AND IT WAS GOOD - SILVER WEDDING ANNIVERSARY - DEER LIVES WITH CATTLE - I SKIED DOWN MOUNT EVEREST - JIBBER JABBER

.

Full turkey dinner formal table setting for her and me. Her idea to set a third plate for reasons from her heart for one who could not attend our dinner. This gesture is typical of her caring for others in her circle of life.

We have missed two Thanksgiving meals due to sickness and this Christmas we finally caught up.

Turkey parts and pieces along with a half bottle of Pinot Grigio and put on simmer several hours. Strained and leftover mashed potatoes, dressing, gravy, turkey and vegetables were added to complete the soup. Add a turkey sandwich and the feasting continued for a couple days.

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SILVER WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

 

We married just after Christmas Day 25 years ago. Our wedding anniversaries come with this holiday season.We celebrated with a quiet day to ourselves in appreciation of good years together gone by so quickly. The figurine above says everything we both had to say to each other. A lunch out at our favorite Mexican restaurant was in keeping with just being together.

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The hustle and bustle leading up to Christmas is over now and we are enjoying some cold Texas weather, quiet naps and leftovers. New Years will be a large pot of family recipe homemade clam chowder. We will splurge and add a few slices of buttered homemade bread to round out this year and then peek into next year. 

Eating healthy will return, days at the gym improving on health and day trips as needed and or wanted. Spring will come fast and along with that, planting, mowing and working outside to keep up. Cats are fat and eating like horses. "The beat goes on."

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"THINKS HE IS A COW" 

Quite awhile ago, I head a story of a buck living with a local herd of cattle. Chance encounter with this herd near one of our back roads was a good photo opportunity. When I looked at the photo later that night, there was the buck blending in with the herd. Apparently the deer has been with the herd for a few years. It walks with a limp and has only one antler set. The thinking here is that this animal may have been hit by a car and injured. It has survived and doing just fine among his new found family.

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I SKIED DOWN MOUNT EVEREST 

Absolutely a team effort, but he gets to add photos and "being the first" to his wall of life accomplishments. All without the assist of oxygen. Yea!!

Watch on a big screen if you can. 

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FLIPPING SWITCHES

Sunrise and on the job getting power turned back on.

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JIBBER JABBER

Last post of this year. 

I have little desire to look back at this year in review and plan to enter the new year cautiously. This seems to have become a norm for me over the past decade. 

Thanks for all the visits and time spent here. May the new year bring all of us good health and great opportunities.
 

 

 

 

BOB HOPE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL 1966 - A WHITE CHRISTMAS 2025 CHRISTMAS EVE

The Bob Hope USO Christmas Show in An Khe, Vietnam, in December 1966 was a major morale booster for the 1st Air Cavalry Division, featuring comedians like Phyllis Diller, singer Anita Bryant, actress Joey Heatherton, and Korean vocalists The Kim Sisters, bringing laughter and a sense of appreciation to thousands of troops during the holiday season in the middle of the war. (Google) 

The photo above I have shared before and also the quick story. 

I had a ringside seat at this Bob Hope Christmas Special with the 1st Air Cav, An Khe, Vietnam, December 1966.

I had been in country for a little over a week. Flew to An Khe in the back seat of a UH-1H, assigned to my unit the 2nd of the 20th, ARA. I maybe had one or two flight hours under my belt; as green as they come and lost in the speed of getting my year's tour of duty started.

The pilots drew straws to get to go this Bob Hope Christmas special, and I was one of three of us getting a short straw. It was fair and square, but I felt one of the older experienced pilots should have gotten my slot. But, it was fair and all understood.

The walk to the show across the base would have taken well over an hour but the Captain was officer in charge of the three of us and quite a character. We found a lone jeep, commandeered the vehicle, told to get in and be quite. Off we went to the Bob Hope Show in someone else's jeep.  

Upon arrival, we left the jeep and climbed to the gathering only to find ourselves far from the stage and at the outer ring of a sea of soldiers already in place. No room to walk through.

