We had our annual end-of-summer fish-fry today, with about 35 friends and family aged from 9 to about 80.
It has been a fantastic friends and fishing summer.
Being part of the Pond Boss trip to Richmond Mill in June -- explainable.
Many other fishing and friend gatherings -- invaluable.
And today ...
I'm not sure how many catfish gave the ultimate sacrifice for today's gathering. It included a lot of fun Friday and Saturday nights at the main pond, especially with the teenage grandkids and their friends.
I only know that last night I put 12 lbs., of thawed CC chunks, mostly all cut into pieces somewhat bigger than a McNugget, into two quarts of buttermilk. They got dry-coated in one of my secret recipes, beer battered, and deep-fried to perfection by friends tending two pots. The CC nuggets got inhaled in record time.
Also consumed were 8 lbs., of venison sausage and pastrami that was smoked yesterday, along with at least a gallon of fermented cucumbers, peppers, and cabbage from the garden that had been watered from the pond.
Especially the kids, but some of the adults also, sure enjoyed the relatively new HBG/CC pond. The 16-18 month old fish are not quite ready for harvest, but with a catch almost every 30 seconds, it sure makes for some fun for guests. The paddle boat and one of the canoes got a lot of use by the pre-teens and teens on the older pond.
It has been a great summer. Being a Pond Boss sure is enjoyable.
Hopefully summer's winding down here (105 here today), and this was the first year since I was 15 that I didn't have a job. New life is much better than old life!
Richmond Mills was also a highlight for me, and I got to meet many of the people I respect via the inter-web. Hopefully, something like that will happen again.
Looks like by this winter we may actually move to our farm, and then all my goals will be complete. I may lean on you heavily to help with my Farmer Jones plans.
This is as good a time as any to thank everyone on the board for all your contributions. We've got the best moderators of any forum I've ever been on, and the things I've learned have been to numerous to mention.
...and this was the first year since I was 15 that I didn't have a job. New life is much better than old life!
Ain't that the truth. Second summer for me without job! I don't know how I had any time for a job.
Originally Posted By: FireIsHot
Looks like by this winter we may actually move to our farm, and then all my goals will be complete. I may lean on you heavily to help with my Farmer Jones plans.
Al -- Lynda and I plan to be in Edmond, OK in mid-October for at least a week. I'm kind of hoping to sneak over the OK/TX border for a day or two, to visit a few PB friends before we head back home to put some venison in the freezer. As the time gets closer, I'll send out some PMs. Maybe a few of us can get together to laugh, scratch, and tell some lies true fish stories.
They got dry-coated in one of my secret recipes, beer battered, and deep-fried to perfection by friends tending two pots. The CC nuggets got inhaled in record time.
Why the secret? It's not like you're marketing it are you? Inquiring minds want to know.
If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.
Goodness! Even Café du Monde and Commander's Palace will give their recipes. Maybe it's like the king of old who ruled that nobody but him could eat ice cream.
They got dry-coated in one of my secret recipes, beer battered, and deep-fried to perfection by friends tending two pots. The CC nuggets got inhaled in record time.
Why the secret? It's not like you're marketing it are you? Inquiring minds want to know.
Anybody who has been at a Pond Boss gathering when I've been cooking fish knows the secret -- and, I don't think they're talking either. Some may just not remember because the recipe does include beer, and sometimes more beer, and sometimes even more...
Yep, that's the spirit of the forum: if you know a good thing, keep it to yourself.
Just come to a regional Pond Boss gathering and you'll learn more secrets than Father Lankester Merrin and Pazuzu's Ouija board combined. Plus, it will make your head spin like Regan McNeil's, just before she ... (ain't a good scene if you are planning on eating!)
Wow 100's eh? We are at 22*C I am guessing 72*F and talking down to 7*C about 44*F tonight.
I do not know how I would deal with 100+ heck I set my hot tub in the summer to 100*F. I hope the air is dry.
Cheers Don.
Don,
About 35 years ago my brother and his family, who still live "up nort" came to visit for US Thanksgiving -- which falls on the fourth Thursday in November -- not like the balmy Canadian Thanksgiving that falls in early October.
At that point, I lived in Virginia, USA. My brother was extremely upset with the hotel where we put them up. The pool was closed, and it got to about 72F/22C each day of their visit.
