Last week I gave Debbie at work a couple duck and goose eggs and she was tickled shitless. I thought she was just joking when she said she wanted to buy more. Last night she gave me $5.00 and an empty egg carton and said "No hurry, just fill it whenever you can". The girls have been giving me more eggs than I can possibly eat so my first order will get filled within 24 hours. How's that for small business service at its best?
If the duck eggs can fetch $5.00 a dozen I figure the goose eggs should be at least $7.50 if not more just for the "Where In The Hell Did You Get African Brown Goose Eggs?" exotic factor.
Ducks & Geese for World Peace!
Love, Merlin
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Chicken Guts & Mud Bugs
It's been last Summer at least since I had any fried chicken livers but they've been in the corner of my mind the past few days. Well,today I picked up a 1.69 pound bucket or raw at the grocery. I drained off all the blood and other assorted juice. I've seen a lot of people on Food Network and such who soak theirs overnight in buttermilk to take out the mineral whang taste. Well, I don't keep buttermilk on hand as I'm not one who uses much and can't drink it straight without puking. Food Network to the rescue again! Add a little lemon juice (which I do almost always have lemons) to whole milk and make your own. So my livers are soaking in milk and lemon juice right now, ready to be fried when I come home tomorrow morning.
Now to the mud bugs. It's been I know since last Spring since I had crawfish. I was meandering past the seafood department and saw some small packs ready to heat and eat. There was 5 pound sacks of frozen for $25 = $5.00 a pound or smaller packs already thawed for $4.00 a pound. I grabbed up a pack of about a pound and het em up and gobbled em down. I'm a tail pincher but not a head sucker. They wasn't the best mud bugs I've ever had in my life but first of the season they wasn't bad at all.
Now to the mud bugs. It's been I know since last Spring since I had crawfish. I was meandering past the seafood department and saw some small packs ready to heat and eat. There was 5 pound sacks of frozen for $25 = $5.00 a pound or smaller packs already thawed for $4.00 a pound. I grabbed up a pack of about a pound and het em up and gobbled em down. I'm a tail pincher but not a head sucker. They wasn't the best mud bugs I've ever had in my life but first of the season they wasn't bad at all.
Greenhouse Glass & A Lizard
My Mom recently had all the windows replaced in her sun room and had asked me if I wanted any of them. Well, none would fit the window openings of my house but I never turn down free good salvage. So yesterday I went and picked up nine 3' x 5' windows that'll become the walls and door to a 9' x 9' greenhouse. I'm gonna build it on the North fence of my back yard using the fence as the 4th wall which will also get several layers of clear plastic sheeting. I plan to use cinder blocks and/or 4" x 6" and 4" x 4" to bring the total height to at least 6.5'. They're all double pane glass which is just too sweet for a greenhouse. One window has both top panels cracked but I can take that out and use one from the bottom to replace one on top and have that as my door until I get plexiglas to make all double pane again. Or perhaps I'll get the plexi when I'm out buying the lumber I'll need for the frame and clear fiberglass or plastic roofing sheets I'll need for the roof.
As I was unloading the windows from truck to back yard I saw and caught a huge buck green anole lizard. We're expecting some severe weather here tomorrow so I chucked him into a gallon jar w/ holes poked in the lid for safe keeping.
I need to get the windows into my storage building before the rough weather moves in but that shouldn't take more than 10 minutes as I've already made space in the shed.
As I was unloading the windows from truck to back yard I saw and caught a huge buck green anole lizard. We're expecting some severe weather here tomorrow so I chucked him into a gallon jar w/ holes poked in the lid for safe keeping.
I need to get the windows into my storage building before the rough weather moves in but that shouldn't take more than 10 minutes as I've already made space in the shed.
Friday, January 29, 2016
3004 Pageviews
Checking my stats I see I now have 3004 total all time views. I'm not nearly setting the woods on fire here but I do want to mark this milestone and thank everyone who's taken a peek at what I have to share with the world.
Sharing The Quack Pack's Love
If you've read more than 1 or 2 of my posts you're familiar with The Quack Pack, my 7 ducks & 3 geese. Quite possibly you've read about Ms Virginia, my sort across the road neighbor who loves hearing them "sing" in the morning.
Well, I saw her fetching in her trash cans this morning and went to chat a bit and make her an offering. I asked if she and her son et many eggs and she answered that they do. To make a short story long I took her a half dozen duck eggs so now they can see and taste why the girls are singing.
I only fetched in 2 duck eggs today when I got in after work and went to feed them but that's fine. 3 duck and 2 goose eggs are about the same as a dozen medium chicken eggs.
By the way a duck egg is about the same size as a "jumbo" chicken egg but the yolk about 1.5 times the size of a chicken egg yolk. My girls are free range, meaning that they aren't confined to a little cage just big enough for them to eat hormone filled feed, crap and lay eggs. The shells are I'd guess twice as thick as chicken eggs so you need to whack them pretty good to crack em open. After I eat an egg I let the shell dry out really bone ass dry then crumble em up and feed the shells back to the Quack Pack for the calcium.
I told Ray, our token Mexican at work that I had more eggs than I could eat and he said I could be like Forrest Gump selling shrimp! Nice idea but I think it would take more than 3 duck and 2 goose hens.
Well, I saw her fetching in her trash cans this morning and went to chat a bit and make her an offering. I asked if she and her son et many eggs and she answered that they do. To make a short story long I took her a half dozen duck eggs so now they can see and taste why the girls are singing.
I only fetched in 2 duck eggs today when I got in after work and went to feed them but that's fine. 3 duck and 2 goose eggs are about the same as a dozen medium chicken eggs.
By the way a duck egg is about the same size as a "jumbo" chicken egg but the yolk about 1.5 times the size of a chicken egg yolk. My girls are free range, meaning that they aren't confined to a little cage just big enough for them to eat hormone filled feed, crap and lay eggs. The shells are I'd guess twice as thick as chicken eggs so you need to whack them pretty good to crack em open. After I eat an egg I let the shell dry out really bone ass dry then crumble em up and feed the shells back to the Quack Pack for the calcium.
I told Ray, our token Mexican at work that I had more eggs than I could eat and he said I could be like Forrest Gump selling shrimp! Nice idea but I think it would take more than 3 duck and 2 goose hens.
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Poutine
Again watching either Food Network or Travel Channel I saw something that simply could not be bad... maybe bad for you but not taste bad! Up in Canada they have what they call "poutine".
Fried potatoes topped with cheese curd and smothered in gravy. Cheese curd is not something I am familiar with but I think it's something like the chunky parts in cottage cheese.
To me cheese is worthy of being its own food group, it's hard to mess up anything using a spud and gravy is the original Ambrosia, the food of the gods.
As usual I started with the basic recipe then added my own touches to it. Hey, I'm a carnivore!
I fried a handful of seasoning bacon misc. chunks and pieces for the porky fat and flavor. A pound of ground beef made 3 more or less 5 ounce patties for burgers with the leftover ounce getting crumbled into the pan for later gravy making. Then I quick sauteed a bit of onion in the pan.
As I made my gravy in the skillet I cooked up a couple spuds in my deep fryer. As they came out of the grease I dusted em with sea salt, garlic powder, fresh cracked black and crushed red pepper flake. Most rednecks won't admit to tasting much less liking cottage cheese but I love it. I fetched a bowl, drained the curds from the whey in my cottage cheese, added shredded sharp Cheddar, Swiss and Mozzarella... more or less equal parts each to make about 1 part cheese to every 2 parts spud.
