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Elmwood-Murdock

Get your Fill of Nuts at the Testicle Festival

June 26, 2011 by info@3QuartersToday.com

Yes you read the title correctly,it is time for the “Testicle Festival” in South Bend Nebraska at the local Round the Bend Restaurant. Some people refer to them as Rocky Mountain Oysters, Calf Fries, or just, calf nuts or balls, but regardless of the name they are the removable reproductive organs of a calf, lamb or even turkey.

2011 Testicle Festival in South Bend Nebraksa
2011 Testicle Festival (Day 201 of my 365 Project)

In ranching country, or just the midwest they are considered a delicacy. Here at Round the Bend Restaurant they are a sometimes considered a dare, a novelty, and a reason to celebrate and have a party one weekend out of the year.  I do have to admit, that after living in the Elmwood-Murdock area this was the first time I had actually eaten Beef Fries. They were actually very good. But when you cover anything in batter and fry it you can make anything taste good.

Fierce Food: The Intrepid Diner’s Guide to the Unusual, Exotic, and Downright BizarreEdible plants and animals: Unusual foods from aardvark to zamia

For eighteen years hundreds of people show up the Friday and Saturday of Fathers Day weekend for bragging rights that they attended this very unique event. Many leave home with a custom T-Shirt.  Others leave with one more item checked off their bucket list.

Testicle Festival at Round the Bend in Nebraska
Just some girls getting some NUTS (taken with my cell phone)

Sometimes an adult beverage makes things go down easier and I’m partial to Mike’s Hard Lemonade. Only this time someone decided I needed the “Harder Lemonade” for this culinary experiment. Being in Nebraska you make friends with everyone and an event like this gives everyone a topic of conversation.

Mike’s Hard Lemonade, 6pk, 11.2 oz

The lady sitting across the table was from Chicago, first time at the nut fest, and she compared them to Schnitzel.If you’re wondering if there is a recipe somewhere, yes there is, but it’s not mine. Check out Cooking on the Sagebrush for authentic back country style cooking or even The Story Lady’s recipe. It’s not just people in Nebraska that enjoy calf nuts. Ree Drummond, the infamous Pioneer Woman talks about nuts, eating nuts, cutting nuts, and even takes pictures of nuts in unusual placements. It’s a way of life in some parts of the country.

You can buy Bull Fries online to cook for yourself, and where else? Amazon. So if you want to try a ranching delicacy, fry up a gag gift for a party, or just act on a dare, go ahead and order some bull fries and tell me how you like them.

Beef, Rocky Mountain Oysters, Sliced And Breaded, Frozen – 10 Lb Case

So next time you hear of a Testicle Festival, pull up a chair, tuck in your napkin and enjoy gourmet cooking, mid-western style.

BTW: My daughter, who worked as a hostess at Round the Bend, told me they served up 2,300 lbs of testicles and ran out before it was over on Saturday. If you’re looking for the location of Round the Bend it’s located between Omaha and Lincoln, exit 426, head south past the Wildlife Safari Park, “round the bend” and at the top of the hill across from Quarry Oaks golf course.

Here is a video of one of my favorite celebrities, Mike Rowe, eating lamb fries during one of his episodes of Dirty Jobs. Just think, NOTHING goes to waste, agriculture is efficient and one of the least wasteful industrys’. My Mom said everything on the pig is used, except the squeal. So do your part. Eat some nuts.

 Find a Testicle Festival in your Area

‘Testy Fest’ Returns to Virginia Square

Testy Fest 2015 logo The Montana State Society is again hosting its annual Testicle Festival in Virginia Square this year. The event, which lets participants dine on all-you-can-eat Rocky Mountain oysters while sipping all-you-can-drink beer and Crown …

Filed Under: Food, Project 365, Small Town Living Tagged With: 365project, blogs, cooking, Elmwood-Murdock, Food, Nebraska, Pioneer Woman, postaday, project365, recipe, Ree Drummond, Rocky Mountain Oysters, Testicle Festival, weird food

Day 185/365: Peony Garden

June 9, 2011 by info@3QuartersToday.com

Another peony garden in Elmwood, Nebraska. It was a very windy day, so no flower porn macros. Peonies normally start blooming in May and are in full bloom for Memorial Day. For this reason many graves have peonies planted so they will naturally decorate the graves.

Peony Garden
Peony Garden

I sometimes get strange looks as I drive around Elmwood, get out and crouch on the ground to take photographs of flowers. But, for the most part people are used to me and my camera.

