With all the recent rains here, our spring alpacas are already poking their heads up through the southwestern tundra. Very endurable and self-fertilizing, alpacas are the new cash crop. It’s too late to plant this season, but plow them in around late March to early May and you’ll be glad you did.
[Found here.]
“Flash Bazbo, Space Explorer, reporting for duty, SIR!”
With a space helmet like that, those would be the first words out of my mouth, right before I was sent to the Outer Realms on a mission to explore and conquer The Planet of the Mind Gobblers.
[Found here.]
Too bad I didn’t post this earlier, coulda saved everyone a bunch of trouble. Besides applesauce, this practical contrivance also works for mashed potatoes and tomato puree. Pure efficient genius.
[Found here.]
Merry Christmas, and I hope Santa brings you what you wish for.
Noche de Rabanos (Night of the Radishes) takes place every year, on the 23rd of December, in Oaxaca,Spain and is one of the most impressive vegetable festivals around the world.
The radish was brought to the Americas in the 16th century, and back then the vendors used to carve them and use them on their market stalls to attract customers. Although the origins of the festival cannot be traced to an exact period, it is considered that it all began in the year 1897, when the mayor of Oaxaca organized the first radish-art exposition. Everever since that first celebration, every year, this humble vegetable is meticulously carved into animals, warriors, kings, dancers and pretty much any shape you can imagine. The artists sometimes make use of other vegetables, like onion or lettuce to complete their work. There’s also a prize for the most beautiful piece displayed.
The carver’s work begins about three days in advance and on the 23rd of December, the day of the festival, the results of all their hard work is presented to the public. On that same day, especially in the morning, children have the chance to learn this incredible art of radish-carving, or at least some of its secrets.
The celebrations don’t end that day. They continue on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with other joyful “fiestas”, parades of floats, fireworks music and dancing.
[More images here.]
Almost missed it, but Happy Birthday, Axe Cop!
From Futility Closet:
In 1900, evidently tired of initiating pledges by hand, Edmund and Ulysses de Moulin decided to automate the process.With their “initiating device,” the applicant is blindfolded, placed in position, and told to pull the handles to test his strength. When he does so, the paddle spanks him and an electric shock passes through his arms, “making the sensation rather unique.”
Tacky Raccoons 