Everyday Living

Friday Fotos: 2/10

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Hicks) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:30:00 PST

Too funny...

courtesy of... somuchpun.com

I couldn't resist...

courtesy of... eatliver.com

WHAT!!...

courtesy of...failblog.org

This is SO true...

courtesy of... failblog.org

Yum Yum Peels Out

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Hicks) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 12:14:46 PST

A few weeks ago, I was peeling some carrots in preparation for making carrot soup. Well, all was going swimmingly, until I had a visitor who just insisted in snoopervising my work...

Yes, she made a pest of herself and seemed to enjoy having carrot peels land on her head. The recipe I used came from something my wife found, but of course, I had to improvise. I doubled it and we ended up with roughly 6 quarts of soup, which we froze (we don't have a canner). This was just one of three soups I made this day and once I get a few pictures of the finished product, I'll share the recipes.

Friday Fotos: 2/3

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Hicks) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 12:15:29 PST

And they're off...

courtesy of... somuchpun.com

...

courtesy of... work.failblog.org

Too funny...

courtesy of...eatliver.com

For you Dr. Who fans...

courtesy of... icanhascheezburger.com

My Pizza Dough Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Hicks) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:17:35 PST

Here's a copy of the pizza dough recipe I use most every week. I use it not only for making pizzas, but calzones, cheesy bread, and French Bread.

The Pizza Dough

Warm water...1 ½ cups (about 110 degrees)
Flour...3-3 ½ cups
Yeast...2 ½ tsp.
Brown sugar... 1 tsp.
Salt...1 tsp.(I use onion salt for more flavor. If you do this, you can omit the onion powder)
Garlic powder...1 tsp.
Onion powder...1 tsp.
Oregano...1 tsp.

Putting it Together

Set your bread machine to the "Mix Dough" setting and then add the brown sugar, water, and yeast. Let proof for about 5 minutes
Add 1 cup of flour and then olive oil, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and oregano
Start the machine and add the remaining flour ½ cup at a time. Once all dough is added, make sure the dough is not too wet or dry (add flour or extra water as needed)
Once the dough cycle is complete (about 1 hour 40 minutes), remove dough and gently roll into a ball (or remove dough from machine after it is finished kneading- about 20 minutes- a place in a large, oiled, bowl. Cover with oiled plastic wrap and place in a warm area until doubled- about 1 hour).
Let rest for 10 minutes and then you are ready to create your pizza
You will have enough dough for 1 very large pizza or 2 smaller ones. Also, you could get 2 smaller pizzas and 2 calzones out of this recipe.

Here are a few ideas for you...

Taco Pizza

How to Make Calzones

My Version of Papa Murphy's Cheesy Bread

Here's a photo of the dough after it's been "de-fluffed" and shaped. This is the photo I used for the Cheesy Bread, so the dough is in a log shape. The dough for your pizza, should be in a ball shape. I forgot to get a photo of it in the bowl, so this will have to do for now...

Friday Fotos: 1/27

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Hicks) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:17:58 PST

courtesy of... somuchpun.com

This is SO true...

courtesy of... work.failblog.org

Oops...

courtesy of...greatfunnypictures.com

Someone is getting a time-out...

courtesy of... icanhascheezburger.com

Friday Fotos: 1/20

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Hicks) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:43:05 PST

courtesy of... somuchpun.com

Love this one...

courtesy of... artoftrolling.com

This is just too cool...

courtesy of...failblog.org

courtesy of... icanhascheezburger.com

Funny Bacon T-Shirts Review and Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Hicks) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:11:19 PST

Contest is now closed.

Congratulations, Louise!!
I will be contacting you for your mailing information. I want to thank all of you who have participated and I hope that you will come back again for the next giveaway

They say everything is better with bacon, but who would have thought that this applies to T-shirts? Well, I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised when my t-shirt from Bacon Wrapped Tees arrived in the mail. As you can tell from the picture, they had a lot of fun designing this shirt. I particularly like it, because I am currently teaching my oldest (who calls it an awesome shirt) chemistry, so it is especially relevant for me. I mean, spelling out BACON by using the periodic table? I mean, it's both fun AND instructive (it also kinda makes me hungry, but that's something for another post). Now, on to the review portion:

I knew that design of the shirt was going to be fun, but while I waited for it to arrive, I was wondering what type of material it would be made from. I think you know what I'm talking about: you buy a fun t-shirt and then discover that it's made from the cheapest and flimsiest material you could imagine. I mean, some of them look as if they could fall apart just by looking at them.

