Blood in the Snow

I woke up at 7:00 AM. Snow overnight had turned all the evergreens in the backyard into a winter wonderland.

I gathered up the last glasses from yesterday which finally made a full load so I turned on the dishwasher. I made coffee and started thinking about breakfast. I made up my grocery list (still thinking about breakfast, btw). I showered, dressed and left on my Saturday errands run.

I did some banking, dropped off some things at Jake's, went to Lowes, and then Meijers for groceries. I was still under budget, so I treated myself to a ham and cheese omelet (with hash browns and rye toast) at Leo's Coney Island (next to Home Depot). Then I went to the library, stopped and dropped off my new prescription at CVS, and, finally, hosed the salt off my car at the quarter carwash.

I unpacked everything and when I was finished, I glanced out the kitchen window and saw a huge hawk in the backyard eating a pigeon under my trees. I tried several times to get a photo, but it was just too far away. Took seven photos out of various windows, picked the best one, cropped it and posted it. I apologize as it's crappy. This is the first time I wish I had a better digital camera (or at least a longer zoom lense!)

While you can't see it that well in the camera, I could see it great with my binoculars. So, I checked out "birds of prey in North America" online. The one it most resembled was called a Cooper's Hawk, with a dark head, back and wings, but a beautiful barred chest of white and brown feathers. To give you an idea of size, he was about three or four times bigger than the pigeon. I went back to verify my findings and the hawk was gone at 2:00 PM, leaving just a pile of pigeon feathers and bloodstained snow.

I checked and the mail is here, but there's a problem: I just have my workout shorts, tee shirt and slipper socks on. I can't walk in the snow like this! Solution? I get in the car, back out, drive up to the mailbox, get the mail, drive back in and mission accomplished without having to change clothes!

Heated up a pork tenderloin I'd smoked, then froze in the Fall, in the microwave. It's easier to shred, heated. I used the two fork method (wanting to be authentic) but I gotta tell you, by the time I was 3/4 of the way through, my hands were cramping and my muscles were aching! I put some canola oil in the Dutch oven and sweated a medium yellow onion for about 5 minutes. Then I added three minced garlic cloves and cooked them a minute or two more. I deglazed the pan with a quarter cup of Jim Beam bourbon. Then I added the pulled pork and about 1/2 a bottle of Sweet Baby Ray's original BBQ sauce. I let that simmer for about 1 hour, and then put the cast iron pot and lid into the microwave to keep it warm.

I decided to take a nap, now. Amy had mentioned some "after dark" boxing in an email, but, dammit! I can't find it to tape! Oh well, maybe it's only in Minnesota or something. But, a nap would be nice, anyway. It's almost 5:00 PM and we'll see if I can fall asleep.

I was reading, waiting to nod off when my daughter Melissa called. We talked a long while, so I decided it was now too late for a nap (I'm not sure of the rules, but I think at some point you are no longer taking a nap; you are just going to bed early, lol!) So, I fixed myself two pulled pork sandwiches on onion rolls, with chips and pickles and went to watch some TV.

By the way, the pulled pork was excellent! Probably the best pulled pork sandwich I ever had. I did doze off, then woke up around 11:00 PM and put the left over pulled pork in the fridge and straightened up the kitchen. I caught the news on TV and saw that Obama tromped Hillary's butt in South Carolina, which made me very happy! Smiling, I went back to my book and then slept through the night.