LILLY & FINNEGAN - COWS IN A POOL - NIGHT SHIFT - VELVET SUNDOWN - SONG: DUST ON THE WIND - JIBBER JABBER

MEET LILLY

 

 

Lilly was a shelter dog for a month, given up by her owners because she had "run her race" making babies. She is 9 years old now and been adopted by "foxhat" in middle New Hampshire. She is a free dog in America. Snacks, walks, her own couch and blanket and lots of love. She extends her paw often in appreciation. Lilly is a good ol girl. This photo sent to me from "foxhat" is magnificent. Lilly and her new owners are most happy together.

 

AND FINNEGAN 

 

Doing what Golden Retrievers do. 
 

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COWS IN A POOL

 

A daily afternoon occurrence along the back roads of East Texas as the summer heat and humidity run mid-90's. Pools abound across the local landscapes and offer cattle plenty to drink and cool off. 
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NIGHT SHIFT

 

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VELVET SUNDOWN

An AI generated band enjoying a large growing audience. 

Listen to  DUST ON THE WIND

Band members and music generated by AI. This song has over 1.5 million hits in just a few weeks of being released. Historic I think! Listen to some of their other songs. I use Spotify. Can also be found on YouTube. To me, the music is reminiscent of the 1960's and the Vietnam War. I am drawn to many of their released songs.

Not sure what all this means or even how it all happens.  But generating a band and music using AI is quite an accomplishment. 

I wonder what those in the industry spending years getting their music and talent into the public's eye think about all of this. Historic I think! Historic.

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 JIBBER JABBER

Rain, sun, heat, humidity and any work needing done outside needs to be done no later than 09:00. The pools and lakes are full which is not normal for middle July. Two cuttings of hay this season and if these passing thunderstorms continue, a 3rd cutting is not far off. Neighbor says "I hope not" when it comes to the need for another cutting of hay this summer.

But all of this will dry out as August approaches as this is the summer-in-Texas- month that is constant with hot temperatures.  

Appreciate the visit this week. 

"ELSBETH" LILIES" - SAUSAGE PEPPERS ONIONS - RIB EYE STEAK - PIT BOSS ON LINE - JIBBER JABBER

 LILIES

One of our favorite, first-in-the-morning go-to blogs is Ace of Spades HQ, smart, sharp, political commentary and analyses, world-class tech reporting and breaking news when it happens.  But on the weekend, Ace shows a kinder, gentler side with literature, hobbies, music, gardening, culinary and couture written by a cadre of talented co-bloggers.  Readers, however, are always encouraged to contribute and yesterday, the bride had this piece featured in the gardening section: 

Big as my hand

Long-time lurker - Lil ‘Ol Texas Lady – here. Hubby and I moved back home to Texas from the frozen northeast a few years ago and have been working on establishing veggie (his) and flower (mine) gardens since then. He inherited a green thumb while I, alas, can barely grow mold on a shower curtain; we tend opposite ends of the property.

Three years ago, my older sister sent me splits from daylilies hybridized nearly 100 years ago by my maternal grandmother. My grandmother, a tough little firecracker standing nearly 4’10 in heels, and HER husband, were passionate gardeners well into their dotage, so skilled and noted at hybridizing they became national judges of a slew of varieties from irises to daffodils to daylilies.

Of her creations, none were or remain as glorious as “Elsbeth”, a ruffled, butter-yellow daylily, growing as tall as 3 feet with blooms as long and wide as my hand. So prodigious are they that each bloom stalk will produce as many as 6-10 blooms over the course of their 90-day life.

And who knew, these magnificent flowers absolutely thrive in the East Texas sun and heat despite being tended by one as botanically ‘tarded as I.

Meet “Elsbeth”.

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SAUSAGE, PEPPERS, ONIONS

A test dinner using peppers and onions from the garden, jar garlic, Polish Sausage and one passing shake of Cajun spice.

Sauteed in olive oil, a little salt and dash of pepper.  In a perfect world there would have been homemade bread out of the oven. A test loaf, yea?

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RIB EYE AND BAKED POTATO

Four and a half minutes in a cast iron skillet. Pad of melting butter. 

I had 4 rib eyes hidden in the freezer for the past two years. Hidden so well that I had forgotten about them. A few years ago, our local market had standing rib roasts on sale, BOGO. They were also cutting them into rib eye steaks for the same deal. Biggest mistake here is not getting a dozen of these because today, rib eye steaks are not worth the price asked. Two left though. Come to think of it, the bride and I no longer eat a whole steak like the one pictured above. Now days, we get 4 meals out of two steaks. The half leftover steak made a wonderful Mexican steak salad smothered in salsa, guacamole sauce and sour cream for lunch the next day.

The baked potato should get an honorable mention here. Even with this steak front and center, I ate the baked potato first. Just butter and salt. 

