Hanging With My Peeps
Being a city-dweller my entire life, I wasn’t prepared for the sheer scale and variety of wildlife out here on what I, jokingly, call the edge of civilization. It seems that every square centimeter of this place is alive.
https://youtube.com/shorts/Sk7Hmu6efbI?si=R_9995TS24Xh3ocb
When we moved in last November I had no idea of how different life would become. Being away from the buzz of the city can feel a little isolating but, during the warmer months especially, the abundance of animals more than makes up for the lack of human companionship.
I found this little guy on our deck the other day. Mind you, our deck is ten feet off the ground and there’s no stairs to it. My best guess is he must’ve escaped from the beak of a bird. Thankfully, I was able to scoop him up in a cup and re-home him down by one of the ponds on the property.
The migratory birds have started their long journey south to warmer and more hospitable places. I snapped a photo of this blue heron during my walk on the nature trail yesterday.
Autumn is coming for us quickly now and I’m never ready for it. Summer in Minnesota is just a mere blink here and winter—an eternity.
I attempted my third spatchcock chicken on the Ninja Woodfire Grill. This is my first grill with an integrated thermometer so it took me a while to just trust it instead of fussing over whether it was fully cooked or not. This was some of the best chicken I’ve had in my life. It was seasoned with Old Bay, garlic, black pepper, and cayenne. The juices literally bursted from it when I cut into it. I’d say this grill was probably the best purchase we made this summer.
My brother, Curt, is flying in later next week for a very short, whirlwind visit. He’s never ridden in a Tesla before so I plan on subscribing to Full-Self Driving for a month ($100 per month/$3.33 per day) so he can have the full experience. Shenanigans, I’m sure, will ensue as they typically do any time two Waltons get together.
With any luck the V14 version of FSD will drop before my one month subscription is up in September. This newer version of the autonomous driving software is supposed to be a huge upgrade from V13, I’ve heard it drives so well it feels sentient. I can’t wait.
All for now. Thanks for reading.
Hello, dear friend @ericvancewalton
What a wonderful experience you're having. Living away from the hustle and bustle of the city is definitely rewarding, especially when you come into contact with nature and wildlife.
It's great to know your brother will be visiting you; I'm sure you'll have unforgettable moments.
I'd like to take this opportunity to wish you a wonderful weekend.
Thank you Luis! We certainly are enjoying the peace and quiet. Winters can be a bit isolating but the time has been good for my writing! I hope you're having a wonderful weekend.
I completely understand how you feel about leaving the city! The wildlife must be such a nice change of pace.
It's a very welcomed change of pace!
Weird how the photos did t load. However I found the visualisation of appreciating bird life whilst cooking one compelling enough 😆
I had the same issue
I wonder what's going on? I've been having issues, off and on for a few days now. This is the first time pictures wouldn't load though.
I retried about 7pm (CST) last night and they loaded. Both Hive and PeakD have been glitching for me in various ways over the past week or so. Haha, I thought about that as I was writing the post. My grill is on the patio right below the deck with the bird feeders too.
I really enjoyed reading this! Moving from the city to a quieter place sounds like such a refreshing change. The way you described the animals, outdoor time, and family moments made it feel very peaceful and full of joy. It’s nice to see how you’re embracing this slower lifestyle.
Glad you enjoyed it!
https://x.com/lee19389/status/1959365378531827731
#hive #posh
It is not easy to leave the city. Many memories of the time spent with the people there remain with us later. So, all the wild animals we have seen are much more beautiful. And it is a fact that all of us are going through life in the same way. We have created a routine and we are following it. And in life, when we go somewhere to roam and have to go to some such place, our experience of going there helps us a lot in recognizing people and getting information about many things. Nature, be it flowers, plants or animals, all play an important role in our lives and things are changing a lot with time.
A citizen who has lived in a city may experience isolation simply by moving away from that noisy environment to a quiet area with an abundance of animals, but they can adapt in a short time.
We didn't fully realize how much the noise effected us until we were out of it for a while. We lived on a very busy corner in the city—sirens, squealing car tires, motorcycles, fights, yelling, even the occasional gunshot.
Hello dear @ericvancewalton
I often question whether those of us who live in big cities are part of civilization because with all the atrocities that are being committed I really doubt it. But,.that's a topic for another time.
I loved the roast chicken. It turns out they sent me a thermostat to make the roast better and I don't know how to use it. Apparently, I have to test it a lot and have some meat burn before I get it right. Although, the way things are around here, you can't waste anything.
Have fun with your brother. This family relationship is one of the most beautiful and enjoyable.
Thanks for sharing.
Happy Sunday and best week.
Cheers and greetings.
There was a time in my life when I loved the city but I've changed, and you're 100% right that the world has changed as well. Cities aren't what they were before the pandemic.
I like roast chicken too, it's so delicious if it's grilled properly. The thermostat makes it so much easier. The target temp for a whole, split chicken is around 160-165 degrees (F). You just put the thermometer in the thickest part of the breast and once the thermometer tells you the internal temperature is at 160 it's perfectly done.
Thank you! We aren't planning anything big, probably just a few good meals, a little road trip, and maybe a bike ride or two. He flies in on Friday and I have to take him back to the airport early Sunday morning but we'll make the most of the time. Thanks for reading and Happy Sunday to you!
I'm glad you are getting a chance to get back in touch with nature like this! I just hope the skunks stay away for you! They seem to always come around here on the nights we are able to have the windows open :P The chicken looks amazing!
Thanks @bozz. It's been very healing and inspirational. You know, skunks are probably the only animal we haven't seen! The chicken was super good. This grill could make anyone a pitmaster. I'll be grilling NY strips and another chicken the two nights my brother is here with us.
Better knock on wood after you say that! NY Strip is one of my favorite cuts. That and ribeye, but they are all so expensive these days!