SNAKE - SV AIRSPEED - US SHUTS OFF EUROPE'S LIGHTS - POINT IT AT ME!

A picture from neighbor shared yesterday. My wife asked me what kind of snake that is. I replied, "that kind of snake is a SNAKE!!!" 

If that was our chimney,  there would be brick repair needed. 

Actually, looks like the snake swimming across a pond towards us in a recent post.

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SV AIRSPEED as beautiful on dry dock as in the water. 

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THE US SHUTS OFF EUROPE'S LIGHTS??

An article.  A few moments of your time. 

Another few straws on the camel's back, huh? This is what folks in Europe woke up to this week. Much different from the days before and most likely not coming back for a long, long time. 

On a different note. How many folks in western Florida knew IAN was coming and have waited until the last minute to get ready/leave only to find out the shelves are bare? Oops!!

There are lessons here. 

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YOU CAN POINT AT ME!!

Her and I attended a local fire arms show this past weekend. Maybe more from habit than anything else. Nothing we wanted/needed other than to walk the aisles and be “looky lous.” Last year's show highlight were the homemade hamburgers fresh off the grills outside. Messy and dripping with flavor. Add the chit-chat with locals at the picnic table. It was good.

Paid our entry fee, got wrist-banded and headed in. Her went here and I went there. Pausing, looking and knowing ahead of time that there is never a good deal on prices these days. Quite often all over-priced. But shopping is relaxed fun.

One table had a good assortment of pistols, a .22 in particular molded from a brand name 9mm frame. Exact replica down to the weight, feel in the hand and action. Price seemed reasonable in today's market.

I told my wife and she had me take her to the table. She liked the pistol, held it in her hand, racked the slide to see if she could. And then from out of the blue.

“Can I walk over to the wall and try the sights?” A common behavior of holding and studying a new pistol in a crowded room. She wanted to see sight alignment and get a better all-around feel of the pistol. 

“Point it at me. I know it is unloaded.” Yep, the dealer said that. My wife and I were drop dead flabbergasted. And then he said it again offering his chest as the target area. Sure, it was zip-tied through the barrel. All in that show were zip-tied in a visually safe condition.

In unison her and I replied an emphatic “NO.”   

Shows like these are run by very serious, safety-minded folk. Always. To include this weekends local show. Except, it would seem, for this guy.

My fear is that this seller offered himself up like this to others wanting to aim a for-sale pistol for the feel in that crowded room. The novice/untrained might just see that particular behavior as “OK.”  

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History is being written faster than we can keep up with it now. 

Heads up this week. Skill sets. Eats, you are going to need it. 

"FOR THE WANT OF A NAIL" - POLITICAL REFUGEES - FRESH CUT HAY - MANGO MEAD - WAR LOOMS?

 

ESSENTIALS

I can keep a portion of my world working with the above essentials. Add a few boxes of nails, screws, bolts, super glue and a little thinking outside the box, I can fix things short term. Short term is considered a stop gap measure until a long term fix becomes available. At my age, short term is just fine.

Project: Plant the last of the new pepper starter plants.

How:     Use the last 4 empty hanging baskets.

Procedure:  Ready baskets with soil stuffs, re-pot, water and hang. 

Issue: Last hanging pot had a broken plastic hanger pictured above. 

Problem: A simple project can turn into a project not completed and go from fun to a pain in the ass in an instant. What to do?

Solution: From one of my bags of essentials was a roll of bailing wire.  

Cut a length, straighten the wire, do bendy hooks on the wire ends, install, eye ball measure for hanging level, tighten bendy hooks, finish last plant potting and hanging.

 

A no never mind I know. But the simple job is done.

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TRIBUTE TO A GREAT MAN

Billy Crystal's 15 Rounds

A Wonderful Final Tribute

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BIRDS OF PASSAGE

Escape this crazy world for an hour when you find time. I have shared this before and always enjoy watching the story and photography.

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POLITICAL REFUGES

New neighbors east Texas. Down the road, around the corner, over the hill and past the pastures. But they are new neighbors, we just have drive to them. 

Her made a few dozen cookies and we went to welcome and visit with both families. 

A family from California. Lock, stock and barrel. Have been planning a move to Texas for several years. 

The other neighbor moved in from another, but way bigger, Texas town. 

Both families for the wanting of elbow room and what Texas rural living has to offer. 

The visits were good for this heart. Easy talking and visiting. Like they have been here forever. Like minded, down to earth, hard working and  happy to be here. Even in the mess of moving all their earthly goods across country, now parked in the their driveways, their relaxed enthusiasm was refreshing and reassuring. They were tired, looking for a few days of just sleep and down time. But that is still a few months off. 

They are young and doing fine.   

