No More Room

This weekend the wind was high and even though the temperature was pleasant enough to work, the brisk Southern breeze made it too much to get much outside work done. So we worked inside the house.

 We have plum run out of room. It's not hard to do when living in a tiny house. Never enough cabinet space and never enough counter tops. So the next best thing to use is the walls.
We got the cast iron off the floor and mounted them to the wall for easy access. Candy also got her kitchen herbs planted in some really nice antique tins she picked up at a garage sale on put on the shelf above the window.
Notice the little lights on the stove, yes they work. It takes a medium base bulb you cannot find anymore unless you special order them. We ended up finding some old large Christmas lights in a box and taking the red off.   

The little homemade, horseshoe Christmas tree has been decorated and put under the loft stairs. The little tree is not too big and fits just right, plus it goes with the country look we have. 

 Speaking of the bedroom loft. This was the place planned for overnight stays when one of the girls came by. It fits a twin size blow up mattress perfectly. Well, plans have changed a little because the grand baby took it over as her play room.
Now there is no way we will be able to move all the toys and blow up the air bed. So I guess the camper will remain the guest house.  

I also built Candy a small cabinet that sits next to the stove out of some old barn wood. Now she has a place to store the baking dishes, mixer and cookie sheets.

We got more boxes out from storage and filled the kitchen cabinets and drawers to max capacity. There is no more room for anything and we still have many more boxes to go. I see a garage sale in the future.

Thanks,
Jerry

Where's The Fish

After this weekend the official total rainfall here in North Texas is 59.5 inches. I am sure we have had more than that up here where I live, but "officially" I don't have a clue.
The creeks are up out of their banks making my Crappie holes un-fishable. This is about the time of year I live on the creek banks jigging for Crappie. As it is now I would have to walk back at least a mile through thick swamp brush to get to the fish and I don't think I am going to do that.  I like fishing, but I don't like it that well.

So instead I worked on the house. This weekend I got the Ladder built and installed for the bedroom loft, plus ran and hooked up the power to the kitchen island. I also got the shelves finished in the upstairs craft room and started unpacking boxes of books and chili trophies to fill them.

Right off the bat Saturday morning my dad and I finished installing the new stove and making sure everything works with no leaks. The stove weighs 400 pounds and was a chore trying to get it in place, they just don't make them like that anymore, but it fits and looks like it belongs there.
 Modern cookware just did not seem right on this old girl so we pulled out and polished up the cast iron and put some to use.   

Candy was so happy to finally be able to cook inside.
(It's funny to write that down because it makes us sound like hillbillies or something, "look maw, running water").

Okay side note, funny story. You know I finally got the kitchen sink in the house right? Well everyone that comes over walks to the sink and turns it on just to see if it works. One of my nephews after checking it even laughed and said, "Oh wow! you got running water in here."
A friend of mine was looking around the sink and asked if I ran the garden hose through the floor or came in through the wall. I told him, "hu no, it's actually plumbed in with hot water and everything, just like real people have." 
I just thought it was kinda funny and had to share it.

Anyway back to the post, she was so happy in fact she made me up some fried chicken and vegetables. Then to top it all off, she even baked me some cookies and served them with a big glass of milk.
If I would have only known that I would be treated like this, I might have spoiled her and got her a stove a long time ago.


These chickens came from the farm, processed last weekend. We had some new comers (city folks) show up and wanted to help out just to see how it's done. Processing your own meat is something everyone needs to know how to do if it's chickens, fish, pork or beef and I don't mind teaching others and I sure don't mind the help. 

We would have had forty more to do at the end of next month, but selling them was a better option.

This week I plan to focus on where the fish are at, trimming out the porch, getting all the kitchen stuff out of storage and maybe even building the little cabinet next to the stove.

So until then,
Hillbilly Jerry

It's Alive

I sent the wife to go and look at that stove I was talking about in the last post and when I got home it was in the back of the truck.

It ends up being a 1941 Chambers, Model B. I also found out there is a cult like following on the internet with Chambers Stoves. I think I am one of those folks now. This stove is amazing. I never thought I would ever be this excited about a cook stove.

