February's This and That

Item One:
I got a phone call from the Nara Visa Cowboy Sunday. He called to say they were having moonpies and RC colas with some friends of theirs. I can't help but get a grin on my face thinking about grown ups. in the mountains of New Mexico, setting around the fireplace( if there is a fireplace, it embellishes my story) eating moonpies like a bunch of kids. I love it. I hope I never get to old to be kid, and enjoy the simple things of life.

Item Two:
Becky and I took a trip to Seadrift, about 15 miles, from us, Saturday. The wind was blowing out of the north at about 30 miles per hour. It blew a lot of water out of the bay, especially at low tide. Check out the picture of the sailboat, high and dry, and how far the water is from the shoreline.

Item Three:
The reason we went to Seadrift was because I was looking for some pieces of mahogany for a project I need to get started on for my son, Josh. He wants me to build him a media center out of solid wood, not this fake stuff found in most furniture stores. I am finding that mahogany is hard to find. I found one piece, not enough for what I need. I'll have to keep looking. I think I am going to go with oak or poplar and give it a dark stain. While driving around we came across a house on the waterfront that had a genuine glitter fish on the front of it. Check it out! If I ever build, that will probably be on my list of things I want.(if I can convince Becky)

Sneak Snack Snuck

In my last post I did not know for sure if "snuck" was a real word. Well, I got to thinking, of course it's real, I use it, therefore it is real. (My logic has been known to out there just a little bit.) My friend, Nara Visa Cowboy, confirmed it with his response, and to borrow a phrase from him- Now you know!

Now, in my way of warped thinking the verb tense progression of Sneak, Snack, Snuck, makes perfect sense to me. You see, our language, and it's rules can be very confusing, and it can be hard to keep all the various rules in ones head. Take for instance the word- Lot. I get confused when to use the word "alot" or when to use the phrase- "a lot." Speaking of which, why do we call a small piece of land a lot? A 50 ft x 100 ft piece of ground is not a lot. Why can't we call it a "'Little"? After all, 500 acres would be a lot, wouldn't it? As an aside, (how's that for a phrase) did you know that LOT is also the name of the Polish Airline? Go figure.

Since I am on this why kick this morning, ( maybe it's the four cups of coffee), why do they call it a gaggle of gesse when they are on the ground, but a skein, when they are in flight? In Canadian English, a gaggle is an adjective describing a largely disorganized group of Jildos (another colloquial adjective describing a woman that tends to be annoying and lacking in her own individual opinions) putting forth discontent among all related fellows. So are we really insulting the geese by saying they are disorganized and have no opinion? What would Mother Goose say, and is there some sort of hidden message in those Mother Goose stories that has brain washed us?

Okay, I think the caffeine has kicked in just a little too much. I'll summarize this way. I have posted a picture of a sea gull that I was able to sneak up on while he or she was snacking
on alot, or is it a lot, of leftover food. I snuck up on a gaggle of gulls right before the took flight and joined a skein of geese, who could not decide which way to fly, because they had no opinion.

New Year, New Stuff

In a couple of days another new year will begin. Who knows what it will hold. Hopefully whatever it is, it will be good, if not, well, I'll just have to take big breathe and hang on and let God. You know, let God do what He does when I can't. So Happy New Year, and Let God.

Having just finished up my first picture book, I can say I learned alot about what to do, and what not to do. For instance, Becky proofed it. Abby proofed it. I proofed it, and still we found errors after I had it already printed. I guess I need to get another set of eyes on it next time. Also, it was kind of all over the place, no real theme. I am hoping as this year unfolds I will develop some kind of theme for my next book. that was number one. I also want to make it a bigger size, maybe more like 8 X 10. I am already taking pictures and working on number two.

Any suggestions for a theme?

Speaking of which, Becky has decided this is something she likes doing, and it is something we can do together. She bought herself a camera for Christmas, so we can go out and take pictures together. Here is a picture of her snapping off a few shots, plus a goose at the city park. I snuck up on it. ( Is snuck a word?) Just so I can stay in practice.

Merry Christmas

It's been fast and furious with multiple music events during the Christmas season. My favorite event was our dinner theater. This is the second year we have done this and what fun and good. We served over 300 rib eye steaks. I also got to meet the Fosters from Glorieta, who work with Tom and Sharon. I am happy to report that they saw me action and that I wasd actually working.

I did get my Christmas lights up and my nativity scene in front of the house. My neighbor, across the street, got his Santa on his surfboard up too. My neighbor, Mr Mietzen, is 80 years old, and is a retired biology teacher. He gets up everyday, whether rain or shine, and goes windsurfing. He wasn't going to put Santa up this year, but he got inspired when he saw me get my decro art nativity scene out.

