Friday, July 30, 2010

Summer 2010 Garlic Haul



Here are the results of our fall 2009 Garlic planting.

We harvested these beauties about a month ago now. They've been laid out to dry in this rabbit cage top. And boy are they tasty good yummy!

There's a huge sense of accomplishment and pride when I can go down to the basement to pick and item we've grown and then enjoy it an a fresh cooked meal.

I have every intention on planting more garlic in the fall, as it's just too easy to grow. However, after picking these bad boys I planted (6) Brandywine tomato plants in their place. First time trying this variety.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Scare of My Life, Take Two...



His name is Cooper. He a fixed, 9-month old part Bischon Frise and part Pomeranian and a 100 % pain-in-the-ass puppy!

From a looks and personality perspective, Cooper wins over Nicky hands down. The Pekingese was just blah, no emotion or hard to tell his emotions. Cooper is much more lovable, shows his excitement and has a personality. However, Cooper has an issue with men - he does NOT like them. Perhaps, something happened in his past that was caused by a man, not sure just guessing. He will jump and dance when Emilie or JoAnne walk into the room, yet when I walk in he starts growling and barking and will run from me; he will NOT come near me. Even when he is on his leash and I try to pull him towards me he fights and pulls and freaks out. This is ashame but I do have fun with this and mess with him, hehehe. Could be why he bit me, hmm?

Of course these smaller kick-me dogs are for the birds. They are really good for nothing, and I mean nothing. They're annoying, yipping-yapping, pee-and-poop-wherever-they-feel-like-it, high maintenance dogs. JoAnne will take Cooper out for a 15 - 20 minute walk and the dog will wait to come into the house to pee on the kitchen floor!

I bet your asking yourself why we got Cooper and I'm gonna tell you. Here's the interesting twist, JoAnne's mother refuses to keep Nicky "the pill" pekingese. He growls at her and the grand kids and has nipped at them all too, so he's OUTTA THERE! The timing was perfect, so we thought, because Cooper "the neurotic" became available, so we grabbed him. Nicky has since gone back to his original owner, yippie (no pun intended), but JoAnne's mother can't take Cooper right now, so we're kinda stuck with the little pecker-head.

So, like the 1979 song Message in a Bottle goes (The Police), we're "Sending out an S.O.S", "Sending out an S.O.S", "Sending out an S.O.S", "Sending out an S.O.S", "Sending out an S.O.S", "Sending out an S.O.S" - one runny-eyed dog available for adoption!

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

The Lottery

A husband says to his wife, “What would you do if I won the Lottery?”

She says, “I’d take half, then leave you.”

“Excellent,” he replies,

“I won $10 , here’s $5 – now Fuck off!”

A Fixer-Upper That's Been Fixered Up



Wallla, check out our new pimped out patio table!

We 'rescued' this table (trash picked has such a terrible connotation) from a Dover (known as a wealthy town round these parts) residence a couple years ago. Other than being rusty and a clashing green color, it was in perfect condition. It is a sold, heavy and sturdy table. Can only guess it was an expensive piece at one time. We put it to use immediately and have ever since.

JoAnne and I finally got around to fix'n her up. We dismantled it and cleaned all the nooks and crannies, both on the metal pieces and the glass top. Then out came the metal brush drill attachment to clean the metal and prep for painting. Two coats of good ole RustOleum paint; one coat primer and one coat #
7125830 - Black, Hammered spay. The hammered spray hides flaws and imperfections.

While drying we purchased some new 8 x5/8 Hillman stainless black coated Phillips screws for the reassembly. Of course now that it's in such show room condition we're reluctant to let anyone use it for fear of getting scratched but it looks perdy ain't it!!

P.S. Please disregard the look and condition of the deck. It's repairs are "on the list"!

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Scrap Metal Recycling, Trip #3

Truck load # 3 - These items came from all over - basement, shed and the yard. Surprising what you find in the nooks and crannies; items stored many years ago.

The total weight of said scrap metal was 720 LBS!

