Monday, January 31, 2011

Containers In Place

GREETINGS!

Frick and Frack have been very busy! Last Friday morning this heavy duty, industrial strength fork lift was delivered within a mile of here. The guys brought it home and set to work, as they only had it until Saturday morning.



After "towing" a container from the field to the building site, they got it lined up with the cement footings and were set to push it back in place. The footings were made to hold the 3 containers up off the ground.



This shows the container about 1/3 of the way in. What you can't see is Frack on the tractor on one end helping Frick push the container in. It took quite a bit of coordination with the pushing and keeping on the footings, which were only about 6" wide.



Ahhh, here it is perfectly set! It only took them 4 hours to do it. But there was a lot of "prep" work to do. Now they were ready for numbers 2 and 3. The 2nd one took about 2 hours and the 3rd one only 45 minutes!



This is a view of the back of their "house". It and the 2 ends will be covered with dirt or "bermed" to the roof line.



This is one end, which will be covered to the roof line with earth.



And this is/will be the front of their house. It will be open. So the house is
24' x 40' or 960 sq. ft. They plan on adding a big screened in porch to the front.



It was dark-thirty by the time they finished this project! But they were happy to have gotten it done with time to spare. The next project is to weld the containers together on top and put a roof on. They picked up the tresses today for the roof (and got gasoline for generators, etc. and that took almost all day.) There is still lots and lots of work to do......... Will keep you posted!

We are preparing for this huge winter storm that is coming in tonight, as I'm sure most of you are also. I hope you stay warm and safe. Take care and God Bless.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Exploring

GREETINGS!

Yesterday Mary and I went on an adventure! She wanted to go up to a dam at Fort Gibson, OK to get some pictures of eagles, so we left home about 10 a.m. in her little Toyota pickup. We got about 5 miles from home and her truck started heating up so we called Tom and turned around heading back to home. Tom came and got us and took us back home so we could get my van and continue on our trip. The fan belt had broke on the pickup and caused the over heating problem so Frick and Frack fixed that while we were gone.

I drove to Fort Gibson which was a pretty drive through the dry winter hills. We stopped at Sonics in Fort Gibson and had lunch and then proceeded on towards the dam. We had to pass by the old Fort Gibson and so we stopped there to take pictures and walk around. I'll post those another time. On to the dam, but no eagles; so we turned around and headed back through old downtown Fort Gibson and on to Muskogee.
We also stopped at a huge antique store in downtown FG. I don't know that I've ever been in one so large, and with so much "stuff"! We had fun just browsing.

The next two pictures are views of the dam. As you can see, there is not much water in the river in front of the dam. Our rainfall is really low this year and it shows.



There are also no eagles present! Just a few scavanger birds on the bars.



This is a little cafe that is across the parking lot at the bottom of the dam.



When we got to Muskogee, we went to a couple of furniture stores pricing full size mattress and box springs to replace the twin bed in the front bedroom. We finally decided on one at Furniture Factory Outlet; but didn't have Mary's little truck. However, the salesman said he could tie it on top of the van! So........I think now I am an official Okie! See for yourself........... The mattress fit inside but..........








I drove home very slowly - about 35 miles @ 50 mph - so we didn't get airborne or lose it. I'm so glad we don't know anyone around here! ha :) What an adventure! Oh, we finally got home between 5:30 and 6:00 p.m. - long day. Can't wait to see what the next outing will bring.











Isn't life grand? Take care and God Bless.

Monday, January 24, 2011

COFFEE ANYONE?

GREETINGS!

Another Monday! They sure seem to come around quickly any more........but then it really doesn't matter when you are retired! I can remember when I was working how I dreaded Sundays because that meant the next day I had to go to work! I'm lovin' this life!

AND, I'm lovin' my coffee these days since I discovered the French Press pot and Arabica coffee beans. If you have not tried a cup of coffee made in a French press, you really need to. It takes that bitter, burnt taste out of the coffee that comes with electric pots.



This picture was taken at my computer "desk" the other morning. That's my new French press - the 2nd one in about 3 years, so that's not bad @ $17.00! The only other thing you need to make excellent coffee is a tea kettle of some sort to boil the water in. Let me know if you give it a try.

