I was about the same age when my dad acquired a runt pig. I was put to the task of raising him. He was a cute little run that I instantly became attached to. I named him, Squealer. He became my closest friend for several months. He would walk with me every morning to the end of the drive and wait with me for the school bus. When I got on the bus he would run after the bus as fast as his little legs would go. When the bus brought me home, he would come down and greet me where the bus dropped me off. I must have been doing a good job of feeding Squealer because he was getting a lot bigger as time went on. One day I came home and Squealer wasn't there to greet me as usual. Mom and Dad seemed pretty tight lipped when I asked where Squealer was. A few days later we went to my Grandpa's farm and there out in the middle of the lot was a pile of the inards of some animal that had been butchered. I was totally devasted for a while. As I look back upon it 60 years later it reminds me of the ole Ray Stephens song about a pig that he had. The best line in the song goes something like, He was my buddy, he was my friend, heck, he was my breakfast every now and then!

@arduinoversusevil2025

5 ай бұрын

Brutal bud. Squealer was the bestest piggy.

@TheLangko

5 ай бұрын

Yes sir he was. Pretty good on a BLT sandwich too!@@arduinoversusevil2025

@williwonti

5 ай бұрын

Same thing happened to my mother. Seems to be a very common story for a certain time. Sort of like an emotional fortitude chicken pox party. She went veggie for years after before eventually coming to her senses

@jameslong3351

5 ай бұрын

You just cost me a keyboard and I was drinking a beer, so a keyboard and a beer! So, when I read the name of the video, I thought AvE's wife had a "Baby"..... I'm thinking, Why did they allow AvE to continue to procreate.....I didn't understand. then I figured out he was talking about "Canadian Bacon" on the hoof/foot/leg/stump. Stupid me, again!

@captainwin6333

5 ай бұрын

@@williwonti Oh, I thought you meant they ate your mother.

That would be an emotional shock to a 12 yr old boy to learn his pony had been killed and butchered to feed the family. It also speaks to the proud Scotsman who wouldn't accept charity to feed his family when there was another way, painful though it may be.

my kids still dont know they are eating our own chickens, they might not be that smart. bless their souls.

Farm life is hard. It's a good father that spares his childs feelings and keeps them from starving.

@codemiesterbeats

5 ай бұрын

My grandmother isn't too fond of eating chicken to this day since she had to wring so many chicken's necks back in the day😅

@daifeichu

5 ай бұрын

@@codemiesterbeats My neighbours are from Portugal. The wife said she's not too fond of chicken either because when she was young she said "I choke the chicken. I did it a lot". She's a funny one.

@reversingentropy

5 ай бұрын

​@@daifeichushe might have meant something different 😅

@kinsmart7294

Ай бұрын

@@codemiesterbeats Yeah, that is the easy part. The hard one is burning the feathers off and having to handle the stench

Thank you for the wonderful fire and your wonderful voice. It never goes unnoticed to us longtimers

@michaelatkin9649

5 ай бұрын

Keep it in your pants

@LonneLpp

5 ай бұрын

Facts for life

Love the story. Rings true for anyone who grew up rough in the woods. My sister had a little lamb, till Daddy shot it dead. And now we carry it to school, between our sandwich bread.

It's okay with me that this is turning into the best story time channel. 💚

For a second I thought you were burning last year’s McMaster catalog to bring in the new year 😅

Fireside chats I love these words of wisdom

@arduinoversusevil2025

5 ай бұрын

Me too!

8 beers deep here in Ireland and uncle bumble uploads just as I was heading to bed. Sure I'll pull out the Irish mist and chill. Tell us a story of your time working. Cheers for all the good video's and boltrs to date. I swear to jebus I'll order the first magnet sticker you put up

@skachor

5 ай бұрын

Yknow, a nip for the fireside chat sounds like a fantastic idea. Cheers from the great white north, my Irish friend.

@michaelthompson7570

5 ай бұрын

Sitting here in southeast georgia,,enjoying the video with my feist dog,zoe. My spit says my ancestors were irish,,,perhaps this is why I find these fireside chats so enjoyable,,,perhaps a bit of nip and a smoke of your favorite wildflower would be a great addition………

@MattyEngland

5 ай бұрын

Only 8? 😮 Are you sure you're actually Irish? 😂

Great story!! Sad maybe but is a reminder of what life really is. I was fortunate enough to have grown up in the 50's and 60's. Some of the best years in recent history to have been a child!!! Wishing you and your family a new year full of good health, prosperity and most importantly, LOVE!!

Thank you for the long sweet sound of the crackle of the fire. The peace of the fire is just a different feeling than anything else for me.