We know this having lived it for a full year before things really settled. That was two years ago + now and how fast time flies by.

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TODAY IN EAST TEXAS

Traveling the local roads and towns this past week brought with it many sights of fields holding fresh bales of hay sitting in the hot sun. 

Talk amongst local farmers and cattlemen revolves around getting this cutting of hay baled, cured in the fields and then added to winter storage. All good and welcomed in the current drought. Quite often though some of the conversations end with, "we still do not have enough." Pray for more rain!!!

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Self explanatory! Upon examination, we found it deep/bottomless. 

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FIRST RACKING  OF MANGO MEAD

 

Will be ready for the holidays. Rust removal and gun cleaner for sure. Actually first taste yummy with a kick. 

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UKRAINE WAR ESCALATION 

From zerohedge.com

The last time in my life where the threat of nuclear war loomed close was the Cubin Missile Crisis of October 1962. I was old enough to realize the seriousness of those days. 

This month, 2022, I hold my breath daily. Do not think I am alone in this. 

I am reminded of the book (cover) below and story, Survivors, by James Wesley Rawles. 

 
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Fall has officially arrived. The last days of mid 90's this weekend and the temperatures drop to mid/low 80's. Very comfortable to work outside  and enjoy warm weather. 

No mental energy to rant and rave about the world this post. But if I were one of the folk looking for final signs to get out of the big cities before it is too late, this next week would be the week I would pack up and leave. Figuring that I have pushed this as long as I dare. I have had this gut feeling a dozen times this past year. But at some point, this is top notch advice. Much better to be a few weeks early than one day late. 

God bless and thank you for the visit. See you in October. Skill sets!!

3 YEARS IN PRISON - DEER VISIT - BABY DUCKS - BROWN RICE - NUMB - 2 FRIED CHICKEN LEGS - PEPPER SAUCE HOMEMADE

 Three years in  prison for violating heating rules.

This is worth the time to read and ponder. Criminalizing a population through government mandates; take note. This is what some of us talk about in that we may very well see the tsunami coming and should plan accordingly.

Winter is coming for all us. Some locations normally more severe than others. It is still winter and with that brings cold/freezing days for weeks on end. Sixty-six degrees F for the maximum temperature inside a home is cold in my book. 

Can't happen here? Power company locking your thermostat? A solution worth noting. This is the problem with being and living free. Free thinking. How to beat the system when it becomes rigged against the common man. 

If the power company has control over your thermostat, there is no need to mandate your compliance. You have already been removed from the from the decision-making process.

Who ya gonna call and "Bad boys, bad boys whatcha gonna do?

Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?"

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ROAMING DEER

Several of the deer from the dozen that roam through here often visited earlier this week. They are friendly for the most part. They do not run off when approached and one deer approaches close out of curiosity as this video shows. They cannot be "shooshed" away.

They were happy to graze the front yard picking up fresh green grass to their liking. The cats have become bold enough now to where they stand their ground when the deer approach. One deer was "hissing" and stomping his/her foot as one of our cats did not move as the deer approached, nose to nose. The cats received a few "atta girls" protecting their space.

As mentioned in earlier posts, farmers are optimistic for another cutting of hay this season. They are talking that if they can mow now after the rain of a few weeks ago, that another rain might produce another cutting and bundling of hay before winter sets in. Our neighbor started mowing this past week in hopes of just that.

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MORE BABY DUCKS

A young friend of mine shared a few pics of recently hatched baby ducks. Gotta tell ya, these little fellows bring out the "ahhhhhhhhhhhh, ain't they cute" response from me. 

But they do not receive names and you know why.  

The strapping young man, who shares these photos, says he cannot bring himself to send the ducks to the freezer when the time comes. But his wife wades in and gets the job done. No problem, muss or fuss. She also wades in getting dirty with gutting the seasonal deer because she wants to learn and has been proactive in the process of sending a few wild turkeys to the freezer, too. The turkeys landed in the field out back and stayed a little too long. Got a family to feed and all of that.

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BROWN RICE

This may not be the best photo to share, but this more about brown rice and finally finding a way to prepare it with flavor.

I am a rice fan. Jasmine!! But as good as this white rice is with soy sauce, butter and sugar or added to a side of pork chops and gravy, there is not a lot of nutritional value. Not as much as brown rice. Rice has always been served as a filler here with added seasonings, etc. 

Brown rice in my experience has always tasted like cardboard and that is why I have avoided it. BUT but but!!

I rinsed the rice for two minutes (the secret), added two cups water to one cup of rice and a chicken bullion cube. Brought to a boil and then simmered for 35 minutes on low low with lid. Then let set for another 20 minutes with heat off. Bingo!!

