Achievements and Accomplishments Thread

[Naboka]

Raccoons carry a parasitic worm which they can pass to humans. The worm doesn't do any particular harm to the raccoons, but in humans the worm can't find the places it likes to inhabit in raccoons. It often ends up in the brain or the eyes. For that and other reasons, having pet raccoons is discouraged. Good that you didn't and that you kept your distance.

Sometimes nature's needs are not nice. It's a tough world out there in a lot of ways people don't know about. But I think my squirrels are vandals, really. Some of my neighbors feed them stale bread, and we never do. The squirrels probably have a tramp stamp on our house that says something like "cheapskates here, get 'em".

Round worm. Baylisascaris procyonis.

My neighbor's cousin died from it--so he says, but... who knows. It's pretty rare. They crap on pretty much everybody's decks around here and no one has gotten it in the 25 years we've lived here. And everyone has had to clean up their messes.

The parasite's eggs are especially prevelant in raccoon excrement. They have latrines where they take a dump over and over. Cleaning that stuff up is extremely dangerous for the reasons you mentioned. But if you wear gloves and don't ingest the eggs, it's not that big a deal.

As an aside, I'm highly allergic to poison ivy. But, I can pull it out of the ground with bare hands and not get a rash if I immediately wash off the poison ivy oils (urushiol--been waiting to find that one on a Wordtwist board) with plain water.

[bwt1213]

Raccoons carry a parasitic worm which they can pass to humans. The worm doesn't do any particular harm to the raccoons, but in humans the worm can't find the places it likes to inhabit in raccoons. It often ends up in the brain or the eyes. For that and other reasons, having pet raccoons is discouraged. Good that you didn't and that you kept your distance.

Sometimes nature's needs are not nice. It's a tough world out there in a lot of ways people don't know about. But I think my squirrels are vandals, really. Some of my neighbors feed them stale bread, and we never do. The squirrels probably have a tramp stamp on our house that says something like "cheapskates here, get 'em".

[Naboka]

I have plants in pots on my deck. We have lots of squirrels. They often dig up plants in those pots, looking for nuts they could never have planted in them. They also dig holes in the garden for the same reason, often destroying plants there, too. So now all the plants on the deck are surrounded by chicken wire to keep the squirrels out. And the little buggers will try to pry the chicken wire cylinders apart to get inside, too. And no, it's not that they want to eat the plants for food; they don't eat the plants, just tear them to pieces and then dig holes in the soil in the pot. They're vandals. I think if I want to tend my garden, I should probably have a greenhouse. With steel doors the squirrels can't chew through.

Never had a squirrel dig in our potted plants except to try to bury their nuts. That's reaaly interesting.

Raccoons however!!!! A major pain.

Since we have ponds in the back, raccoons love to visit for the water and a chance to catch a fish, which is rare. They have also dug up every single potted plant in search of who knows what. Certainly not for the insects because there are none in the pots. I've found that using epsom salts, especially scented bath salts prevents that headache. Raccoons don't like the smell.

For a while I was trapping them and driving them 10 miles north to a forest across the river so they couldn't return. Then I saw all the roadkill and started having second thoughts. When I trapped a couple of kits and let them go, they wouldn't leave. They just stood there looking at me with such sadness and apprehension. I couldn't shoo them away. It was like they were begging me to reconsider. I almost put them back in the cages and took them home. Heartbreaking.

Haven't used the traps since. Just accepted that nature has needs just like we do. And feelings.

[bwt1213]

I have plants in pots on my deck. We have lots of squirrels. They often dig up plants in those pots, looking for nuts they could never have planted in them. They also dig holes in the garden for the same reason, often destroying plants there, too. So now all the plants on the deck are surrounded by chicken wire to keep the squirrels out. And the little buggers will try to pry the chicken wire cylinders apart to get inside, too. And no, it's not that they want to eat the plants for food; they don't eat the plants, just tear them to pieces and then dig holes in the soil in the pot. They're vandals. I think if I want to tend my garden, I should probably have a greenhouse. With steel doors the squirrels can't chew through.

[Naboka]

Sometimes a blind squirrel finds a Baccarat vase full of acorns.

The squirrel would leave the vase and waste half the acorns. Even the best salesman couldn't convince a squirrel that a Baccarat was valuable. (If he/she spoke "squirrel.")

Spent hours looking out at the backyard, sometimes watching the squirrels hide nuts for the winter. Amusing to watch how carefully and diligently they select their hiding spots. Don't think they really can remember where they put them all because I find them by the dozens during spring planting. (We have walnut trees.)

Just like playing this game, trying to find all the nuts we've stored, only to forget where we put them.

After the third game in a row scoring in the low 300's against games with high scores in the 500's...

Perhaps it's time ....

Il faut cultiver notre jardin.

Literally.

[dannyb]

Sometimes a blind squirrel finds a Baccarat vase full of acorns.

[Naboka]

That could be a case of too much saffron. Too much saffron, to me, has a "medicinal" taste. Some people do like that though.

