Tag: health

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Faith family Fear focus health Life

Unremembered Forest Things

Batman Says:

When I was little (yes everyone I once was little and didn’t have adult cares, how long ago? None of your business cheeky bugger), I was born (not hatched or beamed down as some believe) in a very small country town. I was actually the only one of my siblings born in this small town, but my moms family was from there and we lived there a short while. We moved to a different place, not to far away from where I was born and made frequent return trips there, so much so when I was small, it was as if I never left. Many memories of those days are gone, lost or pushed aside by other information garnered over the many years of my life (no you don’t need to know how many!). Some are still there and pop up at weird times to remind me of something (I truly wish I knew what that was) and they sometimes linger about showing up off and onto annoy me.

Like my grandpa’s place where we stayed at times, he had a tater field and would pay us kids a quarter for whoever dig up the biggest tater (by hand of course). Even fonder memories were of visits to my Aunt and Uncles house (10 minute walk across one dirt road and a couple fields) where they had rabbits (for eating, sorry no pets) and a pond that I would spend hours catching and releasing bream and catfish in (unless my uncle said “keep’em we will eat them for lunch/dinner”). My childhood memories of these times were to me idyllic and I’m saddened that they slip out of remembrance only to pop up occasionally now days.

My grandpa, my uncle and sometimes dad if he were not off helping someone fix something (seems I remember him always fixing stuff for people when we visited there) would take me fishing on a river that ran thru our little town, and at this part of the country, separated two states acting as part of the state lines. When it was summer and it hadn’t rained much, you could basically walk the river for miles without ever getting past thigh deep (on a small boy) except for parts around stumps and widow-makers (underwater snags).these deeper pockets is where the “Stump Knockers” (google it) were hiding and where the lines from our cane poles were put to catch what we could then move on to the next.

Sometimes my grandpa or uncle would stop and stare off into the woods as if seeing something but try as I might I never caught what they were seeing. I asked over and over ‘what are u looking at grandpa /uncle ” and would get “nothin son” or “just looking”. My aunt told me later that they were seeing “forest creatures” and she would laugh. Now as a small boy this fascinated me to no end, but soon I would be off to other small boy things and it would be forgotten.

Fast forward a few years (again, don’t ask how many, it’s rude) and I spend as many spare seconds as I can in the woods or creeks, hunting, fishing, photography, just being outside with Peach, or whatever. This is my happy place, my forget all your troubles, relax and just “breathe” place. Took me several years to catch on but I think I finally get it..

People who spend time in the fields, forests, swamps and natural places will know immediately what I mean in a couple seconds, some others will also as there are other types in the world. Here you are, let’s use photography as the reason you are there in nature just as a for instance. Strolling along slowly maybe with purpose in mind of something to photograph or maybe not, then, without knowing why or even thinking about it, your focus is drawn to a area or specific spot, why? Did u subconsciously see something, was it a memory of something from a time ago, or something else?

I have come to believe in my own silly mind it is done with purpose and you were drawn to that spot where one of the Unremembered Forest things was, or had just been. Your mind saw it before your eyes could catch it and your vision focused on the spot it just vacated. Good hunters have a developed sense of where game can be found, same goes for good photographers and other nature lovers. We all have in us a Predator instinct, that’s why our eyes are set in front of our head and not out to the sides (look at a cat as opposed to a deer). This instinct does not go away, but now days it’s suppressed by societies belief that “hunters are evil” (sorry squirrel ran by).

When we were children and out in nature I believe we could see the unremembered Forest things, and they weren’t afraid to be seen, but as we get older and refuse to believe, they have become skittish and we only get to see the places they just were when we spooked them.

There are so many unexplained things in nature that scientist and nay-sayers roll their eyes at, doesn’t matter, I still believe. I spend lots of time outdoors, exploring the wild, and I am constantly being drawn towards things without knowing why.

