CAN I BORROW YOUR BULLDOZER? - FOUNDATION PREP - GARDEN FLOWERS - FOOD PORN - BEEFY MEX SOUP - QUIET WEEK

Borrowing a bulldozer.  

Protecting back roads by crossing on old tires. Works perfectly. Those tracks never touched the road.

Digging a large hole next to a pond to find a leak. Apparently, a tree left in the dike years ago had rotted and was wicking water out of the pond. 

Tree dug up, removed and the large hole filled back up.  All within a few hours work. Helps to have the bulldozer, "driving skillset!"

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FOUNDATION PREPARATION

Slab foundation preparation. All plumbing in place, extra cement beam support channels dug, moisture barrier and re-bar installed. Just about ready for cement pour. 

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BRAZILIAN ROCK ROSE

ANGEL TRUMPET IN BLOOM

See the Praying Mantis?

Photos from neighbor's garden. 

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FROM FOOD PORN ON TWITTER

HT to Ace of Spaces.

I could not stop watching. Maybe it was her accent. I thought of turning it off, but could not. My bet is that any guy that opens this clip, will watch to the end. Actually kinda fun. If she did indeed cook this steak, my bet is her phone is a constant  buzz. 

FROM KNUCKLEDRAGGIN MY LIFE AWAY

Watch the expression on her face. Good for the heart.

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BEEFY MEXICAN SOUP

I was gifted one bowl of this soup. A test try. Looked good and I did take a photo. In my exuberance to share with you, I deleted it. Can't get it back due to lack of tech knowledge. Looked through deleted, not there. Damn, it was one of the better food pics I have taken. Yes, the soup was excellent. Demanded some early bread dipping. 

Key to the recipe is Hamburger Helper. There is a lot of room to fine tune this to individual preferences. A quick meal and full of flavor. May need a little more water, longer simmer; may not. 

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QUIET WEEK

Heat and humidity still a factor limiting outdoor activity, at least for us. Her and I have spent some time harvesting more basil and making a few small jars of pesto. Found a special on rib eye steaks BOGO and took advantage of the price.

 Tucked a couple away in the freezer. Have also tested and are finding that one steak, split in half for dinner, is enough. A side of salad or baked potato makes a wonderful meal. 

Both her and I agreed that there was a time where we both could have each easily eaten a steak apiece, like the one below, without issue. 

Green peppers and cherry tomatoes making a comeback and producing another crop. Chili peppers turning red hot on the vines. Drying the first harvest in the sun and will keep this up through the plants' producing season. These are the peppers, when dehydrated, that become the pepper flakes seasoning found on the grocery store shelves. 

We have dehydrated basil, thyme and rosemary. Each a small glass jar on the shelf next to the kitchen stove. 

A few months back her discovered small bags of dehydrated tomatoes at local $$stores. Again, she took advantage of the availability and price. We enjoy them in salads, soups, stews and just yesterday, her put the contents of two bags in a medium jar with olive oil, garlic and dried basil leaves. 

Now another condiment option for salads or put on toasted french bread with fresh basil leaf and piece of fresh mozzarella. New flavors that pop and add to lunches and dinners. 

Quiet week in east Texas. Appreciate the visit.