Old Ironmaker

Can one make a citizens arrest on line? Why someone would brag about not buying a license is beyond me. I can admit to speeding but somehow not buying a license leaves a bad taste in my mouth. None of you guys had better complain about the lack of enforcement or funding for the fishery. The worse thing you can be called in Hamilton is a Goof. Them there are fightn' words. I'm disappointed in you 2. Why admit being a Goof is amazing to me. Mr. G, tell me it aint so. Mr. G, no, I respected you, and from me respect is something important and earned from me. This Gaspumper guy I'm not familiar with. I don't see how difficult it can be to walk into a CTC or Home Hardware and buy a license. You are probably in there anyway. To blame the Gov. because you are having problems buying on line is silly. Yes it's a conspiracy, the Ministry makes it difficult just to annoy you. Come on Man! Please tell me you guys are kidding. Please.

You see big guy, you didn't need a new snow blower anyway. Some things are just meant to be, I really believe in that. We had a lake effect storm last night coming off the lake from the south, and it was blowing snow from the north too. Tich asked me if I was going to call my snow guy, he charges 25 bucks to do the 4 car drive, blow a 50' path to the door, path to the side door and 50 feet to my shed. I did the math a few years ago and it is far more economical to pay him than to buy a new blower, fuel it and maintain it. These past 2 winters he didn't plow once. The 2 winters before that he was here a total of 10 times and it was 20 bucks then. So a total of $200.00 for the last 4 winters. Do the math, cheap and I don't have to leave the cottage. I pay more to spider spray every year, actually more than double what it costs to pay the guy. He has a mini tractor with a blower on it. It takes him maybe 15 minutes. I didn't call him because I knew it would all be gone today, and it is. I don't know what it is about town folk, Dad used to go out as soon as the flakes flew holding his shovel in the air. When there was enough to snow blow he was in his glory. I tell everyone good high Sorrels beat shovelling snow. I was always doing favours for folks and they would ask me what kind of beer I drank. I didn't have the heart to tell them a case of beer lasts 3 months here, I might have 1 a week, maybe, more for folks popping in . I would rather have a small gift certificate from CTC or the like, where I can buy anything from a Rappala to gas. Just something to consider Cliff.

That manager is answering to someone in an Ivory Tower in Toronto. He has about as much say in a discount once a sale has ended as the check out girl at the register. Now the franchisee could have honoured that sale price. The mgr. may have made the call and the owner said no. I don't know.

I have been taping socks on my 2 rear transducers for years now. The old black and white Garmin is now 21 years old and matches my readings of my 3 year old HB. It is so simple to do I don't understand why folks don't do it regularly. Especially on long drives and running on back roads to get into the lakes. Take a look on the bottom of the transducer. Joslin at Angler Outfitters recommended this at a seminar years ago. If you want to get the most out of you electronics go to one of his seminars in London. He be the man when it comes to electronic imaging.

It sure is slick Dan. I might be concerned if there was a mild spell and then cold froze that thing into the ice. That might be some digging. I would love to try one though, for sure. My kind of ice fishing these days. Back in the 70's buddy Wayne had a Dodge Shaggin' wagin" that he cut holes out of the floor boards and slid in galv. duct work sleeve into the hole. Nice and comfy. We spent more than a few nights out on Cooch, Bernard, Simcoe and Nipissing to name a few. A huge full size plus maxi van with everything you would need to live. A small genny ran everything including heat and we had a BBQ set up. It was Co-ed too!!!!!!! 3 couples once. Thanks for the extended video Fisherman, no digging with that winch option. I would like to see some pitch on that roof to handle snow load. You can use it all year for many applications, slick it is. I would think anyone with some mechanical skills could make one easily. You should be able to get everything at Princess Auto, No????

15 CM's!!!!! Call out the Army to dig everyone out and to stave off civil unrest.

Let us not forget the winters of 2012 and 2013. I have pics of 20 plus foot drifts here along the Erie Lakeshore. I battled a blizzard one night in February where my outdoor thermometer bottomed out at -40C. Our heat trace line was rated at -40. My wife could not get home from work and spent the night in Hamilton at my brothers. I filled every container, pot, pan, pail and cup so I could to run the shallow well pump every 10 or 15 minutes to keep it from freezing, did laundry all night to keep water flowing. I fell asleep at 08:00 and the line was frozen by 09:00. Did I mention I couldn't get the temp in here above 50F. I froze my Corleone's off. I called that night the Winter Games of 2012. Water lines in town and around the county split like a cracked egg that night. I didn't shovel last winter and broom swept once in 2014. I don't have to worry about driving because I am retired, watching satellite images at mid night worried about my Lady driving home in a lake effect storm in the dark gives me accida, acid stomach. It doesn't matter if it's -20 or -60, that kind of cold can kill you as fast as a bullet if you get stuck outside in it. We don't know what kind of winter we will get until we get it. We drove cedar posts last December 24th to put up a corral for a buddies horses last year. Just this afternoon I drove my 85 year old next door neighbour to Mount Hope airport to catch her flight to Florida for the winter. The only way to beat our winters is to move. What's the difference between -20 and -50? I know my water line won't freeze at -20, maybe. They have it made in the NWT and Yukon, it's a dry cold whatever that means. Thinking back to Finland -40 was bearable unless the wind picked up. That's what I was told because I was sitting in the bar after work, no way I left the Hotel unless I had to. I think I watched that movie where Arnold killed the Predator 10 times and Bruce Willis saved the world from the meteorite 5 times and knew the new Supervisory Computer system we were there to learn better than the Fins teaching it to us.