Here is an example of not seeing what’s there, I took this picture without knowing why, the colors are ok, but I didn’t really think it was that awesome. I was drawn to it without knowing why, snapped it and moved on. As I reflected upon it later I recognized the image before my eyes, if you do not see an “Angel praying” then you need to get outside into the forest for several days to reset your brain before it’s to late.

Seeing for the first time in ages the hiding places of these “things” sometimes leads one to make up rationalizations for why we chose that spot to focus. That’s cool If that’s what you believe, who am I to try and dissuade your beliefs? Just like I chunk opinions of others who try and dissuade mine into the “bucket” with the other rubbish.

I call these things “Unremembered Forest Things” because I believe that when we were small, and well before our brains were polluted with things society thinks we should know, we knew these “things” be it creatures or something else. But over time we have forgotten them, only to be reminded every so often subtly by our unconscious mind, a tugging of your focus for no apparent reason to a certain spot, and hint of a smell, or whatever. Watching the stillness of a pond where no breeze is blowing, when suddenly there are ripples on the surface as if a stick was drawn across it, Water Faries dancing on the surface? Naw just the wind right?

In the stillness and quietness, I find my peace, and I find those parts of myself from my childhood I thought were gone forever. Sometimes I can just stand still in the woods, for hours at a time and be content. This refreshing memory inducing time is only ever bettered, when I have my Peach along with me. Peach gets it, she gets me to, she knows there are things we cannot explain, nor do we have to try, we should just enjoy them.

God has filled this wonderful earth with creatures great and small, and it’s up to us to “remember” them all, and to take time to go seek them where they are.

Hope you all enjoy this ramble, and it’s my wish that if you want to, you go into nature, and let your unconscious mind guide you, follow it, and see if it does not reveal some of the “Unremembered Forest Things” that you knew in your childhood years.

“Did ya see how that last pick looks like it has a turtle in it Peach?”

Categories
Fear focus health Life life styles Uncategorized

Sense of Humor?

Batman Says:

Just curious, anybody remember what that is anymore? I honestly believe that most people have either never had one, forgotten what it was, or just are to persnickety to allow theirs to show up.

I have been called lots of things in my lifetime, funny, weird, gruff, grumpy, hardheaded, ok ok that’s enough, but I’ve always had a sense of humor. Mine’s a little off kilter, and sometimes ‘bent’ but most people that really “know” me, will tell you I have a great sense of humor, those who think otherwise may be acquainted with me, but they don’t “know” me.

Humor is a stress release I think, and helps us cope with everyday stupidity. Before you get sidetracked, I’m not talking about laughing or joking at someone’s distress, I’m talking about not being afraid to laugh out loud at something you find funny. I have found in my career as a person who deals with other people’s problems, that most who have a sense of humor, are easier to work with than the naysayers and “the sky is falling” kind of people.

Meeting people on the street and having conversations will quickly tell you which type you’re dealing with, which should tell you how the conversation is probably going to wind up, example:

I was at our City marina in the dock masters office (small building out by the fuel dock where reservations are taken, fuel is paid for, dock hands relax for a couple seconds) getting my morning coffee, and of course because the world is losing its proverbial mind over a flu-bug, only one customer at a time is allowed in the office at a time. I saw a man headed up the ramp towards the office, so I opened the door and was going to leave so he could conduct his business. I said “mornin, come on in I don’t have any diseases”, which anyone with a sense of humor would have thought was funny, the dock hands did who were there and it was said with a smile and a sincere greeting. This fella chose to be an *ss and replied “prove it” as he was pulling up his face mask (which by the was was a dust mask not one rated to stop this junk). I stopped on the outside of the door holding it for him, and replied, again with a smile “if I got it, it just happened talking to you as I just got my test results back and they were negative”. This person was a sailboater, who had been staying at said marina for the past few days, so I asked “soooo what essential reason do you have to be here on your boat instead of quarantined at home per the Governors orders?” again EVERYBODY but this person knew I was being funny and could care less. This person turned pale, stammered and shuddered for a coherent answer that was plausible, and failed miserably, all he had to say was “I dunno” and went about his way, but since he chose to be an *ss I let him dangle for a while before smiling and wishing him a “nicer day”.