Yet, my crazy Finnish family (especially my crazy brother) will run naked out of a 200F/94C sauna to roll in the snow when it is -10F/-24C outside.
I'm glad I now live where it is temperate. Hot or cold weather seems to affect the brains of some people.
Wow 100's eh? We are at 22*C I am guessing 72*F and talking down to 7*C about 44*F tonight.
I do not know how I would deal with 100+ heck I set my hot tub in the summer to 100*F. I hope the air is dry.
Cheers Don.
Don,
About 35 years ago my brother and his family, who still live "up nort" came to visit for US Thanksgiving -- which falls on the fourth Thursday in November -- not like the balmy Canadian Thanksgiving that falls in early October.
At that point, I lived in Virginia, USA. My brother was extremely upset with the hotel where we put them up. The pool was closed, and it to to about 72F/22C each day.
Yet, my crazy Finnish family (especially my crazy brother) will run naked out of a 200F/94C sauna to roll in the snow when it is -10F/-24C outside.
I'm glad I now live where it is temperate. Hot or cold weather seems to affect the brains of some people.
Yes at our camp north of Sudbury we have a sauna as well and my kids thought we should try this snow angel after a 250*F to -15*C about 5*F. I got one swipe in my snow angel and it just plain burnt. Never again. I do not mind the sauna to the lake but not the snow it just burns.
I could handle 22-25*c year round. I understand the Carolina's are like that year round. Been down there golfing and love the climate.
Traffic will be getting much better! This year was a real mess with all the tourists.
Hey -- be careful.
My wife and I were some of "dem tourists" as we headed to Mackinac, St. Ignace -- and onto the roads less travelled across the UP/Northern WI/Northern MN/Ontario/Manitoba to see friends and relatives in the "international circle" from the Soo to Doolut/Speeryur, and back again.
Traffic will be getting much better! This year was a real mess with all the tourists.
Hey -- be careful.
My wife and I were some of "dem tourists" as we headed to Mackinac, St. Ignace -- and onto the roads less travelled across the UP/Northern WI/Northern MN/Ontario/Manitoba to see friends and relatives in the "international circle" from the Soo to Doolut/Speeryur, and back again.
Those areas ain't nothing (traffic wise) compared to Grand Haven!
Try getting into town during the Coast Guard Festival
Wow 100's eh? We are at 22*C I am guessing 72*F and talking down to 7*C about 44*F tonight.I do not know how I would deal with 100+ heck I set my hot tub in the summer to 100*F. I hope the air is dry.
Don I don't care for either extreme. I would prefer to live in Crested Butte in the summer and Texas in the winter. Personally I see heat as uncomfortable, but cold as painful. And no the air in Dallas is somewhat humid. I'd say we have 3 months of hell and the rest is pretty nice.
Anybody who has been at a Pond Boss gathering when I've been cooking fish knows the secret -- and, I don't think they're talking either. Some may just not remember because the recipe does include beer, and sometimes more beer, and sometimes even more...
I have done most of my best cooking after many a beers!!!
Just got back from spending 4 days in the country. Hot, damned hot and humid.
Hot! Damned hot!
Anybody remember Adrian Cronauer? Maybe you gotta be as old as Dave or me, and remember Good Morning Viet Nam!
Quote:
"Hey, can you tell me what's your name?
"My name is Roosevelt E. Roosevelt."
Roosevelt, what town are you stationed in?
"I'm stationed in Poontang."
Well, thank you, Roosevelt. What's the weather like out there?
"It's hot! Damn hot! Real hot! Hottest thing is my shorts. I could cook things in it. A little crotch pot cooking."
Well, tell me what it feels like.
"Fool, it's hot! I told you again! Were you born on the sun? It's damn hot! It's so damn hot, I saw these little guys, their orange robes burst into flames. It's that hot! Do you know what I'm talking about?"
What do you think it's going to be like tonight?
"It's gonna be hot and wet! That's nice if you're with a lady, but ain't no good if you're in the jungle!"
Deer season is open here now and I can't bring myself to sit and be mosquito fodder and sweat myself silly sitting still...in the shade.
It won't help with the heat, but Thermacells are your best friends when it comes to mosquitos.
They're calling for 51°F (10.5°C) here tonight. The rest of the week is supposed to be in the mid to high 70's (24-26°C) and the nights in the low to mid 50's with low humidity. Just perfect weather for getting things done outside, and good weather for sleeping with the windows open.