My Father's Day Card from Bobby

Crane ... WARNING!

Warning ... when driving in a low lying area ... aka wetlands ... it is highly recommend that you keep the drivers side window up! The reason for this is my near death experience with a whooping crane!!

No really ... this is not a joke ... if you can even imagine .. I am off, just enjoying my morning, driving down state, when out of no where my automobile was attacked by an exceptionally large whooping crane!!

At 75 miles an hour, the massive span of this bird, does in fact cover the entire drivers side of a mid size car's windshield, further wrap all the way around to the divers side window and, ultimately rip the driver's side mirror from your authomobile, as the giantic bird brutally falls to it's death, you will be just horrified at the mass volumes of "matter" which continues to block your view as you attempt to control your vehicle.

My warning is acutally not a joke ... however it is now at some sick level ... funny. No one will even believe you. I mean really ... how could this even happen ... a whooping crane??!!!! Obviously ... only to me.

An important point to remember is that I can personally confirm that these birds do in fact have a wing span of about seven feet ... literally! I certainly burnt off a whole bunch of karma this particular morning! This poor bird was having a very bad day. Luckily no one witnessed the killing of this endangered species and I was not ticketed for going five miles an hour over or the reckless driving episode that followed the event, and the damages seem minimal compared to the alternatives.

My near death experience was only prevented since my window was almost fully rolled up. Had it been any lower the gigantic, and potentially very angry and injured crane would have been in my face and lap! Needless to say ... I am sorry the poor crane did not survive the ordeal however, I am grateful that my window saved me from a certain misfortune.

Blog Bumper Stickers ... I have a nice car.

Now, REALLY, is this such a difficult concept? What more can I say?

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle." ~~Philo of Alexandria

Canning 2007

I am so tired of living in the tundra and consequently not having fresh … real … fruit and vegetables … I am canning.

So far I have made salsa, two variations of Chutney, Rhubarb-Peach Jam, and Orange Marmalade. As the season unfolds my goal is to finish up with Apple Butter, Strawberry Jam, Bread and Butter Pickles, Corn Relish, Tomato’s and Alan’s Bloody Mary Mix!!!!

And … if… that goes as planned I may include the basic vegetables and fruits as they become available.

However, since it will be only me here this year the quantities are very small. I am using small half pint and pint jars as opposed to quart and trying to stay realistic as to how much I would actually consume in a year.

In reading this post I have to wonder how it is I became my mother and then ended up so isolated in the North Woods. Many people have asked why bother … just buy it. Well, fresh and without preservatives is very important to me. And real food is typically not available by mid winter. The quality of fruit and vegetables is not even consumable after one day if you purchase it locally and the nearest real grocery is one and a half hours drive if the weather is good. So … there you go!