I went about my job and when I stopped back by later to fuel up one of the dock guys was still there and thanked me for “putting him in his place” as apparently he was rude to them the entire stay. Wasn’t my intention, I was honestly being humorous and I meant the “good morning and have a nicer day” greetings, but this person chose to be rude.

A sense of humor will get you out of more pickles easier than any other thing I know. If you cannot laugh at yourself, and laugh with others when they laugh at your goof ups or silliness, you are in for a long sad time in life.

Somewhere along the way it apparently became unpopular to have a sense of humor, probably some group someplace decided that they were offended by people laughing and quietly it has gotten pushed aside. Y’all are way too serious in this day and age. Happy people are more productive and make better employees and customers, why not spread humor instead of hate, good feelings instead of bad? Being paranoid does no one any good, being humorless only makes people not want to be around you, or if they are, they are mostly guarded and aren’t the people they are normally.

People without a sense of humor are such bores, I mean seriously, who wants to be around someone who can’t find it n themselves to laugh sometimes, no matter how serious the job or occasion.

I read this stuff someplace:

“Laughter is strong medicine. It draws people together in ways that trigger healthy physical and emotional changes in the body. Laughter strengthens your immune system, boosts mood, diminishes pain, and protects you from the damaging effects of stress. Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. Humor lightens your burdens, inspires hope, connects you to others, and keeps you grounded, focused, and alert. It also helps you release anger and forgive sooner”

The above quote I read someplace about laughter and it’s benefits, I new it was good for you but until I read that I had no idea the extent. Here, check this out:

“Laughter relaxes the whole body. A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after.

Laughter boosts the immune system.Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease.

Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.

Laughter protects the heart. Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.

Laughter burns calories. OK, so it’s no replacement for going to the gym, but one study found that laughing for 10 to 15 minutes a day can burn approximately 40 calories—which could be enough to lose three or four pounds over the course of a year.

Laughter lightens anger’s heavy load. Nothing diffuses anger and conflict faster than a shared laugh. Looking at the funny side can put problems into perspective and enable you to move on from confrontations without holding onto bitterness or resentment.

Laughter may even help you to live longer. A study in Norway found that people with a strong sense of humor outlived those who don’t laugh as much. The difference was particularly notable for those battling cancer.”

(Sorry can’t find the actual article to give them total credit for the above quoted info)

Who’d a thunk it? Simply giggling and laughing can have so many positive benefits.

Someone find that sailboater with his goofy mask and tell him a funny joke will ya, he could certainly use a good laugh.

“You can stop laughing now Peach I finally figured the remote out”

Categories
Faith family focus health Life life styles

Stores

Batman Says:

Click and “poof” whatever you want is delivered to your home, you don’t ever have to leave again. Some call it convenient, I call it the slow death of “Stores”.

Remember going to the store? It was a trip, a journey where you met people, said hello and actually conversed. It was a time away from the house, sometimes it wasn’t convenient to have to go, others it was just fun. I remember during the summers when I was young (again, none ya business when that was) we would sometimes ride our bicycles the 5 miles down our barren county road to the wooden country store in the middle of the ‘tater’ fields just to get a NeHi soda and sometimes even candy. We sometimes played the worn out pinball machine, sat in the shade and talked to the “old guys” that hung around and we just had fun. Then we rode back home down that lonesome road.

As we got older the trips were made in trucks and we somehow didn’t have time to sit around and talk. And the trips to the “store” became less important. We found more “important” things to do I suppose. Shame, I kinda miss it now that I’m “growed up” supposedly.