However, with these t-shirts, that is definitely NOT the case! The t-shirts they use are of very high-quality fabric and there is nothing flimsy about them. Their site states, "At Bacon Wrapped Tees, we’re straight-laced serious about quality. To this end, we offer our customers 6.1-ounce-thick sliced bacon shirts. Most of our competitors use 5.5-ounce shirts."¹

Bacon Wrapped Tees also have a 100% quality guarantee. If something is not right with your order, they will either fix it or refund your money. As for shipping, they notified me as soon as the t-shirt shipped and it arrived within a few days. Their site states that most orders are processed and shipped within 24 hours.

Even though I am reviewing a t-shirt, I need to tell you they have a wide variety of different shirt styles and colors (over 300 different style, size, and color combinations). Please go an visit them at FUNNY BACON T-SHIRTS and take a look at the wide variety of different fun designs they have. I'm sure that you will find one that you like.

Now, for the Giveaway...

You can now enter to win a T-shirt like the one pictured above.

I'm going to be trying something different this time, so if you have any problems or questions, please just let me know. Please be assured I will be following to see that this new system works and ALL entries will be counted. If you have already followed me or liked me from a previous giveaway, just click the "I Did That" button and your entry will be counted.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Once the winner is chosen using the random number generator at Random.Org, they will need to supply me with their mailing information and t-shirt size (S-XL) . If you do not supply me with a size, I will order the X-Large as a default. That information will be forwarded to Bacon Wrapped Tees, who will then send your prize.

This contest is open from now until 26 January 2012, 12:01 AM, Eastern Time. Open to US residents only.

Good Luck!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

¹http://www.baconwrappedtees.com/

First Snow of 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Hicks) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:05:55 PST

Here's a few pictures from our first snowfall of the year...

Here's our guard flamingos, Brutus and Killer covered in snow, but still on the job...

The area right in front of them is our driveway, so you know what I need to do...

Here's a view of our backyard bird kingdom...

I've just finished shoveling our driveway and I need to go back out and do it again. Oh well, it's great exercise.

Friday Fotos: 1/13

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Hicks) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:10:27 PST

courtesy of... somuchpun.com

Yep, this makes me want to get one...

courtesy of... lolpix.com

Too funny...

courtesy of...eatliver.com

Opps...

courtesy of... icanhascheezburger.com

and finally, yes this is Yum Yum....

Please click the photo and go and vote for Yum Yum :)

The Farm House: Chapter 3B

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Hicks) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:55:31 PST

Continuing from last time...

Since coming to Maine and breaking out of his shell, Eric had begun to really enjoy taking road trips with his friends. After his first year in Maine, he went home to California for the summer and used that time to earn a little more money that would allow him to purchase a car: a four-door, five-speed, manual-transmission, Honda. Towards the beginning of his second year, he took five days and drove across the country back to Maine. It was, naturally, the first time that he had ever done anything like that by himself and the experience greatly liberated him. The thought of driving across the country, by himself would have frightened him to death a year ago, but now it thrilled him and stirred his long-slumbering sense of adventure.

“You know Pam, I’ve been thinking. Yeah, I know, something I don’t do all that often, but if I decide to hold off on making a decision on selling, how about getting a bunch of us together and spending our Christmas break up there? You know, depending on what happens, of course.”

Pam looked over at Eric and gave him a big thumbs- up for the idea.“Yeah, that would be a great idea! We could bring-up all of our supplies and have an extended party. You know, we could even bring a turkey and cook it for Christmas.”

Suddenly, Eric was getting into this thing, “You know, this is sounding better and better, but Pam, do you even know how to cook a turkey?”

Laughing, Pam replied, “Sure, there’s nothing to it, just pop it in the oven and bake it for four or five hours. What could be easier?”

Eric just laughed, “I believe that it’s a little more complicated than that, but don’t worry, I’ve done it before and I can take care of that job. By the way, who do you want to invite to our little party?”

Glancing over at Pam, Eric saw that he had no need to worry on that account, because she was already writing a list of who to invite and what supplies they would need. As they rolled into Portland, Pam broke-out the map and played navigator as they tried to find the location of the law office.

“Okay, you take a left at the next light and the office should be on the right-hand side.”

Eric merged over to the right lane. “Thanks, I got it.”

Turning the Honda into the parking lot, he started to get a little nervous about what was going to happen. After all, he had never inherited anything before and didn't know what to expect. The office building was one of the tallest buildings in Portland and seemed very ritzy. There was the usual lobby, but this one seemed to be adorned with plants and chandeliers and it even had an aquarium with exotic fish in it. Actually, it looked more like the lobby for a hotel than an office building. Spying the security desk, Eric walked up and asked for directions to the law office.

