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March 26, 2024

Easter Suprise

Easter Sunday is this week. It’s easy to lose the meaning of the day.

Where did eggs and rabbits become involved. Theories say the early Christian church adopted certain pagan dates and customs to get more converts. Enough with the history lessons!

I’ve touched on the subject of Layman’s market foisting rabbits on unsuspecting families. Biting, scratching, pooping little bastards! The rabbits were unpleasant as well.

Dad loved the abundance of boiled eggs and a certain amount became deviled eggs. There were some remarkably ugly dye jobs and what part did vinegar play in the equation?

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March 26, 2024

Fly Fishing

I was watching a movie this morning about veterans using fly fishing for therapy and it reminded me of my family’s ties to the sport.

One of my all-time favorite books is A River Runs Through It. A book by Norman MacLean about MacLeans fly fishing.

Not a bad movie either.

Dad told me about his Uncle Jet taking him fly fishing in beaver ponds. Jet was able to afford an expensive fly rod. Probably more due to the income from his still than his forest service pay.

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March 23, 2024

Bushwhacked

Today I’m going to regale you with more tales of adolescent foolishness. There, I’ve used my fancy words for today.

Every kid had their hideouts and secret places.

I’ve already told you about the overhang on the dam in Cowiche Creek that allowed us to hide behind what amounted to a short waterfall. There was also a clump of large old greasewood and sagebrush on Cowiche Mountain that had a tunnel like quality. You could sit underneath in the shade and be hidden from outside eyes.

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March 23, 2024

Kids Say the Darndest Things

How many of you remember the Art Linkletter show Kids say the darndest things? Well they do and it’s often our fault.

My Dad had a relative that my Mom was not fond of and by all accounts was difficult to get along with. At a family function she came up to us and I heard Dad say her name. I instantly connected the name to things I had heard. The end result was 4 year old me looking at her and asking “Are you the old bitch?”

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March 20, 2024

Getting Old

Today’s talk will be a little more serious at times.

Lilli and I have started attending functions by a group who were seniors when I was a freshman. They make us quite welcome.

One of them was an older Scout welcoming me when I joined the Naches Heights troop. He’s still quite welcoming.

One is an older sister to a classmate of mine and a very young Tieton town council member when I was a Scout.

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March 17, 2024

Mixed Motivations

Had a little pop in my lower back the other day so it’s been encouraging me to write. Sorry! Besides our ornery side, Steve and I had our occasional moments of nice. No really!

About this time of year the wildflowers pop up on Cowiche Mountain. We would find a discarded cup or can, put some water in it, and bring Mom a bouquet of wildflowers.

This of course was after we tired of looking for the first reptiles of the year or shooting at things with our wrist rockets or pellet guns.

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March 17, 2024

Beans

Okay.

Tonight’s entry is brought to you by my supper.

Lilli went southern with black eyed peas cooked with salt pork, potatoes, carrots, chili peppers, and other seasonings. Yes, I put habanero hot sauce on top of that but that’s me. Don’t be a hater!

Country families like mine ate a lot of beans so there were usually ham hocks in the freezer. Yeah I know some of you think that explains a lot about me.

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March 15, 2024

First Aid

I’m touching on the health and eating changes that have been happened over the years. Salt. They tell you now to minimize your salt intake.

The Food network, which our dog enjoys, shows contestants being told by top chefs that they need more salt. These same chefs are shown on other shows sprinkling a veritable snowstorm of salt over food. Maybe doctors need to prescribe “No cooking shows!”

They used to encourage you to use more iodized salt for iodine in your system. I remember Mom starting to just sprinkle salt in her frying pan because she was told it made a healthier, less greasy hamburger. She had a hard time cutting back on salt.

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