I think somewhere along the way from childhood to adulthood we lose a special part of ourselves that if we kept, we would never not want to always see, hear, and visit places and things, and “stores”. Now with modern tech, it’s all too simple to become a hermit and just have anything you wish, dropped outside your front door. I, for one think it’s sad, I’m not saying I don’t use these options here and there, I’m saying we should never stop totally, taking the trip to the store. Giving up the chance to see an old friend, or make a new one, is not worth missing just for convenience.

Take it from Batman, you’re never too old to make new friends and renew old friendships, chances are better for both if you’re out and about as opposed to being a hermit.

“No Peach this does not mean I go to town every time you do”

Categories
focus Life life styles Time management

Courtesy and Common Decency

Batman Says:

Maybe I’m from the wrong era, I suppose I could be, or maybe people just don’t care any more (some never did anyways). I recently found out that some girls, ladies, females (hope that covers it), actually get offended when they are called Ma’am!!?? I have never in my life (no you don’t get to know how old I am but I remember 3 manual channel television sets) heard something so stupid.

I’m from the South (southern United States), we, since we were old enough to talk were taught to be respectful. Respectful to our parents, our elders, and anyone we met at any time. We were taught to answer men, boys, males (see I did it for them to!) with “Sir”, it wasn’t an age thing it was a manners thing. We were taught to answer ladies (see above) with “Ma’am”, again did not matter how old they are/were, when we answered a boy or girl, man or woman, it was with “Sir” or “Ma’am”. It was a courtesy and a sign of respect to our parents that what they taught was actually being used. I, to this day, open doors for people, I tip my hat (I wear cowboy, baseball, boonie hats) to ladies young and old. I get funny looks at times but if I screw up and forget I subconsciously wince remembering my daddy’s hand swat the back of my head “where are your manners boy?”.

Manners: the act of being respectful of others without expecting anything in return for it (Batman definition). The last thing someone should be when they are addressed as “Ma’am” is offended, and it’s a sorry state of affairs that ANYONE would be. Look, there are a bazillion reasons one can find to be offended by someone’s words or actions, being offended by being called “Ma’am” is ludicrous (Peach didn’t know I knew fancy words) to say the least.

I am a parent, some say a good dad and I’m sure some say not, I’m ok with that, no one can say with honesty that I’m not polite and that I did not teach my boys manners. They came out durn good young men, too by the way. I can tell you this, and you can take it to the bank, there will never come a time, no matter if I’m walking with a cane and hunched over, that I won’t tip my hat to a lady, or won’t hold the door for someone or won’t say “Ma’am or Sir”. Be offended if you will but you’re missing the point.

Parents young and old want their children to be respectful, respect is taught at HOME and part of that respect is manners. Teach your kids to say ma’am and sir, show them how to be polite to strangers and friends alike, in the end they will thank you for it I bet. If you’re on the receiving end of a respectful greeting, don’t be offended that the “old guy” called you ma’am, he meant it as a compliment out of respect, not as a slight.

Respect for each other, coupled with manners, if everyone practiced it, would make the places we live in so much nicer.

Common Decency is another, where did being decent as people to each other go, does anyone know? In today’s society all I mostly see are people in a hurry to go someplace without regard for any of the people around them. I’m going to use something different as an example instead of cars, let’s use boats.

From the biggest to the smallest, boats of all shapes are running around on lakes, rivers, oceans (substitute with any other body of water) in greater numbers than ever before. I see it daily as one of my many duties is operating the Police Marine unit. I was out today as a matter of fact, and the longer I stayed out, the more discourteous other boaters became (or I noticed it more). Boaters cutting each other off, following too close, waking each other with hurrying to get nowhere fast. Boats are for recreation, and therefore by definition are supposed to be for fun and relaxation, so why is everyone in a dad blamed hurry all the time? Rules are simple in my neck of the woods, always have a lookout, always slow down around bridges, mooring fields, anchored vessels, and marinas. If we would all just slow the flip down, be courteous to your fellow boaters and it will be safer, and I bet you have just as good a time as you had flying around like your pants are on fire.

