Ballard Street by Jerry Van Amerongen for January 28, 2013

Anthony was always a little frosty when it came to relating to animals.

How much do you feed them on a daily basis? There’s your answer.

Nibbled in effigy.

Good Morning Dogsniff!

Except it’s still last night for me.

And good morning/evening to our intrepid sailors…glad you’re safely on the way home!

Now I might have to go see what Bev did….LOL

Oh… Bev… just when I was going to tell you I answered you after the turn on yesterday.

Probably the latter, Red….

Fenton, my friend…. the man needs a Glenfidditch, please… rocks.

Funny… that video of Africa" starts with an ad for other music….

I had another window on top and I thought “Hey… that’s not Toto!”

The same without the rocks, if you don’t mind….Thanks.

Did you see Elvis?(The dog car…. not Presley.)

Speaking of rocks…. or ice, that is….That’s a crackerjack team of squirrel sculptors.

We oughta get their number so they can bid on the next sculpture for Ballard Memorial Park.

Cheers Red….And yes…. I have to be careful about squirrels….you can see in the picture today how clever they are in Ballard County….

We have such good educational opportunities around here…there’s no holding any species back!

Elvis is pretty goofy and gullible… I don’t want him tangling with any educated squirrels.

Oh Red…. I think they won’t be back for hours.

Probably we both need some sleep…I was almost dozing a while ago…. and this is already very late on your coast.

But you seem to get up hours before I do anyway.

Well, the Sheriff says not to trust any of the cats…and if the squirrels and cats are teaming up…yeah, I think I’ll keep the Hound Car away from them all.

He chases cat anyway…and I have to be extra careful cos he belongs to Stel.

Aw…. I know…. he’s a bit…. well, I try not to say prejudiced on the subject…but he tries to be fair.

And I think he means the ferals, and the independent cats, not the cats who live with people.

Anyway…. g’night Red….Thanks for the drink.

You’ll know what the squirrels intend when they’ve finished. They’ll either bow down in front of it or pelt it with snow balls.

Mom, are you sure he’s my brother?

They do look pretty cozy there, X…..are we gonna see some squirttens in the future?

Catrells?

Squirrels practice their combat stick fighting with their new Night Sticks

Your 2nd post showed up AFTER mine…. not before…but what are they plotting?

This could drive a girl to have another drink….

Jedi squirrels! NO!!

This be can not…. for not in them the Force is.

It’s pretty easy to tell when a Squirrel is mocking you.

I dunno,X…I can never tell who’s mocking me, squirrel or otherwise.

I’m like some goofy sheepdog.

X! Yikes!It does look like a catrell…. and yes, faction.(“Fact” is another question.)

But you’re replying to yourself…. and I’m so tired it all makes sense.

Fenton… I was going home… but I think I need a refill.

Morning Susan.Goofy Sheepdog?click

Mornin’ X….

And yeah, pretty much.

Or maybe

Just insulted me and now you wanna play?

Uh… OK.

Sheepdog nature.

But…. even though I just said good morning….

I must say goodnight….sleep is calling…..

G’night X.

But after a night at the Tiki Hut, they don’t seem so industrious.

Ever see a drunk squirrel? They are so neat to watch. Back east they would bury the pecan and walnuts. Sometimes the nut’s meat would ferment in the soil creating an alcohol. They would eat it and just do some of the dumbest things. Jump into the tree to run up it instead nearly knocking themselves out hitting it head first. Fall over trying to stand up. Turn to run and run into each other.I think we had one yesterday. My Chihuahua got after one who ran from tree to tree. He would come down land right in front of her and run to the next tree. It seemed to be a big game. Challenge and run. I did see a female sitting in the tree watching the whole time so he was either trying to impress her or just showing off.

Its actually a squirrel ruse. While Anthony is memorized by the art. A squirrel has secretly gone up his coat to steal his wallet.

The Militant Faction of the BSA (Ballard Squirrel Agenda)……………………………………….off duty.

member of the BSA Seal Team (very secret!)

Morning BallardeersThe galleon, The Irish Rover, is safely moored in Ballard Cove and all hands and guests are ashore.I’m headed to my Ballard Street home to deal with a couple of recalcitrant squirrels who insist on hiding their nuts in my pool skimmers. They must be part of the Militant Faction of the BSA ( Ballard Squirrel Agenda ) !I usually get along very well with squirrels and even, many years ago, had one for a pet, named Cashew. She knew where the peanuts were kept, but always was considerate enough to eat them outside. She never messed in the house, but loved to come in and watch cartoons.I doubt I will have too much of a problem with these guy. I just have to come up with a mutually beneficial arrangement.

