Smokin' Hot

Briskets! They were smoked yesterday and finished in the oven.

 This morning, we trimmed.

This suet makes the blue jays and the fox really happy!

We use our "Food Saver" for vacuum packing.

Done and ready for the freezer!

Today in the mountains...

BRRRR...

Freezing fog this morning and we are thankful for a little moisture!

So, I stoked the fire.

Almost got it to 1500 degrees.

Below, the heater was going in the garage while the plan was being made.

When the sun appeared, the saw came out.

And a workbench was born!

The evening shadows are covered by a clear sky.

Saturday morning in the hot tub.

The discussion was Saturday morning cartoons when we were kids. Popeye was at the top of the list. 

I'm Popeye the Sailor Man, 

I'm strong to the finish because I eats me spinach, 

I'm Popeye the Sailor Man

"I yam what I yam."

"That's all I can stands, I can't stands no more."

Who ate spinach because of those tattoos? 

Olive Oyl? Well, I guess it works with "Popeye".

And how did they get this baby?

Sweet Pea, lovingly called Swe’Pea by Popeye and Olive Oyl in the popular comic strip and TV series Popeye the sailor man, is a small baby that many mistakenly consider to be Popeye’s son. Not many people know how and when Sweat Pea made his appearance in the series, but loyal fans know that Popeye found this cute looking boy on his doorsteps one day. The boy resembled Popeye amazingly, and this led many to misbelieve that he is a child of Popeye and Olive. 

Ok, there you have it.

Wimpy, "I'll pay you on Tuesday for a Hamburger today"

Th...Th...Th...That's all folks!

Hmm.. OK, it has been a while. So, here we go...

I just love these pictures of the ice in our neighborhood!

Our days have been beautiful, but dry.

The sunsets are lovely.

And the view from the hot tub is amazing.

Having been home for a week and ready for another adventure, we hit the road with our travel trailer in tow and Larry and Terry with us.

Just a small solar grid somewhere southwest of Albuquerque.

Our destination.

There might be a few thousand RVers here.

Lunch at the Yacht Club in Quartzsite AZ?

We highly recommend it!

Our campfire at our secluded campsite. 

Even with thousands of RVs, there is still room for seclusion.

Returning to NM, we made a stop in Grants for picnic.

And a hike to the Lava Tubes at El Malpais. It was fascinating.

Larry's specialty was perfectly executed and beautifully presented.

It was a fun week!

Back to the doors. Don't they look great?

A storm is brewing.

A hearty omelet breakfast is in order.

We hiked a little, but there was only little more than an inch of snow.

Our turkeys were found at the stream.

What IS that? A shiny new fan to replace the one that recently stopped working. This fan pulls heat from the fireplace and moves it under the house to warm it evenly.

Today-doors on rails✔️

Fortunately for me, a neighbor offered to help Mickey hang the doors.  I am so grateful.  It was cold outside today and those doors are heavy.

Thank you Leland!

Look at how nice the doors hang!

And how easy they roll!

And how good they look!

Eventually, they will each have a window.

Pretty impressive, huh?

Love it!  Finishing touches are still ahead, but the area is covered.

Today - rails✔️

Tomorrow - Doors!

Christmas Week.

We took Dot with us to SC for the holidays.

The weather was perfect for a few outdoor activities!

Chess is a popular game.

Who learns about new computer games from their great-grandmother?  These kids! 

Another game of chess.

Outside again, I found them in art lessons.  Nani Dot is a wonderful teacher.

These Frenchmen wanted to paint, too.

And Mickey doesn't miss a chance to learn more from his mom about painting.

The front porch offers a nice swing.

Crissy and Nani Dot.

Mickey and his mom.

Me and Dot.

Mitchell's conversation with his great-grandmother.

The parents left for the evening and we had a party!

It was a fun holiday week!  

The only thing missing was our son and his family.