Common Decency, another dying art, and that’s a pity as I see it.

“Yes Ma’am Peach, I’ll get that garbage out in a jiffy“

Categories
bible Faith family Fear focus health Life life styles Music Procrastination

Letting go

Batman Says:

Ever get one of those things you did or didn’t do stuck in your head? You know what I mean, the annoying kind, the should have done differently or completed or that was stupid kinda thing.

We all have them, we all hang onto them way longer than we should. I think it’s human nature to dwell on the coulda woulda shoulda’s (funny, I thought I was making those words up but apparently not) and sometimes we can’t help but do it. We let the things get in our head and we have a hard time getting them out.

I stopped doing it, hanging on to them like I used to. Once we did or didn’t do a thing, it’s over, it’s gone and we cannot change it, so there’s no sense letting it effect whatever we are doing now or are going to do. If it’s something you can redo better then by all means go for it, but if it’s unchangeable, then chuck it in the bucket and move on. I’ve come to the conclusion that wasting my time worrying over what might have been or what I didn’t do correctly, is just that, a waste of time. We are all only given so much time, so we should spend every moment living the life we were given, not dwelling on mistakes or misfortune.

Since I came to this conclusion, I have actually felt better and been less of a grumpy guss (technical term for pain in the a**), not that I am often but I did have more moments of grumpiness than normal. I like me better this way and it makes the job I do more tolerable. I prefer this way cause Peach deserves a not so grumpy me hehe and cast iron skillets hurt (just kidding good grief y’all don’t read nothin into it, joke, humor, funny).

There’s a verse that I found (stumbled on watching a youtube music video featuring Mercy Me singing “Bring the Rain”) that seemed to fit with this letting go problem, because if we are honest we don’t let go because we are silly and apparently like to suffer and stew over things we cannot control.

“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” Romans 8:18 KJV

If you read this verse with your mind and heart open, these silly things we feel we must hang on to, reveal themselves to be of no consequence and therefore they are easy to let go.

Anywho, that’s how I see it, and I’m happier for it.

“Thanks for watching the video with me for the millionth time Peach”

Categories
bible Faith family Life

Rise Up

Peach Says:

One of the most important skills we learn in life, takes us through learning to walk, until the day we leave this earth. Our youngest grandson is 10 months and learning how to pull himself up on anything and everything. Then, he will drop and crawl to his next desired spot and do it again. He is learning strength and a bit of balance, and a lot of stamina and determination. He wants to be UP.

This lesson continues in various forms through childhood and into teen years, young adulthood. Children learn to ride bikes, which involves a few falls (or in my case many) (true story, the neighborhood kids and teens helped me learn and the oldest joked we needed to post a sign that said ‘Peach’s Ditch‘).

Teens try new styles, new relationships, new academic, or even professional goals. They try various sports, various positions in sports, music, the arts. They tackle driving. They succeed, they fail, they flourish, they fall.

Young adults decide once or twice or even thrice what schooling will help them get to their ‘next’. They decide to pursue military, sports, travel, or get married!

Young adults get married, try to navigate the merging and making of one life from two, where to have family holidays, when to start a family, how to handle debt and expenses, where to live, rent or buy.

It continues on. We all fall down. But, we ALL must GET BACK UP. We may not always feel like it. Sometimes in life, our ‘Giddy-Up-and-Go’ ‘Got-Up-and-Went’. How rude! 😉

When we learn to walk, we learn all about falling down, and maneuvering ourselves back-up again, over and over and over. Our grandson, like most all young toddlers, is so happily persistent in his endeavors to rise up

As we get older, it’s harder, sometimes, to be happily persistent in our rising up! Especially, because we might be tired of making the same mistake (think of yo-yo dieting, repeat pattern relationship issues, debt cycles, etc). We might also get pushed down by people or health, or just life in general.

