Gas Pains
Tom grew up in Milwaukee, bartended in Wauwatosa in the '70s and moved here in 1984.
Commentary, observations and musings about the outdoors, life in general and maybe Tosa politics and personalities will be the order of the day. He savors a lively debate as much as terrific cooking.
Random Musings and Idle Chit Chat
How many of you are as fatigued as I am of the political theater in Washington?
Was there any doubt in anybody’s mind that the debt ceiling would not be raised? Think about this conundrum logically.
Friday Morning Music
It's the start of the weekend and I recommend that you start it with some awesome American rock and roll from this group hailing from Tennessee.
The Kings of Leon..
The Garden Chronicles - First Harvest
A couple of weekends ago the green beans started coming on-line. Ohhhhh baby. Fresh grilled green beans. I took a big canvas tote filled with fleshly-picked beans to the day job last Monday along with some paper lunch bags. Sent an email around about that tote sitting in the kitchen. Those beans were gone by 10 AM. Who doesn't like fresh green beans. Especially Blue Lake 274.
This year's gardening experience has been outstanding. Regular rains have required minimal irrigation. I've been at the top of my game managing rot, mold, blot, blight, bugs, slugs, and wilt. The tomato patch is flourishing. It has actually become a mutant thing. Best patch in memory.
Peter Piper Picked A Pint of Pickled Pike
For any of you fishermen out there you've probably been vexed more than once over the occasional northern pike that grabs your bait and runs with it. It's usually a hammer handle that's too small to amount to anything. Catch a big one and you better be adept at filleting that fish just the right way to take out all of the Y-bones.
If you're like me most of the time you let them go. They may be fun to catch but too much trouble if you keep them. Besides they're slimy.
Friday Morning Music
Those of you who are old like me might appreciate this awesome gem from the early '70s.
Start your weekend with some Grand Funk Railroad...
Guess The Critter
I was moving a box of fishing gear from a shelf in the shed and thought I might take a peek to see what was inside.
I found this in the bottom along with a pile of assorted tackle.
Friday Morning Music
It's the start of the weekend people...Nazareth fans unite for...
Elvis Costello and Emmylou Harris!
Tom and the Amazing Bean Stalk
Who'd a thunk that gardening could be so popular?
Heather Zydek - proprietress of Blue Bungalow Farm - is gradually working towards self-sufficiency with amazing results. All from a city garden. I wouldn't be surprised if she attains that goal of self-sufficiency before too long. Especially if the city fathers would allow her to raise chickens.
Friday Morning Music
It's the start of the weekend people.
Get your groove on with Paul Carrack covering this awesome tune...
Fun With Vegetables
Sometimes I think my vegetables have a sense of humor. Labor Day weekend I plan to excavate my spuds and onions and there is no guessing what might be lurking underground to tickle my funny bone.
In the mean-time the tomatoes have stepped up to the plate with some rib-tickling anatomical metaphors of their own.
How to Can Your Tomatoes
It comes as no small surprise that canning vegetables has enjoyed a rise in popularity. Whether it's a hobby or out of necessity more families are giving it a try. As evidence of this I suggest you visit Fleet Farm this time of year. Mr. Mills doesn't stock entire aisles of shelves with Ball jars, lids, rings, Foodsaver wrap and all of the assorted paraphernalia that goes with canning and preserving for nothing.
For me it's a lot like cutting-up your own deer. You get some measure of assurance that everything is handled and processed correctly when you do it yourself. The butcher can't filch any of your meat and there is no possibility of someone else's mishandled deer carcass contaminating your kill.
