On the Road Again with Merle

[btb01]

Good morning everyone! Well, since Merle stayed with me a bit longer, I took him to a local cane grind where cane syrup is made. It's a full event with all types of food, friendship and music. So, they cut the cane earlier in the week and put it through a roller to crush it and get the cane juice. It's then filtered and boiled in a cauldron and skimmed more to clean it. Once it's boiling they begin bottling. I'm on the smoker team so I usually help smoking various meats such as ground bear, ground elk, quail, venison cubed with bacon around it, frog legs, and alligator. We smoked two new items this year. We added white sweet potatoes and kangaroo. Most of the meats are donated by attendees or team members. They also have a fish fry team, a swamp cabbage team, a jerky team, a peanut team, a jelly and jams team, and of course the cane syrup team. I got some pics of the two little gators, some of the meats on the smoker, and the bottled cane syrup.

Merle is going to be shipped off to BigKurtHaze prob Monday. I really enjoyed this knife and it's my style with the single blade. I haven't used slips before and have given I think two of them away here on BF. However, I carried Merle in the slip and the slip def helps to keep the knife secure in your pocket and protects it from other items that might be in your pocket. This has been a fun experience and I appreciate the opportunity to carry Merle around and to share a few events in my life with you all.

That’s some wild BBQ!! I’ve had alligator tail before, but that was quite a few years ago.

Thanks for hosting Merle, Randy!

 

[JM2]

Wonderful pictures so far JM2.
I've got my grandfather's reloading supplies from when he passed. I've still not taken the time to learn the knowledge of how to operate it correctly. But I've gathered that finding/buying reloading supplies is still not easy over the past 5 years.

We have Devil's Walkingstick trees here in my area too. Nasty stuff if they grow in a large patch. Even the deer won't go through it, they prefer to walk around.

I forgot to reply to this or missed it. If you want to get into reloading and you need any help feel free to contact me. I’m glad to help in any way I can.


I actually am planning to fell a devils walking stick and see how the wood looks it may be pretty and make something cool.

 

[RLB0414]

Good morning everyone! Well, since Merle stayed with me a bit longer, I took him to a local cane grind where cane syrup is made. It's a full event with all types of food, friendship and music. So, they cut the cane earlier in the week and put it through a roller to crush it and get the cane juice. It's then filtered and boiled in a cauldron and skimmed more to clean it. Once it's boiling they begin bottling. I'm on the smoker team so I usually help smoking various meats such as ground bear, ground elk, quail, venison cubed with bacon around it, frog legs, and alligator. We smoked two new items this year. We added white sweet potatoes and kangaroo. Most of the meats are donated by attendees or team members. They also have a fish fry team, a swamp cabbage team, a jerky team, a peanut team, a jelly and jams team, and of course the cane syrup team. I got some pics of the two little gators, some of the meats on the smoker, and the bottled cane syrup.

Merle is going to be shipped off to BigKurtHaze prob Monday. I really enjoyed this knife and it's my style with the single blade. I haven't used slips before and have given I think two of them away here on BF. However, I carried Merle in the slip and the slip def helps to keep the knife secure in your pocket and protects it from other items that might be in your pocket. This has been a fun experience and I appreciate the opportunity to carry Merle around and to share a few events in my life with you all.

Cane, gator and frog legs mean Louisiana to me. Some fine eatin you are grillin, smokin and fryin. Even though it is early, I am hungry for gator, frog and fish. Swamp cabbage is something I have not tried.
Thanks

 

[BigKurtHaze]

Welp, despite the hold on the mail we had in anticipation of being out of town a few days, and Merle’s tracking saying he was being held at the post office, I arrived home at the witching hour last night to find these two shivering on my front porch.

 

[BigKurtHaze]

Merle got acquainted with Pebbles this morning. After getting in late from our quarterly visit to Seattle last night, I dropped my boy off at my parents and then swung by my brother’s to pick her up. She is still in a bit of a snit about being foisted off on family while we were out of town, I’m sure Merle will manage to get a smile out of her soon.

Just moved into this house the end of September, really like it. Didn’t realize we had backyard mushrooms before.

Reminds me, I do really need to mow the lawn, I haven’t done it since we moved in. Somehow just doesn’t work it’s way to the top of the to do list when we have a dry day on the weekend.

 

[btb01]

Merle got acquainted with Pebbles this morning. After getting in late from our quarterly visit to Seattle last night, I dropped my boy off at my parents and then swung by my brother’s to pick her up. She is still in a bit of a snit about being foisted off on family while we were out of town, I’m sure Merle will manage to get a smile out of her soon.
View attachment 2016296View attachment 2016298
Just moved into this house the end of September, really like it. Didn’t realize we had backyard mushrooms before.
View attachment 2016302
Reminds me, I do really need to mow the lawn, I haven’t done it since we moved in. Somehow just doesn’t work it’s way to the top of the to do list when we have a dry day on the weekend.

Nice pics! Pebbles looks like she doesn’t put up with any nonsense.

I’m looking forward to seeing what you and Merle get up to!

 

[BigKurtHaze]

Nice pics! Pebbles looks like she doesn’t put up with any nonsense.

She is a bossy little thing, and she’s not happy about the nonsense she does put up with, but there’s no shortage of it to go around.

I’m looking forward to seeing what you and Merle get up to!

I don’t know if Merle is quite as excited as I am about tomorrow’s outing, but he’s excited.

Merle helped break in the better half’s new kitchen aid. My first time with one, sure is a slick bit of kit.

 

[glocktenman]

I'm happy Merle arrived safely and cool doggy. Enjoy!

