Making friends with the neighborhood magpie, plus a new ep of 'Cast Iron Cowboy' in Delta Junction
Sometimes I write newsletters Carrie Bradshaw style, where I sit at a desk by a big window and type on a keyboard for hours. Sometimes. This letter is coming to you live! from the left side of the bed! while Etta’s toes dig into my back. I can feel Aspen’s breath on my ankles under the blanket as she chases off any evil energy that tries to enter my bedroom, and can hear Pebbles snoring on her bed in the corner.
I have been thinking about one magpie all summer. He is more similar in size to a raven than any magpie I have ever seen (and such a city bird, too). He hops around the porch, takes a sip of water when he needs to and makes himself comfortable. I started leaving peanuts out for him, which he gladly takes. Since Etta is officially walking, we’ve been putting dog food and water outside so it isn’t constantly baby-handled. He’s really been enjoying the occasional piece of kibble, which drives Aspen and Pebbles insane. Last week, he let me stand on the porch while he perched on the railing. I talked to him for what felt like forever, but it was probably 20-30 seconds. Our doorbell camera isn’t currently recording otherwise I would show you my Cinderella moment.
Do I know you? I asked him. He tilted his head when I spoke. I know you can talk. I remember George the Magpie from the zoo. He blinked. I stared at this bird like he was communicating via morse code. He paced on the deck railing while I yapped at him. Have you been reincarnated as a magpie? Whoever you are? Cause that would be pretty sick, actually. He hopped down next to the dog bowl, grabbed a piece and peaced out.
I found a few old bits and bobs that I think he would like, specifically this old keychain that I found tucked away in my car’s floorboards. I’m excited to leave them out and see what he thinks of them (he = a bird).
Yeehaw! Airing Oct. 19: 'Cast Iron Cowboy' 🤠
It's been a week. Our TV had to be taken out back Old Yeller style. Which is ironic considering this newsletter is about reality television. But we persevere. I had never heard of Cowboy Kent Rollins before this week. With 3.56 million subscribers on YouTube and a new show premiering next month on the Outdoor Channel, Cowboy Kent and his wife Shannon travel to working ranches across the states to "preserve the heritage and lifestyle of the American cowboy." Including Alaska.
Kent became known after appearing on a number of cooking shows – including Throwdown! with Bobby Flay, Chopped Grill Masters, Chopped Redemption, Cutthroat Kitchen (which he won) and Food Fighters – before securing his own cookbooks, and now his own show.
The duo travel around with a 1876 Studebaker chuck wagon to cook for fellow cowboys and learn about what makes each ranch unique. In season 2, Kent and Shannon travel to Mugrage Hay and Cattle farm in Delta Junction.
Cast Iron Cowboy visits Scott Mugrage and his family, and learns what it takes to harvest barley and hay all year (er, summer) long. The Mugrages are originally from Nebraska, but moved up north when his son, Justin, showed him a run-down game farm for sale in May 2013. Just four months later, the Mugrages were driving up from the states with a trailer in-tow. I found a 2023 article that said the farm had 600 cattle, and another from 2024 that said 1,500.
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Babe, are you sure you're okay? You hardly touched your Cowboy Kent Collins God, Grit and Gravy hoodie.
Some chef-inspired meals Kent cooks for the fam include smoked prime rib, french onion braided bread, grilled brussels sprouts with bacon and parm, and white choccy raspberry bars (with fresh picked razzies).
If I could right now, I would buy a farm share subscription box from Arctic Harvest Deliveries and some Mugrage brisket a la carte.
Our next in-person watch party is on the books for Nov. 29! We're watching The Sun Never Sets.
The Coven has such a cozy vibe, and I think it's going to be even more perfect for movie nights in the winter months. We're watching The Sun Never Sets, which is an indie film starring Dakota Fanning and Jake Johnson that was filmed in Alaska last year. I'm going to try and see if my friends who were extras in the film will come to the watch party and share their experiences on set.
It'll be $5 at the door, and all proceeds will be donated to Food Bank of Alaska.