BilletHead

You know the more I read this it makes me want to post, Do what you want and spend what you want on your cooler or anything else in life you want. I have two Yeti coolers and like them very much. I don't have the top of the line electronics in my boat. Don't have the best shotguns or bazillion duck and goose decoys or Custom painted warts of all colors. Live in the country and not on a lake lot. Life is choices made by us or someone else at times. I think Wrench said it best get one if you want to as they are nice. Like Ham said in the right conditions they can and I have had ice form in the drinks I have had in there. Here is a place you can save some bucks on your cooler or anything else you might want and not necessary need. Sign up for Austin canoe and kayak newsletter. http://www.austinkayak.com/ Just by signing up you can get a 15% discount on an item and I got my coolers shipped for free. It pays to shop around. Are the coolers high priced? Yes Are they more than we need? Yes but so are much more things in life. We all have stuff we don't need. Stop and take inventory sometime. This reminds me I still need to get some Ozarkanglers stickers to put on my coolers Just saying, BilletHead

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Neat, I am always getting buzzed (by the jets) during the week on the river. I think they are running practice missions to the nearest bridge. Boogity , Boogity , boogity were racing in Kansas. Ness would you go out and take pictures of the Goodyear Blimp? I know it is there because I've been seeing pictures it has been taking BilletHead

I had a feeling free would bring in a few lookers. Tell you what I have. Walnut wood. I had a tree cut down actually several trees one a nice walnut. We don't burn wood anymore so I have a neighbor couple, they are in their late seventies. So between me, the Mrs. and Ross we are trying to work him up some wood. A slow process but all will be happy when it is done. So as Pat and I were splitting up the walnut I got looking at what we had. There would of been a good saw log for someone but few would come for one log so we cut it up. When splitting up I squared up as I split. I am getting up to five blocks out of a sawed section. I have been sitting these aside as I really don't want these to go up in smoke if someone can use them. I have so far 31 pieces and will have six or so more, There is good color and some figure to them. The blocks are 16" to 19" long. The end measurements are from a 4"x4" up to one that measures 10"x7". So if any of you want to use them for knife handles, reel seat for a fly rod, turning for duck calls or pen blanks, Handgun grips, doing a set of for arm and butt stock for your rifle or shotgun, maybe carving. I bet out of the large block a serving tray can be made. I have not yet sealed the ends. If I get a response and someone or know someone that wants part of all of this let me know ASAP and I will seal the ends so they will not check. We can make arrangements for a drop off sometime. I just hate to see them burn if they can be used. BilletHead

Good grief, I don't care what you say we have some good chiefs on here. Like I said before I put on a couple of pounds each time I look here. Good going you all! My installment for the day is kind of based on this. http://chiwulff.com/2015/05/08/chi-wulffs-friday-feast-8-may-cinco-de-mayo-carne-adobada/ We did not have the exact ingredients so we winged it used some of the peppers from the garden last year I smoked and froze plus a can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. This was the only deviation from the marinade called for. So here it is ready to blend, For meat we choose a deer roast. Sliced it in half to thin it up, Then it was all in the bag and to the fridge to get happy, While this was going on it was yard work. When finished with that task took the bag out to come to room temp. Grill fired up and the meat slapped on, (choose the gas grill today) Flipped, Did this quick to make a medium rare sear. Let it rest and sliced it up, Laid out an 8" tortilla and began to layer a Lettuce leaf from the garden, cheese, onion, the meat and some fire roasted salsa from the garden made from last season, Did a toast today for our friend Wayne and began to pig out on two of these. Did a third without the tortilla just a wrap of lettuce leaf. Friends this is a keeper! BilletHead

Yep three and doubt we will fight the skeeters the next couple of days for her second. We generally slow cook legs and thighs with the wing meat until tender and do with noodles and mashed taters. Slice the breast meat and fry with some type of breading. In my opinion fried breast meat is the way to go. BilletHead

