Hambones

Son In Law made a ham for Christmas dinner while I was at work. That left us a goodly bit of ham and a nice big ham bone. So what do you do with a nice big ham bone?

1 lb Great Northern beans
water
salt
garlic pepper
Chipolte Tabasco sauce
1 T flour (opt)

You could also use garlic salt and peppercorn medley grinders, whichever you prefer.

Put the beans in a crock pot and cover with 2" of water. Leave them to soak overnight, at least 8 hours. In the morning put in the ham bone, 1 lb of the leftover ham cut up into bite sized pieces, salt and pepper to taste, and Tabasco sauce. Turn the crock pot on low and leave it sit for 8 hours. Resist the temptation to lift the lid, the beans will cook better that way. After the eight hour cooking time has elapsed test the beans, they should be nice and tender. If you want to thicken the sauce stir in the flour. Give the bone to the dog and serve the beans with biscuits.

Where There Is Bacon

there is life.

Brigid had a recipe up for bacon gravy a couple of days ago and I must admit that as big a fan as I am of sausage gravy it never occurred to me that bacon could be used in the same fashion. Nothing to do but try it!


The ingredients list is fairly simple, but mine is a little different. You need bacon, flour, salt, pepper and milk. I haven't tried the maple sugar, I'll have to pick some up for the next batch. I've never used half and half, but I'd bet it makes a really nice smooth thick gravy, I'll have to try it some time as well. I use the sea salt and peppercorn medley grinders from McCormick, the ones that Lawdog calls spice weasels (that one kicked over the gigglebox, so I call them that, too. My kids think I'm strange, for this and many other reasons), for the salt and pepper. I don't really measure anything so I can't give you exact amounts. Use this recipe for biscuits.

I cooked it up a bit differently as well. First I chopped 5-6 strips of thick cut bacon into 1" pieces and fried them up in a cast iron skillet until they were cooked all the way through. I took the skillet off the heat and stirred in two heaping tablespoons (not the actual measuring spoons, the large spoons that come in your flatware sets - Grandma always called them tablespoons and therefore so have I. The normal size ones are teaspoons) of flour to make a paste about the consistency of Elmers white glue.

This is a good time to put your biscuits in to bake. They will be done just about the same time as the gravy.

Once the flour had absorbed the bacon grease I returned it to the heat and poured in just enough milk to cover the top of the bacon. Stir that in with a wooden spoon over the same heat you cook the bacon in until it starts to bubble and thicken, then add more milk if necessary. Salt and pepper to taste, I use about 10 twists of the weasel on medium for the pepper and 6 for the salt. Take care with the seasonings, you can always add more later if you want but it is very easy to over-salt. Turn the heat down low and let it simmer for a bit while you take your biscuits out of the oven. Serve hot over fresh biscuits.

That's some good eatin'.

This recipe has received the Boots the Dog paw of approval.

The Gods of the Copybook Headings

limp up to explain it once more.

Kipling attempted to explain many things to us. We would do well to listen.

HT: Ace of Spades HQ

This Is Why

gun owners do not like registrations.*

There are only two reasons you register something, either so you can tax it or so you can confiscate it later on. This is why cars have license plates, so the state knows you have paid your taxes and fees on them. The fact that the police can use them for identification is secondary.

Gun owners who have subscriptions to the local rags should check to see if they are Gannett owned publications, and if so cancel with a full explanation.

Note to the press: we can and will turn the tables on you. What do you say we just ignore each other, and maybe we will go away?

*New link, the previously linked video seems to have been memory-holed.

Merry Christmas

Christmas was her favorite holiday, and I'm happy to say I made it home for every one of them, no matter where I happened to be. It got pretty close a time or two.

The most memorable was the first cruise I did after we were married. We got back into Norfolk on the 20th of December in the midst of a winter storm. The winds were over 25 knots and we couldn't be docked, so we sat out in the basin. For two days we looked over the rail and saw the pier, and for two days families gathered on the pier to look at us.

