Good morning!!!!

[rswyan]

48F with steady rain @ 12:30. It's currently loud enough that it sounds like the wind is howling ... but it's only blowing 12 mph. About 30 minutes ago it was a deluge.

Strong cold front coming through, and we were under a wind advisory (until 10AM this morning) and an area flood watch (until midnight tonight)

Possibility of getting more leaves picked up this coming week if it stays dry.

Up to the shop here in a few, and back to the landscape rake.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

Had a bit of welding to do yesterday and found a nasty surprise waiting for me in my weldor's beanie. With the coming of cooler weather, everything's looking for a warm winter home, including a rather large black widow spider that had spun her messy webs from brim to brim, parking herself squarely in the middle. I usually check gloves and shoes left out in the garage for such visitors, but the size of this one really startled me. Her bulbous abdomen was a good 3/8" across, and her legs easily spanned an inch and a half. Not sure if I've ever seen one that big, let alone one inside my hat!:shocked: I'd already donned my gloves, so I made a grab for it, coming up with a single leg, and at that moment realized what a great photo this would make. I didn't have a camera nearby, though, and the idea of walking around the house looking for one didn't seem too smart. So I just lifted the edge of my shoe, shoved her body underneath, and squished her down to two dimensions. I can imagine the same is happening in most parts of the country, so keep your eyes peeled out there, folks!

 

[RoyJackson]

2017-11-18, 0736

18 right now...high in the upper 30's.

Only a couple things on the list today:
a) Winterize the mower
b) Hook up the snow blower's PTO shaft and hydraulic lines. The snow blower, as most of you know, was rigged to the 3PH last weekend.
I need to get some chain oil and Fluid Film for the PTO shaft and some fuel and Stabil for the mower winterizing.

I also want to run up to a general store north of Randolph. They're going out of business and I want to see if they have any gun safes on sale

All the chores were done, except the trip to the general store...that'll have to wait for a few days.

I did run the snow blower for a bit...to ensure the implement was operating as required, which it did.

I also winterized the Gator...simple task...I just added some Power Service to the fuel when I filled the tank

Now, had a shot of Tequila and a beer chaser...watched an old science fiction flick ("It Came From Outer Space"). Maybe watch another 50's sci-fi flick (maybe another classic..."The Thing"), but chores are done for the day.
The puppy enjoyed "It Came from Outer Space"...hope she enjoys "The Thing" (1950) as much!

 

[RedNeckGeek]

Not all the critters around here are nasty, but they're all hungry. The recent rains have brought out a nice bloom on the rosemary plants, but this butterfly found easier pickins on the hummingbird feeder. Even though it was empty, the hummers make enough of a mess that there was plenty of nectar dried out on the top.:laughing:

 

[Ed of all trades]

Took a muscle relaxer last night. Got up this morning and went through the breakfast routine and went back to bed. Slept about 1/2 hr. After lunch went down into the basement and watched a BBC video about the western US, pretty good. Then went back to bed and slept about 2 hr. Feel better, can't wait for tonight.

Drew, Don't forget the peanut butter. They can easy jump it but once they get their tender nose or tongue zapped they get the message.

Have a great evening. Ed

 

[daugen]

picked the collards late this afternoon, washed them, sort of ripped them apart into little pieces without all the stems,
and put them in a chicken stir fry. Very tasty, rich flavor, and a bit chewy... Next time, I cook them a lot more than spinach.
I have enough for about four or five meals so going to try them different ways.

really wanted some fresh air with rain coming in so spent some time putting the hiller on the cultivator bar, and went out and hilled some unplanted field area next door. It was already hilled but nothing planted. Just practice time for me. Came in to adjust it, and retighten the hiller discs which did not hold their angle, went back to flat. So...I put the hammer gun on the nuts this time until it stopped moving. That should do it. No. Still swiveled back to straight after about ten minutes. Wondering just how tight that nut has to be...the Dewalt hammer gun is 275lb torque off, less going on, but way over what I'm sure the tighten spec is. Not a clue, will try it again.

The smell of freshly tilled earth was wonderful.

 

[tungularafishcamp]

picked the collards late this afternoon, washed them, sort of ripped them apart into little pieces without all the stems, and put them in a chicken stir fry. Very tasty, rich flavor, and a bit chewy... Next time, I cook them a lot more than spinach. I have enough for about four or five meals so going to try them different ways. really wanted some fresh air with rain coming in so spent some time putting the hiller on the cultivator bar, and went out and hilled some unplanted field area next door. It was already hilled but nothing planted. Just practice time for me. Came in to adjust it, and retighten the hiller discs which did not hold their angle, went back to flat. So...I put the hammer gun on the nuts this time until it stopped moving. That should do it. No. Still swiveled back to straight after about ten minutes. Wondering just how tight that nut has to be...the Dewalt hammer gun is 275lb torque off, less going on, but way over what I'm sure the tighten spec is. Not a clue, will try it again. The smell of freshly tilled earth was wonderful.

My favorite way for collards is to roll a deboned chunk of raw salmon up in it, stick a tooth pick in it to hold together, and steam them. They are pretty good eaten hot with your favorite dippin sauce, and they are even better cold the next for snacks!

 

[daugen]

My favorite way for collards is to roll a deboned chunk of raw salmon up in it, stick a tooth pick in it to hold together, and steam them. They are pretty good eaten hot with your favorite dippin sauce, and they are even better cold the next for snacks!

wow, now I knew collards liked cold weather but you can grow collards in Alaska? Super.
Healthy green vegetable, an alternative to kale, all those heavy duty greens need to be well cooked and frankly flavored with something else.
Or in some ways disguised...but they do give such a rich flavor to things. I used canned mixed collards and kale in my meat loafs.
Like adding mushrooms, adds another layer of flavor.
I suppose I could now add fresh.

I'm surprised my locals don't deep fry them...vs your combo with salmon that simply defines healthy food.

 

[daugen]

It's actually funny how collards are perceived regionally. Here in the South they are the traditional holiday vegetable.
And have a reputation as the poor people's vegetable, and if you are poor in the South, you are/were likely of one color.
Everyone here likes collards though, no social stigma to it.

However, usually that meant that one got Brussels sprouts in good New England
homes(which I loathed partially steamed), and not collards... Greens weren't really cooked in the North, except
for spinach which has always been huge. Thank you Popeye.
Up North we bought those square boxes of frozen vegetables, Birds Eye and a few others.
Down here you cut your own field greens for dinner. A lot healthier, fresh dark green veggies
just have to be good for you.

Haven't heard from Farmer. I hope he's on a long cruise vacation. Sitting on a beach in some out island.
And watching the internet video feeds from inside the chicken houses...

 

[toppop52]

It's actually funny how collards are perceived regionally. Here in the South they are the traditional holiday vegetable.
And have a reputation as the poor people's vegetable, and if you are poor in the South, you are/were likely of one color.
Everyone here likes collards though, no social stigma to it.

However, usually that meant that one got Brussels sprouts in good New England
homes(which I loathed partially steamed), and not collards... Greens weren't really cooked in the North, except
for spinach which has always been huge. Thank you Popeye.
Up North we bought those square boxes of frozen vegetables, Birds Eye and a few others.
Down here you cut your own field greens for dinner. A lot healthier, fresh dark green veggies
just have to be good for you.

Haven't heard from Farmer. I hope he's on a long cruise vacation. Sitting on a beach in some out island.
And watching the internet video feeds from inside the chicken houses...

There were as many poor white share croppers as there were poor blacks, my mom’s and dad’s families were both very poor in the depression era south. Collards and turnip greens as well wild Polk salad made up a large part of their diet.