Big Bend Balloon Bash

Headed up to Alpine early this morning but I didn't go to see the balloons.  There were 3 different powered parachutes buzzing the skies.  Always been interested in flying and it was nice to see these simple machines up close for the first time.  One of the pilots I saw today is 80 years old.  I have been researching powered paragliders rather than the parachute version.  http://paradrenalin.com/
88,100,63,0,C,0
 

setting the bead

Rastled with that other rear tire for an hour once the sun was up high enough to heat it up a bit.  Ended up getting in on the rim TWICE in the wrong direction (yes - the tread pattern has a specific direction).  I tried the ratchet strap method to set the bead on these tubeless tires but it just wouldn't work.  Since I didn't have a bead seater, I decided to use the hillbilly method and that worked just fine.  92,98,64,0,C,.18

Thursday

88,97,68,0,C,0

spare parts

Woke up at 5:30 this morning - that's what happens when you go to bed at 9:30PM.  Fired up the gennie to add some pre-sun power to my batteries....didn't get any juice out of it.  Good thing I ordered replacement brushes back when I got the replacement AVR.  That was the problem.  Bled the brakes with new fluid.  Took off the old rear tires.  UPS was due to arrive with the new ones today but didn't show.  Mr. Floppy stopped by for some quality time and a portrait.  85,97,69,0,C,0

drizzle...

Had light rain this morning till just after noon.  As soon as the drizzle quit, I headed out and installed the new brake master cylinder.  Brake fluid to come.  78,92,67, .29",B,0

purrs like a kitten

 

86,97,69,0,B,0

Cover me...

Brother Randy gave the sermon today.  He started off with that phrase from war movies and TV shows -just when the going got tough and all hope was lost, someone would cry out, "cover me!"  I remember this well from my TV junky days.  The good guys usually called this phrase out just when they were down to their last chance against the bad guys....and it always worked.  God is always there to provide back up and cover our backs. When there is trouble, He will never let you down.  All you need to do is ask Him to "cover" you and He will always be there.

1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 8 Be sober , be vigilant ; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about , seeking whom he may devour : 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while , make you perfect , stablish , strengthen , settle you. 11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Isaiah 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper ; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn . This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

Isaiah 58:6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen ? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? 7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? 8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward . 9 Then shalt thou call , and the LORD shall answer ; thou shalt cry , and he shall say , Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; 10 And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: 11 And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

more bad parts

More go kart work today....found more parts to replace - definitely the spark plug, the petcock (not Carl), and the starter solenoid.  While I'm at it - yes, going to clean the carburetor.  Just as I was about to remove it, I discovered it had a coolant line attached to it.  Need to dig through my parts bags and see if I have what I need to clamp it off of bypass it without draining the whole system since I just filled it up again.  86,100,67,0,B,0

twobens

a l m o s t got the go kart running....if fired up a couple of times but wouldn't keep running - think I need a new spark plug.  Capped off the day with a biennial visit from stilt house Ben.  84,102,73,0,B,.14

Tune in tomorrow to listen to my interview by Compost Bob:
We're all set for the broadcast of your KWED Lawn & Garden Show interview to be heard at KWED 1580 AM at 9:04 a.m. (central time) on Saturday, August 24, 2013.  You'll enjoy the intro music ... just for you!!  You'll be able to listen via live streaming by going to http://www.seguintoday.com/ and clicking on "Click here to listen." 

shot shocks

As long as I'm in automotive mode...had the Tundra checked today by my friends at Bam Auto Care while picking up go kart-fix supplies.  These bumpy dirt roads have really taken a toll over the past 5 1/2 years on my once smooth ride.  Been sitting a lot lower and to the right for some time now.  Will be going back next week for some shock therapy when the parts come in.  84,98,69,0,B,0

go kart

While making the rounds this morning I decided that since it hasn't moved in over a year... the go kart deserves another chance at life.  Getting tired of telling visitors that it doesn't run.  Disconnected the gas tank and drained the little bit of bad gas that was still inside. Ordered new tires and a master cylinder (the reservoir crumbled when I tried to remove the cap) and will have to pick up a new battery and some fuel lines (and brake fluid) next trip to Alpine.  I will have to get it fired up and on the road before I can find out what else needs fixin.  89,98,61,0,C,0

gutter upgrade

After 5 1/2 years it was finally time for some hut maintenance. Replaced the original PVC gutter with metal.  The unpainted PVC downspout is still holding up well considering the UV beating it has taken. 87,100,63,0,B,.19

wutsit4?

