Here's to West Virginia

The only state which successfully seceded.

Right now the heat is astoundingly heavy. But water is nearby, Like Florida in the Summer really,,,,Can't imagine what Florida is like now. But grandpas shouldn't complain.

anyone who isn't at Arden this weekend is foollish

The Fourth

It was truly a fireworks extravaganza, even by Camp Massawomee standards. Best dang City of Mannington Fireworks in recent memory, and some of the mortars shells that we set off were stupendous. Even the neighbors could be heard to ooh and aah.  The cat cowered in a far corner, the children next door were certainly warned not to come near the drunken debauchery.  To all who missed the party,  we missed you,,,and thank you to all that made it the barbecue feast it was.  Oh and the Beaty's Best Bitter, while a little sour and yeasty was savored by all of those who partook of the libation.  Just wish my friend Jenifer had returned my Mom's flag.  The fence looked bare without Old Glory flying.

How about a twofer

First,,I would like to thank all those responsible for the favorable weather,  abundant sunshine,  lack of any meaningful late frosts,  the seed company along with Freed's Greenhouse,  Bob Masters whose hay bales nutured the Black Cherry Tomato that I picked and devoured yesterday.  Yes my friends,  we have ripe tomatoes. One of the Morgage Lifters was ripe but a slug got to it first and it got tossed over the garden fence.  


Second:  I couldn't sleep last night,,,too damn hot.  I don't know what you all do when you can't sleep,  me.....I bottle beer.  Yes Camp Massawomee fans,  Beaty's Best Bitters is bottled and hopefully 12 days of bottle fermentation will be long enough.


Now if I could only get the alga out of the pool....

Beer

Beaty's  Best Bitter is brewing.  Yesterday, June 10, 2010, a day which will live in infamy,  the forces of Camp Massawomee  gathered in it's kitchen and on the porch to begin anew a new batch of brew.  The yeast was thrown at around 3 o'clock p.m..  As of   8 o'clock this morning there was only a slight amount of gas formation, but that is within nominal time frame.  With only  24 days til the Fourth we will need all your best wishes for success.  It will be beer by then,  but not sure it will be carbonated.

I'm off in an hour to pick Jack Bailey up at the Pittsburgh airport and fully expect increased gas production along with the concomitant alcohol content increase.  It looks good, and if it's half as tasty as the wort it will be a crowd pleaser.

My growing garden

Party

Anytime friends come calling is a good time. On Sunday it was ten friends come calling and it was Xmas in May. Santa Fred and Bob stopped by and brought goodies of the best kind, that is to say plants of the herbal kind. Black Tomatoes, Thyme, and their left over seeds. So now I'm growing Kale and Dill, and French Tarragon among others. Oh happy day. So now all we need are a couple of green tomatoes and a couple of Hungarian Wax peppers and we'll be set for the season.

Beaty Bread

This is soooo cool. Pictures on my blog. and the first picture is of Beaty Bread. I gave the recipe in the earlier kaput blog, but it's real easy 5/3/1/1 a five to three ratio of flour to water( which translates to 20 oz. of flour and 12 oz H2O ) a tsp of salt and a tsp of active dry yeast. And Voila