Happy Christmas and a Merry New Year to All

By , December 24, 2007 9:23 pm

Tis finally all bought and mostly done. Cat is wrapping the last bits now.

I’ve got the sweet potatoes with pineapple and raisins cooling from the last bit of cooking now. Potato salad is done and in the fridge. Eggs are boiled and cooling in the fridge for the deviled eggs.

Got several kinds of cheese, crackers, pickles, and fresh pineapple spears for nibbles.

Cooked a 4.5 lb Boston Butt last night in the 12 inch dutch oven for something different. Seasoned it by sticking a large knife through it in several places and smearing minced garlic in them good. Then poured barbque sauce in them. Sprinkled salt, pepper, and Cajun seasoning on the outside. Heated the dutch oven from the bottom with all the coals and seared the outside of the roast about 5 minutes a side. Put the lid on and moved all but about 12 coals to the top and let it cook for about 20 minutes then added liquid to the bottom of the pan. Cooked it about an hour and a half and went to add more liquid and when turning it it fell apart. Guessed by that it was done. And it sure is good though not near as heavy as it was…

Hope everyone has a good holiday season and eats way too much at least a time or two. 😉

Till I type again,
Dave

YouTube – Straight No Chaser – 12 Days

By , December 21, 2007 7:09 pm

YouTube – Straight No Chaser – 12 Days

Quite a talented group, and funny as hell to boot… 😉

More changes on the site

By , December 19, 2007 2:34 pm

Nothing added, just removing a bunch of time/bandwidth wasting crap.
Since there was no response (several months ago) about the insult of the day I finally removed it.
Also removed the technoratti (sp is wrong and I ain’t taking time to figure it out or look it up) code as it was taking several seconds to do it’s thing.
Redid all the recent posts that had pix and added more tags to cut down on the # of pix having to download.
Also cut the # of posts on the front page to 20.
Now to find a basic theme that has 2 columns and no background color or max column size.

Upgraded WordPress to latest and greatest

By , December 19, 2007 1:17 pm

Just got through upgrading WordPress to the latest version 2.3.1 and think I got all the plug-ins and extra stuff done. Was just going to go with the default layout but the small width squishes the pix I have on here so am back with the black for now.

If you see/find anything broken please let me know in either comments or by email: depatty at gmail dot com.

Thanks for reading

Police ordered to pull over people doing nothing wrong – Boing Boing

By , December 18, 2007 5:25 pm

Police ordered to pull over people doing nothing wrong – Boing Boing

I think this is gonna end in a bad way for some unexplainable reason…

Of trees and powerlines and arse#$%^ power company phone workers

By , December 16, 2007 4:46 pm

Have had a long several days. Not been feeling at all good and had far too much to do to get ready for the game this past weekend. Then the uncertainty of the weather and the guy that was gonna run the game backing out at the last minute due to the massive rain that we didn’t get. And trying to figure out how much food to cook and who was or was not bringing this and that.

But over all everything worked out. Mongo and others ran games all day other than the hour it did rain and that was during lunch anyway. We cooked enough food to feed twice as many people as stayed to eat and it was all good.

And for me an early night last night (Saturday) at just after 8 pm. And all was well…

At least until just after midnight when the leading edge of the front came through and the dead pine I have been wondering how to take down decided that enough was enough and came down
on it’s own. Right across our power line.

So up gets I and into clothing scramble. Flashlights and candles to uncover and discover. Then with headlamp firmly affixed I went out and took a look to discover that the line had come apart at the splices they put in just at the transformer. No wires on the road so no need to worry about someone getting hurt driving by.

I came back in and Cat was on the phone to the power co. I went to the field and got the toyota farm truck with fuel and chain saw on board and returned to start sawing the tree up only to find the neighbors cows exploring the new opening in their fence. Got Cat to hold them off (she poked at them with a tree limb 🙂 ) till I could get the chain saw cranked at which time they left having remembered it was night and they should be asleep anyway.

Cut the tree up into pieces small enough for us to roll out of the way and pulled the fence back up and tied it to the posts till I find time to fix it right. Got the power line out from under and out of the way. Finished cutting the tree up and then rolled the pieces out of the drive.

Cat said the power co rep told her it would be about 2 and a half hours till someone could get to us. Moved the truck and came in, put out the candles and went to bed with flashlight at hand.

