Post by jack hamilton on Jul 8, 2010 7:47:20 GMT -5
Chapter 5.
I was requested to write "All those stories down"
By my disability Judge.
Duke, you will never be dumped again
Gentlemen,
My new, free hound Dukedog is right at home now
and is a real fine, personable puppy.
A natural hunting hound,
he knows everything already.
Got old Duke took to the vet to the tune of $130.
and he did good.
Dukes 15 months old and a Black & Tan,
a fine looking hound, perfect in every way.
But he was 'so sad' going down to the Vet...
The saddest hound I have ever seen,
because he has never been in a car unless
he is going to be dumped, dog pound,
abandoned with some friends of the former owners,
and he thought I was taking him 'away'.
I could actually hear him crying.
I talked to him, and petted him trying to reassure him
but it did no good.
It was a long drive and he got sadder and sadder
till my heart was about to break.
I was with him down at the Vets
and that was encouraging for him.
He was so happy
'when were getting back in my station wagon
and were 'going home'
he had a big smile on his face all the way home,
and when he saw my gate
he was the happiest puppy in the world.
It made me feel so good.
Old Archdukdog von Knife...♪
He is my new friend.
Thank you...♪
Jack the Knife
and Sandymay
Dukedog too
Gentlemen,
When I got 'Dukedog' he had been mistreated.
The friends of the owner, said he bit people,
and one girl said he made blood run down her arm.
Duke bit me too at first!
If he is in his sleeping curl and you touch him,
he comes at you like a bear,
slams his face against your arm with his teeth together,
and stares at you as if to say:
"Consider your self bit!"
And he is so fast,
your eyes cannot relay to your brain
that he has begun to move.
Scares the heck out of me!
After about 6 weeks now,
Duke comes over and lays his head
on the arm of my chair and lets me pat his head,
and rub his back real good.
And today he came over to me and real sweetly,
laid his whole head on my shoulder and snuggled up to my neck
and just sighed.
He is a fine loving hound and he was just saying so.
Duke,
You have a home now boy,
you will never be dumped again.
Tschüß
J. Winters von Knife
Sandymay & Old Archdukedog von Knife too
jacksknifeshop.tripod.com/
Location: Oregon
Like reading what you post, Jack.
Nice to hear Duke's trials and tribulations seem to be behind him.
Best of luck.
_________________
~Libby
jacktheknife
Location: 'My 25 Acres' Texas
Gentlemen,
Ole Dukedog got snake bit yesterday!
Copperhead bit, and his cheeks and lower mouth/throat swelled up
to twice their normal size. I was worried and the Vet said give him two Benadrill twice a day for swelling,
and I gave him two of those and an Ibupropen for pain.
It is sunup now and the swelling has gone down a lot.
He is barking to get out and is alright now, whew.
I will always keep Benadrill around for the puppies
and have it on my grocery list.
{Ole Dukedogs trials and tribulations are not over yet!}
This is a bad snake year y'all,
keep your dogs 'around the house' this summer.
Jack the Knife
Sandymay & Dukedog von Knife too
frankoinky
Location: Shepherdsville, KY
Well, at least he has a good home now so that snakebite didn't kill him.
Really enjoyed the story. Breaks my heart to hear about the dog that nobody wanted.
Location: 'My 25 Acres' Texas
Frankoinky,
Thanks man...♣
Jack the Knife
Sandymay & Dukedog
Thank you sir
“Old Smiley”
I was in Denver Colorado selling roofs
after the biggest hail storm in the world had occurred, July 1989.
Sometimes I got 'leads' as we salesmen say,
and had the name and address of someone
who wanted an estimate on a new roof.
But mostly I did ‘cold calling’,
that is just knocking on a door and saying hi!
Can I give you an estimate on a new roof?
I have done as many as ten estimates a day cold calling.
And these were medium shake roofs and cost $6,000.00 each.
One day I was making my rounds and walked up and knocked on a door. A nice friendly guy opened the door and said sure!
Go ahead.
After I had climbed on the roof and measured it
and written my proposal.
I knocked on the door again,
and the owner came out and said:
“Before you come in,”
” I have this dog.
It is a good dog and has never bitten anyone.
I said, well that’s no problem,
I love dogs and they almost always like me.
The guy tried to tell me something about the dog’s habit
of baring his teeth and how he does not mean anything bad,
it’s just the way he looks.
I went on in the home owner’s house
and I could hear him talking to the dog, John.
There was a dog.
It was medium size, long hair, black dog,
just a perfectly normal looking dog
I moved closer thinking the guy was crazy.
When the dog snapped back his lips and showed me:
100 dog teeth in a perfectly viscous snarl!
It didn’t look like anything but a snarl!
This dog was saying in dog language
that he fully intended on killing me!
I was somewhat taken aback.