“Hi, my name is Eric Peterson and I have an appointment with a Bob Conner, he’s a lawyer here.”

The security guard looked up and said, “Yes, his offices are located on the twelfth floor. Just go to the elevators on your right.”

“Thank you,” Eric replied.

Taking Pam's hand, they walked to the elevator to catch a ride. While this may have seemed like just another ordinary elevator ride, to Eric, this would be one ride that would change his life forever.

Well, I hope you enjoyed this little preview. Thanks for reading!
Copyright © 2010 by Tim A Hicks. All Rights Reserved

The Farm House on Smashwords

Read from the first installment here... The Farm House Chapter: 1A

The Farm House: Chapter-3A

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Hicks) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 09:34:35 PST

Continuing from last time...

Since the next day was Friday and he did not have any classes, Eric called the lawyer’s office and set-up an appointment for later that afternoon. Luckily, Pam didn't have classes either, so she was able to go with him. They walked to the Student Union Building, grabbed a sack lunch, and then headed for I-95 and the 2 ½ hour drive to Portland.

“Thanks for inviting me along, Eric. I'm so glad to be able to get away from campus for a while. Ever since I became an RA, it seems like I never get a chance to go anywhere anymore.”

Eric glanced over at Pam and said, “Hey, I’m glad you were able to come, too. I know that it’s not going to be the most exciting day we could have, but maybe when we’re done, we could go find something fun to do.”

Adjusting her sunglasses Pam said, “That sounds great and because I have elected to give up my valuable Friday to accompany you on this little adventure, at the very least, I think that I deserve a lobster dinner.”

“I couldn't agree more and that's why I took the liberty of making reservations at the Red lobster.”
Eric had to duck to try and miss Pam’s jab, but the sore arm was well worth the comment.

Adjusting the radio, Pam asked, “You know Eric, I was wondering what you plan to do now that you are soon to be the owner of a farm?”

“You know, I've been thinking about that and I’ll probably end up selling it. Listen, you know that I’m studying to be a history professor and I don’t know the first thing about running a farm. I mean, does it have cows and horses? Are there crops that need tending? I'm a city boy, I have no clue about that kind of stuff.”

Pam studied Eric, “I realize that, Eric, but you really need to keep your options open. Just try and not make any decisions until you actually see the place. You never know what you might find.”

“Yeah, I’ll keep that in mind,” Eric mumbled. Except for the occasional chitchat, Pam left Eric to his thoughts for the rest of the trip. She knew that this could not be an easy decision for him to make, especially since he hadn’t even seen the place yet.

As for Eric, he was frantically trying to figure out what to do. He's on his way to take ownership of a farm that has been in his family for over four-hundred years. If he decides to sell it, as he is intending, that means that he would be responsible for throwing away a huge chunk of family history. On the one hand, how could he possibly manage to handle a farm and his studies? Here he is, a twenty-three year old guy on the fast-track to a PhD and a promising career as a college professor, who suddenly gets presented with a four- hundred year old farm. On the other, there's a truckload of guilt being laid at his feet if he sells the farm. After all, who wants to known as the killer of the family history? Can't you just smell the guilt?

“Uh Pam, I know you think that I should wait to make a decision, but I really think that I might have to sell it. I mean, there is just no way that I'm going to be able to handle all my school work and a farm. Also, how will I even be able to afford the place? I really don't know what to do, but I’ll keep my options open.”

“Look Eric, I’m not here to tell you how to run your life, I just want you to make an informed decision and in order to do that, you need to have all the facts lined-up in front of you. I know that you'll make the right choice and I'll be there for you.”

Eric glanced over at Pam and said, “Thanks Pam, I appreciate that.”

With that decided, they spent the remaining time enjoying the countryside.

To be continued...

The Farm House: Chapter-3B

Copyright © 2010 by Tim A Hicks. All Rights Reserved

The Farm House on Smashwords

Read from the first installment here... The Farm House Chapter: 1A

Friday Fotos: 1/6

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Hicks) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 09:48:58 PST

Gotta have my Star Trek...

courtesy of... somuchpun.com

I have the same problem...

courtesy of... lolpix.com

courtesy of...failblog.org

Oh, this would be Yum Yum...

courtesy of... icanhascheezburger.com

The Farm House: Chapter-2B

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Hicks) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 09:50:56 PST

Continued from earlier...

