Happy Father's Day To The Skunk!!

Happy Father's Day to all the kid dads, doggy dads, kitty dads and anyone else who wants to join in.  I hope you get waited on right and left and have the best meal EVER!!  Of course if it's a barbecue you're after, you will probably have to do all the work yourself.  Count yourself lucky you don't have ME cooking for you!!

What about the Skunk?  Well happy Father's Day to him too!!  Yes, it's been an exciting morning.  These long summer solstice days with early morning light have brought out the critters in search of food.  

I opened my door for the puppies, who ran out like I had set their tails on fire.  I guess they smelled it before I did.  I tripped over the fan I keep at the step to bring in the cool morning air, landing unceremoniously on my butt.  OUCH!!  I jumped up, but the pups were already around the corner.

I RAN to the side yard!!  Nothing!!!  I raced to the other side (keep in mind I have over two acres here) and checked out everything.  How lucky can I be?  At least he's not in MY yard.  That's when I hear it.  That familiar squawking and panic of the chickens two houses over, along with the constant yapping of a small dog.  UH OH!!  

I'm pretty sure there was a skunk in the chicken coop.  I gathered up my two kids, came back in the house and shut the door, to the now very potent smell of, well you know, SKUNK!!  I think we'll spend some quality time indoors today.

I have had way too many confrontations with skunks on the ranch and would really rather NOT have another one, not to mention keeping the dogs skunk-free.  

The rest of the day I practiced my air frying skills.  I do love sweet potato fries, so I cut up another potato, tossed the pieces in a tad bit of oil and almost set them on fire.  That seems to be a recurring theme.  

I'll be honest here, I picked out most of the burned black pieces.  It's a delicate balance between high enough temperature to brown them, yet not too high because they burn very easily!!  Tossed in sea salt .... I ate every one!!  They are SO good!!!

So today, I'm determined to get my road bicycle out, air up the tires (if I can find the pump) and hit the road.  Wish me luck because I'm going to need it!!!

Again, HAPPY FATHER'S DAY to all you wonderful men out there!!!!