And noticed the dog’s tail was wagging
and the snarl was there too.
I told the man:
“I see what you mean,
he is smiling at you with his back end
and growling at you with his front end”
The guy laughed and said that is just about the most original explanation I have ever heard yet!
Smiling with his rear and growling with his with his front!
I can see how folks would be confused,
wondering which end to believe!
Which end to believe!
Which end to believe!
The homeowner said.
We were both having a good time.
What’s his name again?
Just… John,
the owner said.
John is a boring name
this dog should have a name that is just for him,
a name that is special, original!
He said yes I know but we have tried for 3 years to think of an appropriate name for him and we always draw a blank.
I said well, if he were my dog I would name him Smiler,
or smiley,
Old Smiley!
That’s it!
Old Smiley!
Smiley John!
I visited and the guy said they were going to keep the insurance money as long as they could before they put on the roof.
But when they did it I would get the job.
I thanked him and left,
he was real nice and I made a note to call back in the spring
when the snow had melted and we could work again.
Then just went on next door and kept working.
It was several months later when I had gone back to Texas
my hound Suemay had died and it broke my heart.
She had died in her dog pen in the middle of hunting season.
Died alone,
as I was up in Denver trying to make enough money
to take them all out west and hunt all winter long!
Before my hounds who were at their prime were too old.
I didn’t know Sue May had been poisoned but then Katy died,
her pups too,
and then Joe dog died.
But not to digress,
I talked to Joe Manino back in Denver,
I was talking to someone else in the office Larry Walker I think,
Joe was there and heard my name and said:
"is that Jack Hamilton"!
Let me talk to him!
and he said "Jack"!
I got to tell you about that dog you named!
That guy called in and we did his roof
but when he called in he was laughing his ass off
and he talked for almost 45 minutes,
telling me about you and how that name you gave that dog of his had been worth a barrel of whiskey!
I can’t remember the name but…
I said Old Smiley?
Smiley!
Smiley!
That’s it! ha ha ha……
Joe said the homeowner was running on about how
he was telling his family about you.
That Texan from that roofing company,
who after taking one look at John,
the dog we had tried for 3 years to think of a good name for,
{an original name for an original dog}
Jack took one look at John and said ,
“I would call him Smiler or Smiley!
Yeah!
Old Smiley!
and named him in a second!
The problem that my entire family,
and it is a big family too,
Tried for three years to solve!
Leave it to a Texan to name a dog!
The guy said:
“We were all having a big family dinner,
months after I had met Jack.
The dog had adjusted to being called Smiley
and even liked the name himself!
I guess that’s because every time anyone said the name he smiles, and the entire roof full of people starts laughing!
We were laughing and just having a good time when some one,
my wife I think said,
“Where did that name come from I thought his name was John! And I told her about that Texan from that roofing company.
Jack Hamilton was his name.
That Texan, he just took one look at John,
and never hesitated saying
“I would call him Smiley!”
And then we laughed at that!
on on and on he went and how he was so glad to call in and give you the order and I told him"
“Jack had gone back to Texas
but that you would get some money off it.
Joe Manino said that:
“I kept telling the guy that I had work to do, and I had to go.
And the guy just kept on and on.
You really could name a dog, he said!
And if he ever had another he would call you and get your help naming his dog!
That his entire family had been hysterical for the last however long it was, 4-5-6 months.
And thank you for such a good name for such a good dog.
Ha ha ha…
I never did get any commission off that job however.
The end.
Gentlemen,
Speaking about beans, and living cheap...
I ate beans every day last week.
Beans and tortillas.
That's all I had.
I am disabled and broke most of the time
but the beans were good.
Back in the early 70's I was a music major at U.T. Austin.
I had $25. a week for food.
I would rather eat Mexican food at a restaurant 4-5 times a week,
than have home made food three times every day.
But since I was at the University of Texas and was there to learn,
I learned how to cook!
In Austin I ate Mexican food once a day and that was about it,
but since then I have become a great cook.
Once I studied hard all day till I was starving
then went to the Italian pizza place at 1:00 am but they were closed!
I drove to the pizza inn but they were closed too!
There I was, standing alone in the pizza inn parking lot,
with money in my pocket, a starving student in need of a pizza.
But there wasn't no way.
I was destined to starve all night.
I resolved right then to learn how to cook pizza.
What in life, could be more important than 'cooking one's food'
{other than getting it.}
Here I was in a university learning about 'scales and chords' on the keyboard
when 'food' was more important
and especially to me back then,
I was starving.
Remembering how my Dad would cook pizza back in the 50's.
with a box of 'chef Boy-ar-dee' pizza mix,
I went to the store the next day and bought a 'box of pizza'.
It was a strange new thing cooking food but as I like to eat good food
it was the time in my life to learn how to cook.
