Black Diamond Trail

Hiking at Taughannock State Park on the last day of vacation I got absolutely soaked hiking the Black Diamond Trail. I won't say the part of the trail I hiked was the most scenic but it's a nice connector for those who live in Ithaca. 

Taken on Sunday August 1, 2021 at Black Diamond Trail.

Bacon!

Bacon. I’ve avoided bacon over the past few years after an incident five or six years ago when a package of bacon got put in the wrong bag while shopping and didn’t get put in cooler and went rancid by the time I cooked it in the morning. I don’t know why I decided to try to cook it but I figured as a cured meat with the cooking process I would kill off any bacteria, but it still was gross. I was not sad to see the bacon in the plastic wrapper shrivel up and get burned that evening in the fire.

Since then I’ve avoided bacon like the plague. Bacon for a while was quite expensive and honestly despite the grease doesn’t have that much taste. Maybe if you raise your own heritage hogs on your land and make your own bacon like Cam Edwards but not so much the store bought stuff.

This past weekend I bought some bacon, made it up with eggs and also grilled cheese sandwiches. Came out pretty good. The grease also helped reseason my cast iron skillet which had gotten damp and had some rust. Honestly, I think I like bacon as an occasional treat.

Maybe eventually when I do own land and my off grid cabin, I’ll buy and raise a heritage hog like Cam Edwards does. Pigs are smelly dirty animals but who cares if you live in the country and have land. I’m sure I could put some very good bacon and the many pounds of lard to good use. Recycle my food waste into something quite profitable, keep it out of the burn barrel where it’s not going to burn very well. Composting is great but bacon is even better.

Seneca Lake Inlet

When you have beautiful autumn like weather in July, a walk along Rock House Road is worth it. 

Taken on Friday July 30, 2021 at Watkins Glen.