Sunday, November 20. 2022
Luke 23:33-43
23:33 When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.
23:34 Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots to divide his clothing.
23:35 And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!"
23:36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine,
23:37 and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!"
23:38 There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews."
23:39 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!"
23:40 But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?
23:41 And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong."
23:42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
23:43 He replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
Saturday, November 19. 2022
 It's not just for turkey. I have a friend who will not eat chicken without it. Excellent with pheasant too.
This has a zippy flavor: No-cook cranberry sauce.
Friday, November 18. 2022
 I've shot my share of Bob Whites, but no wild birds. Just stocked or fresh out of the pen. Fun, but not the real deal. I have seen (and heard) wild ones on Cape Cod and Long Island. I've eaten them too - boned and stuffed with foie gras. Amazing.
Here's the issue with Bob Whites: In most of their range, their numbers have crashed over the past 20-30 years because of global warming the loss of their preferred habitat. These quail like large messy edges, and large-scale farming eliminates those. Maybe they were more common due to the small-scale agriculture in past centuries.
I read the the numbers of wild birds is greatest in Oklahoma, but I think Florida has plenty too. You can spend a lot of money to hunt quail in Georgia on multi-thousand-acre quail plantations like this place. These places keep their bird populations up with a steady stream of pen-raised stock to keep the shooters happy. Not really wild but more of a simulacrum of quail hunting.
After all, old-time hunting was not sport. It was food. Some links:
Identifying Bobwhite Quail Habitat'
Northern bobwhites hold a special place in Georgia’s outdoor culture and wildlife heritage.
Quest For Georgia Quail - Lots of effort goes into managing for Georgia quail.
Easy to raise Bob White quail. You need an incubator, but the eggs are cheap. ($500/1000 eggs).
Thursday, November 17. 2022
Wednesday, November 16. 2022
Tuesday, November 15. 2022
On a roadside in Colorado last week
Monday, November 14. 2022
Sunday, November 13. 2022
 Of course, an array of pies are needed. We like squash pie. We like all pies.
Can you make a proper Tarte Tatin, fully-caramelized when you flip it? I have failed many times. Gotta let it cool before flipping.
7 apples, 9-10" pan, and do not use water in the below recipe. Instead, use 3-4 tbsp. of butter. Sure, you can use a frozen crust thing.
French-Style Apple Tart (Tarte Tatin)
Luke 21:5-19
21:5 When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said,
21:6 "As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down."
21:7 They asked him, "Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?"
21:8 And he said, "Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, 'I am he!' and, 'The time is near!' Do not go after them.
21:9 "When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately."
21:10 Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom;
21:11 there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.
21:12 "But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name.
21:13 This will give you an opportunity to testify.
21:14 So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance;
21:15 for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict.
21:16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death.
21:17 You will be hated by all because of my name.
21:18 But not a hair of your head will perish.
21:19 By your endurance you will gain your souls.
Saturday, November 12. 2022
From a hiking pal this week
Friday, November 11. 2022
Thursday, November 10. 2022
I took a few pics of our Luberon trails and routes, but not many of the challenging trails. Too busy clambering over stoney trails. Various routes wind down dirt roads, some through little paths, some past farmhouses, vineyards and olive groves. As I mentioned, the hardest part is following directions and trail marks.
The Brit hiking company (The Carter Company) that organized our trip gave us hiking guides (no maps). They also left off huge picnics each morning for us to carry, and transported our luggage from hotel to hotel. How long were the hikes? 5-6 hours.
As usual with hiking, it's mostly uphill but this bit was just easy and pleasant. Olive grove on the right, woodlands on the left::
Lots of pics below the fold -
Continue reading "Hiking trails and routes in Provence"
Wednesday, November 9. 2022
Tuesday, November 8. 2022
Monday, November 7. 2022
 Bird-hunting is basically walking, or hiking, with a dog and a gun. Maybe with a pal or two.
Our Sunday hunt was not productive of meat, but we must have seen 50 Bluebirds. Whether a migrating flock or a local population, who knows? They do not migrate much, depending on food supply. Berries in winter, bugs in summer. They are a kind of thrush, like robins and lots of other birds.
The Eastern Bluebird likes large fields, meadows, pastures, beaver marshes, and golf courses. Backyards, not much. Woodlands, no.
If you scatter 5 or 10 Bluebird houses around a large meadow, they will find them sooner or later. Tree Swallows will find them too, and they can fight about it.
From All About Birds, Eastern Bluebird
Pic from my pal yesterday of a male. The females are brown. Yes, they love to sit on fenceposts.
Sunday, November 6. 2022
Job 19:23-27a
19:23 "O that my words were written down! O that they were inscribed in a book!
19:24 O that with an iron pen and with lead they were engraved on a rock forever!
19:25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the last he will stand upon the earth;
19:26 and after my skin has been thus destroyed, then in my flesh I shall see God,
19:27a whom I shall see on my side, and my eyes shall behold, and not another.
Saturday, November 5. 2022
Fennel grows like a weed - and literally as a roadside weed - all over Europe. A celery-like thing, with a cool licorice flavor. You can munch on it raw, sautee it, or pickle it either as refrigerator pickles or real pickles. Fenuil in French, finocchio in Sicily and Italy.
It's perfect with simple seafood. Here's my first course (lousy photo): Warm salad of sliced octopus on a bed of sauteed fennel.
Main course (which was not really needed) - a rare filet of French beef with a jus with olives, not mushrooms. And usual Euroland runny mashed taters.
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Does physical reality objectively exist? 