3518 Days since retiring July 1, 2005!

”You know why you don’t see elephants hiding in trees?


They are really good at it!”

For no particular reason Rascal and I went to bed at midnight and slept like the dead. About three am he jumped and ran across the bed. I heard scratching. When I woke at 5 am for my morning pill I discovered he had pissed like an elephant in his litter box. I guess he has a swollen prostate also. We tumbled back to sleep and woke refreshed and starving at noon. Fortunately I am out of his reeking food. He had chicken and I had sausage gravy over fresh baked homemade biscuits. I am almost as good as the store bought biscuit in the tube. I was in the kitchen washing dishes when I found Rascal sleeping on the window table.

The pig is a nearly full piggy bank. It is so heavy I am afraid to lift it. I keep it close to the potted tomato as a heat sink. I bought it at a silent auction many years ago at a Burton Cotton Gin Festival. After I took the picture I returned to the kitchen and dug the bag of frozen farm-raised catfish out of the stuffed freezer section of my refrigerator. I am considering buying a small chest style deep freeze. If I find one on Craig’s list or free cycle I will spring. I picked out 6 medium sized pieces and put them on a paper plate so they could thaw. I put the plate out of the way so I could not be tempted to start cooking too early. I worked at my desk paying bills and writing letters. Eventually my shadow abandoned the table and snuck onto my desk between the keyboard and the monitor. I need to get him to a vet because he has a bad case of farts.

I checked several time during the afternoon and the fish was not yet thawed. I went downstairs to get the mail. When I got back to my apartment the fish was completely thawed. I blotted up the water and washed the catfish with cold water from the tap. I used a Louisiana brand fish fry coating and fried the catfish. I also steamed the broccoli in a steamer bag in the microwave.

This was the first time I used the microwave since Christmas. The catfish was very good. The only problem was not enough fish. Next week I will fry at least 14 pieces. The secret really is having properly thawed fish.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.