Georgia

Got the north doorway welded up and all the tin cut.

Visit with my new Georgia friends Christopher, Mike and Stephen.

Carl and Mr. Floppy are sorting out their differences.

Stopped by Paul and Voni's today for my first vist.  Paul fixed a flat on my Ural for me in 30 minutes.  I got a buyer coming out next weekend.  P&V got a loaf of TFL Solar Oven Bread coming soon.  Voni shot this photo of their Texas rain guage on their new outdoor shower.

FINALLY!  After a year, the GrubShack is allowed to reopen tomorrow morning on a contingency basis until the health department inspector comes back to check on the long list of required improvements including a new septic system that is big enough to handle a 24 hr. truckstop Denny's. 
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GrubShackSundaySupper

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Delivery!

Checked in with Dale at the TSB Mine this morning to get the bentonite numbers.  Took a ride out to the mine to drop off a check.  Passed a couple of longhorns I hadn't seen for months.  All the bentonite for the dam came in at only 4.5 cents per pound including delivery and dozing onto the dam.  I got 58,080 pounds.

Started working on a hole for the future awning on the west side of the greenhouse.  Figured it was time to at least get started since holes don't happen by themselves.  Gotta chop four 3' deep holes through the rock to set my posts into place.  Best way to do this by hand is to drill pilot holes and pry the rock loose.

The GrubShack still lives if only in spirit today...Jerry and Eva dropped by to deliver lunch to me!  They wanted to let my readers know how thankful they are for the support of so many - the Friends of The GrubShack.  

Due to this blog - they have received encouragement and financial support from as far away as South Africa. 

They are still plugging away with all the red tape involved in getting the operation up and running again, and hope to post some progress soon.  The State of Texas does not make it easy to install a septic system for a commercial establishment.  

IMHO - Jerry and Eva seem to be getting the run around from the local authorities and I can't help but think there are other ranch forces involved in their hardship, or surely the GrubShack would never be allowed to open in the first place.  99,110,75,0,B

cut/grind/weld/repeat

Jerry and Eva came through like champs today....GrubShack was open because it didn't get below 20 degrees.  Was below freezing till around noon.  Thankfully, the north winds petered out.  I hugged the wood stove this morning while gulping coffee and a hot breakfast.  Came home with just enough time to cut and mark all my pieces for the gutter mounts before heading back for a closing time hot chocolate.

Production mode for the rest of the day.  Rigged a jig to hold the parts then zapped them all together.  Amazing how fast this kind of work goes once I get in "the zone"...just wish I was as fast at getting started as I am at finishing.  One last super chilly night on tap that could very well bust a pipe, so I drained the thermosyphon and hoses to the solar shower.  Perhaps in the low teens overnight which is the threshold for my water systems...and prepared to fix my own breakfast in the morning.  33,44,20,0,B 

GrubShack WoodStove

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good eats...

Two GrubShack visits, some quality cow time, and lots of tshirts - only 14 left in the limited edition. 96,108,55,0,C

the long walk...

Up at 5AM this morning and somehow the early hours passed quickly. Fed some birds and longhorns this morning then layed back down for a half hour. Got back up at 9:45 and went for a walk....a 5 mile round trip walk for lunch at the Grubshack - my road is too muddy to drive. I must say that it took a little effort but was very zen. Hows that for a carbon and calorie offset?

Kind of beat when I returned home so I sat in a chair and did some welding. Got a bit of a second wind and finished cutting and welding 30 flanges for the roof system by the end of the day. In the mean time, I was slowly draining some of the water I pumped yesterday into my 3000 gallon tank - to top off one of the 1550 gallon tanks by the creek. I still got room for another 1500 gallons or so... 49,73,45,0

Happy Birthday GrubShack!

Time flies out here in the desert. Just one year ago today, Betty opened the GrubShack.
Shopping vs. Supply Run: When I go to Alpine, I don't go shopping - I go to buy. The difference is lots of wasted time and money vs. being an efficient consumer. I was in and out in 2 hours and got everything on my list and nothing more. Passed this new cow on the road home - I'm sure she smelled the truck load of range feed.

BillyBob landed safely back on Terlingua Ranch for a visit. As soon as my road dries out a little more he is going to try and navigate his behemoth motor home out to the Field Lab to park for a spell.
The new IP Cam arrived today! Most folks would just rip open the box and start plugging stuff in....not me. I prefer to savor the experience. The manual will be my bedtime reading.

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