Through the Eyes of a Child

Giddy, I guess, would best describe it. They were bouncing off of each other rounding up the materials, reading the recipe, reading it again, watching the pot.

Coconut Cream Pie

Measure carefully

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They need a bit more counter space.

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And stir, and stir, and stir. They were so enthralled that they never recognized the pork trimmings I lifted from them for a project of my own.

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I was kind of an outsider on this deal, but I think this step was liquid chicken and nilla.

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As the sun begins to set, the crust pour takes place.

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And then, the despair. They actually got to the last line of the recipe. "Let cool"

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It was as if someone had kicked all three in the gut. That also gave them time to critique their creation, "It's pudding, woe are us." Patience is a form of purgatory to a varmint.

So, they resort to plan B.

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The lantern is turned down over some sad faces that evening.

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As usually happens, morning still arrives. BB is up early and sets a snare.

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Almost immediately, a fat can of fluffy goodness is entangled.

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There were shrills, and hoops, and hollers. BD shows with a club and dispatches the critter with no remorse.

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And like cats in a nest of rabbits, they tear in. Breakfast of champions.

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The smell of Coconut Cream pie in the morning, it smells like............Victory.

All good things must come to an end. We retreat to Martha's nest.

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Pizza and a salad for good behavior, and a job well done. That's K2, a second cousin to the varmints in the top of the photo. She spent the last night with us, and may become a regular. I tried to trade her out of that hat, either my gun or my knife. She wanted both, no deal.

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If I could have another year with half this exposure to the varmints I would feel blessed. Thanks for lookin'.

Thanks for the essay in pictures.

Thanks again....I always get the biggest kick out of this thread.......

It's important every day

But carries much more emotion today

Hug a varmint, today.

To prepare, then you will be dropped on a remote Appalachian porch and told to survive.

They run and get their packs. What is more natural than varmints with a box after Christmas?

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Well done!
My cat is green with envy.

Now that is very cool........

Nice job! Are they going to stay there long enough for you and the missus to have a short vacation?

No, but, I get to send them back to their parents today. LOL

I guess, no one's happy about that.

Bittersweet

From my view:

Bitter; A varmint, any varmint, warms the heart of an old man. Time is slipping away. I won't giggle quite as much. I have to do half of the kitchen chores. I worry just what the laundry police will find.

Sweet; I get to go to bed much earlier tonight. MaMaw only has one child to fuss over, me. I have time to study. The four letter word school.



From a varmints view, and this is of course conjecture:

Bitter; The four letter word school. We have less control over the menu. Where are MaMaws cookies? I miss PeePaws jokes.

Sweet; Extracurricular activities. Friends. The Inlaws. A personal tv remote control.

How wonderful, though, that you have each other, that you enjoy each other's company and you live close enough
so you can see each other as often as you like. That alone will make a huge difference in how they turn out as people.

I miss em'

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Wild dogs, bears, cows, and bunnies.

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Dos Pistoleros pulled the long guns on em' this time.

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JMA pulled off a wet one.

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And we retire to the cocoa shack.

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in-chief. Epaulettes are just out of frame.

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Head 'em up, move 'em out

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Lean into it partner

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Catch your breath

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Then do your chores

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And the clothes dryer is fired up

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Time for some gravitational experiments

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BB took another lick

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So, we return to the clothes dryer

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It's not long before he is up and at 'em

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After lunch, there is a compulsive drive from all three to establish defensive positions. They speak of an impending artillery battle.

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JMA lights another wet one

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And defends it from Sasquatch

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Night brought a phase change experiment, How much is this stuff worth?

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Not much, but it'll do in a pinch

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There was no trouble getting anyone to bunk that evening. We head back to Martha's nest for supper the next day, but not before some more gravitational experiments.

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Newton burgers for all

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What a wonderful time, place and company!
It has occurred to me how these fun outings will also serve to strengthen the sibling relationship and love reliance on each other when one day the grown ups are no longer there.
Well done grandpaw!

More great stuff. Thanks again for letting some of more "mature" individuals experience the enthusiasm of youth once again.

Thanks, man, really enjoy the "Adventures or the Varmints.....Very Cool.
You should really publish this........

And the next crop of varmints..........although old enough to swing a stick, after a lunch date with Peepaw they turn into a wet noodle. LOL

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These guys don't fight gravity, they embrace it.

very VERY cool .. thanks for the memories !

Power napping!

Thanks, for taking us along.

It's more than rubbing two sticks together, or being able to drink from a mudhole. There are many things a varmint should know. A short story first;


My first year in college was spent at a small community college, eight of us in the drafting/design curriculum. One of our first exercises was to create orthographic projections from a single view. That's a fancy way of saying a front, top, and side view. This particular assignment included a drilled hole, simple you would think. One student, a particularly sharp student, drew that hole square. At first, I found it quite amusing. But the more I thought about that, the more I reflected on my upbringing and just how fortunate I was to have been exposed to so many things. How do you make it to college, especially technical college, without ever drilling a hole? That ain't gonna happen to the varmints.



