Ribs, puzzles, and gas holes

 

Last weekend Philip and I brought the hunting season to a close and did the annual burger grind.  I have not actually gone hunting since mid October, but it was not until last weekend that we finally packaged up the last of the deer and elk burger.  As is usual Philip brought over some amazing food to eat - roasted vegetables and sous vid elk ribs.  His ribs are amazing!  After we ate we ground up 50 pounds or so of burger.  Hunting season complete.

I also finished a puzzle I got from my mom for Christmas.  It came without a picture on the box, and extra pieces just to confuse things.  Also it came with a 'puzzle within a puzzle' and was quite complicated but fun.  I'll admit that I half completed it and realized that it was a New Yorker cover and since I had the date I googled it and found the picture.  Is this cheating or all part of solving the puzzle?

Finally on a ski across Buskin Lake with Nora and the doggies, I was showing Nora the 'gas holes'.  These are holes in the ice kept open by bubbling gas coming up from the bottom of the lake.  Rotting vegetation etc creates methane.  The holes are generally in the same places every year, and the ice is safe right up to their edges. You can see the bubbles breaking on the surface in a continuous stream.  Nora and the dogs were thirsty and had a drink.  This is the Coast Guard's water supply and Nora got a taste from the source.

Patrick