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Tuesday, December 16, 2008

A Christmas Post Tale, And A Little Food, Too!



When we were first married, my wife and her sister would go Christmas shopping, while my brother-in law and I would go get a live tree.. Indian Joe, who actually was an immigrant Lithuanian, had a so-called tree farm for the season of Christmas.. These trees were where you found them on his land.. He combed his hair with whiskey(really!) and was rumored to have buried cash in Mason jars all over the land he lived on, which was on the shores of Pickerel Lake. He rented row boats in the summer, was about half crazy, and was a True American Character! We got a tree one year, that looked more like a tumbleweed, but it was the best we could find. We had more fun laughing at that tree, than money could ever buy!
Neither my brother and sister-in-law(or us!) had any money yet- they lived in a dinky rented house, we lived in a dinky rented apartment- but I remember those days as some of the best I ever had! Later, after Joe died, the heirs sold the land to Fred Meijer- a billionaire. He made it into a trail/preserve area, with his name on it. And they did find rotted paper money in Mason jars on the property- but not all that much! If you have any local legend stories, it's a good season to share them!
Sunday food was good ole pot roast, roasted potatoes, sauteed mushrooms, with stock gravy... I also made macaroni salad- macaroni, hard cooked eggs, the last of that Goddam ham, green olives, onion, celery, one Jalapeno pepper, mayo, mustard, Italian spices, salt, and black pepper! Boy! did we get after that salad!

37 comments:

snowelf said...

UncleBuf--You never want to eat ham again, right? ;)

I still have my little tiny four foot fiber optic tree that was given to us with such kindness when I couldn't afford to buy us one. I thought when I got a job and we were no longer scraping by that I would indulge in a big fancy real tree--but I have fallen in love with that darn little tree, and I just don't care to have a big extravagant tree. The chilis have an affection for it too now--even when we put it up this year, Snickers said "This is the perfect tree for us."
I told her I thought so too. :)

--snow

Dr Zibbs said...

Yeah. Nothing like a Sunday dinner.

buffalodick said...

Snowniece- Your heart is the perfect example of Christmas spirit.. this is exactly how traditions start, which has far more worth than the ones put upon you by the media..Remember the hard times, so that you can appreciate the good times..

buffalodick said...

Doc- I think you have a big meal every Sunday too! Welcome to the Midwest, everyone!

Maddy said...

Now that's a great yarn indeed.

Sounds like you've been cooking up a storm too!

Cheers

Angel said...

big Beaver...I GOTTA have some of your pot roast!!! and while I'm not a big huge fan of mac. salad, yours sounds really good! Of course!!!

Unknown said...

Great story! I love reading things like this about other people's towns.

And I love what you said about the ham. I still have some left cause I got SO tired of fried ham, or grilled ham & cheese sandwhiches. I can wait another year for more ham, that's for sure!

tavolini said...

Pickerel Lake?!?! In South Dakota? I assume you are talking about a Pickerel Lake in Michigan--but just in case you are talking about the one in South Dakota--I spent many summers there!

I think I would get after that salad as well :)

buffalodick said...

Maddy- You didn't stand downwind of this guy when you paid him...
Beth- My wife likes beef or pork roast for Sunday- so we have it a lot!
Bina- When there is just two of us- that ham lasts longer than I want it to!
T-L- Michigan! Closest town to lake was Cannonsburg, MI... Must be 10 Pickerel Lakes in Michigan!

Megan said...

Love that story. And that mac salad!

Just telling it like it is said...

Buffalo: I really like it when you write stories about your life...I find you and your family very interesting to say the very least...You make wonderful food but it is like a good cup of coffee to go with the breakfast in the morning when you tell your stories. I comb my hair with whiskey too...
What a wonderful story makes for good telling at the christmas table year after year...Happy holidays!!!

buffalodick said...

Finn- I like writing about everyday occurences that later you realize aren't everyday happenings! The mac salad was killer- hadn't made it in years...
Darngirl- Glad you enjoyed! Read your last post, waiting for next part!

Odat said...

OMG you said Goddamn!!! :-)

When my neice was young I dressed up as Santa Clause, (No one else wanted to do it). I opened the door with my bag of toys and her eyes lit up.....then....she got closer and said...I know that's you Aunt Odat, you've got blue eyeshadow on!!!! :-)

Peace and if I don't get back before the holidays, have a merry and healthy one...to you and yours!

