BilletHead

Biggest load of carp I have ever heard of. Hang in there at work. Remember "Carp Happens" BilletHead

Maybe some imitation crab meat? BilletHead

The bee whisperer ? BilletHead

Big trees are beyond my scope now. You volunteering ? 😆 BilletHead

Welcome

Yep that is where I got mine for the recipe Gavin. Kind of like breaking down tar to get it worked in the marinade and sauce. We went to two Latino markets looking for another variety. Achiote verde with no luck. One of those stores was packed from floor to ceiling with all sorts of things from South of the border. Hard to even negotiate down the isle. I am surprised the fire department inspections in that town would even let this place pass. You could send your money to Mexico from here too. Interesting place, BilletHead

First of all I am not going to be a big time bee keeper. More of a tinkerer. Have a neighbor that gave me two hives across the road from me to mess with. One made it and one did not. I was given a small replacement swarm to replace the lost hive. I put this hive in the yard last spring so I could keep a better eye on it. Existing hive across the road was strong and did not have to worry about it. The replacement pretty small bunch of bees and i fed them well last Fall and they made it through the Winter. These bees went crazy this Spring doing great. This morning about nine thirty the Mrs. started screaming look, look at the bees! I had a swarm forming in front of the hive, it got bigger and bigger into the air higher and higher. I called the lady where the two hives came from and she said catch the swarm. Soon she said they will find a low branch and gather. I have another hive that i had taken over to her house so she could catch another swarm for me from her multiple hives. So i was getting pretty excited until the swarm decided to go way ,way up to the top of a walnut tree, Too big to shake loose and too far up to get to. Just how far up? Mrs. BilletHead on ground pointing to them. Pretty exciting watching them. Would like to have that swarm. Maybe next year , BilletHead

Well another season has started. Did some cleaning up on the original planting. Got rid of the cattle panel and fence post enclosure. Big enough now I will not have to worry about the occasional deer browsing leaves but maybe some rubbing in the Fall. If I worry about that I can use a bit of hardware cloth to alleviate the potential problem, Catkins are beginning to form on all of these trees, While checking on the transplants in other places of the yard I found catkins on one tree. Hopefully more will begin to show. One transplant where I had two nuts grow trees together was beginning to die. Further inspection found where beetles, thinking powder post type were in the tree. I quickly cut the bad tree out and spray painted the stump with latex paint hoping to not see the other tree infected, Last years crop was consumed but this seasons harvest I will be starting more trees next Spring. The ones I planted last Spring are all over the place. Ham now has a patch, Grizwilson has some on his place too. I gave some to a neighbor, say neighbor but he is a friend who lives a few miles away. Well he and his three sons have some going on their places. One stopped by the other Evening and asked If I started more if he could get some. You bet and he will , BilletHead

Kind of a smoky pepper taste. Hard to describe. After yesterdays adventure using store bought paste I looked up making our own. So there are variations in how folks make it. One thing for sure is the annatto seed. This is what gives it the red color. I am betting my herb book has a recipe in it. When I want it again I will make it. Here is one I bookmarked, https://www.thespicehouse.com/recipes/recado-rojo-red-achiote-paste-recipe One thing for sure a few years back we decided to branch out in our eating experience. So many times we get stuck in the same old thing. This has been a very enlightening trip, one as long as we are still alive will not stop, BilletHead

Turkey Yucat'an, Central and the upper part of South America is where the turkey was first domesticated. The Maya were the first to do this. So we are going to trip to that area to base this meal off of. The meat here will be an eastern wild turkey. The wings, thighs and legs. Some neat ingredients will be going in here. A new one for us will be achiote paste. The turkey pieces will be brined first in kosher salt. After that a mixture including the achiote paste the turkey will be marinated in for a few hours. For the sauce we will be charring tomatoes, onions and garlic. I am sure down there it would be some exotic wood. In BilletHeadVille it will be white oak, We then pull the turkey out of the marinade and char it too, While this is charring the sauce is made from the charred veggies more achiote paste spices and a couple chipotles in adobo. All this is blended up good. Now the turkey is simmered in this sauce until it becomes tender. The older the bird the longer the cook time. while this was simmering I looked up on how to make a Spanish rice. When done it all came together. A couple tortillas warmed up in a cast iron skillet and plated up. Another treat, BilletHead

Looks good Tho1mas! We have the same problem with Walnut trees. We understand buyers don't want them out of the yard but We want them gone. Think in our 2 acre farmette we have twenty. REA wants some out too near the primary along the road and one span in the yard. Said they would take care of them. Now to find someone to get the rest. I would like to see all replaced with chestnuts. By the time they shade the garden I should be gone from this world and someone else can contend with the trees. We are eating lettuce until we cannot eat any more. Pat is taking it to work and if anyone comes down the dirt road and I can stop them they get some too. Best planting we have ever had, BilletHead

