Little Lobsters...

that's what the screamers are right now. Been out splashing around in a wading pool at the parental figures' place. Naturally, since I was absent for the biggest part of the day the male parental figure didn't think on his own to grease up the monkeys before setting them loose in the sun.

Oh well, at least I have a nice mix of witch hazel and herbs awaiting in the fridge at home.

I meandered a bit around the garden a little bit ago, seems that since I encouraged the planting of peas that they are now my responsibility. The tending, picking and shelling. Male parental figure blames me, lol. Fortunately there aren't enough to do much damage. Matter of fact, the only thing that will be overly plentiful this year seems to be butternut squash and pumpkins. It's early though, so we shall see.

Hope all are loving the rain/sun/whatever that Ma Nature is throwing at you and hope it isn't making your gardens not do their thing!

Been thinking (oy the heat!).....

Busy chic…that’s me! I love it though. Between the screamers, school and all the running about that we’ve done in the past month I’ve had very little time to actually sit and think on the blog…my apologies. The good news is that with a little wandering about in the area around the apartment, the screamers and I have found a little spring to play in on super hot days, a massive blackberry bramble to pick at in a few weeks, a huge wild strawberry patch just begging to be relieved of some of its bounty and a fishing spot in said stream that the screamers can’t wait to “pish” in.
Amazing what a little wandering in your neighborhood will yield. I know this, of course, and know that I should have taken these wanderings last year…I certainly didn’t expect to be here still, stuck in this little place with no yard. Since I am, and don’t know for how much longer, I figured that with all the happy joy in the world (knyuck, knyuck) I might as well make the most of the area I have to work with. I have heirloom seeds hidden away for a small garden (do it now folks), mapped the area immediately around the apartment with emphasis on natural food sources (morels, persimmon and nut trees, etc) and have been taking the screamers on progressively longer treks into the woods. It keeps the skills sharp, right?
I’ve been thinking lately on skills that I acquired in the service, however brief the time I was there. A lot of these beauties are forgotten art forms in truth, the rarest being map reading. It’s not a lost art form, but is definitely not as well used as it was once upon a time.
Very few folks use maps, not the atlas kind…real maps, with elevation and such. The exceptions are serious hunters, soldiers and the majority of hikers. Now everyone (well, not everyone but you get the point) depends on GPS. Nice to have to a point, not that I have any, but one little zap and the GPS is shot all to hell with no chance of getting it back.
I am curious as to the company I keep here online…anyone else practice the fine art of real map reading? Anyone else love to pull out their topos and a compass just because?
All this pondering has left me with a desire for some really good topo maps. I mean countrywide style. So today I begin my search for some decent topographical maps that are fairly comprehensive of the North American continent…dreaming? Perhaps, but I don’t mind piecing it together…or the challenge of trying to find it for free, lol.

Sun shining, breeze blowing...

and I'm stuck in the freakin' house. Not really, I did spend the morning putting together a free swing set that my folks picked up for the boys (can't argue with free). But I'm chafing under the bit here, I could have been out on a nice hike with my men except the biggest one (ie the spousal unit) didn't want to hike in the rain. Lo and behold...no rain, it isn't scheduled to be here until Monday now.

Hope he enjoys working in it...hope it comes a flood on his candy ass.

Speaking of the spousal unit, as of last Tuesday the man only has 9 1/2 pounds left to be dumped (on me apparently since I've lost no more weight) before he can officially fanangle his contract. Not a good idea, I hear some shout (ahem, my mom, his mom...the entire population of folks we know with the exception of my sister)...perhaps but unless he does it we won't ever be able to stand on our own...not now. There just aren't too many folks hiring, let alone hiring a job jumper like the spouse. Military is his best bet (and ours as a family) and he likes it best anyway...may as well do a job you love, right?

Heatwave....

not really, just couldn't think of another title...lmbo.

I've been thinking on heating alternatives...rephrase...cooking on the go alternatives. The spousal unit favors Coleman related stuff (ie the stoves and canisters) for B.O.B.s....I prefer (dun dun dun dun) Sterno. Weight makes a difference ya know.

Then again, the spouse prefers wood cooking over it all but I have issues with smoke signals when you are trying to fly under the radar...we agree to disagree but go with the Sterno since I pack the bags, lol.

So tell me...what do you prefer? Linkage is always good, because I like to look at what is recommended (ahem...Show Me State native).