Simply Tuesday...

The beginning of the week started off very nice. The heat and humidity has killed us the last few weeks, but yesterday, the humidity was very low. I cut the yard and barely broke a sweat.

At other times with high humidity, I would look like I'd been riding the wash cycle of the washing machine and I felt like it too!

Today, I have to get the oil changed in my truck, do some things outside, clean the grills, get Big Momma ready to pull down to my mother-in-laws house for the 4th of July cook this weekend. Yes I'm cooking...imagine that.

Big Momma will come to life after many months of slumber.

Speaking of this...

For the first time in Nashville (at a Publix's) I have run into Kingsford Competition Blend Charcoal. I have never seen it here before. I have seen folks talking about it on the Web but now here it is. That seems odd that Stubb's (at Lowe's) and now KCBC (at Publix's)

How odd is that after me talking about the limited quality of charcoal around here...

I've used Kingsford
I've used Royal Oak
I've used Sam's Choice
I've used many a brand that I can't remember years back

I just thought it was odd that these two show up at almost the same time.

Anyway, I didn't buy any because I'm stocking up on the Stubb's. I really like this charcoal. There is no waste, very fine ash, good stuff. Again, a little pricey but so was the KCBC. And the KCBC was in a smaller bag.

Anyway...

I've got to hit the ground running and make things happen today.

B.D.

Weekend Report...

Boy howdy...it is hot, hot, hot. And humid too!!!

But, that is the norm for us this time of year.

We never have a month or two of nice calm weather. It's cold, it's raining, it warms up, it quits raining, it gets hotter than hell, it's muggy, it cools down, it gets windy, it rains, it gets cold as hell, it starts all over again...

Yesterday, it was 90 something with Mr. Sunshine hanging out and it started raining (hard) for about 10 min. and then it was gone and let the steam bath begin...

No air movement, just wicked heat and humidity.

I'm off work next week (layoff) so maybe I can get a few things done early in the morning before it gets too bad outside. The wind is supposed to pick up from the Northwest and cool down the South just a tad, but we always have the threat of thunderstorms when that happens.

Heck, I'm just glad to be away from that loony farm for a week.

Well I've got things to...Uh, B.D. are you going to finish the story about the wasps?

Sure...

I got the short ribs and they got the short end of the stick.



Never come between a man and his toys...
B.D.

Simply Tuesday...

Did the short ribs on my little cabinet smoker and pissed off the wasp that had built a home under it.

When she started doing her warm up cycle, they all bailed out of there.

(Yes, their little bee hinds got zinged)

We've sprung a leak boys we're going down!!!

Now I, (for one) ain't stupid enough to hang around when a bunch of pissed off red wasps has had his (or her) butt toasted...they...was not happy campers.

So, I gave them plenty of time to go park their butts in a creek somewhere while I made a beeline (and dignified hasty retreat) for the backdoor and waited...while my little smoker came up to temp.

After scouting the area, I came back out and put the meat in the smoker...

Keeping an eye out for incoming red enemy warplanes and keeping an eye on the 225 to 250 mark, I headed back in to watch a little of the race.

I said to myself...

Self, we'll go check on the smoker from time to time. That way, we ain't sitting out there in open country dodging pissed off wasps. That sound like a plan?

Sounds like a damn good plan...

And the plan was set in stone...

I kept a third eye on the time. This was getting complicated...

One eye on temp.
One eye on time.
One eye on the enemy.

So...
I ventured out when time said go for it.

Muscles ready to fight or run...heart pounding...nerves of steel...eyes like radar...

Bring it on Buck-O...was my battle cry. I could feel them. I knew they would be back. But...back from where?

Then...
I had radar lock on them...

These little red war machines were in the fur trees beside the patio...waiting.

Waiting to dive bomb me with all that fire power when I came within striking range. It was on...

Stay tuned for the next thrilling episode of: Sorry about your luck there my little red friend, but that smoker belongs to me.

Sponsored by...

B.D.

Weekend Report...

I found some Stubb's charcoal at Lowe's last week and bought a few bags to try it out. What caught my eye was it said it had a vegetable binder instead of all the nasty stuff that usually holds a charcoal briquette together. As most of you know, Kingsford is the top dog around here.



If you just want to grill, just about any ole charcoal will get the job done. But I like a consistent product...

Kingsford will not burn the same every single time. No matter if you use a charcoal chimney starter or not. (which I do)

I've used the Stubb's twice now, started the same way and cooked the same way. I think it cooks great. It all burns even and longer than Kingsford does and just a little bit hotter too. This means you can us less and get the same results.