Since I can remember, everything ever cooked at home had enough leftovers to come back to the table for another dinner.  Good old home cooking never lacking. 

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PIT BOSS ON LINE 

It has been months since I have uncovered the Pit Boss and smoked anything. With the 4th of July on the horizon, a test smoking of a chunk of beef today is in order. I let out the clutch and got the smoker up to 400 degrees for a half-hour yesterday. 

During the cool down and shut off, I thought it a big waste of time and heat, so I tested 4 frozen Wally World hamburger patties. Box patties. Let 4 of them rest on the top grate for 25 minutes at 300 degrees. Expected failure but learned the burgers were much better than pan frying. Much better!! Not dried out. The bride took care of two without a word. The sign of success. More grilling is in order now using heat over smoking. So much to learn.

JIBBER JABBER 

Appears that this turned into a food thread. We have had more time on our hands the past couple weeks giving way of how to seek ways to entertain ourselves. Both of us will take the time to bring back old good eats we like and have a go around of "oldies but goodies." The back bottom corners of the freezer have hidden "cookies" that we at one time knew about. Why not uncover and get that food on the table?

Fourth of July next weekend. Days getting shorter and weather in East Texas is textbook wonderful. Temperatures in the low 90's, some humidity and the countryside is still a wonderful green. Dozens of birds are hitting the feeders now and I enjoy the air traffic of fleeting colors. Come noon, I have to add a little more bird food to keep up with the demand.

I appreciate your visit this week. 

  

 

CAN YOU SPIT? - PRESERVING FRESH GREEN PEPPERS - NEW TOOL - JIBBER JABBER

 

Our back yard will never win any awards. This yard started the season a "lushness" of east Texas green. I kept it mowed high. This part of our yard serves as a buffer between the house and an invading forest. 

After the flooding rains washed through these past weeks, what grows is greenery that loves some shade, lots of water, being left alone and on/off heat. It has been close to a month now since I have been able to get back here. Running the zero-turn in mud solves nothing. 

Having two days of sun and warmth behind us, I was able to knock down the growth. I still call it mowing, and the zero-turn is built tough for mowing/chopping small trees. A hedge trimmer was needed to cut back the overhanging advance from the treeline. Long story short, "good enough. 

I was also able to get in a high cut on the front yard and back yard. Grass was not necessarily mowed as much it was topped and leveled. It is still wet. 

After an hour working the yards, I see my wife walking down the drive way with a bottle of water in hand. She has my back in so many ways and she knows me well enough now that it is just easier for her to provide preventative health maintenance.  

I stopped and downed a whole bottle of water, thanked her and went back into the sun mowing. After a few minutes I tried spitting and realized that I could not. I know about this being a primary notice to self that I am dehydrated. If I cannot spit, the body needs fluids. And the body gives me no other early indication that I am dehydrated. I feel fine as if I could go on for hours.

I tried spitting again and laughed at myself in that I could not. I stopped the mower, idled down and headed towards her. In getting her attention, I said, "I cannot spit." She knew what this means and disappeared into the house. A few minutes later, an ice filled drink with electrolytes mixed in, was handed to me. 

An over grown path for the past 6 months cleared with a few passes of the zero-turn lawn mower set to 4".

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FRESH GREEN PEPPERS VACUUM PACKED

We are trying to keep all of the green peppers as fresh as we can. Keeping in the fridge for awhile and some in the freezer. We eat these with lunchs and dinners and still cannot keep up with the garden. Super food.

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NEVER TOO OLD FOR A NEW TOOL

I cannot "dodge, dip, dive, duck and dodge" (Dodgeball Movie) as easily as I used to so an impact hammer tool will help.

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JIBBER JABBER

The weather has changed. Days now forecast to be in the nineties and the nights in the seventies. No rain. Hotter, humid and officially summer. The sun has peaked and days officially getting shorter. I will not be able to help myself in the next few months to blog of triple-digit temperatures and soaking humidity. And that any work we need to do outside needs to be completed NLT ten in the morning. We head into all of this with lakes and ponds full to the brim. 

The 4th of July is just around the corner we have decided to pull out one of the remaining prime ribs in the freezer and give it to The Pit Boss. I have been looking at this particular prime rib for a few months now wanting an excuse to bring it out. I envision that first slice. I need more to do than just think about it.  

I long for an excuse to write of worldly things, absurdities and what appear to me to be most all things sideways or upside being promoted as normal and insisting they be more widely accepted by the masses.  I peer down this rabbit hole wanting to jump in with both feet. I know better and common sense tells me to get on with the day and to tackle a hands-on project that I have control over, understand and can check off a to-do list. The head shaking, though, has become a learned habit. My wife watches this body language and simply responds, "yeah."

Huh? 

The speed BUMP was first introduced in 1906 in New Jersey.( Google AI) It is a "traffic calming device," used to slow down traffic. Who knew?

