippi has been under a burn ban because of lack of rain. Pretty much the entire state is under drought or dry conditions. This afternoon I was sitting with the back door open as usual and heard what has become an unusual sound... rain! While out this morning I did notice some clouds and thought there was a slim chance of a sprinkle but we actually had a decent half hour or so of real soaking rain.
The temperature was still near 90 F at 4:30 PM so I went out and enjoyed myself as only a redneck could. I was wearing only a pair of shorts and was actually catching grass hoppers to feed the lizards earlier so was wearing proper attire for the occasion as I walked in the yard, front, sides and back getting soaked and loving it.
It'll take more than one good rain to get us back up to where we should be and before all is said and done we'll probably have some flooding but right now I'm thanking God almighty for this bit of relief.
As the temperature has been running some 10 degrees F above normal I've still got watermelons and peanuts growing in the raised beds as well as eggplants and peppers in large containers. I've had to keep them watered as of late but this day's rain should have done them more good than my hosing.
Also due to the abnormally warm temps I did go ahead and plant another few packs of root veggies. I'm seeing some nice sprouts coming up there. It has simply been too damn hot to try to build anything like my desired greenhouse but I'm thinking should the temperature take a sudden drop I can still use the window panels Mom gave me for the greenhouse. I can simply lay a few braces across the raised beds and lay the windows over them for a quick cold frame.
The temperature was still near 90 F at 4:30 PM so I went out and enjoyed myself as only a redneck could. I was wearing only a pair of shorts and was actually catching grass hoppers to feed the lizards earlier so was wearing proper attire for the occasion as I walked in the yard, front, sides and back getting soaked and loving it.
It'll take more than one good rain to get us back up to where we should be and before all is said and done we'll probably have some flooding but right now I'm thanking God almighty for this bit of relief.
As the temperature has been running some 10 degrees F above normal I've still got watermelons and peanuts growing in the raised beds as well as eggplants and peppers in large containers. I've had to keep them watered as of late but this day's rain should have done them more good than my hosing.
Also due to the abnormally warm temps I did go ahead and plant another few packs of root veggies. I'm seeing some nice sprouts coming up there. It has simply been too damn hot to try to build anything like my desired greenhouse but I'm thinking should the temperature take a sudden drop I can still use the window panels Mom gave me for the greenhouse. I can simply lay a few braces across the raised beds and lay the windows over them for a quick cold frame.
Friday, October 14, 2016
Old School Cooking (More Or Less)
When I was in my mid teens my dad & Step Mom often cooked (then cheap ass) round steak in the slow cooker with onions and served it over white rice. Boy howdy, I could eat my weight in that! Well, cheap ass round steak isn't cheap anymore so I don't cook it as often as I once ate it. However my grocery now has eye of round roast for $2.99 a pound so I wasted no time in bringing a couple pounds of that home this morning. I chucked it into the freezer so I can slice it about 1/2" thick and slow cook that rascal.
The only thing I'll do differently than traditional is after slicing I'll marinade it for an hour or until it's thawed. Then I'll sear it in a skillet to build a crust before putting it in the "low & slow" adding the marinade to the gravy. As per old school recipe I'll add plenty of onions but just for added flavor I may include a jalapeno, some garlic and maybe a carrot or 3.
I have a feeling this'll be so good if you put some on top of your head your tongue would slap your brain out trying to get to it!
The only thing I'll do differently than traditional is after slicing I'll marinade it for an hour or until it's thawed. Then I'll sear it in a skillet to build a crust before putting it in the "low & slow" adding the marinade to the gravy. As per old school recipe I'll add plenty of onions but just for added flavor I may include a jalapeno, some garlic and maybe a carrot or 3.
I have a feeling this'll be so good if you put some on top of your head your tongue would slap your brain out trying to get to it!
Thursday, October 13, 2016
Dry Weather & Burn Ban
When making ready to smoke some meat for my beef jerky I thought it wise to make sure the local police wouldn't show up at my door. While my cooking isn't usually considered a crime now it could be. At least 30 of Mississippi's counties are under a burn ban because things are so dry here. We've had only 5 measurable rains since September 1st and the temps are still running some 10 degrees above normal.
I must admit it was with a note of sarcasm that I called the police to ask if smoking meat outside was legal while under a burn ban but the officer was all business with no sense of humor. He did inform me that he saw nothing illegal about grilling nor smoking I should call the fire department to be sure and let them know where I lived! I did indeed call the fire station and I don't know the politically correct term for "fireman" which I probably should use but the fireman I talked to seemed like someone I could get along with. He was more than helpful, cheerful and everything. We talked probably 10 minutes about fire safety, cooking, smoking, the weather, praying for rain. When we see stories on the news about the fire department doing community work this man comes to my mind now.
As we do have the potential for grass, brush and even wildfires now and when Winter does come along comes potential for more house fires I realize the need for awareness and watchfulness is serious. Right before we got off the phone I said, "And y'all be careful out there, okay?"
You know? When he thanked me I felt it was heart felt.
There is a special type of person who sees a building on fire, when everyone else is running out...they run in!
I must admit it was with a note of sarcasm that I called the police to ask if smoking meat outside was legal while under a burn ban but the officer was all business with no sense of humor. He did inform me that he saw nothing illegal about grilling nor smoking I should call the fire department to be sure and let them know where I lived! I did indeed call the fire station and I don't know the politically correct term for "fireman" which I probably should use but the fireman I talked to seemed like someone I could get along with. He was more than helpful, cheerful and everything. We talked probably 10 minutes about fire safety, cooking, smoking, the weather, praying for rain. When we see stories on the news about the fire department doing community work this man comes to my mind now.
As we do have the potential for grass, brush and even wildfires now and when Winter does come along comes potential for more house fires I realize the need for awareness and watchfulness is serious. Right before we got off the phone I said, "And y'all be careful out there, okay?"
You know? When he thanked me I felt it was heart felt.
There is a special type of person who sees a building on fire, when everyone else is running out...they run in!
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Beef Jerky
The other day I having a "Jones" for some beef jerky but didn't want store bought stuff because of A) price and B) all the preservatives and other chemical I can neither pronounce nor know what they do. Years ago I made jerky quite often on my food dehydrator (that I still do have) but didn't feel like finding all the pieces and parts and the racks are a pain in the butt to clean. So what to do?
First I decided on my marinade recipe that I'll tell you in a bit. But for the hardware I turned to my trusty smoker. The grates for "Black Beauty" are a bit wide so I soaked bamboo skewers in water while I prepped all the other stuff. I'd found a couple of lean beef shoulder roasts at a fair price of $2.99 a pound and put them in the freezer just long enough to get them quite firm but not solidly frozen. The beef was a total of about 2.75 pounds and I sliced it on my mandolin for even thickness. My marinade was 8 oz of soy sauce, 8 oz of teriyaki sauce, 2 oz hot sauce and 1 tablespoon garlic powder. I let the meat marinade for about 2 hours in a zip top bag and then smoked it for about 6 hours.
My smoker is a box type with 2 racks of about 14" each, a water bowl and fire bowl. While I prefer lump charcoal for grilling I usually use briquettes for smoking. My wood is a mix of oak and plum. It seems oak trees are almost always being cut down around here and my neighbor across the street had an old plum tree cut down last year so that's why I used that mix of woods. Just remember if using dry wood to always soak your wood first so it'll produce smoke and not flames.
At the end of the day I had probably the same amount of jerky I would have gotten from the store for the same amount of money so the savings were rather insignificant I suppose. But at some time or another I'm sure I can find raw meat at a better price. The main thing is I had the pleasure of being outside on a lovely day and bagged up some jerky better than store bought without preservatives and all. My next batch I'll probably make a little hotter, perhaps by adding a spoonful of black pepper or pureed jalapeno. That's what makes cooking fun when I decide to do it, taking something pretty good and working to make it even better. Maybe a squeeze of honey for sweet & spicy?
First I decided on my marinade recipe that I'll tell you in a bit. But for the hardware I turned to my trusty smoker. The grates for "Black Beauty" are a bit wide so I soaked bamboo skewers in water while I prepped all the other stuff. I'd found a couple of lean beef shoulder roasts at a fair price of $2.99 a pound and put them in the freezer just long enough to get them quite firm but not solidly frozen. The beef was a total of about 2.75 pounds and I sliced it on my mandolin for even thickness. My marinade was 8 oz of soy sauce, 8 oz of teriyaki sauce, 2 oz hot sauce and 1 tablespoon garlic powder. I let the meat marinade for about 2 hours in a zip top bag and then smoked it for about 6 hours.
My smoker is a box type with 2 racks of about 14" each, a water bowl and fire bowl. While I prefer lump charcoal for grilling I usually use briquettes for smoking. My wood is a mix of oak and plum. It seems oak trees are almost always being cut down around here and my neighbor across the street had an old plum tree cut down last year so that's why I used that mix of woods. Just remember if using dry wood to always soak your wood first so it'll produce smoke and not flames.
At the end of the day I had probably the same amount of jerky I would have gotten from the store for the same amount of money so the savings were rather insignificant I suppose. But at some time or another I'm sure I can find raw meat at a better price. The main thing is I had the pleasure of being outside on a lovely day and bagged up some jerky better than store bought without preservatives and all. My next batch I'll probably make a little hotter, perhaps by adding a spoonful of black pepper or pureed jalapeno. That's what makes cooking fun when I decide to do it, taking something pretty good and working to make it even better. Maybe a squeeze of honey for sweet & spicy?
Monday, October 10, 2016
New Bedding For Rupert The Hedgehog
There's an old farmer's saying about "You gotta make hay while the sun shines". It actually has two meanings. The first is you mow hay during the daylight when you can see where you're cutting and the second is you only cut hay when it's dry. Wet mown hay will mold, mildew and rot thus producing bales of worthless, possibly toxic mess instead of good hay.
When the "duck police" visited they also told me that part of my front yard needed mowing. Instead of trying to talk sense to officer to tell her that was in fact a herb garden I took the easy route and just mowed the whole damn thing over. When I was still thinking I'd get the simple courtesy of a return visit I went above and beyond what was on the complaint and pulled the grass growing in between the cracks and along the edges of my driveway. This I just threw into a pile in the back yard.
Now to the title of this post... I didn't like the shredded paper bedding that was in Rupert the hedgehog's enclosure when I brought him home so I ditched that. I wanted an absorbent material and I had plenty of rabbit pellets which are basically alfalfa that has been dried and compresses into well, pellets. Rupert wasn't real happy on that so I searched my brain for a solution we could agree upon.
Viola! While the hay I'd bought for the ducks and geese was and is still in their used to be home it was to put it mildly "crapped in and on by ducks and geese". Plan B for hay was free and too easy. The grass I'd weeded up was now dry and ready for use.
When I moved here from the trailerhood I dug up some of the catnip I had growing in a flowerbed and brought it with me and it has established itself quite well. While I no longer (presently?) have any felines I do enjoy the aroma of catnip myself. It has a slightly minty smell but more earthy than any other members of the mint family I think. Anyway, after washing and drying Rupert's cage I plucked a few sprigs of catnip and tossed them into the bottom before bedding him down with the home grown hay. He's still grumpy as all Hell but I try to give him some hands on time daily. It's rather akin to handling an inside out pincushion so I simply need to build up my calluses!
When the "duck police" visited they also told me that part of my front yard needed mowing. Instead of trying to talk sense to officer to tell her that was in fact a herb garden I took the easy route and just mowed the whole damn thing over. When I was still thinking I'd get the simple courtesy of a return visit I went above and beyond what was on the complaint and pulled the grass growing in between the cracks and along the edges of my driveway. This I just threw into a pile in the back yard.
Now to the title of this post... I didn't like the shredded paper bedding that was in Rupert the hedgehog's enclosure when I brought him home so I ditched that. I wanted an absorbent material and I had plenty of rabbit pellets which are basically alfalfa that has been dried and compresses into well, pellets. Rupert wasn't real happy on that so I searched my brain for a solution we could agree upon.
