107 DEGREES - GENERAC BACK ON LINE - MICROWAVE BACON - PAMPAS GRASS - JIBBER JABBER

 

Temperatures heading back into the high double digits this coming week. No rain in sight.

------------------

GENERAC BACK ON LINE 

The Generac whole house generator has been offline and come to find out the positive battery terminal had corroded into dust. It fell off as I pulled on it from the battery. Trying to find someone to help or repair is costly and time consuming. Can take weeks to get someone to come help with a repair and service.

Fixing batteries with problems like this is straightforward and repairs I have made dozens of times. But there is a learning curve in shutting off the system and making sure it will not turn on in the event of a power outage. Also getting the generator back online.

I went to YouTube and found all the help I needed. It often takes a few different videos to get good information from someone who knows what they are doing and can also teach via their video. My son calls this "YouTube University" for learning repairs. 

I serviced the battery, fully charged it and followed the step-by-step procedures I have been putting off learning all of the ins and outs of full servicing of this generator, but being with out a whole-house generator in a power outage is not an option for me. Being self-sufficient in times like this is an absolute must.

I have watched others perform maintenance, oil filter changes and new battery replacement on our unit. Asking questions, taking notes and learning from the net has been valuable.

The upside of all of this effort is that I now better know the functioning of the generator and how to troubleshoot and safely perform some basic maintenance. Dad taught me well when I was very young and working in auto shops and gas stations in the early 1960's provided a lot of OJT and basic mechanical knowledge that still pays off today. 

The side-by-side is a valuable tool here and I am on it several times a day working. All the tools and needed items moved easily to the generator site and made repair work easier. I would be lost with out this rig. This is indeed my helper at this time of my life.

-------------------

MICROWAVE BACON
 

I never thought I would ever be a fan of microwaved bacon, but the bride has the process mastered. We use microwave bacon from Sam's club which seems to have the best favor and crunch. Also the best price and quantity (personal opinion). No muss no fuss.

------------- 

PAMPAS GRASS 

I usually share some thoughts every summer about pampas grass and this summer follows suit. With weeks and weeks of dry high heat, direct sunlight and no rain, this plant thrives. Blooms beautifully without any maintenance. There must be a lesson in survival and thriving here.

-------------------

JIBBER JABBER 

HOW TO KILL A ROBOT DOG -Field Ethos

I was not surprised to see this article pop up in one of my blogs. I have been following the advancement of robotic dogs and the such for years now. The progress has been steady and advancements in keeping with research/development and a commitment to bring these machines into mainstream.

Has advancement in this technology come so far and to a point where these robots are now seen as a threat to humans? A threat that others are seeing and thinking that maybe the time has come to figure out a way to defend oneself against them is some manner, some how and some way. How to stop such a machine if it is life threatening?

I am not advocating here, just sharing a point in time where the advancement of robots have come to a point where folks are sharing ways to combat them. Maybe a normal progression in things like this?

It did not take long for the advancement of airplanes to be used in warfare. How about the use of drones in warfare? It was just a few years ago my son and I were playing with these as toys and learning a way to gain new photographic perspectives. 

Lioness Season 3  (Lioness Season 3 premiered on August 2, 2026, and new episodes stream weekly on Sundays on Paramount+.) (found on Paramount Plus) has a very telling and dramatic showing in the first episode of the use of drones in today's warfare. An eye-opener. 

I have been reading and hearing for years now of how all of this new technology could be used like this. And it appears that is has evolved in warring arenas successfully.

To what point here? Showing photographs of robotic dogs alongside a suited up and armed combatant is hard to ignore.

Right now, our home protection is two cats (not robotic). I wonder if a robotic dog would be distracted by a robotic cat? Food for thought. If I play that movie in my mind, I find myself laughing. 

---------------  

Appreciate the visit this week. 

   
 

ROOTING FOR THE GREEN BALLOON - THE HEAT - PIZZA "HOMEMADE" - I SEE YOU CHARACTERS - JIBBER JABBER

 

My wife returned home last weekend after being gone for a week attending to family matters in Dallas.  I picked up 4 balloons and tied them to her chair as a "welcome home, I missed you and oh so happy to have you back etc" surprise. It worked. 

She was exhausted from the week's trip to Dallas. Kicking off her shoes, getting into her house dress and then plopping down in her chair for a drop dead nap started her recovery and the balloons are flying still, a week later. But it does appear that the green balloon is struggling. 

We envision it saying "hey, I am still flying but working harder just to stay up. The breezes in here from the fans are not helping as they make me fly around this chair all day long." 

