Coffee Klatch

Bacon in pan. Fry. Drain grease and let it harden. Lard.

Seriously, Grandma used to make it each time they butchered a hog. I was little, but observant and listened. She was the best Grandma ever, taking time to answer a child's questions.

She put her fat in separate piles. When I asked why, she said because it's used for different things. She showed me which pile would make a white lard that didn't smell. That would be for pies, cookies, and biscuits.Another pile would make lard that would have a pork taste. That was for beans, cooking, etc. She mentioned kidneys and I think that was the real white one that didn't smell...but not positive. The other was a browner color and smelled a little.

She cut each pile into little pieces and put them in a big cast iron post over low heat and watched it real close. Said if it got too hot the smell and color wasn't as nice.

She had me watch the floating bits and told me to let her know when they were the color of the eggs of (forget the chickens name), but it laid light tan eggs. She said don't let them get as dark as A Rhode Island Red's eggs. (they're a darker brown.) What it amounted to was that you want the solid bits ("cracklins") to be a light tan.

Then she strained the melted lard through a cloth. The cracklins were my treat and they were delicious. One of the batches of lard went into canning jars, another batch went into a thick crock pot that was stored in a cool place in her food room. She put something over the top. Can't exactly remember if it was a lid or a cloth, but it had a cover.

I've read of people putting it in the oven with the same process as Grandma used, and others doing it in a crockpot with water.

The good thing is that if it gets rancid, you'll know without a doubt. Grandma's never did. It all stayed fresh til it was gone. Good luck Flav. Make sure you sample those cracklins. 8)

Hi guys! I tried to post the other day, but I kept getting bounced off. It seems to be fixed now, though.

Let's see....SO, I'm so glad your trip was great! Grands are so much fun!

Flav, I absolutely love the quilt! I'm just not that talented! I've been sewing for as long as I can remember, but I'm nervous about starting quilting. Hats off to anyone that quilts!

Nine's, you are so funny!! D just loved meeting you, finally! He said it was nice to put a face to the names. LOL

Good news for me! We signed the lease on a house last Saturday. It's outside of town, 2 bedrooms, lots of yard. The downside is, it's right on the highway. The view is amazing, though...AND, the house is in the middle of what's left of a ghost town. I'm kind of bummed, though. When I asked about the ghost town, the owners said they owned it and the only thing left of it was a falling down building a little way from our house. I was hoping to walk around a true ghost town!

I guess that's it for now. If I'm not on for a long time, it's because the internet isn't up at the house yet. We're not sure when we're going to move over there. We need to get a bed and a frig, at the very least! We can wing it from there. I'll let y'all know before we leave the hotel.

Hi guys! I tried to post the other day, but I kept getting bounced off. It seems to be fixed now, though.

Let's see....SO, I'm so glad your trip was great! Grands are so much fun!

Flav, I absolutely love the quilt! I'm just not that talented! I've been sewing for as long as I can remember, but I'm nervous about starting quilting. Hats off to anyone that quilts!

Nine's, you are so funny!! D just loved meeting you, finally! He said it was nice to put a face to the names. LOL

Good news for me! We signed the lease on a house last Saturday. It's outside of town, 2 bedrooms, lots of yard. The downside is, it's right on the highway. The view is amazing, though...AND, the house is in the middle of what's left of a ghost town. I'm kind of bummed, though. When I asked about the ghost town, the owners said they owned it and the only thing left of it was a falling down building a little way from our house. I was hoping to walk around a true ghost town!

I guess that's it for now. If I'm not on for a long time, it's because the internet isn't up at the house yet. We're not sure when we're going to move over there. We need to get a bed and a frig, at the very least! We can wing it from there. I'll let y'all know before we leave the hotel.

I agree TB, glad you found a house. I have an idea for you, get a tape recorder and record your memoirs. (sp)?? You have one hell of a tale to tell.

You can maybe get a book published with all of the crazy you have endured over the last few years. LOL

I don't think I would like living alone in a ghost town, so hats off to you. I am a big chicken

I agree TB, glad you found a house. I have an idea for you, get a tape recorder and record your memoirs. (sp)?? You have one hell of a tale to tell.

You can maybe get a book published with all of the crazy you have endured over the last few years. LOL

I don't think I would like living alone in a ghost town, so hats off to you. I am a big chicken

LOL! My first thought. What if you're "not" alone? Shivers. But, considering the alternative, of a hotel room, I'd gladly take a chance.

Not me, I am a chicken shit, would be sleeping with lights on a creeping around every time I entered a room.

No worries about ghosts! The town is gone. There's just one building left and that's falling down on itself! It's all ranch land and a few houses. A guest actually asked me about it a few months ago and I hadn't heard of it before. The internet showed a picture of an actual ghost town, so I was hoping. No such luck. The buildings have all been torn down, except for the one. Darn! It must have been an old photo.

I've toyed with the idea of writing a book. If I do, I'd probably have to sit on it for a few years. Don't want to tick off the owners! LOL They're good people, it's the nephew that has been "running" it that's a total idiot. Maybe I'll just do it for the kids. I could turn out to be a lousy writer, too. I haven't written much in years. Just here.

Oldest daughter is here with the baby. Loving some Grandma time!!!

Oldest daughter is here with the baby. Loving some Grandma time!!!

Sure appreciate the info on Mama, Flav. Glad she's ok and glad she has some real good home protection. Has to make her and the kids feel a lot more secure. Must feel real frustrating to hustle around getting things ready for school and find out it was "hurry up and wait."

I hate that she got banned. It's a shame that happens. Can't think of anyone who is less deserving of a ban. Gosh I wish they could fix that and let the nice ones not have so many issues.

Thanks again, Flav. Been wondering about them.

Oh Flav, you poor thing. What a horrible thing to happen. Thank God your son is ok.

My heart dropped to my stomach when I read fire in the bed with your son driving. He must have been horrified. If he hadn't seen it when he did, he might have gotten blown up just getting out to get away.

Bet your husband is just sick about his tools. Horrible as it is, at least they can be replaced. I hope he has some kind of insurance that can help with it. Even if he doesn't, at least no one was hurt.

It's a hard thing when something is so bad that the best you can say is it's good no one was hurt.

Hope you can take a day off, unwind, and try to relax.

Was the truck a Dodge, by any chance?

yes it was a Dodge. Why? They think a can of something aerosol got so hot it exploded and there was a gas can in the back also and apparently the temp got to 104 yesterday and it could have ignited from the hot metal. They aren't really sure. He always keeps extra gas on the truck when he mows yards, which is what he was doing yesterday.

Well the truck is covered by insurance and so are the tools its just hard proving what was in there since its one big ball of metal and plastic melted together at this point.

As for the cow, Elsie is doing well, and she is solid black and when she decided to run down the road it was night time and we live in the country, so no street lights! We just had people calling the sheriff saying hey a cow just ran thru my yard. The sheriff was on the phone with Pete telling him which way to head each time they had a phone in

I just did the ALS challenge right before I posted the last post and low and behold Mama commented on the video when I posted it.

She said its nuts there and that the kids have been home from school for two weeks because of it. They are shut in pretty much and that all the thuggery and bs is mostly from outsiders not from locals. They all just want everyone to go away and let things cool down.