The Hobbit Hole VI - And Whither Then? I Cannot Say...

[SuziQ]

Am thinking of coming down with vague-unspecified-illness,

Those hurting stomach muscles may come in handy!

[SuziQ]

Technically Catholics are supposed to wear green on St Patrick's day.

Not the Italian ones! ;o)

[Wneighbor]

Home now! Well, the real home, not the one where I live and work. Cheryl and Lynn took me out for a primo burger tonight. Was good. I had a safe trip but it was really foggy the last little bit of the way. Am ready to sleep tonight! :-)

Gonna listen to a little Marty as I go off to sleep! :-D

Thank you all for the birthday party!!!

[SuziQ]

Well I might as well funkle on outta here. We're going to Mass EARLY in the morning so we can cut up the trees we took down today. We had a 12' yew tree, and that was easy to take down. We also had a 60' oak that had branched into three trunks about 4' off the ground. Clare, Joseph and I pulled on a rope SSQ had looped around a branch of each section in turn, and he did a bird's mouth cut with the chainsaw and yelled when we had to pull. They all came down just perfectly, until the last one. Luckily, it was the smallest one, and it got hung up on a bigger tree behind it. SSQ and I just pulled on the rope and it rolled off that tree, then he was able to get to it with the chain saw and cut it into pieces where it was.

The other two larger parts are still across the backyard. We'll work on those tomorrow (well, later today, that is). We were very satisfied with ourselves and the progress we made today!

We're waiting to hear from the surveyor to mark our lot lines so we can get the plans finalized. After that, we go to the town Building Dept. and get the plans approved and the permits in hand. We're so excited it's finally happening. Gimli will get some use next week when SSQ starts digging up the stumps and the concrete slag pile left by the builder when the house was built 16 yrs. ago.

Night all!

[smaagee]

I have to pick up a package from you today. VA95682710605 is the tracking #. Hopefully that is the latest batch. I'll let you know. I cant pick it up till 1300. Thanks for everything.
Steve

[g'nad]

wow... good werk!...there's nuthin more satisfyin' than good honest werk on yer own spread...

I cleared about an acre yesterday... had tuh tear out some old broken down fence and dispose of it... the brush was so thick you couldn't walk through it... but, the tractor and brush hawg made short werk of it... had to make a double pass on most spots, in first gear low, but much faster than clearin' it by hand...

got a few large trees 'round here that gots tuh go too...

[smaagee]

Score one for us! They made it. Now I have to decide which 6 guys get them first. THanks again.
Steve

[HairOfTheDog]

g'nad, I sure wish we had yer brush hog! We have to do everything the hard way!

SuziQ, we need some pics of the progress on the place!

[HairOfTheDog]

WOO HOO! Good morning (evening?) smaagee!

[osagebowman]

Smaagee; mornin', always glad to see your posts, thankful that you and your outfit are okay. Great news to see the post about the package making it okay.

[SuziQ]

SuziQ, we need some pics of the progress on the place!

I gots to re-learn how to download the pics from the camera. It's changed since SSQ upgraded my machine to Windows XP. The Fine Pix softwware doesn't come up automatically anymore, and I knew how to do it that way. We're gonna keep a digital picture diary for ourselves as we go along, and I'll post some from time to time.

[HairOfTheDog]

Good Morning! Happy Birthday!

When is/was your birthday?

[osagebowman]

SQ; The saw bit deep into tree, cutting through the years, the dry ones and the wet ones alike-falling like dust about the base of the tree. Slowly, the tree began is descent, gaining speed-then crashing to earth; it rolled once, then stopped. The saw was stilled and all was quiet again.

Great job on the tree-looks like Gimli will be called to action soon. "Timberrrr"

G'nad, the tenacity of Ozark brush has to be seen to be believed. Glad you got a power assist. More deer plots?

Hair; morning for the west coast. Bright and sunny here, bout 45, the sun feels good.

OT; morning, rendering grape juice to more noble form is always a worthwhile endeavor.

[300winmag]

Score one for us! They made it. Now I have to decide which 6 guys get them first.

Zowie! Nine days, and in one piece! Another six will go out Tuesday. Please let me know if you want more EMT snips with them.

This also proves that the post office could have delivered your original knives, if they had half-tried. And maybe they can be given out in alphabetical order.

[Overtaxed]

Hmmmm....think it's late enough for Irish coffee?

[My back yard]

I had a most Wonderful time, yes. It was great. They all took a lot of pics. Lots to tell too. A silly time was had by all. :)

Must run to church. I went to sleep right after posting last night and woke up just now.

[Pippin]

GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY!!!!!

HAPPY LORD'S DAY TO YOU ALL!!!

THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE!

LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT!

So!

Jean Kerry want's to have a series of debates with President Bush?

After his "slip_of_the_toungue-I_forgot_the_mic_was_on" moment?

He really insulted me with that insensative and untrue remark.

