Thanksgiving, again.

I hope all of you had a great Thanksgiving.  Spent lots of time with family, friends, and food.  I know I sure did, and I've been trying to work it all off ever since.  I love the food on that day so much, I decided I was going to cook a few things that I enjoy eating on that holiday, so, I can have it for dinner all week.

While I was walking through my local grocery store on Sunday, they were having a sale on turkey legs, so, I picked up 4 of them.  I've never cooked a turkey, hell, I'm not very good with ovens.  I can cook on a grill and stove top no problem, but the oven always gives me issues.

While I'm not one for following recipes, and usually just make everything off the top of my head or however I think my Mom would make things, I had to look up the temperature and time turkey needs to be cooked.

I started by placing the 4 turkey legs in a large tin or whatever it's called.

Next I just added a bunch of herbs and spices that I enjoy to a little bowl to season the turkey.

Black Pepper

Basil

Tyme

Oregano

Lemon Pepper

Chopped up some yukon gold potatoes.

Cleaned and chopped up some carrots and a white onion.

After seasoning the turkey legs, I added all of the vegetables.  I also, added some extra virgin olive oil, and water.

I let it bake in the oven at 350 degree's for 2 hours and 15 minutes.

The finished product looked fantastic!

It tasted even better!

Good thing I'm doing double days at the gym again.  Need to get back in shape, and eat all of this delicious food at the same time.  It's not easy being me. :)

Keeping Busy

Back in August when I was visiting my best friend in Ohio, I stopped at a fishing store about 8 minutes from his house.  It's called Jann's Netcraft.  I have come across their website online a few times, and know a few people that use them for lure making supplies.

Well, I went in there, and decided that I was going to buy some supplies to make inline spinner baits, because, I don't have enough hobbies already Haha.  My intention with these were to just give them to friends and use them myself.  You know, something different.  I bought some size 4 french blades, heavy gauge wire, brass weighted bodies, split rings, and clevises.  Pictured below you will find my first attempt.  

That heavy gauge wire is strong and was not easy to bend.  With time and repetition I will refine my skills.  Oh, and I plan on dressing up some treble hooks with bucktail and just putting those on the split ring. 

Fly tying and lure making are not at the top of my list of things to accomplish this Winter.  My #1 mission is to get my singing voice back.  I have neglected my acoustic guitars and voice for far too long.  It's been so long since I've sang on a constant basis that my voice has gone away, but like with most things, I am a firm believer of practice - practice - practice.  While I never had a voice that will win me any television contests, it would just be nice to be back to where I once was, plus, playing my guitar and learning a song are just as satisfying to me as catching fish.

For those that don't know...I used to do quite a few cover songs.  Don't remember if I have ever posted any of them here to share with all of you.  Here's a cover I did of "Here Without You" by 3 Doors Down.

Here are just a few scenic shots of me reminiscing of a time when there wasn't snow on the ground. Haha

Wood Dale Grove

Lake Michigan and Downtown Chicago

Lost Mail Found

With all the snow that we received in the Chicago Burbz on Saturday, I didn't bother doing going out like I had planned.  I cooked, cleaned, and sat on the couch and drank some beer while.

While I was cleaning my desk, and organizing all of my materials, I found an envelope that I had been looking for since I received it.  The envelope contained a sticker and business card from Howard at Windknots & Tangled Lines.  This sticker will find a home on my Nautilus Reels Yeti Cooler.  ThANK YOU, for the sticker, Howard!

Also inside of the envelope were 2 stickers from FrankenFly that I received the same day, and put them all together.  I completely forgot I had these.  Who know's what more I will find as I clean even more.  I have my fingers crossed for some $$$.

Now that my fly tying desk is all cleaned up, it's time to mess it up, again.  Time to stock up on my favorite local craft beers, and get to tying.