We got her unloaded and started going though it.
The old girl does need a little repair, like the oven burner brackets need to be remade, but other than that she is cherry.
All the controls and air vents were frozen, but with a little PB Blaster and care, they were working like new.

We hooked it up, put the lighter to it and she fired right up with the most beautiful blue flame. Just like it was the first time off the show room floor

I don't plan on repainting or restoring it. Every drag mark across the top has it's own story and I feel like taking those away will remove it's history.

I do need to find a decal set somehow, somewhere so I can remember where all the knobs go.  

And the best thing about it, I can work on it.




Later,
Jerry

That Was A Close One

 I smell hair burning....

 
This last week I was able to get the trim stained and installed in the living room/kitchen area, plus build the railing and get it in place for the bedroom/play area loft.
Waiting for stain to dry is like watching grass grow. Before long you get tired of waiting and just cut and fit leaving stain all over you, your tools and whatever else it touches. 
Waiting is not a strong trait I have.
I still have the loft ladder, the island counter top, the hide away bar stools and the small cabinet next to the stove to do and then I will be done with the inside until spring when I will do the floors.

 So last weekend I had one of those friend of a friend deals where I switched out a stove for a lady and she was going to give me her old one. Sounds like a great deal right?
Well, in all fairness it was. I didn't know this one did not have a pilot light and took the top off. The top is not suppose to come off and when I put it back on I guess I, unknowingly, broke a gas line. After cleaning it, switching it over to LP and putting it in the house, all the burners fired up except one. Me and the wife sat there, looking at it hearing it clicking away and wondering why this one burner would not light. Just then it exploded sending a fire ball through us and into the room.
With the smell of burning hair hanging heavily in the room, we checked ourselves to make sure we still had eyebrows and I still had my beard.
I took the top back off and in doing so I broke three more gas lines and then said to hell with it. It's going in the trash. I am sure I could fix it by using flexible line in place of the small ridged feeder lines, but I didn't like the design anyway, it's just not me and now I am scared of it. I couldn't get the oven to work as well so my mind is made up.  
    

I found this little stove just down the road yesterday so I think I might stop back by and pick it up today.
To justify the extra expense, this is the look we were originally going for. This time I will put it in the shop, clean it, make sure everything is safe and fire it up before putting it in the house. No electronics, no switching it over, nothing but fire and cooking. 






I have to get the porches and house painted before the heavy winter so that will be what I do next. I need to build the railing around the upstairs porch and the accent lighting and the trim and the.........
The list keeps going and going. I don't think I will ever be done.

Until next time,
Jerry

Long Weekend

I hope everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving.

This was a long and rainy weekend. We broke the all time record on the wettest year here in North Texas. With over ten inches in the past four days, it would be an understatement to say most outdoor activities was a challenge.

We did however get some work done.

Wednesday afternoon right before the rains hit, my dad, my the oldest girl Jessie and myself were able to get the tin installed underneath the front porch. Now we can at least stand outside in the rain and not get wet. I still have to trim around the posts, but that can
wait for another day. 










I finally got the sink installed and functional in the kitchen. The one thing Candy asked for this winter was to be able to do the dishes in the house, off the front porch and out of the cold. I figured I could at least do that for her. Plus, frozen water on dishes just don't do well.

And we also got the carpet in the bedroom loft installed. All I have left as far as the house is the trim and floors in the kitchen/living section. Then it will be time to start on the outdoor Kitchen/Eating area.

It's Sunday and all is quiet now. All the family has left and the Thanksgiving left overs are all gone.
Tomorrow it's back to the grind and everything will be back to the normal day to day activities of life. It's kinda sad in a way but I guess it's the way it has to be.

We will see what I can get done this week.
Have a safe one.

Jerry

Progress

I was able to get back to work on the tiny house this week and I can tell you one thing, I was right.

I told Candy we should not move into the house until it was complete because if we did, it would never get done. Being in the camper gave me an incentive to get the house done as quick as I could, but being completely sick of the cold camper living we decided to move into the unfinished house.

