Alan Skeoch

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  • EPISODE 878 WE ALL FAIL NOW AND THEN….”YOUR HOME ON NATIVE LAND” WAS ONE OF MY FAILURES (book for adolescent readers)

    EPISODE 878    WE ALL FAIL NOW AND THEN….”YOUR HOME ON NATIVE LAND” WAS ONE OF MY FAILURES (book for adolescent readers)


    alan skeoch
    september 14, 2023







    WE ALL FAIL NOW ND THEN…FAILURE HURTS…BUT IT ALSO TEACHES.



    “The road to hell is paved with good intentions’ is s sentence worth remembering if you plan to be an author.
    When I wrote ‘Your Home on Native Land” I believed there was a need for a deeper understanding of 
    our naive peoples.  That was my good intention.

    So I created an imaginary native person of Mississauga New Credit ancestry.   A  young boy who did not know 
    much about the history of his people but he had one valuable characteristic.  He was curious.
    Sort of like Candide.  Very much like Voltaire’s Candide for that matter.   The young boy’s Native name was ‘Born
    With Eyes Wide Open’.   He was fascinated by the history of his people that was gradually released to him
    by his elders, particularly his grand mother.  The history was not a happy history.  

    In the end the boy concluded much the same that Candide concluded.  “If this is the best of all possible worlds, whet 
    then of the others.”

    The book had a short and unhappy life.   My publisher, Jackfruit Press, did everything possible to make the book
    as success not least of which was hiring  a wonderful illustrator..  Four colour separations…  A powerful cover
    which compressed all my intentions into a single image of a giant snapping turtle who saved the world.

    But we failed.   Jackfruit Press went bankrupt the moment the book hit the market.  All that remain today are
    10 or 15 copies on my bookshelf and a few on the internet.   Why did the book die?  Aside from the limited
    market for such A book there was another failure.   Enough to make me weep to this day.

    A copy of the book was sent to a member of the aboriginal community who did not like the book at all.
    Why?  I am Not sure but I think here was resentment because I had appropriated native voice.   My hero
    was a figment of my imagination.  I was not aboriiginal.  Nor was I a recognized authority on First Nations  history.

    Sadly the book died.  My failure.   We all fail now and then.


    Today September 14, 2023 I came across this review of the book…A newscippping yellow with age.



  • EPISODE 878 WE ALL FAIL NOW AND THEN….”YOUR HOME ON NATIVE LAND” WAS ONE OF MY FAILURES (book for adolescent readers)

    EPISODE 878    WE ALL FAIL NOW AND THEN….”YOUR HOME ON NATIVE LAND” WAS ONE OF MY FAILURES (book for adolescent readers)


    alan skeoch
    september 14, 2023







    WE ALL FAIL NOW ND THEN…FAILURE HURTS…BUT IT ALSO TEACHES.



    “The road to hell is paved with good intentions’ is s sentence worth remembering if you plan to be an author.
    When I wrote ‘Your Home on Native Land” I believed there was a need for a deeper understanding of 
    our naive peoples.  That was my good intention.

    So I created an imaginary native person of Mississauga New Credit ancestry.   A  young boy who did not know 
    much about the history of his people but he had one valuable characteristic.  He was curious.
    Sort of like Candide.  Very much like Voltaire’s Candide for that matter.   The young boy’s Native name was ‘Born
    With Eyes Wide Open’.   He was fascinated by the history of his people that was gradually released to him
    by his elders, particularly his grand mother.  The history was not a happy history.  

    In the end the boy concluded much the same that Candide concluded.  “If this is the best of all possible worlds, whet 
    then of the others.”

    The book had a short and unhappy life.   My publisher, Jackfruit Press, did everything possible to make the book
    as success not least of which was hiring  a wonderful illustrator..  Four colour separations…  A powerful cover
    which compressed all my intentions into a single image of a giant snapping turtle who saved the world.

    But we failed.   Jackfruit Press went bankrupt the moment the book hit the market.  All that remain today are
    10 or 15 copies on my bookshelf and a few on the internet.   Why did the book die?  Aside from the limited
    market for such A book there was another failure.   Enough to make me weep to this day.

    A copy of the book was sent to a member of the aboriginal community who did not like the book at all.
    Why?  I am Not sure but I think here was resentment because I had appropriated native voice.   My hero
    was a figment of my imagination.  I was not aboriiginal.  Nor was I a recognized authority on First Nations  history.

    Sadly the book died.  My failure.   We all fail now and then.


    Today September 14, 2023 I came across this review of the book…A newscippping yellow with age.



  • EPISODE 876 MARJORIE FINDS A PUFF BALL…AND WE ATE IT


    NOTE TO READERS:  WE HAVE BEEN SUPER BUSY LATELY..
    SORRY IF OUR ABSENCE HAS MEANT YOU HAVE NO BED TIME STORY.


    EPISODE 876     MARJORIE FINDS A PUFF BALL…AND WE  ATE IT


    alan skeoch
    SEPTEBER 13, 2032

    “ALAN, LOOK WHAT I FOUND.”
    “ GIANT   PUFF BALL…WHERE WAS IT?

    “IN THE DITCH…DO YOU THINK IT ’S EDIBLE?”



    WE ATE AFEW SKICES IF THIS PUFF BALL

    Puff ball mushrooms are very strange.  They appear suddenly almost anywhere and
    grow immense in short time.   And they are edilble but be careful.  They are only
    edible when very young,,,,when all white.  Totally white inside and spongy.

