Tag: His Revenge

Views of the Neighborhood – Freeze Results

~ John W. Howell ~ 79 Comments

Last week we rolled around and looked at those who covered their plants. This week I thought it would be interesting to look at the results of not covering the plants. Also, on a couple of occasions, the effects of protecting the plants.

We are being catered by The Peached Tortilla in Austin. Our entertainment is Meatloaf.

Menu

THAI CHOP CHOP SALAD
chopped napa, fried tofu, green apple, fried shallots, Thai vinaigrette, rice puffs, peanuts, Fresno chiles, watermelon radish, fish sauce caramel, herbs

BRISKET HASH
kimchi miso corn, sweet potatoes, Fresnos, onion jam, pasture-raised fried egg
ask your server for our vegetarian option

SHORT RIB BENEDICT  Korean braised short rib, grilled ciabatta, kochukaru hollandaise

FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICH  Asian slaw, Japanese pickles, gochu glaze, easy tiger easy bun
served with Belgian fries

KOREAN STEAK & EGGS BOWL  sous vide hanger steak, sunny side up eggs, kimchi, egg furikake, rice

AVOCADO TOAST
miso scallion creme fraiche, alfalfa sprouts, watermelon radish, lemon oil
served with greens tossed in yuzu vinaigrette, add soft scrambled pasture-raised eggs

All manner of things to drink.

Picture of an old time school bus

Let’s go.

Our first stop is an unprotected cactus. Don’t know how you would protect it, but freezing temperatures create havoc.

Some cascading plants put in after the great freeze last year are toast again this year.

The ground cover takes a hit but will come back.

Last week I showed this expensive green cover. The next is a view of this week.

The cover did not work. Frost burn on the new plants.

A major hit, but expected to return.

The Carolina Jasmine is gone. This was from the big freeze last year.

The boxwoods have signs of frost burn.

The Viburnum growth has been affected. It should not hurt the plant.

A shot of blossoms from protected plants. (Producer photo)

A protected hanging basket.

I hope you enjoyed the tour and wish you a wonderful week. Sit back and enjoy the food and music. If you haven’t seen this video I would recommend it even though it is a little longer than most.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – Let Go

~ John W. Howell ~ 49 Comments

Another Saturday means thinking about the prompt that is due from Linda Hill. As I savored the aroma from the first cup of coffee, it occurred to me to check the front of the house once more. Last week there was a mountain of ice that had not only the prompt frozen against the front door but a lingering question on how the ice got there in the first place.

Thinking the whole situation was a figment of imagination, I looked at the Ring doorbell app on my phone. Sure enough, the mountain of ice was still there. Also, a prominent St Bernard dog was sitting patiently at the edge of the hill holding an envelope in its mouth.

I was forced to go out the back door since the front was frozen solid. Coming around the house, I discovered the reason for the mountain of ice. The hose attached to the faucet was doing the dance of the cobra while spewing water in all directions. I quickly calculated the value of a week’s worth of water running helter-skelter and made a mental note to contact the lending officer at the bank for a loan first thing Monday.

Getting the water turned off was challenging but accomplished. Next, it was time to address the dog.” Lovely doggy,” I said. “Snarl,” was his response. Bravely I took hold of the envelope, hoping he had the commands to release upon delivery. “Let go,” I said. His answer sounded like a muffled warning to take my hand away or lose it. “Fine, you win.”

As I turned away to go back inside, the big dog barked, and the envelope dropped from his mouth. Being quick of mind and certainly smarter than a dog, I grabbed the envelope. The dog seemed pleased that the delivery was made and trotted away.

Here is what was inside. Your prompt for #JusJoJan and Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “let go.” Write about the first thing that comes to mind when you think, “let go.” Enjoy!

If you want to join this happy band, visit Linda’s blog and see how easy it is. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2022/01/28/the-friday-reminder-for-socs-jusjojan-2022-daily-prompt-jan-29th/

Let Go by John W. Howell © 2022

“At least you explained the ice.”

“A small holdover from last week.”

“Why did the dog hold onto the envelope in the first place?”

“How would I know? I’m not a dog whisperer.”

“No, but you wrote the scene.”

“Okay. He didn’t know if it was me or not.”

“What changed his mind?”

“For heaven’s sake, can we get off the dog?”

“But you made him central to your story.”

“It’s the first thing I thought of when I saw ‘Let Go’ was the prompt.”

“Okay, so you have no idea why he let go of the envelope.”

“Well. he barked, and it fell out of his mouth. Isn’t that enough?”

“Why didn’t he pounce on you when you went to get the envelope.”

“Is this ever going to end?”

