Had Shingles a couple of years ago and definitely don't want to wish that on anyone. Finally got the Shingrix shots and got my flu shot. Wife has to get them as she is a nurse and she said really important to have it this year. Yes, ma'am....
How's your day been?
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woodtickgreg
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I pulled the forms off the concrete yesterday when I got home from work. Left them on for the week because it rained almost every day when I got home. Came out nice and has good water run off.
I had a busy day in the kitchen yesterday. Our garden is pretty much done - a few peppers might still come in, but that would be it at this point.
Made and canned some Cowboy Candy (candied/pickled jalapenos) and also canned the leftover brine, which can be used in a future batch or as a marinade.
Got sauerkraut started - three 1/2 gallon mason jars off to ferment.
Started making giardiniera.
Canned cinnamon apples.
Started making apple scrap vinegar.
And then did some reorganizing in our basement storage room.
The kraut and vinegar are hanging out in the basement storage room now, where there's no windows, so it's easy to keep it out of the sunlight.
Oh, and also started making 4 pints of vanilla extract, which my wife is very excited for. This will take some time before it's ready - 6 to 12 months. Did two pints with vodka and two pints with bourbon.
Made and canned some Cowboy Candy (candied/pickled jalapenos) and also canned the leftover brine, which can be used in a future batch or as a marinade.
Got sauerkraut started - three 1/2 gallon mason jars off to ferment.
Started making giardiniera.
Canned cinnamon apples.
Started making apple scrap vinegar.
And then did some reorganizing in our basement storage room.
The kraut and vinegar are hanging out in the basement storage room now, where there's no windows, so it's easy to keep it out of the sunlight.
Oh, and also started making 4 pints of vanilla extract, which my wife is very excited for. This will take some time before it's ready - 6 to 12 months. Did two pints with vodka and two pints with bourbon.
Goal for this weekend is to get all the camping gear out of the shop and put away for the winter so that this week I can get back to having something I haven't had in a while - shop time.
woodtickgreg
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Matt the canned stuff looks great. My Betty wants to do some vanilla too, we use a lot of it in our coffee. Still wrapping up my outside projects so I can get in the shop myself. Looking forward to some winter shop time. Some turning is on the to do list as well as a new workbench.
Matt, love to see the fermentation started. I had too much early cabbage, so made some kraut in half gallon jars earlier, but today am making large batches using two gallon crocks that will hold about 12# of shredded cabbage.
Starting to get cool. Pulled out my jeans to insure they fit. They did.
I'm going to kick off even more fermentation tomorrow. I've never brewed beer, or done anything of that sort, but have wanted to for some time. Well, we've got lots of honey right now, courtesy of a local beekeeper friend. Combine that with the 1 gallon glass jugs w/ airlocks my wife got me for my birthday, and tomorrow I'm filling them both up - a batch of mead and a batch of cyser and seeing how that goes.
For all you hunter types that think you've seen it all, please read on.
I have been watching the squirrels around here for the last few months.
Since I don't have much else to do, I watch the squirrels every chance I get.
I have seen squirrels bury acorns, & have another squirrel watch them from a distance.
As soon as the 1st squirrel buries that acorn & runs off, the 2nd squirrel will go right to that same spot, dig up that acorn, and eat it
on the spot.
Then again, some squirrels fake out the other ones by pretending to bury an acorn, then running off with it in their cheeks.
They watch the 2nd squirrel run over & go crazy trying to find that nut, only to come up empty handed.
The 1st squirrel will chatter & shake it's tail, laughing at the 2nd squirrel.
It's hilarious when I see that.
I've also seen young squirrels drop acorns on the road in front of my house, then let the cars run over them.
Once they drop enough acorns for a big meal, the run down & eat the crushed ones hit by the cars.
Pretty fricking smart if you ask me.
So, if you think squirrels are just dumb animals, think again.
Watch them if you get the chance.
I have been watching the squirrels around here for the last few months.
Since I don't have much else to do, I watch the squirrels every chance I get.
I have seen squirrels bury acorns, & have another squirrel watch them from a distance.
As soon as the 1st squirrel buries that acorn & runs off, the 2nd squirrel will go right to that same spot, dig up that acorn, and eat it
on the spot.
Then again, some squirrels fake out the other ones by pretending to bury an acorn, then running off with it in their cheeks.
They watch the 2nd squirrel run over & go crazy trying to find that nut, only to come up empty handed.
The 1st squirrel will chatter & shake it's tail, laughing at the 2nd squirrel.
It's hilarious when I see that.
I've also seen young squirrels drop acorns on the road in front of my house, then let the cars run over them.
Once they drop enough acorns for a big meal, the run down & eat the crushed ones hit by the cars.
Pretty fricking smart if you ask me.
So, if you think squirrels are just dumb animals, think again.
Watch them if you get the chance.
