The audacity of mice

Our little friend is back.  Since the toilet seat was down this time, there was no scooping him out.

However, he's here.  Dread Pirate Toilet Mouse.

The thing about these little basta......., critters is that they have fantastic homing skills, once they find something they like, they'll keep coming back.

So, now ToiletMouse had his chance, a chance to break free and start a new life somewhere other than our boat, preferably one of the power boats on C Dock.  :-)

That chance was blown, and blown clear out of the water because ToiletMouse is now destroying the interior of the boat.

Gloves are off.  It's me or the mouse (probably mice, but I don't want to think about that right now.)

So, I have this irrational fear, not of mice, they don't bother me.  I don't like knowing they are there and they are possible hiding behind something.  But my irrational fear comes from I picture that they are going to jump out of nowhere like some ninja mouse and rip my face off or something. I have no idea.  It's never happened, usually they just say 'Oh shit' and scurry away.  But i fear the ninja mouse.

Back to toilet mouse.  So, I see some suspicious scraps of torn up material on our settee cushion. Please don't tell me he's tearing up our cushions, I'm not ready to tackle that job yet.

So I pull back the back cushion to see, and lo and behold. Mr. Mouse is in the storage behind the seat making himself I nice little nest in some material we have back there (I think it's the old screen surround for the old bimini).  To which Mr. Mouse looks out at me, 'Oh HI, gotta go!' and disappears into the cubby.  No, jumping out, no ripping faces off.

So, war has been declared.  I envision that this is going to turn into some psychotic version of Caddyshack with me in the role of Bill Murray. GUNGA GALUNGA!

Right now, the boat is decorated with several tempting peanut butter laced mouse traps.  All foodstuffs have been removed.  In order to entice Mr. Mouse, I ran some water in the sinks (I'm sure he's starting to get thirsty).   I'm sure when I get back up to the boat all traps will be sprung and no mouse.

As for me, I'm off to search for this, seriously, why didn't somebody tell me this existed?

Visitor on the boat

I am quite amazed that we've lucked out for so long, two boats, two different environments, but except for the requisite spiders on the lake we've been pretty much free of unwanted guests.

But, today, I arrive at the boat to see that we've got a stowaway.

Le petite raton.

And no, not a cool one that:
a) had a cool accent and saved orphans
b) could help whip up some stellar French cuisine
c) help move the family house when the Farmer's plow was on it's way.

Wait! Did I just throw some rodent-movie trivia at you?  Yes, I did.  Answers below.

First clue that we had a visitor was the lovely confetti that rodents do love to toss around.

Second clue:

I tried to take the pic outside, but 25kt winds were blowing it all around.  However its snack crackers, the package of 6?  Almost all of it eaten.  Thus explaining the copious amounts of rodent confetti all over the boat.

Then my straw cowboy hat, that will make a FINE nest.  Now, I'm starting to feel like the Three Bears after Goldilocks visited.

Then I head further and get hit with a stench from the head. OH SHIT. That little cretin has drowned in the head.

So preparing myself for bloated dead mouse carcass, I look in our toilet to see. Two big black eyes staring back at me.  'uh, lady, could you help me out here?'

Me:  I'm very unhappy at this moment.  This is NOT cool.
Mouse:  Dude, let's get some perspective here. I'm up to my neck in a TOILET!

So at this point, I am relieved that I won't have to worry about mysterious rodents popping out at me unawares (however, there can be friends on board, will find out tomorrow).  Also relieved that we don't have a dead mouse in our toilet.

But how the blank am I supposed to get Toilet Mouse out of my head?

So, a combination of one bucket, two bowls and a paper plate and Toilet Mouse was now safely ensconced in a bucket.  To which I marched way away from the docks (what the hell is crazy bucket lady doing?) and released Toilet Mouse to hopefully be eaten by a snake later on.