I'm a proud Republican and a GOD fearing CHRISTIAN WOMAN!

Hear that Jean F(For Frenchman) Kerry?

Now on that note!

Null and Void told me to consider the source of that inane remark by a man who would abandon our country to the "mercy"of those terrorists and destroy our military as well as our way of life if elected president.

Hey! I think I managed to "Hannitize" a woman I know in my fraternity of Secular Franciscans.

I had help from another Conservative Republican though! HEE! HEE!

But if I am to get at least three people each to vote for the Republican candidates for all offices up for grabs this election year. then I have two more folks to "Hannitize"!

(Hmm! Maybe I could Hannitize a certian Dem bus-driver!)LOL!

But back to that insensative remark about Republicans being a bunch of crooks and liars!

BALDERDASH!

As human beings, we are all flawed to some degree. weather Democrat or Republican;Black or White;Christian or Jew or Muslim!

If we were ALL perfect there would be no wars or terrorists.

Jean Kerry is unfairly labeling a certain group of people in one lump. Now I ask you, is this any way for a would-be leader of a nation to be?

NEVER!

He's starting to remind me of Saddam Hussien!

Like Hussian, Kerry has no love for America or the American people.

Just like Saddam Hussian had no love for Iraq or the Iraqi people!

It scares me to death to think there are people out there who would willingly elect a man like Jean Kerry to the highest office in the land.

The tragedy of it would be that not only will the Dems regret thier choice, but WE ALL will pay dearly for this!

PLEASE DEAR GOD! LET PRESIDENT BUSH WIN IN NOVEMBER!

Not only for my sake but for the sake of the future of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and our FREE REPUBLIC!

GOD BLESS AND PROTECT PRESIDENT BUSH FROM ALL HARM BOTH PHYSICAL, SPIRITUAL and POLITICAL

MAY HIS ENEMIES BE FEW AND HIS FRIENDS BE MANY!

GOD BLESS AND PROTECT OUR BRAVE TROOPS AND GIVE THEM STRENGTH AND COURAGE AND BRING THEM SAFELY HOME

GOD BLESS AND PROTECT JIM ROBINSON AND ALL WHO POST AND LURK ON FREE REPUBLIC!

GOD BLESS AND PROTECT AMERICA AND HER ALLIES

WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION TO SPAIN.

:/RANT AND PRAYER OVER! :O)

[JenB]

Good morning Pippin!

Note to self: do not get on Pippin's bad side. Ever.

You need to hang out here more often!

[Fedora]

Since we were talking about St. Patrick's Day, I thought I'd share the potato soup recipe me sainted Irish mother will be a'makin' this St. Paddy's Day--Guinness drinkers please note the recipe calls for 1/2 can of Guinness stout! :)

Creamy Cheddar Cheese Soup with Roasted Red Peppers and Irish Stout

The next recipe is from Jay Mulloy of The Soup Ladle in Cudahy. Potatoes are used to thicken the cafe's cheese-based soups, and this recipe offers a twist for St. Patrick's Day:

2 tablespoons olive oil, or enough to coat bottom of pan

1 large onion, diced

3 tablespoons minced garlic

Splash of port wine, sherry or beer

4 quarts chicken broth

8 large peeled and diced potatoes (red or Yukon gold)

2 pounds processed cheese or sharp cheddar (he recommends Velveeta for better melting)

Roasted red sweet peppers, diced (available in stores or see note)

6 ounces (1/2 can) Guinness stout (he also recommends Lakefront Brewery's stout)

1 cup whipping cream or half-and-half cream

Shredded cheddar for garnish

Coat 12-quart soup pot with thin layer of olive oil. Over medium heat, brown diced onion and minced garlic until they begin to caramelize, about 4 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Once caramelized, deglaze pan with port wine or sherry, "or if you must, a splash of beer." Add chicken broth and potatoes and boil until tender, about 20 minutes. Add cheese and cook until melted. Add roasted red peppers and cream, stirring to blend. Slowly pour stout in center of pot. In small batches, pulse in food processor or blender until desired thickness. Serve with shredded cheese on top. Soup will be thicker than most cream soups. Makes 12to 15servings.

Note: To roast peppers, preheat broiler or turn on gas flame burner. If broiling, place 2 to 3 inches from heat. Watch carefully, and when skin blackens, turn peppers until skins are black all over. If using gas flame, set directly on flame, turning with tongs to blacken all over. Using tongs, transfer peppers to paper bag, and close bag. Let peppers steam in bag 15 to 20 minutes. Then remove from bag and rub skin off with fingers.

[msdrby]

Interesting that you posted that recipe. Guess what I am cooking a pot of in the kitchen? Potato-bacon chowder (Aggie style). There is actually a recipe for it, but I never really use it. I just make sure I have the same ingredients. I also usually dice the potatoes into 1-2 inch cubes, but this time, I am just gonna cook 'em whole. It's gonna be yummy!