I miss all the real deal cookies and cakes Mom made during Christmas. I bake 2 things, Pizza and Biscuits out of the package from the Dollar Store. My favorites were Rum Balls. They were meat ball size short bread cookies with walnuts in them and covered in white powder sugar. We went to a Pot Luck Christmas party tonight and since T was working she asked me to make a dish. My second attempt at Mac and Cheese ala Giovani went fast. I used Rotini pasta, curly cues. My cheese sauce was 1 can of Campbell's cheddar cheese soup with 2 cans of 1/2 and 1/2. Added a whack of good Old Canadian Cheddar from a local maker in Simcoe On. Then I added a ball of Mottzarella cheese. Then about 6 ozs, not positive, of Friulano cheese. Slowly melted all these together for a thick creamy cheese sauce. Really thick so I added some milk. In a fry pan I browned Italian bread crumbs in butter until golden brown. Spread the crumbs on the top of the pasta and cheese sauce mixed together in a Pyrex baking pan. On top I spread some good Parmasion on that. Put in oven for 20 minutes at 400F. Done like dinner. It wasn't a cheap dish. The good quality cheeses were maybe 25 bananas alone but it was a large dish with a pound of Rotini, (curly cues). Fed many so not really expensive in the long run. Someone mentioned using smoked bacon through out or on top. That got me thinking, how about some cooked strips on top or crumbled Prosciutto on top or in it? Some Manga Cake lady made lazy Lasagna. Rather than lasagna pasta she used Rigatoni and not meticulously layered with 8 layers of pasta sheets and each and every little meatball the exact same size nor did it have 50 bucks worth of ricotta and mozzarella cheese in it or a white wine béchamel sauce. No way I was eating that mess. Ticha brought some home and I just tasted it. Man it was good I whacked it all out. I can't tell her it was any good, can I? The succo was good too. Man it was really good. No one with a surname starting with Mac can make lasagna like that and didn't spend 4 hours doing it, can they? And Rigatoni? It can't be called Lasagna, maybe baked Rigatoni, that I will give her. M an I can be a Italian cooking SNOB. More please.

Not a Musky guy here. I did go on a charter with Dan Columby and used the Shimano Curado and Calais if I remember that Danny supplied. It did not tire me and had not a single birds nest all day. I am not a bait cast user at all. That says a lot for the reel. I did pick one up a used Curado this year and love it. From light tubes for Smallies to heavy stuff I tossed for Northerns this year it worked well. I wouldn't rule out trolling for them. Why would you? You don't need to troll slow which limits many without a smaller kicker or electric. If you want to learn in 1 day that can take you many years to experience solo contact Dan Columby. He is out of Calendar Bay on Nipissing. I believe he is a sponsor here, I am not trying to break any rules. Well worth it. I never went for Musky specifically before for them, 1 incidental catch years ago fishing for Walleye. I got 2 nice fish in the 5 hours we were out . Dan was disappointed I was over the Moon. I have boated 8 since then on our own in only 3 days of fishing specifically for Musky. 6 were trolling at 4.5 miles per hour with short leads in the prop wash. Dan taught me that. 2 were casting, don't rule out trolling, for sure. If you figure a day out on your own boat costs are 50 to 75 bucks, probably more, and fish for 4 or 6 days blind a day and come up with nothing then a day with a Pro is money well invested. Invested not spent. Johnny D

Coming from a 62 year old I sometimes enjoy the genre and sometimes I think it is unadulterated crap. If inflaming with specific words is Art I sometimes don't see it. N word this, F this and that. Can't one evoke emotion within me without this type of language? Art in my opinion is evoking an emotion from a person, listening, seeing, touching, watching. This is supposed to be a G rated site. I'm sure Art hasn't seen most of this stuff. It sure is as or more inflammatory than criticizing politicians. It is a long way from when I was a kid watching American Bandstand. "Yes Dick, it has a nice beat and I can dance to it easy'. That was mostly crap too. You never saw Hendrix on ABS. Now I must say, I do like most Hip Hop, it is the poetry today that was once the poetry of the 60's even into the 70's, including Mitchel, Dylan, Jagger and Lennon and McCartney et all. I get that. The language used throughout most Hip Hop is not needed to get the blood flowing in someone listening, to evoke emotion, is distain an emotion? I think the language is just a crutch for bad music often. That just my old greying head's opinion.