But why call it a speed hump now? Right there! Did you see it? Uncontrolled head shaking.

 

The bride "called an audible" Friday after a doctor's appointment. It was lunch time and she offered up "Onion Rings at Big Smiths."? We have talked of lunching there for a couple months now but had not acted on it. Within 15 minutes, we had an order of their onion rings sitting in front of us. And we did not have to pass over any speed humps. Win win. 

Pictured above is half of the original order. And yes, the onion rings alone are reason enough to go out of your way if you are passing by Sulpher Springs, Texas. Also yes, one order is more than enough for 4.

Thanks for the visit this week. 

 

FOR THE BIRDS - GREEN PEPPERS - FLAVORD ALMONDS - JIBBER JABBER

Behind in posting and I have excuses. Wife says I have reasons. Potato potahto!

Son and girl friend flew in for a few days for 80th birthday surprise. Doctors' appointments and out-patient procedures requiring some downtime. Weather. Attitude. Little things along with some lazy.

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Set up the game camera to catch bird activity at the feeder. Birds hitting the feeders sunrise to sunset and some of the activity is spectacular. Dozens arriving and departing through out the day. I was hoping to get several good photos and found that I had over 1000 photos to review after just two days. 

Cardinals drop down vertically and this photo captures one of those moments. I am amazed at all that has to happen in that last foot of altitude. I am imagining that the wife is looking on and asking, "what is wrong with you?"
 

Woodpeckers need to lay their heads down to pick up seeds.

One of the pairs of Cardinals that live here.

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Green Peppers 

Only one garden crop this season.

Green peppers thriving in the daily change from thunderstorms to sunshine and then back to thunderstorms. We eat these like candy with lunch and dinner. I expect these to produce through summer and into the fall. 

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Wasabi & Soy Sauce-Flavored 

Son bought these almonds at the airport to snack on. I would have never given them a second look but I admit the flavors are addictive. I kept taking the bag out of his hand to confirm my liking. He turned me into a big fan. Just sharing.

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JIBBER JABBER

Of course, the visit from son and his fiancee was top billing over these past several weeks. It has been 5 years since we left NH. We talk and text daily, but there is nothing in the world as wonderful as holding my son in my arms. Those 5 years vanished in a moment. He is well over 6' and I have shrunk noticeably. He now towers over me. Great father-son moments.

I have not missed the churning of the world. Scan quickly the blogs, but no matter where I look the sky is falling and I no longer recognize or know any of the players beyond a few world leaders.  

Our weeks ahead are busy coming and going. Responsibilities. More than we are used to, but all will settle down before the 4th of July. Lawns are green and overgrown, but cannot mow wet ditches and soaked lawns. Also under doctor restricted activity for one more week.  Two nice days back to back and we will be caught up.

BIB BIG storms tonight though. 

Thanks for the visit. I appreciate. 

 

 

YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN ARNIE NAKKERUD - DECADE 8 - UNIVERSAL TRAIT - HYDRATION - LARGE BLACK BEAR - COYOTE

ARNIE NAKKERUD, YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN

Graduation photo from Army Helicopter flight school class 1966-17, Fort Rucker, Alabama.  Lost in-country 1967.

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Eighty years nearly completed. I think this is next decade is going to be one of the most challenging to get through just because of complexities of aging. Decade 8 could be as unpredictable as the previous seven. 

I have been writing for a month now for this post. Stepping back as I re-read it, seems much like an older man's Jibber Jabber. Less is more!

Some wisdom, though, tilts my head as I look down this new path. What lies ahead?

"Curly" said he knew the secret of life.  I do not claim to know that, but he has a point.

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 A UNIVERSAL TRAIT? Found on Busted Knuckles and I have watched it several times and grin. Most likely staged to make the video, but I bet that has happened. 

A GOOD BRIEF READ. From Divemedic on Aera Ocho.

I asked one of the fellows here a couple years ago how they work in the Texas day heat and stay hydrated. He said he adds pickle juice to his water jug. The crews we see working in the summer heat appear to have mastered the art of staying hydrated. I share this because it is easy to be working outside, sweating and not realizing the importance of staying hydrated.

BIG BEAR IN CENTRAL NEW HAMPSHIRE

The bears have been out now in central NH for a few weeks. This video from "FoxHat" is a great example of bears being drawn to bird feeders and how easily they destroy them. 

A good friend of mine was attacked by a black bear while we were flying helicopters out of Eagle, Alaska. He had landed on a river bank and after a few minutes, a bear on a near river bank saw him and started running towards him. He was armed with a cowbooy rig .44 magnum pistol and that gun saved his life. He turned the bear on the 5th round just a few feet in front of him. Great dinner time story but a hell of a lesson for anyone outside in the same area black bears roam. No one is coming to save you. 

In the case above, the bear had a "kill" on the river bank that it was protecting. The bear was doing what bears do. 