I loaded most of the spuds onto a plate, added some cheese mix then the rest of the spuds and the rest of the cheese then slathered it all down with bacon/beef/onion gravy...
The only thing that could possibly make this better would be mushrooms!
Fried potatoes topped with cheese curd and smothered in gravy. Cheese curd is not something I am familiar with but I think it's something like the chunky parts in cottage cheese.
To me cheese is worthy of being its own food group, it's hard to mess up anything using a spud and gravy is the original Ambrosia, the food of the gods.
As usual I started with the basic recipe then added my own touches to it. Hey, I'm a carnivore!
I fried a handful of seasoning bacon misc. chunks and pieces for the porky fat and flavor. A pound of ground beef made 3 more or less 5 ounce patties for burgers with the leftover ounce getting crumbled into the pan for later gravy making. Then I quick sauteed a bit of onion in the pan.
As I made my gravy in the skillet I cooked up a couple spuds in my deep fryer. As they came out of the grease I dusted em with sea salt, garlic powder, fresh cracked black and crushed red pepper flake. Most rednecks won't admit to tasting much less liking cottage cheese but I love it. I fetched a bowl, drained the curds from the whey in my cottage cheese, added shredded sharp Cheddar, Swiss and Mozzarella... more or less equal parts each to make about 1 part cheese to every 2 parts spud.
I loaded most of the spuds onto a plate, added some cheese mix then the rest of the spuds and the rest of the cheese then slathered it all down with bacon/beef/onion gravy...
The only thing that could possibly make this better would be mushrooms!
Swiss Inspired Mac & Cheese
A while back a dear friend of my mom, Gerald Warren passed away. At his memorial service I met his daughter, Christina and her husband, Lars... both beautiful people. Lars is from Switzerland and he and Christina now live there. He made a comment to the effect all people in Mississippi are cousins so in less than 24 hours I was calling them "Cousin Lars and Cousin Christina".
Anyway not more than a couple weeks ago I was watching Travel Channel on TV and they were showing Switzerland featuring a restaurant called The Crazy Cow and their signature dish. I'm 99.9% sure I'm spelling this incorrectly but... Alpermagronen? Basically Swiss mac & cheese served w/ applesauce. The main thing that caught my eye was bacon! Everything is better with bacon, right?
I grew up on mac & cheese from the box with that powdered semi cheese like tasting mystery dust. Hell, I thought it tasted pretty damn good. But after watching so many people make mac & cheese using real cheese I decided to give it a try Swiss style-ish.
Everybody who makes mac & cheese seems to have their own spin so here's my first attempt at homemade:
6 rashers of thick sliced bacon
1 large potato sliced thin on a mandolin or w/ a sharp knife
1 large onion sliced as per the spud
1 pound of pasta
1 Tbsp butter
1 cup grated cheese (I used 3/4 Swiss and 1/4 Cheddar for color)
1/2 cup whole milk
Fry the bacon until just getting crisp, remove & drain
Add butter to bacon grease and fry your onion until golden, remove and drain onion
Boil pasta & spuds until al dente in salted water & drain
Heat oven to 375 F
Grease casserole dish w/ bacon fat/butter
Layer 1/3 pasta & spuds, 1/3 cheese and 1 rasher of crumbled bacon
Continue until all the pasta & spuds and cheese are used up
Warm milk, add a dash of salt and pepper, any little spices you like (I added a touch of garlic)
Pour the milk over the top fairly evenly so it seeps into all the nooks and crannies
Crumble the remaining bacon into the onions and sprinkle them over the top.
Bake covered for 10-15 minutes
The hardest part was waiting until it cooled before shoving this into my grocery hole.
It is wicked good!
Anyway not more than a couple weeks ago I was watching Travel Channel on TV and they were showing Switzerland featuring a restaurant called The Crazy Cow and their signature dish. I'm 99.9% sure I'm spelling this incorrectly but... Alpermagronen? Basically Swiss mac & cheese served w/ applesauce. The main thing that caught my eye was bacon! Everything is better with bacon, right?
I grew up on mac & cheese from the box with that powdered semi cheese like tasting mystery dust. Hell, I thought it tasted pretty damn good. But after watching so many people make mac & cheese using real cheese I decided to give it a try Swiss style-ish.
Everybody who makes mac & cheese seems to have their own spin so here's my first attempt at homemade:
6 rashers of thick sliced bacon
1 large potato sliced thin on a mandolin or w/ a sharp knife
1 large onion sliced as per the spud
1 pound of pasta
1 Tbsp butter
1 cup grated cheese (I used 3/4 Swiss and 1/4 Cheddar for color)
1/2 cup whole milk
Fry the bacon until just getting crisp, remove & drain
Add butter to bacon grease and fry your onion until golden, remove and drain onion
Boil pasta & spuds until al dente in salted water & drain
Heat oven to 375 F
Grease casserole dish w/ bacon fat/butter
Layer 1/3 pasta & spuds, 1/3 cheese and 1 rasher of crumbled bacon
Continue until all the pasta & spuds and cheese are used up
Warm milk, add a dash of salt and pepper, any little spices you like (I added a touch of garlic)
Pour the milk over the top fairly evenly so it seeps into all the nooks and crannies
Crumble the remaining bacon into the onions and sprinkle them over the top.
Bake covered for 10-15 minutes
The hardest part was waiting until it cooled before shoving this into my grocery hole.
It is wicked good!
Not Wasting Rain Water
Tuesday morning it was raining as my friend, Gail says " A flood of Biblical proportions" or as my Dad would say "like a cow pissing on a flat rock".
The back side of my house is built like a trough with a "V" that channels the water directly to the back door. Needless to say the dogs didn't want to run through Niagara Falls to go out to pee pee and/or boom boom.
Myself being one to never let free good stuff go to waste, I dragged up 3 good sized plastic tubs to capture the water. It took only a few minutes to fill each one and all 3 were filled in short order. Now I have plenty to keep the 55 and 30 gallon aquaria in my living room topped off with fresh chlorine & other chemical free, free of charge water. Also the Quack Pack are getting their share of water as God made it.
The back side of my house is built like a trough with a "V" that channels the water directly to the back door. Needless to say the dogs didn't want to run through Niagara Falls to go out to pee pee and/or boom boom.
Myself being one to never let free good stuff go to waste, I dragged up 3 good sized plastic tubs to capture the water. It took only a few minutes to fill each one and all 3 were filled in short order. Now I have plenty to keep the 55 and 30 gallon aquaria in my living room topped off with fresh chlorine & other chemical free, free of charge water. Also the Quack Pack are getting their share of water as God made it.
Sunday, January 24, 2016
Goose Eggs
My goose girls, Zwei & Drei have undoubtedly joined the egg laying crew. Each morning I'm now finding 2 or 3 humongous eggs that can only have been laid by the big girls. I've become accustomed enough to the duck eggs I can tell the Runners' from the Rouens' but these big dinosaur eggs have to be from the geese.