Viola! While the hay I'd bought for the ducks and geese was and is still in their used to be home it was to put it mildly "crapped in and on by ducks and geese". Plan B for hay was free and too easy. The grass I'd weeded up was now dry and ready for use.
When I moved here from the trailerhood I dug up some of the catnip I had growing in a flowerbed and brought it with me and it has established itself quite well. While I no longer (presently?) have any felines I do enjoy the aroma of catnip myself. It has a slightly minty smell but more earthy than any other members of the mint family I think. Anyway, after washing and drying Rupert's cage I plucked a few sprigs of catnip and tossed them into the bottom before bedding him down with the home grown hay. He's still grumpy as all Hell but I try to give him some hands on time daily. It's rather akin to handling an inside out pincushion so I simply need to build up my calluses!
Sunday, October 9, 2016
Store Bought Chicken Eggs
Well, due to my having to get rid of my ducks I was forced to buy chicken eggs at the grocery. I knew as soon as I cracked one it was going to be dismal. The yolk was small and pale yellow, not the large dark almost orange I had become accustomed to.
Even with hearty sides of thick slab bacon and cheesy, buttery, salt & peppery, a bit of bacon greasy grits the eggs sucked! They were more like scrambled wood pulp than anything else I can think of.
I've seen posted online some home grown chicken eggs about 10 miles from here but they're $3.50 a dozen. I think the grocery store has "free range" eggs for less than that. Maybe I'll try to locate the folks with the rooster I hear crowing and see if A#1 they've managed to get a permit (and how) and B#2 if they will sell a few "cackle berries".
Fresh duck eggs vs. store bought chicken (factory laid) eggs is like home grown tomatoes vs. those grown in hot houses or halfway around the world, shipped green and ripened on the grocer's produce shelf.
Once you've tasted the real McCoy the mass produced crap has absolutely zero taste appeal whatsoever.
Perhaps my idea of raising Pharaoh quail could be a workable "Plan B" for fresh eggs. The little birds make no real noise and would be kept in raised enclosures so any smell would be minimal. The only drawback would be is that it would take at least a dozen and a half eggs to make a meal!
Even with hearty sides of thick slab bacon and cheesy, buttery, salt & peppery, a bit of bacon greasy grits the eggs sucked! They were more like scrambled wood pulp than anything else I can think of.
I've seen posted online some home grown chicken eggs about 10 miles from here but they're $3.50 a dozen. I think the grocery store has "free range" eggs for less than that. Maybe I'll try to locate the folks with the rooster I hear crowing and see if A#1 they've managed to get a permit (and how) and B#2 if they will sell a few "cackle berries".
Fresh duck eggs vs. store bought chicken (factory laid) eggs is like home grown tomatoes vs. those grown in hot houses or halfway around the world, shipped green and ripened on the grocer's produce shelf.
Once you've tasted the real McCoy the mass produced crap has absolutely zero taste appeal whatsoever.
Perhaps my idea of raising Pharaoh quail could be a workable "Plan B" for fresh eggs. The little birds make no real noise and would be kept in raised enclosures so any smell would be minimal. The only drawback would be is that it would take at least a dozen and a half eggs to make a meal!
Saturday, October 8, 2016
Gonna Enlarge The Chinchilla Enclosure
Digging about in my storage building I came across an enclosure 48" x 48" x 12" tall of of 1" x 2" mesh.
Mack & Tosh were rather wee when I brought them home but have grown considerably so I have little concern of them escaping the larger mesh.
Their present home is 24" x 13" x 15" tall. I don't have the materials to expand horizontally but by this time tomorrow they should have at least another foot vertical.
Gotta keep the babies happy, Happy, HAPPY!
Mack & Tosh were rather wee when I brought them home but have grown considerably so I have little concern of them escaping the larger mesh.
Their present home is 24" x 13" x 15" tall. I don't have the materials to expand horizontally but by this time tomorrow they should have at least another foot vertical.
Gotta keep the babies happy, Happy, HAPPY!
Needing Elsa The Weasel
If you've read my blog lately you know the local law enforcement has forced me to give up my ducks & geese aka the Quack Pack. After 8 hours dealing with the oafs and buffoons at work they were the ones who made me laugh with their silliness and just being who they were. I often said "Who can be pissed off when they have ducks?" & "Ducks & geese for World Peace!"
Since giving up the Pack I've turned to the latest addition to my indoor family, Elsa the ferret aka "Wild Weasel". I had a pair years ago when I lived in Colorado and admittedly I loved the female, Bandit more than the male, Stinky as even fresh out of a bath he tended to be a bit musky even to my olfactory senses. But even after all those years I wanted another ferret and finally found one close enough and affordable so I got my wild Elsa. She's been worth her weight and more in gold in my retaining some sense of semi sanity without the ducks & geese.
Her enclosure is 28" x 18" x 30" tall with 3 shelves connected by slides and I've gotten some thick cardboard tubes from work 3" diameter x 15" long that I'm making her a play tunnel of.
Usually when I enter the room that houses all my small warm fuzzy critters she's asleep in her hammock but only takes a few moments to wake up. She normally sleeps on her back in her hammock and looks at me upside down, yawns and asks ,"Is it play time, Papa?" Often I'll tuck her inside my shirt before attending other indoor chores which she totally enjoys as does her Papa!
I'm starting to believe everyone should have someone in their lives that just by being themselves make that person laugh out loud. Elsa does that for me and I love her so much for giving me that. I love all my non human kids for one reason or another but that's why she has staked her claim and taken her place my heart.
Since giving up the Pack I've turned to the latest addition to my indoor family, Elsa the ferret aka "Wild Weasel". I had a pair years ago when I lived in Colorado and admittedly I loved the female, Bandit more than the male, Stinky as even fresh out of a bath he tended to be a bit musky even to my olfactory senses. But even after all those years I wanted another ferret and finally found one close enough and affordable so I got my wild Elsa. She's been worth her weight and more in gold in my retaining some sense of semi sanity without the ducks & geese.
Her enclosure is 28" x 18" x 30" tall with 3 shelves connected by slides and I've gotten some thick cardboard tubes from work 3" diameter x 15" long that I'm making her a play tunnel of.
Usually when I enter the room that houses all my small warm fuzzy critters she's asleep in her hammock but only takes a few moments to wake up. She normally sleeps on her back in her hammock and looks at me upside down, yawns and asks ,"Is it play time, Papa?" Often I'll tuck her inside my shirt before attending other indoor chores which she totally enjoys as does her Papa!
I'm starting to believe everyone should have someone in their lives that just by being themselves make that person laugh out loud. Elsa does that for me and I love her so much for giving me that. I love all my non human kids for one reason or another but that's why she has staked her claim and taken her place my heart.
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Harvest Season Is About Done
It seems the harvest season is about done here. The egg season is unquestionably done as the City of Pearl has made me get rid of my ducks. I've still a few peppers and eggplants to be picked as well as peanuts to be pulled. I read online that goobers are ready to pull when the vines begin to yellow.
I still miss going out back and hearing & seeing the Quack Pack but at least someone still has chickens. Their rooster sings all day and his first song I hear each morning makes me think, "Did I deny knowing Jesus 3 times?"
My late season planting of greens and roots never even sprouted so that was a phenomenal fail.
I know all the big scale planter grow sugar cane from buds on the joints of the canes but I can't seem to locate any for sale. Best I could do was seeds for sale online. Also I found some giant bamboo seed which I'll use to try and grow a fence between myself and my crackhead neighbors to the South and the liberal Democrats to the North.
I'm quite sure it was the crackheads who called the police on me for ducks. They've had the police over to their house a couple of times. The last was animal control came to take away their starving dogs. Funny that the 2 times the police were there they never knocked at my door about the ducks.
Anyway, I've got to mess with the crackheads. While I no longer have ducks I do have duck, goose, deer, turkey, crow, squirrel and owl calls. I'll wait a few weeks then every time I'm in the yard I'll use a different call to sing softly so only they can hear. Turkey calls will be easiest as they fit completely in the mouth. Should the police come to investigate I'll be 100% certain it was the crackheads who called.
I still miss going out back and hearing & seeing the Quack Pack but at least someone still has chickens. Their rooster sings all day and his first song I hear each morning makes me think, "Did I deny knowing Jesus 3 times?"
My late season planting of greens and roots never even sprouted so that was a phenomenal fail.
I know all the big scale planter grow sugar cane from buds on the joints of the canes but I can't seem to locate any for sale. Best I could do was seeds for sale online. Also I found some giant bamboo seed which I'll use to try and grow a fence between myself and my crackhead neighbors to the South and the liberal Democrats to the North.
I'm quite sure it was the crackheads who called the police on me for ducks. They've had the police over to their house a couple of times. The last was animal control came to take away their starving dogs. Funny that the 2 times the police were there they never knocked at my door about the ducks.
Anyway, I've got to mess with the crackheads. While I no longer have ducks I do have duck, goose, deer, turkey, crow, squirrel and owl calls. I'll wait a few weeks then every time I'm in the yard I'll use a different call to sing softly so only they can hear. Turkey calls will be easiest as they fit completely in the mouth. Should the police come to investigate I'll be 100% certain it was the crackheads who called.
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Officers Unfriendly
You know, it's odd. I've always had the utmost respect for law enforcement officers. Hell, it's a job I would not want to do. And 99.9% are the ones we never hear about in the media... those who go out day and night no matter the weather and care about the people that they "serve and protect".
Then you have that 0.1% that nobody likes.
A few months ago I was followed by a Pearl Police cruiser for about a mile before he hit the blue lights. I signaled at every turn, drove about 2 miles per hour below the speed limit, stopped before the yellow light turned red. My reason for being stopped?
I quote, "Your tag looked funny but it's okay now". Now this little sawed off runt was walking on tip toes to peek into the back of my Honda CR-V as he approached. While it is true I have a foot long beard, I was being facially profiled. I talked to a friend of mine who works for another law enforcement agency who said, and I quote, "Oh HELL yeah! That was an illegal stop." Then my friend said I should have shut off my engine and asked, "Sir, may I step out so you can show me what looked 'funny'? I live about 1/2 mile from here and I can fix it so as not to waste any more officers' time".
Officer (Corporal) I won't mention her name is one of those cops who joined the force not to protect and serve but to only feed her own ego. I got a ticket a few years back for some minor traffic crap and a "real" ticket from a "real" police officer. That citation had the officer's badge number on it. Code enforcement officers don't even have badge numbers or carry sidearms so they're below animal control officers. They want a badge only so they can legally bully people.
She was more than happy to knock when she delivered my violation notice, failing to mention that the 1st was on Saturday and she don't work weekends. When I finally got her on the phone on the 3rd she said she's "done a drive by and everything looked okay". When I asked her for some written record of my compliance of code, you'd have though I asked her for oral sex. She finally agreed to send me an email but I only managed a verbal from her that I'm now on 2 years' probation for any further violations.
I'm a 57 year old white Irish/Welsh Protestant heterosexual U.S. military veteran who doesn't raise Hell, drink & drive.... I lead a quite boring, quiet life or try to. I cannot imagine what life in Pearl, Mississippi must be like for young, non white, gay, Hell raisers.... Hmm, maybe I need to change my lifestyle!
Then you have that 0.1% that nobody likes.
A few months ago I was followed by a Pearl Police cruiser for about a mile before he hit the blue lights. I signaled at every turn, drove about 2 miles per hour below the speed limit, stopped before the yellow light turned red. My reason for being stopped?
I quote, "Your tag looked funny but it's okay now". Now this little sawed off runt was walking on tip toes to peek into the back of my Honda CR-V as he approached. While it is true I have a foot long beard, I was being facially profiled. I talked to a friend of mine who works for another law enforcement agency who said, and I quote, "Oh HELL yeah! That was an illegal stop." Then my friend said I should have shut off my engine and asked, "Sir, may I step out so you can show me what looked 'funny'? I live about 1/2 mile from here and I can fix it so as not to waste any more officers' time".