“I’m just saying. Plot holes are not a good thing.”

“Alright. The dog saw my blue feet from being all wet from turning off the faucet, so he had mercy on me.”

“Why didn’t you say that?”

“Too much for such a short story.”

“Well, when you leave questions, folks get anxious.”

“Why don’t you write it next week?”

“I’m a beer consumer, not a writer.”

“Magic word.”

“To end this misery?”

“You got it, and you are buying. Time to let go of some of that hoarded cash.”

“Says the guy who framed his first dollar. By the way. You mentioned blue feet. Did you go out there barefooted?”

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF – Fri-Yay/Good News

~ John W. Howell ~ 75 Comments

Today’s good news story is taken from the Good News Network about the sighting of a bird not typically seen in the US. Here’s the story in its entirety. Thanks to the Good News Network.

The Steller’s sea eagle. It’s ripped, royal, and rare. To see the world’s heaviest eagle, with its eight-foot wingspan, an American would typically have to visit Korea, Japan, or eastern Russia. Never had one of the sea eagles ever been spotted in the lower 48 states—until now.

@ManByTheSea/Instagram

Five days before Christmas, one of the majestic birds flew into Boothbay Harbor, Maine, and it’s pulling birdwatchers from all over the east coast to see it.

Members of the Massachusetts Audubon Society first spotted the raptor known for its huge golden bill.

NPR reports that the unique tail feather arrangement suggests this is the same bird that was spotted in summer in Canada and Alaska. Straying outside of its native range, it’s known as a “vagrant.”

As of January 16th, the wayward bird was still in Maine, having first been documented as a vagrant in Alaska’s Denali National Park, 4,700 miles away, in August.

The chance to see this eagle would normally involve a plane ride anywhere from 6-12 hours and a passport, so the bird’s appearance in the US is pulling amateur ornithologists from their nests in places like New Jersey for a spontaneous road trip known as “chasing.”

When a rare species, especially a rare vagrant, is spotted, intrepid birders chase reported sightings around the region using apps like eBird, or through various Facebook groups.

John Putrillo recently photographed this celebrity bird of prey. His Instagram, Manbythesea, is now filled with beautiful images showcasing its dark brown feathers and a bill that’s built to tear fish like salmon into bitesize pieces.

The eagle has given Putrillo a new passion: “I want to learn about all bird species now,” he says. “I want to find every bird I can from the smallest to the largest.”

The good news here is at least some of the bird watchers in this country have a chance to see this magnificent bird. Today’s JohnKu talks about the miracles of nature. I hope you have a great weekend.

Nature by John W. Howell

A vagrant or not,

The Steller’s Sea Eagle is . . .

Nature’s miracle.

 

I am at Story Empire today in case you want to come over. I’m talking about things you can do if the desire to write is missing. HERE is the link.

 

Thursday – A little Personal – Twiggy and Lucy in the Sun

~ John W. Howell ~ 98 Comments

“Hey, Lucy, look at all that sun.”

“I know, Little one. It has been a while since we have had some.”

“What do you think? A game of tag, maybe?”

“Sounds good. Man, that shadow makes me look big.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t say that. You are a perfect size.”

“Thank you, Little One. But, just the same, I think I will mind the shadows.”

“You hear that? Let’s go see what it is.”

“I didn’t hear anything. I’ll be right behind you.”

“I knew it. A puma has been in the yard. I can smell him.”

“Come on, there’s no puma’s around here.”

“You can believe what you want, but don’t come crying to me if one leaps out of a tree onto your back.”

” If that happened, I think I’d have more to do than coming crying to you.”

I swear he’s been here. I can almost describe him. Let’s go check the rose bed. Maybe he’s been there too.”

Okay. I think you are on a wild goose chase, though.”

Yeah, I don’t think he’s been here. Hey, what’s happened to the roses?”

“Those hard freezes caused the roses to go to sleep.”

“Someone should wake them up. They look like they are dead.”

“They will be trimmed, and then in the spring, they’ll be back.”

“You promise?”

“Yes, I do. Now, what about that game of tag?”

“I’ll count to ten.”

“Very funny.”

 

Tuesday – A Little Personal – Kreative Kue #344 by Keith Channing

~ John W. Howell ~ 64 Comments

In Keith’s words.

“Using this photo (below) as inspiration, write a short story, flash fiction, scene, poem; anything, really; even just a caption for the photograph. Either put it (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at keithchanning@gmail.com before 6pm on Sunday (if you aren’t sure what the time is where I live, this link will tell you). If you post it on your own blog or site, a link to this page would be appreciated, but please do also mention it in a comment here.