I was in a university to learn but they didn't teach
how to shoot a squirrel, skin it, cook it up in an acceptable, tasty fashion.
I had to learn that on my own.
I made the pizza as according to directions and it was terrible.
However, now, 35 years later,
I am an amature gourmet chef and pizza is my specialty.
I have been making pizza from scratch for 35 years.
And no ones pizza is better.
When one is a good cook, cooking makes sense and is easy.
The beans were soaked over night and crockpoted all day.
Dried New Mexico chili peppers, garlic, brown sugar, onions,
I could go on and on but I remember my Mom.
She is dead now but when I was in the third grade I asked her:
"Mom, how do you cook?"
She said:
" Men don't cook food, they get married and make their wives cook for them."
I said:
but Oh Mom, your food is so good,
I want to learn how to cook just like you do.
When in all actuality I wanted to learn how to cook food
so I didn't end up with a pregnant dog like her.
It was one of my first tactical lies but it worked!
Now,
50 years later,
I alive alone,
and am a good cook.
...and I don't get 'bitcxxx' at'.
Live is good.
J. Winters von Knife
jacksknifeshop.tripod.com/
"I was in a university to learn but they didn't teach
how to shoot a squirrel, skin it, cook it up in an acceptable, tasty fashion."
Poet,
You should have gone to Texas A&M.
Pot-Bellied Stallion,
I have been told 'the same thing'
by a deputy on the Sheriff's dept.
"Don't you keep in touch with any of your friends
from college days"?
No, like now, I lived alone and studied music,
wasn't there to have fun but to learn how to read music,
And I did.
They were amazed with thousands of women,
and 'my college days' 'which were supposed to be the most fun times in my life',
that I lived alone and studied classical piano music 9 hours a day.
"You live on a farm, and could have gone to Texas A & M,
and met dozen of others who could have been your friends for life!"
"Jack, Friday and Saturday night your phone never rings".
I said that one doesn't need to go to school to learn agriculture.
{
!!!...***...}
The Poet
J. Winters von Knife
jacksknifeshop.tripod.com/
Coon camp... 'Tea and a Tater'
Gentlemen,
A very good, cheap and wholesome meal I used to carry
when my hounds were all alive and we would go out coon hunting, is 'Tea and a Tater.'
Two people in my life, one a therapist in rehab and the other a Lt. on the Sheriffs dept, {20 years ago} were very interested,
when I mentioned
that I would go out hunting most of the night and carry for food,
a potato and tea, and asked me to elaborate.
A long time ago...
{Once upon a time...}
I had torn my back muscles and was out of the lawn sprinkler business forever.
With no work and living out in the country alone but for my young hounds, I began trapping and hunting for fur for the money that was in it. I would go out with Cotton Joe and his sister Sue May and old Barrydog and we would hunt hard,
actually trying to earn a living.
We were serious!
The best training a man or his hounds could possibly have.
We would go out nearly every night 'on a kill'.
And for a late dinner...
real cheap...
but at the same time something real good and warm to eat out on the trail in the middle of the night...
Hot tea and a Tater.
Take a big tater...
{Here he goes again ...}
Take a big tater and skin it.
Slice it long ways in pieces finger thickness,
{narrow enough to cook well,}
and before wrapping in real thick 'quartupled over' tin foil,
add butter, garlic powder, salt and pepper, whatever...
and roll it up 'real good', put it in your pocket,
and you are good,
to be out most of the night.
When your fire burns down just throw it on the coals.
Its good enough food to last till daylight,
in order to pose for pictures
with 'your big kill of the night.'
Yeah!
When the fire burns down to coals just throw in the tater.
And the tea is just hot tea which helps even a 30 year old stay up all night while 'out on the job'.
Carry a canteen cup your canteen fits in and carry some tea bags.
Hell, sugar is good too!
Are we getting spoiled or what?
J Winters von Knife
and Sandymay
{asleep in there on our bed}
A Mexican food 'Brew day Buffet'
Gentlemen,
Since I brew in my kitchen,
and brewing ale and cooking food are basically incompatable,
'they get in each other way',
I can do one, but not both,
{at the same time and in the same place,}
and do them well.
I either brew ale or cook food.
Hmmm...
That means on 'Brew day' I miss meals.
{and get too drunk and pass out.}
Ya'll, I like to brew in the morning or during the day.
To start fresh and before I get too drunk.
Last time I brewed I woke up before daylight
as I heard Sandymay barking at something out back,
so I let her out and started organizing my brewery,
washing and cleaning the kitchen,
and made a mess of 'Mexican food' laid out buffet style
on the table in the den.
It was spectacular.
Everything,
hard Chalupa {flat taco} shells warmed in the oven,
soft tortillas cooked in a little oil.
