The Woods Cross Chainsaw Massacre

Nothing motivates a man to do work than a new power tool. I don't think I am obsessed as Tim the Tool Man Taylor but there is something about a power tool that makes a man feel like a man.

My old chainsaw that we got many years ago at a pawn shop gave up the ghost 2 years ago. Since that time pruning of the trees in our yard has been restricted to only what my hedge trimmer could handle. In the mean time two Chinese Elm trees have grown out of control on the side of our house, our cottonless Cottonwood Tree has grown branches that were starting to touch our roof, and our little , I call it the Umbrella tree in the front yard that is supposed to be cut back every year grew branches that hung over the side walk and our driveway. Well yesterday I broke down and got a new chainsaw, I took out one of the Chinese Elms, took off the branches of the Cottonwood tree that were posing threat to the roof and pruned back the "Umbrella" tree. I have pruned this tree back before and each time I do it I get criticized by some of my neighbors and Nery that I have pruned it back too far and probably killed it. Each time it has grown back beautifully. So this time I am documenting it here. I have included pictures and in a few months will post again showing the progress. The Chinese Elms however are going completely I will be putting root killer on them and hope it works, these trees seem indestructible.

Bennett Sitting on the Hog

Bennett's bike of choice
Triumph

My Buddies and Me

Yesterday Catie stopped by work to say hello and she and Nery decided to go to lunch together. I had already finished my lunch so they left Bennett with me. I took him up to my floor and showed him off. He entertained everyone with his smile and even did his little dance several times. It was so fun to be able to spend some time with my little buddy and show him around and have a little male bonding, I think he had a good time too.

Then last night before it got dark I went out to fill my bird feeders, my little Pine Siskin friend was there feeding and wouldn't leave he actually stayed on the feeder while I took it down, took the top off and refilled it. I put some of the seed in my hand and he ate right out of my hand as well, it seems we have developed a real trust.

Life is good

Hanging out with Bennett

I'm sure every parent believes that their kids are the best looking smartest most amazing kids on the planet. I know I do. And I'm sure that every grandparent believes that their grand kids are the cutest smartest most amazing kids, well I have the pictures to prove it. Yesterday Nery and I got to spend about 5 hours with Bennett and he amazed us and entertained us the whole time. Bennett got to try oranges for the first time and he gobbled them two fisted wedge after wedge. He ate 2 whole oranges and had orange juice all over himself. Then he wanted to drink water from a glass, he wasn't having any bottle stuff. Of course he was soaked, so with his clothes soaked and face, hands and arms sticky with orange juice he got to take a bath. The whole time he never fussed or complained he just had fun with his Lola and Lolo. He got to read his books play with his toys and watch the fish in our aquarium. Friday we got to go with Catie and Bennett for his first time swimming and again he went in with no fear and loved every second of it. Even when he splashed water in his face he just laughed and splashed even more. Bennett is such a happy wonderful little boy. I know there is a God and his greatest gifts are our kids and grand kids. Thank you God for this little angel and thank you Catie and Dave for letting us take care of him for a few hours it made our week.

A Very Friendly Pine Siskin

I went out this evening to fill my bird feeders and this little guy stayed behind to eat after the others had left. I noticed that as I approached the feeder he did not fly off so I slowly approached him. I stood right in front of him just a few inches away and he just kept on eating, so I stuck my finger out and gently touched him on the bumb and to my surprise he stepped back onto my finger and stayed for about 7 or 8 seconds then flew off. He circled around and came back to the feeder and continued to eat. I ran inside and grabbed my camera and asked Dave my son in-law to take some pictures. He actually stood on my finger 4 more times before I left him alone to finish eating. Here are a couple of those pictures

After All These Years

For 18 years a group of friends in Woods Cross have gotten together each Valentines to put together a tribute to their wives. Each year attempting to come up with new and more creative ideas to entertain their wives. Over the years they have serenaded their wives with original compositions, written love letters, written love poems, taken them to fancy restaurants, winter sleigh rides and even a dinner cruise on the Great Salt Lake. But I think the most memorable are the dinners all the guys get together under the direction of Mike Johnson master chef to cook dinner for their wives. Nery and I were honored about 6 or 7 years ago to join this group and have enjoyed being a part of such a loving thoughtful group of friends. Over the years a few people have moved away and some like Nery and I have moved in so there has been some change but the main core of friends still remains. The Bowman's, Maurice being the driving force behind this effort, The Johnson's, The Bradley's, The Schwab's, The Van De Graff's, The Harten's, and the two newest couples The Coleman's that's Nery and me and the Seegmiller's. Last night we enjoyed this years installment and it was another success. Under Mike's direction we fixed an Italian dinner with homemade 1000 layer Lasagna, Mikes homemade baguette's, salad, minestrone soup, sorbet, and chocolate cheese cake. we then went downtown to the Off Broadway theater and watched a play, "My School Musical", Bradley's son Justin was on of the actors. We finished the night with a video slide show that I put together of each couple over the years. I have included the introduction of that slide show which is pictures from four of our past Valentines party's. A dinner at Xiao Li Chinese restaurant, a Prime Rib Dinner at Johnson's home, a dinner and sleigh ride at Park City and a Dinner Cruise on the Great Salt Lake.

Day of Cooking

Last Saturday Nery and I had a cook off and cooked food ahead for the coming week. Nery said she had been craving Chili Verde and I had seen Rachel Ray make a version that looked good so I made my own version based on hers. I also made a big bowl of Picco De Gallo and a cilantro and jalapeno salsa to go with it. Nery cooked a wonderful beef stew and a stir fry of chayote and other vegetables with pork this is one of my favorites. I will list the recipe for the Chili Verde and have Nery list her's tonight.

Chili Verde

2 lbs pork cut in small pieces
10 tomatillos
1 box of chicken stalk
3 jalapenos
2 cans of diced green chilies
2 onions
2 or 3 cloves of garlic
2 tablespoons of chili powder
1 tablespoon of ground cumin
2 tablespoons corn starch
salt and pepper to taste after everything is cooked

place all of the vegetables in the food processor and puree them.

in a skillet brown the pork in olive oil and add the chili powder and cumin, when the meat is browned sprinkle the corn starch and stir the meat to coat it with the corn starch and let it brown slightly, add the Chicken stalk.

Move the browned meat and stock to a stock pot and add the vegetable mixture.

Simmer on low heat for an hour, adjust the seasonings to your taste and enjoy on burritos, tacos, or tamales it is also great served over scrambled eggs, or mashed potatoes.