Autumn

Autumn

Monday, November 28, 2011

It's Just An Old Reel, Isn't It.

In our family room we have two 'built-in' bookshelves on either side of our fireplace. I have a bad habit of taking tidbits of my life and sitting them alongside the books. You know the little spaces left when you shove the books aside or rearward, leaving a nice couple of square inches of polished wood, perfect for the odd old and unopened box of Remington Hi-Speed .22, The pretty red and green of the box that gives texture and class to a protective archival wrapper of  the complete works of Alice B. Toklas ...like that.

In the quiet of last evening I glanced from my comfortable chair up at the bookshelves in an attempt to find some volume or the other that had recently been tossed about in my mind; I believe it was a rare bio of Hetty Green, the witch of wall street. Anyway I became distracted when my attention was caught by one of my odd dust catchers; a vintage (not old, just kinda old) Heddon spinning reel. A model 220-R. I stood and reached and sat to caress the fine lines of this reel - actually I stroked memories of my youth.

Heddon is long gone, oh sure, the product line of fishing lures is still owned by some strange corporate body, but the essence, the history of Heddon has long vanished.

When I was young, a knot-kneed kid of twelve or so, I had three interests in life - guns, books, and fishing. Just your typical country boy. I can remember countless hours of intense study with a Heddon catalog tucked under my bed clothes where I'd dream by flashlight of a mailbox filled with Lucky 13's and River Runts.


Across the road from our home, at that time, was a cattle pasture. Located within was a beautiful old pond of some several acres. The lake held an island always just out of my reach as I had no boat. My time and fishing was limited to the shoreline, but I was content with the limits, happy even for the freedom of a day with nature.

I'd always wake early on weekends. I'd grab a quick breakfast of whatever and then outdoors to dig a can of worms for 'just in case.' Just in case was my backup to the three or four odd lures I was allowed by my father or purchased with birthday money. Those lures (or as I referred to them, plugs) were precious jewels decorated, as they were, with shiny silver propellers fore and aft. Painted in shades of gold and yellow or a washed out green with black spots - for me, art.

I'd go armed for combat with my battered steel rod loaded with its very old spin-cast reel. Not trusting its worthiness it was usually accompanied by a six foot cane pole; I intended to catch - something.

In those early morning hours with the rising sun warm on my back, I'd crawl under the house and retrieve my stash of gear and head out with fresh dew cool on my bare feet. A scrawny tow-headed kid with the ability to slip between barbed wire without leaving a trace of his passage.


I had no mentor. I fished purely by instinct.

My father was 'the game warden,' as the locals called him and as such I was to be feared. The locals kept all fish regardless of size so they were uneasy of me and took efforts to stay out of sight and refused to fish with me. Thus, the small lake was usually mine alone, my private world. This suited me just fine. I was a quiet kid and company talked and I was sure every Bass in the pond could hear them which would spoil my chances of a good catch. Bream, on the other hand, were just stupid, I left them as a backup.

I'd work the pond from one end to other, and I almost always caught fish. Most were three and four pound Bass with the occasional ten, and once, a twelve pounder which caused me to drop all and run, screaming like a banshee, all the way home to show my mother. Proud, I was....


The snapshot of the memory taken that long ago morning has been lost to time. I wish I still held the evidence, I'd like to see if there was a mile long grin on my childish face, if I held the Bass close or at arms length, but mostly I want to see, just one more time, that old rod and reel. If memory serves me the reel was a Shakespeare. But the years since haven't been kind to my recollection.

I do remember days of summer sunshine, the odors of cow pies, tiny piles of rabbit scat, raccoon tracts pressed into the mud, the way the water lilies held close to the shore with their white waxy blooms kissed with just a touch of yellow. I still remember the cattle, tails swishing flies, heavy milk filled udders that flapped when they walked. I remember the morning I became distracted by Crawfish hunting, a tin can of boiling water and the way those mudbugs tasted afterwards.  And, I vividly recall the tall dull green bulrushes, and the quick hard thunderstorms that had a habit of catching me mid-cast, and I, too hard headed to seek cover forced to walk home soaked as a drowned rat. And the water, I remember the water most of all.


Norman McClean once wrote in his novel, A River Runs Through It, a simple passage - 'I'm haunted by waters.' The moment I read his words I fully understood their meaning.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Sunday

It's been a quiet morning. Sweet Wife and I took our morning walk and afterwards I gave my feet a few minutes of rest and then began my annual post Thanksgiving turkey soup.

It's a simple soup of our leftover Thanksgiving turkey, fresh herbs and vegetables. I begin by sauteing onions in butter and olive oil until they're caramelized. As the onions saute I remove the turkey meat from the bone. I remove all skin and connective tissue. With a nice pile of meat standing by I add minced garlic (not the crap in the bottle or pre-minced please) allow the garlic to simmer a bit then add the turkey.
 