@MattyEngland

5 ай бұрын

The only thing that comes close to the sound of a crackling fire, is the gentle bubbling of a bong.

Pretty good story , reminds me of my childhood, knowin that things need to die so we could eat. But then, you leave me, alone...with the fire, thinkin, contemplating. Funny thing about a fire, its more than a place to get warm, its a place to be comfortable with the world around you. You can console to it, empty your heart out to it, stare into it while you consider what life is and isn't. Its more than friend, its a companion, that will always be there for you. Thank you for lending me yours, if for only a brief moment in time, it was enjoyable.

Happy new beer to you AvE. I just got a new lab pup tonight. Our other one had bad liver cancer and had to put her down at only 8 years old. Xmas sucked. But is new year we are blessed with a new one so🎉. From NB.

@arduinoversusevil2025

5 ай бұрын

Happy New Years to you too! Bestest puppers to you. Hopping you get it shitting outside in short order.

@LuvLikeTruck

5 ай бұрын

New years was tough at our house too. Had to guide one of our tail wagging boys across the rainbow bridge

@__WJK__

5 ай бұрын

Always hate to hear of man’s best friend/someone’s best friend succumbing way too early, especially to something like cancer. Very sorry for the loss

@MattyEngland

5 ай бұрын

Sorry to hear about your dog. I hope your new one has a long and happy life.

@adrianzmajla4844

5 ай бұрын

​@arduinoversusevil2025 Honest and real comment! All the best gunner!

I love the whole concept of these videos. Reminds me of sitting at my grand-pappys feet while he rambled on about stuff that I either just didn't understand, or wasn't completely sure if it was true or not.

Please keep the stories coming. It's getting me through this bleak part of winter.

My parents were new to farming or actually hobby farmingback in the day... they tried rabbit farming for a go. I kind of knew as kid that chickens weren't supposed to have four drumsticks and mighty fine chicken it was so Mum really wasn't fooling me. One litter there was a special one I took a liking to, Harold speckled bum I called him. As my parents slowly got out of rabbit farming, only Harold remained. Had him I for another year or so but I was kind of losing interest in 'Ole Harold. One day I came home from school and his hutch was empty, was sold to a good home I was told. Sunday dinner was always something special in those days. We had chicken that night... four drumsticks were on the platter.

When I was growing up my father brought home a calf from a dairy. We raised, played with it and it followed us around the pasture. When the school bus crested the hill on the far side of our little valley it would run to the fenceline at the closest corner and then chase the bus up the hill & around the corner and wait for us at the edge of the orchard. It was a loved pet but we allways knew it would end up in the deep freeze. I think when my dad named it "Beefy" was the first clue.

Love is such a complicated thing sometimes huh.

A heart-rending story told by an artful narrator followed by a soothing episode of caveman television. Thanks AvE. Best Wishes to You and Yours..

Happy new year to you and yours AvE! Been watching quite a few years, love your channel!

@swampwhiteoak1

5 ай бұрын

I grew up very poor. The local butcher shop sold beef, pork, chicken, and horse meat. People bought what they could afford in that order. We ate a lot of horse meat. It did not taste bad, but mealtime was not very happy. Parents worked hard and as a kid i was worked like a rented mule. 65 years later, I am retired from a great career and am very comfortable. These days don’t even see horse meat for sale.

Storytelling is becoming a lost art. Cheers!

You've come a long way mister. 500 views within 2 minutes tells me there's a plenty who love the fireside talks.

@fireofviper

5 ай бұрын

I love everything from him.

We have been blessed with an ever increasing abundance of AVE story time. God Bless!

Bravo Bravo. The words of the old soul who need to be heard by them green kids. God bless you and family. Keep on spreading the working mans poetry.

Wipes away a single tear...That was beautiful.

Nice selection. Sometimes I think the only way we're gonna reset this crazy world is to go through another severe depression to force some perspective into the pre-packaged, over-connected yet isolated, cyber-fantasy we're in

For years i've claimed you to be my favourite poet. Ya' keep living it up.

You're a marvelous storyteller, my good man.

Now I'm wondering about my dog Rover that " ran away " when my brother and I went for a two hour ride on our bicycles see our uncle Harry Areola . Uncle Harry was visiting from Finland with our aunt in the next township . Our parents insisted we leave early and be back at the farm before dark . The beef was sure stringy and chewy that winter .

@bbgun061

5 ай бұрын

Are you Chinese?

@xsietube

4 ай бұрын

Uncle hairy tit?

I miss having a fire to watch and a soothing fatherly voice to tell me stories... Thank you for this.

@DUKE_of_RAMBLE

5 ай бұрын

To the father's we've lost... 🍺

Arduino versus fire.

