April Showers.

[hank4elk]

55,heading to 90's,again.
Heat wave back.
Rains continue in SW but some places still dry. Looking very green generally.
Tons of wildflowers popped this week. Acres of Rocky Mtn. Bee plant...turkey beans.
Pinions continue to die. Lost 3 more I had been watering...another dozen 100 feet away.

Elk back. Food and Water.

Picked up the Ford yesterday and a custom selection of homemade green & red salsas and sauces. Killer green w/cilantro...
Lots of green grass and elk around my friends place.
Short found and fixed, new winch in,very clean. Front suspension rebuilt, aligned. New driver window without mud scratches...
Tuned, fully. Lubed.
Both trucks as good as possible.

Got the worst call possible last night.
The ex's daughter has brain cancer and after 2 large tumors removed the diagnosis is terminal. 12 months ,maybe.
Out of no where. Has a 14 yo daughter. 54.
Known her since she was 17. As close as I will get to having a daughter.
One of the best people I have ever known.
Pushed her mom off the chef chart, 20 yrs as a private one.
Luckily she has an huge support group.

I could not sleep much, needless to say.
I vividly remember the trip to Santa Fe and dropping her off at the Culinary Institute.
18 and she picked up 4 more degrees in the field, after.

Helpless in Pie Town.

 

[F250]

Sorry to hear that Hank. Prayers sent.

 

[Charlie Bob]

That sucks , life is brutal sometimes.

 

[Bc1992]

Prayers sent man. Hate to hear that.

 

[Dave N]

Sorry for the girl and your trees as well. Life can change very quickly.

 

[hank4elk]

A fond memory of Britta.

I was in my shop sorting through oak. Phone rang and D called out, "Britt is on and needs to talk to you". OK, she never called...me.
What's up kiddo?
She had just been hired as the galley cook on a private fishing yacht. 150 footer. Mr H a hotel owner, loved fishing.

Hank, the crew just tossed a live salmon on my galley table. I don't know what to do...she had been a veggie most of her adult life.
You must have a mallet or a rolling pin handy...grab that sucker and smack it soundly on the head...OK...
I talked her through gutting and steaking out a salmon. She knew how to sharpen a knife, from me. And school.
She had learned meat from school and me...but never even cooked a fresh fish. From me.

Simple, butter in a skillet and salt & pepper. 1 inch steaks. Sear them til brown and serve with a wedge of lemon and a sprig of dill on the side. Not long, maybe 5 min a side max.
Keep it simple...OK.

"Now you school the crew".
Take all the stuff and swipe it into the galley slop bucket, you must have a galley bucket...yep.
Now take it and dump it on their clean deck, there must be a scupper on the deck near the galley door.........a what?
Just do it, and tell them "No one makes a mess in my galley. You bring me clean fish."

The call to mum a few days later lasted an hour.
Mr. H raved about the simple perfection.
He had a mast bong installed in the galley on a sign. "Don't mess with the cook."
She cooked for him and guests plus crew for 5 years.
Summers off Canada and Alaska fishing, winters from Mexico to Costa Rica, fishing.
Taking a boat and going ashore to provision for the next leg of the journey.

She is one of the good ones. A keeper as dad would say.

 

[noharleyyet]

That's a gut punch with some weight behind it hank...sorry man.

 

[hank4elk]

That's a gut punch with some weight behind it hank...sorry man.

It's been tough Ken.

But I can only remember the good. The fearless being she is.
Epic battles with mum.
Not afraid to walk from bad employers and big $.
Always doing her best.

Second hand...
Mum & dad outside her recovery room looking in.
The talk after from staff.

A couple come in and go and put hands on the glass barrier.
He turned and introduced himself and she did same.
Mr. & Mrs. Z. Famous director and producer.
Her employers for the last 18 years.

They have never met before.
The discussion.

Mr. Z says, we'll be going now and will check in tomorrow.
Here is our private number.
Don't worry about insurance and such. She is covered.
If you need anything call me.
Anytime.

They shook hands and departed.

I can only remember the good person she is.
I am not alone.