Eric slowly sat up in bed and looked around his small dorm room. It was just big enough to turn around in, but it was his home. Once again, he recalled the circumstances that landed him here at the University of Maine. A university that was clear across the country from where he grew up.

When I was in high school, I devoted so much time to my studies, that I neglected to save time for friends and as a result, grew more and more isolated from society. It soon became a routine of going to school, coming home and doing homework, then sleeping and finally, getting up at 3:00AM to deliver newspapers; only to have the cycle repeat itself.

It had become so bad that I even dreaded going out of my room for any reason. After I graduated from high school, I attended a University in town and continued the same old routine. Finally, after I got my degree, I knew that I would have to force myself to get a life and that meant leaving the comfort of this room and routine. With this on my mind, I applied for the University of Maine Graduate program in History and was accepted. No longer, would I be able to hide from people; I would be forced to live and eat with total strangers.

So, my dad and I packed-up the pickup and we drove across the country to Maine. At first it seemed as if the trip would be days of forced conversation, but after the first day, I actually started to enjoy talking to my dad. Towards the end of the journey, I found out things about my dad that I had never known before and for that, I was grateful. Arriving on campus and checking into my room, my dad and I spent the rest of the day just walking around, going to the zoo, and just talking. We had a final dinner together and than the next morning, I stood in the parking lot and watched my dad leave on his journey home. It was then that I discovered that I was truly now alone. It would be up to me to force myself to make friends or otherwise, it would be a long and lonely life.

Walking back to the dorm, I resolved to make myself stay out of my room as much as possible. With this in mind, when I found out that there was an opening on the university grounds crew, I quickly applied for a job and began work. I also forced myself to watch TV, not in the comfort of my tiny room, but out in the main lounge with the rest of the residents. Soon, I began to make friends, not only with the people that lived in my suite, but with others in the dorm. By forcing myself to be more active and by going places with my new friends, I discovered something that had been missing from my life all these years…fun.

Yes, I was actually having fun for the first time in my life and, by the end of that first year, I had made a number of lifelong friends. Now, in my second year I found that I truly enjoyed my life and was happy for the first time in years.

Eric slowly got out of bed and reached over to turn-on the coffee machine. Mornings were bad enough, but mornings without coffee were just unthinkable. With the coffee going, he put on his robe and began his usual morning routine with a walk down to the bathroom and a nice hot shower.

Walking down the narrow hallway to the bathroom, he ran into one of his suite-mates, “Hey, Steve, how’s it going?”

Steve, who stood at a staggering six-feet, five inches staggered over and said, “I’m here, but other than that, I can’t comment at the moment.”

“I know exactly what you mean. There’s coffee in my room if you want some. Just go on in.”

Looking as if there was actually some life left in him, Steve muttered, “Thanks, man.”

Eric lived in a dorm that housed about eighty students and was built in the form of an “H”. If you looked at the “H”, the middle part would be the main lounge on the first floor, a group of rooms, or suites, on the second floor, and a game room, kitchen, and laundry in the basement. The two legs of the “H” contained two groups of seven rooms on each floor, called suites. There would be eight students in each suite (suite-mates), which had a small, common lounge and a bathroom.

Once in the bathroom, Eric walked to the shower, reached in and turned the water on. Once the water was hot enough, he stepped into the shower and, standing under the streaming hot water, he started to go over the strange dream he had just had: Why would he be staying in a strange house in the first place? Would he actually be dumb enough to provoke a ghost, or whatever it was?

However, the main concern facing him was why he was having this dream in the first place. If this was the first time he had it, there would not be a problem and he could just chalk it up to random weirdness, but he has had this dream many times and they always ended in the same way: running away from something. Well, trying to run away from something, that is. It's such a strange sensation when you're in a dream and it feels as if you are running through mush. You run and you run, but you hardly move, while whatever is chasing you gets closer and closer. There must be a reason, but what is it?

Later, after another tough day of working on the grounds crew and then attending night classes, it felt great to be able to get back to the dorm and relax. As Eric walked through the front door Pam, the Resident Advisor on duty, handed him an official-looking letter and said, “This came for you today and it looks like it might be important, so just remember, if you’ve inherited a million bucks, I’m your gal.”

“Thanks, Pammy, I always knew you wanted me for my money,” Eric said, smiling.

Smacking him playfully upside the head, she blew him a kiss and walked back into the office.
Looking at the letter, Eric saw that it came by certified mail and that the return address seemed to be some sort of lawyer’s office. Hey, what if Pam was right and he did inherit a million bucks? Oh well, things like that only happened to other people.