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There was a grove of mature white pines that had clear evidence of weevil damages many decades ago. This was not a prime spot for deer, but the bed of thick pine needles and warm afternoon sun was a welcome feeling to warm the bones and recall memories of my father and the men before me that watched these trees grow into the the canopy masters they became. This was a moment in time repeated year after year.
A red squirrel moved in, and did not approve of my presence. The scolding was constant, loud and unrelenting. Then it became physical. The squirrel started throwing pine cones at me. After being hit by the third, I moved to another large pine tree base. Not pleased, the squirrel moved to that tree using the highway of branches. In only a few moments, the cones started falling on me. How many will fall? After just a few Dozen, I decided to move on. The seasons moved on too, and small game opened again. What happened is not for print, as society has cut off the feet it once stood on, but I might share with some of you in person.
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Cool story, although I don’t understand the ending. Lol. Squirrels do some interesting things.
+1. I don't get the connection.
It could be he shot it and ate it when Squirrel season opened.......... Just a guess.... Jerry (in Tucson)
And in today’s society you might offend someone by saying that and we don’t want to risk that
Last night I got some more fermentation started. Small batches of mead and cyser going. First time trying either - my wife bought the vessels for me for my birthday.
So, here's the whole line up of what's in the process of fermentation right now. Once the kraut is done, I'm going to give making kimchi a try as well.
So, here's the whole line up of what's in the process of fermentation right now. Once the kraut is done, I'm going to give making kimchi a try as well.
Love kimchi! I'll be getting some going in the next week or so. My daikon radishes and Chinese cabbage are finally ready to be picked, just have to find some time.....
Well it wasn't my day but the last two weeks. Went on an elk hunting trip to Wyoming. It was me, another officer (Jim) who is getting ready to retire, his son(Josh) and a (due to cancer) retired officer (Randy). Jim, Josh and I made a pact that the first elk was Randy's. The weather was hot and kept the elk in the timber until after dark and back in before sunrise. We found a herd of elk on the edge of town where you can't hunt. Had 6 BIG bulls in it. Also saw two nice muley bucks in town horning a tree in a yard. Hunted for a few days on some easy ground for Randy and never seen anything. We had been talking with a warden from there for a while and he went with us a couple days. On Saturday evening, we started a STEEP climb and Randy was having a hard time. When we got to the top of the ridge it sort of flattened out. In about 200 yards, Josh said bull elk. We got Randy ready and it walked out at about 125 yards. He dropped it with one shot. I swear it was sent from God. If no one has ever quartered one up and carried it out, let me tell you it's freakin rough! But it was worth it! We hunted several more days and no more elk. I did have a few muleys and a moose walk within 50 yards of me though. The moose was absolutely amazing. We got to stay a night in a Wyoming game department cabin in the mountain one night. Ended up coming home with my tag but I got to see some beautiful country and have some great memories. I got to see antelope, mule deer, moose, cinnamon phase black bear and bighorn sheep.
Thanks for posting, Eric. I know what you mean about elk in town. Where I hunt, near a small settlement called Nutrioso?, there is a herd of about 2-300 elk hanging out during the night eating, and then during the day, they turn into trees, or just plain vanish off the face of the earth until nightfall.
If this hunt was in Arizona, you guys did better than the state odds. I believe it's running at 10% draw success, and the same for a successful hunt. Fortunately, I'm running at 75% success on both.
If you ever think you want to hunt in Arizona, I'll guide you for free......Jerry (in Tucson)
If this hunt was in Arizona, you guys did better than the state odds. I believe it's running at 10% draw success, and the same for a successful hunt. Fortunately, I'm running at 75% success on both.
If you ever think you want to hunt in Arizona, I'll guide you for free......Jerry (in Tucson)
@Eric Rorabaugh , prayers answered for sure!!! Glad Randy could make it and get one. My buddy and his son are up right now and fighting the same conditions as well as a valley full of smoke!!! The big fire is to their east, that is not an issue but am afraid the fire on the Wyoming border is pouring smoke into the basin they are on the edge of. One buddy that went archery hunting saw a few, but nothing he was after. The other buddy archery hunting didn’t even see anything. He did help 3 kids in a special program get 3 antelope, but again tough due to drought.
As for town elk, go golfing in Estes Park, you will see no less than a dozen trophy elk at any given time. Ugh...... glad you got to see what you did Eric.
As for town elk, go golfing in Estes Park, you will see no less than a dozen trophy elk at any given time. Ugh...... glad you got to see what you did Eric.
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So, my day at the mouse condo. I hate hanging sheets of siding by myself. I may have to re do all three sheets even though I pulled the shed a bit straighter. Just not even..... I know, just a shed. Ankle held up pretty well, no ladders today. Reinforced the corners as well. Only thing I don’t care for in the bones of the shed.
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