Dave, I spent 2 weeks in Oulu Finland, 45 K south of the Artic Circle back in the 90's before Global Warming. The first 2 weeks of December. I was lucky enough to be there for their " Little Christmas". I don't know all the details of that pre Christmas holiday other than to have witnessed them having a blast and drinking copious amounts of Vodka and Tar shots. The bars were turned into Casino's on Friday and Saturday nights, We had a blast in the evenings that started around 1PM really. I did have fun in Finland, indoors. A few of our group took a tour of the Artic Circle, too dammed cold for this guy, wind or no wind. By the way it is the same tar we fill cracks in roadways with. -20C is cold, not much different than -30. But when it was -40C even the Fins complained. I asked many a Fin why live in those conditions, pay $40,000.00 for a $20,000.00 Honda Civic and 200 bucks for a pair of Levi's and the answer was always the same. "This is my home". When I asked the same question of those under 30 years old it was always the same. "To earn enough money to get the Hell out of this God Forsaken waste land and move to Helsinki or better yet to Europe. I don't know if calling southerners Pussies is accurate, perhaps a tad more intelligent as a species that can best survive in an environment best suited for life may be the best analogy. Choosing to live in a hostile environment that doesn't bode well for the best chance of survival of a species I do not understand. It was -1 C here today and with wind blowing off Erie I was freezing cold. I am not good with the cold. Hot, like Blast Furnace hot is just fine with me. I don't and can't fathom why anyone could live where you do my friend. If I took you out onto the Blast Furnace Casthouse floor you would probably melt. There are Northerners and there are Southerners, I am a member of the latter. I know you love where you live most likely Dave, not for this thin blooded southerner. Just the opinion of a woosy southern pussy.

I plan on being there in the afternoon. Hope to see the regulars. It would be nice to see new faces too. You salsa lovin' guys should put your orders in with Bruce. It went fast last year.

Once addicted no one wishes to be addicted. Addiction leads to a life of crime against society and puts undo immense pain on those close to the addict. I don't make excuses for them, if they are convicted of a crime lock them all up for a long time. Unfortunately that isn't the answer because drug use during incarceration can be greater than on the street. I don't have an answer. people that are much more educated than I and is their lifelong calling to solve addiction don't have the answer either. All I am saying is that they need a chance to get better. Addiction is a medical condition but we don\t treat addicts the same as others that have a decease. We have empathy for one group and utter distain for the other. I may have a different outlook because I have seen good people die of drug addiction that were once good members of society.

We have had good luck finding good "round" rims at Mikes scrap yard in Hamilton. Some with perfectly good tires. They take in many write off of late model vehicles. But for 88 bucks I would be pointing myself towards London asap. I paid more than that for the Altima wheels a few winters back and I was happy to. Sorry but I never buy anything off websites unless I can see them in person.

If someone is crippled in an auto accident or is suffering from a fatal decease we all donate, raise funds may things to raise money to fight the decease. But when it comes to drug addiction we wish they would all over dose and save society from them. What is the difference between a broken body and a broken brain? If anyone thinks someone with an addiction wants to be addicted you are wrong. Why not round them all up and put them in a Concentration Camp?

Heroin seems to be the drug of choice amongst addicts around here, it is the cheapest I've read. They can't steal enough to afford Fentanyl and Hydro Morphone. 1 Fentanyl patch goes for $100.00. My Dr. had me on the patch 7 years ago, not good, not good at all. The Pharmacy my wife works at has a Methadone program. It is a town of 10,000 people. I was surprised. I am naive though when it comes to this crap. Akrisoner, you are talking about Vancouver. Every major city I have visited in this world I have seen evidence of intravenous drug use laying about in the city centres, each and every one. Including Tehran Iran where it is punishable by death. They huddle in alley ways doing it. They don't care, they are already dead. There are many people that have to take some off these heavy duty opiates. Thankfully I am off them now. Never, ever tell anyone including your kids they are in the house. Destroy all evidence of them, bottles, receipts, list of meds given by the Pharmacy. If someone looking for them knows you have them though a 3rd or 4th part they will do anything to you and your family to get them. A couple I know well in their 70's out here experienced a home invasion to get the wifes OxyContin she had for Cancer. She had loose lips. He lost the use of his right arm when he took a point blank shotgun blast to it. Somehow it still had a strip of muscle and bone holding it on and they saved it. It is there more for decoration because he can't even lift it an inch. Man talk about a hi jack, I'm sorry, again, but I think it is an important message I have to tell.

