I finally saw ole Jeep last evenin. He had ventured out to town for a mite. Said he was already homesick and hadn't been gone but about 10 minutes and 4 miles away! Very shortly they had what they came for and he headed back to his "sticks".

I did talk to'm about Sammy and Willie. Sammy met his doom yesterday mornin while it was still rather cool outside. A 12 guage slug found it's mark and the big dude was strung up. Willie will have to wait another week or so until it's cooler and he's a little bigger. Ole jeep said that all that silly willie did the rest of the day was run around in the hoglot and squeal for Sammy. Well anyhow, butcherin is not usually a pleasurable task especially when the hogs are named and respond to those names bein called. Life in the country goes on tho, meat has to be secured somehow and this is just one of the sad parts of livin in the country.

Ole Jake is still up and around although "ole arthur" is kinda slow'n him down a mite this fall. Griz is still stumpin around actin like he owns the farm and in a way I guess he does!

Fresh fried hog liver, fresh fried side and fresh ground pork. These particular types of "hog grub" will suffice until the hams, shoulders, bacons and jowls are cured. I no longer eat "organ" meat because of the cardiologists warnings against eating such. I sure do miss them but not to the point of totally ignoring his warnings! Once is enough to have the old chest cracked!

I "get" to see the cardiologist Thursday afternoon at Effingham's St 'Anthony's Hospital. What a thrill! I'd much rather stay home and pick m'banjer. Monday at 2pm I go see the surgeon for the "scope" thingy at Springfield IL. I need the pictures for the new ministry that I've asked Almighty God for! Surgery has been cancelled! Glory to God!!

Cool outside today and I'm not fix'n to go back out either! I'm perfectly content to stay inside and aggravate my Lil Dumplin for the remainder of the afternoon. I don't know why she puts up with me---unless----it's because I'm RICH! Yeah, that's it!!

Folks Jesus Christ is REAL! Don't let satan try to tell ya'll otherwise! old hoot. Matt.24:44, I Peter 2:24, 3 John 1:2--5.

-- old hoot gibson (hoot@pcinetwork.com), November 27, 2001

Answers

Hello Hoot, I do my hog butchering at the meat market now, but I do miss the home grown hog meat and the real bacon we would get after it was butchered at the slaughter house. That bacon would be a good 1/4 inch thick and it had meat on it. I also remember on the farm the chasing of the pigs when they would get out of the pen! Later Hoot and keep preaching, I just love it!!!!!

-- JERRY TRAVIS (travis938@yahoo.com), November 28, 2001.