Literary Kitties

For Anobiter.......somebody told me these were Ragdolls.....I smiled and said thanks, knowing they were just our typical farm kitties with a Siamese Mix mama and a tabby daddy.

My Monkey

Yes, this was my monkey, well, my Mom's monkey really, but I was the one that stole him from his mother and father. That was a scary thing. No, we don't have the monkey anymore, (we gave him to a local zoo) but we still have the poodle, Sarah Jane. She's over 14 years old and going blind and deaf now. In my lifetime, I have had more than five monkeys - squirrels, capuchins and rhesus. It all started with my grandfather.....then my mother, my sisters and finally me.....my favorite was Pepe, who was a squirrel monkey we bought from the back ads in a magazine when I was about six. He liked to wear Ken clothes - I'll try to dig up a picture.

Dad and Dutch singin' to that song on YouTube

The Son's Tattoo

I think he looks a little like Jesus as well, according to some pictures in my Bible. He got this tat when he turned 18, and I could no longer say, "NO, you can't get a tattoo"......he got a "Jesus Hovering Over a Rose" tattooed on his right arm, just to make sure I wouldn't bitch too much about it. I think it looks like "Jesus Hovering Over a Smelly Cabbage" myself, but who am I to say? My son is now 30 years old.

My 2009 batch, so far......

28 quarts, up from 12 last year - I got me some canning accessories, along with some courage from last year's batch, therefore, I did over twice as many quarts, along with some hot, spicy, garlicky okra............I'm hoping this year's batch tastes half as good as last year's..........oh, and look at little pickle man - I was surprised when he showed up! I'll try not to eat him until the very last.

UPDATE: My final batch total is 40 quarts and 12 pints .........I only have 26 quarts left.........makes me sad for myself, but am glad I had enough to share. My Dad gave our cucumber grower friends a couple of big trailers, a huge flatbed that can probably carry at least 8 bales of hay, and a big enclosed thingamabopper trailer, with the understanding that I would be supplied with cucumbers for life. It was a great deal as far as I am concerned! I only wish I could grow enough cukes myself, to fulfill my needs, but alas.........maybe in a year or two. I will never forget how Dad sweetly held the mandolin for me as I made slices out of the bigger, older cukes they brought at the very last, which gave me the opportunity to make dill slices for the first time ever.

I have some antsy, pickle-loving cousins who came to visit earlier this week, and none of us could resist testing them........we put a pint of spears and a pint of picked okra in the fridge to cool down, then ate them for starters, along with some deeeee-licious Fischer's Smoked Turkey Sausage, Fischer's Block Medium Sharp Cheddar and a veggie tray - it was wonderful! Despite the fact the pickles hadn't set long enough to suit me, (made 6-27-2009 and eaten on 7-15-2009) they were quite tasty. I know they will be wondermous come September...........