Awoke this am and got up about 7 to find no power and no evidence that anyone had been here last night to do anything on the line.

Called them and they had no record of any call from this address. None. Told the rep what the situation was and within 15 minutes a repair truck was here to assess the damage. Was more then he could do by himself so went to take another call but called another crew to come fix the line.

I came in and after getting the coleman stove out of the camper fixed coffee and then breakfast and we ate.

By the time we got through the crew was here and had started repairs. 30 minutes later they finish and we have power again. Glad to have folks like them but would not like to have to do their jobs.

Wish I knew the name of the person that Cat had talked to last night. Would like to have a talk with him about not reporting downed lines.

Belated update on Patches

By , December 7, 2007 11:53 am

Here are some pictures of Patches at the campsite by the creek. Still got bits here and there to do but tis campable with electric available. 12 volt stuff will come soon.
Continue reading 'Belated update on Patches'»

Dutch Oven Grill

By , December 7, 2007 11:26 am

Needed a table to use with the dutch ovens so got to looking at an old propane grill that had already been gutted and used as a charcoal grill. Checked the fit of the 14″ DO and it just fit. Removed the plastic side shelves/tables and replaced with 2 pieces I cut from a metal shelf. Found 2 broiler tops and with minor modifications screwed them to the inside of the grill body. Put a metal box underneath the catch ashes and plan to test it out this afternoon/evening. Next will be a shelf on the bottom to store the ovens and accessories. I think it will serve well, and it even fits into the camper with room left to squeeze past to get to stuff.
Continue reading 'Dutch Oven Grill'»

Del’s jelly bean build blog

By , December 7, 2007 10:46 am

Del’s jelly bean build blog

Whole lotta building and bending going on!

Del and Jelly Bean visit Weaver

By , December 4, 2007 2:36 pm

Del stopped by on his way to Tampa with his teardrop camper, to spend the night, and to let us see his one of a kind creation, the Jelly Bean.

The following pictures were taken Tuesday morning just before he left out heading east for Atlanta before turning south toward Tampa.

Jelly Bean and Subaru Tow Vehicle
The Jelly Bean and Subaru tow vehicle parked by junkyard row at the farm in Weaver Alabama.
Continue reading 'Del and Jelly Bean visit Weaver'»

This, that and the other…

By , December 3, 2007 10:27 am

Last few days I was away from the computer for the most part. Getting ready for and then the airsoft game took up most of Friday and Saturday. The greater part of Sunday was taken up cleaning up after the game. Don’t know if the days of pain and work both pre and post is worth the minuscule gain. Beginning to think not.

Did get some of the screws changed in the camper skin. One side and half the back is done. Now to get the other side, front and top…

Redid the fire ring at the mess tent into a fire keyhole to allow cooking over the coals. Haven’t tried it yet as I didn’t manage to get it done till yesterday (Sunday) afternoon. Will try to get pix soon.

Hands, arms, and body are all worn out and screaming today, so guess I will have to take it easy both on and off the computer. Will post more as am able.

Eighth wonder of the world? The stunning temples secretly carved out below ground by ‘paranormal’ eccentric | the Daily Mail

By , November 26, 2007 4:50 pm

Eighth wonder of the world? The stunning temples secretly carved out below ground by ‘paranormal’ eccentric | the Daily Mail

Wild stuff! Would like to see more of this place.

CAMP OVEN COOKING IN AUSTRALIA (COCIA) — WITH ‘THE CAMP OVEN COOK’ – DEREK BULLOCK

By , November 25, 2007 9:05 am

CAMP OVEN COOKING IN AUSTRALIA (COCIA) — WITH ‘THE CAMP OVEN COOK’ – DEREK BULLOCK

Below is Dave’s (my) modification of Derek’s Pumpkin Fruit Muffins (which can be found at the link above) to work with sweet potatoes instead. There are also a LOT more Dutch oven recipes at that link. Good stuff!

SWEET POTATO MUFFINS – Makes 18 standard sized muffins.