The Captain then found some kind of white cloth, ripped three strips and we each tied one to our upper sleeves. He said to follow him and not to say a word. We entered the ring of tightly packed GIs, the Captain saying, "General's pilots! Generals pilots!" as we entered the gathering. And like magic, a path cleared and we walked right down to the back of the chairs where the real generals were seated. I had much to learn that year and that Captain taught me much about living a life. Standing just behind the generals seated to watch the show was a ringside seat for the three of us. We had many laughs about that moment that year.  I have never forgot the lesson(s).

 Bob Hope Christmas special 1966 

Christmas, 59 years ago, far from home in a war zone. At 37:33 shows some of the An Khe show and the sea of GIs we waded through.

Those years tore at our country. The Bob Hope Specials brought home and laughter to the men and women serving. The actors and singers that went with Bob Hope were proud to share their time with us and it helped all of us get through a tough Christmas far away from home, be just a little closer to us and that we were appreciated.

I could write much here, but maybe for another time. Take some time to watch the goodness that Bob Hope brought to this country at a most difficult time in our history.

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 A 2025 White Christmas Eve morning.

Merry Christmas to you and yours on this Christmas Eve. 

 

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A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS TREE - LEGO CAR #77242 - DRIFTING TOY CARS - FALLING DOWN UPDATE - MORNING BISCUITS - JIBBER JABBER

This Christmas tree was found alongside a forest trail, cut down, drug home, trimmed to fit though front door, set in place and decorated. A new tradition began this Christmas season. Personally, there is nothing better than a Charlie Brown Christmas tree. 

 And cat approved.

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STILL A KID AT HEART

I told my wife the other morning that as long as I can sit down and build LEGO cars, my mind is still working fine. And the kid in me is still alive, too.

LEGO  race car #77242. Phase 1 completed. 

 

And in the "still a kid in me" arena, son's kid in him is working well also.

 
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 FOLLOWUP ON RECENT FALL

The space I fell through a week ago has been upgraded with crossbars welded in the space(s). My wife and I briefly talked of this solution and yesterday morning, a local kid with welding equipment showed up and did the job. A Christmas present from my wife. All we have to do now is cover the cross bars with round plumbing foam insulation to protect car doors opening into those spaces. Actually, looks like the bars belong there.

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BISCUITS FOR ONE 

I have shared this fellow's video before and it has been my "go to" recipe for a few years now.  

These were a treat this morning for her and me. Christmas season and all of that. Cut in half with melting butter and local apple jelly. I increased the size of the recipe so that we could treat again at lunchtime today. It has been at least two years since I have baked biscuits. Thinner dough also yielded a few extra biscuits.

 I may not be able to wait for lunch now as I look at this photo above.

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JIBBER JABBER  

Shortest day of the year today. The sun starts to rise on the horizon, days will be getting longer along with changing seasons. Texas February winter is still ahead of us, but 70 and 80 degrees coming this week of Christmas. Warm winds blow.

We have started watching the Yellowstone series again and have forgotten how great this series was. So much happened in that first season. 

Wishing all of you well this Christmas. Merry Merry and Happy Happy. 

BELIEVE  you have time for this; enjoy!

NORWEGIAN CHRISTMAS SONG 

THE SANCTUARY 

 

 

 

 

ONE OF MY CONSTANT FEARS - FULL WOODSHED - 4X4 LED LIGHTS - COOKIES

I often think of falling at this time of my life. Tripping and the possible damage done. Older folk have this problem and there are more stories than I can recall about these kinds of incidents. My wife and I are constantly warning each other of obstacles on the paths we walk. We pay attention and this has become a good habit. BUT!!

A normal Thursday morning and I was walking to the truck to put in a handful of small items, then start the truck to warm it up for our trip to Sulphur Springs. It was going to be a good road trip day for us. Lunch out to boot.