    OLD PUFF BALLS LOOK LIKE UGLY VOMIT

    No one in their right mind would eve eat an old puffball because they look sick…ugly
    internal contents become sickly green … the colour of fresh vomit.   Even a 
    complete fool would not touch  a mature puffball.   If it is kicked like  football 
    a cloud of spores burst forth.   Old puff balls are ghastly.

    But young puff balls are as pretty as fresh bread.   And look like fresh bread.
    They can be sliced like fresh bread using a good sharp bread knife.  Use a gentle saw like action.  
    Peel the thin rubber like crust and the puff ball is ready for the frying pan..

    Easiest way to eat a puff ball is to put some butter in the frying pan, then add the slices
    of the puff ball.  Sprinkle with salt nd pepper.   Garlic salt is best…gives best flavour.
    Fry until both sides are golden brown or even darker brown.  

    Then eat the slices like you would French Toast or pan cakes.

    What do they taste like?  Rather bland.  Very bland.   

    Today Marjorie’s puff ball tased like garlic salt.

    alan

    Note:  Mushroom hunting is tricky..  Some mushrooms are good.  Some are bad…very bad.
    Fresh puff balls are really good.  Old puff balls are disgusting.  It’s easy to tell the difference.




    SOME OTHER PUFF BALL RECIPES.

    You can also cook up large slices of puffball and freeze them to use as the base for wonderful gluten-free pizzas (see below). Or try the convenience of breading the raw puffball with the parmigiana breading below and freeze them. Pull them out later, fry them and bake them for a quick pre-prepared dinner. Puffball Fries freeze up equally well. Pull them out of the freezer and in 15 minutes you’ll have crispy fries to dip in your favourite sauce – a great appetizer or snack.

    Cooked puffball has a texture kind of like tofu, but more soft and melting (a bit like a sugarless marshmallow). You can use puffball just like you would tofu and most other mushrooms in recipes. I still have so many ways I’d like to try it, so I hope I find some puffballs again next year.

    Try puffball some of these ways:

    • diced, sauteed, and added to any pasta sauce
    • raw, cubed in salads
    • diced, sauteed, then tossed in with chives and beaten eggs as you scramble them
    • cut slices, dip them in a mixture of equal parts soy sauce and water, plus a dash of sriracha or hot sauce, then pan-fry them in butter or oil until brown
    • cubes, strips, or slices, breaded and fried
    • grill or fry thick slabs and use them as a meatless burger on a bun with toppings
    • toss them in with stir fries
    • sauté cubes of puffball with onions, peppers, tomatoes, and Italian seasoning
    • use thin slices of sauteed puffball instead of pasta in lasagna

  • 61st STEAM ERA SHOW, HUME FARM, SEPT. 1 TO 4, 2023

    EPISODE 877     STEAM ERA 2023  61 ST YEAR, HUME FARM, MILTON, SEPT 1 TO 4, 2023


    alan skeoch
    sept.. 4, 2023




    I ws 23 years  old  when my Uncle Frank freeman asked if I wanted to go
    to the first Steam Era gathering on a local farm.  Summer Of 1962.  I do not think the show even had  a name back then.
    Uncle Frank knew I was fascinated by the people and  machines of the 19th and early 20th century. FANNING MIILLS
    in particular .

    “Alan, a bunch of local farmers are having farm sow nearby, would you lie to join me
    ands what the show is all about.  Not really sure myself.”
    “OK:,”, I Answered without  much enthusiasm..   

    And so began my lifelong association with Steam era,,  By 1980 I even wrote a  300 page manuscript on the
    sjubject as an M.A. thesis titled “technology and Change in 19th Ontario agriculture” copies of which 
    are held in Cooperstown , New Yorik, Black Ceek Museum (Toronto).  .

    In short I became an enthusiast.  Lasted most of my lifetime.  All because of a seed planted in my brain by Uncle Frank Freeman.,
    my mother’s brother, who spent his life trying to make a living on stoney farm in Erin Township ,  Wellington c/ounty.

    These pictures were taken on /sept, 2m 2923, at Steam Era on the Hume Farm on 4th line of Halton County, Ontario
    (My not episode will feature Robert downy and his corn asking machine…)


    PICTURES TAKEN AT STEM ERA 2023 (HUME FARM)

  • Live From The Field

    EPISODE  878    steam era show at milton labou day week end


    alan skeoch
    august 3, 2023



    Next episode will feature Robert Downey of Caledonia and his helper …  and a wondrous machine he rescued from
    the scrap pile of te past.   Hold your breath, the story is coming.  Meanwhile pack up and head for Steam Era…4th line
    just a bit North West of Milton.  



    THERE IS STILL TIME, BROTHER …TODAY AUGUST 3 AND TOMORROW AUGUST 4….STEAM ERA ON  4TH LINE,.
    NORTH OF  STEELES AVENUE, NORTH SIDE OF HWY 401,  NEAR MILTON


    This iis a short episode aimed at my readers who often use my stories as a guide to explore  Ontario 

    SEAM ERA is a chance for you and family to spend a few hours in the past…..seeing machines that no longer
    exist… like those below.

    Later episodes will tell the stories of Steam Era.  Incuding the thrill I felt when I met Robert Downey of Caledonia.
     This episode will be pictures I took yesterday as
    “Iwandered lonely as a cloud’