dry spell...

Today marks 6 months and one day since the last time it rained at TFL.  Did a long webcast from the GrubShack today to test out the systems and kill time.  Sorting out a big supply run to El Paso next week.  Checked on the waterboxx project in Big Bend Valley - looks like a few of the cercidium microphyllum are the only ones making a go of it. 

My buddy Zuki just got in from Florida a couple of days ago....79,97,68,0,W

ITDay

Breakfast with my Finnish friends and they were on their way to Mexico for their next story.  Jerry and Eva just received their new modem from Big Bend Telephone for the GrubShack so I borrowed their instructions to activate the wireless feature and shot home to set mine up.  Worked like a charm.  Grabbed the netbook and came back to the Shack to set up their system.  The GrubShack now has WIFI  for customers!  Don't forget to drop something in the extra tip jar to help offset the cost.  Now all you folks a bit too far off the grid don't have to drive all the way to the Motor Inn for a meal and internet access.  Perfect end to an IT day - I got a cake delivered by FedEx for my birthday from my IT guy in the UK...my buddy Neil.  He sent me the Cinnamon Jane - plain pound cake with a cinnamon swirl, filled with cinnamon butter-cream.  It came from http://www.janiescakes.com/  in Tyler, TX.  Yum Yum Eat 'em Up!  84,98,48,0,B

Benita's Birthday

Very long day at TFL...Spent the morning cleaning up and prepping bread and dinner for the solar oven.  Grabbed a quick lunch at the GrubShack and met up with my new friends from Finland - Tuomas and Maija.  They are in Texas doing a number of different stories for Helsingin Sanomat, the largest daily newspaper in Finland.  Glad they had a chance to work me into their schedule.  They spent about 7 hours here topped off with FL solar oven bread, broccoli with rice, and cornish game hen.

The real star of the day was Benita.  Today she turned 23 years old.  I gave her a new mineral block to lick as well as extra portions of all her favorite snacks.  6 human well wishers stopped by this morning and 7 bovine buddies this afternoon.  Special thanks to all her fans that sent birthday cards to her!  She got cards from all over the nation as well as Spain, Hong Kong, Australia, France, and South Africa 74,92,40,0,B

the wind...

Gusty winds and an all day dust storm.  It finally let up around 4PM.  Began de-dusting the house and started prepping the solar oven and cooking vessels.  Solitude over soon - a big sun cooked meal planned for some journalists from Finland arriving tomorrow afternoon.  Once I start the baking in the morning...that should give me a couple of hours to finish cleaning up and retrieve what was once a bag of natty light cans that are on their way to Mexico.  66,72,68,0,G

summerize...

Maria and Will were out this morning on Cat's Eye patrol.  Alerted them to some ant activity by one of the plants.  Had a stream of leaf cutter ants working over one of these deadly poisonous flora.  Wonder what they have in mind?

Last night was the first "hard to get to sleep cause it's too hot inside" nights.  Got up to 90 inside yesterday...and a high low of 70 this morning.  Definitely time to pop PepinoII back in the window.  Everything went back into place as it should and soon was getting nice cool/moist air blowing through the hut.  Hot outside today but only made up to 78 inside.  The old pad still works but I need to order a new one for the coming hellish temps that are a Terlingua summer.  Also cut and stapled some new designer shades on the west side.

For all my new Greek friends - I just had a Field Lab story published in To Vima.  http://www.tovima.gr/world/article/?aid=393393

Special thanks to my step-brother Joe Smith for sending me this link today about solitude....which I especially appreciated without him having read yesterdays post.
http://www.theamericanscholar.org/solitude-and-leadership/   89,99,70,0,W

the way it was...

Glad I could catch a few people off guard with the April Fools prank post.  Just an Alpine trip yesterday....food, parts, calf bonding supplies, solar panels , and a pomegranate plant from Bennett Jones. 

Reluctantly - at the last minute I opted out of the Terlingua Green Scene this year.  Nothing earthshaking to show off and I really needed a break from crowds and talking about my projects.  According to the schedule of events - there was plenty going on and I seriously doubt that my presence was missed.  There are tons of folks out here doing miraculous things in the desert.
Just some quality time with very good friends at the GrubShack, some precious solitude, and Benita.  86,99,53,0,B

out of the blue...

About a week ago...I got a call about a job.  Decided today that it was just too good to pass up.  Bad news is I have about a week to close up shop here at The Field Lab.  I leave on April 11 for a 6 month assignment for National Geographic shooting a story about the real off gridders in third world countries.  I will be in DC for two days going over the itinerary then off to Costa Rica for the first leg of the trip.  Hope to be able to keep the blog going.  Will be off line for a couple of days.  warm,hot,cool,rain...are you kidding?,breezy