My left foot caught the raised edge of our carport entrance and I suddenly found myself flying through hanging yard tools, both arms outstretched in front of me finding only air to support my forward motion. I hit the ground, the left forearm taking the brunt of the fall. And there it was, my worst fear coming true. I had fallen and could not get up.

I did a quick system check, all was ok but my forearm reported some discomfort. Nothing broken, but I knew the wound on my arm would mean a trip to the emergency room. A peak down the sleeve of my sweatshirt confirmed the injury and bleeding. I am on blood thinners now, but am fortunate that I do not bleed any more than I did before the blood thinners. The wound would need attending to, but not serious enough to worry about laying there on the ground.

I had not taken my cell phone with me, so I had no way to tell my wife in the house I had fallen and could not get up. She would be coming outside in a few minutes. I knew she would find me on the ground and would immediately know I was in a predicament.

For the next ten minutes I tried and tried to find some leverage, a method, an incline, a yard tool handle on which to somehow raise myself into a position of standing. But was no vertical structure along with that to help me to that position. All I could do was struggle.

“If only I had................” thoughts and none helpful. Enough time to realize that this situation could have been much much worse had my wife not already been in the queue for coming outside or not at home. I was not able to find any solution for getting up in the time that passed. I was smart enough to not make the situation worse by getting onto bad knees and then falling again in a poorly planned “solution” causing a worse injury.

She did find me sitting helplessly on the gravel driveway. A neighbor was called, arrived but because he had just clipped the tips of his middle fingers off his right hand using a jointer the day before, lacked the strength and grip to help raise me. Other neighbors, usually always home and available in a moment like this, were gone.

Calling 911 brought our local volunteer EMTs to the house within 7 minutes. Two of the men stood me up, dusted me off and bandaged my left forearm. They helped me into my wife's car and we were off to the emergency room on the outskirts of town.

Ironically, my wife had delivered a couple dozen of Christmas cookies to the emergency room at the hospital the day before. The gal behind the desk wondered why they were receiving Christmas cookies and my wife said she and her husband were “frequent flyers” there for the past 5 years. The next day she was bringing me in again for an injury needing emergency care.

The long of all of this is that I was fortunate. Wife was home, local 911 help folk live just up the street from us, sweatshirt prevented dirt and rock road rash debris, and the wound needed cleaning but would heal just fine the the weeks ahead. I had, though, removed a good portion of skin from my forearm.

I have had a lot of time to think about this now and making a plan for that if either my wife or I fall in the future, we will have communications at hand. This is a work in progress.

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Woodshed in New Hampshire topped off last week.

New LED night lights.

 Bigger tires and then some!

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CHRISTMAS COOKIES 

My wife has baked over 40 dozen of several different kinds of Christmas cookies completed today for local friends, businesses and family. Delivery will be accomplished this coming week.

I have fulfilled my duties for quality control too!!!

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Fried in butter!

 Fresh veggies with Raspberry vinaigrette. 

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JIBBER JABBER 

 But can she act?

 Wizards Of Winter 

Best Chevrolet Christmas Commercial 

Thanksgiving Turkey will happen Christmas Day here. Then Silver Wedding Anniversary and the New Year. 

Winter has been very mild. A good hard freeze for a few weeks would be helpful to kill off spring/summer bugs.

Started re-watching Yellowstone series from the beginning, following Taylor Sheridan's Landman season 2 with interest and on the 17th, FALLOUT season 2 begins. We are fans!

Have a good week and thanks for visiting. 

 

 

CANNON - FT. COLLINS SUNSET - GOOD EATS - JIBBER JABBER

Cannon is one of the local horses that roam the 20 acres to our south. Often on my morning walk, I will come up to him while he waits to be fed. He allows me to pet his nose. I talk to him like he understands me, telling him he is a good boy and that I appreciate him taking his time to let me say good morning.
 

Cannon on his feed.

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Fort Collins Sunset earlier this past week

 

 Morning alone time; "The way it should be." Tea needs refilling, though.

