Mmmmm...something smells good!

One of the many things I like about summer is smelling the good things people are cooking on the grill as you go for a walk around the neighborhood. My brother Dan introduced me to cooking with hickory and apple wood chips as you grill out. This not only adds a very nice flavor to whatever is cooking but the smoke coming off the grill is wonderful to smell too.

I feel like I am doing a good deed for the neighborhood as I cook out and provide everyone else with the very pleasant smell of wood chips and BBQ Ribs.

 Now I have a neighbor a couple houses down from me who keeps his lawn immaculate and tends to entertain and cook out quite often. He grills out with wood chips too. I don't consider myself a very competitive person (altho Cindy may disagree with that) but it seems to me the more I grill out the more my neighbor does too. And as I step it up a degree with the chips I'm sure he does too! Now Cindy I and are empty Nesters and cooking BBQ every nite is getting a little ridiculous. But darn if I'm going to let somebody out smoke me! OK a little competitiveness is good right?

Who says wood chips are just for BBQ on the grill?

 If it's good for ribs it could be good for salad right?

Let's not stop at supper....if it's a smoking contest you want...breakfast isn't for the faint of  heart...buddy...bring it on!

I am having a tough time keeping the syrup on the waffle though

Next I'm sure I can make some killer popcorn on the grill...I'll let you know.

Witness Protection Program

I feel like I've been in hiding or undercover...like being in the witness protection program. I work during the day relatively unknown and unseen as I repair copiers and printers. Then I go to the YMCA after work, come home and cook supper and spend the evening with the one I love. I'm not saying I don't like my routine...it's just time to share my widely exciting life with the world! OK...my family anyway...and only those who care to read on...MOM? are you still there :)

What do I know about the witness protection program? Well I have two very close friends who are in it. Donald, who I have known most my life, and Squeaker, who came into our lives several years ago and befriended Donald and myself. But apparently not Cindy.

                     Here they are in their younger years

Donald and Squeaker kicking Tyler's soccer ball around.

 Not long ago Cindy thought they had out stayed their welcome. Where did this come from? These little guys didn't do much but hang around here and there...playing computer games, sitting in the sock drawer sometimes...guarding my Bonsai plant from robbers. Cindy said she thought it was time for them to go...go where she did not say. But as soon as Donald and Squeaker got wind of their soon to be homelessness they went under cover to the witness protection program.

 

You didn't recognize them, did you?

It didn't matter that they had not really "witnessed any crime... yet" they weren't about to become just another stuffed animal statistic. They donned their disguises and went into hiding. This past Easter  I thought these two little guys could get back on the good side of Cindy again by giving her an Easter basket.

 I could not find them anywhere...they were that good. Finally I found them hiding in a bucket under some towels in a cupboard. To make a long story short, they agreed and now live in relative safety in my...well...sorry I can't say right now Cindy might be listening.  

  Thank you to my two wonderful daughters who inspired me to start blogging. I really enjoy reading their blogs.