P.S. I know they're not the most imaginative names but the 1 male and 2 female geese are named Eins, Zvei & Drei which unless I am mistaken is German for "One, Two & Three". The Runners are Nino y Nina and the Rouens are Paddle, Peddle, Piddle, Poddle & Puddle. As a group they are The Quack Pack.
P.S. I know they're not the most imaginative names but the 1 male and 2 female geese are named Eins, Zvei & Drei which unless I am mistaken is German for "One, Two & Three". The Runners are Nino y Nina and the Rouens are Paddle, Peddle, Piddle, Poddle & Puddle. As a group they are The Quack Pack.
Getting Ready For Spring
After 2 nights of well below freezing lows (mid 20's F) and not much above freezing daily highs we're looking to have a mid day high today of mid 50's F. This coming Saturday the forecast is for a high of 70 F.
That puts me of a mind to start some seeds for Spring planting. I've at least 2 or 3 cans and/or boxes with seeds in them that I 'll be rooting about looking for. I know I have tomato, okra, assorted peppers, squash, beans and peas, greens,corn, melon, pumpkin & root crop seeds.
I can hardly wait to get my fingers back in the soil!
That puts me of a mind to start some seeds for Spring planting. I've at least 2 or 3 cans and/or boxes with seeds in them that I 'll be rooting about looking for. I know I have tomato, okra, assorted peppers, squash, beans and peas, greens,corn, melon, pumpkin & root crop seeds.
I can hardly wait to get my fingers back in the soil!
Saturday, January 23, 2016
Sharing Eggs
The ladies of the Quack Pack have been working overtime cranking out eggs for Quack Daddy! Yesterday and day before they squirted out 6 and 5 eggs respectively. I'm not sure but feel quite a good possibility one of them was a goose egg.
I'd told my work buddy, Robert I was gonna fetch him a half dozen but as the girls were so generous, my egg basket runneth over so last night I took him a full dozen. He said he, his wife, son and step daughter usually cook eggs a dozen at a time so that worked out quite nicely mathematically.
Crazy Mike said he couldn't ever recall eating a farm fresh egg so I also took him a couple. I'd mentioned to him in the past I wanted to grow some sugar cane in my yard. His fiance lives in Southern Louisiana and he said they grow it all over the place down there. So I said a couple farm fresh eggs should be worth a few stalks of cane. He agreed to fetch me some next time he goes down there. The only possible flaw in that trade plan is he has the attention span of a gnat so my getting cane is open for debate.
Winter Storm Jonas
Winter storm Jonas is making his most unwelcome presence felt here in Mississippi. Last week we had high temps near 70 F and now we're having wind chills in the teens. We actually has a few snow flurries here in the middle part of the state and a couple inches in the Northern part. Although the real temps are slightly above freezing the wind chill makes it what I call "ass biting cold"!
I'm settling down with "comfort food". I try to limit my consumption of canned, prepared crap but I saw Hormel chili w/ beans on sale for 69 cents a can so fetched home a half dozen. Each can of chunky style has 90% of a day's sodium, hot has 88% and regular has 82%. I usually eat at least one can at a sitting so for filler I'm serving each helping over a bed of plain white rice. I've got to "gut load" on warm, filling stuff and I can think of few things better than that than rice. Spuds are great for carbohydrate loading so I'll probably make hash brown taters for my other meal of the day. I know I should spread out my calorie intake over 3 meals a day but I picked up some cashews to keep me energized through the night shift.
I don't know what weather any of you reading this may be having but I pray God watches over you all now and always.
Ducks & geese for world peace!
I'm settling down with "comfort food". I try to limit my consumption of canned, prepared crap but I saw Hormel chili w/ beans on sale for 69 cents a can so fetched home a half dozen. Each can of chunky style has 90% of a day's sodium, hot has 88% and regular has 82%. I usually eat at least one can at a sitting so for filler I'm serving each helping over a bed of plain white rice. I've got to "gut load" on warm, filling stuff and I can think of few things better than that than rice. Spuds are great for carbohydrate loading so I'll probably make hash brown taters for my other meal of the day. I know I should spread out my calorie intake over 3 meals a day but I picked up some cashews to keep me energized through the night shift.
I don't know what weather any of you reading this may be having but I pray God watches over you all now and always.
Ducks & geese for world peace!
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Another Cold Front Moves In
I haven't been on my blog the past few days. 50/50 Sorry/happy if you missed me.
We had another cold front move in and had 2 nights that we dropped below freezing again but things are warming up once more.
Before the cold moved in I found another neighbor who'd bagged their leaves. Most just rake or blow them to the curb where the city sends a truck to suck them up. Anyway I picked up a total of 28 big industrial type leaf sacks full in 2 truckloads. I first stood some 10 or so upright, near waist high around the duck & goose house for insulation. Now their house looks like a WWII bomb bunker! All that matters is my quackers and honkers are warm and cozy.
Another couple sacks got dumped into their yard and they got an extra couple scoops of feed to stay fat and happy. Another sack went into my compost bins and a few more sacks got dumped into the soggy spots in the back yard.
I fetched home I think 8 small sacks of pine straw and a few small logs/large limbs which went into the swamp up front.
Meanwhile I bought a sack of chicken leg quarters and made a huge pot of chicken soup with veggies and rice. I pulled most of the skin off and froze it to later render off the fat. I think in Jewish cooking chicken fat is called "schmaltz". I don't do any Kosher cooking but love the flavor animal fat gives food. From boiling the chicken I made about a quart and a half of homemade chicken broth that'll be fine dining later on. One pinch of Kosher salt plus a squirt of soy sauce should be fairly low sodium, eh?
We had another cold front move in and had 2 nights that we dropped below freezing again but things are warming up once more.
Before the cold moved in I found another neighbor who'd bagged their leaves. Most just rake or blow them to the curb where the city sends a truck to suck them up. Anyway I picked up a total of 28 big industrial type leaf sacks full in 2 truckloads. I first stood some 10 or so upright, near waist high around the duck & goose house for insulation. Now their house looks like a WWII bomb bunker! All that matters is my quackers and honkers are warm and cozy.
Another couple sacks got dumped into their yard and they got an extra couple scoops of feed to stay fat and happy. Another sack went into my compost bins and a few more sacks got dumped into the soggy spots in the back yard.
I fetched home I think 8 small sacks of pine straw and a few small logs/large limbs which went into the swamp up front.
Meanwhile I bought a sack of chicken leg quarters and made a huge pot of chicken soup with veggies and rice. I pulled most of the skin off and froze it to later render off the fat. I think in Jewish cooking chicken fat is called "schmaltz". I don't do any Kosher cooking but love the flavor animal fat gives food. From boiling the chicken I made about a quart and a half of homemade chicken broth that'll be fine dining later on. One pinch of Kosher salt plus a squirt of soy sauce should be fairly low sodium, eh?
Saturday, January 16, 2016
Keeping The Kitchen Handy
There are some things I need almost every time I cook and came up with 2 ways to keep them closer at hand.
I mentioned before that I store my root veggies and some fruits in one of my less used rooms in the house where it's cooler than the more used areas. I always need an onion or garlic, a spud or a carrot or 3. Onions, lemons and other things come packed in the plastic mesh sacks. Now I keep a couple onions and a head of garlic in one sack, 2 or 3 spuds and a few carrots in another. I heard or read somewhere we shouldn't store onions and taters together so I hang the 2 sacks from cabinet doors on opposite sides of the stove (not right next to the stove). They're right there handy and not cold like being stored in the fridge nor mushy from getting over warm w/ no air around them.
