We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.
These are a favorite summer treat around here. Yes, you can do it with pumpkin blossoms too. Use the male blossoms, on the stalks. No reason to waste them.
A simple recipe. Do not wash the blossoms. Serve hot, with salt.
We attended a garden party last weekend. The hostess is a serious gardener. She had so many poppies in bloom and post-bloom that I told her that I should perhaps call the cops.
Poppies are best considered annuals, but they will self-sow if left alone. In parts of Europe, red poppies are considered roadside weeds. In our wild (no horses) meadow I strewed (?) poppy seeds around many years ago, and many of them took. Now the meadow in June has some naturalized poppies amongst the wildflowers and hay.
No, The Trump Administration Is Not Torturing Migrants - Democrats and the media have jettisoned all sense of reality about the border crisis, and offer nothing now but phony outrage.
To a Mouse, On Turning up in Her Nest with the Plough, November, 1785, Robert Burns
Wee, sleeket, cowran, tim’rous beastie, O, what a panic’s in thy breastie! Thou need na start awa sae hasty, Wi’ bickerin brattle! I wad be laith to rin an’ chase thee Wi’ murd’ring pattle!
I’m truly sorry Man’s dominion Has broken Nature’s social union, An’ justifies that ill opinion, Which makes thee startle, At me, thy poor, earth-born companion, An’ fellow-mortal!
I doubt na, whyles, but thou may thieve; What then? poor beastie, thou maun live! A daimen-icker in a thrave ’S a sma’ request: I’ll get a blessin wi’ the lave, An’ never miss ’t!
Thy wee-bit housie, too, in ruin! It’s silly wa’s the win’s are strewin! An’ naething, now, to big a new ane, O’ foggage green! An’ bleak December’s winds ensuin, Baith snell an’ keen!
Thou saw the fields laid bare an’ waste, An’ weary Winter comin fast, An’ cozie here, beneath the blast, Thou thought to dwell, Till crash! the cruel coulter past Out thro’ thy cell.
That wee-bit heap o’ leaves an’ stibble Has cost thee monie a weary nibble! Now thou’s turn’d out, for a’ thy trouble, But house or hald, To thole the Winter’s sleety dribble, An’ cranreuch cauld!
But Mousie, thou art no thy-lane, In proving foresight may be vain: The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men Gang aft agley, An’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain, For promis’d joy!
Still, thou art blest, compar’d wi’ me! The present only toucheth thee: But Och! I backward cast my e’e, On prospects drear! An’ forward tho’ I canna see, I guess an’ fear!
On most holidays, we celebrate 'something', but one thing worth celebrating is the ability to celebrate. So many things can happen which would alter the circumstances of enjoying any holiday. Last week, a fraternity brother sent me some pictures of his brother's plane, which crash-landed in the desert. His brother and sister-in-law were fine, though a team was helicoptered in to check them out. His sister-in-law was asleep during the test flight when the oil pressure dropped and the engine stalled. He woke her and asked her to use the phone cam and record the landing, to keep her mind off the event.
The video is pretty intense, but shows what a well-trained pilot is capable of doing. Today, husband and wife are celebrating with family and I'm pleased my fraternity brother gets to enjoy more time with his family members. I like to call today one of 'his' holidays, because after college he joined the Marines and served our country.
We have a good hike planned for this morning - no bouldering - just to delight in the rugged glory of the New England part of this vast and beautiful country.
After morning weight-training, of course. Land of the free, the brave...and the strong.
Here's how my mother-in-law does it. Slice tomato, then a whole large Basil leaf, then a slice of mango, then a thin slice of mozzarella. Repeat. She runs it down in slightly-slanted rows on a platter. Repeat in rows until platter is filled. A little salt and a drizzle of oil and vinegar on top.
1. As reader says, put that fork down on the table. It's a tough exercise to drop a fork. Best to begin just once daily, and work up. 2. Start up the car and drive to the gym. Difficult exertion to turn that key or to press that Start button, bit it gets easier with routine.
Chinese border guards put secret surveillance app on tourists' phones - Software extracts emails, texts and contacts and could be used to track movements
Largest mass produced piston plane every built. Strange.
Interesting: Mr. James Stewart retired from the Air Force in 1968 as a Brigadier General and was instrumental in the formation of The U.S. Air Force from the Army Air Corp in 1947. Mr. Stewart was a bomber pilot in WW2 in Europe and received the Distinguished Flying Cross among many other awards. Mr. Stewart was certified and licensed pilot as single engine, twin engine, multi-engine, B-36 Strategic Bomber, B-47 medium bomber and B-52 Stratofortress. Mr. Stewart never discussed his military career in public. Truly a great man in many ways!!!!! And a damn good actor.
Readers know we think it's a sin to grill a great steak (like a ribeye, for example), but we are totally on board with grilling vegetables, burgers, hot dogs - and fish. Fish is great for the grill.
These are a favorite summer treat around here. Yes, you can do it with pumpkin blossoms too. Use the male blossoms, on the stalks. No reason to waste them.
To a Mouse, 
Sarsaparilla Float: Just with a scoop of vanilla ice cream (Root Beer also ok, but not quite as good)
Joey Chestnut, Miki Sudo clinch victory 
Summer really begins this weekend, up here, with Independence Day. Just a few summery links:
Betsy Ross flag
17-Year-Old Soon to Age Out of Foster Care 
Readers know we think it's a sin to grill a great steak (like a ribeye, for example), but we are totally on board with grilling vegetables, burgers, hot dogs - and fish. Fish is great for the grill.