All summer I have had to look at an incomplete living and kitchen area. When you walked in the front door the first thing you notice is the insulation hanging from the ceiling, no kitchen cabinets, no trim and unfinished floors.
To top it all off, after living in it for several months we have accumulated more and more stuff making it hard to work around unless I remove everything.

For example, someone was throwing away a perfectly good wine rack.
This thing is huge and we have no place for it, but we got it. You have to walk around it when you come in the door.
Now Candy has plenty of space to store her wine with room to spare.
I have plans for it down the road by putting in our spa area, but for the time being it's huge and in the way.








Working around wine rack, recliners, refrigerator, TV and a pantry I was still able to get the tin ceiling on this week in the living/kitchen area without loosing too much of my religion. 

The rain made it where I had a couple of short days at work leaving me a little time to get this done. So with help from my dad, we gotter done. Now all that is left is the trim.

I bought enough tin to do the underside of the front porch so we can sit out in the rain and not get wet and I plan on doing that this weekend. I also plan to pick up the kitchen sink base today and get all that started.
I am still undecided on if I want to make the counter tops myself or just buy them and cut to fit so I will check prices while I am at the big box store today.
I have a stove/oven picked out, but I need to make a special cabinet for that to sit on because it's a tiny one.

Other than that, I got suckered into cooking chili Saturday morning in Dallas, then it's off to my brothers to plan the Thanksgiving menu. I think we are going nontraditional this year and doing a Fajita Bar with all the fixens instead of the same old turkey dinner we do every year. Sounds fun.

I will post pictures of the progress.

Later,
Jerry

Back To Work

I had a good year, Chili year that is but now it's over. I took a year off of everything and did nothing but chili cook, at least it seems like it.

The first week of November I spent my one week of vacation in the Terlingua desert, in a tent and even though some would say we don't "real" camp and what we do is Glamping, it was still hard living for 10 days. Hats off to the folks that live down there full time.  

Even though we were at the World Championship Chili Cook Off I still tried to make it a vacation by

checking some items off the old bucket list.
We pulled the Ranger down just to do some 4-wheeling and go places not many folks have ever seen. We spent a day cutting our own trail about six miles back to nowhere and the sights were breathtaking. We stopped and had a packed lunch on top of a small bluff overlooking the desert valley. Talk about isolation, where we went man has only seen from the air.
It's hard to think there is so much beauty in such a dry and desolate place.

We spent a day doing something I have really been wanted to do, Zip Line. I have always been too heavy and over the weight limits, but after loosing seventy pounds, it was time.
It was hard to let go of the money just to ride some cables across the desert floor but in the end it was worth it. The longest was 2000 feet and over 350 feet off the ground and I did it backwards.
If you ever find yourself in the small quiet town of Lajitas, stop by and give your trip a memory you will never forget. The guides were friendly, professional and made me feel safe and I'm even scared of heights so if I can do it anybody can. 
http://lajitasgolfresort.com/default.aspx?pg=zipline   

The Day OF The Dead was a different thing all into its self. I have never seen anything like it and really didn't understand it, but it was something to see.
The ghost town of Terlingua puts on a celebration for the dead every November 2nd. Everyone who has family in the 111 year old graveyard dresses up to remember, honor and have supper with their departed loved ones. They spend the evening decorating their graves and telling stories about the ones who are buried there. At this time, the families bring their children to the graves and introduces them to the past family members. 
Nightfall brings a huge bonfire, music, more food and dance. Each gravy gets a candle in remembrance and when they are all burning, the old graveyard has a haunting glow that will make you feel like the spirits are really there with you.   
Like I said, it was something to see and experience, but it's not my culture.

Each person in our camp was assigned meals. Of course I did mine the only way I knew how, Dutch Oven Cooking. My dad made this tripod before we left and I put it to good use for one Supper and two Breakfasts.
We had Pulled Pork Tacos with Spanish Rice and Re-fried Beans for our supper and a Dutch Oven Burrito Breakfast one morning and Cinnamon Rolls the next.
I gained seven pounds just by eating all the good food everyone made in camp. Each morning and night was filled with food, food and even more food. If you went hungry it was your fault.   