My other handy idea is for my "new" spice & herb rack. I had a little wire basket made to hang for mail, maybe a couple small plants or some cute little crap, I don't really know what exactly it was designed, made and marketed for. Anyway I nailed this little jewel to the kitchen wall to hold the spices and herbs I most often use right there where I can easily see, find and grab them.
I mentioned before that I store my root veggies and some fruits in one of my less used rooms in the house where it's cooler than the more used areas. I always need an onion or garlic, a spud or a carrot or 3. Onions, lemons and other things come packed in the plastic mesh sacks. Now I keep a couple onions and a head of garlic in one sack, 2 or 3 spuds and a few carrots in another. I heard or read somewhere we shouldn't store onions and taters together so I hang the 2 sacks from cabinet doors on opposite sides of the stove (not right next to the stove). They're right there handy and not cold like being stored in the fridge nor mushy from getting over warm w/ no air around them.
My other handy idea is for my "new" spice & herb rack. I had a little wire basket made to hang for mail, maybe a couple small plants or some cute little crap, I don't really know what exactly it was designed, made and marketed for. Anyway I nailed this little jewel to the kitchen wall to hold the spices and herbs I most often use right there where I can easily see, find and grab them.
Friday, January 15, 2016
Geckos, Jamaican Jerk Seasoning & Chili
I was setting up my seed starter trays yesterday and much to my surprise found and caught 2 Mediterranean geckos. No geckos of any sort are native to my area but I was still happy to find the little buggers. I've seen a few baby cockroaches scampering around the corners of my home and see the wee lizards as natural pest control. The larger of the pair of geckos is no more than 2.5" long.
"But Merlin," you may ask, "won't they poop in your house?" Yes they will but I can tolerate a little lizard turd more easily than I can a cockroach!
A few months ago my grocery set up a Jamaican food section. Either we don't have much of that ethnic group here or they don't shop at my store so they marked everything down to rock bottom prices. I loaded up on "Very Hot" & Scotch Bonnet pepper sauce, hot Jamaican curry powder and spicy jerk powder seasoning for less than 30 cents on the dollar.
I love trying new foods but can be hesitant when the price is what I consider a bit high. This time patience has paid off for me.
I also shopped the "dented can" section and got 2 cans of beans and one of meat flavored pasta sauce. We're expecting another light freeze Monday night so that'll make for the start of a good pot of chili. Yes indeed, pasta sauce makes for some fine chili! For the 2 cans of beans and 1 of pasta sauce I'll add about 2 pounds of meat (you can use ground or cubed beef, pork, sausage, turkey, chicken or any combination), a pack of chili seasoning and some sauteed onions and garlic, maybe a few tomatoes. I'm thinking about 50/50 cubed roast and link sausage. I don't have any set recipe for chili (or much of anything else) I just go with whatever I have that sounds like it would go well together.
"But Merlin," you may ask, "won't they poop in your house?" Yes they will but I can tolerate a little lizard turd more easily than I can a cockroach!
A few months ago my grocery set up a Jamaican food section. Either we don't have much of that ethnic group here or they don't shop at my store so they marked everything down to rock bottom prices. I loaded up on "Very Hot" & Scotch Bonnet pepper sauce, hot Jamaican curry powder and spicy jerk powder seasoning for less than 30 cents on the dollar.
I love trying new foods but can be hesitant when the price is what I consider a bit high. This time patience has paid off for me.
I also shopped the "dented can" section and got 2 cans of beans and one of meat flavored pasta sauce. We're expecting another light freeze Monday night so that'll make for the start of a good pot of chili. Yes indeed, pasta sauce makes for some fine chili! For the 2 cans of beans and 1 of pasta sauce I'll add about 2 pounds of meat (you can use ground or cubed beef, pork, sausage, turkey, chicken or any combination), a pack of chili seasoning and some sauteed onions and garlic, maybe a few tomatoes. I'm thinking about 50/50 cubed roast and link sausage. I don't have any set recipe for chili (or much of anything else) I just go with whatever I have that sounds like it would go well together.
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Hello, My Russian Comrades
I was just checking my views and saw I have about one and a half times as many views from Russia than the U.S. for today. It's not like I have millions of viewers or anything but I just found that amazing and totally cool. The only Russian I can speak and/or understand is "vodka, piva, da, nyet".
If ever I get a chance to visit your country it would have to be in the Summertime, especially Siberia. Your entire country, even the cities look so beautiful. You all know I'm a walk barefoot in the countryside sort but I'd love to walk the streets of Moscow, Stalingrad and be wowed by the architecture there... And to meet the wonderful Russian people, of course! Mostly to visit the Russian rednecks and sit down and share a meal with a family. Nothing says "love" like sharing a meal.
If ever I get a chance to visit your country it would have to be in the Summertime, especially Siberia. Your entire country, even the cities look so beautiful. You all know I'm a walk barefoot in the countryside sort but I'd love to walk the streets of Moscow, Stalingrad and be wowed by the architecture there... And to meet the wonderful Russian people, of course! Mostly to visit the Russian rednecks and sit down and share a meal with a family. Nothing says "love" like sharing a meal.
Getting Ready To Start Some Seeds
While loading 200 pounds of duck feed in the barn I noticed a couple of seed starter trays in a corner and fetched them into the house. They're the mini greenhouse type w/ the individual peat pots about 1" in diameter. I'm gonna load up the first with some cactus seeds hoping to sell the babies at local markets, online, etc. After that I want to start some tomatoes and such. My planted maters last year were a dismal failure and only the volunteers in the front yard did anything worthwhile. My store bought pepper plants were also not worth the water I poured on them so I'll start my own at home this year.
My main crops will be maters, okra, peppers, sunflowers, peas & beans, squash, herbs and hopefully some roots like garlic, carrots, turnips, radishes and beets, possibly a bit of corn (mostly for the peas & beans to climb on).
I'll keep you posted on how it all goes.
My main crops will be maters, okra, peppers, sunflowers, peas & beans, squash, herbs and hopefully some roots like garlic, carrots, turnips, radishes and beets, possibly a bit of corn (mostly for the peas & beans to climb on).
I'll keep you posted on how it all goes.
Remembering David Bowie
Yes, I am a true redneck but also a long time David Bowie fan. I bought vinyl albums of "The Man Who Sold The World" and all his other early works I could find. My neighbors in the U.S.A.F. barracks hated my guts when I followed instructions on "The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust & The
Spiders From Mars". I know many of you are too young to have seen and read them... "To be played at maximum volume".
I've spent the past few days cranking some of my favorite DB music and watching "The Man Who Fell To Earth" & "Labyrinth", reliving some great memories of a great human being.
What was that old song, "If There's a Rock & Roll Heaven, You Know They've Got A Hell Of A Band"? Well, if there is a R&R Heaven they just added another great talent to their line up.
Ziggy Stardust, The Thin White Duke... Rest In Peace and Rock On, David! Even some of us rednecks loved, still love and will always love you!
Spiders From Mars". I know many of you are too young to have seen and read them... "To be played at maximum volume".
I've spent the past few days cranking some of my favorite DB music and watching "The Man Who Fell To Earth" & "Labyrinth", reliving some great memories of a great human being.
