[Sca-cooks] Smoked Meats in Northern Europe

[Elaine Koogler]

Huette von Ahrens wrote:
> Years ago, before the squirrels moved in, we would get about two or three 
> paper grocery bags full of unshelled pecans in a bumper year. One paper grocery 
> bag full in a good year.  With our tree, the cycle was good year, bumper year, 
> good year, resting year.  Our tree is in the south east corner of our lot.  
> So we share the bounty with three neighbors, most of whom didn't do anything 
> with the nuts.  I have no idea of how much the whole tree produced, but 
> guestimating I would put it at at least six grocery bags full, if not more.
>
> Our tree is healthy, if full of squirrels.  I have had an arborist look at it.
> The tree is probably about 100 years old.  It was a healthy mature tree when
> our house was built in 1947.  It is reasonably away from our house and our neighbors
> so that the roots get plenty of water and nutrition.  Unfortunately, because it is
> so tall, should it get blown over, it will do damage to someone's property.  But we
> are not prone to strong, gale-force winds, so I am hoping that the tree will survive
> me.  It is quite a landmark in our neighborhood and can be seen several blocks away.
> Hmmmm... I wonder how old it has to be to be called an historic landmark?  Hmmmm....
>
> Huette
>
>   
We had a 250+ year old oak in the yard of our old house.  It had a crown 
that measured about 75 feet across, and the trunk was 5' in diameter.  
Wonderful old tree...we called it "Grandfather Oak", and it was part of 
the reason for our household name, Tair Derwen or Three Oaks...there 
were also two very old white oaks in tthe yard as well.  But I 
digress...the Calvert Co. forester looked at it and said that it was a 
"Champion Tree", and could very well be what they term a "Witness Tree", 
that it may have witnessed the founding and early settling of Maryland.  
However, we could not get the tree protected status...the fellow who 
purchased the house from us tried his darnedest to sell it for lumber, 
but no one wanted the hassle of trying to take down such a huge 
tree...that honor fell to a hurricane that came through here a couple of 
years ago...broke that gorgeous old tree off at the trunk.  sigh.

Kiri

-- 
Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, it's at the end of your arm. 
As you get older, remember you have another hand: the first is to help 
yourself, the second is to help others 

                        -- Audrey Hepburn