Wow, that sounds sinister, doesn’t it? It sounds like the name is not so much spoken as intoned: “The Killing Cooooonnnnnne,” like a tool of unspeakable torture. Actually it’s a quick and merciful way to dispatch a bird, and I got mine at Home Depot. Or more accurately, I got the sheet metal for it …

To Absalom’s legs, that is. The ones with the spurs on them. Absalom met his Maker on Saturday morning. Here’s the fixin’s for rooster soup, just before Jessica bagged them to put in the freezer: It was not a pleasant end. I’m really sorry, Absalom, but I didn’t know what I was doing. By the …

In spite of the events of tomorrow [Absalom's execution], I am not going to give you the recipe for chicken noodle soup. I am sad the rooster has to go, so I’m trying not to dwell on his imminent demise. So, how about breakfast.At our house we only have an hour in the morning to …

I had to get on the roof. When I get sick to my stomach I get really sick. Violently sick. It’s icky. And the timing was rather poor for the violently-icky illness I had over the holiday, because our chimbley was clogged* and I had to get on the roof to fix it. Until I …

I estimate January 15 to be halfway through the burning season, which ends, by exactly the same precise calculation, on May 1. Here’s our winter heat supply as of the first week of the new year. I’ve used up just over two rows of the seven rows in the wood sheds. Here you see the …

When I was in the eighth grade or so, we read a short story by Jack London called “To Build A Fire” about a dude freezing to death in Alaska. While my circumstances are not quite as dire, I too have had to learn some things about building a fire. Fire needs fuel, air, and …

Well, I’m back. It’s been a fantabulous holiday; 10 days off for the price of four. I spent every day working and checking things off my list (not a big believer in sittin’ around), but the biggest news (for me) is that I finished my first novel and completed the first draft of my second. …

I’ve been out of the office sick the last little while, and I’m about to be out for my Christmas break. Sorry for the delays, but you know. It is that time of year. It’s been a great adventure putting this blog together over the past, oh, nine months. I thought it would die out …

My daughters Emma and Becca and I were driving home from the Spokane Temple on Saturday evening when a big fat whitetail doe meandered out in front of me. It was raining; the road was wet, I slammed on my brakes, and she just kept coming. WHAM!-thmp. I pulled over as quick as I could …

Since we won’t be posting anything on Christmas day, here is the lastdessert recipe. I love chocolate anything…chocolate alone, chocolate andpeanut butter, chocolate and raspberry, chocolate and orange….My friend,Pixie, gave me this recipe a few years ago (chocolate and caramel), and Ihave found similar ones since then. It is great because it uses thingsyou probably …