Newbrassky

[Delmonico]

Psssssst, whisper on, Delmonico ain't never been hit by lightnin' but he's had several close calls.  His brother panics when Delmonico trys to touch him in a lightnin' storm.  He got very upset with Delmonico dancin' on the roof of a pickup one night in a storm, he would not come up and dance with him.  Delmonico knows that he was safer on the ungrounded truck than his brother was on the ground.  Sides that the storm was 'bout five miles away.   Whisper off.

[Silver Creek Slim]

Ya enjoy tormenting your brother? 

[Joyce (AnnieLee)]

Considering how he torments you, Slim, think of what it must be like to be Delmonico's brother!


The poor guy is probably gray and/or bald with several nervous twitches.

AnnieLee

[Delmonico]

Don't ask him about the marker flags, he still denies it was funny.  But it kept him crazy for 10 hours.    A line of them between his camper and my cuz's camper appeared on opening day of pheasant season while he was visitin' the neighbor.     He could not figger out why and I could not tell him till 8:37 pm and no one else could either. 

Must see if I can find the copy of the picture of him hangin' upside down between two dead deer, It's ok, he has his hunter orange on.  I only watched that one.
 
Ya ought ta see what ya can do to a 3-D deer archery target when he ain't lookin.

[Joyce (AnnieLee)]

I thought about those marker flags on the way to verk this morning. I have got to do that to Will!!



AnnieLee

[Delmonico]

Mean while back at the ranch, Delmonico has locked himself in the dug out and pulled in the latch string.  he says he ain't gonna cook till his hair is back to being brown with just a few grey hairs.

[Joyce (AnnieLee)]

Panicked, Duke looks at Slim, who looks back at Duke, then they both look for the Frumpy Fairy Godmother who is no where to be found!


AnnieLee

[Silver Creek Slim]

"Where is the wanded one when ya need 'er?" 

[Delmonico]

Meanwhle, they realize that Delmonico is cookin' fer himself, cause  wonderful smells are comin' from the dugout.  Duke scratches on the door and is let in.  Slim then knows that Duke is not considered to blame for the green hair thing.

(Perhaps if Slim would scratch on the door and whine he would also be fed.)

[Silver Creek Slim]

"We could try walnut husks to dye it brown."

[Delmonico]

The door to the dugout opens and Slim ducks just in time to not be hit with a dishpan of dirty dish water.       

[Silver Creek Slim]

"I'z just try'n ta help."

[Delmonico]

After dark, the dugout door opens and Delmonico heads to the root cellar, a yaller dog with bared teeth guards the door.  Emergin' from the root cellar with two heads of cabbage, Delmonico closes the door and pulls back in the latch string.

[Delmonico]

Delmonico emerges from the dugout in much better humor than the day before.  His hair is still green, but he is in a much better mood.  He has a plate of samwhiches (deer and cheese) and a bowl of cole slaw.  (The period type with the sweetened oil and vinegar.) 

Sorry I threw the dish water at ya Slim, before ya head home to Wissyconsin have some loooooonch.
By the way, can you bring me back some oranges on Monday.  They should be shippin' them by train from Floradey or Calyfornia by now since it's winter and they should be gettin' ripe.  Get me 4-5  and I will make my Great-Great-Grandmother Foster's "Orange Delight" cookies like my Grandmother always made at Christmas time.  Oh and if they shipped in some of those "English walnuts" from Calyforia bring some of them.  Don't bring me no "Black walnuts" though, I can't stand them.

[Joyce (AnnieLee)]

And with Delmonico's good deed, the Frumpy Fairy Godmother poofs back in with a scattering of sawdust. With a grin and a wave of her wand, Del's hair is returned to normal.

"If Slim can't find the oranges, I'll have some sent to you. I love oranges."

[Delmonico]

Very serious Historical note here: The coming of the Railroads allowed this some what exotic fruit to be shipped into areas all around the country by the 1870's.  The groves of orange trees that were in Calyfornia and Florida were improved with newer better oranges than the ones planted by the Spanish monks.  The Vaelica was the most popular by the time the markets due to the railroads was opened.  (hard to sell oranges in an area that everyone has a tree or three in their yard) 

These started ripenin' by the middle of November and were at their height by early December.  This allowed this treat to be shipped all over the country in time for Christmas.  By the late 1890's the Washington orange (navel) was becoming popular, it's almost total lack of seeds made it easier to eat and it was easier to peel. 

That is a short synopsis of the reason for the orages traditon in this country at Christmas, and most likely the origins of our family recipe.  I will print this next week if that Durn Slim brings back the nuts and oranges. 

Today of course, newwer hybrids and airplanes allows us to have oranges all year long, althouth they are more plentyful and cheaper at Christmas time.  But it has watered down a tradition for Christmas.

And mean while, back at the ranch.

[Silver Creek Slim]

"Thanks, Del. That would be great. I'll get some oranges and English walnuts fer, ya. Do ya need any eggs?" 
POOF!
"Hey, your har's not green no more!"

[Delmonico]

I think so on the eggs, the recipe is upstairs, will fetch it this weekend.

(Note goin' through old cookbooks i found a hand written copy of this recipe my Grandma Carman always made.  But it was in Grandma Parrish's handwriting in one of her cookbooks.  Yes I plan on framing it.)

[Joyce (AnnieLee)]

<AnnieLee wants some good old brown yard eggs, but she won't be getting any, so she pouts>

[Silver Creek Slim]

<AnnieLee wants some good old brown yard eggs, but she won't be getting any, so she pouts>

I gots some.