What was that old song, "If There's a Rock & Roll Heaven, You Know They've Got A Hell Of A Band"? Well, if there is a R&R Heaven they just added another great talent to their line up.
Ziggy Stardust, The Thin White Duke... Rest In Peace and Rock On, David! Even some of us rednecks loved, still love and will always love you!
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Ms. Virginia Meets The Quack Pack
I was taking some trash to the curb today and saw my across the street (more or less) neighbor, Ms Virginia doing the same. We chatted for a few and I invited her to come meet the Quack Pack. She says she still loves hearing them "sing". They are quite vocal especially when the see "Quack Daddy" w/ the blue bucket full of their feed but I truthfully can't call their vocalizations as "singing".
Vlad and Bella were also out in the back yard so she met them as well. She admitted to be being a bit worried about them biting until I said "unless you have a biscuit in your pocket you won't get bit".
As we were leaving the back yard Vlad and Bella accompanied us into the front yard for some sniffing and territory marking. They're pretty good kids all things considered. I didn't want them out in the front yard by the street not on leads but they came when called.
Vlad and Bella were also out in the back yard so she met them as well. She admitted to be being a bit worried about them biting until I said "unless you have a biscuit in your pocket you won't get bit".
As we were leaving the back yard Vlad and Bella accompanied us into the front yard for some sniffing and territory marking. They're pretty good kids all things considered. I didn't want them out in the front yard by the street not on leads but they came when called.
Oil Change & Duck Feed
Yesterday I took my CR-V in for her first oil change. 2 says shy of 23 months I got enough miles on her to need new oil. The dealership also pulled a full all points inspection and I escaped w/ less than a $45.00 fee.
The Quack Pack was running low on vittles so after servicing the ride I went to load up on their feed. I was tired after work so opted against going the longer drive to the Co-Op and going the short trip to the closer lumber yard. 100 pounds of deer corn, 50 hen scratch and 50 layer pellets for a total of 200 pounds cost right at $45.00. The lumber yard didn't sell grass straw, only pine. After living surrounded by pine trees of titanic size and the sheddings thereof I wasn't about to pay good money for pine straw.
Now all that is left is for me to fetch 4 each 50 pounds of feed to the barn.
The Quack Pack was running low on vittles so after servicing the ride I went to load up on their feed. I was tired after work so opted against going the longer drive to the Co-Op and going the short trip to the closer lumber yard. 100 pounds of deer corn, 50 hen scratch and 50 layer pellets for a total of 200 pounds cost right at $45.00. The lumber yard didn't sell grass straw, only pine. After living surrounded by pine trees of titanic size and the sheddings thereof I wasn't about to pay good money for pine straw.
Now all that is left is for me to fetch 4 each 50 pounds of feed to the barn.
Saturday, January 9, 2016
Quite A Few Small Items Today
A#1 I went out this morning w/ pellet gun locked & loaded but no sign of egg predator and fetched in 2 fresh eggs laid in the yard, not the hen house.
B#2 After yesterday's gobbling I knew my pot o' soup wasn't gonna last through the coming cold spell. The grocery store has 2 pound sacks of baby carrots on sale for less than regular carrots so I got a sack of them. Roast is still cheaper than ground beef so I also fetched home another couple pounds of that beefy goodness. Once my chores were done I fried a couple slices of thick bacon and sauteed some celery, onion and stuffer size mushroom stems for the soup pot. I'm planning on stuffing the caps tomorrow w/ a mix of seasoned ground pork, cheddar and cream cheese, wrapped in bacon along w/ a half dozen jalapeno poppers, stuffed and wrapped in the same way. I floured and browned another pound or so of beef, added some more seasoned flour and water after all was brown to make a rich gravy and into the soup pot w/ that.
C#3 Expecting a hard freeze I disconnected my front and back water hoses and put the "cold cap" things over the faucets.
D#4 Free shoe inserts & knee pad helpers... If you've read any of my posts you know I don't like paying for anything that I can improvise. My feet get cold at work and the elastic in my knee pads is worn so they slip down a lot. I fetched home a cardboard box today and using my shoe as a template cut out a homemade insert for extra insulation. I did the same w/ my knee pads. The shoe inserts and extra knee padding cost me a grand total of maybe 10 minutes of measuring, marking and cutting.
E#5 Oops! I thought both Bella and Vlad were inside. I just went to check my laundry and heard a whining at the back door. After about 2 and 1/2 hours Bella was more than ready to come back in!
F#6 I recently bought some ginkgo biloba pills to help my memory. One small problem, I can't remember to take them.
B#2 After yesterday's gobbling I knew my pot o' soup wasn't gonna last through the coming cold spell. The grocery store has 2 pound sacks of baby carrots on sale for less than regular carrots so I got a sack of them. Roast is still cheaper than ground beef so I also fetched home another couple pounds of that beefy goodness. Once my chores were done I fried a couple slices of thick bacon and sauteed some celery, onion and stuffer size mushroom stems for the soup pot. I'm planning on stuffing the caps tomorrow w/ a mix of seasoned ground pork, cheddar and cream cheese, wrapped in bacon along w/ a half dozen jalapeno poppers, stuffed and wrapped in the same way. I floured and browned another pound or so of beef, added some more seasoned flour and water after all was brown to make a rich gravy and into the soup pot w/ that.
C#3 Expecting a hard freeze I disconnected my front and back water hoses and put the "cold cap" things over the faucets.
D#4 Free shoe inserts & knee pad helpers... If you've read any of my posts you know I don't like paying for anything that I can improvise. My feet get cold at work and the elastic in my knee pads is worn so they slip down a lot. I fetched home a cardboard box today and using my shoe as a template cut out a homemade insert for extra insulation. I did the same w/ my knee pads. The shoe inserts and extra knee padding cost me a grand total of maybe 10 minutes of measuring, marking and cutting.
E#5 Oops! I thought both Bella and Vlad were inside. I just went to check my laundry and heard a whining at the back door. After about 2 and 1/2 hours Bella was more than ready to come back in!
F#6 I recently bought some ginkgo biloba pills to help my memory. One small problem, I can't remember to take them.
Friday, January 8, 2016
Soup Weather
After a quite mild Winter it seems it's gonna hit the fan here at least for a few days. Were going from a high/ low today (Friday) of 64/54 F to Sunday high/low of 44/22. I'll put the remaining bags of leaves (probably still in bags) on the North side of the hen house for extra insulation.
Meanwhile it's time to keep old Merlin warm outside and inside. First for the outside I rooted around in all my closets, dressers and such for my long insulated drawers. For the inside I bought a "cheap" cut of beef to start a pot of soup.
I put it in the freezer for a bit to make it easier to cut into bite sized chunks, processed the meat and let it thaw. Then I tossed it in seasoned flour and seared it over high heat. I set that aside after draining the grease into the dog's feed bowl and deglazed the pan w/ a little beer to get all the crispy goodness loose and start some gravy. While that was making its magic I set to chopping veggies. Spuds, carrots, onions, celery, jalapenos and a small sweet tater was all sliced or diced and everybody into the pool. Salt, pepper, bay leaves, Italian herb mix, soy sauce. At the last minute I'll add a couple Roma maters, chuck a loaf of French bread into the oven and get all greasy with it.