Now there have been a few charcoal brands I like and I would go back to them if I could find them, but the case (or the luck) has been "we're sorry we don't carry that anymore..."

I'm sure that will be the case with Stubb's. I hope not...because I would really like to use it in the pit. (Big Momma)

If you pick up a bag, let me know what you think. It is a little pricey, but I always say, you get what you pay for...if the price is cheap odds are it ain't worth a crap.

I'm going to smoke some beef short ribs this afternoon and make homemade Pinto beans to go along.

Make a Rabbit want to smack a Dog!!!

Uh...yeah...something like that...

B.D.

This & That...

What a week...

Storms, tornado warnings, heat, work...speaking of work...
That's one reason I haven't posted anything lately, we are working 12 hour shifts again, sometimes 6 days a week. The other reason is the storms that we have had come through here early in the week.

One storm had 5000 lightning strikes in it.
That's not a misprint...5000...

Mother Nature really did have PMS that day. Here is the forecast for the next 7 days...



Typical weather for us this time of year. As for what happened last week, I got too hot cutting grass, didn't drink enough water, dang near come close to having heat stroke. My bad...

Cut the grass this morning (early-early) took plenty of water breaks and got her knocked out. With temperatures in the 90's all week, the grass will burn up and I won't have to cut it for awhile.

Speaking of burning up...guess what will hit the grill tonight.



'nuff said...

B.D.

Simply Monday...

Cutting grass in the heat...

I pushed myself beyond my limit...

It wasn't good...

B.D.

Weekend Report...

Everybody is back home...



Yes, things are back to normal. I actually slept well last night...

I've got to get out here and cut grass before it gets hot or rains (whichever comes first)



Might be both!!!

B.D.

Simply Friday...

My lovely wife and Robyn will be home tomorrow...

This is good because...One...I miss them...and Two...I haven't been sleeping well since they are not here. My not sleeping good may be because I worry about them...or stress from work...I don't know which...

But I have not slept well all week. This has taken a toll on me...

Most husbands would be glad to be away from their wife...not me...

My wife is my best friend...



And I like it that way...

B.D.

Wordless Wednesday...

"Duct tape is like the Force. It has a light side and a dark side and it holds the universe together." - From the book, Guys are stupid, Girls are smarter.

Simply Tuesday...

Well...I'm home alone, well almost...

Me and my black bear are home alone. Julie and Robyn, have headed back to Florida with the family...for a little beach time...

I had to stay behind because...I flipped a coin...to go to Disney World and see Goofy...or go to the beach and see my sisters-in-law...in a bathing suit...

Disney World won...

But, Julie was talked into going with the family on an adventure on the beach. Now that's cool...more power to them. I love the beach...

People watching...sand and sun...the sound of the ocean waves...drinking beer...and people watching.

But...

I had a choice...and I went with Goofy...

Plus...I had to work...I don't have that much vacation time anymore.

I miss my wife and daughter...but...



It's just me and Sweetie...

Lucky me...

B.D.

Weekend Report...

Recipe Search: Find and access over 95,0000 recipes from magazines, cookbooks, newspapers, and TV.

I ran across this web site yesterday and liked it so much I'm adding the link to my list at the right of the page. The site is called Project Foodie

There are different ways to search the recipes, out of curiosity I typed in Apricot. You would not believe how many recipes contain that word. So check it out...

On another note:


Julie and my girls (Vicky & Tracy) are bowling in a tournament in Kentucky, so good luck to them.


Speaking of bowling...

We lost a good friend yesterday. Tony Kirby was a friend that fought cancer head on.

His battle ended yesterday...

Tony Kirby Age 47. Passed away on June 6, 2009. Survived by wife, Paula; children, Crystal Adams, Anthony Kirby Jr., Amanda Brewer and Casey Jamison; mother, Peggy (Robert) Zouzalik; father, Bob Kirby; sister, Vicki Cotton; brothers, Mike and Tim Kirby. Visitation Sunday from 2-8 p.m. Services will be 1 p.m., Monday in the Eastland Chapel. Burial will follow at Short Cemetery in Portland, TN. EASTLAND FUNERAL HOME, 227-9558

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family in this time of heartache.

And to Tony...

Rest your oar sailor, you're home...

B.D.

Wordless Wednesday...

When you get to the end of your rope; tie a knot, hang on, and swing.

B.D.