Oh my, Will miss him and wish his family well, BilletHead

Well another reeling and healing is in the books. The participants were a great group of ladies. There were eight in this bunch.. After getting them into their waders it was off to the stream for a quick entomology course. Boot was in charge. Here he is explaining the aquatic life, We then got the ladies in the stream and et them do the "Westover Shuffle" Then it was what did we get! After a break it was time for casting practice, After lunch we split up and started fishing. There was four fishing sessions so each of us "river helpers" got to take out four different ladies. First trip I got Ramona. We did not get a photo but we did get fish. Session two was Joy. Here is Kent C. with his one of his ladies. Some of you know Kent. Next morning after breakfast Myrna and I hit the stream. Mrs. BilletHead was with her the day before. When they caught Myrna started crying which started Mrs. BilletHead to a crying. After that was over Myrna said I am done, I caught one and one is all I can do right now. This is one classy lady, strong God fearing conviction, a beautiful calming voice and is was our pleasure to be able to fish with her. We caught and she said I'm not going to cry but she had me tearing up a bit, Here again is Boot and Ramona the first lady I got to fish with, Here is the only picture I got of the Mrs. and her participant of morning two. Her name was Edit maybe pronounced Eedit? Not sure as she was very hard to understand. She was born in Hungary and is fighting inoperable brain cancer. This gal had a mind of her own. Tried to keep her sitting in a chair when fishing. You will notice where the Mrs. Had ahold of her in the photo. Well right after that she dropped the fish and started going after it right towards the water dragging the wife with her. I tried to get in front telling her let the fish go but no it did not happen and Edit stepped right into the water. Knee deep but down she went getting wet. She then exclaimed I am alright, I like the water, mommy and daddy said I swim like a duck. We got her out and here came the facilitator of the group. She was not amused. We may not be invited back? Actually there was not stopping Edit. Last session Kathy and I went out. We were the first ones to the water and the last ones back. Kathy is a worker and from what I understand works in a mowing service. She was a little slow on the hook set and we decided she had missed a bazillion strikes but we managed seven to the net, It was a great time and as always got to meet and fish with some very special ladies. After there graduation it was time for goodbyes. Will be looking forward to the Fall retreat in October if we get asked back BilletHead

Followed your link Ness and I do not have anything real close. There was one place in the link but it has went out of business. Will have to amend what we grow and get the rest up North of me at the Amish and our local farmers market. I will try to diversify and buy something out of the norm to try. We have guys buy there and set up their own stands along the road and bring to the farmers market. Not sure if they get a break when they buy or just mark up what they get? BilletHead

Sounds like everyone's gardens are coming along nicely. Nice rain here last night and this morning. Might be hit with severe storms in the next days . Here is to hoping our gardens are spared and all of us too. Most of all the tomatoes are blooming. Still no sign of tomatoes but I bet some will appear soon, Have a mix of Black Krim, Mighty sweet hybrid (two inch grape), Celebrity and Sunny Boy hybrid. We ordered these seeds from Burpee. Don't know how good they are with there seed being packaged but out of all of this we have a brandywine plant. Go figure, Can tell by the leaves. Lettuce is winding down. Got our fill of that for sure, Picked up some broccoli seed from Walmart. Ferry -Morse brand. Not too sure how accurate their seeds are either. Check this out in the batch we started a Kohlrabi has appeared, Broccoli plants are nice but not much for florets forming. Maybe not planted by the right sign of the moon? I don't rely on that but who knows? Not sure what to do with this bed soon. Could buy more tomatoes for a later batch? maybe throw in a zucchini plant or two? Just can't leave it with nothing in there. Peppers shooting right up and a few blooms are forming. Four types planted. Big Daddy sweet, Big guy hybrid (jalapeno),Big boss man(ancho-poblano hybrid) and long tall sally hybrid sweet. Then on to the blackberry patch This is the third year for it. All I can say is wow! Two different types. Center row one type has bloomed like crazy and berries started to form. Other ones have buds starting. It is going to be berry, berry good summer picking here. I can hardly believe the stalks. When they have done their thing and I cut out the ones that have produced next winter I will have to use a saw! Herbs for the season. Started Cilantro, oregano, rosemary and basil. Second time trying to start rosemary and it did not go so I bought plants. Basil from seeds I harvested last year. Had an extra pot and bought today some hot/ spicy oregano for it. All doing good and have sage in front yard as well as chives. Both come back every spring. Finally gooseberries. Big crop. I may not pick all green and let a few ripen like Ness did last season so I will have a tart bunch and some a bit sweeter, BilletHead