Meanwhile it's time to keep old Merlin warm outside and inside. First for the outside I rooted around in all my closets, dressers and such for my long insulated drawers. For the inside I bought a "cheap" cut of beef to start a pot of soup.
I put it in the freezer for a bit to make it easier to cut into bite sized chunks, processed the meat and let it thaw. Then I tossed it in seasoned flour and seared it over high heat. I set that aside after draining the grease into the dog's feed bowl and deglazed the pan w/ a little beer to get all the crispy goodness loose and start some gravy. While that was making its magic I set to chopping veggies. Spuds, carrots, onions, celery, jalapenos and a small sweet tater was all sliced or diced and everybody into the pool. Salt, pepper, bay leaves, Italian herb mix, soy sauce. At the last minute I'll add a couple Roma maters, chuck a loaf of French bread into the oven and get all greasy with it.
I Have An Egg Predator
This morning I went out to feed the Quack Pack and gather eggs but some critter had done beat me to the eggs. I searched the yard as best as I could for any track but found none. The main thing is all my hens (and drakes and ganders) are unscathed. I've never known cats to be egg thieves but that's my first instinct as none of the birds were so much as missing a feather.
I didn't have my red LED lights on but will set up another sting today and be certain all are on before leaving for work. I've no desire to kill any critter that I have no intention of eating so here's my step by step plan of defense:
1 Deter w/ red "faux eye shine" lights.
2 Put a radio outside to keep noise going.
3 Next night off pop a few bottle rockets into the trees closest to the bird enclosure.
4 Set up a sniper position w/ my pellet rifle to burn some ass.
5 LAST RESORT: Shoot to kill.
I don't want to kill or even hurt anyone's pet but A#1 some beastie is taking food off of my table and B#2 may possibly injure, maim or even kill one or more of my babes.
I set up today the plywood I fetched home last week and took a few trial shots w/ the 10 pump pellet rifle from approximately 50 feet. To put a good "pot knot" on the ply took all 10 pumps. If it's a cat I'll start w/ 6 or 8. Anything else gets 10 or possibly some hot lead from a .22 rifle. Not to brag but w/ my .22 rifle I don't miss very often from less than 50 yards. I've gone on successful squirrel hunts using only my Ruger revolver w/ a 9.5" barrel!
I didn't have my red LED lights on but will set up another sting today and be certain all are on before leaving for work. I've no desire to kill any critter that I have no intention of eating so here's my step by step plan of defense:
1 Deter w/ red "faux eye shine" lights.
2 Put a radio outside to keep noise going.
3 Next night off pop a few bottle rockets into the trees closest to the bird enclosure.
4 Set up a sniper position w/ my pellet rifle to burn some ass.
5 LAST RESORT: Shoot to kill.
I don't want to kill or even hurt anyone's pet but A#1 some beastie is taking food off of my table and B#2 may possibly injure, maim or even kill one or more of my babes.
I set up today the plywood I fetched home last week and took a few trial shots w/ the 10 pump pellet rifle from approximately 50 feet. To put a good "pot knot" on the ply took all 10 pumps. If it's a cat I'll start w/ 6 or 8. Anything else gets 10 or possibly some hot lead from a .22 rifle. Not to brag but w/ my .22 rifle I don't miss very often from less than 50 yards. I've gone on successful squirrel hunts using only my Ruger revolver w/ a 9.5" barrel!
Praying For Paul
Not my neighbor, Paul but my best friend's brother, Paul is having knee replacement surgery today. I just moments ago got a text that he's headed to the O.R. The docs are doing one knee today, the other in a few weeks and hip replacement I think after that and some alignment? on his other hip after that.
Yeah, big boy is a broke down mess right now.
I told Gail, my best friend that I would be on my knees praying for him. Now I am asking all of you out there, no matter your faith or religion to do the same if you have time. You know Paul even less than you know me but he's a good ol' boy. Even if you're atheist if it's not too much trouble I humbly ask that you think nothing but good thoughts for him and his family.
Yeah, big boy is a broke down mess right now.
I told Gail, my best friend that I would be on my knees praying for him. Now I am asking all of you out there, no matter your faith or religion to do the same if you have time. You know Paul even less than you know me but he's a good ol' boy. Even if you're atheist if it's not too much trouble I humbly ask that you think nothing but good thoughts for him and his family.
Thursday, January 7, 2016
Penciled In For An Oil Change
I really don't go much of anywhere except to work and back. I make the occasional trip to Dad's (just maybe 20 miles each way) or the co-op for duck feed (less than that by a little). Anyway, I bought my Honda CR-V brand new on Valentine's Day 2014. The light on my dashboard recently clicked on that I have 5% oil life left. It has taken me almost 23 months to put on enough miles to my first oil change. I could maybe make another month and a couple weeks to 2 full years to oil change #1 but have penciled in an appointment Tuesday.
Then I'll haul ass over to the co-op for a couple hundred pounds of duck feed and maybe a bale of straw. I dumped another sack of leaves in their yard, still have a few to add. The rain is upon us again so I'll be fighting against the yard going sloppy. The Quack Pack is raising Hell playing in the rain even as I type this, God bless their hearts!
Some people bitch when it rains but I say any day when I'm on the green side of the grass and not getting jabbed in the ass w/ a pitchfork is a beautiful day. With the rain the temp will drop again but still not ass biting cold. Thank God!
Then I'll haul ass over to the co-op for a couple hundred pounds of duck feed and maybe a bale of straw. I dumped another sack of leaves in their yard, still have a few to add. The rain is upon us again so I'll be fighting against the yard going sloppy. The Quack Pack is raising Hell playing in the rain even as I type this, God bless their hearts!
Some people bitch when it rains but I say any day when I'm on the green side of the grass and not getting jabbed in the ass w/ a pitchfork is a beautiful day. With the rain the temp will drop again but still not ass biting cold. Thank God!
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
January 5, 2016
Not a lot going on today other than daily chores. I only got 1 duck egg this morning but already had 9 in the fridge so I'm still good in that department. I dumped another sack of oak leaves into the duck yard and still have another 4 or 5 to go. I did drag some of the 4 x 4 posts and 2 x 4's into the back yard and stack them and pile some of the 1 x 8's by the fire pit. It looks like I'll probably get about 5 pounds of rusty, bent nails out of the 2 x's. The 1 x 8's are pretty weather worn in appearance so I don't think they'll be good for much except fodder for the fire pit and making ash for my gardens.
It was a bit too chilly for me to spend much time out before a warm up session but it was a lovely day w/ much sunshine. Vlad & Bella got to spend some quality play and sun time in the bark yard chasing squirrels, barking at the Quack Pack and neighbors' mutts.
It was a bit too chilly for me to spend much time out before a warm up session but it was a lovely day w/ much sunshine. Vlad & Bella got to spend some quality play and sun time in the bark yard chasing squirrels, barking at the Quack Pack and neighbors' mutts.
Monday, January 4, 2016
A Salvage Run To Start My Weekend
Well, my nights off this week are Monday & Tuesday. Tonight is supposed to be the coldest we've had so far this Winter.
