Midweek Bits

The first real cold front came roaring through earlier this week.  The temps hit a low of 38* here which is very low for this time of year.  Plus the winds have been pretty high.  I don't know exactly other than what the weather guessers tell us, but mid 30-40 mph with no let up.  It was in the low 40's this morning but the winds are still high.  So the morning walks have not resumed.  Neither has the painting started.  It should be near 80 by this weekend.  Maybe I can start painting then.

We still have not gotten a new dog.  Even though we look at and watch videos of Australian Shepherds all the time.  As much as we miss having a dog, I still can't bring myself to commit.  Even with 'K' telling me she is ready to get a dog.  I asked her why now?  She is feeling the effects of this pandemic and our plans to travel being thwarted.  So we might as well get another dog.  I almost caved.  I am seeing some results of not having a dog in the yard.  Even though Buster was mostly inside, his presence and scent made a difference.  I see signs of more wildlife being brave enough to come into the yard.  They did before but now it is more overt.  I saw a coon run across the yard a few weeks ago, then a week ago a skunk was under the bird feeder feeding on the dropped seeds.  Last night there was beautiful fox under the bird feeder doing the same.  I found a pile of poop on two consecutive nights on the patio.  That has to stop and moth balls have been set out.  When I got on the roof a couple months ago I found where the coons have a party behind my chimney.  It is a regular stop to use it as a restroom.  Piles of poop and pee running off the roof.  The have easy access due to the large trees that overhang.  We can even hear them running across the roof at night.  But they did that even when we had a dog.  A dog may reduce the presence of wildlife but it won't stop it.

For the last two days I have been struggling to figure out why my printer and pc can't seem to talk to each other.  'K' said she installed an update from her pc last Sunday and that was the last day we tried to print anything.  Since then, nothing.  I went through every stinking thing they say to do, even to the point of uninstalling and reinstalling etc.  No joy.  Called the oldest son to see if he could think of something I may have missed.  Everything he said was everything I had tried multiple times, in different order even.  Then he said since it was a possible update, was there a way to reset the printer to previous settings?  Why wouldn't uninstalling and reinstalling do that I asked.  Found a reset on the printer menu and we are now up and running.  I don't know.  Sometimes all it takes is a different set of eyes.  

Y'all be safe in all this craziness going on, it's about to get even crazier.

Happy Trails

Topping Off

We are topping off things we have run a little low on.  Made a big trip to the local grocer today as part of that.  Groceries are getting way too expensive.  Especially meats.  We had an extra large bill today.  We don't buy a lot of meat generally.  However the largest expense we had today was just that, meat.  We will make a top off trip to Costco for a few things also.  Most likely that will be Friday when the new sales start.  

In case you haven't been a regular visitor here to this blog, we are planning to be able to stay home without going out during and after the election.  I don't want to expose my family to any of the craziness I have seen some claim will happen.  Historically, this left wing city I live near and grew up in has never been the type that riots at the drop of hat.  That would include championship wins, or any other thing you see go on in other cities.  The local press has always trumpeted our restraint.  However that did change and I saw the first riots ever in my well over 60 years of living here.  It was disappointing to say the least.  Those were due to the so called Floyd protests.  

In defense, I would venture to say these were not locally raised dissidents that rioted 'peacefully.'  These folks were shipped in or have moved here in some of the mass exodus of other states.  It's amazing how many folks I have come across that have come here from that west coast hell hole.  The corridor from here to Austin is getting way to big and most of it is out of staters coming in.  Those are some of the fastest growing locales in the nation.  I saw one stat claiming they were receiving 120/day from california alone, for one county.  That just blows my mind.  It is getting to where I can hardly recognize my Texas any more.  

I had a little fender bender last Thursday.  My fault.  I was in a crowded parking lot and backed into someone in my blind spot.  No, damage, just a little paint scraped on mine and the other.  I guess those plastic bumpers are good for something.  No one was hurt.  I gave her my insurance and I am waiting to see of they make a claim for something like that.  My bad, I had a complete brain fart when it happened.  I didn't get all the information I needed from the other driver.  I didn't even remember to take a photo of our cars to protect myself from a false claim.  What a goof I am.  I am at their mercy for honesty.  My insurance company was very understanding and reassuring.  