Peace

Mona said...

Hi Buf, will get bck to read the post when I find my glasses...:)

buffalodick said...

Odat- Santa with blue eye shadow? That would make the reindeer nervous! Merry Christmas to Auntie Odat, from Uncle Buff!
Mona- GOOD TO HEAR FROM YOU! I'M USING ALL CAPITALS IN CASE YOU DIDN'T FIND YOUR GLASSES!

Chef E said...

BD- I feel like changing your name now and then...keeps the mystery going...I love the story...I have meet people and have always thought about writing a book specifically about their personalities...oh, and GREAT minds think alike*wink*!

buffalodick said...

Chef- I get called many things, as well you might imagine... Locally, I am known as Buffalo Dick, The Buff, B.D, R.B, and a host of names people won't say to my face! How do we end up with all these nick names? We earned them!
I like characters- they make our world a diverse, and interesting place! I cook for fun, but you cook for money.. I bet you're better than me, they are paying you!

MarmiteToasty said...

Oh what a great tale.... I love old stories like yours......

and I also LOVE pot roast with roasty crispy spuds......

x

G-Man said...

Buff, There was this local legend names Ogorek. he owned a little "Ma and Pa" car lot that had older but very reasonably priced cars. If you were lucky, and a serious antiquer, he would show you his authentic Tiffany lamp collection, his vintage slot machines, and his early colonial furniture collection. When he died, they had an auction that netted over 3 million dollars!!!

buffalodick said...

Marmy- The world is filled with characters like Indian Joe! Screw balls that lived life their way, not harming anyone, but coloring our life in bright colors!
G-man- On your Harley, I know you've met a shed full of American Originals!

Chef E said...

Oh Dick...at my friends this weekend I was kind of jealous her husband cooks like you, but then as I thought about it...what the heck else would I do, and its not the money...it's just in nature to create and to be social...you either have it or you don't...and we do!

Did your son get the snow I did out that way?

buffalodick said...

K.C. didn't get what you got! I was/am an engineer type, advising on specialty metals, and helping people in a mechanical way.. My love is cooking, and soon- I will show the world I know how to do this too..

Chef E said...

Actually I love the engineer types, am married to one, but he cannot boil water :) I have a degree in teaching...am a geek!

Jeanne Estridge said...

I'm not sure which is more interesting -- your stories, or the comments of the folks who visit!

buffalodick said...

Chef- I approach life with a strange blend of brains and instinct- I never know which one is going to take the lead..
Jeanne- The comments are why I still do this... This is the blog where kind, intelligent people wash up on shore, and find a safe haven.. Welcome!

Jeff B said...

I wonder how many kids thought of or even tried digging holes on his property in search of the hidden money. Fun story.

buffalodick said...

jeff- Joe owned about half the waterfront on this lake(40 acre lake) the other half was a kids camp all summer! Plenty of kids tried, and it was said people followed him home from the bar to see what they might see...Beyond the land, which he would not sell or develope, he lived in a shack, renting boats and selling trees. If he would have sold the property, he would have been a millionare!

Mona said...

That is a great story! It would have been better if he had buried coins in the pots instead. they would have made a fortune in antiquity!

buffalodick said...

Mona- You are right, but if you would have met this guy, you would know just how goofy he was! I rented a boat from him a couple of times, before I had my own, and got a couple of trees from him... Nice enough guy, but born out of a time that would have suited him better..

Akelamalu said...

We had some of our best times when the children were small and we didn't really have two pennies to rub together. Nice memories. x

buffalodick said...

Ake- I remember more and more, that youth and hope was way more fun than old age and security...

Chef E said...

Cheetos...joke...share! ...and what's for dinner sugar daddy!

buffalodick said...

Chef- Send me your E-mail address, This one is so obscene, I can't put it on the blog!

Chef E said...

elizabeth@cookappeal.com and if the others here have one for me...send them on...I am ready!

Vodka Mom said...

That was a great story! And, of course, a great recipe.
I can always count on you for a great idea for dinner!

Vodka Mom said...

What aisle can I find the Goddam ham in?

buffalodick said...

VodkaM- Goddam aisle five...On sale this week- again!