A bowl of pinto beans 'I cooked in the 'crock pot'
the other day and 'mashed'.
A bowl of lettuce,
a bowl of Velvetta and diced tomatoes
finely chopped and mixed, ie. 'Cheese sauce'.
'Taco meat' made with an 'envelope' of seasonings.
Small bowls of sour cream, mozzerella cheese,
chopped onions, hot sauce, green sause,
fresh jalapenos, the salt.
All laid out on the table in the den with plates,
silverware, the works.
And 'the Buffet' was {out} of the kitchen.
The kitchen was for brewing and the den was for eating.
All day the 'Brew day Buffet' was ready to eat!
The microwave was right beside my chair
and I didn't even have to get up,
just 'nuke' the beans and taco meat.
Nuke the 'Cheese sauce' and make a taco,
a chalupa, an enchalada,
or just a bowl of beans with mozz, and sour cream on top.
I always start with store bought 'Chalupa shells',
hard and warmed in the oven.
Velveta and finely chopped diced tomotoes,
and a little salt, 'Cheese sauce'.
poured on the flat shells
{which are cheaper than taco shells.}
Then hot sauce, and sour cream,
onions and jalapenos on the side...
Then... a soft tortilla, rolled up with taco meat,
a sauce or sour cream and with a big mess of beans
'on the side' too.
'Para Costilla'
Maybe with mozzerela and onions on top.
'Onions and jalepenos on the side'
It is a 'painters pallet' of 'culinary colors'.
{How about that one?}
Boys I am learning some good ways to brew ale
as well as cook food.
I sure like both and would highly recommend
the Mexican food 'Brew day Buffet'.
Next week the BBQ 'Brew day Buffet'.
Barry Dog Wherever You Are
Written by Jack Winters Hamilton
Barry dog wherever you are
No mother father or friend
Ever loved me as much as you did
My hunting partner and true friend
So sleep the long sleep partner
Your body got weak and old
But your memory will live forever
Your story told and retold
The campfires will be lonely
The hunt won’t be the same
Your every effort was for me Barry
So thanks I’ll remember your name
You taught me the joy of the chase
The beauty of the earth day and night
But now your spirit has left you
And the world’s not the same tonight
Barry it was because of you
I got my first two hounds
A dog trained as good as you
Can show these pups the rounds
You taught them how to grab a coon
And how to shake his neck just so
The pups stood by watching
And now fighting coon they know
You taught them how to catch squirrels
I didn’t need a gun
But just a stick so I could knock them down
So you could catch them on the run
I remember when we were both younger
We thought like this we’ll always be
We thought we’d live forever
And never find that final tree
We thought we’d move to the mountains someday
And live up there for free
a-huntin and a-loafing
The pups, you Barry and me
But you never saw those mountains
And the pups may never too
Unless I make this promise
And make it Barry to you I’ll build a pack of hound dogs
We’ll go to the mountains too
And when a lion or a bear were running
Barry dog we’ll be running that critter for you
Our love for each other was unbounded
Your all to me you gave
I thought that now you’d be sleeping
But not with snow upon your grave
Barry you were too old and sick
To go out hunting the night
Cotton Joe and Sue May treed
Three separate coon
On a very windy night
You lived for only two days
After Joe and Sue Mays great night
I wish you could have been there
But you missed it your health wasn’t right
When you had to stay at home that night
I know you understood
That you were much to weak and sick
To go hunting in the woods
The younger dogs can stand it
But your too valuable a friend
To take out in the damp cold night
And expose you to the wind
Better stay home tonight, I told you
Better a house dog than dead
But I’ll never forget the look you gave
When I sent you into bed
The younger dogs are all loaded
And a hunting we will go
My oldest friend is coming
And I’ve promised him a show
So Barry you stay home tonight
Your too sick and you’ll be slow
We’ll take you with us next time
You’ll get better now I’ve got to go
But old Barry dogs dead now
Those words I never thought I’d say
He missed his crowning achievement
The pups he trained with three coon at bay
For two days later he left me
I let him out to pee
At 1:30 in the morning
And he never came back to me
We found him the next day at sunset
He had died two hours before
He looked like he was sleeping
Barry we won’t go huntin no more
Barry spent his last day alone there
On the hill watching the sun set
He didn’t want us to see him suffer
He’s a dog I’ll not soon forget
Barry your life has ended
Tomorrow I’ll put you in the clay
I’ll say a few words over you
And then I’ll walk away
Barry rest in peace old partner
There’s nothing more I can do
Your gone and your gone forever
And I wish I were going with you
As I sit here by my wood stove
I ate a little and I’m warm
But Barry’s laying outside
The cold can’t hurt him no more
His place by the fire is empty
And the silence is like a storm
So here’s to you old Barry dog
And here’s to you once more
www.coondawgs.com/stories/barrydog.html
J. Winters von Knife
I was requested to write "All those stories down"
By my disability Judge.