To start my weekend I offloaded all the 4 x 4 posts I'd fetched home yesterday and went and brung home a truckload of 1 x 8 and 2 x 4. While loading up all that stuff I noticed an interesting looking box inside a white trash bag so I loaded it and its 2 almost identical siblings. Curiosity may have killed the cat but it never hurt the Merlin! It's been a coon's age since I worked a jigsaw puzzle but now I have 5 to play with from the first sack. Most are old "Americana" nostalgia print stuff which is cool to me. I only hope the 1000 piece puzzle don't only have 999 in the box!
Also I love candles, especially when I don't have to work at night. The soft glow and (most) smells of scented candles are most relaxing and I can put a little light almost anywhere I want it. One of the bags had 5 candles from 2.5 to 2.75" diameter and 3 - 6" tall. These were the pick of the litter from the second sack. The last sack had mostly board games like backgammon, Chinese checkers, etc. Short story, I brung home 3 medium sized sacks of stuff somebody else didn't want and only 1 small went back to the curb.
Hey! Don't be too proud to "curb shop"! There's tons of perfectly good stuff waiting to be saved from the city dump. All it needs is a good home.
To start my weekend I offloaded all the 4 x 4 posts I'd fetched home yesterday and went and brung home a truckload of 1 x 8 and 2 x 4. While loading up all that stuff I noticed an interesting looking box inside a white trash bag so I loaded it and its 2 almost identical siblings. Curiosity may have killed the cat but it never hurt the Merlin! It's been a coon's age since I worked a jigsaw puzzle but now I have 5 to play with from the first sack. Most are old "Americana" nostalgia print stuff which is cool to me. I only hope the 1000 piece puzzle don't only have 999 in the box!
Also I love candles, especially when I don't have to work at night. The soft glow and (most) smells of scented candles are most relaxing and I can put a little light almost anywhere I want it. One of the bags had 5 candles from 2.5 to 2.75" diameter and 3 - 6" tall. These were the pick of the litter from the second sack. The last sack had mostly board games like backgammon, Chinese checkers, etc. Short story, I brung home 3 medium sized sacks of stuff somebody else didn't want and only 1 small went back to the curb.
Hey! Don't be too proud to "curb shop"! There's tons of perfectly good stuff waiting to be saved from the city dump. All it needs is a good home.
Sunday, January 3, 2016
Lumber & Leaves
On the way home from work I spied about 1/3 of a sheet of 4' x 8' plywood and several bags of leaves. This may not sound exciting to most folks but to me it was and is special. After tending my morning chores I headed out to pick up my curb bounty. The plywood was at the end of a "T" in the road and for some reason I decided to turn right and see what may be awaiting me down a dead end street. Holy Cow, Batman! What looks to have once been a wooden privacy fence was on the curb. I loaded up about a dozen 6' long 4 x 4's and some 1 x 8 planks. Most of the planks aren't anything special but can always feed the backyard fire pit. I paused to load up the plywood I had originally set my sights on and was back on the road to fetch the leaves, about 6 sacks. As I was about to turn down the road I live on I saw what appeared to be more. I eased down and loaded them half dozen up and looked down the side street and saw even more. By now my truck was loaded to the gills so I had to go offload some. On trip #2 I also loaded up a few oak logs some 4-6" diameter to help erosion control in the Swamp. I did bust myself on the shin offloading them and had to pass on a couple a bit too heavy for me to lift but in all it was 2 good runs. I'm off work this week on Monday and Tuesday nights so I may try to empty the truck and fetch more usable lumber and possibly logs home.
Most of you probably don't give a rat's butt but some may ask, "Why do you get so excited over bags of leaves?" Well. I'll tell you.
A # 1 I've 2 compost bins in my back yard and hardwood leaves are some of the best things God ever made to put in them. They help break down all the other organic matter I toss in there and as they rot seem to attract earthworms which help the process and provide me with fish bait.
B # 2 I have 1 raised bed garden and want to build at least 2 more this Spring. Instead of buying dirt I can make my own 100% organic soil by composting the leaves.
C # 3 The ducks have their bit of the yard looking like it was sprayed with Agent Orange so I want to add as much good organic material there as possible to minimize sloppiness and keep it from becoming a mud wallow.
D # 4 All through my backyard are areas that seem to stay wet unless we're in in severe drought. The leaves can be dumped there (composted or not) to soak up water and build up the low spots.
E # 5 Most sacks of oak leaves also contain oak nuts, aka acorns. Wild ducks eat acorns. My ducks eat acorns which means less feed I have to buy for them which makes me a happy redneck!
Most of you probably don't give a rat's butt but some may ask, "Why do you get so excited over bags of leaves?" Well. I'll tell you.
A # 1 I've 2 compost bins in my back yard and hardwood leaves are some of the best things God ever made to put in them. They help break down all the other organic matter I toss in there and as they rot seem to attract earthworms which help the process and provide me with fish bait.
B # 2 I have 1 raised bed garden and want to build at least 2 more this Spring. Instead of buying dirt I can make my own 100% organic soil by composting the leaves.
C # 3 The ducks have their bit of the yard looking like it was sprayed with Agent Orange so I want to add as much good organic material there as possible to minimize sloppiness and keep it from becoming a mud wallow.
D # 4 All through my backyard are areas that seem to stay wet unless we're in in severe drought. The leaves can be dumped there (composted or not) to soak up water and build up the low spots.
E # 5 Most sacks of oak leaves also contain oak nuts, aka acorns. Wild ducks eat acorns. My ducks eat acorns which means less feed I have to buy for them which makes me a happy redneck!
Saturday, January 2, 2016
White Iris, Pool Noodles & Chicken Wings
The temperature here is still slowly dropping and we are still forecast to have a freeze before next week is done. I was bringing a few groceries into and taking some trash out this morning when I saw something I did not expect on January 2. Along the North edge of my front yard I planted some white bearded irises I had brought along in my move. There sat, as big and beautiful as she wanted to be was a single perfect white iris flower. She has a bud beside her that may or may not blossom before the cold hits.
My house has had in the past some foundation shifting. Therefore my floors aren't perfectly level and there are gaps along the doors. During the seasonal change twixt Summer & Fall I fetched home several pool noodles thinking I could sooner or later come up w/ a use for them. My house has 2 "front" doors but I actually only use one. The other has the worst gaps of any in the entire structure. I already had a bunch of 1/2" PVC pipe laying around waiting to be used and I got a grand idea. I crammed the PVC down the hole of the pool noodle to keep it rigid, cut it to fit the door frame and shoved it into place. Viola! A door seal that will stop all but hurricane force winds for next to nothing.
Checking the sales paper last night I saw pork ribs and chicken wings on sale. I opted for the wings (or "wangs" as we call em here). After tending to my normal everyday chores I cut the wings into their natural 3 pieces. The tips I put into a bag and tossed into the freezer to make chicken stock out of. The 2 meatier sections went into a zipper bag to which I then added enough ginger ale to get em all good and marinated. Meanwhile I started a fire in "Black Beauty", my smoker and mixed my chicken spice mix. It is too simple and too damned good. I get 1 each container of store brand garlic salt and lemon pepper and mix them together in a Mason jar. Once the coals had cooked and the wood was smoking all that was needed was to rub the wings and put the heat to the meat!
I use whatever wood is available for my smoking so long as it's hardwood and not any type of evergreen. As of today I have mesquite, oak, hickory, plum, peach and apple. There is no certain percentage of woods, no method to my madness. I just use whatever I have and it all turns out good.
