Icewind's Ramblings

Here is a turkey recipe that also includes the use of popcorn as a stuffing ingredient -- imagine that. When I found this recipe, I thought it was perfect for people like me, who just are not sure how to tell when a turkey is thoroughly cooked, but not dried out. Give this a try: 8 - 15 lb. turkey 1 cup melted butter 1 cup stuffing (Pepperidge Farm is Good) 1 cup un-popped popcorn (ORVILLE REDENBACHER'S LOW FAT IS BEST) Salt/pepper to taste Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush turkey well with melted butter, salt, and pepper. Fill cavity with stuffing and popcorn. Place in baking pan making sure the neck end is toward the front of the oven, not the back. After about 4 hours listen for the popping sounds. When the turkey's ass blows the oven door open and the bird flies across the room . . . it's done. And, you thought I didn't know how to cook... Happy Thanksgiving Everybody! Ice

I had the pleasure of hearing this several times many years ago in Atlanta during concerts by John Denver.   It was relevant back then and continues today with the world on the brink of unthinkable horror to each other. As you approach the holiday season please be mindful of those who serve and those who are less fortunate than ourselves, enjoy the holiday season.   In this holiday season . . . I give you “The Box”   Once upon a time in the land of hushabye Around about the wondrous days of yore They came across a sort of Box Bound up with chains and locked with locks And labeled “Kindly do not touch, its War!” Decree was issued round about All with a flourish and a shout And a gaily colored mascot tripping lightly on before Don’t fiddle with this deadly box or break the chains or pick the locks And please, don’t ever play about with War Well, the children understood Children happen to be good They were just as good around the time of ...

I have been off for a couple of days and I thought I would be doing a couple things but I have enjoyed that I have had the time to go through many CD’s and load my music into this computer.   I have spent the last two days listening to about 25 or 30 disc of my favorite music and some I thought I would share with you with the great YouTube recordings out there. No particular order but I found some recordings of my favorite musicians.   Enjoy! The Music is You – John Denver James Taylor - Copperline Joni Mitchell – For Free Postcards from LA – Joshua Kaddison Walk Away Joe – Trisha Yearwood Fishin’ – Reunion show in Cullowhee Long Ago and Far Away – James Taylor John Denver – Eclipse Secret of Life – James Taylor Everyone in his own way need’s to decide how they want to "Enjoy the ride." Operator – Jim Croce & Maury Muehleisen Night Moves – Bob Seger Mail Order Annie – Harry Chapin Against the Wind – Bob Seger Carlene - Phil Vassar I hope ...

Its cold too early in the season for these temperatures so it seems somewhat strange that everyone has pretty much shut themselves inside the home hunkered down to stay warm.   Blankets are about and coffee or hot drinks available. It’s still in November and we have had several days with below zero temperatures and for the last several days’ extreme high winds which lower the wind chill factor and also create many problems with flying debris downing power lines.   There have been many communities without power from the winds. People seem to be staying indoors and not heading out to the normal activities usually seen on a weekend.   The area downtown is mostly barren of the throngs of people who hit the several restaurants and bars close to Town Park.   There are still the few protesters who have a small wind break tent to take turns warming up between carrying signs along 6 th Avenue. Internet activity is quiet tonight as I think many people are just happy for...

The holiday is over and it was back to work but it was nice to have a few days to rest and unwind. Thursday dawned with snow falling through the darkness and several inches had fallen.   I was up long before first light as daybreak now is about 9:45 am with the days growing shorter till the winter solstice.   I could see the flakes coming down reflected in the glow of the street light across the street.   My deck and railing was covered with about 3 inches and it was coming down steadily. The weather forecast said to expect 1” to 3” but that had come and gone so it was a lets see where it ends.   I did not have anywhere to go so it was a good day to just hang out and enjoy its beauty. The weather front stalled out over Anchorage and gave us a foot of fresh snow over the weekend.   On Sunday it was time to break out the snow blower for the first time this season and have a go at clearing the driveway.   It is not long but it is four vehicles wide so it ...