The projects here have slowed to a dead stop.  I had hoped to be done with painting the exterior by now.  However, the exceptional weather we had been having has ended.  As I finish this up, the first real cold front is arriving.  The wind is starting to whip around out there.  It will be cold, windy and wet the next few days.  Hopefully after that I can get that painting done.

Please stay safe and VOTE!  We voted last Friday.  Long lines.  We got in line around 11:15 am.  Got to the desk where they verify you at 12:00.  Line moved pretty well.  The lady there told us they had had 7100 come through ahead of us.  WOW.  Record turnout I am sure.  I am seeing a lot of things this election I have never seen in 50 years of voting.  I think folks are realizing what is going on and understand how critical this election is.  It literally (I hate using that word but I did) will determine what the future of our country it to be, Constitution vs Anti-constitution.  I'll let you figure out what side is what.

Happy Trails

   

Plans Change

A slight pause in the projects this week.  Weather has stalled the start of painting.  It is much too humid with occasional sprinkles of rain and this will continue for the foreseeable future.  Since things are on hold we got the wild idea to just go.  And by go I mean a road trip.  We first looked at Ruidosa, then Cloudcroft and thenPagosa Springs.  Couldn't find anything that would work for us as far as lodging.  The two best options advised using a 4 wheel drive or chains to access in inclement weather.  Neither of which we have.  Wehter changes qucikly in the mountains and the roads were dirt.  After that search, I suggested let's just head to the coast for the day and maybe stay overnight and head back the next day.  I checked the weather (I recommend this be done anytime you head to Padre Island), coastal flooding of the beach all the way to the dunes.  Well the beach is where we want to go so that died a quick death too.  Maybe next week we can do that.  The other longer trips would have been the last week of October or first week in November, then I realized I want to vote that week.  Just like the rest of the year our plans have been smashed.  Since all the places we have on our list are northish from us, weather in the winter and early spring is a major issue.  We don't drive snow and ice plus not having a vehicle for that....

I have been following the Hunter Biden scandal as best I can.  No major news media has picked it up.  Surprise surprise.  Plus I am still on a bit of a news blackout and I don't have cable.  I follow mostly on Twitter but that is getting heavily censored by the lefties that run it.  I can't imagine this going away quietly, unless the left wins the whitehouse.  I believe they are not above pardoning those shenanigans.  Then it will go away.  The media is complicit in this treason, but no one seems to be coming to the table to say 'this has to stop' much less 'Go to jail, go directly to jail, do not pass go'.  I am not even so sure the RINO's will do anything either if they win.  This is a travesty that may actually destroy our Republic.  I pray continuously that our country will turn back to God.  I have turned it over to Him.

Happy Trails

Tuesday, A Day Late

I try to post on Monday without fail.  Obviously I failed.  In my defense I have been preoccupied with some things.  I went to the chiropractor due to some issues I am experiencing.  He was a bit concerned.  Not real sure how to proceed so we are trying a few treatments to see if that helps.  Otherwise he thinks I may need to see a neurologist.  I have almost no confidence in anything neurologists do.  That is from experience.  We will see how these treatments affect me before we do anything else.  I have some tingling and numbness in feet and hands, not real bad but can be distracting.  I thought it might be related to those bulging discs in my neck.  It could also be diabetic neuropathy.  It could be something more serious in my brain.  I have a visit coming up with my PCP in November, maybe he will have other ideas.  

Today I finally get my new tooth implant.  This will be the final visit and I will be done with that thankfully.  I really like this dentist.  I guess I have to as much money as he has taken from me.  I am finding out that my last dentist wasn't as good as I thought.  But that's another story.

The Granddaughter (the toddler) is here for a couple days.  She is in a great mood and is pretty animated.  That makes it even more fun to have her here.  

Still proceeding with all the projects around the house.  Slowly but surely.  This fantastic weather is cooperating.  We had quite a bit of dust yesterday.  It looked like a return of the African dust we got in June.  I was told that the farmers in Kansas or someplace north of us are pretty busy plowing and the little cool front that came in yesterday brought that dust.  I don't know, but the dry air and the dust is playing havoc with the sinuses.  We are supposed to get a real cold front Thursday.  May have temps in the 40's.  As long as it's not to windy that will be good too.  Have I said I love this weather?  I may need to go on a road trip, despite COVID.  But I really need to finish up the projects around here first.