It sounds like you need a hug big Albert. Many hugs available on the 29th. I just read a few online reviews about the Ale House, they were all positive. 6 bucks a pound for wings on Tues and Thursdays with a few carrots and celery add a buck. One reviewer didn't think a few veggies were worth a Loonie. We had a customer at the restaurant that would bring a pocket full with him on Wing Night. The strange thing was they were included in a pound of wings! Someone did mention that they have live music those Wing nights and it gets very loud. She suggested if you want a table further from the band so you can have a conversation to get there well before 8 which is when the band goes on. So 7 PM is a great time, 1 would be better for this night blind old bat.

That's what they call progress now. Urban sprawl is more like it. They are doing the same thing around here. Several cottages and some more like nice homes are on leased land at Featherstone Point, many Hammer guys will know it well. Rumour has it the new owner has plans for lakefront and lakeside development. I would say there is 30 acres there at least. The residents there are on year to year leases. A 60X120 lakefront lot down the road from us was recently sold in 4 days. They were asking 269K and got 280K, no dwelling.

I grow my own Heroin, it doesn't work either. My wife planted Poppies last spring. I've chewed on them, smoked them, squeezed the water out of the stem ate the seeds and I still am awake. Re rant.

Snap Peas are out of season Dude. So is fuel, hydro, NG, beef, pork, chicken, eggs, bread, water. WATER. Anyone that complains about the price of anything and I see an empty water bottle in their truck they are gettin' it. Pay a buck or more for 750 ML of water, everyone hydrates like they are crossing a desert to get to work or go shopping for God sakes. That's my rant. Another one. If you don't think you are paying for the cardboard container your take out comes in you need to wake up. Same goes for plastic bags at grocery stores. They were free before? At 5 cents each that is Millions of $$$ of revenue lost if free. They just decided that you are charged for one just makes them look Green to Uncle Kate. You are going to see an Environmental surcharge on your groceries soon for the 15C A/C, 30C heat and for the hydro in the store. How much do you think it costs to get a store the size of the ACC to 15C? I'm ranted out for tonight. I forgot this one, I CAN'T SLEEP!!!!!!!!!!!!

E mail me a bowl of that stuff. Has anyone had Poor Mans Lobster using Pike? I've had it, it wasn't Lobster but it was good. I wasn't there when they made it. Boiled the Pike in copious amounts of Sea Salt then those cubes are drained dried then dipped in melted butter. How does it not fall apart boiling that long? edit: tell your story, you have many friends here that care and would want to know.

To add to the Pike sauce Rick kindly copied here if you add clams, shrimp, scallops, crab or any other shell fish some of it or all to it you have Bouillabaisse or Brodetto. Hot pepper flakes to taste. A loaf of crusty bread, please no Dempster's imitation stuff and fergid aboud id. The best pasta with that is Angel Hair. Or you take a piece of day old bread toast it then put it on the bottom of a warm bowl and cover it in the fish sauce then drizzle with EVO. Someone should be sued for calling that stuff in a plastic bag French or Italian bread. There has to be a law against it. The taste is closer to R-12 insulation than real bread. Something not many do is warm bowls and plates in the microwave before serving food on them. Make sure there is no decorative metal on them. What a difference.

Thanks Rick, now lets keep them yummy viddles coming. Something we tried for both Thanksgivings and it worked great. We did a 15 pound bird the day before let it cool carved it and wrapped it in a few kilo's of foil and into the fridge. I warmed it on low after adding some turkey stock to the bird and pan the next day an hour before dinner. It looked and tasted great. Much easier to do than all that cooking the day of. Doing just sides was a breeze. I would never had done that before because my Mother said you will die. No one died that day at least.

Nothing wrong with eating Pike as many here agree. They are a solid fish. I make a tomato pasta sauce with pike and Brandy. Simple toasted garlic on EVO, in go the fillets and sear on each side, a splash of Brandy, some in the pan too, chopped plum tomatoes, not pureed, finish with Parm cheese, lots of it, fresh Basil and Parsley. Of course the Pike will break up, you want that. Pour on any pasta, more cheese and drizzle with EVO. Best with a tube pasta so all the goodies get in the pasta. A new fave of ours is Pennoni lishe (no lines), 1/2 way between Penne and Rigatoni. M2B2 bring up the cooking thread so I don't hi jack anymore threads.

I really do hope for ice, including here on Erie. When the lake freezes over strong massive (60KPH plus) winter winds are not as prevalent. Those last 2 mild winter did much shoreline damage along the lake. About $1000.00 at my place alone. Added all together it has to be in the millions of dollars of damage no one really talks about. Shoreline living, it sure sounds nice.