Alligatorob's Diary

[alligatorob]

Yesterday, Thursday, was not my best food day, but no binge so I'm relatively happy. Got in some good exercise at the gym, and lots and lots of peach work. Worked from the time I got home from the gym in the morning until 9 pm...

The first batch was done fermenting so I decanted and got 13 gallons of wine ready for the still, will probably do the first distillations today. And picked another batch and got it started fermenting. I think its a little more than the first. If all goes well with these batches I think I may be done with peach moonshine for the year. And we still have lots more peaches... not sure what I'll do with those.

Second batch:

 

[Llama]

Any PT advice you might have would be welcome. I think I have a good therapist, but more ideas are a good thing.

The only big one is fixing that head forward posture, which usually takes in-person correction because of how many things you have to watch. (Head back without raising your chin, shoulders down and back, keep your chest low... and now relax in that position!)

 

[alligatorob]

The only big one is fixing that head forward posture, which usually takes in-person correction because of how many things you have to watch. (Head back without raising your chin, shoulders down and back, keep your chest low... and now relax in that position!)

Thanks, that is similar to what the new theripist told me, good to have the reinforcement. The "head back without raising your chin" thing is new, and hard for me to do without constantly thinking about it. But the new therapist said exactly what you did, so I will do my best.

My neck, from the MRI, I am told the spinal cord is the dark thing and it should be surrounded by fluid, shown in white. You can see in the blue circle where the degenerated disks are bulging out putting some pressure on the spine. In other pictures you can see the hole the nerves go through are restricted. And a few bone spurs.

This is from the doctor who reported on the MRI. I am told none of this is outside what to expect at my age, unfortunately it seems to be causing weakness. The doctor says that is less common than pain, but in some ways a greater concern. Without surgery, relatively soon, the weakness might become permanent. We agreed that I would do PT and get measurements taken every week to track the strength and then meet in about a month to review the results and make a surgery decision.

 

[liza3]

All those peaches!!

Sounds like you have a good plan in place for the spinal stenosis--never fun when one is looking at another surgery, but as you said, you'll get through it if it comes to that.

 

[Emilyrose]

God Rob, I'm really sorry to hear that more surgery might be on the horizon. You seem to be coping with it remarkably well though. All that peach wine-making is doing you good!

Anyway, I really hope you are feeling okay. I think you have a great attitude and that counts for a lot!!!

 

[Cate]

I just showed G your peach/peach moonshine photos & he said wow! That is a serious enterprise there, Rob. It does sound like surgery is on your horizon, Rob but I'm sure you'll tackle that head on like you do most things.

 

[alligatorob]

Today was a good day, ate pretty well but could probably have done without the ice cream sandwich. And I do feel good tonight, fresh peach brandy will do that for you. Had okra, tomatoes and peppers fresh from the garden for dinner, and a couple of really big peaches, almost a pound each.

It was a long day I got my first batch of peach brandy partially distilled, got about 5 liters of 60 to 70% brandy, should get more tomorrow.

All those peaches!!

And we are only at about the 20% point, lots more to come. Not sure what we will do with them all. I could have picked three times what I did today, all very ripe. I think I now have a near lifetime supply of brandy, or will when done. Could be a worse problem.

Sounds like you have a good plan in place for the spinal stenosis--never fun when one is looking at another surgery, but as you said, you'll get through it if it comes to that.

Well a plan anyway... it is what it is.

God Rob, I'm really sorry to hear that more surgery might be on the horizon. You seem to be coping with it remarkably well though. All that peach wine-making is doing you good!

Anyway, I really hope you are feeling okay. I think you have a great attitude and that counts for a lot!!!

Thanks Emily, and I don't know about "coping well", but life goes on, I ain't dead yet.

I just showed G your peach/peach moonshine photos & he said wow! That is a serious enterprise there, Rob. It does sound like surgery is on your horizon, Rob but I'm sure you'll tackle that head on like you do most things.

The moonshine is turning into a bigger thing that I had imagined, but it is kind of fun. I guess G is ok, but don't tell the revenuers or I'll be headed for the hoosegow...

 

[Cate]

Your secret is safe
Stuff put on the internet is safe. isn't it?

 

[Emilyrose]

Do you sell the moonshine to neighbours Rob?

 

[alligatorob]

Stuff put on the internet is safe. isn't it?

Absolutely! I think...

Do you sell the moonshine to neighbours Rob?

To stay out of jail the rule is don't sell and don't tell, I'm ok on the first part anyway, LOL.

Neighbors are 100% Mormon, so it would be a hard sell.