We had satellite phones on the ships by then, and for the two days we were there the phones were open free of charge, the ship's Moral Welfare and Recreation fund picked up the check. That was an expensive two days for them because every phone was busy 24 hours a day for those two days. Each of us only got a few minutes before we had to hand it over to the next guy.

When I got through the only thing I had time to do was sing this. It is my favorite Christmas carol.



On the 23rd the winds died down long enough to put the tugs alongside to push us next to the pier and for the entire day we offloaded our gear while the officers worked mightily to secure flights to Florida for us. We ended up spending the night at the air terminal in Norfolk.

I got home at six PM on the 24th. It was the best Christmas ever.

Here's hoping this Christmas finds you safe and warm and in the presence of people you love. Remember those who are in harm's way and pray for their safe return.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Christmas Eve

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.*

Off to work for me, Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night. 

*Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas, by Major Henry Livingston Jr.

When They Outlaw Mustangs

Only outlaws will have Mustangs.



From the twisted sense of humor of MSgt B, thanks for the link!

Still Here

No fires, no floods, no earthquakes, no volcanoes, no alien invasion, no Sweet Meteor of Death.

I'm beginning to think the universe just isn't all that serious about wiping us out. Which is a real shame because I can think of at least a half a dozen people right off the top of my head who could use a good smiting.

On a positive note they can dispose of all the History Channel dreck about the Mayan Apocalypse, as well as that Cusack movie.

On a less positive note I guess that means I'm working tomorrow...

picture shamelessly stolen from H & B

Something I've Learned

about the "international community" following the travesty in Connecticut - they understand as much about us as we do about them.To hear them talk they are experts on America and Americans,and yet they come up with things like this.

I have a feeling that since the media vacuum chamber here in the US wants desperately to be like quasi-socialist Europe the rest of the media world-wide (birds of a feather, doncha know) assumes that is the way we all think, and of course just like our own home-grown lefties they are constantly amazed at the opposition of red-state America to further impingements on our Constitutional freedoms.*

But what do I know, I'm just bitterly clinging to guns and God over here.

HT: Sean at An NC Gun Blog and Grass Roots North Carolina

*Apparently the term I was looking for is administrative control bias. Thanks Kevin!

On The Road

So I was out and about this morning getting some things done pre-apocalypse and a couple of interesting things happened.

The first thing that happened is my hunting partner texted me to see if I was going to head out to the woods again today. I texted him back that I had things to do so I would not be engaging in yet another futile attempt to find Bambi, then I got in the car.

He texted me back and the car read the text for me. It then gave me the option to text back, which I did simply by speaking the message I wanted to send. It had never done that before, so it must be a smart phone thing. Technology, ain't it grand?

The second thing that happened is that while I was pulling off the interstate I saw this getting on the entrance ramp. I had to look it up when I got home, apparently two brothers have built a huge banana on an F-150 chassis and are going to drive it around the world to raise money for Deep Vein Thrombosis. It is a good cause and a fun looking car (although since it is only in the 40's today I don't think I'd want to ride in it out on the interstate) so I'll be throwing a donation their way to help out.

According to MSgt B's sources TEOTWAWKI was supposed to happen at 11:00 AM. It is now almost 3:00 PM so I guess either the timing is off or it ain't gonna happen.

Guess I'd better get out there and do some Christmas shopping.

Put Some Iron In Their Rods

Viagra apparently requires a prescription, but is there anything comparable that does not?

I propose we in the gunnie community supply whatever supplement is legal to purchase without a prescription to our Senators and Congresscritters to give them the gumption for the upcoming fight.

I think we should probably send a double dose to Weepy Boner.

What say you?

HT: Shall Not Be Questioned, from where I purloined many of my links.

Sparking Outrage

I have a location suggestion for the next unhinged nutbag to go off on a murderous rampage.

I'll bet no one would protest at the funerals, although there might be quite a few show up just to make sure.

Christmas Plans

I'm working both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day because "some of our employees don't celebrate Christmas" and if there is even one person working in my areas I, being maintenance, have to be there.

"So why do those of us who do have to be punished for that?"

"Because shut up you racist and celebrate some diversity."