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GOOD EATS 

 HOMEMADE TOMATO SOUP

(From recent post) Lunch bowl of tomato soup with saltines. There is no other way for me. I still can see my father grabbing a full of saltines from the sleeve of crackers and crumbling them over his bowl of soup. Quite often, this was done twice. The crackers were folded into the soup before eating. I copy him to this day, although I do go a little easier on the cracker quantity. 

Sausage, zucchini, yellow squash, onion and eggs casserole 

 "With the crunch of Frenches fried onion on top."

One of my wife's go to meals that feeds us for a couple days. 

FOUR POUND BONELESS RIB EYE STEAK

Local markets had ribeye steaks on sale. I asked if I could get a ribeye roast for the same price. Butcher said "No, I cannot sell ribeye roasts; but I can sell you a 4 pound ribeye steak." I looked at him, he looked at me and I said, "I'll take two please."

A few minutes later I received two of the most beautiful "roasts" I have ever seen. The one above was a test this past week end and I should have ordered more "4 pound boneless ribeye steaks." 

Following photos just for food photography.

 

Her slice.
 

My slice.

I oven baked this "roast" like I have every other ribeye roast. Simple olive oil coating, salt and lots of pepper. Four hundred fifty degrees for 20 minutes then 325 degrees until center temp near 120 degrees F. Rested 20 minutes.

It was the quality of the beef. Nothing more, nothing less. And yes, it tasted as good as the photos convey. This "steak" fed us three full dinners for two.

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JIBBER JABBER

Behind on posting due to real world problems. I was hit with the flu a week ago and down with all that entails. Cough syrup and congestion pills helped going through the rigors of the flu, but the exhaustion and weakness kept me down for most of the week. My wife was again my savior with small comfort food meals and constant over watch. She never ever complained, was always there to tuck me in and "hover" over me. 

Thanksgiving dinner did not happen. That meal now scheduled for Christmas Eve and Christmas day. 

My wife starts making Christmas cookies today for the Dallas family. They all need to be mailed out on time. Next batches of chocolate chip cookies for local friends and neighbors will follow that. I am determined to not tease myself with testing batches as I am within 5 pounds of where I want to be weight-wise. 

Cold weather now for east Texas, damp and wet. Propane fire place on most of the day and as we settle into winter, holidays and end of the year. Cats are fat and spend most of their time snuggled together in their cat house with electric blanket. They meow to eat and jump back their warm corners. 

Appreciate the visit this week.  

 

 

 

 

 

WO-1 "ARNIE" NAKKERUD, YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN 11/11/2025 - VIETNAM MOVIE

W0-1 ARNOLD OLAF NAKKERUD 

 

Dear Arnie,

"It has been 57 years now and some memories are starting to fade. But not those of you, your friendship and those months we spent in Ft. Wolters, Texas and Ft. Rucker, Alabama. 

We were kids then, you from Seattle and me from Hoquiam, Washington. We met early on in flight school, attended classes together, flew together and spent much of our free time carousing the back roads of Mineral Wells, Texas and on our road trips to Panama City, Florida on our weekends off while at Ft. Rucker.

Of all that I learned while in your company and in our travels together, the most important was to live every day to the fullest and never ever change who you are for anyone for any reason.

Ft. Wolters and Ft. Rucker are no more, my friend. They are now historical landmarks from those days we lived and where we learned how to fly Army helicopters. Much has been written and history books are full of our brothers in arms, those times and that war. 

You were and still are my brother in every sense of the word. 

God Bless and be at peace."

 

 

Graduation Day. "Arnie" in the middle of several other newly commissioned Warrant Officers in the class of 66-17. On this day, we were awarded our wings, our WO-1 officers bars pinned on our shoulders and our orders. The majority of our graduating class were all headed to fly helicopters in Vietnam.

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Vietnam Movie. 2/20th ARA. 1st Air Cav-1967

Photos taken and compiled in 1967 serving with The 2nd of The 20th, ARA, 1st Air Cav. We flew out of An Khe, Bong Son, The An Lao Valley and Phan Thiet. Lyrics and music by Joe Galloway "God's Own Lunatics" from "The Shadow of The Blade" 

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It is my hope this day, that all veterans will never be forgotten for their service and sacrifice to our country.