I asked the net for some flavor ideas and there are plenty of suggestions. I used salsa and cumin. Mixed it in and topped off the meal with a grilled sausage from the bottom of the freezer. This rice, salsa and cumin makes a wonderful Mexican rice dish. Simple. Flavor, texture and filling. 

So what. This is just another skill set. One I did not have. Brown rice is now another filler I can add to a meal. If we have to feed more family or neighbors in the weeks ahead, I can at least fill them up and not have to stress. Prepping means not having to add extra stress in stressful times. FYI, add a lot of chicken bullion to your shelves. Learn how to use it to add flavor. You have heard this before.

One of the best up sides of learning like this is that anyone can tailor to their tastes. Winner winner rice dinner.

Bags of brown rice are still available today. So is chicken bullion. Small money. 

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I AM NUMB

Most likely not alone in this feeling. Stories that use to bring out the NS or cannot believe response, now just washes over the landscapes of my mind. I arm chair time with the thinking of what else can I get done or add. There comes a point where we enter the end of the world as we know it with what we have. 

I stopped by at our local gas station for two fried chicken legs a few days ago. A snack. Five dollars and forty nine cents. Yep, five dollars and forty nine cents. Two fried chicken legs; in a box, two napkins. The gal behind the counter said that we cannot afford to eat any more. I replied that we are all going to have to stop drinking so much so we can afford to eat. She laughed and agreed. Five dollars and forty nine cents. 

I ate the two legs over the truck tail gate in the parking lot recognizing that these two pieces of fried chicken, that my wife and I grown accustomed to, may just be the last two fried chicken legs. Little moments like this are an awakening to the coming realities I read about. Maybe time to start raising ducks?

Racking the last two gallons of mead this morning. Orange and peach and one gallon of mango. I have enough now to last at least a year. Medicinal purposes and all of that.

First jar of pepper sauce this season. 

Takes several months soaking in apple cider vinegar before the flavor develops. From there the flavor only gets better. Locals have told me this is some of the best they have ever tasted. Worth the time! Do I use it? Bet your boots!!

Four more pepper plants added and I fear now this is becoming an obsession. Gonna make jars of hot sauce yes, but I just might have gone over the edge. Her has not said anything yet. 

I have a dozen bush beans sprouting. Learning how to nurture them without drowning or letting them dry out to death. So far, so good.

The middle of September, 2022. Just like that. Tippy toeing through the rest of this month and taking cover in October. Joking...ummmmmm!!

Work a new skillset this next week. Develop a new habit that helps shore up the moat. Love your better half, children, hold them close.  Let no one tread on you or them. 

Yep, appreciate you time here and the visit. Have a blessed week.

 

 

 

MUMS - ORNAMENTAL PEPPERS - OLD OAK TREE - EVE OF DESTRUCTION

Mums had arrived inside a small trailer an hour before we arrived at the nursery. The grounds around the trailer were covered with fresh mums, all sizes. 

Her had the pick of the litter. She learned that watering mums should be done from the edge of the pot inward. Never water mums by spraying or adding water on top. Adding water on top causes the mums to bloom early and not produce the explosion of color these plants are noted for. 

The wheelbarrow is complete. Of course, you will see the yellow explosion when it comes. 

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Texas Chilly Chili Ornamental Peppers Annual - blooms in summer

(Ramey Damon Plant Farm, Rekaw, TX)

From inside the trailer came one tray of 6 ornamental peppers. I have been trying to find these for over a month now. Last year, I learned to make excellent hot sauce from these plants when they mature. Besides the colors are magnificent as they grow. Just fun. 

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Old Oak Tree

"It was a big tree when we moved here in 1975"

She was good old girl!!

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Sunday morning and I am crossing my "i's" and dotting my "t's" before pushing publish.

Gov. Kathy, bless her heart, tells all republicans to just up and leave NY and go to Florida. Says they are not New Yorkers. 

Violent crimes: ok to come back later for trial. 

Risky landing on a car parking lot. Try landing a helicopter in in a fresh Air Force bomb crater inside a dense jungle and be happy to do so. Vietnam helicopter pilots could. Did. And there sure in hell was not someone on the ground giving them directions. Yea yea yea, times have changed!!!

Another gem speaking on behalf of the president. Talk nicely, use a few hand jesters and reassure all American's that they and their fellow man are the enemy in some way or another.

Tell me "how you don't believe we are on the eve of destruction." 

Yep.

I am reminded of the 1965 song "Eve of Destruction."