Take care and God Bless.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

New Road

GREETINGS!!

Today the dump truck came with it's second load of gravel to finish the road to brother Tom's soon to be place. I must say, it sure looks better with the gravel, rather than a dirty, rutted road through the grass! Looks like someone might actually be going to live down there!



This is kind of the same shot, but shows a dirt gap at the beginning. The gap is by where some trees(to the left)will have to be felled for the power line to go in. No point in spreading the gravel and then messing it up pulling trees out! And if you look closely, a little to the left at the end of the road, you'll see a pile of dirt. That's where Tom's house will go.



This shot is the road curving around between our front yard and the field beyond. Our house is to the right of the cedar tree. The new part of the road will hook up to this after the trees are out. And then it will be a continuous drive. I'll get a better view of it later. ( I should have stood at the other end and took this picture in the opposite direction so you could tell how the road will go. I'll work on it! :P)



Snow is forecast for tonight and tomorrow morning, with temps dipping way down. I think we are on the tail end of the band, so hopefully we won't get any, or at most an inch or so. I wonder if this stuff will ever end. I feel for those of you who have been really getting hit with it. Spring can't come soon enough!

Stay warm, take care and God Bless.

Monday, January 17, 2011

My Litter Soap Box

GREETINGS!

Oh my gosh! I can't believe it's been almost a week since I posted. Guess that tells you that not much is going on around here! The cat's fine, the dogs are fine, no wayward critters have come to visit, the weather's okay, etc. So what does one talk about?

Well today I decided to do something about my "favorite" pet peeve.....LITTER! This picture below is how a dirt/gravel country road should look..........



This picture is how one spot of the road looked today. I have driven by this mess numerous times and complained each time. So today I decided I'd pick up trash on 1.3 miles of the dirt road - the closest to our place.



This is the result of me spending 2 hours hopping in and out of the car, picking up trash and cursing the people who have no regard for our beautiful countryside.



I got two 30 gallon garbage bags and a good sized cardboard box full of litter. Mostly beer cans/bottles, and soda and water bottles, but there were lots of styrofoam cups from McDonalds and KFC and other places, disposable diapers, plastic bags, cigarette packages, etc. Oh, even a deflated basketball and some plastic bottles for car oil. I even got 7 cans of unopened beer! Maybe the cops were after those kids!!!! and they had to ditch it.

Anyway, that really doesn't begin to address the problem here in the Oklahoma countryside. I'm sure other states are bad also, but it just seems to jump out at me more here in Oklahoma. It even makes me mad at Busch beer - as that's almost solely the kind of beer boxes and cans thrown out. I'd like to say "this Bud's for you" and put it where the sun don't shine in the corporate office! Ohhhh, I guess I'd better quit.......I'm getting riled up again. :)

So how was your day? Take care and God Bless.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Rattlesnake Mountain

GREETINGS!

This is the sign on the fence post at the entrance to the shooting range. Some of Kathy's handy work. She is very talented and crafty and bakes good cookies!!



Just had to post the picture of the new "store front" up on Rattlesnake Mountain. As you may recall, that is where Ronnie goes to shoot with his SASS group of Rattlesnake Mtn Rangers. His friend Jack, who owns the range/mountain is building the fronts; Ronnie goes to help him quite often.



I think when Kathy gets done with her handy work you will know this is a general store right out of the old west days. Can't wait for the finished product.

Well, Frick and Frack went to town early this morning to get propane for the 5th wheel. Then came home for a bit and took off again for Muskogee. Haven't seen them for about 3 or 4 hours now. Who knows when they'll come home, and what they'll bring with them! I'm sure glad they have each other to ramble with. I know I enjoy the peace and quiet, and I bet Mary does too!

Went to Sallisaw WalMart yesterday to do my weekly shopping. Had to buy a new French coffee press and some 8 O'Clock brand Arabaca coffee. I guess I'll donate the 2 pounds I bought last weekend at Sam's Club to the church. I just don't like it - ground too fine and tastes "burnt" to me. Got stuff for Ronnie to make a pot of chili Friday and can hardly wait. He makes the best chili........ The produce department is sure lacking these days. They don't have a lot of stuff - like Kale, rutabagas, turnips, Yukon gold potatoes, etc. - and what they do have is kind of old and wilty! Oh for Spring and Summer! Oh well, still managed to spend too much.