Duke, you will never be dumped again
Gentlemen,
My new, free hound Dukedog is right at home now
and is a real fine, personable puppy.
A natural hunting hound,
he knows everything already.
Got old Duke took to the vet to the tune of $130.
and he did good.
Dukes 15 months old and a Black & Tan,
a fine looking hound, perfect in every way.
But he was 'so sad' going down to the Vet...
The saddest hound I have ever seen,
because he has never been in a car unless
he is going to be dumped, dog pound,
abandoned with some friends of the former owners,
and he thought I was taking him 'away'.
I could actually hear him crying.
I talked to him, and petted him trying to reassure him
but it did no good.
It was a long drive and he got sadder and sadder
till my heart was about to break.
I was with him down at the Vets
and that was encouraging for him.
He was so happy
'when were getting back in my station wagon
and were 'going home'
he had a big smile on his face all the way home,
and when he saw my gate
he was the happiest puppy in the world.
It made me feel so good.
Old Archdukdog von Knife...♪
He is my new friend.
Thank you...♪
Jack the Knife
and Sandymay
Dukedog too
Gentlemen,
When I got 'Dukedog' he had been mistreated.
The friends of the owner, said he bit people,
and one girl said he made blood run down her arm.
Duke bit me too at first!
If he is in his sleeping curl and you touch him,
he comes at you like a bear,
slams his face against your arm with his teeth together,
and stares at you as if to say:
"Consider your self bit!"
And he is so fast,
your eyes cannot relay to your brain
that he has begun to move.
Scares the heck out of me!
After about 6 weeks now,
Duke comes over and lays his head
on the arm of my chair and lets me pat his head,
and rub his back real good.
And today he came over to me and real sweetly,
laid his whole head on my shoulder and snuggled up to my neck
and just sighed.
He is a fine loving hound and he was just saying so.
Duke,
You have a home now boy,
you will never be dumped again.
Tschüß
J. Winters von Knife
Sandymay & Old Archdukedog von Knife too
jacksknifeshop.tripod.com/
Location: Oregon
Like reading what you post, Jack.
Nice to hear Duke's trials and tribulations seem to be behind him.
Best of luck.
_________________
~Libby
jacktheknife
Location: 'My 25 Acres' Texas
Gentlemen,
Ole Dukedog got snake bit yesterday!
Copperhead bit, and his cheeks and lower mouth/throat swelled up
to twice their normal size. I was worried and the Vet said give him two Benadrill twice a day for swelling,
and I gave him two of those and an Ibupropen for pain.
It is sunup now and the swelling has gone down a lot.
He is barking to get out and is alright now, whew.
I will always keep Benadrill around for the puppies
and have it on my grocery list.
{Ole Dukedogs trials and tribulations are not over yet!}
This is a bad snake year y'all,
keep your dogs 'around the house' this summer.
Jack the Knife
Sandymay & Dukedog von Knife too
frankoinky
Location: Shepherdsville, KY
Well, at least he has a good home now so that snakebite didn't kill him.
Really enjoyed the story. Breaks my heart to hear about the dog that nobody wanted.
Location: 'My 25 Acres' Texas
Frankoinky,
Thanks man...♣
Jack the Knife
Sandymay & Dukedog
Thank you sir
“Old Smiley”
I was in Denver Colorado selling roofs
after the biggest hail storm in the world had occurred, July 1989.
Sometimes I got 'leads' as we salesmen say,
and had the name and address of someone
who wanted an estimate on a new roof.
But mostly I did ‘cold calling’,
that is just knocking on a door and saying hi!
Can I give you an estimate on a new roof?
I have done as many as ten estimates a day cold calling.
And these were medium shake roofs and cost $6,000.00 each.
One day I was making my rounds and walked up and knocked on a door. A nice friendly guy opened the door and said sure!
Go ahead.
After I had climbed on the roof and measured it
and written my proposal.
I knocked on the door again,
and the owner came out and said:
“Before you come in,”
” I have this dog.
It is a good dog and has never bitten anyone.
I said, well that’s no problem,
I love dogs and they almost always like me.
The guy tried to tell me something about the dog’s habit
of baring his teeth and how he does not mean anything bad,
it’s just the way he looks.
I went on in the home owner’s house
and I could hear him talking to the dog, John.
There was a dog.
It was medium size, long hair, black dog,
just a perfectly normal looking dog
I moved closer thinking the guy was crazy.
When the dog snapped back his lips and showed me:
100 dog teeth in a perfectly viscous snarl!
It didn’t look like anything but a snarl!
This dog was saying in dog language
that he fully intended on killing me!
I was somewhat taken aback.
And noticed the dog’s tail was wagging
and the snarl was there too.