Officer (Corporal) I won't mention her name is one of those cops who joined the force not to protect and serve but to only feed her own ego. I got a ticket a few years back for some minor traffic crap and a "real" ticket from a "real" police officer. That citation had the officer's badge number on it. Code enforcement officers don't even have badge numbers or carry sidearms so they're below animal control officers. They want a badge only so they can legally bully people.
She was more than happy to knock when she delivered my violation notice, failing to mention that the 1st was on Saturday and she don't work weekends. When I finally got her on the phone on the 3rd she said she's "done a drive by and everything looked okay". When I asked her for some written record of my compliance of code, you'd have though I asked her for oral sex. She finally agreed to send me an email but I only managed a verbal from her that I'm now on 2 years' probation for any further violations.
I'm a 57 year old white Irish/Welsh Protestant heterosexual U.S. military veteran who doesn't raise Hell, drink & drive.... I lead a quite boring, quiet life or try to. I cannot imagine what life in Pearl, Mississippi must be like for young, non white, gay, Hell raisers.... Hmm, maybe I need to change my lifestyle!
Missing The Quack Pack
Angie & Buddy took my Quack Pack to their lake 4 days ago and I still find myself every morning doing to the barn as if I'm going to feed them. Then I realize they are gone.
She's posted a few pictures on Facebook and they do look happy out on the lake. She says they are "swimming fools" and refers them as a group apart from her ducks & geese she already had, keeping the name "Quack Pack" for now our babies.
While I do still feel separation pangs I know that the Pack is happier on a lake with Angie, Buddy, their kids and neighbors to spoil them rotten.
Once I finally get used to coming home and not hearing them sing I'll be able to go visit, take them their beloved blue bucket that I toted their feed in and take some pictures.
I told my friend at work, Debbie that I'd been forced to give up the Pack and she took it harder than I did. Even though she's seen pictures of them out on the lake she says, "It still pisses me off!"
She lived in New Mexico and for a while had a ranch where she raised all sorts of exotic birds. She said she wasn't in the city limits but getting a federal license for some birds took less paperwork than what I'd have to get just to have ducks within the city limits of Pearl.
She's posted a few pictures on Facebook and they do look happy out on the lake. She says they are "swimming fools" and refers them as a group apart from her ducks & geese she already had, keeping the name "Quack Pack" for now our babies.
While I do still feel separation pangs I know that the Pack is happier on a lake with Angie, Buddy, their kids and neighbors to spoil them rotten.
Once I finally get used to coming home and not hearing them sing I'll be able to go visit, take them their beloved blue bucket that I toted their feed in and take some pictures.
I told my friend at work, Debbie that I'd been forced to give up the Pack and she took it harder than I did. Even though she's seen pictures of them out on the lake she says, "It still pisses me off!"
She lived in New Mexico and for a while had a ranch where she raised all sorts of exotic birds. She said she wasn't in the city limits but getting a federal license for some birds took less paperwork than what I'd have to get just to have ducks within the city limits of Pearl.
Saturday, October 1, 2016
The Quack Pack Is Gone
Well, as per the orders of the Pearl gestapo, the Quack Pack are no longer with me. I posted them as free to good home on several Facebook sale groups and at the 11th hour a lady named Angie and her husband came through.
The requirements as set forth by the city would be hard enough to pull off in a year so no way in Hell I could do it in the 10 days they gave me.
Anyway, I met Angie and her husband, Buddy and they seem great people. He refers to her as "Crazy Duck Lady". She's rescued several Canadian honkers who've had fishing line wrapped around their feet and they live by a 10-15 acre lake in Clinton, Mississippi already inhabited by wild and domestic ducks as well as the aforementioned honkers and more.
Angie and Buddy came and got my Quack Pack yesterday evening (late by my standards) but the main thing was keeping the babies safe and happy so losing a few hours' sleep wasn't important to me. We chatted today and my pack have well integrated with hers but seem reluctant to leave the lake as they are having too much fun there.
Yes, it hurt like Hell letting my babies go. But now they have a lake to swim in and several families to love and feed them. I'm sure they'll be happy and safe and Angie said I can come visit anytime and has even invited me to dinner sometime. She's a lot like me as in "Formal" means "wear shoes".
As Angie and Buddy were getting ready to take the pack to their new home she and I hugged. Then Buddy offered his hand for a shake. I pulled him in and hugged him saying, "We family now!"
The requirements as set forth by the city would be hard enough to pull off in a year so no way in Hell I could do it in the 10 days they gave me.
Anyway, I met Angie and her husband, Buddy and they seem great people. He refers to her as "Crazy Duck Lady". She's rescued several Canadian honkers who've had fishing line wrapped around their feet and they live by a 10-15 acre lake in Clinton, Mississippi already inhabited by wild and domestic ducks as well as the aforementioned honkers and more.
Angie and Buddy came and got my Quack Pack yesterday evening (late by my standards) but the main thing was keeping the babies safe and happy so losing a few hours' sleep wasn't important to me. We chatted today and my pack have well integrated with hers but seem reluctant to leave the lake as they are having too much fun there.
Yes, it hurt like Hell letting my babies go. But now they have a lake to swim in and several families to love and feed them. I'm sure they'll be happy and safe and Angie said I can come visit anytime and has even invited me to dinner sometime. She's a lot like me as in "Formal" means "wear shoes".
As Angie and Buddy were getting ready to take the pack to their new home she and I hugged. Then Buddy offered his hand for a shake. I pulled him in and hugged him saying, "We family now!"
Thursday, September 29, 2016
Ducks Gotta Go
Well, I got a visit from the local police the other day regarding my ducks. It seems I need a permit to have such within the city limits. "Officer Friendly" made it seem like all I need do is go pay some fee and get the permit. However such was not the case. I'd need written permission from everybody owning property within 300 feet (not including roads and ditches), photos, drawings, land elevation documents to even request a special use permit hearing with the mayor and/or council.
I mean, DAMN! It's not like I want to raise elephants or do nuclear testing... it's just ducks! I'm looking to place the babies on a farm or a lake, not a stew pot or oven. Once I have them relocated I can begin protesting the near impossible process they presently have in place.
Meanwhile my little patch of dirt is my home but I no longer consider Pearl, Mississippi my home town. I live in Pearl but work in Brandon therefore I shall spend as much of my money as possible in the latter and keep it out of the former's filthy little pockets.
Speaking of permits, I asked the old warthog at the permit office if I needed a building permit to put a roof on my deck. I do and by looking at the application, filling that out will take longer than actual construction. Again, DAMN! It's a tin roof on a 12' x 14' deck, not the Taj Mahal! It's in my back yard so very few will even see the thing! The parking slab at my side door is some 13' x 26' and I'd love to have a cover to keep the rain off my ass between car door and house but another permit??? Hell, Yes! I hate to admit but I am feeling a bit oppressed by my local government!
I've almost got enough biodegradable matter in the swamp I can start thinking about bringing in some hard fill. (i.e. gravel or rocks)... Maybe I best check to see if I need a permit for that! I'll ask "Officer Friendly" when she comes back to check up on the duck situation.
The Secretary of State's tax lien land sale was another bust set up to keep it within a small inclusive group and keep the average redneck out. I'm sure there will be another in the future by which time I shall have found the Rosetta stone to read legal description as an address I can locate. I'm trying to remain optimistic about finding some land outside city limits but within reasonable driving range where I can be as redneck as I want to be.
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
A Long Day Yesterday
Yesterday was a full day here at the Garden but the weather was fantastic so I took full advantage.
I wasn't happy with the chinchilla lads being housed in a 55 gallon aquarium so I went to the pet store and bought them a brand spanking new cage. It's about 18' x 36' x 24' tall. Plenty of room for their hide box, play tube and dust bath tray. While at the store I also got a jar of bath dust and a sack of food for them. I'd read online that rabbit feed isn't suitable as it can cause liver damage in chinchillas. There was grass that needed pulling from the cracks in my driveway and around the edges of the house & raised bed gardens so the lads got some fresh greenery to nibble along with their hay and bowl of fresh bought diet made especially for their species.
The lady who helped me at the pet store seemed to know her stuff quite well, unlike the knobs I work around. They didn't have sugar glider feed in store so she suggested I purchase online and told me she buys a lot of her animal supplies at a certain website which she shared with me.
While the last days of Summer are still quite warm here in Mississippi the temp wasn't as oppressive as it has been. According the the good folks on TV we're still about 5 degrees warmer than usual. I did get out and work on the ducks & geese yard and all went swimmingly. After boarding the gaps between the barn and ground I removed the barrier tween young and adult hens, shifted the young 'uns and reclosed the fence there. It didn't take long for me to cut the fence as needed, move some around a bit and add 16" x 4" to their enclosure and then remove the inner fence giving all my duck girls one big happy yard. I went into the drakes & geese yard to do a bit of cleaning and prep work which will make things better for all, I believe. There is a small section in the Southeast corner I'm not totally happy with because if the angles of the fence. I closed off about 12' there, raked and burned the debris. There was a load of grand looking compost of decomposing leaves and bird droppings that I'll soon shovel up and add to the raised beds before reseeding that little area. I'll probably use deer feed plot seed mix there and rearrange the fencing more to my liking which will also add a few square feet to their yard.
Each and every day entails about an hour and a half of feeding, watering, observing my kids some call pets but they are well worth it for the joy they bring me. Some days take more time for cleaning a pool or chopping a mess of fruits and veggies to last a week instead of prepping their salad daily. Sometimes I have bedding to change or a cage to scrub or dishes to wash and disinfect. Four legs, two legs or none; feathered, furry or finned they are all my children!
I wasn't happy with the chinchilla lads being housed in a 55 gallon aquarium so I went to the pet store and bought them a brand spanking new cage. It's about 18' x 36' x 24' tall. Plenty of room for their hide box, play tube and dust bath tray. While at the store I also got a jar of bath dust and a sack of food for them. I'd read online that rabbit feed isn't suitable as it can cause liver damage in chinchillas. There was grass that needed pulling from the cracks in my driveway and around the edges of the house & raised bed gardens so the lads got some fresh greenery to nibble along with their hay and bowl of fresh bought diet made especially for their species.
The lady who helped me at the pet store seemed to know her stuff quite well, unlike the knobs I work around. They didn't have sugar glider feed in store so she suggested I purchase online and told me she buys a lot of her animal supplies at a certain website which she shared with me.
While the last days of Summer are still quite warm here in Mississippi the temp wasn't as oppressive as it has been. According the the good folks on TV we're still about 5 degrees warmer than usual. I did get out and work on the ducks & geese yard and all went swimmingly. After boarding the gaps between the barn and ground I removed the barrier tween young and adult hens, shifted the young 'uns and reclosed the fence there. It didn't take long for me to cut the fence as needed, move some around a bit and add 16" x 4" to their enclosure and then remove the inner fence giving all my duck girls one big happy yard. I went into the drakes & geese yard to do a bit of cleaning and prep work which will make things better for all, I believe. There is a small section in the Southeast corner I'm not totally happy with because if the angles of the fence. I closed off about 12' there, raked and burned the debris. There was a load of grand looking compost of decomposing leaves and bird droppings that I'll soon shovel up and add to the raised beds before reseeding that little area. I'll probably use deer feed plot seed mix there and rearrange the fencing more to my liking which will also add a few square feet to their yard.
Each and every day entails about an hour and a half of feeding, watering, observing my kids some call pets but they are well worth it for the joy they bring me. Some days take more time for cleaning a pool or chopping a mess of fruits and veggies to last a week instead of prepping their salad daily. Sometimes I have bedding to change or a cage to scrub or dishes to wash and disinfect. Four legs, two legs or none; feathered, furry or finned they are all my children!
Monday, September 19, 2016
Ribbon Snake & Expanding The Duck Yard
Yesterday I was out blocking the gaps between the floor of the storage building and the ground so I could extend the duck yard all the way to the shed. As I was pulling some weeds out of the way I spied a green and yellow vertically striped ribbon that I had not put in the back yard. A quick ID on my part told me it was your basic ribbon snake, a non venomous member of the garter snake family.
Needless to say, I snatched him up in a heartbeat. He did bite me a few times to no avail with his tiny teeth and gave me his secondary defense of a mix of musk and fecal matter, again to no avail.