I dub thee, TOILET MOUSE

Toilet Mouse wasn't really excited about leaving the bucket at first, why would he?  Seriously, he just partied on our boat like a rock band at the Ritz.

Back to the boat to now clean up his little disaster, trying not to think of Hantavirus the entire time.  I mentioned to my spouse that the little guy was hanging out in blue water (I always dump a little tank cleaner when we leave), my spouse replies.  Well, did you rinse him off before you let him go?

SERIOUSLY?  

So, the answers to Mouse-Movie Trivia
a) The Rescuers--voiced by Eva Gabor
b) Ratatouille--voice by Patton Oswalt
c) Mrs. Brisby and the Rats of NIMH--novel

Straight from Kansas.......wine?!?!?

My husband brought this home yesterday.  He actually bought it because of the picture on the bottle. More on that later.

First, lets get a visual:

Eastern Kansas is starting to develop quite a few local wineries.  I have to be honest, I have not traditional been a fan of the wines that come out of here and Missouri.  But, part of that has to do with my taste preference.  I'm not a wine snob, I don't care if the wine came from the Bordeaux region of France or Eudora, Kansas.  It's all about taste.  And for the record?  My heart lies in the Malbourough region of New Zealand, with Oregon and Washington starting to cover some ground.

So back to why my spouse bought the wine.  The picture on the bottle is by a Native American artist, Brent Learned http://www.buffalobullhowling.com/   really, he has some interesting work reflecting his heritage.

So, what's a Seyval.  If you are wine snob, it's the demon spawn of hybrid grapes.  If you are not, the Seyval Blanc hybrid produces quite a crisp taste at least in this vintage.  So, what I am trying to say, I am impressed with this little winery literally 6 miles from where I live.  Kudos to you.  If you are interested in viniculture, look up Seyval Blanc.

The midwest uses a lot of hybrid grapes, mainly I believe because of the incredible harsh environment the midwest can throw at you (heat, cold, the plagues of Egypt...and I'm not kidding)

It's a young winery, and you can tell by the taste, but once again. I am impressed.  (I got an 'age of the grapevine' lesson in Napa Valley once..)

If you are wondering about the name, I'm pretty sure it's an American Civil War reference.

So, whereever you are, go explore your local offerings.  You may be surprised!

Working the sail loft

Warm weather has finally arrived, and yes, true to midwest fashion we went straight from winter to summer, so not pass spring, do not collect $200.

Evidently, while we were in Florida stowing HemiD, it rained some here. As in some, I mean..a lot.  So it's high tide at the lake, considering we were coming from some severe low water levels, you have to realize ... that's a lot of water when it comes up a good 15+ feet.

With warm weather, also came the realization that I need to stop farting around and get the sail loft projects done.  IN my defense, I had been trying to earn my keep with actual work type work, the kind that pays money.

So first I got our binnacle cover done, now we can keep the table up top at all times now and it will be protected.

I also made a cool little storage bag for the teak doors our sail neighbor Terry made for us.

In reciprocation, Terry bought a bimini online for his Cheoy Lee and asked if I would add a backstay zipper and windows in it.  Of course I would.

Okay, he bought a bimini off the internet, not really intended for a sailboat, but whatever, he's working on a budget.  Said bimini requires you taking apart the frame to put it on. Wow.  What can go wrong there. (You'll find out.)

So, I was able to complete his request with some modifications, and honestly, I like what I did with his better than I like what I did with mine.  Harrumph.

Finished project.

The three stooges (Terry, Terry's son Todd and Denny) trying to install the bimini.

Oh, I should also add in above picture that the winds were about 20kts.  Parts of frame did go into the drink. However, and I quote, I was going to replace them anyway.  Oooooo-kaaaaay.

But get it on they did in which I rapidly said, this won't do.  If you look at the first pic, you can see that there just a tiny bit of cloth holding the bimini to the mid-frame.  Nu-huh, that's ain't working.  The sides are billowing up like Marilyn Monroe's dress over a heat vent.