Many people today are prayerfully hoping the ‘Rona doesn’t leave them pushed down, hoping for a mere wobble and then quick recovery, or, who knows? Maybe even a miraculous take off, soaring above the circumstances, through a series of grace-filled events that don’t always line up so perfectly, but once in while, they DO!

Sometimes heartaches, sometimes work or career related issues, maybe legal issues, the falling can come in a variety of ways. Sometimes we do it, or a stranger, or a loved one might, or the simply unexpected, life dressed as a pandemic.

Nonetheless, we were made for the upright position, to rise up, dust ourselves off, look up, move forward! Everything in the Bible tells us that the majority of our faith walk will be forward and upward.

There’s times we can only stand. And having done all to stand. (Ephesians 6.) We stand until it’s time, once again, to take those steps forward, as the Holy Spirit shows us it’s time. And like the Israelites at the flood stage Jordan river, first we step and THEN the waters part.

Paul said, “I don’t depend upon my own strength to accomplish this; however I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead.” — Philippians 3:13, The Passion Translation. I LOVE how he continues on, on his letter to the Body of Christ in Philippi, “I PRESS toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” KJV. And The Passion Translation says it this way: “I run straight for the divine invitation for reaching the Heavenly goal and gaining the victory-prize through the anointing of Jesus.”

I think there are times it’s harder than others to rise up. But, the reward seems to be proportionally sweeter as we heave our selves upward.

King David was betrayed by family and then friends. He had a son who was determined and crafty, and shameless. He played the whisper game. The game of politics. He worked to bring division to the Kingdom and to bring people to his side. He was determined to steal the Kingdom from his father because of an old wound unhealed. (Bitterness is a powerful poison in our lives, that we should always work diligently to uproot. Apply the weed killer of forgiveness, humility and then bitterness can’t stick around!)

King David was hurt, humiliated and tired. When I say humiliated, I mean before the whole Nation. He had to flee. Someone followed and threw rocks at one point. His son made a big show of sleeping with his concubines pretty much making a public display, (which couldn’t have happened if he didn’t have CONCUBINES! Just a thought).

He eventually won back his Kingdom, through the help of loyal family, soldiers, and citizens. In the process he lost his son.

He grieved so hard, for his wayward son, that his general had to tell him, that if he didn’t get up and show gratitude to the people who kicked out the enemy, and won back the Kingdom, that all would be lost, as in that very night! The people NEEDED to see that he was happier and more appreciative of all they risked and accomplished for him, than he was sad at the loss of his son, who had taken a very wicked turn, which caused much hurt to a lot of people.

King David rose up. He rose to the occasion. Once more. After a lifetime of rising and running to the battle. His heart was broken. YET. He showed regal leadership, (though I doubt he felt like it), and he made glad the hearts of his people, and did the necessary diplomacy, to unite the country once again. (2 Samuel 19).

Eventually, this would result in him having a thriving, prosperous Kingdom to turn over, in the right way, at the right time, for his son Solomon. Reward.

Nothing good ever came from staying down, rolling around in the broken pieces of life. We simply are not made for it.

I know it can be so tiresome, but, it does begin to feel good again, once we get a little momentum, once we can see the horizon a bit. And who knows what beautiful things the Lord has in store for us!

1 Corinthians 2:9.

I’ve had my own fall down this week. And though it has caused a good amount of heartache, I’m here to say, it’s ok! God is SO faithful! We are not left without His love, and in my case that comes in my Batman and our sons and their ladies, and our dear, dear grandkids! And there’s more family we are blessed with besides! So much joy! 🤗 I can choose to trust the Lord to work out whatever way He seems best, in what I have no control over, and I can choose to be fully present and appreciative of the family I have. I get to choose that. And with the grace of the Lord I DO! Not in my own wisdom or strength, but I can do ALL things through Christ Who gives me strength.