Each morning now we fear that green balloon will down for good and then what do we do since we have assigned a name to the balloon "green balloon" giving it membership in the family. We understand the balloon's struggle and appreciate all that it has brought to my wife's return home. But what do we do tomorrow or the next day when green balloon has run its race? 

I am going to be like Scarlet, "I am not going to think about that right now.........."!

--------------

YEA, IT IS HOT IN EAST TEXAS

A  heat map of the USA will show much of the country in red and dark reds. We are coping. The animals are too finding shade and cover where ever they can. Fresh water topped off with ice cubes several times a day and, along with us, they are taking it one day at a time. The 10-day forecast shows triple digits. "Who ya gonna call?"

--------------- 

"HOME MADE" PIZZA 

 

I found this Artisan Flatbread at Aldis super market and was drawn to it by the picture showing its use to make pizza. Looked like a good idea and fit my wanting to try some kind of pre-made "bread" that I could use to make pizza at home. 

Adding some jar pizza sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, green peppers, sliced tomato and black olives, I slid the above on a pizza stone and into the oven at 400 degrees for 13 minutes. Bingo, homemade pizza with out much work. 

I was surprised that the crust had crunch when I cut the squares (good sign) and that like all pizza hot out of the over, it will burn your mouth if you are stupid enough to try it without letting it set a few minutes. After a few minutes, it had cooled down enough and I'll be darned, it was very tasty pizza for the work. Win win. 

Having learned that, pizza #2 the next day was a repeat with improved layering and sizing of toppings. Sliding the pizza on and off the pizza stone on parchment paper solved the "moving" of the pizza in and out of the oven.

Several artisan flat breads are now in the freezer and I have pizza at home solutions.

To this point, cooking in this heat wave is not a thing either of us want to do come dinner time. Breakfasts are quick and easy eggs, toast, fruit etc. Lunches are a snack of items in the fridge pull drawer, but dinner at the height of the days heat can be a PBnJ or bowl of cereal. These pizzas are not much more work using "pickings" from the cupboards and refrigerator shelves/drawers.   

------------- 

AND WHY NOT MORE WHILE WE ARE AT IT?

 Also picked up two, 1 pound pizza dough's ready to bake. 

I let the dough come to room temperature and then worked it as best as I could into a round pizza that fit my pizza stone. Overloaded the pizza and baked for 20 minutes at 450 degrees. 

Mistakes were made, but the pizza cane out done and eatable. In fact, the bride ate two whole pieces. She said it was just fine and she is a picky eater.

But there are more moving parts. Coming to room temperature, rising, shaping, filling and baking. Trying to stretch a dough properly into the shape takes some time and patience. And even then, much room for improvement.

* Too much topping and wet tomatoes

* Did not bake low enough in oven

* Dough was done but chewy and inconsistent

* I had minimal expectations with this try and achieved that. 

Next time less toppings. Longer rising time out of the refrigerator. Baking on bottom oven rack and more research to do on stretching and shaping dough. Why does it look so easy when someone else does it?

Right now, the artisan flat bread is the way to go for me. Better flavor and less moving parts. But the refrigerated dough will continue as a challenge and learning experience. 

Leftover pizza tonight for dinner and in that, I am "pizza-ed" out for awhile. It has been fun though and adds meal options down the road.

-------------- 

"I SEE YOU" CHARACTERS

 

I asked a high school classmate and long time friend if she would share a few of her paintings with me as I am a big fan of her talent. She said that she had a few animal characters that she has would be happy to complete and send them to me. She calls these "I See You" characters. She took the above photo to show me and I replied that they were perfect. These will find their way into a child's room, but for now I am the 81 year-old child and so enjoying them every day here on the mantel.

Resorting back to an earlier stage of development I suppose.

-------------

JIBBER JABBER

The weather here is a thing. Every summer, I share these days here and this year is no different. One hundred four today and forecast for days to come. No let up. To complain is a waste of time because a good part of our nation is under long term heat advisories. We have learned to get outside work done NLT nine or ten in the morning. There is no way I could ever function outside for more than a few minutes after that time, so house-bound it is with our outdoor excursions limited to getting in and out of the car for town trips or wandering to the garage freezers and then back in the house. 

Folks who have to work outside in this heat also try to get their days started at daybreak and completed around noonish. Indoor markets and stores do fine, but folks work at a slower pace. Hydration is absolutely a mandate throughout the day.  

Animals have found shade and places to lay as the heat of the day passes into night time. No mowing of lawns needed. But plants need a daily soaking to also survive.  

AND

"I am ok, just resting for awhile."

 

   Thanks for the visit this week.