Winter's not dead yet...

[John Parry]

Had a late burst of snow, which came as a bit of a surprise (not really - have seen the hills get a sprinkling in May before now).

One of the back garden.....




And this is one of a 'four seasons' shot I'm trying to pull together. Would rather have had it frozen over, but - you take what you get.




This chap wasn't happy about me being around...




And the camellia looked nice in blossom and the snow too....



All with the Yashica 230AF with Kodak Gold 200

Regards - John

[kamera]

John,

I really take to the second pic as I love reflections in water...any season of the year.

Do you burn anything in the crock furnace?

We have had some warm and sunny and snowless days here in southwestern Michigan, but on the 24th. we are supposed to get...rain starting, turning to freezing rain and then...yeh(like heck)...snow and temps in the low 40's F.

Ron Head
Kalamazoo, MI

[John Parry]

Thanks Ron,

We bought it as a 'chiminea' - supposedly a bread oven. Not fired it up for a bit, but I'm still burning logs from my Ceanothus (Californian Lilac) which died on us last year. I've been very impressed - much more controlled than a barbecue, and gives a nicer flavour. Plus, you can smoke sausages, fish etc by hanging them down the chimney. I roasted a full leg of lamb in it last year - it really is an oven.

Oh forgot - you don't eat lamb over there !!

Regards - John

[kamera]

Hey John,

I love lamb! It is rather expensive and you do not get much meat...but...hmmm...tasty!

Ron Head
Kalamazoo, MI

[John Parry]

Ron,

Once shared an apartment out in Saudi Arabia, with a Kansan chap. Got fed up with chicken, so one Friday roasted a shoulder of lamb. It was the first time he had ever tasted lamb in his life. He agreed with you that it's delicious.

For a celebration breakfast/brunch, lamb chops with fried eggs is as decadent as you're ever going to get!

Regards - John

[Randy]

Nice shots John. Do you live in the country?

[John Parry]

Had to do a quick think there Randy.

Technically the answer is 'No' We live in one of the biggest conurbations in the UK outside London. However, we are at the far outside of it - so the answer is probably 'maybe' !

The shots of the mill pond and swan are from a locality where we have a summer timeshare. I work away from home during the week, and yes, I would have to say it's about as country as you can get in this country. !

Doesn't mean to say that I like country music though (with quite a long list of exceptions !) I'm a bluegrass man myself !!

Regards - John

[PeterW]

Hi John,

Got fed up with chicken, so one Friday roasted a shoulder of lamb. It was the first time he had ever tasted lamb in his life. He agreed with you that it's delicious.

I love lamb too. Prefer leg to shoulder, though. I find the shoulder awkward to carve with that big blade bone.

Something I also like very much, but haven't been able to get for years is saddle of mutton. Cooked VERY slowly I think it's superb, but supermarkets don't keep it, and when I asked a local shop that is supposed to be a butchers he said he'd never heard of it!!!

When I stopped gaping I asked him where he learned his butchery. The answer (I might have guessed) was on the fresh meat counter of a supermarket.

Getting back on topic, I loved those late winter pictures, especially the river one. I imagine you were on a bridge? The smoking crock/bread oven looks interesting.

Ever tried smoking mackerel in it? That's another favourite of mine when I can get it, particularly when it's smoked over oak chips. Nicer than kippers, and not so many small bones. (here we go again, back on food!)

Peter

[Randy]

I like Bluegrass Music also John. Guys, my father was a butcher by profession, and I can't stand lamb. To me it smells like pee when it's cooking.

[ellacoya1]

When I was a kid, my father decided to raise sheep. It was a small flock, thinned down to about 12 every year for the winter. Of course being kids, we tried to make pets out of some of them, and with some it worked better than others. There was one little buck, black face with a white star on his forehead, that we named star. He would follow us everywhere, even coming up on the porch when we were at lunch as if asking us to come out and play.
Sadly being a little boy sheep, he wasn't destined for a long life. Dad kept him to breed the flock one year and then loaned him to a friend who also had a small flock. But after that poor Star was freezer bound. I didn't eat lamb for several years after that.
Randy, lamb was okay...it was when it was time to butcher the hogs...and dad would take all those scraps and cook them in a kettle. I used to spend a good chunk of that season feeling like I wanted to throw up, blech what a stench.

THis is a picture of my mother, taken about 25 years ago. Dad would often gate the driveway entrance and let the sheep roam around the yard. For some reason, they just loved the smell of downy.



And this is my dad and friends during sheep shearing time.


And John, I love bluegrass, old and new. I think the twangy banjos hurt poor bob's ears, lol.

Sherri

[ellacoya1]

I'm sorry, I apologize for the size on the photos. Just spent a long time trying to get them resized. Guess next time I'll use the program on bob's computer.
Sherri

[kamera]

Sherri,

Those nostalgic pics are great. My father-law used to say that people would shun them as they were sheepherders. They just plain did not like "those stinky sheepherders".

Bluegrass still is a music passion for me. However I lean more toward the older groups that used accoustic instruments. I find a number of modern groups use electric ones. Used to go camping all weekend at Bluegrass Festivals and try to pick two good groups to buy their record. That was quite hard to do sometimes.

Ron Head
Kalamazoo, MI

[PeterW]

Ron,
My favourite bluegrass banjo player of all time has to be Earl Scruggs, particularly the recordings he made with Lester Flatt. I know some people think Doug Dillard outshines him, but not for me.

Peter

[John Parry]

Sherri

Love your pics - the sheep are the pretty kind !! (a local joke!)

Sherri/Peter

There used to be a duo called Tom & Smiley over here. Superb banjo & guitar.
Also read a book by Manley Wade Wellman about a strolling guitarist in the hill
country of North Carolina. Played with a silver strung guitar. I'd like to hear that.

Regards - John