I only share this to let you know, in case you have fallen, in case your head and your heart are perhaps hurting, also, you CAN do this! Put your hand in His, tell Him how you feel, and what you fear, and go forward!! He has plans for you, but you can’t see them while you are down!

He heals you in the journey forward.

Don’t be fooled into waiting to heal and then thinking you will move forward.

“And that, knowing the time, that now IT IS HIGH TIME TO WAKE OUT OF SLEEP: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.” — Romans 13:11-12

Also, I would be remiss if I didn’t share that Batman uses a great saying about this topic, which I love! I am hoping he will tell us about his thoughts on it soon!

Rise and shine, Y’all, rise and shine!

Thank you so much for the visit!! Drop us a note so we know you were here!!

May your week be filled with good surprises, straight from Heaven!

Peach!

Categories
Faith family focus food health Life

Peach’s Cookin

Batman Says:

I did one smart thing in my life, I married Peach, not only is she beautiful and witty and God fearing, she’s an amazing cook.

“Find a woman that likes to cook and who’s good at it and stick with her to the end” someone said sometime and they are right. My Peach makes every meal, from eggs and bacon (mmmmmmmm BACON think I did a post on that…) to fancy roasts, and makes the best cookies on the planet (don’t take my word for it, ask any of my fellow Police firearms instructors who look forward to them each year). Peach has the uncanny ability to make what would seem plain, into something unusually delicious and I’ll give you just a short example.

We have a crock pot, slow cooker whichever you call it and we like to use it, it’s handy and you can put all your ingredients in it a day before (or night) store in the fridge and start it when you get up. Anyways squirrel ran by…

Peach did a pork roast this week, and I have to say was the best she’s ever done and that’s saying a lot. I’m guessing at some of this cause I only chopped the fresh herbs, but it was pork, thyme, rosemary, and carrots, I’m sure salt and pepper, and Peach usually adds something else to her stuff as well as it’s always done with Love. Can’t bottle that last one, so do your best work at keeping it alive, just sayin…anyways it was freakin delicious, she served it with cauliflower and it was perfect.

Peach never admits anything is as good as it actually is, always finding some “flaw” in her cooking that no one else sees or tastes. I find that amusing as as long as I have known her 37 + years (first date was an Alabama concert which was awesome) she has never screwed up a meal. She will deny it but take my word for it, the girl could cook a rock and it would end up being the best meal you ever ate.

We sometimes collaborate and cook together (she lets me chop stuff) and it’s always fun, it’s just one more thing we enjoy doing together. These meals also end up being delicious and have the added benefit of being fun to do as we are together.

Recently someone asked for the secret to staying together, well it’s not “THE” secret, but it’s one of them. Find the person that you like spending every waking moment with (especially helps if they are an excellent cook, sorry I got the best one, but there are lots more to find) and spend every waking moment letting them know that without them you are not whole. Not only will you eat well, you will have a partner (husband/wife) that you love for being themselves and for the things they do.

Peach will deny that any of the things I’ve said about her cooking are true, and that’s just one more reason I love her like I do, she’s modest (left that out of the earlier description on purpose) and truly doesn’t believe that she’s such a good cook.

I captured my Peach and therefore I do not go hungry for sustenance or love, y’all go find your own, but if you’re ever by here, I’ll let you sample one of the best cookies on the planet.

“What’s for dinner Peach?”

Categories
family focus health Life Procrastination Time management

Something Witty

Batman Says:

Ever sat and stared at your computer, phone, iPad, whatever you use to post these things on, knowing you have ideas but none of them reveal themselves when needed? Pretty sure every time I think about posting, most of my time is used up trying to remember what it was I wanted to post about.

Ever watched a dog chase it’s tail in a circle? Squirrels chase each other round trees and up and down all over? Speaking of squirrels there’s 8 of them so far in our back yard I’m pretty sure they need cholesterol medicine. I have deer feeders and I test them and the squirrels have a feast twice a day, I watched two start to chase each other, but one changed his mind as if to say “it’s not worth getting exhausted over”. Now I’m sure I saw him hail a cab to take him to his nest to save energy.