The Eastern world, it is explodin'
Violence flarin', bullets loadin'
You're old enough to kill but not for votin'
You don't believe in war, but what's that gun you're totin'?
And even the Jordan river has bodies floatin'

But you tell me
Over and over and over again, my friend
How you don't believe
We're on the eve of destruction

Don't you understand what I'm trying to say
Can't you feel the fears I'm feeling today?
If the button is pushed, there's no runnin' away
There'll be no one to save with the world in a grave
Take a look around you boy, it's bound to scare you, boy

And you tell me
Over and over and over again, my friend
How you don't believe
We're on the eve of destruction

Yeah, my blood's so mad, feels like coagulatin'
I'm sittin' here just contemplatin'
I can't twist the truth, it knows no regulation
Handful of senators don't pass legislation
And marches alone can't bring integration
When human respect is disintegratin'
This whole crazy world is just too frustratin'

And you tell me
Over and over and over again, my friend
How you don't believe
We're on the eve of destruction

And think of all the hate there is in Red China
Then take a look around to Selma, Alabama
Ah, you may leave here for four days in space
But when you return, it's the same old place
The poundin' of the drums, the pride and disgrace
You can bury your dead, but don't leave a trace
Hate your next door neighbor but don't forget to say grace

And you tell me
Over and over and over and over again, my friend
You don't believe we're on the eve of destruction
No no, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Philippe Sarde / Jacqueline Taieb

Eve Of Destruction lyrics © Universal Music Corp.

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Today is September 11. Have we forgotten?

What else does this month have in store for us? 

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East Texas is cooler. Pleasant. "Sittin" on the porch and talking time away with neighbors kind of weather. 

It has been a long hot summer.

Thanks for the visit. Find some humor in everyday living this coming week and share with friends. God bless.

GARDEN WHEELBARROW PROJECT - RATTLE CAN ART - 4RUNNER PROJECT UPDATE - WATER SNAKE APPROACHING

Garden Wheelbarrow project nearing completion

Her is very happy with her new garden wheelbarrow. Full of bright mums soon and properly positioned in the front yard. 

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Fields growing and greening from long-needed rain in east Texas. Lifesaving for the fields, lands, animals, farmers, cattlemen and folk. We say we are happy and follow up with prayers for more. 

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 New local bakery with wonderful rattle-can art. 

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North east 4-Runner project coming together.

"Gotta make one new brake line and bleed the system but she is back together and running with no leaks so we're good."

ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, I want one, too.

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FROM BUSTEDKNUCKLES BLOG POST.  Graphic violence. Enter at your own risk.

Watch till the very end to see how serious this is. At some point, the peeps may have had just enough.

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POND FISHING, SNAKE KILLING AND BIG BOY

Neighbor picked me up in his side-by-side to go pond fishing on another neighbor's farm land. He had fished there the day earlier and had picked up a few small bass which, in turn, he took to stock his pond. 

The ponds are just a few minutes away. Gate opened/closed and off through the scrub brush we drove. Parked near the big pond edge and started throwing lures. I got a hit on my first cast and that is the best fish story I get to tell. He, on the other, hand he caught four small bass and the big one pictured above. I have so much to learn. 

After a few casts, I noticed a water snake across the pond that starting to swim towards us. On the move, "S" turning its body in what appeared to be a deliberate trip to the exact spot from which we were casting. I joked that the snake appeared to be on a mission. Halfway across the pond, my friend picked up his scoped Ruger .22. Always has it with him in his side-by-side. Another learned lesson for me. 

We were laughing as the snake approached head on. Intent!! 

The snake did not like getting shot at. First couple hits were close and turned the snake, but not away from the heading it was on. Shot number 5 hit the snake. Dead snake. This was an unexpected day's fishing experience for me. 

I have yet to hear a snake story here, over these past few years, in which anyone has anything good to say about them. Everyone has a snake story. Everyone. Add to this that I hate snakes and spiders. This particular snake seemed bent on eventually dissuading us from using his pond. 

This snake has taught me to always have my .22 rifle with me when out on the side-by-side AND to wear larger hiking boots, at a minimum, out walking through the scrub fishing. I am teachable. 

As we headed to neighbor's pond to toss in the fresh fish, we happened on "Big Boy." Yep, the buck has a name. 

Stopped, turned off the side-by-side and we sat staring at each other for the longest time. I did not see the broken antler till I got home and looked at the pictures. I am to understand that this is part of shedding and the time of the season. Big, beautiful animal. 

I am told that there is a bigger pond with catfish in it that we are asked to go check out. Fishing! Someone has to do it!

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September 2022 starts with our president calling out half of the American people now as the enemy. "You can look it up." 

I believe we will be see more of this from leadership and support staff.  I also believe there is an event or two coming that will be well choregraphed. Serious enough to require some kind of large scale government reaction.  I just do not know.

Keep your eyes and ears open. Take care of yourselves and your loved ones. Skill sets!! Water, food and winter heat issues being solved. Watch over the children and keep them close 7 days a week. 

I appreciate your visit. God Bless!

An old camping stove and a good cast iron skillet.