Happy New Year! Love the 'fireside chats'. 👍

Buddy of mine told me once that pets are how you teach children about death. Turns out he was pretty close to the mark.

That age whenever you realize your words will get you into more trouble than your silence.

Man that pine sure does run fast, but it runs nice. Love these oral history vids. Thanks man.

Thank you for sharing the story and your fire, for either can be repeated and nor can that moment in time.

The long silence at the end of the poem really sets the mood.

Something sooo ralaxing about a wood burner in full flow. Dealing with death is very cathartic for me, wear my heart on my sleeve as we say in England.That said I strongly believe we'll meet again in the next life. I enjoy this channel and always look out for the next installment.

Thank you again for another story in front of the fire it reminds me of some of my most fond times growing up we had a giant old blue stone fireplace , and some of the best memories of growing up are definitely from in front of that fireplace in winter time. I swear around 8 minutes I actually felt my face get a little warmer as the Flames got a bit higher , I can't wait to get home in front of my own wood stove tonight. Thank you sir

Appreciate your fire side stories, I imagine you're reading to the wee ones

I really like this new story time with papa video series. Tell us more stories, pa-pa!

Dang you Uncle B! Now I'm hungry.

Makes me wonder if pony is the veal of horsemeat.

The finest Canadian softwood. Sweep ye chim often or thy homestead burneth to the ground. 🔥

I know of a lady that was a child in London during ze var. She had a pet rabbit which she loved, until one day she came home from school and found her mother had turned bunny into dinner.

Thank you for the story. Best wishes for the New Year.

I have always noticed your voice leans toward the stories and the people who work with their hands you remind me of Jean Shepherd another great story teller of the working class. thanks

My uncle and Aunt had 6 kids and a small farm, I remember them eating ‘hoppy chicken’ , they raised rabbits, but didn’t want the kids to know they were supper.....

I'm pondering the story, hypnotically watching the flames, and a sudden jolt when a Hardee's burger ad pops up🤔.

This is absolutely golden 2024 KZread content, we are blessed to have AvE.

Sometimes tough decisions have to be made in the best interest of family. Storytime with you is always interesting to say the least 🤣 Beers to ya and have a great new year.

I guess I'm lucky my childhood dog went to vacation at a farm in the country, liked chasing the rabbits so much it would have been cruel to bring him home so he stayed, the farmers wife always sent birthday and christmas cards from dear old rusty............. wait a minute

Thanks for this years and previous years content , Hope all are safe and healthy .

For most people I know, sitting around a hot fire with a cold beer is very nice and relaxing. And if a good story is told, all the better.

Growing up we raised hogs, steer, chickens and the lot. So as not to get attached we named them after food items. Sir Loin, Bacon, dumplins, T-bone and so on. It was a little daily reminder that they'd eventually end up on your plate 😂

Ahhhh. The things people had to do, and will have to do to survive.

A story I didn't know I needed to hear today. Funny how that happens, Thanks

Love me some story time with Uncle AvE...

A Nutri Bullet ad and insulin pump ad preceded this video. Just FYI. If I wrote something special, short and readable, would you consider a fireside read of it? I'm an out of work -lineman- creative writer dying to blurt out something definitive. I even have a true story that most people would scoff at. After all, you're the one touting "Make something cool, put it on the internet." PERFECT end of video. Good job and thank you for giving the world so much of your time and life, we really appreciate it.

Imagine if the last words you ever heard were : "I know about Baby. I always did. I understand and there's nothing to forgive."

A hole lot of truths to a story like that. Thank you sir

absolutely love these, keep them coming uncle bumblefuck a fan of many years

Happy New Year pal, all the best to you and yours up there in the great frozen north.

Love these. Especially right before bed

My evil parents made me eat my goldfish.

And here I thought you were going to extoll the virtues/complaints of your better half. Enjoyed the story none the less.

The plan is, always, to take your next breath.

Besides the memories, you also have other ways that Baby will always be a pat of you.

Love the video. Strong statement, the story ends, as they all do, yet the fire remains. F'n Love It!

I really like your stories.

I’ve sat in front of many caveman tv’s; that is a good looking fire!

Reminds me of a thing I think of.. "Fire up that furnace, run a Steaming Hot bath. Slide in and wedge your feet to get a steady position. Lay on the backslide (if you had one in them days), and sink down to your neck. Close your eyes and think about what can be.. not what could've been. As you imagine these notions, carefully submerge yourself and lean back on the backslide (as long as you keep nose is above water)." Remember.. "Though the water may go cold, you stay warm". Nothing lasts for eternity, not just the best of times.. the worst of times eventually level out And that.. is the "Magic of Knowing True Peace"

I could have sworn that this was going to devolve into a old Abe simpson story where you tied an onion to your belt which was the style at the time.