My house has had in the past some foundation shifting. Therefore my floors aren't perfectly level and there are gaps along the doors. During the seasonal change twixt Summer & Fall I fetched home several pool noodles thinking I could sooner or later come up w/ a use for them. My house has 2 "front" doors but I actually only use one. The other has the worst gaps of any in the entire structure. I already had a bunch of 1/2" PVC pipe laying around waiting to be used and I got a grand idea. I crammed the PVC down the hole of the pool noodle to keep it rigid, cut it to fit the door frame and shoved it into place. Viola! A door seal that will stop all but hurricane force winds for next to nothing.
Checking the sales paper last night I saw pork ribs and chicken wings on sale. I opted for the wings (or "wangs" as we call em here). After tending to my normal everyday chores I cut the wings into their natural 3 pieces. The tips I put into a bag and tossed into the freezer to make chicken stock out of. The 2 meatier sections went into a zipper bag to which I then added enough ginger ale to get em all good and marinated. Meanwhile I started a fire in "Black Beauty", my smoker and mixed my chicken spice mix. It is too simple and too damned good. I get 1 each container of store brand garlic salt and lemon pepper and mix them together in a Mason jar. Once the coals had cooked and the wood was smoking all that was needed was to rub the wings and put the heat to the meat!
I use whatever wood is available for my smoking so long as it's hardwood and not any type of evergreen. As of today I have mesquite, oak, hickory, plum, peach and apple. There is no certain percentage of woods, no method to my madness. I just use whatever I have and it all turns out good.
Friday, January 1, 2016
Welcome 2016
Another year over, a new one just begun!
Just FYI, I was at work last night/this morning when 2015 ended and 2016 began so I wasn't at any big New Year's bash. In fact, I wasn't really 100% aware that it was even New Year's Eve at all. I was off work Tuesday and Wednesday nights and didn't pay much if any attention to the date. I awoke to the sounds of some of my neighbors popping off some fireworks but sometimes they start that a few days before any actual fireworks holiday.
I can't make any promises as per: resolutions but here are a few things I'll try to do:
Just be a better person, more forgiving and understanding.
40 years is long enough to smoke cigarettes... Time to quit?
Not waste so much effort, money and time on frivolous matters and endeavors.
Pay all (or most) of my bills on or before the due date.
Reduce, reuse and recycle more.
Spend more time with family.
Tell family, friends and strangers "thank you" more often.
Gain weight. I know this sounds weird especially from someone in Mississippi but I'm 5'9" and last time I weighed I was only at 135 pounds. I could use a bit more muscle mass.
Generally take better care of my health.
Grow more, waste less food.
Be a better housekeeper.
Offer my help whenever and wherever I see it could be needed and not be so damned pig headed that I won't ask for help instead of trying to do a 2 man job by myself.
Be more thankful to God for all He's blessed me and all His children with.
Keeping w/ New Year's traditional meal meal here I looked for some ham hocks at the grocery this morning to no avail. The only "real" hams left were 20 pounds or more.... DAMN! I don't need 20 pounds of ham, Hopefully, sliced sammich meat ham will be close enough for luck in the new year.
In the Southern part of the U.S.A. it's supposed to be ham hocks and black eye peas (from the siege of Vicksburg, as I understand folklore). Then there's cabbage or some sort of greens for greenback dollars and sliced carrots that represent gold coins.
I prefer my cabbage fried rather than boiled. I try to buy my bacon thick sliced so I slow fry 2 or 3 slices just until most of the fat is cooked out. Then remove the bacon and set it aside. I don't need a piss pot full of cabbage so I try to buy a small head. A quarter head is plenty to last me a meal or 3. Quarter the head and cut as you like it. I like it in some 1/4 inch strips then cut into mouth sized pieces. Cut up a half or so of a medium onion into thinner but same length pieces and toss em and the cabbage into the skillet of bacon fat. Cook until the cabbage is "al dente" and onions are translucent and/or all is just starting to brown. Add a pinch of kosher or sea salt, a couple grinds of black pepper. If you want, once it's on the plate give it a little splash of pepper sauce. Not the red stuff I love so much but pickled pepper sauce, the clear stuff w/ the peppers in it. Hey! The juice from a jar of pickled jalapenos works just as well as the $2.00 bottle of pickled pepper sauce in my humble opinion.
Well, that's all I have for now. I'll sign off wishing y'all, your families and friends and all the world love, peace and prosperity in 2016 and beyond.
May God's love shine on you all.
Just FYI, I was at work last night/this morning when 2015 ended and 2016 began so I wasn't at any big New Year's bash. In fact, I wasn't really 100% aware that it was even New Year's Eve at all. I was off work Tuesday and Wednesday nights and didn't pay much if any attention to the date. I awoke to the sounds of some of my neighbors popping off some fireworks but sometimes they start that a few days before any actual fireworks holiday.
I can't make any promises as per: resolutions but here are a few things I'll try to do:
Just be a better person, more forgiving and understanding.
40 years is long enough to smoke cigarettes... Time to quit?
Not waste so much effort, money and time on frivolous matters and endeavors.
Pay all (or most) of my bills on or before the due date.
Reduce, reuse and recycle more.
Spend more time with family.
Tell family, friends and strangers "thank you" more often.
Gain weight. I know this sounds weird especially from someone in Mississippi but I'm 5'9" and last time I weighed I was only at 135 pounds. I could use a bit more muscle mass.
Generally take better care of my health.
Grow more, waste less food.
Be a better housekeeper.
Offer my help whenever and wherever I see it could be needed and not be so damned pig headed that I won't ask for help instead of trying to do a 2 man job by myself.
Be more thankful to God for all He's blessed me and all His children with.
Keeping w/ New Year's traditional meal meal here I looked for some ham hocks at the grocery this morning to no avail. The only "real" hams left were 20 pounds or more.... DAMN! I don't need 20 pounds of ham, Hopefully, sliced sammich meat ham will be close enough for luck in the new year.
In the Southern part of the U.S.A. it's supposed to be ham hocks and black eye peas (from the siege of Vicksburg, as I understand folklore). Then there's cabbage or some sort of greens for greenback dollars and sliced carrots that represent gold coins.
I prefer my cabbage fried rather than boiled. I try to buy my bacon thick sliced so I slow fry 2 or 3 slices just until most of the fat is cooked out. Then remove the bacon and set it aside. I don't need a piss pot full of cabbage so I try to buy a small head. A quarter head is plenty to last me a meal or 3. Quarter the head and cut as you like it. I like it in some 1/4 inch strips then cut into mouth sized pieces. Cut up a half or so of a medium onion into thinner but same length pieces and toss em and the cabbage into the skillet of bacon fat. Cook until the cabbage is "al dente" and onions are translucent and/or all is just starting to brown. Add a pinch of kosher or sea salt, a couple grinds of black pepper. If you want, once it's on the plate give it a little splash of pepper sauce. Not the red stuff I love so much but pickled pepper sauce, the clear stuff w/ the peppers in it. Hey! The juice from a jar of pickled jalapenos works just as well as the $2.00 bottle of pickled pepper sauce in my humble opinion.
Well, that's all I have for now. I'll sign off wishing y'all, your families and friends and all the world love, peace and prosperity in 2016 and beyond.
May God's love shine on you all.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)