Go Nuts!

Hickory nuts that is. What a pain they are. They taste great. Better than most tree nuts I think. And yumyum is how I remember Mom's banana/hickory nut bread. But what a pain! I'm sure you've heard the expression, "A tough nut to crack". And then you have to use a nut pick to get the small nutmeat out. They are also a pain, literally, when you are playing in the leaves when you are a kid and land on one.

The hickory tree that's a landmark is the one at the end of the upper yard, by the old gate. Say up by the hickory tree, and everyone knows where you are talking about. But we have quite a few others; one in the yard, several in the hedgerow behind the house, on the hill. I would like to explore the possibility of chipping some branches and using it in a smoker on the grill. Hmmm.

Technically, this type of hickory is called a Shagbark Hickory because the bark is, well, shaggy.

I thought about sending some hickory nuts to Lucas and Amelia, and McKenna, as a treat. Then decided their parents might not appreciate the hammer on thumb prospects.