I hope everyone’s tummy is full with turkey and stuffing and you’re forced to spend the rest of the weekend on the couch from the delicious food coma. That’s the holiday season. This year for the first time we did not cook a turkey or holiday dinner.   There was no one here to enjoy it so going through the motions of fixing all the trimmings was to no avail.   We hung out watching the snow falling all day long as the one to three inches of snow turned into almost a foot as the weather system stalled out over Anchorage. Overnight the skies cleared and today it is bright, sunny, and not a cloud to be seen.   Whiteness returns and everything is covered with a fresh coat of powder.   There is no left over food to munch on or find space for in the refrigerator and all of the paper plates from yesterdays ‘meal’ have long since been thrown away. Missing is the kids and grandkids this year and my father in law who decided to become a snowbird this winter and headed fo...

Happy Thanksgiving everyone, as I hope it is a great day for you! Times have been a little depressing lately for many people in the country so I thought it would be great to give you a couple of laughs today.  It will only take a few minutes of your time . . . about the time it takes to have a cup of coffee so take a break and give yourself a little smile and for me every time I hear or see this it gives me a good belly laugh. There aren't as many classic Thanksgiving episodes of TV shows as there are classic Christmas episodes.  But there are several we remember fondly, including this one. It's the "Turkeys Away" episode of WKRP in Cincinnati that originally aired on October 30, 1978.  Station Manager Carlson tries to come up with a special promotion for the station and, well, you'll see what happens. WKRP in Cincinnati was a sitcom by Hugh Wilson who was a disc jockey for WQXI radio in Atlanta , Georgia in the late 60’s and early 70’s.  I think a l...

As we approach the holiday season and prepare for the small gathering tomorrow of family and maybe a few friends it is nice to think back on summers end.  It started snowing this afternoon giving us a fresh blanket of the white stuff.  Anchorage is known as the “City of Lights ” during the winter months so I, like many people put up lights for the winter which remain on until the last musher of the Iditarod arrives in Nome completing the race in mid March. With a little extra time on my hands I can think back on summers past where I close my eyes as the memories come back like a wild river, colorful like Northern Lights in the clear cold night, which I saw for the first time this season a few nights ago.  THE reason I came to Alaska , THE thing I wanted to see since I was a little boy in Atlanta .  There they were, dancing above the hillside, misty green, slick and wavy.  Nothing could screw this day anymore as I watched in amazement at the night sky. ...

I guess there is always a bit of drama during the holiday season. Every year it seems something pops up to make things interesting. This year was no exception. Everyone seems to be fascinated with our Governor Sarah Palin. She tried to make light of the past several months and was invited to ‘pardon’ a turkey for Thanksgiving at one of our local fresh turkey suppliers in the Mat-Su. It was supposed to be a fun outing and the pardon went without a hitch. Such footage of any governor would no doubt have drawn interest, but the continuing obsession with the former Republican vice presidential nominee sent this one into the stratosphere. Just afterwards the media started asking questions and Palin stopped to talk for a few minutes of the political climate these last few months. The interview that followed the ceremony is being called "Gobblegate," "the interview of death," or "Silence of the Turkeys ." The video, shot by KTU...

I wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving Day as there is much to be thankful for in these days and times. And for those of us who prefer . . . Have a great day! Ice

I witnessed something this afternoon at work that almost seems like a typical Alaska holiday disaster. Yesterday we bought Turkeys for everyone so they would have a nice 20 pound bird for their Thanksgiving dinner. We wanted to make sure they were bought in time to allow the birds to thaw in time for dinner on Thursday. As things would happen we wanted to have them at the shop by three thirty when the crews returned at the end of their shift. The back of my rig was filled with the turkeys and just after returning it started to snow. It was light at first with that icy snow cone texture but quickly turned into a nice fluffy big flake snowfall. Everyone helped themselves to the turkeys stashed in the back of my pick up and several put them into the back of theirs. No worries it is cold so there is no worry of anything spoiling. Off everyone goes into the darkness heading home to places unknown with nice best wishes for a nice family meal in a couple ...

If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague. Some people are idiots! There is a Southern saying, ‘You can’t fix stupid’! It is really true for some people whom I cannot understand how they make it through the day. It just reinforces in me that God is kind, bless their hearts. Ice

Often misquoted but the words still ring true. The Reverend William John Henry Boetcker originally published the Ten Cannots in 1916 in a leaflet entitled " Lincoln on private property." One side had words by Abraham Lincoln, the other side had the "Cannots" that Rev. Boetcker wrote. It was republished by the Inside Publishing Company in 1917 and 1938. “The Ten Cannots” by Rev. William J. H. Boetcker Presbyterian Clergyman in 1916 "You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred. You cannot build character and courage by taking away man's initiative and independence. You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they should and...