I told the man:
“I see what you mean,
he is smiling at you with his back end
and growling at you with his front end”
The guy laughed and said that is just about the most original explanation I have ever heard yet!
Smiling with his rear and growling with his with his front!
I can see how folks would be confused,
wondering which end to believe!
Which end to believe!
Which end to believe!
The homeowner said.
We were both having a good time.
What’s his name again?
Just… John,
the owner said.
John is a boring name
this dog should have a name that is just for him,
a name that is special, original!
He said yes I know but we have tried for 3 years to think of an appropriate name for him and we always draw a blank.
I said well, if he were my dog I would name him Smiler,
or smiley,
Old Smiley!
That’s it!
Old Smiley!
Smiley John!
I visited and the guy said they were going to keep the insurance money as long as they could before they put on the roof.
But when they did it I would get the job.
I thanked him and left,
he was real nice and I made a note to call back in the spring
when the snow had melted and we could work again.
Then just went on next door and kept working.
It was several months later when I had gone back to Texas
my hound Suemay had died and it broke my heart.
She had died in her dog pen in the middle of hunting season.
Died alone,
as I was up in Denver trying to make enough money
to take them all out west and hunt all winter long!
Before my hounds who were at their prime were too old.
I didn’t know Sue May had been poisoned but then Katy died,
her pups too,
and then Joe dog died.
But not to digress,
I talked to Joe Manino back in Denver,
I was talking to someone else in the office Larry Walker I think,
Joe was there and heard my name and said:
"is that Jack Hamilton"!
Let me talk to him!
and he said "Jack"!
I got to tell you about that dog you named!
That guy called in and we did his roof
but when he called in he was laughing his ass off
and he talked for almost 45 minutes,
telling me about you and how that name you gave that dog of his had been worth a barrel of whiskey!
I can’t remember the name but…
I said Old Smiley?
Smiley!
Smiley!
That’s it! ha ha ha……
Joe said the homeowner was running on about how
he was telling his family about you.
That Texan from that roofing company,
who after taking one look at John,
the dog we had tried for 3 years to think of a good name for,
{an original name for an original dog}
Jack took one look at John and said ,
“I would call him Smiler or Smiley!
Yeah!
Old Smiley!
and named him in a second!
The problem that my entire family,
and it is a big family too,
Tried for three years to solve!
Leave it to a Texan to name a dog!
The guy said:
“We were all having a big family dinner,
months after I had met Jack.
The dog had adjusted to being called Smiley
and even liked the name himself!
I guess that’s because every time anyone said the name he smiles, and the entire roof full of people starts laughing!
We were laughing and just having a good time when some one,
my wife I think said,
“Where did that name come from I thought his name was John! And I told her about that Texan from that roofing company.
Jack Hamilton was his name.
That Texan, he just took one look at John,
and never hesitated saying
“I would call him Smiley!”
And then we laughed at that!
on on and on he went and how he was so glad to call in and give you the order and I told him"
“Jack had gone back to Texas
but that you would get some money off it.
Joe Manino said that:
“I kept telling the guy that I had work to do, and I had to go.
And the guy just kept on and on.
You really could name a dog, he said!
And if he ever had another he would call you and get your help naming his dog!
That his entire family had been hysterical for the last however long it was, 4-5-6 months.
And thank you for such a good name for such a good dog.
Ha ha ha…
I never did get any commission off that job however.
The end.
Gentlemen,
Speaking about beans, and living cheap...
I ate beans every day last week.
Beans and tortillas.
That's all I had.
I am disabled and broke most of the time
but the beans were good.
Back in the early 70's I was a music major at U.T. Austin.
I had $25. a week for food.
I would rather eat Mexican food at a restaurant 4-5 times a week,
than have home made food three times every day.
But since I was at the University of Texas and was there to learn,
I learned how to cook!
In Austin I ate Mexican food once a day and that was about it,
but since then I have become a great cook.
Once I studied hard all day till I was starving
then went to the Italian pizza place at 1:00 am but they were closed!
I drove to the pizza inn but they were closed too!
There I was, standing alone in the pizza inn parking lot,
with money in my pocket, a starving student in need of a pizza.
But there wasn't no way.
I was destined to starve all night.
I resolved right then to learn how to cook pizza.
What in life, could be more important than 'cooking one's food'
{other than getting it.}
Here I was in a university learning about 'scales and chords' on the keyboard
when 'food' was more important
and especially to me back then,
I was starving.
Remembering how my Dad would cook pizza back in the 50's.
with a box of 'chef Boy-ar-dee' pizza mix,
I went to the store the next day and bought a 'box of pizza'.
It was a strange new thing cooking food but as I like to eat good food
it was the time in my life to learn how to cook.