Well, that’s an example of the term “squirrel!” As I got sidetracked again. Where was I? Oh yeah, posting things. So anyways once I do settle down to post and get going I’m usually ok, but lately it’s been harder to focus as my mind seems to like to take “squirrel” breaks more and more often when I try and be serious. Thus this post, as written, is a kind of explanation to those of you that actually read my posts, as to why they are rarely serious. I’m generally not very serious about most things, only when I have to be for some work thing or Peach forces me to focus and be an adult. I prefer to be a “professional small boy” than to grow up and act my age. It’s more fun, less stressful, and I’m sure I focus better.

Anywho (I made that word up so don’t bother spell checking it) I will continue to post things when the fit comes over me, rarely are they gonna be serious, sometimes they will be funny, hopefully interesting and I will try and include a picture or two of something to brighten someone’s day. If even one person smiles, chuckles or gets annoyed, then I feel my “professional small boy” talents have not gone to waste.

“Have you seen the tree frog I had earlier Peach? 😬“

Categories
coffee family food health Life life styles photography

Coffee

Batman Says:

Elixir of life coffee is. I’m sure in Heaven there is always a super fresh pot of coffee perking away, it’s aroma filling the air like so much scented candy.

I love coffee, and I think that it in its plain form, maybe with creamer is an awesome drink. Straight black can be bitter if not done right, sugar added used to be the only way I would drink it, tastes and people change. As long as it’s hot and somewhat fresh I’ll fill a cup.

I do not frequent “coffee shops” with their 14,000 different ways to murder coffee, Starbucks, besides being over priced, does not like gun owners, and their coffee really isn’t that good. I have had coffee at a few mom and pop shops and I have waited in line laughing to myself at other places while some millennial orders a drink contaminated with so much junk it barely has room for coffee in it and therefore cannot really be compared to “coffee”. The other reason I sometimes go into these places is to watch the server/clerk/whatever they are called, faces go blank and freak when I order a “coffee”, my own little joke to humor myself.

At home we have a French press (after 15 years our old black and decker coffee maker finally kicked the bucket). Interesting coffee tool the French press, boil water in a kettle let it cool just off the boil, pour it in the press over grounds, stir, let set 3-4 minutes, then slowly press it. Pour into cups and consume the goodness. New coffee maker will be gotten soon, but till then, this is pretty cool to use. Haven’t decided on what kind yet but it will be something simple with a timer (waking up to fresh brewed coffee smell is divine).

Here ya go Peach, fresh hot Black Rifle Coffee Company….Coffee

Categories
family Fear focus food health Life life styles photography

Hummingbirds

Batman Says:

Hummingbirds, cool little creatures that buzz around almost always unnoticed by us clumsy humans. Beautifully colored feathers, wings beating 900 bazillion miles per hour (don’t go there, they beat really fast). One of those funny little birds that does it’s job (pollinating) without a care what we think.

I, for one, think this is an excellent attitude to have. Imagine if more people were focusing their attention on what they were doing, instead of worrying about what everyone else was doing. I mean think about it, if we are honest with ourselves, we would realize that we probably are worrying about other people’s job performance, their personal lives, how they dress, or their opinions, about 90% of the time. It bothers us how others do things, don’t do things, say things or not, voice their opinions or not, when instead, we would be more productive and be happier if we only worried about ourselves. I’m not talking isolationism, I’m talking about paying attention to your wants and needs, instead of being upset that “Bob or Susan” got a raise or promotion when they “never do anything”. Focus on you, the right people will know who does what eventually, and if not, I bet you will still be happier, concerning yourself with your stuff, instead of others.

Be like the hummingbird, eat drink and be happy just being you.

“Yes Peach I know I need to refill the bird feeders…”

PeachandBatman.smugmug.com