I honestly cannot remember the last time I saw a ribbon snake in the wild so he's doubtless the first seen in my new locale. I fetched up a 2 gallon or so plastic jar, poked a few holes in the lid and brought him into the house. I brought him in for the following reasons...
1 My next door neighbor on the North side seems rather "citified" as she don't eat home grown tomatoes nor duck eggs, both of which I've offered when I had in plenty. She rather chapped my butt recently when as she mowed her yard she mowed over the tomato plants on our border. I'm sure she's have killed the little fella.
2 Bella, my dachshund will kill anything that don't kill her first.
3 Typical Mississippi residents will kill any snake they see.
4 Members of the garter snake family often form what I refer to as "breeding tangles" wherein from a couple to a multitude gather to breed. I simply want to hold this member for a while so should I encounter another I'll be certain I'm not seeing one snake a dozen times.
Well, I'm going to finish closing the gaps so I can give the ducks a bit more room.
Needless to say, I snatched him up in a heartbeat. He did bite me a few times to no avail with his tiny teeth and gave me his secondary defense of a mix of musk and fecal matter, again to no avail.
I honestly cannot remember the last time I saw a ribbon snake in the wild so he's doubtless the first seen in my new locale. I fetched up a 2 gallon or so plastic jar, poked a few holes in the lid and brought him into the house. I brought him in for the following reasons...
1 My next door neighbor on the North side seems rather "citified" as she don't eat home grown tomatoes nor duck eggs, both of which I've offered when I had in plenty. She rather chapped my butt recently when as she mowed her yard she mowed over the tomato plants on our border. I'm sure she's have killed the little fella.
2 Bella, my dachshund will kill anything that don't kill her first.
3 Typical Mississippi residents will kill any snake they see.
4 Members of the garter snake family often form what I refer to as "breeding tangles" wherein from a couple to a multitude gather to breed. I simply want to hold this member for a while so should I encounter another I'll be certain I'm not seeing one snake a dozen times.
Well, I'm going to finish closing the gaps so I can give the ducks a bit more room.
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
My Brother's Health
I'm usually not one to share personal issues here but this is an exception.
My brother went to a neurologist today seeking answers to his "forgetful ways". That Doctor set him up appointments with another in Jackson and yet another in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. About all the sawbones could say is my brother has the beginnings of Alzheimer's. I only recently turned 57 and he's 2 and 1/2 years older at age 59.
Our Dad was diagnosed years ago but the Doctors put him on some medication so that you'd never know.
This has been an ordeal for all our family & friends, especially our Mom who has become more or less his caretaker/nurse/cook/housekeeper (in her house).
All my love, understanding and prayers to any and all out there who've been affected by this disease. All I ask is a little of the same if you have or haven't.
Love & Peace, Merlin
My brother went to a neurologist today seeking answers to his "forgetful ways". That Doctor set him up appointments with another in Jackson and yet another in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. About all the sawbones could say is my brother has the beginnings of Alzheimer's. I only recently turned 57 and he's 2 and 1/2 years older at age 59.
Our Dad was diagnosed years ago but the Doctors put him on some medication so that you'd never know.
This has been an ordeal for all our family & friends, especially our Mom who has become more or less his caretaker/nurse/cook/housekeeper (in her house).
All my love, understanding and prayers to any and all out there who've been affected by this disease. All I ask is a little of the same if you have or haven't.
Love & Peace, Merlin
Dragons, Garden, Leaves & Ducks
After my male bearded dragon passed away I decided to get another so I'd have a chance to try raising babies again next year. To double my odds I also wanted a second female but the farm I order from was out of regular adults. We negotiated price and availability and I ended up getting a red male and 2 silky juvenile females.
The lizards arrived yesterday and I was a bit disappointed. The "adult" male is what I'd call barely adult and the pair of juvie females are very juvenile. But I try to make the best of everything that comes my way. The male should have several good years of breeding in him and the young lasses will be productive for quite some time.
I cleared out one of my raised bed gardens the other day and reseeded with roots and greens hoping to get at least a few greens before winter. My Dad always insisted that collard greens and such needed a frost to make them sweet and tender and some say roots can stay in "cold storage" in ground during Winter to be pulled up as needed. I'm always one to try traditional wisdom as back in the day if it didn't work you didn't eat. Therefore I seeded rape greens as they was the only greens seeds I had along with radishes, carrots and beets.
Coming home yesterday morning I saw at least one of my neighbors has begun raking and bagging leaves. I already had plenty to do so I passed on this round. My experience last year was somewhat surprising as I had several hundred (at least) acorns sprout. Only God knows how many acres of new oak forest I could have planted with all the seedlings! But soon I expect to be fetching home sacks and sacks of leaves (and acorns).
It's been about a week since my ducks have laid any eggs so that harvest season may be drawing to a close but my young hens are well into growing real feathers and becoming all grown up. I'm mixing more scratch and grains into their feed as well as giving them more grass clippings and weed pullings from the yard. It won't be long before I can open the fence and let them in with the adult females and then later in with the males and the geese. Then I have enough wire that I can fence off a section at a time to allow greenery to grow again and rotate their enclosures. Once I block access to underneath the storage building I can PDQ add another couple hundred square feet to their yards.
The lizards arrived yesterday and I was a bit disappointed. The "adult" male is what I'd call barely adult and the pair of juvie females are very juvenile. But I try to make the best of everything that comes my way. The male should have several good years of breeding in him and the young lasses will be productive for quite some time.
I cleared out one of my raised bed gardens the other day and reseeded with roots and greens hoping to get at least a few greens before winter. My Dad always insisted that collard greens and such needed a frost to make them sweet and tender and some say roots can stay in "cold storage" in ground during Winter to be pulled up as needed. I'm always one to try traditional wisdom as back in the day if it didn't work you didn't eat. Therefore I seeded rape greens as they was the only greens seeds I had along with radishes, carrots and beets.
Coming home yesterday morning I saw at least one of my neighbors has begun raking and bagging leaves. I already had plenty to do so I passed on this round. My experience last year was somewhat surprising as I had several hundred (at least) acorns sprout. Only God knows how many acres of new oak forest I could have planted with all the seedlings! But soon I expect to be fetching home sacks and sacks of leaves (and acorns).
It's been about a week since my ducks have laid any eggs so that harvest season may be drawing to a close but my young hens are well into growing real feathers and becoming all grown up. I'm mixing more scratch and grains into their feed as well as giving them more grass clippings and weed pullings from the yard. It won't be long before I can open the fence and let them in with the adult females and then later in with the males and the geese. Then I have enough wire that I can fence off a section at a time to allow greenery to grow again and rotate their enclosures. Once I block access to underneath the storage building I can PDQ add another couple hundred square feet to their yards.
Sunday, September 11, 2016
Mac & Tosh
Remember the old Warner Brothers cartoons or the reruns thereof? Remember the pair of impeccably polite gophers, Mac & Tosh? Yesterday after blogging I checked the local pet sales and soon thereafter went and picked up my own Mac & Tosh. Only they're not gophers. They are a pair of six week old brother chinchillas! As cute as can be, sorter than cotton and quite friendly little fellas they are.
Years ago I and my then significant other had one male chinchilla. Actually I have no memory of whatever became of him.
Anyway, the fella I bought the lads from seems a pretty decent sort. He gained a butt load of esteem points when he told me of another sale that fell through. Seems the potential buyer wanted to raise them for their skins so that sale was cancelled on the spot.
I then shared with him the tale of how I had told Gail how I would deal with excess drakes (male ducks). She quickly told me, "You won't be able to eat those babies". In my most macho redneck carnivore voice I said, "Watch me". Long story short, she was right.
So now my at home family consists of 1 male Jack Russell terrier, 1 female dachshund,... (quick note, in the animal care/keeping world 1.2.3 means 1 male, 2 female, 3 unknown sex) so I continue listing... 1.2 African brown geese, 3.3 Rouen ducks, .4 Pekin, .2 Khaki Campbell, .1 Runner, .1 bearded dragon, 1.1 green iguana, .2 sugar gliders, 1. hedgehog and 2. chinchillas.
I was talking to a customer at the store the other night about where he works and he said, more or less, "My job doesn't define me, who I am. It's merely a means to allow my wife and I to do the things we enjoy". I took that to heart straight away as we all should, I believe. We are not our job description. We are all unique and wonderful individuals who perform a given task that allows us to have what we need and do what we love.
As a (somewhat) student of the Latin language I say "Carpe diem" .... "seize the day"!
Years ago I and my then significant other had one male chinchilla. Actually I have no memory of whatever became of him.
Anyway, the fella I bought the lads from seems a pretty decent sort. He gained a butt load of esteem points when he told me of another sale that fell through. Seems the potential buyer wanted to raise them for their skins so that sale was cancelled on the spot.
I then shared with him the tale of how I had told Gail how I would deal with excess drakes (male ducks). She quickly told me, "You won't be able to eat those babies". In my most macho redneck carnivore voice I said, "Watch me". Long story short, she was right.
So now my at home family consists of 1 male Jack Russell terrier, 1 female dachshund,... (quick note, in the animal care/keeping world 1.2.3 means 1 male, 2 female, 3 unknown sex) so I continue listing... 1.2 African brown geese, 3.3 Rouen ducks, .4 Pekin, .2 Khaki Campbell, .1 Runner, .1 bearded dragon, 1.1 green iguana, .2 sugar gliders, 1. hedgehog and 2. chinchillas.
I was talking to a customer at the store the other night about where he works and he said, more or less, "My job doesn't define me, who I am. It's merely a means to allow my wife and I to do the things we enjoy". I took that to heart straight away as we all should, I believe. We are not our job description. We are all unique and wonderful individuals who perform a given task that allows us to have what we need and do what we love.
As a (somewhat) student of the Latin language I say "Carpe diem" .... "seize the day"!
Saturday, September 10, 2016
Ducklings Becoming Ducks
My not long ago ducklings are well on their way to becoming fully grown ducks. They are all growing real feathers, learning to quack, etc.
When I had my storage building built I had it put in 3' from the back fence so I could walk behind it (which I seldom do). When I extended the duck yard making it into an "L" shape I stayed 4' from the storage building so I could walk through (which I seldom do). In the next few days I'm fixing to use some 1" x 6" w/ 4" x 4" backing blocks to close off the gap between the floor of the shed and the ground. Then I'll plant stakes in front of the 1" x 6"s. The main reason behind this effort is to restrain my murderous dachshund, Bella from getting to the Quack Pack. I'll use an arbor bit to drill some holes in the 1" x 6" to allow air flow to minimize chance of mold, mildew, fungi and rot in the shed's floor.
After that is done I can cut a gap to let the young girls in with the adult (laying) girls and close that fence gap. Then I can cut the fence in a couple of places and open up the aforementioned 4' beside the shed and 3' behind to them. 4' x 15' = 60 square feet plus 3' x 14' = 42 for a grand total of 102 extra square feet of duck & goose paradise. I'll keep expanding so in time I can rotate their enclosures to seed a section and allow it recovery time while they eat every green growing thing in another.
When I had my storage building built I had it put in 3' from the back fence so I could walk behind it (which I seldom do). When I extended the duck yard making it into an "L" shape I stayed 4' from the storage building so I could walk through (which I seldom do). In the next few days I'm fixing to use some 1" x 6" w/ 4" x 4" backing blocks to close off the gap between the floor of the shed and the ground. Then I'll plant stakes in front of the 1" x 6"s. The main reason behind this effort is to restrain my murderous dachshund, Bella from getting to the Quack Pack. I'll use an arbor bit to drill some holes in the 1" x 6" to allow air flow to minimize chance of mold, mildew, fungi and rot in the shed's floor.
After that is done I can cut a gap to let the young girls in with the adult (laying) girls and close that fence gap. Then I can cut the fence in a couple of places and open up the aforementioned 4' beside the shed and 3' behind to them. 4' x 15' = 60 square feet plus 3' x 14' = 42 for a grand total of 102 extra square feet of duck & goose paradise. I'll keep expanding so in time I can rotate their enclosures to seed a section and allow it recovery time while they eat every green growing thing in another.
