Tiger’s Exercise

Okay, I went over to dinner with my sister this Sunday, as you know we do this often on Sundays. We get a chance to talk, and cook and just get to have fun together.  I know that Roger thinks were both nut’s. In our conversation, it came up that Tiger might be getting over weight and I should exercise him more often.

Tiger should weight about 40 to 45 pounds. So being the good parent that I would hope I am, I get out the scales to weigh him. The only scales I have are for food so as you can see I have to do a lot of calculating to get the right weight.  

From all the calculations that I can figure he weights about 256 oz. ( This poor boy is starving). But I know he could use some exercise, so I figure at my age, it’s hard to run with him, and I can’t walk fast enough to get him in a reduced weight mode. So I get out the old bicycle and wash it and air up the tires and get it ready for his exercise.

Awe! This is really a good looking bike. I forgot how nice it was, till I cleaned it.

    Okay Tiger I’m ready, I have a clean bike and it is a 10 speed so watch out big boy.   Maybe I should weight you one more time to verify your weight.  

 

This is a four pound scale so each paw weights four pounds and that make you only 16 pounds. Do you think we really need this? But we all know exercise is good for you so lets do it.

This drive way is about 100 feet long. This will be a great test before we go out in the real world. I take off and Tiger right at my heels, He’s running and jumping and trying to get me off the bike. Stop it Tiger we are exercising and you have to run with me not……? (CRASH)   Now look what you’ve done.  It’s okay baby, well try it again. ( This exercise is killing me).  Let’s walk up the drive way and ride back down, that way I’ll be able to make it with you.

Okay Tiger here we go. Yeah, that right….No Tiger not my leg. I have to turn move, move , Ohhhh.    So (CRASH), Why don’t we just rent a Lassie movie. Or maybe a Rin Tin Tin and watch it.

Your daddy is to old for this s—t.

Till later I hope this finds you all safe and in good health. We miss you all… Tiger and Stu

Last Year Part 3

Hi! Folks how has your year been going so far? Hope you all enjoyed Easter and remember what it represents.  I know it seems like a while between these blog updates, but when your retired you seem to have less free time on your hands.

I believe the last blog was moving the 2nd. cement block in place for the new green house. So this one, is for the last of the three that Tiger and I had to move, and place. We will move this one to the back patio.  So I can dig out a spot to level the block of concrete for the new steps.  If you add some sand to this dug out, it makes it a lot easier to level the concrete block.

 

 

                                                                                So let’s move it. 

 

 

Now, it’s in place and we can build the steps that are needed. Like so, boy! that looks a lot better . 

To make the steps look aged and old like the rest of the patio, We will use the existing  railing for the banisters and some of the treated fence post that we removed on a prior job.

 

So far so good.

 

 

Now lets do some cutting and finish this job. Believe it or not this was really fun to build.  

  You may have noticed that Tiger isn’t in any of these photo’s. The reason is simple, I’m being punished. Every time I dig a hole or clear a space for one thing or another, Tiger has to lay in it. I think it’s his way of giving approval of the job. Since I didn’t want to put the slab on top of him, I had to run him off. In doing so he is pouting and won’t talk to me, or let me take his picture.

I’m being punished…”sob “… He’s sooo funny.

Hope this fines you all in good health and safe.  So till the next time,  From Tiger and Stu

Our Last Year Part 2

Part one was moving one of the large concrete blocks into position for the burn barrel. 

 

This next block will be moved to the front of the dog run. This dog run will be transformed to a wood shed, and then to a green house. This may help to explain the reason for the move. Now the wood shed is getting the trusses up for the roof and the slab for the front is not there yet.

As you can see the wood has now been removed, and the slab is now in place.

 

The tables and sink are being built and the roof and siding will be installed.

The finished product is now ready for covering.

Yes we now have the green house roofed and the sides covered. Just put in a couple of windows for ventilations.

Left side in the rear.  One on the right side and with the front door we have a 6'x 20' green house.  You all might have noticed this was built with fencing metal. So have any of you figured how Tiger and I attached the roof trusses and the plastic siding? 

Think of a sandwich. Maybe that will give you a clue. Tiger and I aren't telling. But it has held up to 4o mph winds and rain that comes down in buckets. Since this is Christmas Tiger and I wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and hope you all are in good health and are safe. I guess we all survived the  end of the world. If not I'm the only one and your not really there…..?

Our Last Year, Part 1

Ancient Egypt;

I'm sure your all thinking, what dose ancient Egypt have to do with working around or on property. Well lets see now, If you are alone and working on any kind of a project around property you need to really be aware of what you can do and what you can't do, or what type of tools you have at you disposal. Like how would you move a block of concrete that is 40"x 47"x 6".  Now think about this. You convert the inches to feet and then (a little math here) you would have 6.53 cubic feet. Concrete weights about 145 pound per cubic foot. So you have 946.65 pounds of concrete to move. You can't break the concrete up cause your going to use the slabs. You can't use a truck because of the soft soil, you don't have a tractor that can pull that much weight, and you have no way of renting anything that would do the job for you. (Isn't this fun)  What you do have is several tie down straps that you use to secure things on your truck. You have a pry bar and you have a heavy duty chain, and some round post  about 3" in diameter and 6' long.  And yes you did find a come-a-long in your toolbox. Have you figured what Egypt has to do with it yet?  (You didn't peek did you?)

