Schnee Hirsch

Translation:  Snow deer

Sure enough - if you look carefully this fork-horn buck still has his antlers - although some of the boy deer showing on the trail cameras are now missing half their headgear.  Blonde dog is going to have to kick her antler-hunting into high gear any day now. 

The other thing you may notice is that deer this time of year appear fuzzy or chubby in their cold weather wardrobe.

Whitetail deer sport a uniquely adapted winter coat that efficiently absorbs scarce winter sunlight.  Solar heat is trapped by coarse outer guard hairs - each of which is hollow.  For added insulation the layer beneath is dense and soft - retaining heat close to the skin.  Deer also produce an oily substance that works thru the entire coat to enhance waterproofing.  These insulating qualities are so efficient that falling snow will collect on the animal without melting.  Furthermore, the dull brownish-grey winter coat this time of year is superb camouflage.  

 

The whitetail deer is a remarkably adaptable animal - all the way down to below zero.

 Digital images were captured six days ago at two different locations

Cold Snap Continues

A day ago I awoke at dawn, poured my self a big, steaming cuppa joe, fed the dog and while perusing my morning news feeds took in the the bitter, cold winter landscape.

Unless I was still in a somnambulistic state I could have sworn that it was maybe 4 to 6 F upon arising and within less than a couple of hours the temperature had dropped to -2 F or more as dawn broke and the sun rose.  This is indeed counterintuitive.

And has happened on more than one occasion.

I call it my Dr. Zhivago moment.

Daily Bread

We no longer purchase much in the way of bread stuffs any long - mostly specialty items like English muffins and bagels.   This is a consequence of my bread-baking evolution.

I have a contractor lined-up to construct a cut stone pedestal and countertop upon-which will be installed a Forno Bravo wood-fired outdoor oven.  

Until then I've been diligently mastering the art of baking a French Boule and Deli Rye.  

The plan is to eventually include a practical selection of flat breads, focaccia and pizza dough.  Once these are mastered my scheme is to introduce sourdough starter as an optional leavening agent.  Yes, ambitious but attainable.  I think.  After that it is making this come together in a wood-fired outdoor oven.

Last week our daily bread included a first attempt at a traditional Italian loaf.

It turned-out well - proving the hypothesis that bakery-quality bread can be made at home if you put your mind, heart and hands to the task at hand.  

Sunday, I made some large croutons from the last of it.  

 

Toasted gently and anointed with olive oil and grated Parmesan - they were served topped with olivara bruschetta tapenade and anchovies along with adult beverages for Valentines Movie Night.

The journey continues.....

Cold Monday Morning

 

 

Another tropical day in paradise.

Good Monday morning everyone......

Patron Saint

In the Roman Catholic tradition of the Christian Faith St. Valentine is the Patron Saint of betrothed couples, happy marriages, love, lovers, bee keepers, fainting, epilepsy, plague, travelers, and young people.  His feast day is today.   

As a consequence of so little being known about the man the Church removed St. Valentine from the General Roman Calendar in 1969.  Nevertheless, he remains recognized as a saint.  

One of many stories is that Valentine was imprisoned for committing the most heinous of crimes - marrying Christian couples and aiding Christians being persecuted by Emperor Claudius of Rome.  Angered to the point of rage Claudius commanded Valentine to renounce his faith or be beaten with clubs and beheaded.  Refusing the emperor - Valentine was executed outside the Flaminian Gate on February 14, 269.  

In case you’re wondering if Valentine was a real person - archaeological excavations have unearthed a Roman catacomb and an ancient church dedicated to him.  In 496 Pope Gelasius marked February 14th as a celebration honoring his martyrdom.   

Today his relics can be found throughout the world – including his skull at the Basilica of Santa Maria in Rome.  

 

Happy Valentines Day.

 

Turkeys on the March

Spring turkey hunting is only three months away.

And it's been encouraging to see turkey numbers holding steady as the winter progresses - both brood flocks of hens (like this one) 

 

And bachelor groups of gobblers and jakes too.

Raising a toast to the upland game bird that works for a living.

And hopeful for the Covid vaccine to arrive before the season opens.

Cheers!

Friday Music and a Bonus

This happens to be one of my favorite tunes from the 1960s and would include it in my Top 100 list if I ever get around to compiling it.

Aside from being an American Bandstand throw-back it includes bonus material.

An advertisement for Bic pens and an appearance from Alan Kalter - pitch man from David Letterman's Late Show.

And there is further evidence that white men can't dance.....