Chili Time

The weather was hot during the day and cold at night except for the one day we had to cook. The Saturday's strong winds and low 50's made it a hard day to cook the championship chili.
300 cooks from across the world got busy cooking their famous chili recipe, but only one would take home the prize.
And it was not me or Candy. The guy who won it is from a little town called Point Texas.
I also cooked Wings on Friday but did not do any good there either.

I guess I'm getting "high kept" or something. On our way back Sunday I stopped off at a hotel to have a real shower and shave, change into something without dust on it and eat something not off of a paper plate. Oh, and did I mention I made sure the hotel had a hot tub. We utilized every amenity that place had to offer. I felt like a cave man or something.

This year I do not plan to cook chili as much. Candy still is and plans to go back to Terlingua next year, but I think I am about done with it. It has turned into more of a job than a hobby. Cooking over 50 times a year does that to you I guess. I need to spend this year finishing the house, doing a little hunting, spend my free time fishing and doing the things I really want to do or should I say, get back to doing the things I really enjoy.   
I will always be a member of CASI because I believe in what they do for the hundreds of charities across the world and I will always cook a few times a year to support them, but I feel the 50+ times a year is over for me.
I have met my goals in the Chili World by Winning some cookoffs and walking across the main stage at the World Championship. I am honored every time I sit in my Red Chair that only a few people have won.
The folks I have met and the life long friendships/brotherhoods I have developed are priceless. I am so blessed to have spent so much time with some of these people and created so many memories with them. To those folks, hats off, much respect and I will see you on the chili trail, but not as much.
So here's the deal.........

I started work back on the tiny house this week and I have more to share with you. I am back now and focused so stay around a little longer to see what I have in store.

See Ya,
Jerry    

Still Sitting

It has been a while, that is for sure. It's been almost two months. I think that is the longest I have ever gone without posting, almost like Facebook.

To catch you up to speed, September was filled with heat. So much so that all we did was chili cook almost every weekend. And when we were not doing that, we relaxed.
We spend the evenings with the Grand Baby whenever we can and do a lot of front porch sitting late in the evenings. 

Work has been very demanding and when I get home I am spent mentally and physically. I guess my age is starting to show through. It's getting harder and harder to keep so much on my mind. I have to let some things go to make room for others and unfortunately it has been the blog this last two months.

October started a new chili year and we put on our own cookoff the first weekend.  I don't plan to cook as often this year as last for several reasons, but the main one is I am just tired.  Last year we cooked over fifty times and even though Candy will probably do the same this year, I am not. I love chili cooking, but I love a lot more things just as well.

Last week Jessie turned 23. It's hard to believe I have a child that old. She is still in College Station working, but I think she may be coming home in January. What she is doing there is not what she went all those years to school and made all those sacrifices for. Candy and I are hoping she will come home and start her career up here a little closer to us.
Jessie is putting on her first chili cook off on the 24th in Pilot Point. I am sure she will not make that mistake again. It's a lot of work and with the politics involved here, it's a pain.  

I have now lost 73 pounds and Candy about 60. With all the kids gone and being on the run most of the time, who needs to eat. Cooking is over rated and expensive anyway right? We can go out a few times a week, share a salad and a water and get out of there for under seven bucks. The rest of the times we just snack on fruit and veggies.

We are gearing up for our second trip to the World Championship Chili Cookoff in Terlingua at the end of the month. We will be staying for ten days, in a tent, in the desert. Now water, no plumbing, no nothing.
Now, you may think that is living rough but remember, I am a prepper so we will have hot showers every night in our shower tent, a toilet in another tent and a sleeping tent bigger than most third world homes with furnishings. I will be doing all Dutch Oven Cooking and living like a wild man. I am really not looking forward to it to be honest. Way too much work.

Other than that, the tiny home is still tiny and unfinished. The outdoor kitchen is still not completed and everything else has taken a back burner to chili. Maybe when it cools down some I will feel like working on it again. Just yesterday it was 96 degrees, this is crazy.

I promise, I will try and post more often.
Until then,
Jerry     

    

Sitting Still

Sometimes you just need to sit still, think, daydream, reflect, reevaluate your goals and then move forward.

