Covington Spring Chicken
I am an Egghead. I cook on a Big Green Egg. I am known as Spring Chicken in Big Green Egg circles.. I also do a little woodworking. My wife and I recently moved from Spring, Texas to Covington, Louisiana. As such, 'Texas Spring Chicken' no longer seems appropriate. So as of today, 10/15/17, I have become Covington Spring Chicken.
Sunday, September 22, 2024
Prognosis - Not Good
Friday, September 06, 2024
Cancer Raises Its Ugly Head Once Again
I was diagnosed with prostate cancer over twenty years ago. I had it removed and I've been finc since then.
Today, we got word that I have "Adenocarcinoma." not lymphoma as we first thought after multiple tests, scans, and opinions.
By definition, Adenocarcinoma is:"Adenocarcinoma is a type of cancer that starts in the glands that line your organs. These glands secrete mucus and digestive juices."
Monday, August 12, 2024
Dry Rain
It must be raining dry water lately Except for one nice wet rain in the past two weeks, it has been dry. And HOT! But the infamous Louisiana humidity has been dropping into the mid-40 % range. That's good for us humans, but it makes for faster evaporation of anything wet or dependent on wet water.
Meanwhile, the costly water we have come to know and love must be called upon to feed the grass and other plants that crave it. However, the mechanical sprinklers that deliver the costly water to the grass began to encounter problems spraying evenly. It is clearly because some of the grass was interfering with the spray pattern. because the actual spray head does not rise high enough.
Neighborly suggestions included various types and shapes of protective rings to be placed around the sprinkler heads. Knowing that the heavy commercial lawn mower would press the rings into the ground and mute their purpose. But to see if it would help, I came up with these which I cut from a piece of PVC pipe and drove into the ground around the sprinkler head.
The "teeth" allowed me to rotate the device as I pressed downward, thereby cutting away the annoying grass over-growth. Then I used a rubber mallet to drive the device down to the most effective height.
Friday, July 12, 2024
Mini-Wok Egg Foo Young on the Mini-Egg
Thanks to our friends, Darian and Lora, we have a Mini Big Green Egg. We had one for years but gave it to those who bought our house in Texas. We missed, and now we are trying to catch up on what we missed for the past seven years. This is what I posted on Facebook this morning.
Sunday, June 16, 2024
Mid-Year Approaches
It is hard to believe that today is the 167th day of the year. Time flies when you are 83. And by "you" I mean me. Heck! I haven't gotten used to February yet, and June is already half over. At this rate I may make 100 before I know it... Or the undertaker.
I like to think I'm aging six months at a time. My reasoning is that when I visit my doctors, they all say, "You're fine, come back in six months." I take that to mean I can buy items that say "Use by ..... (six months away) and not be wasting my money.
With that said, some projects that needed doing, got done. No, not by me but by friends who could see and knew how to apply their youth to do it.
The biggest task was the taking down of the Red Maple tree next to The Coop. It was one of those impossible tasks for us but only a four-hour project for our 'working guests, Lora and Darian,' We are already getting used to it being gone. The same is true for the retainer wall, fill dirt, and sod that was made necessary by the tree. Neighbor Colonel Scott not only designed and did much of the work, he also picked up the tab for it. It too now looks like it has been there all along.
We're still mulling what to do with the new paved area behind the house. A couple of comfortable chairs to sit and watch the deer and crows play in the big open field behind our house would be fun. We're working on it. It's too hot now.
Another exciting thing that I personally could do myself was to cook on the Mini Big Green Egg that our friends from Galveston gave us. We had a Mini BGE in Texas but gave it up when we moved here. I really missed it. And so far, I've cooked on it multiple times. I think the Mini Egg has magical powers. Believe it or not, we now have four Big Green Eggs.
We're both healthy and happy. What more could we ask for?
Friday, May 24, 2024
Tree No More
When our house was built in 2017, two Red Maple trees were included in the landscaping. Both grew fast and one became a problem. It was too close to The Coop, our outdoor kitchen. But erosion also started exposing the roots. And the tree was sapping all the water from the ground, starving the grass and some hedges that we wanted to grow taller.
Our friends from Galveston, Lora and Darian, wanted to come to visit, and Darian said he would take the tree down for us. Being so close to The Coop and generator, not to mention the fence and other plants, we were hesitant to say yes. But he insisted that it would not be a problem.
By yesterday afternoon, the tree was down and all the limbs and the trunk were ready to to be taken to a burn pile tomorrow morning.
It actually looks much better. Here is a photo of the tree about five months after being planted. The Coop is being measured for the posts.
Saturday, May 11, 2024
Birthdays
Birthdays…
Interesting thing about birthdays – there’s no going back. But there’s no reason to assume we have to feel older.
I’m three days into being 83 and nothing has changed from being 82. Or for that matter, being 79 or 75. And the clothes that I wore at 75, and even 65, still fit.
My brain is also functioning well, as evidenced by my continuing desire to learn, to create, to explore, and to be aware of the events going on in the world. And most of all, challenge my mind with ideas, regardless of the subject or where they take me. I find this to be one on life’s greatest pleasures: ‘excitement,’ something I never want to lose. And when mixed with ‘enthusiasm,’ life is wonderful.
Although it sometimes produces a strong emotion, I can review and assess the merits of complex legal cases before the courts, and form my own opinions as to the proper application of law and justice. I adjust my opinions when deemed necessary to balance the misapplication of either law or justice, especially when an injustice is obvious.
My only physical deficiencies are my fading eyesight and my occasional bouts with dizziness and balance. But I can still see, and the dizziness and balance challenges are never permanent, or even a concern for very long.
I figure the accumulation of aches and pains is probably due to my not religiously performing all of the recommended and scheduled preventive medical suggestions, intaking the proper fuel, not going places and doing things, and being horizontally stationary far more than being vertical and in motion.
Finally, I accept the fact that I’m on the short list of life. But I like to think I have some control over when and how the end comes. I will die with a few regrets and fewer apologies – the most notable being that I never learned to play a musical instrument, and I apologize to those who were forced to listen when I tried.
As for the greatest
of all human traits, Love is by far the driving force of a fulfilling
life. To love and be loved has no boundaries and encompasses everything
important in life. It is the measure of a truly wonderful life.
In other words, I’m okay being me just the way I am right now, and hopefully for a few more birthdays.
I think my goal now is to simply enjoy the rest of my life.
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