Staff Siesta

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a peck of pickled okra (with peppers)

My new friends David and Heidi Holloway came out for a visit today.  David and I have been in touch for a couple of years over the internet and we finally got to meet in person.  They brought me some pickled okra with peppers and garlic and some carrot cake jam...all from their garden in South Carolina.  Very nice folks...very good produce.  Technically, it was only 1/8th of a peck of pickled okra.  61,81,34,0,B

it all adds up...

First rainstorm of the new year.

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UFO sighting

Checking Facebook this morning and several people mentioned hearing and seeing some objects flying above the Ghostown.  I had a feeling I knew what they were so I headed south to look for them.  Didn't see anyone buzzing the area by the time I got to Study Butte.  I happened to run into Dr. Doug and he said they went thataway...(west toward Lajitas).  By the time I got to the airport, they were already landed and packed up.  The UFO's were powered parachutes (just as I suspected) - the cumbersome and FAA restricted cousin of what I will be training to fly - the powered paraglider.

The reason these units have FAA restrictions is because of their weight and ability to carry a passenger.  As long as I was in the neighborhood, I checked in with the GM of Lajitas to inquire about the possibility of doing my training there in the event that rain screws up my road.  We are negotiating the details.

Here is a video from a recent new friend on Facebook...David Cress.  He earned his FlightJunkie wings from Capt. Kurt last year.  David trained to cart launch which is just a tad easier to learn and much easier on the legs.  I will be going for foot launching (and landing).  Wheels?...lets hope I don't need no stinkin wheels.  67,82,51,0,C


2013 PPG Year In Review from Sky Dawg Dave on Vimeo.

ground grooming

Back on the airfield creating little piles of sticks to shovel up.  I reckon the official countdown to my first flight can begin now.  Just finalized the dates for my training.  Capt. Kurt will be here April 3rd through the 7th.  71,80,48,0,C

How long does His mercy last?

Pretty difficult to miss the point here - His mercy endures forever.
Psalms 136:1 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. 2 O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. 3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever. 4 To him who alone doeth great wonders : for his mercy endureth for ever. 5 To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever. 6 To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever. 7 To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever: 8 The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever: 9 The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever. 10 To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever: 11 And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever: 12 With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever. 13 To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever: 14 And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever: 15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever. 16 To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever. 17 To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever: 18 And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever: 19 Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever: 20 And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever: 21 And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever: 22 Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever. 23 Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever: 24 And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever. 25 Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever. 26 O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Mr. James Lewis

James Lewis came to visit today...he and Mr. Floppy are not exactly friends - they are "let's fight!" acquaintances.  This is his impression of a camel.  65,82,53,0,C

Good Jack

Installed the new swivel jack.  It locks into place but I added a couple of bungees to keep the handle and wheel from flopping around when on the road.  61,78,47,0,B

gang of five

Got my fertile egg delivery today (well packaged) and loaded them into the incubator.  Approximate hatch date is March 12.

Had a visit today from my new friends I call the gang of five.  Norman, William, M.C., Hal, and Will have been dirt biking these roads for 30 years.60,82,48,0,W

let there be trailer lights

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new life

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sticks'n'stones

Was all geared up for an Alpine run this morning so I could deal with the trailer paperwork.  My friend Diana had heard of my plan last night and called me early to point out that today was President's Day and the places I planned on visiting would be closed.  I was saved a wasted trip and delegated myself back to the airfield for a day of more FOB clearing.  72,79,43,0,B

sinless?

Had a bit of a debate at church today.  Bonnie told us that the Bible promises that man can overcome all sin in his lifetime.  I contend that by accepting Christ, He begins to live through you and sinful ways begin to disappear but to be 100% free and clear is unlikely.  All it takes is one impure thought to ruin the record.  There is too much in scripture which must be understood within context for me to know what the answer is.  Raising the bar that high today kind of bummed me out...just when I thought I was doing pretty good.  Talk about a real commitment!  Is it possible to live without sinning?  The war is in our minds.