Ahhhm baaaaack….!!!(whew!)ahem. well gotta say, Ling shur nose how ta partee on teh bote…!!!! an, ah din’t mean ta cause eny concerns ore fears of me missin teh ships movement, ah wuznt awaol er nuthin lak that… jus fell asleep in teh ships laundry basket… well taths wut ah smells lak eny ways… not even shur how ah gots ther… shur gotta buncha beads tho… an gots lottsa mamm memorys flotin round mah hed… (surprized it dont hurt as much as it shud….) Yer a grashus host Ling… gotta hand it to yah, yer a awrsum cap’n an yer crew is top-notch…!!! an yer wenches winches an windlassies can shure handle the load of teh yard-arms tew…!!! An tawk about water-tite integrity below teh waterline… its nice ta retern ta port without eny drippy leeks!! Furst class comendayshuns awl teh way…!!!(oh, an ah nose it goes widowt sayin….) wut happins in (where wuz we now..?) oh yeah…. Wut happens in tampa…. that dont show up on teh 10:00 newz …. NEVER hapend…!!! Now ah needs ta git sum vitamin B…. mmmmm.. thats short fur ’nanner bread…. headin to tdeh TIKI..>!!!!!

:())

hey wuts them nuts bove mah hed…???

SKWIREL…!!!!!!!!!!! o..O

I guess that’s why they love it. I couldn’t see it either ! Guess it must be there ever-secret, hidden, invisible maneuver.Hey, Red, how about a little bit of Chic Corea’s “Jitterbug Waltz” ? Or maybe Bod Bolden’s " Flaminco Sketches " from his 2011 Miles Espanol CD ?Good afternoon for cool and mellow !

It’s not blank – it’s faster than light.

That snowman looks like Lil’s handiwork!

Great photos everyone!

and @ Linguistand @ pcolli

The real odd thing is that it’s showing on my laptop with no problem….another mystery!

Well, here it is again (same pic, different source):

“Just be careful, Ling …..they love this maneuver…”

Please let me know if that one showed up for you. Thanks.

I can see it Stel!Can’t see the first time, though….Or maybe that’s just one speedy squirrel….. sometimes.

Welcome home, everybody…. so glad you’re all safe and sound.

And Monkey…. glad you at least had the instinct to get back to the ship before falling asleep…you do have an affinity for laundry baskets, I remember.Some simian nesting drive, I guess.

There’s enough banana bread at the Tiki for everybody…

Help yourselves…and a big pot of yak and vegetable soup to soothe any wobbly tummies and help you all get your land legs back.

Essex… what? You couldn’t find the tastefully animated version?

Bev…. don’t worry about lunch….Just keep sleeping it off and we’ll do lunch tomorrow….right Stel?

The Yello Jello will keep till than…or probably till the end of the millennium.

Do you want me to bring you some yak soup?Or do you think you’ll be down to the Tiki later?

Bri — you gotta ask Bev….

Something from a bar in Tampa.But I’m thinking Yello Jello with something a little stronger than marshmallows…in fact, maybe something that could dissolve a marshmallow in 7 seconds flat…and then start on your stomach walls.

Linguist…. I’m more realistic than you think about that monkey…He’s a very close friend, indeed…. but I have no illusions about the fact that he’s… well…a monkey, after all.

Hey…. good luck, Red!

Thanks, Red. That’s just what the doctor ordered ! I shall be happy to reciprocate when you return. The one problem I had with most of the Tampa establishments who served fine whiskeys, was that they didn’t carry Red Breast. Obviously, inferior emporiums when compared to the Tiki Bar ! Must come from uneducated Northern Snow Birds who favor Canadian blended and cheap Scotch or Southern natives whose tastes run to Bourbon and Sour Mash whiskeys !

There are three ways to make whiskey: the old way, the new way, and the * Irish way

*The Irish way… For reasons too complex to get into here, thank God, the Emerald Isle figured out a way to split the difference, using gigantic pot stills (as a rule of thumb, the bigger the still, the lighter the spirit) and three distillations rather than two to pull off a light yet flavorful whiskey that can take a fair amount of age. That way they could bottle a straight whiskey rather than doing as their great rivals the Scots did and blending (expensive) pot and (very cheap) column whiskeys, which the Irish thought was cheating. They didn’t cave and start blending until the 1960s. Fortunately, there are still some great unblended Irish whiskeys left — indeed, there are more every year, due to the current interest in and market for all things whiskey.