Go on. You know you want to. Let your creativity and imagination soar. I shall display the entries next time.”

The Photo

The Gate by John W. Howell © 2022

“Yes. You rang?”

“H-hurry o-open t-the g-gate.”

“Who is requesting entrance?”

“It’s me you idiot.”

“If I were truly an idiot, I would have no capacity to identify you.”

“Another minute, and I’m going to freeze to death.”

“State the nature of your business.”

“Once inside the house, I’m going to make a cup of tea and then konk you with my heavest pan.”

“Oh my goodness, my love, it’s you. Why didn’t you identify yourself?”

“After 30 years, I didn’t think I had to.”

“I can get that, but your voice was so shaky I couldn’t identify it.”

“Are you going to open the gate or not?”

“Love of my life, I pushed the button. It should have opened.”

“I-it’s n-not o-opening.”

“Give it a push.”

“N-not w-working.”

“Looks like I’ll have to get on my snow gear and come get you.”

“T-that w-would b-be n-nice.”

“One question, though.”

“S-shoot.”

“You still going to konk me?”

“O-of c-course n-not.”

“I’ll be right there.”

“C-can y-you s-still h-hear m-me? Hmmm silence. No, I’m not going to konk you. No, not me. Trust me, though. It will be a long time till this little episode is forgotten.”

“Did you say something, my dear? I was away from the receiver.”

“N-no, n-nothing. Y-you C-coming?”

“On my way, my sweet. On my way.”

 

 

 

Top Ten Things Not to Do if You Find Yourself Waiting Your Turn

~ John W. Howell ~ 66 Comments
Photo by Levi Jones on Unsplash

 

This list was originally posted on August 18th, 2014. The inspiration came from standing in lines. I don’t think lines have gone out of style, so it may still be helpful.

* * *

Top Ten Things Not to Do if You Find Yourself Waiting Your Turn

 

10 If you are in line at a ferry, do not turn off your car. If you do, at best the minute you do, the line will start moving. At worst, your car won’t start, and the friendly folks behind you will figure out a way to heave your vehicle over the side of the access terminal into thirty feet of water. (I don’t think detailing is going to get those water spots out of the upholstery)

9. If you are in line at the pharmacy, do not try to eavesdrop on the confidential medical briefing of the person in front of you. If you do, at best, you may hear something that your ears won’t forgive. At worst, the store will hit you with a HIPPA violation and send you to the back of the line again. (Those dosage instructions just weren’t all that interesting.)

8. If you are in line at the ten items or less express checkout at the supermarket, do not comment on the twenty items the person ahead of you has just laid on the counter. If you do, at best, you will hear the old excuse, “Oh, I didn’t notice that this was ten items or less.” At worst, you will be savagely attacked by a seemingly quiet, unassuming person who (unbeknownst to you ) was just released from a psychiatric hospital due to the lack of funding. (It seems he has a problem with questions.)

7. If you are in line at a movie theatre, do not groan loudly when the person in front of you wants to know the movie’s rating. If you do, At best, you will need to suffer through other questions like, “How long does it run?” At worst, you will be faced with the spouse of the person in front of you wondering what your problem is and asking you kindly to cut them some slack. (The closed fist speaks pretty loudly)

6. If you are in line at a convenience store, do not make any comments about a person in front of you who wants to pick out a specific scratch-off Lotto ticket but can’t make up their mind. If you do, at best, you may have to try to logically explain your problem when asked. At worst, you will need to apologize for your impatience when you learn that the ticket is being purchased as a 60th wedding anniversary present. (Now you are unromantic as well.)

5. If you are in line at the bank, do not prompt the half-asleep person standing in front of you behind the wait here line that a teller is open. If you do, at best, a person may pop awake and think you are being fresh. At worst, the person will take offense since they were not paying attention and ask you something about “Where’s the fire?” (They also invite you to help ask the teller for all the money in the drawer.)

4. If you are in line at the doctor’s office, do not complain to the receptionist about how valuable you consider your time. If you do, At best, you will be waiting twice as long since the receptionist just had an argument with the doctor about how little she makes. At worst, the receptionist will somehow lose your place, and you will still be there when the doctor and the receptionist leave for the night. (They don’t dare to ask you to come back tomorrow.)

3. If you are waiting to be served at one of the hottest bars in town, do not wave at the bartender. If you do, at best, he will simply wave back and wait on others. At worst, the bartender will finally give you the old “What’ll you have.” He then tells you they don’t have it, and maybe they will across the street. (I think he has had it with folks who wave.)