Filed Under: Project 365 Tagged With: 365project, Elmwood-Murdock, flowers, Photoshop, postaday, project365

182/365: Pink Peonies

June 6, 2011 by info@3QuartersToday.com

Pink Peony
Pink Peony

I’ve decided to take pictures of as many different types and colors of peonies I can this season. I did it with tulips and daffodils, so why not. There are so many colors and it peony season, although pink is the most prevalent.  Only last a few short weeks so I think I’ll go out today and see what I can find.

Post Production Photoshop Notes: Used an artistic dry brush with a pink layer at low opacity. Gave it a softer yet detailed look I liked. Below is the straight out of camera.

Pink Peonies (SOOC)
Pink Peonies (SOOC)

Filed Under: Photography, Project 365 Tagged With: 365project, Elmwood-Murdock, flowers, Nebraska, Photography, Photoshop, postaday

Day 177/365: It’s Summer and Time for Legion Baseball

June 1, 2011 by info@3QuartersToday.com

Summer and Baseball

In towns all across America teenage boys pick up bats and balls and head out to the local ball field for Legion baseball.

One of the best sports experiences my kids ever had was American Legion Baseball. It was by far been the best sports experience in my 15 year history of sports in Elmwood-Murdock. This includes all school-related and summer town league ball seasons. My youngest son played Legion ball for four years, started as a freshman on a team that begged a group of boys to play so they could have a team. (many had not played since T-ball)

NIght time baseball
Night Time Legion Baseball (SOOC)

The coaches were fantastic (thanks Duane and Hank) and their expectations were not to win a game, but to improve as the season went on. If they won a game great, if not it was all about teamwork, having fun and growing as young men. My young man played right or center field, he’s center here, and loved to play. So much so that he delayed his Marine Bootcamp ship date so he could play one last summer. I still have sports bags in my garage with baseballs and gloves and every now and then my daughter will ask me to come out and do batting practice. Reminds me of summer and I miss the bleachers at the ball field watching my son.

Diamond D1-AL American Legion Official Baseball (Pack of 12)

I didn’t play sports in school, I was rather clumsy and not athletic. But, I have learned sports is not just about winning, it’s about how to win, how to lose, how to face adversity and still play. It’s about playing as a team, traveling and living together as teammates even if you don’t like the person next to you, sports does teach about life.

Spartan Ac: An American Legion Baseball Team United Through AdversitySwinging for the Fences: How American Legion Baseball Transformed a Group of Boys into a Team of Men

Since this photo was part of my 365 project here is a little bit of information about it. It is straight out of the camera, no editing, the storms clouds were gathering and it poured rain about 15 minutes after this picture. So far half their games have been rained out, but we have a long summer ahead of us and I’m going to enjoy each one.

Sports Life Lessons

Life lessons through sports

Justin Halog, an Unchartered Water Eleele sports camp leader, juggles the football during a flag football drill while soccer campers take a water break Monday during the opening of the sports camp at the Eleele Park. Life lessons through sports.

Kids and sports: life lessons, not winning, should be the goal

Ross Flowers won his first race when he was a skinny little kid who had to hold up his shorts with one hand for the last 25 yards. It was a lesson not just in winning, but in being adaptable and coping with adversity. Today, Flowers is a sport …

Life Lessons from a Youth Baseball Coach

In two decades of coaching youth baseball, John McCarthy has learned that dads often have trouble with the most important parts of the game. They’re too competitive, he says, and too emotionally wrapped up in the success of their children. Dads don’t …

Teaching Positive Life Lessons Through Sports

I founded a volleyball program that isn’t really about volleyball. Spike and Serve is about life, and how striving for excellence in sports can lead to achieving excellence in life. The skeptic asks, “Why do we need youth sports?” Sports are Larger …

29 Invaluable Life Lessons That Sports Teach Us

There are many life lessons you can learn by playing sports. Apart from the exercise, the fun factor and the competitive spirit, there is a lot more to be learnt from sports, lessons that can prepare you for life off the field. Here are …

Kids and sports: life lessons, not winning, should be a idea

Ross Flowers won his initial competition when he was a spare small child who had to reason adult his shorts with one palm for a final 25 yards. It was a doctrine not usually in winning, though in being variable and coping with …

Former Pro Athletes To Teach Sports, Life Lessons To …

By Staff Reports. (Victor Valley)– Foster youth will have the chance to learn about sports and life from professional athletes during the Annual Foster and Kinship Youth Sports Faire. Former Raider Tyrone Montgomery will be …

Filed Under: Project 365, Small Town Living Tagged With: 365project, baseball, Elmwood-Murdock, family, Nebraska, Photography, project365, sports, sports life lessons

Day 174/365: Memorial Day Cemetery Traditions

May 30, 2011 by info@3QuartersToday.com

Memorial Day, Decoration Day, or Remembrance Day, depending on the area of the country and the era you grew up in will depend on what you call the last Monday in May. But regardless of the name the purpose is the same; to remember those who have died and honor their memory. Many towns have Memorial Day traditions and Elmwood, Nebraska fills the day honoring the veterans who served and made the ultimate sacrifice.