I'm still upset about the shootings in Arizona. What a waste of life. And then to use it to bring up gun control again. I used to be anti-gun, but lately I'm thinking more people should legally carry weapons and perhaps crimes like this one could have been stopped before it reached these proportions. You never know.

I'm starting (reading) a new book today called Danzig Passage. It's a fictional account of a couple helping to save lives during the Holocaust. I believe even tho some stories about it are fictional, they hold more truth than people know. I've read several autobiographies about it, and it's hard to think that people could match the truth in fiction. I'm not sure I said that right, but you know what I mean. The Holocaust is a time in history that fascinates me and I find it so hard to grasp the reality of it. And to think that I was born during that time - 1944. It is a time we must never forget, or let fall by the wayside; and we must be sure all future generations know of it.

I guess I've rattled on enough for one day. Take care and God Bless.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Easy Craft Project

GREETINGS!

I saw or heard about this project some time ago, and decided to do it this year. It's a great way to recycle Christmas cards and enjoy the pictures on them again. And it's so easy little kids could even do it. You make ornaments out of the cards for the tree next year!



All you do is take a pair of scissors - pinking shears or fancy cutting scrapbook scissors - and cut out the picture on the card. I cut front and back so I had a sturdier ornament. Then put a string in between the layers to hang it by and glue them together with craft glue. Simple as that!



This is just a few of the ones I made. I also wrote on the back of each one who it was from. That was you can enjoy "hearing" from your friends again! So dig out the cards you got and put the kids or grandkids to work!



And this is just a picture of Mrs. Frick! Ronnie took it the other night practicing with the 4x power on the camera. Only I think this was 2x. Just about broke the camera!!



That's it for today. Take care and God Bless.

Monday, January 10, 2011

SNOW?!

GREETINGS!

After about 7+ hours of snow yesterday, this is what we ended up with. I'm not complaining, as you can still get around and it happened during daylight hours so you could enjoy watching it come down!


Still doesn't seem to warrant closing schools, but I suppose icy roads is more the culprit than the snow. This picture is just me playing around with the camera using 4x power to take the picture. Finally after 7 or 8 years I figure it out! HA ha :)
Nice to stand on the porch and get a close up instead of practically climbing the tree to get one!



Did laundry most of the day and not much else! Hope you all had a productive day. Take care and God Bless.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Fun Saturday

GREETINGS!

Tom and Mary wanted to go check out the possibility of joining Sam's Club, so the four of us hopped in my van and away we went to Fort Smith, Arkansas Saturday afternoon. We found Sam's Club and they joined, and then of course we all had to look around at all the stuff. We by no means covered "all the stuff", but sure covered the grocery end of it. I have not been in a Costco or anything similar for 12 years, and couldn't believe how alike the two places are. Both in layout and congestion! :)

I bought a 2 lb bag of arabica coffee and 2 big bottles of KC BBQ sauce. Wasn't planning on grocery shopping, so that was it. And don't you know, as much as I love arabica coffee, I don't like what I bought!! I'll stick with 8 O'clock arabica coffee. Oh well. Mary bought much more stuff, but she knew what she wanted.

After shopping, we went to supper. It was Tom's treat to Ronnie for helping him with the house building. Here's where we went - Logans Roadhouse - and it was pretty good. Frick and Frack had racks of ribs, Mary had a steak and I had shrimp.



Speaking of Frick and Frack, here's a shot of them standing before the outdoor fireplace at Logans.



That's Frick on the left and Frack on the right. Now isn't that a pair???



It's a good thing Mary and I were along or who knows when they'd have come home!



We left for home after supper, but had to make a stop at WalMart in Sallisaw so they could get water. It sure will be nice when Spring comes and we can get hooked up to "city" water. It was a good day, except for the terrible news about the shooting in Arizona, which we heard leaving the restaurant. All those people need our prayers.