God Bless America 

Thanks for the visit this week 

 

STORM CREW - SALTINES AND SOUPS - TIME CHANGE - JIBBER JABBER

Storm damage line crew morning "show-up" with several thousand outages left to repair.

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GOYA SALTINES 

We finally opened one of the Goya (from recent post) saltine cracker cans. We were surprised to find that the crackers are packed in foil pouches, 4 crackers each. The saltines are thinner than other brands, and have a crisp salty flavor.

The saltines worked perfectly in a bowl of homemade broccoli-cheese soup.

First of November now with colder temperatures means breaking out the soup pot.

And this just in!!

Her is making cream of tomato soup. 

 ...continued next week

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TIME CHANGING

 

I just learned again how much this bi-annual time changing causes some stress. 

 

We have tried a few tricks changing the time early, later in the day or ignoring the fact. I now remember that technology changes all of that because cell phones, computers and smart electronics are right there when you wake up to let you know that you are getting up an hour too early. Eating breakfast too early. The time to go out side for the daily morning walk arrives before I am ready. Or is it later? Feeding the cats at a new time cannot be done in one night because "they know what time it is for feeding," regardless. New cat feeding times take a few days adjustment. 

 

The in-home generator now does it's bi-monthly start up checks at 05:00 not 06:00. We will adapt.

  

She is in charge of all the home clocks and I am happy that she has taken this task on. We do work well together because we both have learned that no amount of pissing and moaning helps the process.

 

She cannot change the clock on the microwave no matter how many times she tries. I can. She has given in to let me do that.

 

But the analog chicken clock pictured above is the clock that breaks the camel's back. No matter what time all the other clocks say it is, the chicken clock is always our go-to time reference, coming or going. It was there this morning to remind us life is an hour out of sync. 

 

A ladder is needed, instructions are always given to me that to be careful and not break a chicken in the process of getting the clock down. "Those are your mother's and it would break my heart to lose one."

 

I gently bring down each chicken and secure it. The clock is twisted, lifted, pulled gently off the nail. A new battery is added, the clock is cleaned and the time set, the chickens are cleaned and I get back on the ladder and reverse the process. 

 

Finally, each chicken is re-oriented in its proper position. I have yet to set the chickens initially correctly. They are moved, pivoted, pushed back, pushed left or right and rotated to with in a nano inch of perfection in relation to the clock and each other. Once perfect, having walked the length of the kitchen, she expresses, with glee how wonderful they look. That is a good moment for me proving that I do have patience, that it will be months before we have to do this again and that that analog clock will pay back instant time information dividends a dozen times every day. 

 

JIBBER JABBER

 

At some point in your future, you will need pill boxes. I lived the majority of my life without them. But that has changed.

 

Taking two blood-thinner pills an hour apart was a mistake. To the point of driving to the emergency room to make sure I was not going to implode or "ooze out." The doctor enforced that it was indeed a big mistake and not to do it again. Thus, pill boxes and even a check list. Seems like overkill, but I have not made that mistake again. And I am more organized in the daily pill-taking process. Memory will be another issue, too, as you age. 

 

I only take three pills that are doctor-prescribed. Not bad, but the add-on supplements for eyes, vitamin this and vitamin that and a magnesium gummy all help with ............... they help!

 

And you will have to learn how to use your calendar on your cell phone for appointments. Doctor appointments. Yep, you're gonna have more doctor appointments than you think you will. And you cannot have appointments that require you drive in the dark to go to the appointment or return home.  

 

Her said this morning that "80 is the new 65." I am not sure about that. I rode a motorcycle coast to coast to coast when I was 65. My wife and I together would be hard-pressed to drive that now. Probably, but it would take longer and there would be many pit stops. 

 

Thanks for the visit this week.