This is Babo.

Babo is a "Uglydoll". I think they are wonderful and lighthearted. Because of this Babo is the first gift from impending Grandpa to Impending Grandbaby. But Shhh. I havn't mailed it yet...

Treblehook

While I find most Barley Wine to be unpalatable until the second one is down, This Treblehook a limited release from Redhook was absolutely delicious. Sweet, spicy and at 10.1% perhaps just a little bit dangerous.

Christmas Past
Just like Christmas
Christmas song
Cold White Christmas

In an attempt to improve my hunter / gatherer status I decided I should at least attempt to collect some of my own food...

This is one of three Red Rock Crab I collected.
We ate them for dinner. They were Delicious. Some people doubted my success rate and bought there own. Theirs cost too much.

This is some Squid Chris and I gathered as well. Two ladies, one Korean and one Japanese, helped us, giving good advice and talking us thru the process. Ladies, Thank you.

Squid are strange and beautiful. They are translucent when they come out of the water and flash all sorts of crazy colors.

Sometimes the wacko has to have a little fun...

Squiddin'

So, while I was in Bremerton I thought I should go jigging for squid.

Look at me! I'm jigging.


While I was Jigging, It started to snow...
Holy crap it is cold.

I was quite suprised when I caught not one but two Crabs. This is a nice shot of one of them scampering back over the edge of the pier. I guess they see the jig and think "hey, thats looks tasty... " and then thay won't let go. Sadly, both had to go back in the water.
Oh yeah, I didn't catch any Squid. I guess I will try again tomorrow.

Kat

Bumped into my friend Kat the other day... I haven't seen her in years.

It was nice to have a chance to catch up.

Trip Planning

So, I find thinking of a trip to the coast again. I find I really miss the ocean. Standing in the surf. The sound. The smell. The sand. So with a minimum of planing this is my tentative schedule. Digging Razor Clams, going Squiding, shucking Oysters and Clamming you know, the sort of thing I enjoy doing so much. It is a pity Shrimp and Crab are closed but thems the breaks. It will probably be death by seafood anyway or at least I am hoping... I leave wednesday.

Snow

Woke up to snow this morning... I guess it is actually the second snow of the season. but the first time I had to shovel the walk.

Last Night

The sky was amazing. Such a dramatic break in the clouds after a dreary rainy day.

Wood

Look. I got some free Cherry wood for the smoker!


Oh. And some Apricot too!

Leaves round 2

Didn't I just deal with a bunch of leaves a couple weeks ago? Well I guess I am destined for another round or two yet since the trees are only about half empty...

Favorite time of year

Finally,
the air is crisp
but not cold
The trees,
appearing
and disappearing
from the fog that rolled in
march across the hills
like disoriented soldiers
all red, yellow and gold
as
the morning light
paints everything
like an impressionist
in muted tones.

Bugs...

You know there is a lot of bugs when they obscure the green grass...

I have officially Identified my first wild mushrooms

Shaggy Mane and Poison Pie to be exact. I dont feel comfortable enough yet with my Identifying skills to actually consider eating any but the Shaggy Manes are supposed to be "low risk" and delicious so I am a little tempted. Poison Pie of course causes gastrointestinal distress so I wont be going there.

1 - 5 lb. 23 inches