Opening the letter, Eric read through it once and then had to go back and read through it again. The letter stated that he had inherited a 400 year-old farm and some money from an uncle. It then went on to say that he would have to stop by the lawyer’s office in Portland to sign some papers.

Turning towards Pam, he said, “Uh, Pam, is that offer still open?”

To be continued...

The Farm House: Chapter-3A

Copyright © 2010 by Tim A Hicks. All Rights Reserved

The Farm House on Smashwords

Read from the first installment here... The Farm House Chapter: 1A

The Farm House: Chapter-2A

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Hicks) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 09:46:57 PST

Continued from last time...

Eric was alone in his uncle’s house. The 11:00 O’ Clock news was on and there was some story about a guy who raised a record-sized pumpkin and was exhibiting it at the fair. When they ran stories like that, you know that it was a slow news day. His uncle's cat Elsa, was doing her usual routine of sitting and staring at him; that cat wasn’t good for much else…what cat is? It was when the news was over that Eric realized what happens next…bedtime. He knew that he would have to go to bed, but the thought frightened him, and he didn’t seem to know why. It could have something to do with the fact that he would have to turn-off all the lights and try to sleep in the dark, empty, and let’s not forget, BIG house. The fact that there were neighbors all around him did nothing to alleviate his anxiety. It was a well-known fact that when the lights went out, the ghosts came to life. Everybody knows that!

“Elsa, will you stop that tearing around like that! You had all day to play, there’s no need to run around the house and…”

He stopped in mid-sentence when he saw what Elsa was doing. That stupid, brain-damaged cat was sitting at the base of the stairs and staring. As he sat there and looked at her, Elsa started growling and hissing into the dark stairwell. The feelings that washed over him were ones of fright and dread. Knowing that the stupid cat had seen or sensed something in the house, he knew that drifting off to sleep would not be an option until he went and checked things out. So, Eric got up out of his chair and did what any normal person would do and opened the front door. He did this not so he could run outside, but to give himself a sense of security. He knew that beyond the front door lay the neighbors and safety. It never occurred to him that the front door was a full 30 feet from the staircase door. However, in this case, it's the feeling that counts.

Eric slowly turned from the front door and started for the rear of the house. “Elsa, what do you think you're doing?”

The sound of his own voice comforted him, although it did nothing to alleviate the tension from Elsa. As Eric neared the staircase, turning on every light within his reach, he saw that Elsa’s fur was standing on end and the growling grew louder. When Eric got to within a few feet of the doorway, Elsa started to back away, spitting at the door. It suddenly grew very cold in the hallway and Eric sensed something else; it was a feeling very hard to describe, but he felt the presence of evil and it seemed to be coming from the stairwell in waves. It took every ounce of strength his body could muster, to go those last few feet.

As he turned to look in the doorway, he comforted himself with his own voice by talking to Elsa, “It's okay Elsa, there’s nothing up there.”

As he looked up the curving stairway, he heard the sound of a creaking floorboard from above him. Elsa, always helpful, took off and headed for the laundry room at the other side of the house. Something was upstairs, when there shouldn't be anything there. The floorboard creaked again. There was definitely something walking around up there. Looking over his shoulder, Eric noticed that the front door was wide open and there was a clear shot to the outside.

Feeling brave, Eric looked back up the stairs and yelled, “Hey, you don’t scare me you stupid ghost!”
All of a sudden, an inhuman howl roared through the house. It didn’t come from just upstairs, but from all around him.

Turning back Eric yelled once more, “Come and get me, you jerk!”

As he turned and started to run for the front door, he heard the unmistakable sound of an immensely heavy footstep at the top of the stairs. Running for the door, Eric noticed that he was not really running at all. It felt as if something was pushing against him and slowing him down. The footsteps behind him grew louder, but now they also came from the direction of the basement. Eric tried to run faster, but it was like running through gelatin. The howls and the footsteps grew nearer from all sides, yet the front door seemed to be just out of reach. The overpowering sense of evil seemed to be suffocating him and making it harder to breathe. The howling grew deafening, the footsteps closer, the fear overpowering. Almost there, the front door is within reach. As Eric reached for the door, something touched his shoulder and as he turned around, he saw a sight that made him…

BZZZZZZZZZZZ, jolting awake to the sound of the alarm clock, Eric reached over and shakily shut it off. He didn’t even consider hitting the snooze alarm, because he knew that there was no way that he would be able to get back to sleep after that dream. He had been having this dream off and on for most of his life, yet he just couldn't understand why he kept dreaming of that house. He'd never even seen that house before and yet, he's having these horrible dreams about it.

