September 17, 2015

Pirtlefest Shenanigans | Years Past

↓Friends in Low Places | Garth Brooks 

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Pirtlefest

Redneck debauchery at its finest.

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What: horse racing, 4wheeler riding, good country living, ice cold beer drinking, bullshitting, moonshine swigging, redneck fun.

Where: Pirtle Ponderosa

When: A Saturday in September – every year.

Why: Why Not?

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Each year Pirtlefest evolves, but the common denominator year after year is good old fashion fun with family and friends.

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Last year Clint had this harebrained idea to cook the pig in the ground.   His idea of roughing it?

Who knows…  

What I do know is it was quite the process for the guys.   Steps included a giant hole in the ground, multiple rocks buried to trap heat, wood for the fire, Wilbur wrapped in foil, burlap and fencing, machinery to bury the big guy, dirt to cover and hours to cook.

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2015 Pig?   Definitely getting cooked in a roaster.  

Let’s just say the smell of that big guy after he was pulled from the ground was enough to run a skunk off.

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 Folks come and go during the day as they please.  We are a laid back kinda crowd.

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Chilling with friends on a nice fall afternoon?

Yes, please!

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How about a little 4-wheeler and dirt bike riding?

Sure!

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Golf carts with gun racks are perfectly acceptable as well.

Did you think otherwise?

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How about a little human fooseball?

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Bring your shin guards and competitiveness.

Rules don’t seem to apply with this crowd.

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Of course there is always the horse racing, obstacle course maneuvering and sledding.

What kind of party would it be without that kind of fun?

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And of course the evening bonfire.

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Need to burn past regrets?

Bring it out.  We’ve got ya covered.

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But of course– the best part is simply the quality time spent with everyone involved.

Always good conversations, good people and great memories.

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Cheers to Pirtlefest 2016

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September 16, 2015

Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

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While they aren’t exactly appealing to the eye, they most definitely appeal to the belly.   These cabbage rolls are stuffed full of heartiness that screams fall with ground beef, black beans, mushrooms and corn.   Add this recipe to your cool weather lineup.  It’s bound to be a hit.

Ingredients

  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil oil
  • 1 cup chopped red onion
  • 1 medium head green cabbage
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 can black beans (drained)
  • 1 cup frozen corn
  • 1 package fresh mushrooms
  • 1/4 – 1/2 cup feta cheese (any flavor that floats your boat)
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 can (16 ounces) tomato sauce
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika

Directions

  1. Heat oil in a skillet, add chopped onions to tenderize.   Add ground beef and cook through.
  2. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Using a knife, cut in a circle all around the stem of the cabbage and remove the core. Place the cabbage in the boiling water. After about 2 minutes an outside leaf will come loose–pull it off and out of the water using tongs and place on a clean dish towel to soak up the water.  Repeat until you have 8 to 10 leaves.  Cut out the thick part of the rib from the bottom of each leaf, but don’t cut too much.
  3. Back in your pan with the ground beef and onion add black beans, mushrooms, corn, feta, chicken broth, tomato sauce and paprika.   Allow to simmer.    Reserve a little bit of the liquid for later.
  4. Begin stuffing and rolling the cabbage leaves into a lightly greased 9×13 pan.  Pour reserved liquid over the top, cover in foil and bake for one hour at 350.

Enjoy!

 

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September 15, 2015

Andy Stroud | Gone Too Soon

↓ Luke Bryan | Drink A Beer 

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Andy Stroud

December 29th, 1982 – September 11, 2015

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Andy Jacob Stroud was born December 29, 1982 in Hamburg, Iowa to Steven Stroud and Melissa (Scroggs) Stroud. On May 5, 2007, Andy married his childhood sweetheart Shala Williams and on February 15, 2011 they were blessed with a baby girl, Alyse Jordyn and are expecting their second daughter in December.

Andy enjoyed life to the fullest which always included spending lots of time with his daughter Alyse and wife Shala, brother Joshua and many nights in James and Pam’s garage.