This is one of three blocks that I moved to a new location. You can see the round post and how I used them. I'm going to use this block to place the burn barrel on. It will be moved about 150 feet. 

 

  

So you get an idea of how ancient Egypt, has played a part in this project. I sure wished that  a lot more Egyptians would have showed up to help me. I tell you, it's hard to find a good Egyptian when you really need one.  Now you've can see where the first block was placed, and I will show  the others in later projects.  As you can see Tiger has his Frisbee out and ready to play so I guess we will have to sign off .

Hope this finds you all safe and in good health. Till the next time from Tiger and Stu

Beer Bread and Turnovers

I got an e-mail the other day from a nephew, asking about where my Blog updates were.  Thanks for the alert Bud. I guess I've been doing everything except, keeping everyone informed of what's going on with Tiger and me.  I hadn't realized it has been five months since my last blog. So for my #1, that sent me a beer bread recipe, thank you. I did use it and I did make it come out the first try. It made a hearty bread. I used a private reserve beer and the bread was just great. However I do think we have the the recipe for Bisquick.

The bread taste to me like the biscuits I make from using Bisquick flour. But the bread stayed firm an didn't crumble like biscuits do. It also lasted for several days with out turning green. The bread sliced good and grills up nice for grilled ham and cheese sandwiches. So thank you #1 and please accept my apology for taking so long to get the results back to you.  Tiger is looking at me like ….( I told you so).

                                         

While I was making the bread I also made an apricot  pie. It turned out just like I like them. Just great.

                                  Now if this is making you hungry just wait till you see the Apple Turnovers.  Yep that's what Tiger and I did today. In fact we make a bakers dozen and gave half to Roger and Sheila.

                  Not bad for using my little pot lid. It measures just about 5 3/4 inches.

                          As you can see Tiger and I have been busy with cooking. He is getting much better at letting me know if I'm using to much sugar.  So now folks you all know that we are fine and I'll try not to let our Blog get so far behind.

Till next time keep healthy and safe…From Tiger and Stu

Eating Healthy

The other day my sister, asked me how come I'm not fat. (As she put it portly). I asked her what brought up that question and she said all I do is make cakes, pies, cookies, and breads. So I explained to her that I make all those items and then give them away to friends, family, and keep a little for testing, and I work hard. ( I get up in the morning and answer emails, scan channels on TV, and take Tiger for his walk) that's hard work. Besides I cook my own food and eat healthy.  This made me wonder if the rest of you think the same way. So here is a typical menu for me. Like yesterday I made Fish & Chips for dinner, with beer.

Now see that is good eating. And I had enough left over for today at lunch. I really had a hanker'en for some fish & chips with a beer.

Classic Fish and Chips

Prep Time: 10 Min
Cook Time: 25 Min
Ready In: 45 Min
Yield 4 servings

Ingredients:
    * 4 large potatoes, peeled and cut into strips
    * 1 cup all-purpose flour
    * 1 teaspoon baking powder
    * 1 teaspoon salt
    * 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
    * 1 cup milk
    * 1 egg
    * 1 quart vegetable oil for frying
    * 1 1/2 pounds cod fillets

Directions:
   1. Place potatoes in a medium-size bowl of cold water. In a separate medium-size mixing bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, salt, and    pepper. Stir in the milk and egg; stir until the mixture is smooth. Let mixture stand for 20 minutes.
   2. Preheat the oil in a large pot or electric skillet to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
   3. Fry the potatoes in the hot oil until they are tender. Drain them on paper towels.
   4. Dredge the fish in the batter, one piece at a time, and place them in the hot oil. Fry until the fish is golden brown. If necessary, increase the heat to maintain the 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) temperature. Drain well on paper towels.
   5. Fry the potatoes again for 1 to 2 minutes for added crispness.

So with lunch finished for the day, I had to prepare dinner for tonight and make Tiger's food.  So I cooked a chicken leg for Tiger and added some Lamb Liver for a little taste change for him. (He loved it… Or he was really hungry). I decided to make Stromboli for dinner and Pizza for lunch tomorrow. 

Now that my fast food is ready for dinner tomorrow night, I'll have ready made pizza for lunch.

    Of course it is always correct to have a good beer or even a good wine with all meals.  Even when I make bread I will make a good grilled Ham & Cheese sandwich. And when I make Macaroni & Cheese, and Hamburgers, I'm eating the American way and it is healthy.

This weekend I'll make a beer bread from a recipe that my #1 sent me. (That is if I have any beer left). I'll tell you about it in the next blog.

Tiger and his new toy from Sis.   See how trim he is….LOL

Tell the next time keep safe and healthy.  Tiger and Stu