MOPanfisher

Today is wife's birthday, she requested ribeye and whatever vegetable I wanted to add. Seared the ribeye and it cooked to a nice rare to medium rare. Asparagus came out darn good too.

I did cure a deer hind quarter once. I wasn't impressed. Buddy "corned" some and it was good but more work than it was worth.

When it comes to Ham n beans ain't nothing like a chunk of hog with the hide in. That fat and hide take it to a whole different level. I have never scraped a hog, we skinned em all, but I can see where pre refrigeration the hide would add another layer to protect the meat.

Hide don't peel off a hog like it does a beef or deer. The first one I but hered we did hanging up and it looked like we had skinned it with a chopping axe. Then a guy who has just been watching us said ya want me to show you how to do it? Found out he had grown up in a family run slaughterhouse.

I shall add it to the list of ones to fondle at the store. I do like the color and as we all know that is the most important part.😀

Pretty good job of skinning considering it's hanging. Used to butcher quite a few but we skinned them laying down, thought it was easier but that apparently work well for ya.

Well I find myself in want of a new Spinning reel. It will go on my old St Croix 6' light action spinning rod. I have had this rid for a LONG time and would like something a little different from the several Pfleuger presidents I have. Have been looking on line at Diawa Fuego, Abu Revo, and Penn Battle. Want something smooth and reliable. Willing to spend a little say up to $150 so toss out your thoughts, opinions etc.

40s especial late 40s were brutal and only got worse. Got a couple more days before heading home from latest cancer treatment. I enjoy snow days when home, I can get out my little tractor and plow/play with snow. Walking out to the shop is the worst part.

Hell I don't speak very good English sometimes either and I ain't never been out of the US.

The mud on top makes it a mess. I have a U shaped driveway that only has one useable side right now. Amazon driver on her first day had directions to come in on that side. She realized it was blocked and backed into the yard to turn around and that was as far as she got. Fortunately it took me longer to walk to the shop and get the tractor that it did to get her out. She was so apologetic about the ruts she left, told her if that was the worst that happened to my yard it would be a good spring. No idea what she brought for my wife but since UPS delivered a package from Midway for me earlier I can't complain too much.😁

My foals for 2025 are pretty basic, go fishing. I have now been retired for a year and in a perfect world I would have worn out some fishing equipment. Unfortunately the fates didn't agree with that plan. But fortunately I have a few places I can still handle getting to and fishing from, and some buddies who will help out. Physically I just can't doe some of it anymore.

I had maybe 5 inches of snow over the ice we had prior. Fired up the tractor and blades off what I could out to the county road and then the road down to the city limit, nothing better to do with my time. I am gonna be gone for several weeks so hopefully we don't have much more.

Sadly I have helped load recovery several drowning victims. Mine were almost all from the lake and lake drowning victims can be down for several days. I am one of those who are terrified of drowning.

There will be a group of friends and family bring different things. Intend to get the meat assignment, gonna split, brine and smoke two turkeys this year, wife is making her grandmother's dressing which is a meal in itself.

Well it ain't nothing fancy and a couple days early for the cold snap but I am pretty well stuck at home today. The ham and bone got into the stove about 0600 and will simmer all day, I like them well cooked and with the juice almost as a gravy. This one has LOTS of ham and calico (mix) of bean types, and since the ham itself wasn't very flavorful it got some additional seasoning and it do smell good in the house today.