2. If you are waiting to be seated in a trendy restaurant, do not think you will be seated without tipping the Matre D. If you do, At best, you will finally have to break down and either tip or go elsewhere. At worst, you will get a seat in the bar just as they are starting the fastest cigar smoker contest and there are twenty-four contestants all lighting up simultaneously. (You initially thought you wanted the smoked trout. Might want to change that.)

1. If you find yourself waiting in line at Starbucks, do not try to cut the line. If you do, at best, you will be chastised by the barista. At worst, your double decaf, soy, low foam latte will have a taste resembling something familiar but just not easily identified. (Do ask what that flavor is right now.)

 

Views of the Neighborhood – Ready for the Freeze

~ John W. Howell ~ 85 Comments

The last three nights in Lakeway have seen temperature lows of 25 degrees F (-3.8 C). To protect plants that have problems with those low temperatures, the neighbors have used various covering methods. The reason for protecting these plants is that such low temperatures are rare, and the plants, once past this event, can continue to thrive all winter. We are going to go and see some of the methods. We are being catered by Perlas in Austin. Our entertainment is The Band Perry.

 

Menu

Perla’s French Toast  

Mixed Berries, Lemon Chantilly, Citrus Shortbread Crumble

Espelette Shrimp & Blue Crab Gumbo

Steamed Rice, Andouille, Bacon, Scallion, Okra, Fried Egg, Grilled Baguette

New Orleans-Style BBQ Shrimp & Stone Ground Grits

Creole Lemon Butter, Poached Egg, Fines Herbes

Wood-Grilled Sausage, Oysters, Egg in the Hole

House Breakfast Sausage, Three Grilled Oysters

Crab Florentine

English Muffin, Poached Eggs, Lump Crab, Griddled Tomato, Lemon Spinach, Hollandaise

Steak Ranchero

Oak-Grilled Hanger Steak, Two Fried Eggs, Spicy Ranchero Sauce,

Crispy Griddle Cake with Crème Frâiche

Lobster & Egg White Frittata

Asparagus Tips, Roasted Tomatoes, Avocado, Basil

Lobster Omelette

Melted Leeks, White Cheddar, Chive, Butter Lettuce Salad.

Of course, anything you wish to drink.

Picture of an old time school bus

So get on the bus.

Not sure what is under that tarp, but that blue makes a statement.

Ace Hardware plant protector film.

Someone is missing their bed linens, including the bedspread.

A lovely 1000 count Egyptian cotton.

A couple of hundred dollars worth of covering.

Another bed victim.

Gotta wonder about the mailbox cover. It might be someone’s monogrammed shirt. The initials’ AD’ could be a clue.

There you have it. A quick trip but one I hoped you liked. Now it is time for food and entertainment. I hope you have a great week.

 

 

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – Icing on the Cake

~ John W. Howell ~ 69 Comments

A picture of a string with drops of water- the logo for SoCS

 

The espresso machine needs the dregs drawer emptied before making another cup. During the process, it occurred to me that this was Saturday, so I should be getting a prompt from Linda Hill’s blog. Waiting for my first cup had my mind spinning with the possibilities of what that prompt could be. Having a hot, steaming cup of joe in my hand while waiting would just be icing on the cake. Finally, it was ready, and my first instinct was to breathe in the vapors to capture that godlike aroma that only fresh brewed coffee can deliver.

The first sip had me looking out the back, anticipating a falling safe or an ACME rocket. Three more sips and nothing. It was time to go to the front. I checked the Ring camera, and there was no motion or anything else recorded. The image on my phone looked like it was taken underwater. Glancing at my watch gave me cause for concern. The prompt should have been here by now. Another sip, and I had to venture outside to double-check.

Opening the front door became a challenge in that the lock appeared to be frozen. First, a sip and then a hard pull to free the door. The door came open, and I was treated with a sheet of ice. A manila envelope and a cake were stuck to the ice, obviously placed against the door before the water froze. Speaking of water. Where did it all come from? Yes, the temperature was below freezing, but that did not explain all the ice.

Chipping the ice freed the envelope. I grabbed it, left the frozen cake, and slammed the door. Ripping the envelope open, I found a message. Here is what it said. “Your prompt for #JusJoJan and my very first birthday-Stream-of-Consciousness-Saturday is: “icing on the cake.” Write about the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the phrase “icing on the cake.” Enjoy!” There was also a little party hat that said Happy Birthday, Linda Hill.

If you want to enjoy and wish Linda a Happy Birthday, visit her blog. Here is the link.

https://lindaghill.com/2022/01/21/the-friday-reminder-for-socs-jusjojan-2022-daily-prompt-jan-22nd/

Icing on the Cake by John W. Howell © 2022

“So that was the first thing that came to mind? Frozen water on a cake?”