UPDATE: But wait, there's more. Talking to my operators I find out they were told at least one of them per area had to "volunteer" to work Christmas eve and day, even if they didn't want to...and none of them did. The CEO's number is unlisted, shame, because I think he would really enjoy a midnight serenade on Christmas eve. Call it a Christmas carol.

In the interest of keeping this blog mostly PG-13, I'm putting this NSFW video under the fold.

Today

109 years ago, on a wind-swept North Carolina sand dune, two young men pushed a fragile contraption into position. One of them took up his station upon the ungainly thing, and moments later - for the first time - slipped the surly bonds of Earth in the worlds first powered heavier than air craft.

Three more times these Dayton, Ohio bicycle salesmen threw their unlikely invention into the air, finally achieving a flight time of almost 1 minute and a little over 850 feet...less than  the length of a Midway class aircraft carrier.

From those humble beginnings we mastered the air, then overcame the sound barrier, and then finally entered space and put our feet on another celestial body - all in less than 100 years. We have not been back for quite some time, but I have hopes that we will continue expanding our horizons in the future.

I don't know what the next 100 years will bring, but I have a feeling it will be nothing we ever expected.

HT: Anna's Clue Tank

Storms

We had a thunderstorm last night. The old wives tale says that there will be snow within ten days. The weatherman has been predicting snow by Christmas, perhaps he will be right.

Brigid has a bit up about storms today, too.

Appropos of nothing, it looks like I'll be working Christmas Eve and Christmas night.

BoR Day

221 years ago today the first ten amendments to the Constitution, known collectively as the Bill of Rights, was formally ratified by enough states to become law.

Government lawyers and politicians at all levels have toiled to circumvent them ever since.

Deliberate

I haven't commented about Sandy Hook on purpose.

AD says everything that needs to be said.

To which I will add, Victoria Soto and Maryrose Kristopik join the list of heros with Liviu Librescue. Victoria is on the list of victims, but thankfully Maryrose and her charges are not. Well done to both of them.

What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

No, Deer

Once again I am a miserable failure.

I did see one on my way home but she stayed on the side of the road and just watched me go past without trying to commit suicide by Subaru.

The season is coming to a close, so if I am not successful in the next few weeks I'll have to wait until next year.  That's the way it goes sometimes I guess.

The Droid I Wasn't Looking For

I'm getting a little tired of Youngest Boy's little girly friend calling me when I'm at work. She is supposed to know better, but brainless is another word for teenage girls.

I decided it was time for Boy to have his own phone, so I dropped by the phone store to add another line and a cheapo flip type phone. I was told that the flip phones are more expensive than the smart phones, so shouldn't I just get him a smart phone instead?

Him, have a fancier phone than me? Hells no!

So I got me one instead and Boy will get my old flip phone. Yes ladies and germs, I have finally been dragged into the 21st century. I now have enough computing power at my fingertips that, if I had a Saturn rocket and a three man crew, I could put a man on the moon. Come to think of it, there's probably an app for that...

This necessitated a complete change in my plan (of course it did) since I was grandfathered in on a Cellphone Provider A plan, and since Provider A has now been assimilated into the Provider V collective I could not fundamentally change it...such as adding a new line...and instead I would have to convert to a Provider V plan. This was not all bad, and in fact will actually save me a few sheckels even with the new phone line added.

Funny little side note, once upon a time I was with Provider V, but then one stormy Christmas eve they lost a tower and decided they wouldn't be replacing it. That meant to get a clear signal I had to go outside.  I raised hell with them and got the (newly signed) plan canceled free of charge since they weren't providing the service I had paid for and went to Provider A.  Later on Provider V bought out Provider A, and since Provider A had a nifty tower right there I can now make phone calls inside again with Provider V. Talk about the long way around. Can you hear me NOW???

So now I have a new phone that doesn't go nearly as far on a charge as my old phone, so it will be spending a lot of time hooked up to an electrical wire of some sort, but will do all sorts of magic elf box thingies as well as actually make a phone call (including GPS navigation, which was an option I deliberately did not get on the Mustang because luddite, but it looks like I have it now anyway). But, since Boy will not be getting his phone until after the Mayan apocalypse has passed and Christmas has come, I have yet to receive a phone call on my new phone.