I was in a university to learn but they didn't teach
how to shoot a squirrel, skin it, cook it up in an acceptable, tasty fashion.
I had to learn that on my own.
I made the pizza as according to directions and it was terrible.
However, now, 35 years later,
I am an amature gourmet chef and pizza is my specialty.
I have been making pizza from scratch for 35 years.
And no ones pizza is better.
When one is a good cook, cooking makes sense and is easy.
The beans were soaked over night and crockpoted all day.
Dried New Mexico chili peppers, garlic, brown sugar, onions,
I could go on and on but I remember my Mom.
She is dead now but when I was in the third grade I asked her:
"Mom, how do you cook?"
She said:
" Men don't cook food, they get married and make their wives cook for them."
I said:
but Oh Mom, your food is so good,
I want to learn how to cook just like you do.
When in all actuality I wanted to learn how to cook food
so I didn't end up with a pregnant dog like her.
It was one of my first tactical lies but it worked!
Now,
50 years later,
I alive alone,
and am a good cook.
...and I don't get 'bitcxxx' at'.
Live is good.
J. Winters von Knife
jacksknifeshop.tripod.com/
"I was in a university to learn but they didn't teach
how to shoot a squirrel, skin it, cook it up in an acceptable, tasty fashion."
Poet,
You should have gone to Texas A&M.
Pot-Bellied Stallion,
I have been told 'the same thing'
by a deputy on the Sheriff's dept.
"Don't you keep in touch with any of your friends
from college days"?
No, like now, I lived alone and studied music,
wasn't there to have fun but to learn how to read music,
And I did.
They were amazed with thousands of women,
and 'my college days' 'which were supposed to be the most fun times in my life',
that I lived alone and studied classical piano music 9 hours a day.
"You live on a farm, and could have gone to Texas A & M,
and met dozen of others who could have been your friends for life!"
"Jack, Friday and Saturday night your phone never rings".
I said that one doesn't need to go to school to learn agriculture.
{
!!!...***...}The Poet
J. Winters von Knife
jacksknifeshop.tripod.com/
Coon camp... 'Tea and a Tater'
Gentlemen,
A very good, cheap and wholesome meal I used to carry
when my hounds were all alive and we would go out coon hunting, is 'Tea and a Tater.'
Two people in my life, one a therapist in rehab and the other a Lt. on the Sheriffs dept, {20 years ago} were very interested,
when I mentioned
that I would go out hunting most of the night and carry for food,
a potato and tea, and asked me to elaborate.
A long time ago...
{Once upon a time...}
I had torn my back muscles and was out of the lawn sprinkler business forever.
With no work and living out in the country alone but for my young hounds, I began trapping and hunting for fur for the money that was in it. I would go out with Cotton Joe and his sister Sue May and old Barrydog and we would hunt hard,
actually trying to earn a living.
We were serious!
The best training a man or his hounds could possibly have.
We would go out nearly every night 'on a kill'.
And for a late dinner...
real cheap...
but at the same time something real good and warm to eat out on the trail in the middle of the night...
Hot tea and a Tater.
Take a big tater...
{Here he goes again ...}
Take a big tater and skin it.
Slice it long ways in pieces finger thickness,
{narrow enough to cook well,}
and before wrapping in real thick 'quartupled over' tin foil,
add butter, garlic powder, salt and pepper, whatever...
and roll it up 'real good', put it in your pocket,
and you are good,
to be out most of the night.
When your fire burns down just throw it on the coals.
Its good enough food to last till daylight,
in order to pose for pictures
with 'your big kill of the night.'
Yeah!
When the fire burns down to coals just throw in the tater.
And the tea is just hot tea which helps even a 30 year old stay up all night while 'out on the job'.
Carry a canteen cup your canteen fits in and carry some tea bags.
Hell, sugar is good too!
Are we getting spoiled or what?
J Winters von Knife
and Sandymay
{asleep in there on our bed}
A Mexican food 'Brew day Buffet'
Gentlemen,
Since I brew in my kitchen,
and brewing ale and cooking food are basically incompatable,
'they get in each other way',
I can do one, but not both,
{at the same time and in the same place,}
and do them well.
I either brew ale or cook food.
Hmmm...
That means on 'Brew day' I miss meals.
{and get too drunk and pass out.}
Ya'll, I like to brew in the morning or during the day.
To start fresh and before I get too drunk.
Last time I brewed I woke up before daylight
as I heard Sandymay barking at something out back,
so I let her out and started organizing my brewery,
washing and cleaning the kitchen,
and made a mess of 'Mexican food' laid out buffet style
on the table in the den.
It was spectacular.
Everything,
hard Chalupa {flat taco} shells warmed in the oven,
soft tortillas cooked in a little oil.
A bowl of pinto beans 'I cooked in the 'crock pot'
the other day and 'mashed'.
