In keeping with my news boycott, I won’t be looking at who the talking heads are today. And, as I feared yesterday, there is now a sports boycott in effect. I guess the only things left are the weather, and tractors. As for the weather, if was kind of cold yesterday. Not horrible, but a high not much more than 40, and kind of damp and snowy/sleety. It’s supposed to get up into the 60’s this coming week (which would be great if I didn’t have to work), but you can definitely feel winter in the air around here, and it’s nice to know that when the snow really starts to fly, I’ll be able to plow the driveway with my Kubota. Or so I thought.
Yesterday, however, was a bad day for all things orange, and the Kubota was no exception. When I went to put a load of fence posts in the shed for winter, the damn thing wouldn’t start (the Kubota, that is – not the shed; if I could start up the shed and drive it around, that would be really cool). It seemed like there was a safety that wasn’t made and, as I have been known to forget to put it in neutral or disengage the PTO or whatever (while mastering the “I did that on purpose” look, just in case anybody happens to be watching), I figured I was just doing something stupid (or, perhaps more accurately, stupidly not doing something). Fortunately, my friend John was around, and he took a look. Sadly, it wouldn’t start for him, either.
To make a long story short, we looked at all the switches we could find, but since I’m existing in two places (where, if I need shit at one place, it’s all but guaranteed to be at the other one), I didn’t have access to my meter (I actually have a couple of them, neither of which are over here), battery charger/jumper, and assortment of wire and cable – except Cat 5 and coax; I don’t leave home without that. Since it was getting neigh on dark, we stopped short of gutting the wiring completely, and opted to regroup again in the morning.
A bit later, I had a look at the owners manual (not a huge help; I guess I need to shell out the bucks for a service manual for this thing), and sat on the tractor, wiggling levers and looking at the pictures describing what position everything should be in when starting the thing up (mind you, while I’m not genius, I have started this goddamn thing once or twice before), and, whatever it was I did, it started for me.
Not wanting to shut it down just yet, and determining that succumbing to diesel fumes wouldn’t be a good idea (not on Saturday night; Monday morning maybe), I opened the garage door. And then I figured I might as well go dump the posts off by the shed (which, as it was quite dark by this point, gave me the opportunity to use the headlights for the first time. Very nice). So, I did that, and then, not knowing what else to do, decided I’d better go park it in the garage again before I shut it off.
So, that’s where things are at this point. Hopefully it was all just the culmination of a bad day, and all will be well from here on out. At least until I’m out in the middle of the woods one day and it won’t start for me.
Damn inscrutable Japanese tractor.
Oh well, lots-o-laundry to do, furniture to move, and shopping to, um, shop, so I’ll need to hitch up the wagon and and go all the way in to Pixley today (normally, I’d just go Drucker’s in Hooterville, but for the big stuff, I have to go to the Piggly-Wiggly).
Have a good Sunday, and don’t forget – unless you’re in Arizona or Hawaii or something – it may not be as late as you think out there.
MSNBC suspended anchor Keith Olbermann on Friday for making contributions to Democratic candidates without obtaining prior approval from his superiors.
Now, Politico’s Mike Allen reports that the suspension came about, not because Olbermann violated network policy — but because he wouldn’t apologize on-air:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/07/msnbc-keith-olbermann-apology_n_780064.html
Howdy! Still getting into the 90’s here! Stupid. Makes it hard to grow winter vegis. My peas do not like it at all, thank goodness I planted some beans too.
The elections went badly here, I’m sure you know by now. I think the young people did not get out to vote.
KP, it’s nice to hear from you. I hope all is well…aside from the terrible election.
Maple Syrup Braised Short Ribs
Phyllis Hoffman Celbrate Double Check Ranch
-2-3 lbs bone in short ribs from Double Check Ranch cuz it’s grass fed and  GOOD!
-Kosher salt and black pepper
-2 Tbl vegi oil
-1 large onion, halved and sliced
-1 medium fennel bulb, finely chopped
-1 carrot, chopped
-1 fresh or dried Bay leaf
-2 cups stock
-1/2 C. pure maple syrup(I bet molasses would be good too)
Season short ribs well on all sides w/ salt and pepper. Wrap ribs in plastic wrap and refridgerate for 8-12 hours.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a Dutch oven over med-hi heat, heat oil til hot but not smoking. Pat ribs dry with paper towels and brown in hot oil on all sides. Reduce heat if pan begins to scorch. Transfer meat to plate and set aside.
Add onion, fennel, carrot, Bay leaf, and pinch of salt and pepper to pot, stirring to loosen bits from bottom of pot. Cook, stirring occasionally until vegis begin to sweat, about 3 minutes. Return the short ribs to the pot bone side down. Pour in stock and maple syrup and bring to boil. Cover pot and place in oven.
Check pot after 10-20 minutes, if the liquid is boiling hard, reduce temp about 10 degrees. Cook til ribs are tender when pierced with a fork, 2-2/12 hours, turning meat a few times during cooking.
remove meat from pot. Reduce sauce over medium heat til thickened. Spoon sauce over ribs and serve. OMG!
KO back Tuesday.