This is what happens....

This is what happens when you refill your hot tub after its been empty all summer and you.....
     -don't get the ph in your hot tub adjusted correctly
     -forget to add stain and scale remover every week
     -drain your hot tub for the summer and your ceramic filters degrade
     -all of the above or some of the above
...and you sit in front of the jets for only 20 minutes!!!  you get 2 perfectly circular chemical-type burns on your back, one of which was so bad that it broke the skin.  Along with this condition you get to have sleepless nights, get to go to the dr. and get a diagnosis and oinment/coverings that you must keep on for 5 days, and incredible itching as the burns heal.

I called the spa people...the chemical "expert" there of over 20 years tenure had never heard of such.(i will be sending her a picture of my back so she does not doubt my word)

Try this at home if you dare...its a blast!!!!!....not!

HIKING THE EAST LAKE TRAIL

 Some beautiful purple wildflowers greeted us at the start of our hike...K-State purple, no less!

 My faithful partner and urger-oner??? (who's tugging her leash...not me, I'm already wearing 2!)

 Our faithful puppies following me up/down the path...I think they really enjoyed it in spite of the panting!

"can we do it again next week dad, huh, can we dad, huh, can we??????"

Fall Recipe- Country Upside-down Pear Cake

 Peel 4 large or 6-8 small pears (or apples), core, and slice.  In cast iron skillet on stove, melt 1/2 stick butter, sprinkle over 3/4 cup sugar.  Layer pears on top of butter and cook over medium heat for 15-20 minutes. An option would be to pour 1/4 molasses onto butter/sugar before pears (i'm not a big molasses fan, so I passed on this).

 Meanwhile, cream 1 stick butter and 2/3 cup sugar in bowl till fluffy, then add 2 eggs & 1 teaspoon vanilla. In separare bowl combine 1-1/2 cups flour, 1/2 cup cornmeal, 1-1/2 tsp baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt & 1/2 tsp cinammon.  Pour this into bowl with butter/sugar mix along with 1 cup buttermilk.  Spoon on top of fruit in skillet, then put into 375 degree oven for 20-25 minutes.

 When top is nicely browned and fruit bubbling, remove from oven.  Let cool 5-10 minutes, then invert onto big platter.

This is a very "hearty" variation of upside down cake that I saw in this weeks "Relish" tabloid in the newpaper and decided to give it a try.  You will get many (12-16) servings out of this cake, it is great served warm with a scoop of ice cream on top!

Business Update: Funks Hibrids back into production

After 2 months of shutdown due to a titanium upgrade of 1 of the machines, Funks Hibrids is back up and running.  This picture was taken while the 1st shift was on coffee break, but as you can see raw material is stacked in the foreground and the machines are on line and rolling out the latest production order.  Thanks for your patience and don't forget to view our items for sale!

Engraved Scimitar with Walnut Mount

 The latest project hot off Funks Hibrids workbench...a foreign made, engraved scimitar on a fresh walnut mount.

 The handle and strap are leather, and the wood is the "first" official project from wood harvested from the dad-in-law's walnut tree from this spring.

 The one side of the blade has a scene with jungle and a tiger on it, the reverse has some Spanish wording.

It came out even better than I had expected...I don't know if I will sell it as I had originally intended.  However, if an offer of $100 comes in, I might be willing to part with it.  Another item for sale from the Funks Hibrid workshop is a giant, Shaker-style wall mirror that I'm asking $50 for...tell your friends!

"thought for the Day"

"If you care too much about what other people think (of you), you will always be...their prisoner!"

Thought for the Day (or decade!)

"Gun control is like trying to reduce drunk driving by making it harder for all people to buy cars!"