“I hate to say it but, yes.”

“Some have wondered about your thought process. So now I join them.”

“Why? What would you think of first.?”

“Birthday cake with frosting.”

“if the prompt was ‘frosting on the cake’ then I would agree.”

“It’s an idiom.”

“Who’s an idiot?”

“An idiom, you idiot.”

“Oh, what’s that?”

“A group of words with grouped usage that together mean something that the separate words do not convey.”

“You sound like a dictionary.”

“Thanks.”

“How about an example?”

“Well, take ‘Icing on the Cake.’ It means something added that makes things better. The cake is good and on its own would suffice but add some icing, and it’s perfect.”

“Icing makes my teeth hurt.”

“Okay, but you get the idea, right?”

“Yeah, I get it.”

“So why so literal with frozen water on cake?”

“I just thought it would be funny. Like describing lite beer as carbonated defrost.”

“Let’s stop there because I can build a segway with your last statement.”

“A transportation device?”

“No, an intro into a new subject as in ‘How bout you and I go and drink some beer?'”

“Great subject, and you got that off my carbonated defrost statement?”

“No.”

“What then?”

“You said the magic word.”

“Beer?”

“Correct as usual, King Friday.”

“Mr. Rogers right?”

“Yup.”

“Icing on the cake. Let’s go.”

 

 

 

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF – Fri-Yay/Good News

~ John W. Howell ~ 86 Comments

BETHEL PARK, Pa. — A football coach in Pennsylvania canceled his team’s scheduled weightlifting session on Monday after a snowstorm blanketed the eastern part of the country.

When there’s a snow day or school is closed, Bethel Park football players typically meet in the workout room at 9 a.m. But instead of hitting the gym on Monday, the team hit nearby neighborhoods to help dig people out of the snow.

“It brought tears to my eyes, and I just feel like it’s a really great thing for them to do on their day off,” said Bethel Park resident Greg Hardy.

Hardy was getting ready to shovel his driveway when he was surprised that it was already being done for him.

“My wife said, ‘You don’t have to bother.’ And I said, ‘Why not?’ I looked outside and there they were, two snowblowers and five young gentlemen,” Hardy said.

They were all players from the football team who were just following orders from their coach, Brian DeLallo.

DeLallo, who’s both a football coach and teacher at Bethel Park High School, tweeted out that Monday’s weightlifting workout was canceled and to find an elderly or disabled neighbor who needs their driveway shoveled. He specified that this was an act of kindness, saying the team shouldn’t accept any money for their service.

“If you go on Twitter, you see high schools all over western Pennsylvania doing this. I think it says more about the kids and coaches involved in our game and gets kids out to help our community. That’s what it’s all about,” DeLallo said.

The players took their workout seriously and went door to door throughout their neighborhoods.

“We have been going house to house around the neighborhood seeing who still needs their driveway shoveled, and we tell them we will do it for free,” said freshman Jack Bruckner.

It was a workout that the team welcomed.

DeLallo said his players were texting photos of each other clearing driveways, one after another, first thing in the morning.

“It’s great to see the kids buy-in and get out there. They’ll shovel all morning, and then, hopefully, they’ll go sled riding in the afternoon and get to be kids,” DeLallo said.

And for neighbors like Greg Hardy, he’s now forever a Bethel Park football fan.

“They wouldn’t take anything! And I wanted to tell them, ‘Next fundraiser, put me down for whatever they need!’ It just made my day,” Hardy said.

The good news here is a coach, and his team made a difference. Today’s JohnKu talks about service. I hope you have a great weekend.

Service by John W. Howell © 2022

A coach takes the lead,

His team makes his word golden . . .

Service looks like this.

Thursday – A Little Personal – The Yard Again.

~ John W. Howell ~ 99 Comments

“Look out, Lucy. Looks like a snake to me.”

“Pretty skinny snake, Little One.”

“Yeah, but it sure is long.”

“It’s not moving. So maybe it’s something else.”

“Like what can it be?”

“Let me give it the once over.”

“Be careful. It seems to go on forever.”

“No talking while I sneak up on this thing.”

“Okay, but I think I know what it is.”

“I’ve seen this before. It’s attached to something.”

“You are so smart, Lucy. What is this thing anyway?”

“It says S-U-N-J-O-E. I wonder who that is?”

“You know it has something to do with dad’s leaf obsession. There he is.”

“I think it’s the picker-upper., but let’s ask.”

“Hey, dad, what is this thing?”

“Yeah, Boss. We want to know.”

“Well, ladies, it is a leaf vacuum. It picks up the leaves.”

“I knew it, Little one.”

“You are so smart, Lucy.”