Went to church this morning and came out to it snowing. It snowed until late evening, but the accumulation was not much. However, they are closing lots of schools for tomorrow as there is more forecast for tomorrow. I hope it is negligible. Be safe, take care and God Bless.

Friday, January 7, 2011

Big Truck

GREETINGS!

Happy Friday! I've been kind of busy today doing normal "house" stuff. I did dishes, vacuumed a lot, burned papers, dumped garbage, etc. Fun day, Huh? Also watched the cement truck come about 8:00 a.m. this morning. Salli did not like it coming down the driveway and barked her head off the whole time.

This picture is the truck on it's way out, dumping the leftovers along the driveway. I guess the foundation pouring went well and it is setting up. I know that was a big relief to Frack as now he can do some sanding and waterproofing to the containers and put them into place. Weather permitting of course!



Frick goes shooting tomorrow. I usually go with him, but I think I'll pass this time; it looks like it might be kind of cold! I am going to send my camera along though so he can get a picture of the "store front" that's been added to the range. I forgot to take my camera last month so this will make up for it.

Not much else going on. We are all healthy and fairly happy :) and really couldn't ask for much more............except maybe to be a relative of the people in Idaho and Washington who won the lottery! Washington is my home state, but alas, no relative won. I hope the people who did win enjoy the windfall and use it wisely.
Oh, I got 2 new pairs of corduroy pants today. I had ordered them from Woman Within catalog a few days ago. One is a tan color and the other a light teal - almost blue. I'm hoping they will be warm in the cold weather coming. Jeans don't seem to do well with me. And I think these will fit better. I'll let you know tomorrow!

I give thanks to the Lord for what He has given me. Enjoy your weekend. Take care and God Bless.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Comfort Food

GREETINGS!


What to do on a chilly January day? Make comfort food........like a slow cooker full of stew. I forgot to take a picture of the buttermilk biscuits when they came out of the oven! But that was what's for supper tonight as Rachel Ray would say.








And I found this bag of frozen blackberries in the freezer and thought I should make a big blackberry cobbler for dessert tonight. I tell ya, it doesn't pay to be bored around this place......makes you fat(ter)!







And this is the finished product. Didn't get quite enough sugar in it, but that's easy to fix with a sprinkle or two or a big blob of cool whip!





We are supposed to get a cold front for all next week, where the day time temps will NOT get above freezing! And maybe a little snow on Sunday night or Monday. Wonder what I'll cook then? :) Frick and Frack worked down at the "tin can" sight this afternoon, readying it for the cement that is coming in the morning. This will be fore the base to set the containers on. After that sets then they can begin to move the containers in to place. That will really be a job, and I'll keep you posted. Might get some good pics when that happens!

Well, my favorite show starts with new episodes tonight so I'd better get ready.
Hope you all have a great night. Take care and God Bless. And count those blessings!

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Beginning 2011

GREETINGS!

Sunday, January 2, 2011 ~~ A great start to the New Year. After a great church service, we hopped in the van and headed for Muskogee. I was hungry, and this is where we went. One of my favorite places.



If you have never been to a Golden Corral, you must try it. It has one of the largest selections of good food on a buffet I've seen in a long time. For 2 of us, with iced tea to drink, it cost $25.50; which isn't too bad considering you can eat and eat and eat! The dessert bar is something else again.

After getting our fill there, we decided to go get the 2 pieces of 4x1's to finish the ramp on the back porch. Ronnie had run out and we just never got around to buying 2 more. So that's done! The little bald spot on the left is Ronnie; alias Frick. When we got home Tom wanted to know if he'd gotten something and Ronnie said no he hadn't thought of it. Tom said "well Frick and Frack will have to go to Lowes this week!" Those two crack me up..........



New Year's Eve was fairly quiet. There were a bunch of kids at the top of the hill at the end of our driveway being a little noisy until Ronnie shot both barrels of the shotgun about Midnight! They took right off.......but of course left a Tequila bottle and some Mexican beer cans! Hopefully that scared them and they won't come back! New Year's Day I made a pot of home made turkey noodle soup from the Christmas turkey carcass. Was pretty good. Other than that, all is quiet.

I hope you had a great New Year and that it continues through out 2011.
Take care and God Bless.