As I write this it is Christmas eve here in south Texas, It's 70 degrees and rainy and foogy. That's south Texas in the winter. We went to Becky' s moms yesterday and had Christmas with her and our son Josh. Naturally we went out to eat, and you quessed it, mexican food. But I did have some Bluebell vanilla ice cream with my bourbon pecan pie. You can't get that stuff in Mexico, that's an American deal.

God has truly blessed us this year with health, a wonderful family, and many friends. Merry Christmas to all and may God bless each of you. Take the time to hug or call your loved ones on Christmas Day. Life is short, take the time while there is time.

Lazy Day in Halletsville

Last Thursday, Becky and I made a road trip to Halletsville. Why, I don't know? It got a courthouse I wanted pictures of. So we took off, and spent most the day there poking around. We took pictures of the square and of the businesses. By accident we found the city museum. I didn't know this but back in the 20's, 30's, and 40's, Halletsville and many of the surrounding towns had pro baseball teams that were part of the Texas Baseball League. The musuem has a room dedicated to the history of the league and various teams.

While at the museum we found out where the locals go ot eat- The Bellaire. The lunch special that day was roast beef or grilled pork chops, german potatoes, green beans, sauerkraut pickled beets, and chocolate cake for dessert. All for $5.65 We also found out where the city cemetary was and discovered something else. The cemetary was divided into 3 sections. One sections for us commoners, one for the Catholics, and one for the Jews. Now the Jewish section was fenced off form the rest of the cemetary. I know there has to be some kind of reason and story behind this. I may have to do some more research. You never know what you will find when you visit small towns.

We came home by way of Yoakum, and I picked up a new leather billfold for $3 at the tandy outlet store there. All in all a lazy day fill of surprises. Here are pictures of the courthouse, the cemetary, and the statue of a lady we found at the cemetary.

Opening Day

This last Saturday was opening day for deer hunting using a rifle here in south Texas. If it can happen, it happened to me this opening day. First, I get to the stand I am hunting in before daylight, and come face to face with a wild boar hog, a big one. Here it is dark, I am holding a flashlight, and my gun isn't even loaded, and I am 5 yards from a wild pig. I didn't have much choice, so I stomped my feet and grunted at him and he took off. That got the blood flowing. I get in the stand, set there awhile, and as the sun is coming up, I here a noise behind me. I turn and look and here is a raccoon crawling up a tree limb towards me. He's about 5 feet away. Now, I do not want to tangle with a raccoon up in a tree stand or on the ground. I turn my flashlight on him and hiss, and he takes off at a dead run. Ok, I am thinking any deer around here are going to be long gone with all the noise and movement I have made. I was wrong. Not five minutes go by, when a doe and yearling step out. They won't come on into the clearing however. They stamp around and blow, and then finally leave. Then I hear them, those stupid hogs are back, not just one but a whole herd of them. That's what scared the deer off. Besides they are eating all the corn out of the feeder. Enough is enough, I am now irritated and in hog hunting mode. I shot the smallest one first and planned on shooting everyone that stuck his nose out into the clearing. Well, the hogs all ran off and didn't come back. I had one dead, laying right by my feeder. I decided to get down out the stand, and move the hog over into the brush, with the idea that the deer just might come back. Wouldn't you know it, I am halfway down the ladder when out walks a doe at about twenty yards. Alright, you get the picture. i am climbing down a ladder stand with no gun, making all kinds of noise. I got still for about two minutes and decided, I might as well climb back up in the stand, I've got nothing to lose. Low and behold, the doe pays no attention to me, she is more interested in the dead hog. Now the hunting gods must have had pity on me, it wasn't 5 or 6 minutes when a nice 8 point buck walks out. He too, is more interested in dead hog than me, and the rest is history. All of these events all took place in the span of about two hours. It was one of the most interesting hunting adventures I have ever been on. The facts:
8 point buck with 18 inch inside spread, weights about 135 pounds.
one wild pig, weights about 60 pounds.
two pigs got way, but I am laying for them
two raccoons who will soon see my 22 rifle

Fresh backstrap in the freezer!

Because you asked, here it is!

Not that I need it in South Texas, but here is my recipe for snow ice cream. If you make some enjoy.

Snow Ice Cream

Large mixing bowl of fresh snow
1-2 c. Milk (any type is fine, but whole milk is best)
1-2 tsp. Vanilla Extract or other flavoring
1/2 - 1 c. Sugar

Take your large bowl of snow and stir the snow around a bit to fluff it up. Now quickly stir in just enough milk to make the right consistency of ice cream. Start with about 1/2 cup and keep going until you have enough to make the snow creamy. If you add too much milk and it becomes runny, just add some more snow. Then stir in a little vanilla and sugar, and Viola, you've got yourself some homemade snow ice cream! You can also add some other flavoring such as chocolate or strawberry syrup if desired, but I recommend having it plain at least the first time, it just tastes more snowy that way. The snow ice cream can be put in the freezer and saved for later, but it's best served immediately.