Herbs, Sure like growing my own . We have oregano, Mexican oregano , sage and thyme that overwinters just fine. Thyme is looking sparse this year and I will plant a new batch this year. Like rosemary and grow it every year in pots. Tried to overwinter it in the ground but it did not make it. My sister in the Bentonville Ar. area does hers and she said it is like a bush growing crazy. We also do standard green basil and the purple variety too. So this Spring (Did we even have a Spring?) the standard oregano is going like gangbusters. Every couple of years we dehydrate the oregano, every year basil and rosemary. Right now the dehydrator is on and running overtime drying the oregano, The patch I will be trimming and dehydrator full again as soon as this bunch is dry. Another batch is done and a jar will be full soon, Of course fresh is best but there will be ample dried for winter and when a recipe calls for dried, BilletHead

Oh I know about those hooks. Been tying on them for a long time. I have some 10's and then 6's, 4's, 2's, 1's 1/0,s and 2/0's . Buy them by the hundred. BilletHead

That little fish came up from directly under the gurgler and took it with him over a foot high. Pretty cool, BilletHead

I got an EDBD drill bit that will take care of the problem. Good thing I got bonus or you would of heard me scream all the way up where you live. There is no using another hook point on 30 min epoxy. . BilletHead

Test run, Went to some ponds this morning to test fly's and see how you all did and see if anything liked them. So in honor of the swapmister Ness his would be first. The ponds are very weedy, submergent and floating vegetation. I like to fish this place from ice out until about now as the growth gets out of control. Lots of smaller bass with an occasional three to five pound fish. So I pick out one of the Ness Chip Foose paint job poppers. The smaller one with many legs. A few casts here and there and then a fish, Next was one of the longer pencil style. Grabbed one, had bonus extra. Oh great the one I grabbed had an eye full of epoxy. Right then I took points off of this popper . Tossed it back in the bag and got a replacement and tied it on. Tried a couple spots and then it connected, Yes Ronnie that is a finger in the picture. Points off for the picture. Yes I was texting Ness with a play by play and he asked to try Kathy's (NessesLady) next. A nice Buggar with a bead head and some weight. I knew I would have to strip it fast to keep it above the weeds, it worked, Gurgler time, So I tied on A flysmallie fly. Sorry Man but it called the smallest of the day. Everytime I caught a fish it was time to try another fly so the gurgler got one chance. Same finger that gets in front of the lens pointing at the dinky fish, Fhsndoug fly next. Nice profile in the water, good colors too. Nice action. Second cast a channel cat slammed it and I am sure a bass would of if it had a chance, Fly change to the Whiney John by flysmallie. Liked the form and the action, darts like a fluke. The way the underlying bucktail keeps the front end fluffy and pushing water. Plus for the length there was no fowling on the cast. I hooked another channel cat but lost it before landing thus the fly got a free pass to try to catch a bass and it did, There will be more tied this style as I have something in mind . I got or should I say a bonus fly by Ronnie but i have been told it is for Mrs. BilletHead so I did not get bass slime on it she will have to. This left me one more to try for the morning to complete fishing one from everyone. The Bou Pig. This would be a trick in the weedy ponds. Every time I let in drop down it got fowled in the plant life. See Here, I tried jigging it in fast to keep it out of the plants. So trash is all that it caught on it but I have a place or two for it to catch later. I think I will get a box or something to keep the swap flies in. I have plans on trying some of these also on temperate bass, actually a true bass and not the slimy green sunfish we call bass , BilletHead

Oh and get this, Mrs. BilletHead just got home from work. Goes to rummaging around in my new fly stash. Ooh and Ahhh she says. I told her I would share only after I catch fish on them . , BilletHead

Oh I heard a few times "What's the matter with you?" and "How come your off the computer so quick?" Then there was the response from Wrench when I shot him a text asking if he was having problems, "Phil banned you" and then there was oh man you got to get back on there because "We are giving you the business on the oaf board. Better get back on there and defend yourself" With friends like this it makes and interesting life :), BilletHead

Oh I know I will catch heck for repeating WHAT YOU SAID, BilletHead

I had a hunch as I walked to the mailbox a few minutes ago, I owe you more shipping money or did Ronnie cover it? . May have to head North and buy you lunch. All I can say is good job all of you and thanks Ness for hosting. Aren't all of you negative Nellies a bit jealous? I intend on catching a fish on each one of these. Thanks again guys, BilletHead PS I am mad I did not get any monofilament on the eyes of mine

Get it right it is an adult BB gun, BilletHead

Well I am back on and much, much more happy, For all of you wise crackers tuff luck for you all. Deal with me boys . Thanks Phil to you and your IT guys. Oh and I got a PCP air rifle , BilletHead

That's a first 🤣! You know i am just kidding or am I ? BilletHead

You will always be on my list JD! BilletHead