94,99,62,0,C,0

waiting

Part of today's message at church was about "waiting on the Lord".  This phrase has two meanings in order for prayers to be answered: 1. We must wait on Him to answer for a certain amount of time  2.  We must wait on (serve) Him - as in a waiter in a restaurant -  in order to receive the answer.  One of the many things wrong with our on demand society is that no one is willing to wait for anything anymore.  That has led to the slavery of debt in this nation.  You can have just about anything you want...you can get it right away...even if you can't afford to pay for outright.

God does not work that way.  When you ask something of Him, the rules are different. You have to be very specific about what you need from Him.  Notice I said need, not want.  God is not a genie that grants your every desire. Through prayer, praise, and absolute faith - you get put on a waiting list.  God has always known what it is you will need, but he also knows when you will really need it.  He will provide when the time is right but there is some fine print in the contract as to whether or not you are deserving.  As far as debt goes, God works in reverse to the way modern commerce does.  All our debts have already been payed in advance by the death of Jesus Christ.  God is also waiting on you to fully accept that advance offer before he provides all He has to offer you.

Psalms 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage , and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait , I say, on the LORD.

Psalms 37:9 For evildoers shall be cut off : but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

Ephesians 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think , according to the power that worketh in us   

rack off

Started tightening up some loose bolts on the truck rack...then decided it was time for a change. The west shade is serving double duty for awhile.   93,104,67,0,B,0

another before picture

Well...I suppose this means something is going to have to happen to this view too.
94,99,68,0,B,0

not so ideal

Bagged up trash and recyclables outside and began the assault inside the west end of the greenhouse.  It will be awhile before I'm ready for some after pictures.  89,100,73,0,B,0

NA

House cleaning mode hopefully will carry over for at least a week.  Hoping to keep inspired to do a clean sweep in and out of the greenhouse next.  Also got a different kind of inspiration about a month ago...thanks to the new prophetic tshirt design for the area.  Quit those 30 packs of Natty Light (too easy to chug down 8+ per day) and switched to a couple of really good beers each night and filling the void with NA beer.  I think there are enough people on the Terlingua Drinking Team already. 90,102,72,0,B,0

critical mass mess

92,103,68,0,B,0

Grass Fed Beef

Plucked a bunch of fresh grass for the boys today just beyond the NW corner of the pen.  Ben's old stompin' grounds - where I taught him to graze when he was just a pup.  He knows there is a treat in store when he sees me walk over there.  89,100,68,0,B,.26

errors of judgement

Long day on the road today.  Drove to El Paso to pick up my friend Ronald Nelson (the nicest guy in Texas).  All day long I kept thinking about a passage I read last night in Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis.

"That is the devil getting at us.  He always sends errors into the world in pairs - pairs of opposites.  And he always encourages us to spend a lot of time thinking which is the worse." (exactly what Satan is doing with the two party system in American government).  "You see why, of course?  He relies on your extra dislike for the one error to draw you gradually into the opposite one.  But do not let us be fooled.  We have to keep our eyes on the goal and go straight through between both errors.  We have no other concern than that with either of them."

John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do . He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away , and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Harbor Freight

Finally burned out an old Harbor Freight inverter...the one at the top of the photo.  Replaced with a SunForce pure sign wave inverter I have had on hand for over a year.  I've been running a SunForce in my house for over 3 years.  I got it on sale for $275 back when they were $350.  I have 2 more on hand now that they are under $200. http://www.amazon.com/Sunforce-11240-Inverter-Remote-Control/dp/B000WGNNUQ/ref=pd_sim_auto_5  The old one from Harbor Freight really paid its' dues...running 24hrs/day for over 2 years.  Might be time to clean up these batteries again.  90,97,73,0,C,0

last coins

Looks like I'm done melting for awhile.  Cast the last coin and finished up a special order for 10.  Another rainstorm early this evening.  Just passed last years total rainfall amount of 7.86".  New total for 2013 stands at 8.07".  69,99,75, .3",W,.16

Big Bend Brewing Company

Feed run for the boys today...decided it was time to check out the Big Bend Brewing Co.  I remember reading over a year ago about a micro brew master relocating from Austin to Alpine.  I didn't get a chance to meet the maestro Steve Anderson, but got the full tour (and samples) from Peyton Johnson.  Quite an impressive operation with a nice selection of great tasting beers...and a really cool canning machine.  I might just have to give up Natty Light!  94,102,68,0,B,0

great morning

Not much went on this afternoon...but had a great morning.  A nice sunrise, a light shower with a rainbow, and a visit from my new friends Aaron and Sela.  93,100,70,T,C,0

sneak attack

20% chance of rain turned into a freaky storm at 4PM.  

79,104,75, .5",G,0