I think I'll be making one more trip with some miscellaneous items that I was unable to fit in this load. I wouldn't expect this last trip to weigh nearly as much as this one or the two previous one.

Friday, July 23, 2010

Upside-Down Tomato Plant Experiment

Here is my first attempt at Upside-Down gardening.

I took a 5-gallon plastic bucket and drilled a 2 inch hole in the center. I then took my Big Boy tomato plant, which was approximately 8" tall, and inserted him into the hole about 4" deep. Using some composting grass clipping, I lined the bottom of the bucket and around the stem and root ball of my plant to help hold it in place then filled the bucket with fresh compost about 3/4 full. I had a Dill herb with no home, so I planted it on top. I'm leaving the weeds you see growing out of the top, along with the Dill to help retain some of the moisture in the bucket.

So far so good, the plant is doing fine and growing as you'd expect only upside-down, but the proof in results...

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Pinewood Derby - A Blast From The Past!



I've come across countless items from my youth during the Westwood to Franklin relocation project - a kind of dejavu. The majority of the items I had stored in my old bedroom closet have been moved. Although, I've not gone through it all, there have been some things I've come across during the move like these three pinewood derby cars, circa 1976ish, from my cub scout days.

Beauties are they not!! Hand made and designed as only a wee yout could do. Of course I can't remember that far back in time in general, let alone the specifics of the pinewood derby race days. However, since there is no one around to refute my claims, I'm gonna tell you all that I won! Yup, I won all three of the races that each of these cars were entered in and won them hands down. Once I find the associated trophies, or was it ribbons, I'll post them as proof. Until then you're just gonna have to take my word for it.

The dilemma, what to do with these classics?

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Miss You Mom!

A mom is one of life's best gifts,
Someone to treasure all life through,
She's caring and loving,
Thoughtful and true,
Someone who is always a special part of your life,
Someone who holds a prime place in your heart,
She's a mentor, a confident and also a friend,
Someone on whose love you can depend.
A mom always has your best interests at heart,
She's someone so dear and so good,
She's a blessing, she's a gift,
She's a treasure like no other,
She's someone that is truly wonderful.
Wherever you go, and whatever you do,
A mom’s love will always see you through,
A mom is truly invaluable,
Indispensable and unforgettable.
I wouldn't want anyone but you,
And that's why I'm so grateful,
that life picked you for me.

Got The Scare of My Life the Other Day!

And here it (he) is pictured below!

Yup, JoAnne brought home this 15-month old Pekingese named Nicky - it's a dog. Claimed it was now ours; a pure breed that cost us nothing, nada, zippo, zilch - he was free. Well, I was overcome with emotion, as you might expect, and began to sob uncontrollably. Oh, the price was just right but a "kick me" dog?! We're going to be owners of a "kick me" dog, uugh! The only thing worse would be to own a puggle or a beagle or both, egad! We have rabbits bigger than this dude.

Well, the good news is that she was pulling my leg. Yes, he's a pure breed, and yes, he was free but the good news was that she got him for her mother and he was only staying for a couple days; he was NOT staying in Franklin, hooray! We're not owners of a "kick me" dog, yabba dabba doo!

Of course Emilie fell in love with him instantly. She doded over him constantly and took him for walks around the yard, talked with him, played with him and generally wouldn't leave him alone. Naturally, she was VERY upset and sad when he was dropped off at her grandmothers house. I guess we need to look into getting Emilie a dog one of these days and it needs to be sooner rather than later.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

1st Cucumber of the Season!



Here is our first cucumber of the season, yum yum!

We have three plants and they're all doing fantastic. Oodles of flowers and climbing the trellis like crazy.

Like most veggies cucumbers have their pests - cucumber beetle. We have the striped ones, which like to hide in the flowers. Of course being insects they're not too smart. In an effort to get away they like to roll off the plant and try to fall to the ground. Cupping one hand under the critter and shooing it with the other and plop right into your hand and with a simply pinch off with it's head!

Scrap Metal Recycling, Trip #2

Truck load # 2 - most of these items came from out in the yard. However, some items came from the basement rafters, some from my house and a few items from a neighbor.