It all depends on how much you have to think about, it may take just a few moments and sometimes it may take a day or two, but this has to be done in order to know what your next step is and how to get there.
Most of the time I have to force myself to do this mind exercise because who has the time to do nothing except think, right?

This weekend I had every intention to do just that. I wanted to get some much needed and neglected chores done around the house, then sit back to think. I needed to evaluate every project I have going at the moment. Finishing the house is top on that list but also the outdoor kitchen, the off grid spa area, the tool shed, all the fencing and what landscaping we will need. Then I needed to make the materials list and put a timeline and dollar amount to each one.
All that and then add in the new chili cooking year fast approaching and all that lintels. Where and how many times to cook, the money, the weekend cooking trips, take the camper or just tent it and then the first week of November at the world championship chili cook off sleeping in a tent, off grid, in the desert for ten days and trying to think about all we will need for that.
Somewhere in all that I also need to pencil in a couple or three weekend trips for fishing and relaxing. Where to go, what take, who to invite and the food. Then add in all the holidays, birthdays and whatever else we celebrate plus the with a demanding "real" work schedule, I don't even have the time to sit and write this post. I am already twelve weeks behind! I need to retire just to catch up.

But I didn't get to do any of that this weekend and I was mad about it until last night when I had the chance to sit and think. I didn't think about the projects, the weekends, the chili cooking or any of the sorts. Our one and only free weekend for the next two months and with all these plans to fill it, it was all changed. Instead, we celebrated our 25th year anniversary, went boating with my brother, went shopping and even rekindled an old relationship. We also stopped by a friends house and worked out some differences, had a beer and hugged it out. We also spent some time with extended family and to finish it all off, sat on the back porch with my parents and talked as the sun sank behind the hill.

So I guess it all boils down to this, you got all the time in the world to sit and think about all the things you have to do, but you only have a limited time in your life to do the things you need to do. The projects and work will always be there for the rest of your life, that is a guarantee. The people and things that matter the most, will not.  
           
Thanks for reading, see ya next time.
Jerry

Serenity

For my daughters graduation, I sent her and my wife on a little cruise. She has worked so hard these past 4 1/2 years and deserved getting away for a few days.

  I was not about to sit at home for a week so I pulled out the old bucket list and started planning.

 I ended up going to Oklahoma and doing some fly fishing. I have always wanted to fly fish and now I had the opportunity to get away, relax and learn something new.
I brought along a buddy of mine just so we could make fun of each other with all the tangles and beginner casting issues. We hired a guide to show us how this first time and to take us to the best places. Experiencing it for the first time I felt I needed a guide, but now his duties are no longer needed.
I can tell you, there really is nothing like it. I was so concentrated on my casting, placing the fly in just the right spot and watching the little indicator as it quickly floated by that nothing else existed in the world.



I also took a little time in the late evenings and early mornings to sit out enjoy a good book.
On this adventure I chose to bring "Rock Springs" by Richard Ford. It's hard to put this book down. A little slow at the start, but a few pages in and your hooked.
I highly recommend this read on your next outing, you won't be disappointed. 

    

Excitement Is A Understatement

Even though it was hard scheduling the family with all the events and everything that goes with it, we made it through. All it really mattered was Jessie having her day.

It Is Finished

A little over four years ago I did the hardest thing I have ever had to do as a parent, drop my oldest daughter Jessie off at college.

Like it was only yesterday, I remember the terrified look on her face as we said our goodbyes on the campus of Texas A&M and left for home. This was the fist time we had to do anything like this and even though we tried to prepare ourselves, it was a lot harder than we could have imagined.
Trying to hold back the tears but being unsuccessful, I had to keep reminding myself that every parent goes through this and she is only four hours away instead of across the country.
Two hours in on our ride home she called, said she wanted to come home, said this was stupid, said this college was not for her. It took everything I had not to turn around and go get her. I hated to hear her cry and wanted nothing more than to be her hero one more time, but I didn't. What I did know was, she needed to do this so she would have a better life than me. She needed this so she can make her mark one the world and not suffer and sacrifice like me and her momma did. She needed this for so many more reasons than I could count and by me not turning around, packing up her things and taking her back home, I was the hero, even though it didn't feel like it at that moment.
One day turned into two, then a week went by and she starting hitting her grove. We adjusted at home as best we could and with her daily calls and frequent weekend visits, time started just flying by.
Over the years she tried to call at least once a day just to talk. It may have been for only a minute, but it was really good to hear her voice and that is what got us all though.

