The Superior Roach Clip

We were hanging out at Aficionado's talking about all things to do with enjoying our favorite cigars. After spending an exhausting day at the office, filling out requisitions and typing our fingers to the bone we like to settle down and burn one. Then our moment of satisfaction must come to an end. We have all been there and we have all tested methods for savoring that last half inch of cigar.

Comparing notes, some of us have used toothpicks, stainless steel ringed finishing nails, forceps, needle nose pliers etc. 

Each method has it's pros and cons. The toothpick, for instance will produce generous hints of burning wood and charcoal when you near the end. To be honest, it requires skill to use a toothpick because if you push the envelope, you will end up with a roach in your lap. I confess to doing it. 

The ring nail has the advantage of holding up to the heat but has the disadvantage of not having enough friction to keep longer butts extended out straight. 

The forceps solve both of the above issues but has the disadvantage of size, and the same goes for the pliers. 

While hanging out in NY the other week, I stumbled on the ultimate devise. The corn on the cob holder. 

The double SS prong solves the heat and stability issues and it's light weight and compactness make it the best tool for the job.

Now all I have to do is figure out how to market this new and novel invention to the cigar community. 

Second Harvest

The first harvest was asparagus and it was good.

Today we picked banana peppers. They came from the four lonely plants in the right front bed. These tiny plants produce a surprising number of peppers. 

So I decided today I would pickle them so I can put them on my sammiches. 

I found a recipe on the line , as Vince Vaughn would say, and will find the link later. 

Four plants fill a 24 oz jar. 

This is what we have to look forward to in a couple of weeks after the green beens are ready. 

Dilly Beans. 

Dumb kid wrecking my car

I go to the tire store to have new tires put on wifey's car. I specifically ask the counter guy 'you guys know how to drive VW's, right?' He says yeah sure. 

So I am standing outside because I hate the airconditioning on such beautiful days.  

I see this kid walk up to the car and he is just there staring at it likes he's never seen a German car before. He starts it up and immediately stalls. 

I figure it's time for some intervention or the cars gonna get towed home because this dude was wrecking my clutch and parking brake in one shot.

I walk up to the car and the kid says can I help you? I say do you know how to drive this car? It was a rhetorical question because it was obvious he couldn't. 

I said first you have to release the electronic parking brake. He is saying this is all so new to me. I said Step on the clutch and brake and push the button on the dash. So he did. 

Then I told him how to get reverse. Push down on the shift and move toward first. 

After long moments of hesitation the kid eases off the clutch. He eventually managed to back up the car. 

I figured this would happen and I normally leave a note in the car explaining  German engineering. Good thing I wasn't temped to walk over to the burger joint, or I woulda been walking home. 

File Under Things That Should Be Outlawed

I want to know the communist infiltrator who thought it was a good idea to put finger jointed brick molding on exterior doors. 

Like I don't have better things to do than to have to change this every 7 years. 

Then you go to the lumber yard and all you can find is the same crap and plastic stuff that doesn't match the existing surround. 

Solution: get a 2 x 4 of treated clear southern yellow pine and make my molding. It just takes a couple of passes on the table saw and some light sanding. 

Now all I have to do is get the crappy stuff off without wrecking the jamb.

Note To Self

Don't use sub-standard bottles...

Or it will make you sad.

Trail Magic

We live close enough to the Appalachian Trail so we set out to make some hikers' day. 

So Lee, Tess, and I headed to a spot on the Blue Ridge Parkway to do some trail magic. 

Wifey posted the menu items over here.

We set up camp in a nice shady spot.

Here is view from our spot.

Now all we need are some customers. 

This is Indy, take 1, notice the folks in the background. they were out for a stroll with their cat Precious.

 

This is take 2 of Indy and I didn't want to delete the pic. still working on my phone app blog-fu.

 

We had a nice chat with David Horton. He set the record on the AT and the PCT for time. He is an ultra runner and was out on the trail for the day after having a knee replacement just two weeks ago.

A mother and son couple passed thru heading south. I had a hunch they were Korean so I asked and they were. I confessed to them that I am big K drama fan. It gave us something to chat about as they enjoyed a Mountain Dew. Wifey got a big kick out of it. To bad I didn't get their pic.

Here are Wings from Indiana and Gofar from Fargo, ND. Talk about high energy, these guys are ripping up the trail but we managed to slow them down for an hour or so. 

This is Just Smiling Bob from northern Virginia.He was stressing about re-suppling, so we extended his time by one meal.

This is Stark from Columbus Ohio.Stark is an English major, just back from being abroad. I didn't tell him this on the trail, but if I saw him again I would say to him 'those who can't do, teach, those who can't teach, hike the A.T.'. I'm sure he woulda got a kick out of it.

We'll this sums up our day. It was a beautiful weather and we made some hikers very happy and very full. 

Checking on the bees

Theme music by Muddy Waters

This is an eight-frame hive.

The first super was full so we added a second super.

Here is a frame with pre-laid foundation

The bees are making natural comb.

Looking for a queen. We quickly found her on frame #4.

Here they are making their "Bee Wear" fashion statement.

Think Mead.