My Birthday
Today, September 10th 2016 is my 57th birthday. I mentioned at only to 2 people at work and left right at quitting time.
Once home I went through my normal daily routine of caring for my (non human) kids, checking the gardens, etc. I plan to spend my day in quiet reflection of my past and looking forward to my future. If I'm not mistaken I'm of the generation that reaches retirement age at 62. Retirement is the last thing on my mind however. I do plan on a career change to one more suited to my happiness and away from the daily grind of just doing something 8 hours a day/5 days a week to pay my bills.
The only debt I owe is my home mortgage. Robert and I often talk about ways to make/save money. Last night I told him that once I have my Realtor's license I plan on putting 30% of every sales commission in a savings account dedicated to taxes. I'm now in the bracket where of every dollar I earn I bring home 76 cents. That's a loss of 24% to taxes et cetera so putting 30% in savings should a little more than cover taxes. The other 70% is going to a principal only payment on my mortgage.
Robert told me that by making 13 payments per year vs 12 will cut a 30 year mortgage down to 22 years.
I think I've mentioned I already send in a little extra each month which adds up to around a 13th payment so if I can make enough selling real estate to make a 14th or 15th payment I will be beating this debt down PDQ. Once that debt is eliminated I will owe nobody any damn thing so (after taxes) I can either keep or spend my money as I see fit.
I'm exploring multiple venues to make side money as well as a couple to be able to leave my present employer. All will require time, some money and faith on my part but I can't depend on PCH showing up at my front door with a $10 million check!
Once home I went through my normal daily routine of caring for my (non human) kids, checking the gardens, etc. I plan to spend my day in quiet reflection of my past and looking forward to my future. If I'm not mistaken I'm of the generation that reaches retirement age at 62. Retirement is the last thing on my mind however. I do plan on a career change to one more suited to my happiness and away from the daily grind of just doing something 8 hours a day/5 days a week to pay my bills.
The only debt I owe is my home mortgage. Robert and I often talk about ways to make/save money. Last night I told him that once I have my Realtor's license I plan on putting 30% of every sales commission in a savings account dedicated to taxes. I'm now in the bracket where of every dollar I earn I bring home 76 cents. That's a loss of 24% to taxes et cetera so putting 30% in savings should a little more than cover taxes. The other 70% is going to a principal only payment on my mortgage.
Robert told me that by making 13 payments per year vs 12 will cut a 30 year mortgage down to 22 years.
I think I've mentioned I already send in a little extra each month which adds up to around a 13th payment so if I can make enough selling real estate to make a 14th or 15th payment I will be beating this debt down PDQ. Once that debt is eliminated I will owe nobody any damn thing so (after taxes) I can either keep or spend my money as I see fit.
I'm exploring multiple venues to make side money as well as a couple to be able to leave my present employer. All will require time, some money and faith on my part but I can't depend on PCH showing up at my front door with a $10 million check!
Thursday, September 8, 2016
Working On My Truck & Land
I've a 1997 Nissan pickup with just over 10,000 miles on it. That's right, a '97 with 10K. It's never had an air conditioner in it which was no problem when I bought it 10 years ago but now I drive my CR-V which does have a/c. The truck has a few minor problems, a couple of which I attempted to rectify today. The passenger side rear tire has a slow leak so I removed it from the truck and tried to air up but ran into a snag. I have a tiny compressor that was just not airing fast enough so I found my larger. Seems it's a total piece of junk as after 5 minutes the tire had less air in than when I began. The heat index was nearing 100 F so I called that project a bust.
The radio and TV seem to every 10 minutes run an ad for a product you can simply dump into the gas tank of a poorly running vehicle to burn out the water, etc so as I was attempting to fix my tire I poured in a battle of the aforementioned and ran the engine some 15 minutes as per instructions. At least the engine does seem to be running a bit more smoothly now.
I'll try again to air up the tire, find the leak and plug it up. Also I'll call the local junk yard to see if they have a rim so I'll have a full size spare and can discard the "doughnut" spare. Too sweet would be to find a half dozen 15" rims that would fit so I could get tires with more aggressive tread. The truck had 14" rims and all I can find for it are "city" tires.
I'm seeing a lot of building material free for the picking up online so I really need to have the truck ready to pick up! Enough free good bricks that would take at least 2 loads, a deck to be broken down and hauled away... and soon the neighbors will be raking up all their leaves for me to add to my gardens and compost bins.
I'm still trying to get info on translating tax auction land legal descriptions to street addresses. One description did give a subdivision which I looked up and found it is smack dab in the middle of the neighborhood where my present full time job supervisor lives. I'm trying to decide if I'd want to own anything near that baboon or not. It might just be fun to be able to tell him I own right around the corner from his house. If I can't find what I want closer to home I may place a bid over there.
The dream property would be close to home, 1/2 acre + or-... fenced would be icing on the cake and a tool shed would gild the lily! I'll just keep plugging away towards getting info and trust God to send me down the road He wants me to walk.
As always I'm thinking about small ops to make side money that could possibly translate into larger profits later. If we're not happy doing what we're doing, we should be doing something else, right? God wants all His children to be happy and prosperous. All the preachers and motivational speakers say we should take a leap of faith. Well, I'm not 100% comfortable with that. What I am comfortable with and what I'll do and suggest to you all is to take a few baby steps of faith and see how they work out.
Start small but dream big. If you have a mortgage and a handful of credit card bills, don't try to kill the giant first. Pay off the smallest first then apply that payment to the next. Knock off the credits one at a time, smallest to largest. I have a home improvement store card that I pay off as I go each month before they can add on a monthly fee. Every month I add a little extra to my mortgage payment w/ the note "principle only". It's usually only about $50 but that's $50 today that I won't be paying interest on for the next 28 years. And what is $50 a month? $1.67 a day .
The radio and TV seem to every 10 minutes run an ad for a product you can simply dump into the gas tank of a poorly running vehicle to burn out the water, etc so as I was attempting to fix my tire I poured in a battle of the aforementioned and ran the engine some 15 minutes as per instructions. At least the engine does seem to be running a bit more smoothly now.
I'll try again to air up the tire, find the leak and plug it up. Also I'll call the local junk yard to see if they have a rim so I'll have a full size spare and can discard the "doughnut" spare. Too sweet would be to find a half dozen 15" rims that would fit so I could get tires with more aggressive tread. The truck had 14" rims and all I can find for it are "city" tires.
I'm seeing a lot of building material free for the picking up online so I really need to have the truck ready to pick up! Enough free good bricks that would take at least 2 loads, a deck to be broken down and hauled away... and soon the neighbors will be raking up all their leaves for me to add to my gardens and compost bins.
I'm still trying to get info on translating tax auction land legal descriptions to street addresses. One description did give a subdivision which I looked up and found it is smack dab in the middle of the neighborhood where my present full time job supervisor lives. I'm trying to decide if I'd want to own anything near that baboon or not. It might just be fun to be able to tell him I own right around the corner from his house. If I can't find what I want closer to home I may place a bid over there.
The dream property would be close to home, 1/2 acre + or-... fenced would be icing on the cake and a tool shed would gild the lily! I'll just keep plugging away towards getting info and trust God to send me down the road He wants me to walk.
As always I'm thinking about small ops to make side money that could possibly translate into larger profits later. If we're not happy doing what we're doing, we should be doing something else, right? God wants all His children to be happy and prosperous. All the preachers and motivational speakers say we should take a leap of faith. Well, I'm not 100% comfortable with that. What I am comfortable with and what I'll do and suggest to you all is to take a few baby steps of faith and see how they work out.
Start small but dream big. If you have a mortgage and a handful of credit card bills, don't try to kill the giant first. Pay off the smallest first then apply that payment to the next. Knock off the credits one at a time, smallest to largest. I have a home improvement store card that I pay off as I go each month before they can add on a monthly fee. Every month I add a little extra to my mortgage payment w/ the note "principle only". It's usually only about $50 but that's $50 today that I won't be paying interest on for the next 28 years. And what is $50 a month? $1.67 a day .
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
Mom's Birthday
Mom's birthday was yesterday and we had a good time. I took her the largest of the Sugar baby watermelons from the garden. We went out to the catfish restaurant and filled up on a nice meal. She got the baked tater and cole slaw as sides while I opted for the turnip greens and mashed taters w/ gravy. I must admit I had never seen hush puppies that small before in all my life.
The main drawback to getting greens as a side is I love greens! When I eat (especially collard) greens I want anyone following me into the toilet for the next 3 days to know I been eating collard greens. A few years ago a whole group of went went to another catfish place where they bring the sides for large parties out in big old pots. I said "Park them greens right here in front of me!"
I was about to go back home when I remembered the young ducks had received the last of their starter feed earlier in the day. So a trip to the feed store was due. As usual I loaded up to make my next visit as far into the future as possible and bought 250 pounds of feed. The adults were still pretty good so I got the following:
100 pounds starter, 50 layer, 50 scratch and 50 chopped corn and 1 bale of hay.
I must have gotten my love of growing things from my Mom. She has flower beds and trees all over her yard. I really don't bother with flowers unless they produce some sort of edible like sunflowers. Mom has a fig, satsuma, Meyer lemon, peach and a couple of plum trees in her yard so we swap produce whenever possible. My girls have slowed egg production so I didn't have any to share this time around. At least I'm not to the point of having to buy mass produced chicken eggs even though the grocery has them on special @ 18 for $1.00. I've an eggplant plant in a whiskey half barrel planter that has 4 fruits nearing ripeness. I'm not a huge eggplant fan but again all those I've had came from the store and not home grown here. These just may change my entire mindset! Either that or I'll never try raising the damned things again.
Our Secretary of State is having a big tax lien repo sale of properties via internet auction. I'm trying to find a parcel of land to turn into a larger than I need garden to sell, swap and share produce at food banks if possible. The main problem I'm having with that now is the properties are listed only by "legal description" and not any street address or such that a semi normal person knows anything about. I've found a couple of properties the size wise fit the bill perfectly (about 1/2 acre) but "the NE 1/4 of the SW 1/4 of Section 15" or whatever doesn't tell me a damned thing. Since this is an auction for back taxes, a $6,000 value patch of dirt is start bid prices at only a couple hundred bucks which I'd jump on like a duck on a June bug if I could find one within acceptable driving range.
I'll let you all know should I find the Rosetta stone translating legal description to real address and am able to get the land I want.
The main drawback to getting greens as a side is I love greens! When I eat (especially collard) greens I want anyone following me into the toilet for the next 3 days to know I been eating collard greens. A few years ago a whole group of went went to another catfish place where they bring the sides for large parties out in big old pots. I said "Park them greens right here in front of me!"
I was about to go back home when I remembered the young ducks had received the last of their starter feed earlier in the day. So a trip to the feed store was due. As usual I loaded up to make my next visit as far into the future as possible and bought 250 pounds of feed. The adults were still pretty good so I got the following:
100 pounds starter, 50 layer, 50 scratch and 50 chopped corn and 1 bale of hay.
I must have gotten my love of growing things from my Mom. She has flower beds and trees all over her yard. I really don't bother with flowers unless they produce some sort of edible like sunflowers. Mom has a fig, satsuma, Meyer lemon, peach and a couple of plum trees in her yard so we swap produce whenever possible. My girls have slowed egg production so I didn't have any to share this time around. At least I'm not to the point of having to buy mass produced chicken eggs even though the grocery has them on special @ 18 for $1.00. I've an eggplant plant in a whiskey half barrel planter that has 4 fruits nearing ripeness. I'm not a huge eggplant fan but again all those I've had came from the store and not home grown here. These just may change my entire mindset! Either that or I'll never try raising the damned things again.