And now here it is, the day we have been waiting for. I cannot believe it has already been over four years. Friday we will be traveling to Texas A&M to see my daughter walk across the stage as a college graduate. I have been waiting a long time to write that sentence.

To Jessie,
Baby, you did it! I could not be more proud of you. Four years ago nether of us could imagine this day would ever come. It was so far in the future that we couldn't see the end. Well, the end is here. You have accomplished your goals and dreams.
As I sit here and write this I can only imagine what the future holds for you. Just like when we brought you home from the hospital so many years ago, me and your mom would sit and talk to you about your life, about where you will go, what you will do, even the great deeds you will accomplish. Just days old and not even able to understand me, I would tell you what a miracle and blessing you are to us and everyone else you will ever meet. That has held true though out your whole life.
Thank you, it has been such a pleasure raising you up to the beautiful young woman you are today. Thank you for including us in your life and letting us be there every step of the way. Thank you for letting us go down this wonderful journey with you. Thank you, for being you.
Me and your mom love you more than you will ever know. We are so proud of you. 
WOOOOP           

Banjo Picking

This last weekend we were at a fish fry, barn party where my youngest daughter Kylee preformed in a band, her very first song along with her banjo.

Now how cool is that?

What Else Do You Need?

I hope everyone had a great Father's Day.

Even with a broke back and in constant pain, I had the privilege to spend a few hours with my girls before they were gone and on their own way once again.

With Kylee working all the time, Jessie away at school and Hannah raising her own family, it's not very often I can get them all together in one place anymore so on those rare occasions it is very special to me.

I am back to work this week and still in a lot of pain, but the bills still have to be paid. Candy is up and around after a major knee issue, but she to is still having to take it easy. We are getting by and doing what we can until we heal. Then, it's back in game and we will do one final push to get the kitchen done, or most of the way done by August.

See ya in a week or so,
Jerry  

Full Time

I didn't want it to happen, but I knew it would. We are now living in the house full time even though it is not done.

This weekend we had a big push to get it livable with A/C in the whole house. We got the insulation done in the Kitchen/Living area, put in the big A/C and even boxed in the drop down in the center with cedar. The walls, floors, ceiling, cabinets, stove and everything else that goes in a kitchen/living room still needs to be done.
I joked with Candy by saying, "We started off on plywood floors and now look at us 25 years later, right back on them."
Everything else is done in the house and I knew that once we started spending most of our time there it would not be long before we just moved in. It got really old going back and forth from the house to the camper and having some things over there and some stuff over here. Plus running the electricity in both started to get out of hand.  All we were using the camper for was to cook and do dishes anyway. So to get completely out of it and just shut the thing off is a good thing.
The biggest problem is now I have to work around more stuff.

My dad gave me an old ice box that is just the size we need. It holds everything we had in the two refrigerators we were running in the camper plus some. I also took an old outdoor kitchen project I made a couple of years ago and modified it to fit our needs now.

I set it up right outside the front door on the porch so it's easy to get to. I then installed this sink and hooked it up to the garden hose. We have hot water, but just what is in the hose. It's enough to do the dished with and if we need more then we just bucket it in from the bathroom. For the drains we use five gallon buckets and empty them when they get full. Hey, it works and it's functional. Plus, food always tastes better when cooked outside.
Once the kitchen is done then this will go away and the sink and stove will be used in my real outdoor kitchen on the deck beside the house.

