Friday Music

Written by the exceedingly prolific  Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller this blues favorite was originally recorded by Willie Mae Big Mama Thornton in 1952, Even though it was Thornton's only hit record it spent 14 weeks in the R&B charts, including seven weeks at number one.  Not only is it included in the Grammy Hall of Fame it is listed on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll.   Famously covered by Elvis Presley it has been covered by a pile of additional performers.  Hound Dog...

It's a Start

Two stops today on the trip back to deer camp.   

Those three boxes on the left contain 55 pounds of deer brats - Miesfeld's Market in Sheboygan.   

The box on the right is Six Deuces' deer from last weekend - butchered into its component parts - steaks, chops, roasts, whole loin and burger - Marchant's Foods  in Brussels.    

All of the basement auxiliary chest freezer and most of the garage freezer are now full and the gun season has not yet commenced.   

Raising a Jägermeister to all of this goodness....

Republican Trade Policy Winning

American farmers have spent millions of dollars over many years cultivating the Chinese market for United States soybeans to feed China's chickens and pigs.  Alas, after Republican government raised taxes on imported steel and aluminum the Chinese stopped buying.  The largest market for one of America’s largest exports has shut its doors. 

American soybean sales to China have declined by 94 percent from last year’s harvest.  To put that in perspective the United States exported $26 billion in soybeans last year – with more than half of that sold to China alone. 

The response by Republicans is to distribute billions of dollars in welfare payments to American farmers to offset the decline in market prices.  Unfortunately, at current market prices the welfare program covers less than half of the losses facing our hard-working farmers.  As a consequence of this economic brilliance  there is a high probability of surplus soybeans rotting while China purchases its beans from Brazil and elsewhere.  And a carefully-cultivated market may never recover.

Trump World has redefined Republican business values for sure.  Once more thru the looking glass…

How to Make Venison Bolognese

From the deer camp menu last weekend is this.  A favorite among the hunters that can have most of the prep work completed in advance.  If you make the sauce a day beforehand and reheat before serving it actually improves in the fridge overnight.

Ingredients

Olive oil
2 celery stalks - minced
2 carrots - peeled and minced
1 onion - minced
2 garlic cloves - minced
2 quarts of canned whole garden tomatoes
1 large can (29 ounce) of tomato sauce
1 pound ground venison
1 pound of Italian sausage
Basil, oregano, fennel seed, parsley, salt and pepper
Spaghetti noodles or other favorite pasta
Grated parmesan cheese - lots of it

Directions

Brown the venison and set aside in a bowl,  Brown the Italian sausage, drain and add to the bowl.  In a large stock pot sauté the vegetables in olive oil until the onions are translucent.  Add the meat to the pot along with the sauce and tomatoes.  Season with spices to taste, cover and simmer all day low and slow.  The last few hours remove the lid and continue to cook uncovered.  Add additional spices if needed.  Before serving stir-in a fist-full of parmesan cheese.

Prepare your pasta per the directions on the packaging, drain and dish-up.  

Serve with a salade César, garlic bread and a bold red wine.

Cheers!

Election Day

Voter apathy was around forty-six years ago.  It has always been around.  Do your civic duty today.

 

VOTE ! 

 

Flat Top

Field identification of buck fawns is best accomplished by looking carefully at their heads.  The top of the head directly between the ears in particular.  It should appear flat - unlike the domed head of a girl fawn or doe.  The reason is that male fawns have nubbins (or knobs) that will eventually grown into antlers next year which makes their heads appear flatter.

In this picture - featuring twin buck fawns - you can actually see the nubs above and behind each eye and before the ear.

If you want to go serious on promoting an optimal age/sex ratio and trophy antlered deer it may be sensible to target does and let the little bucks walk.  Of course, if you need to control the herd size - brown is down.

click on the image for a better look at the  nubs

Infrared Deer

A handful of photos from after dark by the Moultrie cameras in infrared mode.  

Three different locations.

Including a foggy eight point buck







A threesome that appear caught in the headlights - when there is no visible flash

click on images for a closer look

 

And a ghostly and ethereal image of a lone doe