How the hell would you Twitter this?

I awoke at 6:30 on Saturday. Since the cats were absent, I stripped the bed and started the wash. Then I started a pot of coffee and posted the Blog entry. I thought about breakfast, but settled for two cups of coffee.

I had a 9:00 AM haircut appointment, so I jumped in the shower at 8:00 AM. I noticed the bird feeder was tipped and disassembled again and was now empty, so I was p*ssed!

Before I left, I got out the last frozen quart container of the tomatoes I put up last September and three frozen hot Italian sausages (leftover from something or another) to thaw.

So, after my haircut, I stopped in at Chap's Feed Store and carefully inspected the wide variety of bird feeders he had hanging from the ceiling. He probably thought I was nuts as I kept tugging on each one to see what the effect of the weight of a squirrel would be.

Finally I chose one I thought might work. Unfortunately, it wasn't one of the cool looking ones (that cost $30-40 US), but a $12.00 red plastic one. So, we'll see how it performs.

My next recourse will be to take out the kitchen window screen, buy a good air rifle (they are nice and quiet) and eat a LOT of fried squirrel dinners. Not that I would mind. My friend Leon (the cattle rancher) likes fried squirrel for breakfast, so I've eaten it before and it's pretty tasty!

Anyway, next stop was Kroger's for the bi-weekly big shopping trip. I got everything on the list, including cat food, cat treats and kitty litter, plus two impulse buys (bone-in chicken thighs and four catfish filets). It wasn't too crowded yet, there were enough attractive and/or busty ladies to ogle and I only spent $79.00, so I was happy.

I was home at 10:15 AM, treated the cats, went through the fridge, pitching stuff and then put away the groceries. I put the six old eggs in cold water to hard boil them and wrote today's date on the new carton. After going through the fridge, I found I had missed two things. I now need to pick up more sour cream and some heavy cream. I kinda wish I'd done this exercise /before/ going shopping!

Then it was out to the patio, with the new bird feeder. I filled it up and we'll see... While I was out there, I took some photos and then went back in to post them. My walk outside convinced me that there was no way I could cut the back grass with the heavy riding mower today. But, there is sunshine and a good breeze so, maybe tomorrow afternoon?

Next, I swept the main bath, and then washed all the flat surfaces and the toilet with my big sponge, Pine-Sol (lemon scent) and hot water. Finally, I mopped the floor. This has to dry, you see, before I dare wash the kitchen floor and block access to the downstairs bathroom.

I made up the bed because I didn't sleep all that well last night and an afternoon nap sounds pretty good right about now.

Then I switched gears and first dusted, then vacuumed and finally dust-mopped the living room (shaking the dust mop off on the front porch frequently to get rid of the cat hairs). Then I washed all the glass surfaces with Windex. It was only 60 degrees F., but I shut off the furnace and opened a bunch of windows to air out the house.

I moved the kitchen chairs, the rolling cart and the trash basket into the living room after dusting them as well (no sense transporting cat hair). I swept the kitchen floor, and then checked the bathroom floor, but it was still wet. So, I thought it was a good time to try and get that nap in. I started watching my taped Saturday morning cooking shows. I really didn't think I would fall asleep, but I must have, because the front doorbell woke me up. It was my neighbor Tammy, with one of my magazines the mail man put in their mailbox.

I checked the clock and it was 4:30 PM. So, it was too late to wash the kitchen floor and have it dry before it would be time to grille. So, I decided to grille first, and then wash the floor.

I dragged the grill out and got the charcoal chimney starter fired up.

Next, I zested one lemon and squeezed the juice from it and another lemon (you need about 1/2 cup of juice). Then I made up a mixture of 2 teaspoons of Kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon of onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon of ground black pepper and 2 teaspoons of dried parsley, in a small bowl.

Then I took the four chicken thighs and put each one in the lemon juice (turning once to make sure both sides are wet) and then put it on a platter. Using my other (dry) hand, I sprinkled it with my seasoning mix (also on both sides). Then I did the next one and so forth. I let that sit for a bit while I tended to the charcoal.

Once the grates were hot, I scraped them with the wire brush and then oiled them. I have a lot to grille, so I started with the chicken (it takes the longest). I put it skin side down on the outer edges of the grates and let it go for about 10 minutes per side.

I made up the bratwurst bath: a medium, thin sliced yellow onion and a can of beer (I used Labatt's Blue, but any beer will do) in some sort of metal pan (I used a cake pan). This gets set on the grill to simmer.

Now, this is something you usually do if you are making a large number of brats, so that the ones who get done first can stay warm while the other ones cook. Since I have no plans to eat these today, this is completely unnecessary. But, I like the added flavor this step adds.

So, I put two packs of brats in the middle (hottest part) of the grille. I turned them often and, when each one got done, it went into the beer bath. Somewhere during this process, I turned the chicken.

When all the brats were done, I got out my instant read thermometer and checked the chicken. I had an internal temp of 170 degrees F. (you need 180, but I think carryover cooking will get me there). So, I took the brats and the chicken in the house. I covered the chicken with tinfoil and let it rest. The brats were just left to cool.

Then I grilled the three hot Italian sausages (I didn't want to do them with the brats as they look too similar) and a package of natural casing hot dogs. When they were done, I pulled them off and took them inside. I shut the garage door and left the grille outside to cool for the night.

Inside, I sliced up the other two summer squash and saut�ed them in butter. Meanwhile, I sliced up the Italian sausages and put them and the last Fall's tomatoes, along with a healthy handful of fresh basil into a saucepan and heated it up to a boil, then turned it down to simmer.

When the squash was done, I plated it and two of the chicken thighs. I went in to eat supper and watch TV (the chicken was excellent, BTW. Try this, you will like it!). Later, I put the cool bratwurst and hot dogs into baggies and into the fridge. I turned off the tomato sauce and let it cool. Then, that went into a container and the fridge as well.

I watched TV until 11:30 PM and then went to bed.