To be continued...

The Farm House: Chapter-2B

Copyright © 2010 by Tim A Hicks. All Rights Reserved

The Farm House on Smashwords

Read from the first installment here... The Farm House Chapter: 1A

The Farm House: Chapter-1B

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Hicks) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 09:45:59 PST

Continued from last time...

It wasn’t until a few months later that I discovered the truth about the farm that Steve lived on. We were having dinner at the local steakhouse, when I decided to ask Steve about his unique living situation. In between bites of my medium-rare steak, I asked,

“You know, when you first came into my office and told me the reason you wanted to fast- track your will, I was very intrigued as to what your situation was. Now that we know each other better, I was wondering if you wouldn't mind elaborating on your problem?”

Although he had been expecting this question to come up, Steve was still debating as to whether or not to tell Bob about his problem. After all, he could very well write him off as a nutcase.

“You know, Bob, I've been trying to decide if I should tell you what’s going on. I know that we've become good friends and I do trust you a great deal, but I’m not sure if you’re ready to hear the whole story.”

I set my wine glass down and said,” You’re right, Steve, we're friends and because we are friends I want you to now that I'm here to help you; not just legally, but as your friend. I would like to be able to help you, but if you feel uncomfortable telling me, I’ll understand.”

“Thanks, Bob. That means a lot coming from you. I’m just afraid that if I tell you, you’ll think I’m crazy. Give a minute to think about this, would you?”

“Hey, no rush. Take your time.”

I took the opportunity to grab a French fry and another bite of steak. Boy, they really do a great job on these steaks at this restaurant. They're so tender, you really don’t need a knife to cut them, and the French fries are just fantastic. I remembered the first time that Steve and I came to this restaurant and he ordered his steak with fries, instead of a baked potato. I had a great time kidding him about it. Now, as I look over at Steve's plate, there are French fries, instead of his beloved baker.

After a few minutes, Steve had come to a decision to tell me the whole story. So, over the next hour, Steve went step-by-step through the entire situation. I listened with rapt attention and my steak, what was left of it, seemed almost forgotten. As he continued, a thousand questions seemed to flood into my mind and it was all I could do to not interrupt.

When Steve was finally finished, all I could say was, “You’re kidding, right?”

Steve replied, “I wish I was, buddy, but it is just as I have told you and I am at a loss as to what to do next.”

“Well, I can think of one thing…leave!”

Chuckling, Steve just looked at me and said,” it’s just not that easy; I can’t just walk away from this. That farm has been in our family for over 400 years and I can’t just pick-up and leave. Surely you can understand that?”

Reluctantly, I agreed, “Yeah, I can see where you’re coming from, but we’re not talking about having some mouse infestation; what you’re telling me here is just unbelievable. Isn’t there anything that you can do?”

Taking a sip of his wine, Steve just shrugged his shoulders and smiled. “Actually, Bob, I do have an idea, but I’m going to need some help to pull it off. Interested?”

Yeah, that’s when the real adventure began and now it looks like it’s going to start all over again, except this time with someone who knows nothing about what to expect. This time, an innocent will be swept-up in the madness.

While continuing to watch the sailboats drifting along in the bay, Bob said, “Well, what’s done is done and I need to get I touch with his nephew.”

Bob turned around and looked at Paul with a determined look, “and I WILL warn the boy.”

Paul looked shocked, “Whoa, wait a minute there, Bob. Why do you want to do a stupid thing like that? He’s just going to think your nuts. Besides, he’s in college, right? There's no way he'll want to pull-up stakes and live there. What’s he going to want with an old farm, anyway?”

“Look Paul,” Bob insisted, “I don’t care what he thinks of me, but I will not have his welfare on my conscience. Yeah, he'll most likely sell the place and that will be that, but what if he doesn’t? I still have the responsibility to tell him.”

Bob walked over to the bar and poured himself a stiff drink. Well, rank does have its privileges. Swirling the drink around in the glass he turned back and looked Paul in the eyes, “I don’t care what he thinks, all I know is that I want to be able to sleep at night. Let’s go ahead and write the contact letter. The sooner we get this over with, the better.”

To be continued...

The Farm House: Chapter-2A

Copyright © 2010 by Tim A Hicks. All Rights Reserved

The Farm House on Smashwords

Read from the first installment here... The Farm House Chapter: 1A

The Farm House: Chapter-1A

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Hicks) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 09:45:13 PST

Have a Happy New Year, everyone!!!!

