Backwoods Boy

I can see it as clearly as if I were the elk The holiday seems to be getting better every day. Thanks for taking the time to share it this way.

I've passed the 70 mark. Three-quarters of a century is looming. But then, I was somewhat teenage-culturally deprived even when I was young due to isolation and parental perspectives. Much beyond The Beatles and early Elvis Presley, my knowledge of popular music artists is very limited.

A cultural/generational gap is being revealed. As far as I knew, Meatloaf was just something one ate. 😕

I should point out that we have an adequate grocery store (and hardware store and drug store) here in my home town, but the selection is severely limited and the prices are generally 50% higher than in Portland. Wine prices are closer to double, and other things we consider essential these days are non-existent. So even with the travel expense, two or three trips a month to the city are necessary and cost effective. I love where I live and wouldn't live anywhere else, but there is a price to be paid.

I did my end-of-the-year grocery shopping on Wednesday. A 6:00 AM departure from home put me in the almost-vacant store shortly after the 7:00 opening and I was gone by 8:15. Being independent, I've come to love the self-checkout, so I had to be my own Boy Scout. No milk on my list, but definitely enough 🍷 to last until well into the new year

I'm headed for bed, at 8:30. It was a good day, but an active one. A good night to everyone.

I'm glad the tamarack is still golden this late. The cottonwood leaves are probably gone. The yellows of that country in the fall are to die for. Your happiness is well-deserved. Make the most of it.

I applaud your avoidance of the commercial products. Since I haven't had mac and cheese since shortly before the first Christmas, I did a little browsing of what's available on your grocery shelf. I found a couple that deserve sharing: 8. Quinoa Mac & Cheese Cheesiness: 1 -- It doesn't even taste like cheese, it's more straight up pasta. It's as if the macaroni shampooed itself with cheese sauce and washed it off. All that's left is the smell. Artificial flavor: 5 -- The flavor had hints of paper and sterilizer, but was so neutral that it earned average marks. Pasta: 3 -- The sauce formed to the macaroni, giving it a rough texture that was pretty horrid. It didn't have an aftertaste; it had an aftertexture. Overall flavor: 2 -- This is an embarrassment and shouldn't even be called mac and cheese. Final score: 2.75 -- DON'T EAT THIS, EVER. 7. Mrs Leeper's Gluten-free Mac & Cheese Cheesiness: 4 -- Creamy and full of flavor up front, but with highly diminishing returns. Each bite tastes less cheesy. Artificial flavor: 6 -- Turmeric and paprika do a good job of masking the artificial flavors until the stainless steel aftertaste overpowers them. Pasta: 1 -- Definitely the worst. Their slogan "keeping the taste in and the gluten out" is only technically accurate. It didn't keep consistency at all. Damn you, rice flour! Overall flavor: 2 -- The fakeness of the pasta took center stage, detracting from a decent cheese flavor. Final score: 3.25 -- GLUTEN, LIKE GREED, IS GOOD. DON'T EAT THIS UNLESS YOU HAVE TO. There were none that measured up to Mom's, and I suspect she used Velveeta. 🤢

Rich?

I hope you're posting these on the refrigerator too

My recollection (from many years ago) is that there is a similarity to chicken. They are small enough that you may have your own individual mini-chicken for dinner.

Quite perfect! Enjoy your holiday. ❤️

Here's a little holiday humor to brighten your day.

It's an addiction

Good morning everyone. I'm back in my right mind this morning, as right as it ever gets that is. It's still dark here on the West Coast, and it's raining like a cow peeing on a flat rock. Better crack out an umbrella to get the garbage out to the street. A flood watch is in effect. No problem, as long as I stay home. Happy Anniversary Michael and tim. I hope you have a great day and a great year to come.

Dropped in to make sure I'm real. I think so. I had my monthly massage today with new techniques, and after a geriatric nap (filled with lots of confused suggestive dreams, thanks to a combination of my own writing and a certain something I've been editing) it took about an hour of fumbling around, two cups of coffee, and dinner to re-adapt to reality, I hope. A good night to all of you who are headed in that direction. Thanks for the candle, @mollyhousemouse. I always look forward to it.

insurance

golf

yesterday

container ship

HINEY Harry is now eating your TOAST

debauchery

eye

bin storage

When I was doing my military thing many years ago, I had a roommate who swore the only solution was to drink a beer in the morning to "take the edge off". Of course, he was dead at sixty-four and I'm still kicking several years beyond that, so maybe it wasn't good advice.