A Rare Friday In The Patch

Here in the ex-burbs of Ground Zero, if you have the leave time and no essential meetings, definitely take off the Friday before a major weekend holiday like Independence Day. There is just too much uncertainty with the westward commute and nothing is worse than spending hours on the bus in traffic when you could be doing something much more constructive than sleeping or listening to moronic ring tones and street urchin cell phone conversations.

 The beets are in! Pound-for-pound these are the most nutritious root crop known to modern man. This bunch is going into the pot for dinner tonight but the majority of the row is destined for the dryer. Beet chips are easy to make and a great snack especially on the trail. Perfectly fine by themselves I like to dust mine with a little onion powder before they go into the dryer.

 Split rail fences are nice but after about ten years they need constant upkeep as they slowly disintegrate. I would prefer 12 ft chain-link topped with razor wire with an occasional Claymore/proximity fuse for good measure. But that probably wouldn't go over too good with the family and neighbors and I would probably end up killing someone's kid. So its quarterly replacement time this weekend for the ones that are broken or sagging.

 I can think of nothing more patriotic than to throw some locally grown beef on the grill this weekend. Stonewall Black Angus is just across the road and so close I can almost hear the moos from my front porch.  Its a bit pricey for every day consumption but I can't wait to throw on a filet and a T-bone grown right here next to The Patch.

Happy Independence Day to all! Get out there and plant something!!!!!