Our Secretary of State is having a big tax lien repo sale of properties via internet auction. I'm trying to find a parcel of land to turn into a larger than I need garden to sell, swap and share produce at food banks if possible. The main problem I'm having with that now is the properties are listed only by "legal description" and not any street address or such that a semi normal person knows anything about. I've found a couple of properties the size wise fit the bill perfectly (about 1/2 acre) but "the NE 1/4 of the SW 1/4 of Section 15" or whatever doesn't tell me a damned thing. Since this is an auction for back taxes, a $6,000 value patch of dirt is start bid prices at only a couple hundred bucks which I'd jump on like a duck on a June bug if I could find one within acceptable driving range.
I'll let you all know should I find the Rosetta stone translating legal description to real address and am able to get the land I want.
Monday, September 5, 2016
Avon Starter Kit, Mom's Birthday & Watermelons
I was beginning to wonder when my Avon starter kit was going to arrive and this morning while in the front yard I saw it there by the door. It may have been there a day or two as I never use my front door, always the side door.
Somewhere I have boxes of picture frames, mostly with pictures of people I don't know. Hey, I was given the box and figured somewhere, sometime I could use the frames. Anyway I'll frame a sign saying "All Deliveries To Side Door Please" so I don't have any future ones sitting out in the weather.
I'm still reading a bit of my real estate book daily and that enterprise will be an entity unto itself. My Avon and other sales I'm looking at will be under the "umbrella" company of Merlin's Garden.
Tomorrow will be my Mom's 78th birthday and the 10th of September will be my 57th. Tuesday (the 6th) is one of my nights off this week so I'm taking her out for lunch. There's a place not a mile down the road that has excellent catfish so that's where we're going. The all you can eat is only a dollar or so more than the 3 piece dinner and I can eat way more than 3 pieces so that's my road! I'll show Mom all my Avon crap and then get a receipt for tax purposes. Any and everything I can use as a tax write off this year and coming years I will.
A few (quite a few, actually) I was at the Belzoni Catfish Festival with my then significant other and her 2 daughters. A plate of 2 or 3 fillets and a handful of fries cost like $5 but entering the catfish eating contest was free. I entered the contest and took home the 2nd place trophy. First place trophy and $100 cash prize went to a mountain of a man who weighed no less than 400 pounds. I later learned that was his "job". He was a professional competitive eater!
I harvested a watermelon today for my sugar gliders, Ruth & Naomi. The melon patch is in a back corner of my yard not often visited. With the little rain we've had the vines got a bit wilted so I'm fetching in all the fruits I can. I'll take the biggest to Mom tomorrow but the wee possums got one today only about the size of a tennis ball but still, ripe, juicy and sweet.
Somewhere I have boxes of picture frames, mostly with pictures of people I don't know. Hey, I was given the box and figured somewhere, sometime I could use the frames. Anyway I'll frame a sign saying "All Deliveries To Side Door Please" so I don't have any future ones sitting out in the weather.
I'm still reading a bit of my real estate book daily and that enterprise will be an entity unto itself. My Avon and other sales I'm looking at will be under the "umbrella" company of Merlin's Garden.
Tomorrow will be my Mom's 78th birthday and the 10th of September will be my 57th. Tuesday (the 6th) is one of my nights off this week so I'm taking her out for lunch. There's a place not a mile down the road that has excellent catfish so that's where we're going. The all you can eat is only a dollar or so more than the 3 piece dinner and I can eat way more than 3 pieces so that's my road! I'll show Mom all my Avon crap and then get a receipt for tax purposes. Any and everything I can use as a tax write off this year and coming years I will.
A few (quite a few, actually) I was at the Belzoni Catfish Festival with my then significant other and her 2 daughters. A plate of 2 or 3 fillets and a handful of fries cost like $5 but entering the catfish eating contest was free. I entered the contest and took home the 2nd place trophy. First place trophy and $100 cash prize went to a mountain of a man who weighed no less than 400 pounds. I later learned that was his "job". He was a professional competitive eater!
I harvested a watermelon today for my sugar gliders, Ruth & Naomi. The melon patch is in a back corner of my yard not often visited. With the little rain we've had the vines got a bit wilted so I'm fetching in all the fruits I can. I'll take the biggest to Mom tomorrow but the wee possums got one today only about the size of a tennis ball but still, ripe, juicy and sweet.
Sunday, September 4, 2016
Free Duck Eggs? I Think Not
A while back I mentioned to Eddie, one of the jackasses I work with that I had ducks laying eggs. He wasted no time asking for some and I replied I'd be happy to sell to him. Well, he seemed somewhat offended that I would sell him my "free" eggs.
Night before last he mentioned my ducks again in front of a new employee and figured it would be a good time to shame me into free eggs so he repeated the previous conversation (complete with voices). I fired back, "When the feed store starts giving me free duck feed, I'll give you free duck eggs!" I think Eddie was a bit taken aback when the new lady said, "There ya go!" to me.
Maybe some folks who don't raise birds for eggs don't realize those eggs are not free eggs. Before we even get the birds there is the cost of building an enclosure. Fence posts and wire are not free. A coop or laying house requires lumber and nails, again not free. Whoever coined the term "it's just chicken feed" meaning little or no cost hasn't seen the price of feed lately. 365 days a year no matter the weather I have to have my monkey ass out there feeding, watering, checking on my birds' health, walking the fence line to make sure all is secure.
This time of year the geese aren't laying any eggs but still have to eat and drink. My 2 adult duck hens lay 1 or 2 eggs a day but still eat the same amount eggs or not. My juveniles are still months away from laying their first egg. "Free" eggs? Not even close!
So why even bother raising my own eggs? Simple question with a simple answer. My eggs are from free range birds, not caged egg laying machines. Ergo I can write in pencil on each egg the date it was laid so know how fresh they are. My girls eat bugs and grass along with their feed which makes them happy! Even the grass and weeds aren't free as I put in my time and sweat mowing and fetching to them.
The main reason I raise ducks for eggs is because I enjoy having ducks. They make me laugh when I sit with them and watch them being ducks. You may not understand me enjoying having ducks but that's fine with me. You may enjoy something I don't understand. Does that make us bad people? Is it a reason we can't be friends? I think not.
Night before last he mentioned my ducks again in front of a new employee and figured it would be a good time to shame me into free eggs so he repeated the previous conversation (complete with voices). I fired back, "When the feed store starts giving me free duck feed, I'll give you free duck eggs!" I think Eddie was a bit taken aback when the new lady said, "There ya go!" to me.
Maybe some folks who don't raise birds for eggs don't realize those eggs are not free eggs. Before we even get the birds there is the cost of building an enclosure. Fence posts and wire are not free. A coop or laying house requires lumber and nails, again not free. Whoever coined the term "it's just chicken feed" meaning little or no cost hasn't seen the price of feed lately. 365 days a year no matter the weather I have to have my monkey ass out there feeding, watering, checking on my birds' health, walking the fence line to make sure all is secure.
This time of year the geese aren't laying any eggs but still have to eat and drink. My 2 adult duck hens lay 1 or 2 eggs a day but still eat the same amount eggs or not. My juveniles are still months away from laying their first egg. "Free" eggs? Not even close!
So why even bother raising my own eggs? Simple question with a simple answer. My eggs are from free range birds, not caged egg laying machines. Ergo I can write in pencil on each egg the date it was laid so know how fresh they are. My girls eat bugs and grass along with their feed which makes them happy! Even the grass and weeds aren't free as I put in my time and sweat mowing and fetching to them.
The main reason I raise ducks for eggs is because I enjoy having ducks. They make me laugh when I sit with them and watch them being ducks. You may not understand me enjoying having ducks but that's fine with me. You may enjoy something I don't understand. Does that make us bad people? Is it a reason we can't be friends? I think not.
Death Of A Dragon
Today I got home from work and checked on all my children as I always do. Sadly I found Arminius, my male dragon had passed away. He had showed no signs of illness just passed (I assume) peacefully during the night. I gave him a burial between the pear and apple trees in the back yard.
I was disappointed that a mere 5 of his and Boudica's 27 eggs hatched and none of the babies survived so I went back to their breeders and ordered another male and second female to double down on my chances.
Meanwhile I moved Boudica into another tank and disinfected their old one. Instead of using sand as a substrate this time I'll be using rabbit feed pellets. Maybe Arminius swallowed too much sand and got impacted. Rabbit feed is all veggie so any they ingest can be digested and passed.
I was disappointed that a mere 5 of his and Boudica's 27 eggs hatched and none of the babies survived so I went back to their breeders and ordered another male and second female to double down on my chances.
Meanwhile I moved Boudica into another tank and disinfected their old one. Instead of using sand as a substrate this time I'll be using rabbit feed pellets. Maybe Arminius swallowed too much sand and got impacted. Rabbit feed is all veggie so any they ingest can be digested and passed.
Saturday, September 3, 2016
My Maw Kemp & Today's People
Writing my last post and mentioning my Maw Clara made me think about her Mom, my Maw (Beulah Mae) Kemp. She was born only a couple or 3 years after the American Civil War ended in 1865 and lived to the ripe old age of 98.
I never knew how any of the other kids felt about her but I loved that old woman with a special piece of my heart. I never saw her wear anything less than a sunbonnet and ankle length dress. We boys would be out in just shorts, our girl cousins in tee shirts and sorts and Maw Kemp would be hollering about "them young uns running around half nekkid!"
Each morning and evening she would take her "constitutionals"... a walk to the bridge and back. Probably some 30 yards or so each way but hey, she was old!
She lived out her days with Maw Clara and Paw Stuart in a little house not much larger than my living room, dining room, and kitchen combined. There was electric lights, running water (in the kitchen only) from a well and electric pump house out back and the only heat in Winter was from a fireplace. Lord, if I could only find one of the pair of andirons from that old fireplace it would be worth to me more than twice its weight in gold. Quick note to you kids here, andirons are those pieces of metal you see in fireplaces to hold the logs in place. Another quick note re: running water in the kitchen only. We bathed in a #2 washtub in the back yard, hot water came from heating cold water on the stove and "other" business now done in the bathroom was done in a little shed behind a mimosa tree. Sometimes there was store bought toilet paper, most often a Sears catalog and at times a basket of corn cobs... but I digress.
For some reason I loved to walk with Maw Kemp or just sit with her and listen to how things were when she was young. We can go to the store now and think nothing of buying salt. When she was a girl they would dig up the dirt from under the smokehouse and wash it until the water ran clear. The water came by the bucketful from the spring. When the water was clear it was set out in the Sun to evaporate until there was only the salt left.
Yes, I am proud to tell you that I come from people who had to work that damned hard to survive. Who had to in the 20th century hunt, farm and gather to put food on the table. Possum & sweet potatoes was a fine meal. I reuse my bacon grease because I love the taste although my doctor wants me to stay away from it. Back in the day they used it because it was all they had.
Time for me to get on my soap box and preach on something....
I actually heard rumor some airhead called a radio talk show as she was against hunting and said she only buys meat at the grocery store because no animals were killed to provide it. Hey! I can't make this up. Myself I've eaten almost any and every critter I can get. I can promise you one thing. Free range anything is better than cage fed. Even better is wild meat. Frogs taste like chicken? No! A home raised chicken is 100 times better than a store bought any day but frog is even better to my taste buds. I'd spit chicken and dumplings halfway across the county for squirrel and dumplings. Raccoon and possum I'll admit aren't on my top 10 list but even the best hog sausage can't compare with venison sausage.
Let me propose a challenge to you all. Maybe you don't have a yard or garden. Maybe you live in an apartment. Somewhere you have the space for a couple of 5 gallon buckets, right? Fill them up with dirt, toss in a few tomato seeds and grow yourself a home grown tomato. You'll either be glad you did or mad as Hell at the grocery store for what he sells as tomatoes!
I never knew how any of the other kids felt about her but I loved that old woman with a special piece of my heart. I never saw her wear anything less than a sunbonnet and ankle length dress. We boys would be out in just shorts, our girl cousins in tee shirts and sorts and Maw Kemp would be hollering about "them young uns running around half nekkid!"
Each morning and evening she would take her "constitutionals"... a walk to the bridge and back. Probably some 30 yards or so each way but hey, she was old!