I picked them up Friday with only one task for them to complete that evening, draw a picture of the perfect knife.

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Saturday morning I took them to a buffet breakfast, and a bit of shopping. I had promised them that this winter, nearing end as they have reminded me, they could personalize their cache receptacles. So, a trip to the craft isle in Wally World.

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BB makes quick work of the decisions, JMA and BD take forever. We make a hardware run also, I'll get to some of that in a bit.

Tape where the lid meets

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Test fit some new gear

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Shake it up

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Spray it on

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Back with the brushes in a few.

Let 'em dry while we eat lunch. BB had a science experiment he had been dying to show us, the amazing powers of cornstarch.

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Sorry, I didn't get a pick of the upright spoon in the cup.



Forgot to buy an "i", didn't ya BB.

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It's dinner and a movie, at home, for the remainder of the evening. We head to the shop the following day, post to come.

Double sided tape

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And place it on that saw where you want

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And let the sparks fly

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That was the extent of their day. We'll do handles and edging in the weeks to come.


I had to dig out a couple of old friends and just hold them after the varmints left. That's butcher and stag. I couldn't quite put my hands on pirate, but I'll find it.

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Very cool, there my friend....
What ended up in the caches?

They each have two. One is for food, the pre-made meals ready to grab and go. The second is sort of a catch all, seasonal stuff, extras, repair items, etc.

They still share a pantry cabinet for their packs, clothing, and bulk food stores.

Cool......great job, Pappaw

Fantastic!!!!!!

Excellent.
So, are you a draftsman?
My dad is one, and made me use his drafting board when I was a kid and wanted to make something.

Well, I was. I went on to degree in Engineering and Applied Science.

JMA and BD had a social engagement last night that left BB standing in the cold. Come on up Bud, you and I will dance in the lab.


While we discussed just what dance, we had one disagreement. I wanted Rotini and fresh grated Parmesan, he wanted Elbows and Velveeta. I folded.


His knife skills have improved tremendously.

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Bone out the veggies

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And chop up those bones. We'll deal with those in a bit.

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Scrape with the spine.

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EVOO and Garlic tossed into the Cauliflower, and we bake.

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Pour the Elbows.

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Crank up the steam.

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Pull the cow and let it rest for a couple of minutes,

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while you put the goo on the Elbows.

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And serve it up.

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A little fresh Chive on the Cauliflower.

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The guy's got skilz! Bon Appetit.






I clean up, that's only fair, and we take the bones to the compost pile.

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So impressed...can I borrow this child once in a while? Rent, even...?
ITN, you have the magic touch with the kids, that's all there is to it.

Hmmmm. Summer School? As soon as regular term is out, I'll put him on a bus. You'll know it's him when he comes a knockin'. He'll have a T-shirt on that says, "Will cook for urban survival training", and the accent should be quite obvious.


P.S.

Stock up on a bit of meat, would ya'? He gets a bit grumpy without it.

Got to spend some time with all of the varmints this past weekend. Welcome to PeePaw's House-O-Chicken,

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and Hot Chocolate Emporium.

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Watch me catch a buttafwy;

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Watch me make bubbles;

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Watch me do a flip;

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Watch me spin;

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And run FAST!

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Watch us swim.

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Watch me build a cookie

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Look at my new Fashwight;

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The following morning, I leave camp while all are still slobbering on their pillow, parents included. I reminisce on having them here as children, so many years ago.

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I get a couple of walks alone, Red Clover literally chest high.

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White was impressive at mid thigh.

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I visit an old friend, a lone Pear.

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I found a Salon had been set up when I returned,

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And the elder vermin were using their lab skills.

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The youngest ones left us after lunch this day, parents had to work the following day. After dinner, I ask the remaining to come to a dance with me. What dance PeePaw? I'll show you when we get there. We leave just as the sun begins to set, on a gravel road up the mountain. Look!, the deer are dancing.

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Keep your eyes peeled, we will be there soon.

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You can barely see them in these cell phone pics, but they were gorgeous. Dance of the Planets, Jupiter, Mercury, and Venus.

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And we head back to PeePaw's Jiffy Pop Palace.

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Again, I am up in time for a short walk alone. But I first survey the camp.

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I think I need to add clothesline class to an upcoming outing.


I make my way upstream, through a lush bottom.

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It's so nice to find debri piles without a speck of human waste. This place is almost pristine.

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Sometimes I follow the faintest of deer paths.

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But, I must eventually return, we head home today. The route back to camp.

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This trip warmed my heart, in many ways.

Looks like fun....way to go.

Great location and great memories from this weekend to be sure.

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