Boy has received four.

Which is why I got the new phone in the first damn place...

End Of An Era

TDP is gone.

Middle Daughter, who inherited the car after I got my new ones, finally got tired of trying to fix it. What finally laid it low was a check engine light that no one could properly diagnose; it has to be out to pass inspection and after throwing several parts at it the light was still on. This after a bottom end job and a transmission solenoid to fix up the lockup converter that wouldn't unlock, a common problem with the TH125 transmission.

The junk man came and got it Tuesday and the plates got turned in today. I dropped the insurance on it this afternoon. Whoever picks over its bones will get a good engine (the only thing that hasn't been touched is the rings, but the compression was good after the head work) and transmission, but the rest of it was crap.

I had a dream that included me sitting on a cooler drinking beer and laughing like a madman as they fed that car into a shredder and made blue confetti out of it. Unfortunately the place that got it doesn't have a shredder, so it remains only a dream. A good dream, but a dream nonetheless.

Laura loved that little car, and it was good for her for a long time. Rust in peace TDP.

Notes For The Left

We haven't started another revolutionary war not because we can't, but because we don't want to. We would rather try to solve our problems through policy and the ballot box. Some of us are still somewhat sanguine that it can be done this way.

Do not, however, mistake our reluctance for cowardice.

HT: Bob Owens

Third Time?

Perhaps it will be the charm.

Once again on Friday I shall venture forth into the woods to seek out the notorious crasher of cars, Odocoileus virginianus, or as he is otherwise known, the North American Hoofed Rat. If he should be found his 00 buckshot pierced flesh will adorn my freezer and his antlers shall adorn my walls.

I shall dedicate this hunt to my younger brother (notice I didn't say little, he hasn't been my little brother since he was 16) who has been laid low by a crushing self-inflicted blow on the noggin resulting in a couple of crushed vertebrae in his neck (PSA - parking a 4WD pickup under an awning meant for a Mustang doesn't leave much headroom, and his normal mode of dismounting - stepping out onto the running board before stepping down on the ground - ate that up pretty quickly).

He's been operated on and doing fine, but is forbidden by his attending physician to venture forth into what little woods Iowa offers for himself. This is a fate worse than death to a dedicated deer hunter of his caliber (see what I did there? I crack me up, chortle chortle), but he should be OK for the fishing season.

Stay strong brother, and wish me luck.

Kids These Days

Dear Hyundai Genisis,

Congratulations on your recent AMCI track testing success.

We see that you are spiking the ball in the end zone. We do understand that when you have nothing to be overly proud about every little victory seems huge. Enjoy the success, but please do try to remember that one track test does not a legend make.

Good luck. See you in forty years.

Maybe.

Sincerely,

Ford Mustang (AKA the original Pony car)

Pearl Harbor Day

Every year we lose more and more of them.

Remember what they accomplished.

New Addictions

I'm a big fan of xkcd but not really of web comics in general There are a few that are pretty good though.

Now there is another.

This one is a bit too close to be really funny though...

Thanks Erin!

Round

Apparently every well-formed 'Murrican card has at its corners an M1 Garand (but an M1A may suffice), a 1903 Springfield, a custom built AR of some sort, and a 1911 in the proper caliber of .45ACP. Much to my shame I have none of the above. Instead I have a Mosin 91/30, an Arisaka T30, a .223 Saiga and a Glock 36.

I don't think it counts that three of the above are on my Guns I Want list (1903 Springfield? Sorry, no desire for one) but maybe I can get a point or two for my Glock being a single-stack in the correct caliber.

19

It just occurred to me what day it is.

The funny thing is...she could never remember it.

I still miss someone.

Since RA Asked So Nicely...

Merry Christmas!

OK, this one technically isn't Christmas...

Bob Costas Is An Idiot

Alexthechick tells him why.

Follow Up

No deer in my freezer.  I haz a :-(

No deer on my bumper either. This means that I didn't see any deer at all, all day. At least last time I saw one, even if he did try to commit suicide by Subaru.

Better luck next time.