Typical areas dropping off geologists for an hour or so to collect minerals and soil samples.
 

I never walked away from my helicopter without a 12 gauge shotgun loaded with slugs. .

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GAME CAMERA 

Set up a game camera a year ago. Let it run a couple weeks, turned it off and eventurally took it down. I never took the time to look at all of the photos.

 

 One of the members of the family of deer that lives across the road.

 

Coyote is a big boy. This photo was worth all of the other throwaway pics.

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Thanks for the visit this week.

 

 

 

SY AIRSPEED - PROGRESSO SOUPS - SECRETARIAT - JIBBER JABBER

 

Sailing Yacht Airspeed recently near Dominica.

Capt Airspeed, "The most beautiful island I've seen in the Caribbean, full stop."

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 Cooking island clean up, repair and season preparation.

 Long overdue chore.

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SOME PROGRESSO OPTIONS 

So many times here  I have shared some of my reactions to news, real or false. Recently I have read, from several sources, that we are about 3 weeks away for store shelves becoming bare and suggesting to get what "you" want now. 

This throws me briefly into the toilet paper shortages of Covid. Ports along the west coast reporting empty of container ships. A fact? Most likely.

Any recovery from shortages will take months. 

While at Wallyworld the other day, I picked up a few cans of Progresso just because. Also tried one of their PITMASTER soups,

YUM

and was most surprised at flavor and contents. Yes, contains high sodium but the price ya pay. Sodium not a bad thing in a managed diet. Low sodium can lead to serious health problems.  All things in moderation a good dieting rule of thumb.

I did not see any vacant shelves on this recent shopping trip and Interstate 30 running east and west through our "backyard" is still streaming 18 wheelers. Shortages not today.

I have shared Progress before and not again pushing a product. Doctoring up a can of Progresso gives us a good bowl of soup each. Today is a good example as the weather is dreary and neither one of want to work at cooking. An upgraded can of soup is on the warm.

Having some of these cans on our shelves will be helpful and if these soups go up in price or become scarce, money well spent. Cannot hurt. Also testing these now will help us decide on further purchases.

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SECRETARIAT fun fact 

Every horse in this year's Kentucky Derby is a decendant of Secretariat.

THE MOVIE 

We were discussing this story the other night which prompted us to again the watch the movie. A good story and wonderfully told.

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JIBBER JABBER

Eight stitches in my chest from a quick out-patient cyst removal. Doctor said to refrain for normal activities due to the possibility of tearing open the stitches while I heal.  Tearing stitches and opening the wound will triple the healing time. I will opt for the 11 days and be a "good boy." So far so good and under good care of nursewifeoverseerdon'tdothat also.

Nice weather finally at son's homes in NH.

A good paired tool kit.

Back yard still holding some water from recent rains.

Planter boxes ready to place and fill. Wood from owner owned saw mill.

Appreciate the visit this week.
 

 

 

"APRIL SHOWERS... - FRIED OYSTERS AND COD - STEAK TIPS - JIBBER JABBER - LORIKEET PARROT

 BRING MAY FLOWERS"

Somewhat drenched, hanging baskets are soaking up the days of sun after several inches of heavy rainfall. 

Green peppers staked to prevent them from falling over in the heavy rains and wind.

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FERESH FRIED OYSTERS AND FRESH COD  

Gulf of America fresh oysters off the Galviston, TX coast line. Absolutely a treat to once again find local oysters. There are as good as the oysters from the PNW.

Fresh cod finger food. Covered in flour, then egg, then Panko and fried for a minute or two on each side. Plated and salt. They give oysters a good run for top eats last week.
 

Fish taco because anything be a taco. Homemade tarter sauce like mom used to make. A taco like the one pictured above is heaven and we find that we can stretch a batch of fried cod into several meals for two. Fish Friday turned into oyster/fish Thursday, Friday and Saturday lunch. 

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STEAK TIPS

Like fresh ground hamburger in the hands of my wife, a small chunk of Texas style steak tips was eaten before cryo packing. I have mentioned this before, my wife's "wanting" for blood red meat. After watching her do this for years, I am finally coming to grips with it. When she says she likes her steak and hamburger cooked rare, she means blood rare. Every time I expect her to reject the "red rare" grilled meats prepared for her, she instead smiles and says "perfet." She says all this has much to do with being raised in Texas.

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JIBBER JABBER

"Biggly" thunderstroms have been passing through followed by full sunny days. Large changes in temperatures. Starting fence painting today and in a perfect world, we will have the job done in a week. But more rainstorms will set that back. Most importantly, we will have started the job. 

From SY Airspeed

A Rainbow Lorikeet Parrot in Deshaies, Guadalupe looking as though it did not understand the question? This beautiful parrot well represents my daily posture regarding worldly issues.

Appreciate the visit this week.