I figured that since the first 20% of my book is free to view when you visit Smashwords (where you can obtain an e-Book copy: link to follow), that I could do the same thing on my site. So, over the next few days, I'll run the "free" part of my book for all of you. I hope you enjoy it.

I am also very proud to announce that I am now a contributing author to Operation e-Book Drop.It is a group of independent authors who donate their ebooks to deployed coalition troops.

“Well, that’s it then,” Bob said as he wearily removed his glasses. “I can’t believe he’s gone. You know, Paul, I feel like it’s my fault that this happened.”

Paul leaned forward and said, “Hey, we’ve been through this a thousand times already. You did everything that you possibly could to get him out of there. It’s not your fault that he was too stubborn to leave.”

“I know, Paul, it’s just that in the back of my mind, I feel that I could have done something more, that’s all.”

Bob eased himself from his highly polished walnut desk and turned to look out the window. His law office was located on the twelfth floor of a twenty-story office tower that overlooked the ocean. It amazed him that he ever got involved with the old man to begin with. It seemed like just a simple thing at first; this guy comes into the office to get his affairs in order, the will is written, witnessed, and the bill is sent: end of story. Yet, there was something about the older gentleman that spoke to Bob. Was it the way he talked, with that unique New England accent, or the fact that there seemed to be some sort of urgency in the way he was going about settling his affairs.

While Bob stared at the sailboats plying around the bay, he remembered that meeting like it was yesterday:

Bob stood up from his desk and said, “Hello Mr. Sanders, please come in and make yourself comfortable.”

“Thank you, and please call me Steve.”

“OK, Steve, what can I do for you today?”

Steve settled in his chair and said, “Well, I need to talk to you about getting a will set-up. I've never done anything like this before, so I'll need you to walk me through the entire process. Also, there's some urgency to this, so if we could conclude this business today, that would be great.”

Bob, leaned slightly forward in his chair and studied the person seated in front of him. Steve was fairly tall at 6 feet 4 inches and seemed to be in pretty good shape. Not much fat on this 60-year old frame; actually, he seemed to be in good health

Bob asked, “You know, I'll be happy to help with this, but is there a specific reason for the urgency?”

Looking somewhat uncomfortable, Steve answered, “Yes, there is, but without going into too much detail, let’s just say that my current housing situation is not the greatest.”

“Alright,” Bob slowly answered, “forgive me for saying so, but if you can afford to come to this firm and you have the resources to make having a will necessary, shouldn’t you be able to simply move away to a safer area?”

Chuckling, Steve replied, “Believe me, I wish it were that simple.”

Leaning back in his chair, Bob asked, “I see here that you live in Vermont, what made you decide to drive all this way to come see me? Not that I'm complaining, mind you, just curious.”

Steve looked over at Bob and said, “Well, to be truthful, I was having dinner with one of my old army buddies and when I mentioned that I was thinking about having a will drawn-up, he recommended you. He said you were very intelligent and trustworthy. So, I decided to come and see if he was right.”

Laughing, Bob replied, “Well, I'll do my best to live up to your lofty expectations. Now then, shall we get started?”

From just that simple exchange, Bob decided that he actually liked this guy. He didn't know of many people that can be in a dangerous situation and actually have the fortitude to make light of it. So, turning back to the work at hand, Bob continued the process of drafting the will. It was during the natural course of the interview, that it soon became apparent that we had a great deal in common and soon became fast friends.

Friday Fotos: 12/30

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Hicks) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 10:20:35 PST

Happy New Year!!!

courtesy of... somuchpun.com

courtesy of... lolpix.com

Priorities! Glad they have them...

courtesy of...pyzam.com

Oh, yes...

courtesy of... icanhascheezburger.com

Merry Christmas 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Hicks) — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 12:12:25 PST

Merry Christmas!!!

Friday Fotos: 12/23

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Hicks) — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 12:13:33 PST

Have a very Merry Christmas!!!

courtesy of... somuchpun.com

I couldn't resist...

courtesy of... lolpix.com

courtesy of...work.failblog.org

Merry Christmas...

courtesy of... icanhascheezburger.com

Frosted Toast Crunch Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Hicks) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:40:40 PST

Contest is now closed.

Congratulations, Manda!!
I will be contacting you for your mailing information. I want to thank all of you who have participated and I hope that you will come back again for the next giveaway

When I saw this giveaway, my first thought was to remember back when I was growing up and getting ready for school. Each morning, my mom would make me breakfast and even though it was healthy and filled me up, it was usually the same thing every day. However, on those occasions when she got something new, I would actually look forward to getting up and eating breakfast. Yep, any break in the routine was something to look forward to. Granted, since I was getting ready to go to school, my day kind of went downhill from there, it was still a fun way to start the day.