INGREDIENTS

3 cups self raising flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie spice – Nutmeg and Allspice will work also.
1 cup sugar
1 cup raisins
2 eggs
1/2 cup oil
1 1/2 cups cooked mashed sweet potato
1 cup milk

METHOD

Mix together the flour, salt, spice, raisins and sugar in a bowl. In another bowl beat together the egg, milk, sweet potato and oil. Combine all the ingredients but don’t over mix. Place paper muffin cups in the muffin pans and divide the mixture evenly between them (about 2 large spoonfuls per cup).

Place muffin tray on a trivet in a preheated 12″ dutch oven and cook for around twenty minutes per pan. I was able to cook all 3 pans with one firing of charcoal briquet’s.

Rust removal by electrolysis

By , November 25, 2007 8:50 am

Rust removal by electrolysis

Getting more and more cast iron cooking stuff and need to clean it up. Found a post on the Teardrops and Tiny Travel Trailers site that linked to the above site that shows and explains how to do the deed with washing soda and a battery charger. Looks to be just what I need as it claims to remove paint as well as rust and other crud. Gonna have to try it this coming week as I now have 7 pans, pots, frying pans, lids, and other pieces that I need to clean. Will try to post pix of the whole process.

Saturday or bubblepack insulation, potatoes, and tech screws

By , November 24, 2007 5:06 pm

And that’s about the size of the load from Collinsville today.
Got a roll of foil backed bubblepack insulation that is 4 feet wide and around a hundred feet long. Talked him into letting me have it for $45. He was asking $60 for the one I got. Suspect it was a good deal even at $60 but I liked it much more at $45. 😉
Then went to get some rock screws but found some flat headed tech screws for $3 a pound and got 2 pounds of 1 inch and a pound of 3/4 inch instead. Gonna change out all of the exterior screws in the camper and put these in. Will make it easier to seal and it will look better too.
Then went to look at veggies and got a 50 pound bag of white potatoes for $10. Sucker was a whole lot heaver than the insulation was though the insulation was about 4 to 5 times bigger.

Next stop was a Antique store/flea market where Cat found a few books at a quarter each. I almost got a 10 inch dutch oven but decided against it and am glad of it now.

Lunch was at a boat launch in the middle of no where eaten on the tailgate of the truck. Then a few more stops and back home. Am glad we went and even gladder that we’re home.

Motor Home Resin Ornament Santa Collectibles Santa Claus Ornaments – Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland

By , November 23, 2007 11:36 am

Motor Home Resin Ornament Santa Collectibles Santa Claus Ornaments – Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland

This is one for those on your list that are into tiny campers and teardrops. Cute stuff!

Santa’s camper

Toy Oscilloscope

By , November 23, 2007 11:25 am

Toy Oscilloscope

This is just too cool! I’ve got a couple of the display tubes and I think all the other tubes down in the barn. Gonna have to dig that stuff out and see about building one of these just to have. Great stuff!

Candle Heater

By , November 23, 2007 11:22 am

Candle Heater or the way he (miss)spells it, KandleHeeter. Cute but really…

Not sure about these inventions. I remember the heat stick from way back when, but it was another one of the neat ideas but just not sure it was worth the time, energy expended, space taken up in the room type devices.

Gonna have to get some flower pots and make one of the Kandleheeters just to see if there is more heat given off by this device than just the candle alone. There are laws about this stuff if I remember my physics right but it may be that some of the radiant energy is converted to heat via the ceramic pots and metal screw, washers, nuts combo. Time and experimentation will tell.

The greenhouse is interesting. Kinda reminds me of one I built back in the early 80’s that was just too small to be of much use but the one I built was a standup inside unit with an isle in the middle whereas his you raise the wall to work with the plants.

The legend of Turkeymas | domesticat.net

By , November 22, 2007 4:49 pm

The legend of Turkeymas | domesticat.net

I’m thinking Amy just might have been imbibing in some form of holiday cheer… Interesting mangling of fictional facts whatever the source of inspiration. 😉

Happy Turkey Day To All

By , November 22, 2007 10:16 am

Just a quick post to wish all of our faithful readers a Happy Thanksgiving and upcoming Black Friday. 😉
And for those not in the US of A who don’t know what Black Friday is, it’s the worst shopping day/day to be out in public of the year… *Update, for real reason for the name see Steve’s explanation in the comments.

Got some stuff to post but it’ll be a day or two (or three or four)(or maybe even five or six) before I get back to it (but I will at some point in the future)(really I will)(and soon)(ish).

Dave

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