Elmwood Nebraska Cemetery
Elmwood Nebraska Cemetery

Starting on Friday of Memorial Day weekend the Elmwood Nebraskan American Legion raises all the flags to half mast at the cemetery in remembrance to all the fallen veterans. In addition to the Stars and Stripes, the flags of the military branches are also displayed: Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and the POW-MIA recognition flag.

2X3 Military 5 Branches Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard & Pow Mia DOUBLE SIDED Polyester Flag Set 2'x3' Banner with Grommets2X3 Military 5 Branches Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard & Pow Mia DOUBLE SIDED Polyester Flag Set 2’x3′ Banner with Grommets

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Flags at the cemetery

Memorial Day Traditions in the cemetery
Honoring Veterans

Most cemeteries have traditions for their veterans and just like Arlington National Cemetery, the veterans buried in Elmwood are honored with a cross and a flag to remind everyone they served their country with honor and pride. American Legions around the country provide the medallion flag holders as a visual reminder for communities that we need to always remember and never forget.

US Flag Store Aluminum WWII Veteran Grave Marker, Bronze FinishedUS Flag Store Aluminum WWII Veteran Grave Marker, Bronze FinishedFrank Detwiler Vietnam War Veteran Grave Marker, Bronze Finished AluminumFrank Detwiler Vietnam War Veteran Grave Marker, Bronze Finished AluminumFrank Detwiler Korean War Veteran Grave Marker, Bronze Finished AluminumFrank Detwiler Korean War Veteran Grave Marker, Bronze Finished AluminumLot of -50- 4x6 Inch US American Hand Held Stick Flags Spear Top WindStrong® Made in the USALot of -50- 4×6 Inch US American Hand Held Stick Flags Spear Top WindStrong® Made in the USA

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Civil War Memorial
Civil War Memorial

Grand Army of the Republic, the Union Army of the Civil War. Nebraska was a young state back in 1865 when this cemetery memorial was erected but it was a proud state to have aligned themselves with freedom. Statues like this are common on the east coast in fact some say they litter the country sides and cemeteries to a point where the impact is diluted. But in Nebraska it’s unique, so I’m posting it as a reminder of soldiers long ago.

I hope my Dad has a military marker on his headstone. Some cemeteries don’t want ornaments of markers that stand up, they get in the way of mowers, but I think it’s an honorable tradition and I enjoy walking through our towns cemeteries and reading the stories of each veteran.

Memorial Day Traditions

American Memorial Day traditions

DOTHAN, AL, May 26, 2014 — Memorial Day is coming soon. It’s the unofficial start of summer and a day of firsts for the season – first sunburn, first charred burgers on the grill, first hangover and first opportunity to put on a swimsuit and show off …

Memorial Day traditions and history

WASHINGTON, May 27, 2012 – Memorial Day is a time for remembering the men and women who died for their Country since the Revolutionary War. Remembering the approximately 1.3 million soldiers, not including those missing in action or wounded who …

Remembering The Fallen: Memorial Day Traditions

Guests. Alan Jabbour, folklorist and author, Decoration Day in the Mountains: Traditions of Cemetery Decoration in the Southern Appalachians, and former director of the American Folklife center at the Library of Congress. Rolf Kriken, sculptor, and …

Clicking on the Web: Memorial Day history, traditions

Memorial Weekend is typically a signal for the beginning of summer, but we should not forget its real meaning and purpose, that being to remember our many service men and women who have served our country and also to remember our many family …

Family of Fallen Hero takes in Memorial Day

Since that day the Parks family’s Memorial Day traditions have changed. “We’ll always remember and we always say this is what this is for today. It’s not just a barbeque to hangout. That’s what this is for,” Nikki Williams says. Larry Sr. says every …

Memorial Day – Holidays – HISTORY.com

Memorial Day Traditions. Cities and towns across the United States host Memorial Day parades each year, often incorporating military personnel and members of veterans’ organizations. Some of the largest parades take place in Chicago, …

Memorial Day-Traditions | wpri.com

Over the Memorial Day holiday weekend, I flew home to see my parents. They live in a very small, rural Midwestern town where the pace of life (at least compared to my own) is much slower. I always joke around that the clock …

Filed Under: Military Pride, Project 365, Small Town Living Tagged With: 365project, Americana, cemetery, decorating day, Elmwood-Murdock, flags, Holidays, memorial, memorial day, memorial day traditions, memories, Nebraska, project365, remembrance day, rural, small town, veterans

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