Like I said, simple. Other than canned tomatoes I use fresh vegetables; little red potatoes, mushrooms, corn, and baby Lima beans. I prefer chicken stock. Since I used all my nice homemade turkey stock during Thursday's dinner I went with boxed chicken stock for this soup. Use whatever works for you but I believe water a poor choice. You want favor after all. Now, salt and pepper, just go easy on the spices at this stage.

My herbs are simple fresh thyme and sage. I mean come on, it's turkey. Since I love my food a bit on the spicy side I add Creole seasoning. Just don't get too carried away with it. Season lightly at the beginning, you can always adjust later.

Measures and amounts of ingredients should be adjusted to the number of meals and or people you're cooking for, of course.  

I'm sure each and everyone of  us has their favorite post Thanksgiving turkey recipe, I offer mine for the simple reason I need a post today....I'm tired and just can't get my mind in gear. Please, remind me to take next year's Thanksgiving week off.

Above, the onions are ready for caramelizing.

De-bone time.

Just a prep picture.


Construction under way. After I've all the ingredients in the pot I bring it to a boil, then place my pot on a simmer plate (I use gas) then reduce the heat and allow it to simmer for hours....the longer the better in my humble opinion.

The soup is happy now, and how I love the way it perfumes the house.

Enjoy, and thanks for reading.

Stephen

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Thanks & Welcome

To two new followers this morning. The first thanks and welcome goes to my new friend, Just Cook. He's a chef and has a new blog, please, take a stroll and say hello.

My friend, I will reply to all comments, good or bad. It might take me a day or two, but I shall reply so please drop a line when you visit.


My new friend, John (aka Just Cook) like I've mentioned is a chef, a professional, unlike me, a wanna-be. I've always admired real working chefs. The culinary arts draw me like a moth to flame. I'm far more comfortable with a handgun or battle rifle in my hands, but chef knives turn me on too. By the way, his last blog entry was about making flour from acorn nuts. He'll even show you how to process venison. What's not to like....I mean, come on, he's a real working chef.

My other new friend is dakotas5. I believe his blog is fairly new too. Hillbilly Survival will prove an interesting read.


Again, my new friends, thank you for hitting my follower button. To my long time friends, please, run over and say hello. I appreciate it.

John, Dakotas5 - you are now among friends.

Stephen

Friday, November 25, 2011

Fun With Black Powder

Here's a neat trick for 'that' day. One or two old single barrel shotguns (and a double) should always be a part of your firearms collection. Be careful.


Enjoy.

Stephen

The Day After

Not sure about you but I'm tired. It's been said by some that Thanksgiving is their 'favorite' holiday, which is understandable, but for the person in the kitchen on their feet for most of the day, I'd bet it isn't.

I was that person yesterday. I'd begun my preps the evening before; took it easy, put my stock to simmer, chopped my vegetables and herbs. My 'mise enplace' saves me a good hour of work on the big day. Sweet Wife helped a bit but truthfully the less people in my kitchen the better; most just get in my way.

Even Little Bit tried to help. She was able to spend Wednesday evening and Thanksgiving day with us. She had a good time. When she approached asking if I needed assistance in the kitchen I, or course, said sure. Kitchens with their open gas burners and sharp knives (and trust me mine are very sharp) are really not good hang outs for children. Anyway, she helped Papa with the turkey prep. Ever seen a little girl with both hands covered in semi-melted butter rub a turkey breast....then, wipe her face.

I was in the kitchen from 0800 until well after 1400....my feet hurt.

I'm at the office now. Just opened the shop because the media said I should and I've heard talk of Black Fridays....we'll see. So far it's very quiet. The coffee is on and I've just jerked myself a cup, so come on down and join me. We'll chat, shot the poop, tell tall tales of days gone by when our blood still ran rich and hot.

Just received word via text that my good friend ShooterSteve proposed to his girlfriend yesterday at Thanksgiving dinner. My understanding is he shocked the heck out of her and she melted and said yes. I'm very happy for them. May the Good Lord bless them both.

I'd like to leave you a picture taken yesterday just after Little Bit had her hair done by her Nana. She was all proud, told me she was now my little Bohemian. I glanced at her Nana for an explanation, all she said was, she takes after you, she reads. Oh well.


You guys have a great day and I'll see you later.

Stephen

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving

To all my friends, may you have a peaceful and bountiful Thanksgiving.


God Bless you.

Stephen

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

A Long Day

My good friends it's been a long and tiring day. Like I've said, it's the busy season for me. I'm not sure if I'll post again until after Thanksgiving, maybe I will, maybe I won't.  But either way please rest assured I will be back. I'm sure I will post a Thanksgiving wish to you all before Thursday.

Trust me,  I will reply to all comments...have a good evening.

Stephen