The total weight of said scrap metal was 740 LBS!

In my guesstimation there are enough metal items reaming on premise to take one more trip.

Friday, July 16, 2010

1st Summer Squash of the Season!



Here is our first summer squash of the season, yippie!

Unless the woodchucks stage an uprising, we're looking at many, many more summer AND zucchini squashes. There's loads of little ones our there now. These dudes are loving this hot and humid weather. Of course the daily hand watering doesn't bother them either.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Fun Fact

FUN FACT!

Americans consume more than 20 billion hot dogs each year.


Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Scrap Metal Recycling, Trip #1

Here is a picture of my truck fully loaded with metal items on their way to a local scrap metal recycling center. These items were removed in and around the shed, Charlie's Place, in an effort to clean out and organize.

The total weight of said scrap metal was 1020 LBS!

In my guesstimation there are enough metal items reaming on premise to take two more, full load trips.

Wednesday, July 07, 2010

Enough All Ready!

OK, with a show of hands now, how many of you are tired of all the media coverage surrounding Lindsay Lohan and "Queen" Lebron James?!?!

Are there not more meaningful stories for the news media and outlets to cover by now?

I can only hope that Lindsay will be forced to spend her sentence of 90-days in jails and not a day less. However, we're all too familiar with how the criminal justice system works, especially when it comes to famous people, i.e. celebrities, sports figures and politicians.

What can I say about "Queen" Lebron?! Well, for starters I lost a great deal of respect for him following the Cavs playoff ousting back in 2009 when be bolted from the court in the final game. No show of sportsmanship or respec; he showed us his true colors.

And while I'm at it, how bout this new show on ABC called "Downfall"?! Does anyone else think the concept of this is simply bad timing and a HUGE waste of money? Especially, with the number of people out of work and unemployed today, who are living day to day and not sure where they're next meal will come from and this show is dropping items to their demise off a 10-story building, geesh! So, they're claiming the items are, "fabricated facsimiles" I bet dollars to donuts 9 out of 10 people prolly don't know that.

Tuesday, July 06, 2010

They're Spreading! You've Been Warned...



This weekend a small infestation of Asian longhorned beetle was found in Jamaica Plain (Boston). The site is at Faulkner Hospital, just across from the Arnold Arboretum. Six infested maple trees were found so far, in close proximity to each other, and have already been removed by USDA/DCR. Surveys will continue this week to determine the extent of the infestation.

It is extremely important that we get the word out ASAP to everyone in the Boston, Brookline and Newton area to be on the lookout for:

  1. Adult Asian longhorned beetles (shiny black beetles with white spots and long, banded antennae)

  2. ALB exit holes (dime-sized, perfectly round holes, especially in maple, but also in birch, elm, horse chestnut, willow and other hardwood trees.but not oak)

  3. ALB egg-laying sites (divots in the bark ranging in size from 1/4 to 3/4 inches across - fresh pits often have oozing, foaming sap)

Anyone seeing anything suspicious should report it immediately at MASSNRC or call toll-free: 1-866-702-9938. Take photos if you can.

Monday, July 05, 2010

pheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeew!



and this is pretty much how I'm feeling right about now.

more hotter and humid temperatures expected tomorrow, YIKES!

Friday, July 02, 2010

Found My "G" Spot!

Yup, I did! Found my "G" spot! Giddy-up!



Now for those of you who have their minds in the gutter, you should be ashamed of yourselves! I'm talk'n my "grill" spot; gas grill spot you pigs.

Made the above pictured creation a couple weeks ago and threw it on the grill for about 30 minutes and BAM!

I used a nice hunk of pre-frozen swordfish, JoAnne didn't think I was worth the fresh catch price but no worries, some green pepper, broccoli, red onions, fresh-picked-out-of-our-garden garlic, olive oil, fresh lemon juice and some spices.

Man it was so gooooooooooooooooood! I enjoyed it with a nice glass of red wine and topped it off with a cigarette. Kidding, I'm only kidding there was no smoking.