Another one bits the dust, Well done John. BilletHead

Have found in my yard, sandy loamy soil in open timber. In moss beds too. Hot wet weather. Find most of mine in late June through July, BilletHead

Neat Al, Thanks for the photos, BilletHead

Oh crud Ronnie I forgot! Wonder if I can get the Mrs. to do that? Now where to find a goat to help out? BilletHead

Decided to make a quick trip to a pond this morning. Wanted to beat the wind but it did not happen as it had started to blow briskly. We both tied on sliders and began to work the edges. Stripping along the surface making a wake or stripping fast getting the slider riding a foot or more deep pausing frequently to let it float up with a wiggle. Mrs. BilletHead caught the largest as she does most of the time. She also caught a hybrid bluegill who bit off more than he could chew. Fun times together again. How lucky can a guy get? Took some shots to share. Excuse us for the way we do that. I also did one shot for the ones who don't want a fly rod of the fish out of the water photo. Forgive us a s fisherman for setting the hook piercing the fish lips and yanking the fish head from side to side fighting him. At least I did not ski the fish across the water getting them air born into a boat to be flopped around, measured, pitched into a live well, transported to a weigh in. I actually think I stressed the fish more fiddling to get it right to take the picture that I would of lifting him up and snapping a quick one in the hand. Sometimes I think we go too far in our feelings on how we treat our quarry. I could of put them on a stringer and took them out to supper? They were lucky today we were not fish hungry . Oh my eat a bass? Yes from time to time and they are good, BilletHead

Hope you all don't get too bored with the same old thing. It is like this, we don't buy much meat at the store. Some pork in the form of bacon or ham. Chicken and maybe a steak once a month at the most. Lots of eggs and cheese and veggies we don't grow. It really means a lot to us to harvest what we can from the water, woods, sky etc. You get the picture. So meat wise it is deer, duck, goose, turkey, squirrel, fish, dove, so on and so forth. Things we can forage from the wild too. Then we do the container, raised bed garden and feast during it's season too. Berries also. So yes the same old thing but we have more control of some of what we put inside of ourselves. Today it was venison chops. Olive oil with some rosemary from the garden. Side of asparagus. Some from the garden and some we foraged from our wild patches. A big, I mean big salad from the garden consisting of a mix of Bibb and ruby glow varieties. Some store Vidalia's and a slight smothering of dressing. BilletHead

This sounds pretty cool Ness. Keep us informed on how much and what you receive. I bet there will be things we would not typically buy and having it in our hands like you said will make us try it. Wonder if I have anything like this in my area? How did you find out about this? BilletHead

Again well done Seth. A jake will work! BilletHead

Yes easy to rule out once you find your first chanterelle. Just hope we get many rains for a great bloom of those beauties, BilletHead

Boy being gone I have missed some good looking food on here. Yes Ness we will do the sauce thing. Yes the legs, thighs and wing meat is good. Just have to cook it long to tenderize. Breast meat? Oh my still have some of that too. You may want to try it Two people and we don't cook a bunch at a time. Break it down and vacuum seal. Good to go when ready! BilletHead

Well done Seth. Let me tell you I take the first legal by bird I can. They just turned out to be big this year by pure luck., Billethead

hahahahaha Ness! Cleaning out the fridge are we? Need any wild turkey? Have any of that cider left? Trade you some legs and thighs. Comes with bbq sauce. BilletHead

You bet! BilletHead

All righty then, Turkey again? Yep more timber chicken. Worked up part of a breast from the Mrs. bird. Breaded in Louisiana crispy fry batter mix. This is some good stuff. We even do our fish in it sometimes. Awesome. Had salad from the garden and some celery. I chose hot wing sauce and blue cheese dressing, the Mrs. Ranch and hot wing sauce as she has not converted to the blue cheese. That's OK it is her bird My tummy is so happy now. This was kind of like hooters except for the hooters and short, short part, BilletHead

Thanks guys, Actually Ham it weighed just under 17lbs. Not much on spurs. I'm guessing a two year old? There is no way I would of wanted her to wait for a larger one considering the season so far she had been dealing with. We are both pretty spent. When I have been hunting farther from home she has been going before work behind the house. We have a deal to attend so we will see what next week has for her again, BilletHead