One, the Greenore ($50), is a true rarity: an aged, unblended column-still whiskey, aka “grain whiskey.” At eight years old, it’s featherlight on the tongue, sweet and pleasant and easy to drink, but it’s also on the knife edge of being too woody, even at that relatively young age. The Redbreast 15 ($75), from the Midleton distillery, is at that same balance point, but it’s almost twice as old. A true Irish, pure pot-still whiskey — that is, distilled in the traditional style in a huge pot from a mix of malted and unmalted barley — this one still holds on to a little sweet graininess to balance out the forest floor, leather, and dark-chocolate notes that creep in from the barrel. Yet for our money, the lovely Redbreast 12 ($45) is a better deal, offering aromas of hay and clover honey and angel-food cake and a long, spicy finish without any bitter tannins to nip the tongue.

Read more: Best Irish Whiskey – Underrated Irish Whiskey Brands and Bottles – Esquire http://www.esquire.com/features/drinking/best-irish-whiskey-1211#ixzz2JJwBVRoZ

now ah nose ah promissd thet whut happenz in…. you no whers..well…. butt….ah noticed wun of are shipmates broat sump’n back widdem frum a certan “Nicker-Nack Kitty Shak Tatto & Smoke Shop” (heh heh…!! thay dint seas me hidin behind teh woodin injun in teh corner….!) it wuz a kodiak moment. ahm tellin ya.. !!!!

Butt dont’ wory ms whoever you wuz… yer sekrits gud wit me…!!! (wink-wink!!)

I seldom have any whiskey, but there are 3 or 4 differing ones in my bar. I have used Southern Comfort for an occais. mint julip in the summer, tho’ I’d rather have a marg. in hot weather.

Even though Phx is much warmer than back in Chicago when I left, it is still too chilly to enjoy. Next week I will spend a few days on laundry (as I love things dryed in fresh air). I went to chiro at noon today and she needs to see me again on Wednesday. At least I got the pain level down so my BP was normal while watching Criminal Minds (still no meds – just a baby aspirin w/AM vitamins).

Every time I need the chiro it is something I have overdone myself (no innate problem). I so seldom empty out the freezer that when I saw that red jam on the back wall I had to climb inside and fix it (nylon scrubbers and paper towels). As inside is more than 3" narrower than my shoulders, I caused a problem and I was doing all the cooking at the same time. I’ll be back to normal after Wed. Many of my SCA friends are brewmasters. I just use whatever comes along (like the huge bag of lemons last year for Limoncello – but I cheated and used Absolute (plain and Raspberry).

Linguist…. When it comes to dealing with our fierce friend Bev…..I beg you, for your own safety, to remember what they say…. “Discretion is the better part of valor….”

If rats had luxurious tales like squirrels, they would get better press!

I hope I can get myself in and out of bed the next 2 nights before returning to chiro. Still catching up with my main TiVo and watched 1/2 of Elixir de’Amore tonight – my relation with him has always been better than that though he can’t believe that I don’t want anyone else (even after all those years my fantasies . . .). I hope he may eventually understand. I was like her before we met but he is – very special. Even watching his hands as he plays a romantic song on one of his pianos, so lovely! He’s not just a machinist or a guy who can fix anything that goes wrong- so much more. Sorry for all my reminiscing but we met about 36 years ago and I still love him with all my heart.

And I like Bev’s Truman. I have always been able to defend myself, but Cuddles thought she was an attack Cockatoo when I had some dates. She will live in my memory but (thinking about it) I may have taken her side even with him (she would chase his lab off the couch and take the dog’s place and was jealous of me with a man).

Bev, my boys often had creepy rodents and snakes as well as anything else I’d let them have in the 20 gal tank in their room. I have been subjected to critters down my back more than not. Mom’s have to put up with a lot (especially after I divorced their father). He produced great children but that is all.

No one throws axes there…

https://cleoandcompany.net/january-27-2023/

Good morning Balladeers!

Yes; I could do with a warmer place right now…

The Mediterranean or even Mallorca won’t do.

https://cleoandcompany.net/january-28-2023/

Hi Tigressy!

Good morning Balladeers!