 

[BigKurtHaze]

Well, ol’ Merle was still on the road last Saturday and missed the winter OKCA show. I introduced myself to a maker there that I had been following for a number of years on Instagram, and though I didn’t pick up anything at the show, he was nice enough to follow up with a coupon code, just to tempt me.

So Merle and Pebbles and I took a ride this morning to pick up my new knife. Unfortunately, the one that bit me at the show had already found a new home, but I am very pleased with the one I picked up, as well. In dyed maple burl, with Elforyn bolster and shield, just above Merle here. The other two are still available.


Brock of Delight Valley Blades, nice enough to pose with Merle.

A quick look around the shop, he warned me it wasn’t impressive. Nicer than my shop.


Pebbles was only mildly obnoxious.

 

[btb01]

Well, ol’ Merle was still on the road last Saturday and missed the winter OKCA show. I introduced myself to a maker there that I had been following for a number of years on Instagram, and though I didn’t pick up anything at the show, he was nice enough to follow up with a coupon code, just to tempt me.

So Merle and Pebbles and I took a ride this morning to pick up my new knife. Unfortunately, the one that bit me at the show had already found a new home, but I am very pleased with the one I picked up, as well. In dyed maple burl, with Elforyn bolster and shield, just above Merle here. The other two are still available.
View attachment 2019197

Brock of Delight Valley Blades, nice enough to pose with Merle. View attachment 2019198

A quick look around the shop, he warned me it wasn’t impressive. Nicer than my shop.
View attachment 2019200
View attachment 2019201
Pebbles was only mildly obnoxious.
View attachment 2019202

Very cool! Looks like he makes some interesting knives with unique materials and shields. Does that top one have a Christmas tree (or is it just a regular pine tree) shield?

 

[BigKurtHaze]

Does that top one have a Christmas tree (or is it just a regular pine tree) shield?

Apologies, I don’t think I properly located Merle on his arrival. I’m in Eugene, Brock’s shop is a bit south on the outskirts of Cottage Grove, Oregon. The shield is definitely a Douglas Fir. The shield is the same micarta as the bolster, but cross cut.

 

[BigKurtHaze]

Still plotting what to get up to today…

 

[btb01]

Just checking in on Merle since we haven’t heard from him since last year…

BigKurtHaze did you and Merle get up to anything fun for the holidays?

 

[Hyesouljah]

Happy New Year everyone! I just got caught up with all of Merle’s recent travels and I’m looking forward to what he gets into next.

I spent the 1st day of the year yesterday pretty much doing exactly what I did last year, visited my grandma with my fiancé then we caught a beautiful sunset on the ocean. I couldn’t help but remember Merle being in my pocket last year and so I carried my BF Barlow in his place. We caught a sunset around the same spot again yesterday except this time we were up on the cliffs

I’ll leave you all with a pic of Merle and last years sunset on the beach and yesterdays sunset over the same beach except viewed from the cliffs May 2023 be filled with new adventures and priceless moments like this with loved ones for us all!

 

[BigKurtHaze]

Just checking in on Merle since we haven’t heard from him since last year…

BigKurtHaze did you and Merle get up to anything fun for the holidays?

Delightful holiday, yes. Sorry for the lack of posting, work has gotten a little nuts, too, keeping me and Merle jumping.

Let’s see what we got here. Ah yes, I think this is about where we left off. Friday before Christmas, nasty little ice storm, but way better than much of the rest of the country had it.
The melt was on pretty quick, got into the upper 40s later in the day. Merle and I went out to run some errands later in the day, stopped off to treat him to the self-proclaimed “best burritos in town” at Lonches To Go. Arturo and Margarita just got a shiny new trailer earlier this year, certainly an upgrade, but the old green one was so iconic.
And the goods, fish taco and a pork burrito with avocado.

 

[BigKurtHaze]

My son Michael spent most of the first month after he was born in the NICU at OHSU up in Portland. We were up there when the Spring St. Barlows were coming out, I was wanting to buy a second, one for me and one for Michael, but we just got the one for Michael and he’s letting me use it until he’s ready for it. So just like all my other knives, really.

I filled out my collection of Bill Peet books while Michael was in the hospital. His taste in books lately is a little more simplistic and indestructible, but we managed to make it about half way through this one on Christmas.

 

[BigKurtHaze]

A couple more shots from Christmas Day. Dunno about the rest of you, but there are exactly two days a year I will carry a red knife and a green knife together.
We had a lovely walk on Christmas. There is a section of bike path west of my house that had been closed for repairs since we moved in last fall. I hadn’t realized there was a suspish fish. A little local flavor for Merle.
And Merle got to meet local feline royalty Blazey.
Christmas Dinner over at my little brother’s house, Merle got to cut things down extra small for Michael.

 

[jc57]

That Suspish fish graffiti is awesome! A genuine legend in your community from what I understand.

 

[abbydaddy]

A couple more shots from Christmas Day. Dunno about the rest of you, but there are exactly two days a year I will carry a red knife and a green knife together. We had a lovely walk on Christmas. There is a section of bike path west of my house that had been closed for repairs since we moved in last fall. I hadn’t realized there was a suspish fish. A little local flavor for Merle. View attachment 2034099

I was scrolling along and saw the Suspish Fish and was like "Wait, I see those around a lot. I assumed that was a local thing, is it a trend or something?" I guess this is Merle's second trip to the Eugene area! Welcome back to town Merle.

 

[BigKurtHaze]

That Suspish fish graffiti is awesome! A genuine legend in your community from what I understand.

I wasn’t really up on any suspish lore, so I googled. Didn’t realize they didn’t go back farther than 2019, I would have thought at least twice that long.

A (Suspish) Fish Story

The fish swim on concrete walls, train cars and utility boxes, so bright and fun they seem like something a city would pay for, not try to cover over. The Suspish Fish, in all its permutations, wi…

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