This is the season when the ‘ugly’ yard is most apparent. Especially after the freeze of last winter. So many of our plants went to mush, never to revive. Beloved fruit trees and bushes were frozen down below the soil line, and got cut back to never return. Then there were the frozen cacti.
What a wonderful week we have had. Since my last column, we have had soaking rains. And, our great grandson, Tanner, came to visit us and stay overnight. It is such fun to watch a little boy run and play and jabber all the time. By the time he leaves, I understand more of what he is saying.
There are some demographics you can make fun of, and some you can’t. For example, it’s fine to make light of Christians, but not Muslims. You can poke fun at rednecks, but not transgender people. You can laugh at skinny folks, but not fat ones. Matter of fact, of all the groups it’s not OK to denigrate these days, obese people are probably the largest.
I have previously written about the nitrogen cycle and the water cycle as illustrations of how Mother Nature recycles matter. One of Nature’s helpers in this regard is the vulture. This may not make for the most appealing discussion, but it is important to understand this essential process.
I recently came upon what appeared to be a rather fresh jackrabbit carcass in the middle of the road not far from our house.
Thank you for making Old Yeller Day 2021 a success! We might not have had our usual festivities, but we hope everyone enjoyed this year’s events. Our thanks to Ole Yellow Animal Rescue for hosting the Free Rabies Clinic and for donating the prizes for our winners. We would like to thank our community members who donated funds for our drive-in showing of Old Yeller at the Community Building, and the City of Mason for all of their help.
You know that yummy Italian bread that you can get at some supermarkets around Central Texas? The fat, golden, sesame-sprinkled loaves? Well, you can make those right in your own home, and they aren't that difficult!
Ingredients:
4 cups King Arthur All-Purpose Flour (or similar)
2 tablespoons of potato flour or ¼ cup of dried potato flakes
¼ cup Baker's Special Dry Milk or any nonfat dry milk
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons instant yeast
1 ½ cups water
3 ta ...
What you are reading was once a blank page. No ink. No words. No thoughts. Just a white (“blanc” in French), colorless, unmarked piece of paper. An empty, barren, vacant void. All writing begins with a blank page. The writer’s task is to fill in that blank.
This is the 100th column since its return to the pages of this newspaper.
Fall is here and for this gardener ‘most’ of the planting is done. As I was reviewing the plan, I realized I'd forgotten the one staple we depend on: the turnip. Thankfully, I still have room to plant a substantial number.
Let's have a look at the turnip, also known as the white turnip.
Our household has been quiet. John and I don’t leave the house unless we have doctor appointments. My retinal specialist gave me a good report. I am supposed to be patient as the bubble in my eye may last up to three months. If you know me, you know patience is not my best trait.
Over the years, readers have asked me why I make fun of Florida and California quite often, but leave Louisiana alone. Many have pointed out that the Sink Me state is full of Cajuns, who are basically just damp rednecks who live in swamps, eat strange things, and talk funny.