But then disaster struck. Sunday afternoon we had a large portion of the family over for hamburgers and to show off the house. It had been raining and I was showing the upstairs area. On my way back down I fell. The end result is I broke a bone in my lower back. I have pretty much been in bed ever since. The doctor said it is broke in an area they cannot brace or get to so there is nothing they can do except manage my pain. It will be four to six weeks before I can lift anything, squat or walk up stairs. On top of all that, last night Candy was coming down the ladder from sewing all day and somehow managed to almost destroy her knee. Torn ligaments, messed up knee cap and the whole works. She is in a full leg brace and on crutches now.
What a mess, she can't take care of me and I can't take care of her, but we are managing, just a little slower than usual.
I didn't have any plans this weekend anyway, but what a way to spend Father's day. I would have much rather been playing golf.
Jessie is coming in this weekend to help take care of old mom and dad. I told her she better get used to it. LOL
Okay, pain meds are kicking in, I need to get off here before I say more stupid stuff.

See ya down the road.
Jerry

It's Not Much

The rain has stopped, for now, and the water levels are going down slowly. The sun is out along with the humidity, the ants, the mosquitoes, the flies, the bees and the flees. The temps have jumped from the mild 70s to the mid 90s in one week. With the heat index it puts it right at 100, already.
But, it's good to be dry.
 
I have not done a lot on the house except look at it. What I have done does not measure up to much.
During the rains I found that the house leaked in several different places. Mostly due the fact I did not trim it out all the way and the sideways rains found every crack there was. I fixed all that by trimming out the whole house and chalking every seam. The wood floors in the bedroom suffered some damage and about 1/4 of it needs to be replaced because it has now buckled. If that is the worst of it, then I am golden.
The shower is operational now so all we use the camper for is to cook in. Most of the time we cook outside anyway (when it's not raining) so really, all we use it for is to hold our food.





The upstairs is complete except for the railing. The trim is all done except a few little touch ups on the stain. The carpet is laid and Candy has even started putting her office and sewing stuff up there. The recessed lighting really lights up the whole room and I don't bump my head on them. I still need to build some shelves for her fabric and trophies, but that ain't nothing and will not take too long.








 I'm not going to worry about doing the railing around the pass through holes until we are done with the kitchen. It's only a seven foot fall and if she decides to jump, she will live.





 Here is picture of the top floor when we started. it is amazing how good it looks now. Even though we are behind schedule, I never really thought we would have got this far.

 Even though Candy has a nice staircase on the outside to get up to her room, I built this ladder so she can get up and down in the rain. It folds up against the wall so it's out of the way and can easily be pulled out to use.





I know it's not a lot but it's still something and we are moving forward.





This weekend we are cooking chili in a little town named Lone Oak. Jessie won there last year, Candy got second and I got 4th. Lets see if we can do it again this year.


See ya,
Jerry

A Nice Little Time Saver

I have always said someone should invent a tracker for my keys, well they did.

I was sent this little devise to use and review and I like it. For all those times I misplaced the truck keys and spent countless hours looking for them. Now I don't have to. I am actually going to glue one on the back of the TV remote as well. That thing has legs and just gets up and walk off every time I turn around.

Beets BLU Key Finder Bluetooth 4.0 Smart Small Wireless PagerTag Keychain with Audio Alarm. Device Works with Smartphone Apple iPhone (4S, 5, 5S, 5C, 6, 6 plus), iPad (mini, 3, 4, Air) and Samsung Galaxy (S4, S5). Key Locator System Works with App on iOS and Android

• Our electronic black beeper has loud sound alarm and red LED light in case of link loss
• In our portable square key detector remote commands accessible on the key fob button press
• Geo regions actions (iOS only). You can use our seeker through special app for iOS and Android.
• Lost location tracking on the smartphone. Our device to find lost keys can be also used for purse (wallet), pet, bag.
• Proximity detection with automatic sound alert. Device also works as RF remote control. Our tracker is great transmitter for men and women

Baby Rebecca

One year ago today my heart was given to another



My how time just rolls by.






To Hannah,
If there is one bit of advise I can give you, it is, don't blink. If you do, it will be over just like that and all you will have to look back on is a blur. Cherish these times and every moment you have with her. Don't let this crazy world take any of your time away from Rebecca. I chased the dollar and didn't get to do the things I wanted to with the three of yall. I think that is the one thing I regret in life. I blinked
Your doing good, me and mom are proud of you.