She lived out her days with Maw Clara and Paw Stuart in a little house not much larger than my living room, dining room, and kitchen combined. There was electric lights, running water (in the kitchen only) from a well and electric pump house out back and the only heat in Winter was from a fireplace. Lord, if I could only find one of the pair of andirons from that old fireplace it would be worth to me more than twice its weight in gold. Quick note to you kids here, andirons are those pieces of metal you see in fireplaces to hold the logs in place. Another quick note re: running water in the kitchen only. We bathed in a #2 washtub in the back yard, hot water came from heating cold water on the stove and "other" business now done in the bathroom was done in a little shed behind a mimosa tree. Sometimes there was store bought toilet paper, most often a Sears catalog and at times a basket of corn cobs... but I digress.
For some reason I loved to walk with Maw Kemp or just sit with her and listen to how things were when she was young. We can go to the store now and think nothing of buying salt. When she was a girl they would dig up the dirt from under the smokehouse and wash it until the water ran clear. The water came by the bucketful from the spring. When the water was clear it was set out in the Sun to evaporate until there was only the salt left.
Yes, I am proud to tell you that I come from people who had to work that damned hard to survive. Who had to in the 20th century hunt, farm and gather to put food on the table. Possum & sweet potatoes was a fine meal. I reuse my bacon grease because I love the taste although my doctor wants me to stay away from it. Back in the day they used it because it was all they had.
Time for me to get on my soap box and preach on something....
I actually heard rumor some airhead called a radio talk show as she was against hunting and said she only buys meat at the grocery store because no animals were killed to provide it. Hey! I can't make this up. Myself I've eaten almost any and every critter I can get. I can promise you one thing. Free range anything is better than cage fed. Even better is wild meat. Frogs taste like chicken? No! A home raised chicken is 100 times better than a store bought any day but frog is even better to my taste buds. I'd spit chicken and dumplings halfway across the county for squirrel and dumplings. Raccoon and possum I'll admit aren't on my top 10 list but even the best hog sausage can't compare with venison sausage.
Let me propose a challenge to you all. Maybe you don't have a yard or garden. Maybe you live in an apartment. Somewhere you have the space for a couple of 5 gallon buckets, right? Fill them up with dirt, toss in a few tomato seeds and grow yourself a home grown tomato. You'll either be glad you did or mad as Hell at the grocery store for what he sells as tomatoes!
Miss Smarty Duck & A Pair Of Pears
Like any good parent I spend some time with all my children each day. Still no human children to call my own but my critter kids. Dogs, sugar gliders, hedgehog, iguanas, bearded dragons, geese & adult ducks and rapidly growing ducklings as well as the Molly fish all get some daily love and attention.
Today as I was sitting with the ducklings I made what I deemed an interesting observation. Duck poo draws flies but that's not what I noticed. When I sit with the ducklings I keep a fly swatter handy and smack as many of the vermin as get within range, usually near or on the feed bowls. After their initial gobbling of their breakfast starter crumbles most of the quackers go and mill about looking for greens or such. What I saw was one or the other or both of the Rouens were staying nearby and eating the flies that I killed or disabled. I still can't tell the Pekins from each other nor the Khakis but I can now tell one Rouen from the other. One has bigger feet with more yellow than the other. She with the smaller and darker feet was the one staying close and eating flies. She usually waits 2 or 3 whacks before returning to the feed bowl to collect her treats (freshly killed flies) but never more than 5! I can whack a fly 2" from her head and she sees her goodie more than the fly swatter. Then I noticed that if I reached as far as I could to smack one she'd scamper briskly to the scene to see if I had connected or not.
Heading back towards the house I remembered seeing a couple small flashes of white on my Anjou pear tree a few weeks ago. I stopped a moment to check and yes! There is a pair of pears developing. They're still not even as large as marbles and the worms or wild birds will probably get them but just knowing my tree will bear fruit is enough to keep my hopes up.
Of all the fruit trees on my front yard; one each apple, pear, nectarine, olive, Meyer lemon, a couple each kiwi and pomegranate I got one undersized nectarine. But it was quite tasty! In the back yard my 2 plum trees are either dead or at Death's door. I got nothing so far from my fig, unknown citrus or apple tree or blueberry bush and the wild birds et all my mulberries.
The unknown citrus is a short story unto itself. I bought and set out (I think) Key Lime, satsuma and kumquat all in a bunch to see if they'd all be happy together, cross pollinate and perhaps create a new variety of citrus. To the point, all the tags fell off and only one tree still lives so all I know is it is some sort of citrus.
I'm still wanting to go to my late dad's property in Kilmichael and fetch home some native trees. To wit; persimmon, sassafras and apple if any are still left in the old orchard. I remember his Mom, my Maw Clara had screen frames that she'd dry the apples on to make the best apple pies. My store bought blueberry bushes only gave a 1 in 3 survival rate so I'd prefer to try huckleberry bushes from the wild next time around.
Today as I was sitting with the ducklings I made what I deemed an interesting observation. Duck poo draws flies but that's not what I noticed. When I sit with the ducklings I keep a fly swatter handy and smack as many of the vermin as get within range, usually near or on the feed bowls. After their initial gobbling of their breakfast starter crumbles most of the quackers go and mill about looking for greens or such. What I saw was one or the other or both of the Rouens were staying nearby and eating the flies that I killed or disabled. I still can't tell the Pekins from each other nor the Khakis but I can now tell one Rouen from the other. One has bigger feet with more yellow than the other. She with the smaller and darker feet was the one staying close and eating flies. She usually waits 2 or 3 whacks before returning to the feed bowl to collect her treats (freshly killed flies) but never more than 5! I can whack a fly 2" from her head and she sees her goodie more than the fly swatter. Then I noticed that if I reached as far as I could to smack one she'd scamper briskly to the scene to see if I had connected or not.
Heading back towards the house I remembered seeing a couple small flashes of white on my Anjou pear tree a few weeks ago. I stopped a moment to check and yes! There is a pair of pears developing. They're still not even as large as marbles and the worms or wild birds will probably get them but just knowing my tree will bear fruit is enough to keep my hopes up.
Of all the fruit trees on my front yard; one each apple, pear, nectarine, olive, Meyer lemon, a couple each kiwi and pomegranate I got one undersized nectarine. But it was quite tasty! In the back yard my 2 plum trees are either dead or at Death's door. I got nothing so far from my fig, unknown citrus or apple tree or blueberry bush and the wild birds et all my mulberries.
The unknown citrus is a short story unto itself. I bought and set out (I think) Key Lime, satsuma and kumquat all in a bunch to see if they'd all be happy together, cross pollinate and perhaps create a new variety of citrus. To the point, all the tags fell off and only one tree still lives so all I know is it is some sort of citrus.
I'm still wanting to go to my late dad's property in Kilmichael and fetch home some native trees. To wit; persimmon, sassafras and apple if any are still left in the old orchard. I remember his Mom, my Maw Clara had screen frames that she'd dry the apples on to make the best apple pies. My store bought blueberry bushes only gave a 1 in 3 survival rate so I'd prefer to try huckleberry bushes from the wild next time around.
Friday, September 2, 2016
BBQ Sausage
I've many things to try and get done here at Merlin's Garden each and every day so anything I can get done in advance gives me a head start.
Today is the coolest day around here in a month of Sundays so I'm gonna light up the grill and cook me some sausage for today and tomorrow. Just to add a little something different I'll grill the sausage as usual then about 75% done I'll slather it down w/ BBQ sauce, wrap em in foil and lower the heat.
It's been a while since I had some roasted garlic so I'll wrap a couple of heads in foil and chuck them on the grill as well. Let them bad boys simmer in their own juice until they feel soft & tender (not mushy), then mash 'em out like butter. Put some on top of your head and your tongue will slap your brains out trying to get to it!
Today is the coolest day around here in a month of Sundays so I'm gonna light up the grill and cook me some sausage for today and tomorrow. Just to add a little something different I'll grill the sausage as usual then about 75% done I'll slather it down w/ BBQ sauce, wrap em in foil and lower the heat.
It's been a while since I had some roasted garlic so I'll wrap a couple of heads in foil and chuck them on the grill as well. Let them bad boys simmer in their own juice until they feel soft & tender (not mushy), then mash 'em out like butter. Put some on top of your head and your tongue will slap your brains out trying to get to it!
Thinking About Latest Duckling Death
I've been thinking about why one of my (seemingly) healthy Pekins just up and died recently. All I can figure is (not speaking bad about the breeders I got the ducklings from) is they do have a limited supply of breeding stock. Perhaps the duck that passed was suffering from an inbred heart defect.
All the girls were panting and the heat wasn't near as bad as they'd already lived through.
On the upside I do know where I may be able to fetch in some mallard eggs and/or duckling next year. When I worked at the zoo I assisted our veterinarian when he pinioned some birds. That is clipping off the last joint of the wings of hatchlings so they can't ever fly away. If I can manage to fetch in some eggs I do have my incubator so I can pinion any babies at Day One.
All the girls were panting and the heat wasn't near as bad as they'd already lived through.
On the upside I do know where I may be able to fetch in some mallard eggs and/or duckling next year. When I worked at the zoo I assisted our veterinarian when he pinioned some birds. That is clipping off the last joint of the wings of hatchlings so they can't ever fly away. If I can manage to fetch in some eggs I do have my incubator so I can pinion any babies at Day One.
Thursday, September 1, 2016
Coming Into Season
Years back I worked with a large black man we all called "Rev". It was quite a while before I learned he actually was a Reverend! But we share the same birthday, September 10.
It always tickled the Hell out of me that I knew when the astrological sign became Virgo because Rev would walk in and loudly announce, "All right, V~ people! We in season now!"
And I am so happy "we in season". Last night's weather forecast called for lows in the 60's (F) later this week. I don't go deer hunting (although I love venison) because I simply cannot tolerate the cold. During the Summers here the heat indices are onto the 110 F range quite often which is too damned hot for me. Spring and Autumn are my happy times... highs in the 80's and lows in the 60's.
I'm working on a theory which is seeming pretty good... Cold equals age. When in my 20's I lived in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Twenty degrees was common in the Winter and it didn't bother me. Now I'm in my mid approaching late 50's and mid to high 50 degree temps feel cold to me!
Cold equals age!
It always tickled the Hell out of me that I knew when the astrological sign became Virgo because Rev would walk in and loudly announce, "All right, V~ people! We in season now!"
And I am so happy "we in season". Last night's weather forecast called for lows in the 60's (F) later this week. I don't go deer hunting (although I love venison) because I simply cannot tolerate the cold. During the Summers here the heat indices are onto the 110 F range quite often which is too damned hot for me. Spring and Autumn are my happy times... highs in the 80's and lows in the 60's.
I'm working on a theory which is seeming pretty good... Cold equals age. When in my 20's I lived in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Twenty degrees was common in the Winter and it didn't bother me. Now I'm in my mid approaching late 50's and mid to high 50 degree temps feel cold to me!
Cold equals age!
Unknown Cause Duckling Death
My ducklings are starting to fledge, that is grow real feathers. Sometime between yesterday afternoon's check and this morning's check one of my Pekins passed away. No sign of anything gnawing at her carcass just she was dead.
She must have died soon after last PM check because as much as I wanted to give her a proper burial I simply could not. As soon as I picked her up and got a whiff I began gagging. The best I could do was say a prayer over her before I turned her body over to the local sanitation department . Thankfully they were making one of their twice a week runs today.
I'll check more often on the rest of the pack throughout today to check for any sign of possible heat distress or any other ailments. All I can possibly imagine is heat got to her so I'll be sure the rest have plenty of cool water.
By the way, I now have 3 Rouen males (adult). As per females I have 3 Rouen (1 adult and 2 juvenile), 4 Pekin, 2 Khaki Campbell (all juvies) and 1 Runner (adult).
She must have died soon after last PM check because as much as I wanted to give her a proper burial I simply could not. As soon as I picked her up and got a whiff I began gagging. The best I could do was say a prayer over her before I turned her body over to the local sanitation department . Thankfully they were making one of their twice a week runs today.
I'll check more often on the rest of the pack throughout today to check for any sign of possible heat distress or any other ailments. All I can possibly imagine is heat got to her so I'll be sure the rest have plenty of cool water.