Bad Jack

The "almost new" trailer arrived today.  First task was to cut out the bent jack.  Next task is to learn about swivel jacks, break controllers, and break away switches.  64,87,38,0,B

Happy Valentine's Day

Blog post #2000

Sigma Tau Gamma

Last year an old college friend named Ken Vaughn contacted me out of the blue.  He was a pledge in my fraternity back in my college daze.  I ended up dropping out of the frat about the same time I dropped out of college.  He went on to graduate and has been active in the fraternity all these years.  Our chapter (Delta Delta) of Sigma Tau Gamma at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro ended up closing down in 1987.  Seems the university is inviting fraternities back on campus this spring and our chapter hopes to be a presence there once again.  Sigma Tau Gamma was the first social fraternity chartered at UNC-G in 1979.  I was among a group of friends that were the founding members of that chapter.  Ken contacted me to tell me about the status at our old college and asked me if I would like to be reinstated in the fraternity since I was a founding member.  My first inclination was to say no - why bother.  But after thinking about all those friends I had...I figured - why not.  Just got the reinstatement letter today.  My extended family has just expanded exponentially.

This is a shot of my dorm room in 1979.  My roommate Alan Simons and I built a loft in our room that year.  Our beds were up above so most of the room was just a big study (party) area.  There weren't any rules about building in the dorms at the time but the university decided it was not a good idea and banned them a couple of years later.  64,75,33,0,B     

a big tailer

Got a deal on a great 18' trailer today from my friends Randy and Elissa Johnson down south.  Ben and Bud are eating more and more and now I can really load up on feed for them with fewer trips.  49,66,26,0,C

unlucky rabbit

Ordered 6 fertile eggs to hatch...hope to get at least one new Carl out of them.

Anemometer and windsock up at The Flight Lab.

Found a prize in a bale of alfalfa...an unlucky rabbit's foot.

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back in the hole

Sooner or later, lots of little holes will add up to one big hole.  45,65,41,0,W

REBUKE

Father I give thanks to you for protecting me from Satan.
Satan is a liar and a destroyer, I have been rescued from his many attempts to destroy me.  In the name of Jesus I ask that Satan and his army be continually rebuked from me, my loved ones, my home, my church, my community and everywhere Father that you shall lead me.  I am saved from the devil and all his weapons.   Amen.

James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9 Be afflicted , and mourn , and weep : let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.  

Psalm 34:14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. 15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. 16 The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. 17 The righteous cry , and the LORD heareth , and delivereth them out of all their troubles.           

the learning curve

The pros make all aspects of powered paragliding look really easy.  So far this is all I have mastered.  I am really good at crashing the paraglider into a tangled wad...and it only takes me a few seconds.  56,76,27,0,B

detwigging

Picking up wing snaggers off The Flight Lab Airfield.  Foreign object debris (FOD) is a substance, debris or article alien to a vehicle or system which would potentially cause damage.  43,59,27,0,B

alittlebitowinter

I must say that I no longer mind winter as much as I did in upstate NY since it only happens a couple of days at a time out here.  22,37,22,0,W

Cowboys & Aliens

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Murder in South County

CBS 7
Brewster County Sheriff's Office confirms the person found dead at "La Kiva" was owner Glen Felts.
Investigators have told CBS 7 that it is officially a murder investigation. They also said Felts' body was found in the restaurant at approximately 8 a.m. by a kitchen worker. The worker initially believed the body was that of a passed-out patron, but soon after realized that it was Felts. Then worker then called 9-1-1 at around 9 a.m.

NewsWest 9
TERLINGUA - The owner of a popular restaurant in Terlingua has been found dead.
The Brewster County Sheriff's Office confirmed that the body belongs to Glenn Felts, the longtime owner of La Kiva Restaurant.  According to the Big Bend Gazette, his body was found outside the restaurant around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday morning.  Sheriff Ronny Dodson also told the Big Bend Gazette that they do suspect foul play and that they are working on one suspect in particular.  No arrests have been made but authorities did tell the Gazette they plan on working the crime scene throughout the night.
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Where hamburgers come from...

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The True Vine

John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away : and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing . 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered ; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned . 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will , and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified , that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. 9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full

horns'o'plenty

Ben's February tip to tip... 45 7/8" He is on track to hit the four foot mark by next month when he will be 1 year 8 months old. His mamma was 47 1/2" at 4 years old when she drowned.

On This Day in Field Lab History:  On this day we entered the great deep freeze of 2011.  68 consecutive hours of below freezing temperatures.  The high during that period was 27° and the low was 2°.  It took its' toll on the plants, wildlife, and plumbing of Brewster County.  There was also a drought with only 3.82" of rain for the entire year.  63,82,38,0,B