Balance and measure in all things.

I tend to overdo most things, including applying spice to meals.

Ps:

least vanity
swell
foursquare
reality doth strike
a light
to fallibility

Screen Shot 2022-07-02 at 7.05.08 PM.png

thought you'd like to see that despite all the improvements, I still come up short against you

[dannyb]

The wife doesn't like saffron, but... I do. So, I'll give it a shot.

That could be a case of too much saffron. Too much saffron, to me, has a "medicinal" taste. Some people do like that though.

[2cute]

Good eats, folks! We are having local beans with our own garlic, green onions, tatsoi and I'm not sure what all else tonight. Picked 2 quarts of blackcap raspberries yesterday and today. Picked 10 lbs of garlic scapes this week, more to go. The soft necks are letting us know it is time to dig them. I'm making lettuce soup tomorrow to freeze (what else do you do with 20 lbs of lettuce?). One of our co-op producer members is bringing about 80 lbs of greens and herbs to our kitchen Sunday, so we have a busy week ahead. Gotta love summertime!

Lettuce in soup is yummy. You can also add lettuce when you make fish. I usually fry my fish with about a tablespoon of olive oil & then just before its finished, I add the leafy part of the lettuce on top & cover with the lid, to steam it. It wilts & adds a unique flavor to the meal.

BTW I was feeling lazy this evening so I had a naval orange for dinner. I feel lucky that they are still available. I love that in June & July there's plentiful fruits including those out-of-season.

And ... Naboka ... I haven't had prosciutto in so long, yum its so delicious! A decadent treat! Congrats!

[JedMedGrey]

Good eats, folks! We are having local beans with our own garlic, green onions, tatsoi and I'm not sure what all else tonight. Picked 2 quarts of blackcap raspberries yesterday and today. Picked 10 lbs of garlic scapes this week, more to go. The soft necks are letting us know it is time to dig them. I'm making lettuce soup tomorrow to freeze (what else do you do with 20 lbs of lettuce?). One of our co-op producer members is bringing about 80 lbs of greens and herbs to our kitchen Sunday, so we have a busy week ahead. Gotta love summertime!

[Naboka]

I agree! That is a noteworthy achievement. Congrats!
(Admittedly I was unaware that it has been done very little or not all until after fasteddieb's reply to your question.)

Thanks.

Didn't know it hadn't been done much either until it dawned on me the diametrically opposed goals each tends to represent.

Fortunately, caught a down month in the average-points-per-word competition where some big names were absent. Including you. Otherwise...

[Naboka]

Finally.

Finally.

Finally.

Wordtwist bucket list.

Crossed the last accessible player from the 4x4 high-average-score pantheon whose individual-game high score I've never topped.

Accessible, in the sense that I've never ever seen a game show up in 4x4 played by Thunderock.

[Naboka]

Naboka, since you were about a half way through the month (in June) I thought that you would take a stab at 500 point average this month. You had to pull your average up from the mid 460s. That was a lot of ground to make up.

Enjoy the melons! Have you ever had a tomato and watermelon salad? Try some saffron risotto with roasted broccoli, and finish it with torn prosciutto and diced cantaloupe.

Sounds like you're a gourmet.

Haven't tried those. Will look up recipes for watermelon/tomato salad.

The wife doesn't like saffron, but... I do. So, I'll give it a shot.

We do roast a lot of vegetables. Aspargus, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, sweet and other potatoes. Roasting sweet potatoes, red onions, cauliflower and black beans makes a tasty meal--if spiced to your tastes.

She's a lacto-ovo-vegetarian. Who loves grilled cheese.

So last night I sauteed lots of onions and garlic in olive oil then added butter to the mix as a frying base. The sandwich was layered with pesto, havarti, tomatoes and then another thin layer of shredded 3 cheeses. (Costco.) Gotta balance the amount of cheese or blah.

Cooked them on one side, removed them, sprinkled more cheese and butter to the skillet, flipped the sandwiches back into the skillet.

(Sometimes I throw a bit of mustard into the skillet for that last flip.)

We've also added some of the vegetarian/gluten free burgers to the menu. Cooked and seasoned correctly, they can be delicious. You just have to include the buns in the cooking process rather than leaving them as an afterthought.

[lalatan]

Naboka, congratulations on being in the top 10 in average score and points per word. 5.4 points per word while playing the number of games that you do is quite impressive. Good luck in what ever your goals are for this month.

I agree! That is a noteworthy achievement. Congrats!
(Admittedly I was unaware that it has been done very little or not all until after fasteddieb's reply to your question.)

[dannyb]

Naboka, since you were about a half way through the month (in June) I thought that you would take a stab at 500 point average this month. You had to pull your average up from the mid 460s. That was a lot of ground to make up.

Enjoy the melons! Have you ever had a tomato and watermelon salad? Try some saffron risotto with roasted broccoli, and finish it with torn prosciutto and diced cantaloupe.