Michele Bachman - What's Not To Like?

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

This was what summer used to be like...

...before the speed limit sign went up:

I used to sleep outside when the evenings were coolI'm sure that's all over now.

 I can remember the smell of pork chops on the grill, and the sound of the sizzle. A dim memory, I'm afraid, now that the Nazis are patrolling the streets.

We used to be able to decorate for holidays, too. Now they'll probably take our flags.

Obviously displays like this will not be tolerated.

Look out, butterflies! They'll be coming for you next!

Big Government intrudes at Carroll Ranch

It happened. The bucolic tranquility of our mountain home has been shattered.

One more freedom has fallen under the hobnailed boot of Big Government.

They put a speed limit sign in front of our house.

I blame Obama

I'm ready to flee the weirdness that is Facebook

I'll be switching to Google+ as soon as they let me in. Much more becoming a man of my advanced age and varied proclivities.

I like the "circles" idea. I think I'll have lots of them.

Facebook's "friends" and "not friends" is a little too binary.

Here's my working list of circles:

Friends from work
Friends from school (a long time ago!)
My liberal family
My conservative family
T's family
Radical Conservatives
Fiscal conservatives
Social conservatives
Heathen liberals, including publicans, sinners, Democrats... (I dine out frequently)

With enough circles I can be completely candid and never risk offending anyone! What's not to like?!



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:BBQ Patio

The Musical Fruit

For some years now I've been wanting to find a good recipe for baked beans. I'm not sure why it took me this long. Maybe subconscious anxiety caused by the campfire scene in Blazing Saddles.

Anyway, this week I threw caution to the winds (sorry!) and found a dutch oven baked bean recipe that looked promising and not too difficult. I grilled some chicken for the main course and the result was tasty, healthy and musical:

Bacon, onions, garlic.

Add pre-soaked navy beans and chicken broth.

When the beans are soft add other stuff. Tomato paste, vinegar, mustard, etc.

Cook some more.

Now add the dutch oven lid and bake for a couple of hours.

The dutch oven is in the left background, by the classy outdoor fireplace.

Chicken is just about done. Note the baby dutch full of BBQ sauce.

Ready to eat. Keith and Karen brought crabs and salad.

Here are some random links, in celebration of all things legume:

I don't know why anyone would want to do this, but to learn how to take the "wind" out of beans, click here.

To enjoy the aforementioned scene from Blazing Saddles, click here.

There is even a Facebook page devoted to beans, which includes some poetry.

Beans on Facebook. Right.

Garry Owen Irish Pub

126 Chambersburg Street
Gettysburg, PA

Cheesy Chicken

I only worked until 3:00 pm yesterday, so for dinner I made some cheesy chicken. Here's the play-by-play:

First, fry some bacon. Remove the bacon and cook some chicken chunks.

Layer onions, chicken, tomatoes, peppers and mushrooms.

Next layer: bacon and secret sauce. Cook for a while.

Top it off with a bunch of cheese. Cheddar, mozzarella, Parmesan. 

Put the lid back on and wait.

Time to eat!