A bowl of lettuce,
a bowl of Velvetta and diced tomatoes
finely chopped and mixed, ie. 'Cheese sauce'.
'Taco meat' made with an 'envelope' of seasonings.
Small bowls of sour cream, mozzerella cheese,
chopped onions, hot sauce, green sause,
fresh jalapenos, the salt.
All laid out on the table in the den with plates,
silverware, the works.
And 'the Buffet' was {out} of the kitchen.
The kitchen was for brewing and the den was for eating.
All day the 'Brew day Buffet' was ready to eat!
The microwave was right beside my chair
and I didn't even have to get up,
just 'nuke' the beans and taco meat.
Nuke the 'Cheese sauce' and make a taco,
a chalupa, an enchalada,
or just a bowl of beans with mozz, and sour cream on top.
I always start with store bought 'Chalupa shells',
hard and warmed in the oven.
Velveta and finely chopped diced tomotoes,
and a little salt, 'Cheese sauce'.
poured on the flat shells
{which are cheaper than taco shells.}
Then hot sauce, and sour cream,
onions and jalapenos on the side...
Then... a soft tortilla, rolled up with taco meat,
a sauce or sour cream and with a big mess of beans
'on the side' too.
'Para Costilla'
Maybe with mozzerela and onions on top.
'Onions and jalepenos on the side'
It is a 'painters pallet' of 'culinary colors'.
{How about that one?}
Boys I am learning some good ways to brew ale
as well as cook food.
I sure like both and would highly recommend
the Mexican food 'Brew day Buffet'.
Next week the BBQ 'Brew day Buffet'.
Barry Dog Wherever You Are
Written by Jack Winters Hamilton
Barry dog wherever you are
No mother father or friend
Ever loved me as much as you did
My hunting partner and true friend
So sleep the long sleep partner
Your body got weak and old
But your memory will live forever
Your story told and retold
The campfires will be lonely
The hunt won’t be the same
Your every effort was for me Barry
So thanks I’ll remember your name
You taught me the joy of the chase
The beauty of the earth day and night
But now your spirit has left you
And the world’s not the same tonight
Barry it was because of you
I got my first two hounds
A dog trained as good as you
Can show these pups the rounds
You taught them how to grab a coon
And how to shake his neck just so
The pups stood by watching
And now fighting coon they know
You taught them how to catch squirrels
I didn’t need a gun
But just a stick so I could knock them down
So you could catch them on the run
I remember when we were both younger
We thought like this we’ll always be
We thought we’d live forever
And never find that final tree
We thought we’d move to the mountains someday
And live up there for free
a-huntin and a-loafing
The pups, you Barry and me
But you never saw those mountains
And the pups may never too
Unless I make this promise
And make it Barry to you I’ll build a pack of hound dogs
We’ll go to the mountains too
And when a lion or a bear were running
Barry dog we’ll be running that critter for you
Our love for each other was unbounded
Your all to me you gave
I thought that now you’d be sleeping
But not with snow upon your grave
Barry you were too old and sick
To go out hunting the night
Cotton Joe and Sue May treed
Three separate coon
On a very windy night
You lived for only two days
After Joe and Sue Mays great night
I wish you could have been there
But you missed it your health wasn’t right
When you had to stay at home that night
I know you understood
That you were much to weak and sick
To go hunting in the woods
The younger dogs can stand it
But your too valuable a friend
To take out in the damp cold night
And expose you to the wind
Better stay home tonight, I told you
Better a house dog than dead
But I’ll never forget the look you gave
When I sent you into bed
The younger dogs are all loaded
And a hunting we will go
My oldest friend is coming
And I’ve promised him a show
So Barry you stay home tonight
Your too sick and you’ll be slow
We’ll take you with us next time
You’ll get better now I’ve got to go
But old Barry dogs dead now
Those words I never thought I’d say
He missed his crowning achievement
The pups he trained with three coon at bay
For two days later he left me
I let him out to pee
At 1:30 in the morning
And he never came back to me
We found him the next day at sunset
He had died two hours before
He looked like he was sleeping
Barry we won’t go huntin no more
Barry spent his last day alone there
On the hill watching the sun set
He didn’t want us to see him suffer
He’s a dog I’ll not soon forget
Barry your life has ended
Tomorrow I’ll put you in the clay
I’ll say a few words over you
And then I’ll walk away
Barry rest in peace old partner
There’s nothing more I can do
Your gone and your gone forever
And I wish I were going with you
As I sit here by my wood stove
I ate a little and I’m warm
But Barry’s laying outside
The cold can’t hurt him no more
His place by the fire is empty
And the silence is like a storm
So here’s to you old Barry dog
And here’s to you once more
www.coondawgs.com/stories/barrydog.html
J. Winters von Knife