Are you currently in the breakfast doldrums and trying to find a way out? Well, there's good news, because General Mills is introducing a new cereal called Frosted Toast Crunch, which has the delicious taste of frosted vanilla (frosted vanilla coating is artificially flavored). Each square of this cereal is baked with the wonderful taste of frosted vanilla and is dusted with a dash of cinnamon. We all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but that doesn't mean it has to be boring. Frosted Toast Crunch gives you the nutrition you need with the taste you'll crave!

Frosted Toast Crunch cereal will be available in your local grocers in early January. So, why not start your New Year off with a taste explosion and send your kids back to school with a smile on their face. They'll thank you for it!

Now, for the Giveaway...

You can now enter to win a Frosted Toast Crunch prize pack.

Your prize pack will include...

Spilt milk bowl
Lickety spoon
Frosted pitcher
Frosted Toast Crunch cereal

I'm going to be trying something different this time, so if you have any problems or questions, please just let me know. Please be assured I will be following to see that this new system works and ALL entries will be counted. If you have already followed me or liked me from a previous giveaway, just click the "I Did That" button and your entry will be counted.

Once the winner is chosen using the random number generator at Random.Org, they will need to supply me with their mailing information. That information will be forwarded to MyBlogSpark, who will then send your prize.

This contest is open from now until 30 December 2011, 12:01 AM, Eastern Time. Open to US residents only.

Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Legal stuff: I hereby attest and affirm I have received a prize pack from General Mills. I also disclose and reveal that the Frosted Toast Crunch, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

Friday Fotos: 12/16

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Hicks) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 13:09:14 PST

Yea!! I finally have some time to at least do a Friday Fotos!! This Chemistry stuff is a killer! Anyway, in the last few days of the semester, so hopefully I can have some free time to catch-up on my site and visit some of yours :)
Have a great weekend!!

Let's throw another...

courtesy of... somuchpun.com
***Answer after last photo***

Amazing...

courtesy of... failblog.org

courtesy of...very demotivational.com

Too true...

courtesy of... icanhascheezburger.com

***Answer: Throw another shrimp on the Barbie

Friday Fotos: 11/25

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Hicks) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 21:11:44 PST

courtesy of... somuchpun.com

Figures...

courtesy of... lolpix.com

Really???...

courtesy of... my sister-in-law. Thanks, Barb!!

Yep, seen this...

courtesy of... icanhascheezburger.com

Our Thanksgiving Day Menu 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Hicks) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 21:15:05 PST

Here is a list of the items we will be preparing for Thanksgiving. If you would like the recipes for any of these dishes (Each recipe comes with its own shopping list), please click the link and you will be taken to the appropriate page. If you have any questions on preparing any of the following recipes, please let me know in a comment.

Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

Appetizers...

Cheesy Bread

I decided to make rolls this year...

White Dinner Rolls

You've got to have potatoes...

Whipped Potatoes

How about some gravy to go with those potatoes...

Lump-Free Thanksgiving Gravy

Yes, we are doing stuffing as well. I just sauté celery, onions and add the stuff from the box, so I don't have anything written-up on it.

...And still in his bag, the star of the show...

Thanksgiving Turkey

Now, for dessert...

Spiced Pumpkin Cheesecake

and finally...

Apple Pie with Crème Fraîche and Black Pepper

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!!

Ducks Я Us

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Hicks) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 21:15:36 PST

Yesterday, I was awakened by a loud banging sound coming from our roof. I figured that maybe Santa was paying an early visit this year (yes, I've been SO good), but before I could even get out of bed, I heard a commotion coming from our backyard. Looking out the back door, I saw fourteen (yes, 14), ducks fighting and eating from our feeders. That banging I heard on our roof, were the ducks landing and then taking off to finally land in our backyard.

We usually have only four to six, all pairs, feeding from our yard, so this mass invasion came as something of a shock. My wife tried to get some good photos, but with our POS camera, these are the best she could do. Unfortunately, the ducks flat-out refused to stay still for this photo-op...

Friday Fotos: 11/18

noreply@blogger.com (Tim Hicks) — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 11:08:35 PST

courtesy of... somuchpun.com

I kinda figured this...

courtesy of... lolpix.com

Love the look on that dog...

courtesy of... hahastop.com

Another mystery solved...

courtesy of... icanhascheezburger.com