Ah, so they emigrated from Yorkshire then, the last place in the UK to have sold "kicker", aka Horsemeat... :P

Your narration is impeccable! The next Mike Rowe!

Brought back a remembrance of a little pet turtle I had as a kid back in the late '60's. Named him Pokey (after Gumby and Pokey), and he was pretty slow. I got home from school one afternoon, and was told that Pokey had passed. There was a little gravesite and rock marker for him in the back yard. I remember how bummed I was as I cleaned the colored rocks and fake plants out of his plastic terrarium home. Well, about a month later, I found what was left of him (basically, just his shell) out by the garage. His grave wasn't disturbed, so he hadn't gone "Zombie mode" or anything. My parents finally fessed up to turning him loose in the tree-line of a field about 100 yards away. Apparently, there were reports of the turtles making kids sick by carrying Salmonella, or something like that! Sadly, had he made it about 5 more feet, he would have made it to the blacktop driveway and probably been found. He'd made it that far, and it wasn't a straight shot home either. He'd have had to figure out which way to go, come out of the field, turn right, cross 2 other back yards, and pass his own grave site to get back to ours. Not too bad for a little 3" turtle. He had spunk! (Years later I found out how bad mom and dad felt after knowing how hard he'd tried to "come home". lol) And, yes, he is buried in his own grave, 55+ years and 1,800 miles away.

Her heart was broken but her belly was full.

Have a Good New Year dAvE and the best to your family! Greets to all from "Gully" from just north of Windsor, Ontario...

Great story from the best story voice since Jean Shepherd.

Damn AvE... Why you gotta make me have feels...

Love the fire side talks! Poems/stories is also candy for my brain

Uncle AvE, you're a bloody good storyteller. Never change.

A similar thing happened to my aunt's beloved Rabbit "Snowy". It's was during the early 1950's and in England rationing was still in effect. This caused many people to seek alternative sources of food, not only in the countryside but in towns and cities.

Jim Beam says hello. I say hey.

@arduinoversusevil2025

5 ай бұрын

Happy new beer!

My grandfather served in the First World War and the men in the trenches were often fed by cooking meals behind the lines and then loading them up in a wagon with a large box full of meals ready made. The wagon was pulled by mules up to the front. Often these mules would die from shrapnel wounds and the mule that brought meals the day before was often on the menu the next day, they couldn’t let them go to waste. One day they had no mules so two men pulled the wagon from the front and two pushed it from the rear. Suddenly someone yelled out ‘Gas! Gas!’ the men at front dropped dying were they stood, the men at back scrambled and tried to run, and got several yards away before the gas got to them. One of them was my grandfather, he woke three weeks later in a hospital in the Alps be attended by a by nurse, with a pretty French name of Cocille. He was told that his lungs were so damaged he might not recover, but they didn’t know the tenacity of a Texas dry land cotton farmer. He did make it home and married my widowed grandmother and three more children, one of whom, my mother, he named Cocille. May he rest in peace.

Baby was a good pony, all the way to the last bite. There needs to be a word for horse meet like we have for beef and venison and so on.

@rojadoja

5 ай бұрын

Chevaline

I enjoy these videos, more than you’d think.

For me it was a ROOSTER , i don't want to talk about it. 😢🍗🍗

Man I miss my fireplace. Thanks

There's this famous Dutch stand-up comedian who made the perfect song for this story back in the 90's. Youp van 't Hek. He sang a song about his dear little rabbit Flappie. Flappie ended up being the dinner at Christmas ofcourse. It got translated to English a few years ago. I think Todd Rundgren did a very very good job getting the nuances across. watch?v=CCfcpsIssNE

I'm subscribed and haven't got a recommendation in months!good to see you brotha.

Thanks uncle frostback

Passion poured into every video.

Life about to get hard again my friends. Get your flock, starts, and herd beasts in order!

I can't remember my youth before say 10 very well. I grew up on a dairy farm and always knew, as far as I can remember, that animals were for eating; except the dogs and cats of course. My earliest memories are of a herford hanging from a tractor loader being gutted. Was just part of the world.

Thought-provoking. I'm enjoying these fireside chats; the crackle of the wood splitting somehow matches the rhythm of your delivery. Here's hoping 2024 is a banner year for you and yours, Chief.

This is why you encourage your kids to call their pets "flappie" Dutch people will understand...

But, most of all, you can't fool a child as to whether or not you like him.

Grandma always told a story of an old pony they had named mod believe she died of old age but they had her hide tanned and her and her sister used her as a blanket in the car, would have been in the late 20s or 30s i suppose. She still had that old horse hide blanket when she passed not sure where it is now