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.

The Great BBQ Flap

I have a friend who has started a bbq business. He bought a log cabin covered trailer with a custom grill in the back. He sells bbq plates, chopped beef sandwiches, ribs with all the trimmings like beans and potato salad and cole slaw and homemade bread. He sets up just off the highway between two businesses.

Anyway, he was complaining about how his business is real inconsistent. Good some days, and bad others. I made the suggestion that he needed to come up with a signature or unique dish that was all his own. Several of us regulars tossed around different kinds of ideas. Well, I hit upon this idea. We're here in south Texas, tacos are popular. But who wants a bbq taco. That's not really unique. Here is what I called it- The Texas Pride Wrap. My original recipe consisted of a flour tortilla, chili, a slice of brisket, a slice of chicken, a slice of sausage, cheese whiz, onions, jalepenos, topped with fritos. Everyone thought I crazy, but guess what, it tasted good.

The original recipe has changed to shredded cheese, and no fritos. You can buy a samll one for $2 or 3 for $5 or get the giant for $5. Everything is homemade, even the tortillas. They are now one of his biggest sellers. How come it is I can help everybody else get rich, but I can't. That's ok though, I get my wraps at half price.

So what do you think, does it sound good or not?
I'm still waiting for him to introduce fried twinkies and fried snickers bars. He tells me not on his bbq wagon!

Intersection of Life

Ideas sometimes start in strange ways. Like the title of this blog. It all started when Becky and I went to Nara Visa to visit Tom and Sharon Cole. Tom was relating as story to me about his new GPS. It has a one of those ladies voices which instructs you on which way to turn. Tom told me about being in Santa Fe and being right in the middle of an intersection turning left when the GPS said turn right, right now. He told me about how he lost disoriented and got lost in the intersection. It struck a chord with me- I got lost in the intersection, the intersection of life.

Later, I called a friend of mine, who plays guitar in our praise band, and told him I thought that phrase would make a good song. I forgot about it until two weeks ago he came to me and told me he had finished the song and wanted to play it for me. I listened and I liked what I heard, a song with a message that has a rock and roll beat.

This last Sunday evening, our pastor preached sermon based on that song. His sermon title- The Intersection of Life. Based on Hebrews 11:8-10, the faith chapter.
Heres a quote: Abraham doesn't know where he's going, or when he will there, but he knows who he is following.

You just never know how or when an idea will take off and go. So here are a few pictures I have taken this year with the song The Intersection of Life playing in the background. Enjoy!

1st Hunt of the Season

I had an opportunity to sneak away for an afternoon to archery hunting. I had a great time. I saw three raccoons and two small doe. The deer were about the size of german shepherds. They weren't shooters, at least not for me. Here is a picture for you. They never know I was even there. One day they will grow up and realize that they must pay attention to their surroundings. Sounds like good advice for all of us.

This evening I watered my fall garden. Since we really have 2 seasons here, wet and dry, growing garden can be done year round. I picked some blackeyed peas. I have them cooking as I speak. One japeleno, bacon, salt and pepper, nice and spicy.

Basketball update: My little team actually did some things in the game we practiced. I was really surprised. I can see improvement everytime we get together for practice. I think it is the red kool aid. It helps them focus.

Fall?

It's hard to know for sure, but I think fall is here. Here are some of the signs of it in South Texas:
1. It's a little cooler, like 80 degrees, verses 90 something.
2. The mosquitoes seem to be smaller in size, not the ones the size of golf balls, that suck a pint of blood at a time.
3. High school football games have started. You set in the stands and sweat till the sun goes down.
4. I went archery deer hunting this week end. Ok, when you bow hunt scent control is really important. So I am setting in the stand trying to keep the bugs off, without using bug spray because of the smell factor, sweating in my camo outfit, trying to stay still. Sounds like a great way to relax doesn't it. I did a an eight point buck at about twenty yards, but of course he never stepped out of the brush so I could get a clear shot.

Basketball Update:
I now have an assistant coach. It takes two grown men to handle 7 kinders and 1st graders.
We had our first game Saturday. It was wild. The kids actually scored 8 points. I was pleased. The concept of passing the ball and double dribble still has not sunk in. Injuries were as expected-one bloody nose and one scraped knee.
More passing drills and red kool aid at the next practice. The red kool aid is to get the kids all jacked up before I release them from practice to go back to their parents.
Maybe I should introduce moon pies to them?

Only in America.