So, I said, give it back let me install some webbing to help keep the sides from billowing up.

And that...that earned me one Black Box Sauvignon Blanc.  :-)

It's supposed to be a living room/dining room. Not a sail loft/office.

So, the spouse is now considering charging me rent for the good percentage of our house that I've turned into my sail loft and secondary office.  (My projects sometimes require me to work on a .... PC.  Very sad.)

And if you are wondering, the globe in the corner IS one of those that opens up to provide drinks/mini-bar.  Gift from my parents...who actually thought they were buying us an accurate globe.

Not so much.

Updates soon on repurposing stuff and the great cockpit cushion project.  

Cooking with George

So my ESS Sabrina has been downloading things for the past several months getting ready for the Big Adventure.

Understandable.  I'm not getting ready for a Big Adventure, yet still I am trying to get rid of things.

Hilarious, if you are on the receiving end.  Because there's a certain ballet when your friends are trying to offload all of their stuff to everybody.

Basically, after a couple of months, the conversation would be:
Sabrina: Hey I was wondering if you would......
Me: No.  I'm good.
Sabrina:  I was going to say like to have drinks.
Me:  Oh, sure! Yeah.

However, the drink thing was just a ploy, because I would still wind up with something. (However, ESS Sabrina, everything has been put to use, thank you very much!!!)

So, one of these conversations, I was prepared to say no, when the item in question was her George Foreman grill.

Whoa, wait, hold up, back up, YES, I WILL take that!  An agreement almost nullified several weeks later by a clueless spouse.

So, recipe time.  The main reason I wanted it was to make paninis.  It does great with paninis, however, if you want to go dump $300-$500 on a 'panini grill', knock yourself out.

Turkey Brie Panini
Turkey deli meat (thick cut is good, but thin cut heats through better)
Baby arugula
Apple butter (try to find a small batch jar, better than the Musselman's brand)
Brie (triple cream is best, but beggars can't be choosers)
Ciabatta bread

If you can get Ciabatta that is already sandwich size, awesome. If you buy the loaf, cut to make roughly square shape sandwich size.  You can trim the crown off (rounded part on top of loaf) if you wish.

Brush olive oil on the outer sides of bread, it was suggested to me that I add herbs when I do this, will try next time.

Spread Apple Butter on the inner sides of each side of bread.

Place turkey on one side

Place brie and arugula on other size.

Assemble, place in Foreman grill (I went with High) until grill marks are on bread and cheese has started to melt into gooey wonderfulness.

This is a great savory sandwich, it has sweet from apple butter, slightly bitter from arugula and mellow brie goodness.

****You can also make paninis on your boat.  Same assembly, but use grill (or grill pan on stove) and wrap something heat proof and with some weight in foil to apply the 'press' to the sandwich, you'll have to flip it this way, but still get an awesome sandwich.

_____________________

So since my first attempt with George was successful, I figure it's time to open the experimental kitchen now that my husband is out of town.

Second attempt grilled marinated veggies and yogurt marinated chicken.  Not a hard fast recipe here.
Veggies: Veggies of choice, Olive oil, spices of your choice (I used Mediterranean influence) let marinate for 1-4 hours.  I put my veggies on a skewer to cook.
Chicken: Boneless chicken breasts, plain greek yogurt, olive oil (just a bit to help loosen yogurt), garlic, spices (oregano, thyme, basil, etc), hot sauce (Lottie's is my current favorite), lemon zest

Thing that I never understood, about the George Foreman grill (which I should have working at McDonald's during college, duh) is how fast things will cook.  So, I whipped out veggies and then chicken in short order.  It was awesome.  I used eggplant, cherry tomato, onion for my veggies since the zucchini and summer squash wasn't looking very appetizing at the store.

I think if I had let the grill recover a bit more after the veggies, I would have got more even score marks on the chicken.  Nevertheless, still juicy and delicious.