Happy Trails

Disappointed-A BBQ Almost Disaster Story

Around mid August I bought a Prime Brisket to have on hand for a special occasion.  Since no special occasion was on the horizon and we just wanted something other than our usual fare, we decided to throw it on the pit.  It would provide us with several meals and also some to freeze for later.  I picked this one up at Costco.  I had not been able to find Prime briskets anywhere for some time.  So when I spotted this one I grabbed it.  The price per pound left me puzzled.  At 3.49/lb it was much cheaper than any Prime I had found before.  Generally 3.49/lb is what I pay for a non prime brisket.  It was labeled on both the cryovac pack and the price sticker.  However, the brisket was the worst one I have ever BBQ'd.  

Over the years I have cooked a lot of briskets.  I have a foolproof technique.  It always has turned out tender enough to not even need a knife.  It always is very flavorful.  I have been asked many times, 'when are you gonna cook another brisket and have me over?'  Yes, I have been told it is the best they have ever eaten.  (This is the first time I have ever repeated that.  I don't like to say it and appear arrogant.) I am just trying to show my bonifides when it comes to brisket.  For those not in this part of Texas, you're not supposed to need sauce if it's cooked right.  We don't want the smoked goodness to be covered up with sauce.  I do offer sauce to guests if that is what they like.  Usually if you have to have sauce it's due to it being too dry.  Mine never is.  It's the final technique that ensures moisture and tenderness.  Yes, I can remember having 2 briskets that didn't turn out all that well.  Neither were prime briskets.  One had so much fat running through the meat, not just the fat cap, but in the actual grain of the meat, that it just wasn't good to eat.  The other was from Costco also and was unusually tough and not very flavorful.  I had not bought another brisket from Costco until this latest.  A span of several years.

As soon as I cut into this one, things weren't going good.  It was tough.  Where was my smoke ring?  I had never seen that before.  I had to look really close for the smoke ring and the meat just was not colored right.  Too light not the darker rich looking I am used to.  Taste?  There was none.  No seasoning (rub) could be detected and no smoky goodness.  I was done eating quickly.  

I cooked that thing another 2 hours and let it cool and placed in the fridge.  The next day I got it out and started slicing the whole thing.  It slices better when cold.  This one was even harder to slice.  As I got into it I could see that it was full of gristle and way more fat than it looked like from the outside.  I threw away a couple pounds of gristle and fat.  It still was tasteless.  I used sauce. I added salt.  (the rub I use is salt based-and it needed salt.  ????

I can just guess it was so gristly and tough it failed to absorb smoke or seasoning.  That thing cost me right at 50$ and we won't really enjoy it at all.  I probably won't eat any more of it.  The wife will drown it in sauce and continue on for a bit.  

The takeaways? I am really glad we didn't have anyone over to eat this disaster.  I would have been appalled that something like that would have been served to anyone.  I am done buying Costco briskets.  That's two bad ones from there and one just OK.  I guess my foolproof technique can't over come a really bad piece of meat.

Happy Trails

Monday and It's a Beautiful Day

As far as weather goes it doesn't get much better than it is.  In fact the last couple weeks have been outstanding.  Cool and dry, almost crisp.  That has allowed me to get and out finish up the tree trimming.  Next, I will power wash the back side of the house in preparation for painting.  The weather is supposed to continue like this through the week.  We could use some rain but I hope it holds off a bit or is short enough and I can get back at is soon.

The photo above is your's truly and I believe that was taken in Landa Park in New Braunfels Texas.  Time frame is around 1955/56 I think, as it isn't labeled and I appear to be around 2-3.  

The vileness of the left never ceases to amaze me.  Actually I have come to expect it.  All sorts of evil is revealing itself since the President has come down with the China Flu.  The media seems to be panicking.  They have become so irrelevant due to their skewed view of the world but especially America, that they are losing all credibility and those with any grey matter are no longer watching.  Their livelihood is danger due to the lies they spread.  It can't come soon enough.  There are plenty of alternatives of you look for them.  Their last gasp will be to corrupt the election.  They know there is no way their candidate can win without their lies and fomenting false rage among their believers.  It's gonna be very Ugly.  Prepare.

Happy Trails