By the way, I now have 3 Rouen males (adult). As per females I have 3 Rouen (1 adult and 2 juvenile), 4 Pekin, 2 Khaki Campbell (all juvies) and 1 Runner (adult).
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
Avon Calling Again
I posted a note on my family's private Facebook page that I'll be selling Avon products and all my (girl) cousins are going bat wild! I've got 6 confirmed orders and have yet to get my starter package... and I thought of the whole thing a more or less a joke. At best, they wouldn't all laugh at me but it seems I may actually make a dollar or three with this. Once I get my starter pack I'll post on open Facebook and run with it. I started the joke of my being "the ugliest and hairiest Avon lady" so the phrase just may catch on!
That said, I'm still planning on getting my realtor's license and selling homes in the area. The study guide is a regulation textbook over an inch thick so once I register for the online class it'll still take some time to complete that and get my license. But as an old friend of mine said, "make a dime while you wait for a dollar".
That said, I'm looking into selling Amway as well more or less just to get my name out there. And with the popularity of the TV show, Duck Dynasty, Uncle Si and his blue Tupperware tea cup I'll look into that venue as well. People are always telling me I look like Si with my beard and all so why not buy his lookalike cup from his lookalike?
I've not abandoned my greenhouse business, Merlin's Garden either. I'm looking at the big picture. That being not depending on my job at the grocery as my main source of income.
When I get my realtor's license I have a plan for every home I show. I know what the inspector looked for in my home. Ergo, I know what needs to be priority getting fixed. As a rather handy fella myself I can offer painting, minor electrical repairs, etc to the seller to up or keep the sale price.
Once the sale is made I'll leave a housewarming gift/offer package to the buyer. This will have a potted plant (from Merlin's Garden), cards and brochures from Avon, Amway, Tupperware and any other "dime on a dollar" sides I have going on.
Many years back in Colorado a buddy of mine launched a successful lawn care/handyman service with only a rundown pickup truck, push mower and string trimmer. When I lived in the trailerhood I was making decent side money mowing and such. Why not put my skills (such as they are) to work after a sale? I have a rundown Nissan pickup and 2 wheel hand cart to help move in. I can mow (some don't own a mower and some just don't want to mow). I can do minor repairs and build raised bed gardens. I have my ducks & geese and hear my neighbor's roosters crow every morning. I made my own bird yard and shed so I can do that for anyone else who wants birds.
I raised rabbits a while back (mostly to feed my pythons but that's another story altogether) so I know how to build a small pole barn and hutches if anybody wants to have bunnies. According to the local county Facebook yard sale posts, quite a few have them.
My goal is to have real estate sales become my primary source of income followed by Merlin's Garden. I'll stay on part time at the grocery (just enough hours to keep my medical insurance).
The "side sales" will be just a little padding that I can put into an account to help others less fortunate out. I'd love to be able to have a pocketful of $100 shopping cards to give away to people. Sometimes I see people struggle to buy diapers & such for their babes while others use EBT cards to buy steaks & shrimp and it hurts my heart.
I know God has put each and every one of us here to do something. Something to help our fellow man, woman and child... not to hurt them. It is way past time that I start doing what He sent me here to do. Not make money for me but to help others.
I didn't mean to preach here at the end but I'm speaking from my heart.
That said, I'm still planning on getting my realtor's license and selling homes in the area. The study guide is a regulation textbook over an inch thick so once I register for the online class it'll still take some time to complete that and get my license. But as an old friend of mine said, "make a dime while you wait for a dollar".
That said, I'm looking into selling Amway as well more or less just to get my name out there. And with the popularity of the TV show, Duck Dynasty, Uncle Si and his blue Tupperware tea cup I'll look into that venue as well. People are always telling me I look like Si with my beard and all so why not buy his lookalike cup from his lookalike?
I've not abandoned my greenhouse business, Merlin's Garden either. I'm looking at the big picture. That being not depending on my job at the grocery as my main source of income.
When I get my realtor's license I have a plan for every home I show. I know what the inspector looked for in my home. Ergo, I know what needs to be priority getting fixed. As a rather handy fella myself I can offer painting, minor electrical repairs, etc to the seller to up or keep the sale price.
Once the sale is made I'll leave a housewarming gift/offer package to the buyer. This will have a potted plant (from Merlin's Garden), cards and brochures from Avon, Amway, Tupperware and any other "dime on a dollar" sides I have going on.
Many years back in Colorado a buddy of mine launched a successful lawn care/handyman service with only a rundown pickup truck, push mower and string trimmer. When I lived in the trailerhood I was making decent side money mowing and such. Why not put my skills (such as they are) to work after a sale? I have a rundown Nissan pickup and 2 wheel hand cart to help move in. I can mow (some don't own a mower and some just don't want to mow). I can do minor repairs and build raised bed gardens. I have my ducks & geese and hear my neighbor's roosters crow every morning. I made my own bird yard and shed so I can do that for anyone else who wants birds.
I raised rabbits a while back (mostly to feed my pythons but that's another story altogether) so I know how to build a small pole barn and hutches if anybody wants to have bunnies. According to the local county Facebook yard sale posts, quite a few have them.
My goal is to have real estate sales become my primary source of income followed by Merlin's Garden. I'll stay on part time at the grocery (just enough hours to keep my medical insurance).
The "side sales" will be just a little padding that I can put into an account to help others less fortunate out. I'd love to be able to have a pocketful of $100 shopping cards to give away to people. Sometimes I see people struggle to buy diapers & such for their babes while others use EBT cards to buy steaks & shrimp and it hurts my heart.
I know God has put each and every one of us here to do something. Something to help our fellow man, woman and child... not to hurt them. It is way past time that I start doing what He sent me here to do. Not make money for me but to help others.
I didn't mean to preach here at the end but I'm speaking from my heart.
Sunday, August 28, 2016
Businesses & Ducklings Update
Last night at work I was talking to Robert about my taking the first steps to leaving the grocery business. Those being getting my realtor's license and starting my home business, Merlin's Garden. He seemed somewhat taken aback by my actually starting to walk the walk instead of merely talking the talk. I deemed it needless to mention my Avon endeavor at the time but will spring that on him at a later date.
There are several more business ops that some may label "pyramid schemes" that I'll explore in due time to see if any seem worthy of my time and attention. My older brother tried getting into one years back but couldn't sign up anyone willing to be under him so he dropped that like a hot potato.
My primary objective is to make enough selling real estate that working 40 hours a week at the store is no longer my main source of income so I can cut back on my hours there. Second is to make enough w/ Merlin's Garden to make it more than pay for tax preparation!
Robert did seemed impressed when I told him that I was already keeping a logbook recording mileage for "windshield time" in regards to both real estate and MG. Perhaps soon I'll be logging miles for other business ventures. He's mentioned on several occasions getting his auctioneer's license and having me help out there. If and when he does I'll gladly assist if I have the time. If nothing else I can take some of my junk over and let him sell it for me.
Meanwhile the ducklings grow by leaps and bounds. I can see their growth daily it seems. They're already starting to grow feathers and try to quack
There are several more business ops that some may label "pyramid schemes" that I'll explore in due time to see if any seem worthy of my time and attention. My older brother tried getting into one years back but couldn't sign up anyone willing to be under him so he dropped that like a hot potato.
My primary objective is to make enough selling real estate that working 40 hours a week at the store is no longer my main source of income so I can cut back on my hours there. Second is to make enough w/ Merlin's Garden to make it more than pay for tax preparation!
Robert did seemed impressed when I told him that I was already keeping a logbook recording mileage for "windshield time" in regards to both real estate and MG. Perhaps soon I'll be logging miles for other business ventures. He's mentioned on several occasions getting his auctioneer's license and having me help out there. If and when he does I'll gladly assist if I have the time. If nothing else I can take some of my junk over and let him sell it for me.
Meanwhile the ducklings grow by leaps and bounds. I can see their growth daily it seems. They're already starting to grow feathers and try to quack
Friday, August 26, 2016
Avon Calling!
I got a call yesterday from my AVON lady, Robin saying my order of Skin So Soft was ready for pickup. Remember, this is for Vlad's raw butt and not my raspy old hide.
Anyway, I asked her if she knew of any straight redneck males selling AVON and she said the only she knew of were husband & wife teams. Long story short, she said she thought I could sell AVON ... "just be yourself".
She said it only costs $15.00 to get started so I'm in for that. I told my Mom and my best friend, Gail so even before I've signed up I've already sold 2 bottles of Skin So Soft! Robin also said that my working at a grocery I do meet a lot of people so I can pass out price lists, etc to all I meet. And my Mom is quite active in the local seniors' community so I feel confident I'll at least make my $15 investment back PDQ. I'll post on Facebook as the ugliest & hairiest AVON lady around and see how much attention that draws!
Anyway, I asked her if she knew of any straight redneck males selling AVON and she said the only she knew of were husband & wife teams. Long story short, she said she thought I could sell AVON ... "just be yourself".
She said it only costs $15.00 to get started so I'm in for that. I told my Mom and my best friend, Gail so even before I've signed up I've already sold 2 bottles of Skin So Soft! Robin also said that my working at a grocery I do meet a lot of people so I can pass out price lists, etc to all I meet. And my Mom is quite active in the local seniors' community so I feel confident I'll at least make my $15 investment back PDQ. I'll post on Facebook as the ugliest & hairiest AVON lady around and see how much attention that draws!
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
Dragon Egg Failure But 1st Step To Realtor's License
Of the 27 or so eggs my bearded dragon laid only 5 developed to the hatching stage. Of those none survived coming out of their shells. It's disappointing to say the least but I really wasn't expecting her to lay eggs at all. With cooler weather approaching I doubt she'll lay any more any time soon but will be checking the adult dragons' tank more closely same time next year.
Yesterday I went to the HQ of the Mississippi Realtor Institute and bought my text book for the course. My friend, Lisa took her course online and suggested I do the same with the book as a reference guide. I'll spend a little time reading through the glossary mostly to get to know all the terms and such before registering in the online class.
I'm not worried in the least about investing around $1000 in my future. I'm seeing this as my way to be able to spend more time making myself and other people happier. Next year I should have some baby cacti and other plants available for sale from my greenhouse/nursery business, Merlin's Garden which would make nice housewarming gifts to any who buy a house from me.
Years back I did a bit of lawn mowing just for extra cash and was fairly successful until I allowed the laziest man in the word to "help" me. I'm thinking if any yards need a little extra TLC before a sale I can do that for the sellers... cash up front, of course. And I worked part time in Colorado as a handy man... painting, minor carpentry, etc and I worked several years as an electrician so I'm seeing putting those skills to work either before or after the sale. A few repairs on my old truck and I could even pimp myself out to help with moving in, out and clearing out crap. I may even see a dollar selling scrap and/or salvage. Who knows? Perhaps I'll meet enough people buying new houses who don't like mowing I'll get back into the lawn care business!
Yesterday I went to the HQ of the Mississippi Realtor Institute and bought my text book for the course. My friend, Lisa took her course online and suggested I do the same with the book as a reference guide. I'll spend a little time reading through the glossary mostly to get to know all the terms and such before registering in the online class.
I'm not worried in the least about investing around $1000 in my future. I'm seeing this as my way to be able to spend more time making myself and other people happier. Next year I should have some baby cacti and other plants available for sale from my greenhouse/nursery business, Merlin's Garden which would make nice housewarming gifts to any who buy a house from me.
Years back I did a bit of lawn mowing just for extra cash and was fairly successful until I allowed the laziest man in the word to "help" me. I'm thinking if any yards need a little extra TLC before a sale I can do that for the sellers... cash up front, of course. And I worked part time in Colorado as a handy man... painting, minor carpentry, etc and I worked several years as an electrician so I'm seeing putting those skills to work either before or after the sale. A few repairs on my old truck and I could even pimp myself out to help with moving in, out and clearing out crap. I may even see a dollar selling scrap and/or salvage. Who knows? Perhaps I'll meet enough people buying new houses who don't like mowing I'll get back into the lawn care business!
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