To Rebecca,
Even at one year old, I can already see what a strong young lady you are becoming and going to be later in life. You are my first grand baby and always will be. You hold a special place in my heart that can never be replaced. I pray that I am around long enough to see what life brings your way. Because you are your momma's daughter, I know nothing will hold you back and you will take life by the tail.
If you only take one bit of advise from me then let it be this, cut your momma some slack in your teenage years. She is not going to raise you perfect, she is going to make some mistakes and you will even hate her a time or two. With all that, just always remember, she is doing the best she can and loves you more than anything in the world.
So here's to you Miss Rebecca and to turning One Years old. Gpop loves you. 

When It Rains It Pours

I hope everyone had a great and safe holiday weekend.

I know we needed it, but I think we have had enough rain for now. From the Red River to the Gulf, the center of Texas is washed out.  I have never heard of so many evacuations and high water rescues as I have this past two weeks. I hope all my blogger friends are safe.

I have also seen flooding where I've never seen it before. We have to drive through the lake's backwater to get out of our place and if it continues to rise, then we will not be able to get out at all.

This picture is the road to our house. It's about 3 inches below the bottom of my truck when I left this morning. 



We spent four days this weekend in Oklahoma at the South West Open Chili Cook Off. It rained on us there every day as well, but we still had a great time.

Saturday Jessie was the only one of us that placed. Here she is sitting in the top ten out of 140 cooks right next to the big dogs, the current World Champion and past champions.She represented the family well.


Me and Kylee made it to the intermediate round then hit the pool. We didn't have many breaks in the rain but when we did, we made the best of it.

As far as me, I won 2nd place in the 42 tournament and 4th place in chili on Sunday. I was the defending champion on Sunday and I gave it one heck of a shot, but fell a little short. That's okay though, the lady who won it deserved it.
Candy did cook, but she didn't make it off of the first round either day. A little disappointing for her being a celebrity and all, but that's how the chili rolls. 


For the next two weeks we will be working on the house between rain storms. We have a 50% chance everyday this week and into the weekend.  We have hot water now so all we are lacking is the kitchen. We are still using the camper to cook in, but that's about all.

I have a special post for tomorrow, you are not going to want to miss it.

Jerry

A Must See

 Here you go country girls. This is what you have been looking for to have another stream of income so you can work from home, be more self sustainable and to also equip yourselves with the right tools against the predators of the world.

Damsel in Defense is about equipping women with the tools to not only keep them safe but also to give them the confidence to know that they have a way out if they ever feel threatened. We are very excited about our affordable and adorable line of products. Whether you are at home or traveling, running or celebrating downtown with the girls, Damsel in Defense has the products and fact-based education that can and does save lives.
Hello! My name is Candy Ford, and I am a sales representative for Damsel in Defense. A little back story, I found Damsel in Defense  through what I like to call "fate". I asked God to send me a sign for the next step in my life since my three wonderful daughters have left me to follow their own dreams. It may have been through a car decal, but he sure sent me a sign. I hold a passion for helping others close to my heart, and know that Damsel in Defense has been the best opportunity for me to pursue that passion

Another Wall Hanger

Candy and I met up with our oldest daughter Jessie at a little town right outside of Austin for a chili cookoff. Marble Falls is a beautiful little town with a slow rolling, lazy river splitting it into. I could see myself going back one weekend during the hot summer months with a inner tube and a bottle of sunscreen. 

180 chili cooks and about as many BBQ cooks were packed into a small, oak tree filled park. Every blade of grass and every open spot was occupied with either cooks, motor homes, tents or food. This was the 44th annual Howdy Roo Chili and BBQ Cook Off.
If you are a Texas cook, this is the one that is on the bucket list to attend.
I felt privileged to be a part of Chili History and to cook with some of the Chili Legends. 


As long as someone in our group walked, that was all I was wanting. I thought my chili was great and I thought Jessie's chili was even better, but in the end, the Queen beat us both, again. Candy beat out 160 other cooks to get 20th.  I am so proud of the run she is having.
I am now known as Mrs Candy or just her road manager.

We all had a grate time and now we can check another great one off the list.
We are off for the next two weeks and then to the South West open on Durant Oklahoma.


See ya,
Jerry