My real protection is that so long as I stay small and don't sell the feds have more important things to pursue than me, ex-presidents and the like. Its against federal law, not state, and we don't see a lot of FBI around here.


Sad news this morning. Jimmy Buffett: Margaritaville singer dies aged 76

 

[liza3]

Although I can't drink hard alcohol I love the sound of making your own moonshine!

Very nice to hear of such a nice little harvest of fresh veggies from the garden too.

 

[Cate]

Another one is gone, Rob. G just said "he was old though" & I mentioned that he was only 3 years older than him. "Not old then". You're not wasting away in Peachville, Rob. We sure have to enjoy our lives. We're the lucky ones.

 

[alligatorob]

Today was a good day, I ate pretty well and feel good tonight. More peach brandy, but not so much as yesterday. Finished distilling the first batch, ended up with about 11 liters of ~65% alcohol. I expect to get more from the batch now fermenting... too much. It is dangerously smooth, but only a hint of peach flavor.

Although I can't drink hard alcohol I love the sound of making your own moonshine!

Very nice to hear of such a nice little harvest of fresh veggies from the garden too.

My grandfather got a degree in agriculture from the University of Georgia in 1914. One story he often told was of going home with a friend for the weekend up into the remote north Georgia hills. He went with the friend's uncle to see a corn field in a very remote hallow, or holler, he could not see a way to get a wagon into the holler to haul the corn out. He was taking some agricultural economics classes at the time. So he asked the uncle how they got the corn out to market. The uncle said they cut it, fermented it, distilled it, drank it and then fought it out. Been interested in moonshine ever since.

The garden veggies are always nice. We are getting too many tomatoes right now... giving most away.

You're not wasting away in Peachville, Rob.

Sounds like a song to me!

 

[Llama]

Where I come from the corn just gets cut, then buried to ferment for the cows. Awfully smelly but then I'm not a bovine. I've never had peach brandy but the best thing I know to do with apricot brandy is to pour it over a bit of still-warm chocolate cake to soak in before you add the chocolate sauce.

 

[liza3]

Lovely to have an abundance of both peaches and tomatoes that you have plenty to share I'm sure people really appreciate that!

I've never had peach brandy but the best thing I know to do with apricot brandy is to pour it over a bit of still-warm chocolate cake to soak in before you add the chocolate sauce.

oh my that sounds delicious!!

 

[Cate]

Sounds like a song to me!

I think I would choose your peach brandy ahead of a Margarita.
No need for that shaker of salt either.
I rarely wear my Fitbit either these days as I can't read the actual time on it. I might look at getting a smart watch that is legible. I wonder if they exist....

 

[alligatorob]

Today was a good day. Not the best food choices, but no binge, so success!

Spent the day building more dog ramps, she is getting good enough to let outside, but stairs are still not allowed. Went to our vet last week, we had to take her to an all night emergency clinic when she got injured. The vet says she had a rather traumatic spine injury and he was impressed that she has recovered as well as she has. But no stairs for another month... hard to keep her off of them, she's feeling better.

I've never had peach brandy but the best thing I know to do with apricot brandy is to pour it over a bit of still-warm chocolate cake to soak in before you add the chocolate sauce.

Now you've done it. Been thinking about your brandy recipe since I saw it this afternoon. How many calories of cake and chocolate sauce do you think I'll have to eat to finish off the 11 liters of brandy?

Where I come from the corn just gets cut, then buried to ferment for the cows. Awfully smelly but then I'm not a bovine.

They do that here too, its a kind of interesting process. They do the same here, doesn't smell any better. Do y'all use corn to make liquor? Just occurred to me that what I call corn you probably think of as maize.

Lovely to have an abundance of both peaches and tomatoes that you have plenty to share I'm sure people really appreciate that!

It is, but won't last, another month or so and it'll all be over.

I rarely wear my Fitbit either these days as I can't read the actual time on it. I might look at getting a smart watch that is legible. I wonder if they exist....

Good question, the fitbit is made for people with better eyes than mine. Let me know if you find something.

No need for that shaker of salt either.

 

[Cate]

Oh, that's funny Rob!

 

[liza3]

NIce to hear that your dog is recovering so well despite such a major injury! Very nice that you are building all the ramps for her

 

[alligatorob]

Food was borderline today, ate too much junk, but no binge... Just borderline.

Rained all day today and is getting cooler. It snowed in the mountains, first of the coming winter I guess.

NIce to hear that your dog is recovering so well despite such a major injury! Very nice that you are building all the ramps for her

Yeah, too many ramps, but keeping her off the steps. She is closed off from the real stairs but we have lots of 2 and 3 step stairs...