Andy loved fast hot trucks and cars with shinny buttons and loud music. He was a fantastic cook and no one ever left his home hungry or thirsty. Many nights were spent huddled on the couch with Bubba (Alyse) watching movies, TV (Ninja Turtles), playing games on his phone and even playing dress up.  Andy was an incredible father, Alyse was his pride and joy; he once posted on Facebook “God, I love this child”. Nights also included mowing the yard, doing laundry and cleaning house and working on cars with his brother, Josh.

Andy gave everyone he encountered so much; his love, friendship, guidance.  He was known to be a “partner in crime” to some.

Andy was very blessed.

He knew the love of Shala. She gave him his courage, strength, peace and immeasurable joy in his life.  He thanked God for her every day.  Andy knew the unconditional love and adoration of his princess Alyse. She gave him so much pure joy each and every day from the moment of her birth.  He already loved his second daughter and would have treasured her as well.

Andy never knew a stranger; to meet him, was to become a friend and his friends were family.

Andy will be greatly missed by all.

…But he will be forever in their hearts.

As read: Ritchie Funeral Home

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To continue the love and legacy that is Andy, several Memorials have been set up in his name:

→YouCaring | Class of 2011

→Go Fund Me | Andy Stroud Family

→Page County State Bank | Andy Stroud Memorial Fund

→FaceBook  | Continue to Bless Andy Stroud’s Family

→Gone Too Soon | Omaha.com

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Upcoming Benefits

→October 3rd Benefit in Clarinda, IA

↓October 17th Benefit in Blair, NE

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*Each title is linked

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The road ahead for Shala, Alyse, family and friends is long and one that many can’t imagine having to encounter.  Please, keep them in your prayers, hold them in your thoughts and reach out a helping hand when and where you can.

The journey will be difficult, but there is much comfort in knowing Andy is there and present in their day to day lives; watching over and protecting.

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September 14, 2015

Music Monday | Dirty Diana | Shaman’s Harvest

Music Monday 

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Who doesn’t love music?   And who doesn’t like to be exposed to new artists/songs/genres?  Music is such a large part of my life as it is for many others in this world.  My particular taste in music has definitely evolved over the years, but so does music in general.

How boring of a world we’d live in if it weren’t for the multitude of genre’s out there to explore.

Did you know? 

  • When I was in High School I drove to Omaha (180 miles round trip) every Sunday to participate in the Omaha Youth Orchestra?
  • In my early 20’s I traveled to Omaha (still 180 miles since I lived in Clarinda) every Monday evening and occasional weekends to participate in the Nebraska Wind Symphony?
  • Oh… there’s the part where I was a band and vocal teacher for 6 years as well.

That’s all part of my history (perhaps I’ll indulge in more of that later) but what I want to focus on today is a new band I am digging.  And quite possibly a new weekly feature.

So, let’s get to it, shall we?

Music Monday | Where I will feature an artist and a song I am currently crushing on.

We’ll see how long I can keep up on it.  It’ll be a new challenge for me.

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Shaman’s Harvest

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Song:  Dirty Diana

(remake of Michael Jackson’s original)

Listen-> YouTube

 

I stumbled upon their cover of Dirty Diana not that long ago.   Intrigued, I headed over to iTunes to take a quick listen to a few originals.   Verdict:  A band I could easily dig on.  A nice blend of Rock with Southern elements.   A band I’d definitely love to see in a small venue, such as Sokol (Come on Omaha… hint hint).

Hailing from Jefferson, Missouri; this band is made up of three core members Matt Fisher, Josh Hamler and Nathan Hunt.  From the band’s beginning in Fisher’s mom’s basement, these three have served as the foundation of Shaman’s Harvest since 1996.  Many ups, many downs, many hits, recordings and trips to the big cities, this band continues to churn out good tunes.

Learn more about the band:

Other Shaman’s Harvest songs worth a listen:

 

 

Cheers!