The Big Texas Chill of 2022

I have been prepping for the arctic blast this week that arrived three hours ago. While it will be cold it will not compare to the Texas Freeze of February 2021. No precipitation is expected, meaning no nasty "snow" like the 14-plus inches we had on that prior occasion.

Yesterday I spent all morning trimming trees whose branches were rubbing on the roof. Then put away all things that could become projectiles with the expected strong wind gusts. I also filled four of my 6-gallon water jugs along with multiple one-gallon milk containers and three of my 32-gallon water catchment garbage cans in case the pipes burst or the City of Del Rio loses water pressure.

While the above temperatures are not too bad it feels a lot colder with the wind. These are the expected temperatures this evening but will be colder tomorrow. Except for the Texas panhandle and northern parts of the state we are not used to these freezing temperatures.

I feel sorry for my fur babies but I can not bring them inside. I did set up more "cuchas"... which means beds in Spanish...cut up an old blanket to beef up their bedding.

One of two cats from Luna's first litter...I have not named them yet even though they are about nine months old. They are feral like their mother and while they like my food they do not like me.

This is Chester a cat that was abandoned by its owners when they moved. He was almost skin and bones when he arrived at the house but is now back to his old chunky self. Chester is a kind-hearted and very loveable cat. He found Suzie when someone dumped her at the house and protected her.

Here are the quintuplets though you can not see the fifth one. They are from Grayson's first and only litter since I had her fixed after thinking she was a male. They turned six months old on December 21st and I can now have them legally fixed in Mexico.

During the Big Texas Chill, they will be housed in the mudroom/junk room because I can still control them. I can not say the same about older cats who have a mind of their own.

Here are my two baby kittens...Suzie the Siamese somebody dumped, and Bianca...whose mother (Luna) killed her two siblings and wants nothing to do with her. Suzie babysits Bianca and protects her.

Bundle up, friends!  Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

Aunty Acid

Shorts and T-shirt weather / Running out of space

This past week it has been nothing but shorts and t-shirt weather. While the mornings have been gray and foggy by noon the sun has been making an appearance making it warm and charging my solar lights. I have not had to turn on the heater and I am saving money which is good because yesterday I received the invoice from Western Air Conditioning for the services they provided last month.

I now know that they repaired a short in 24V wiring and replaced 3 blown AMP fuses, actually it was a very reasonable $57.36. While I like them I hope I do not have to see them again anytime soon.

I am running out of space in Google Photos and I really do not want to have to pay a monthly fee but it looks like I do not have much choice. I messed up my computer a few years back and if I try to upload from my phone to my PC it loads them without paying attention to the date so I am not able to keep them in chronological order.

I am also running out of space for my food prepping. When I purchase my supplies I write the date I bought them and the price I paid for them. One of the Prepper Channels I watch suggested it was better to write the expiration date but I check that when I make my purchase so I know which products will expire sooner.

I also have to download the pictures I have in PhotoBucket before they erase them. I think I have already lost some that I had posted on this blog back when I had inferior internet service through DISH and Cricket.

We have added two kittens to our already large feline family. When I find the time I will write about that in my other blog. Here is a teaser photo 💓

Gasoline prices continue to go down...$2.539 for regular unleaded and $4.099 for Diesel fuel.

This Skoolie had just crossed the border from México and it made me wonder where they had been and if they had a YouTube Channel would love to see how they have it set up inside. I tried to get a glimpse of their license plate but with so many stickers and I presume a motorcycle (?) it was hard to tell. I was hoping they would turn at HEB but they headed east on highway 90 so I was not able to satisfy my curiosity. 😄

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

Aunty Acid

Cold night / No Heat

We have had cooler-than-normal temperatures for this time of the year. This morning it was 39 degrees, which is considered freezing for this part of Texas. While I was toasty warm due to going to bed dressed in multiple layers and my faithful San Marcos Mexican blanket once I got up I felt the cold.

The next couple of days will be even colder so I decided to turn on the central heater only for it not to come on! As I was messing with it the control panel went out on me so I had no choice but to call the repair guys.

They were here within three hours and the lady owner was nice enough to call to let me know they were on their way. Note that the leaves have not started falling much less changing colors which will happen in late December.

It was a gray and dreary day and we topped out at 53 degrees. Not complaining though after seeing what the east coast is going through with the cold and snow...bundle up!

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

Aunty Acid

Propane Delivery / Cooler Temperatures

The YouTube Prepper channels I watch have been urging their viewers for months especially those that live in colder climates to get their propane deliveries as soon as possible before the prices escalate. I finally placed my order yesterday but the lady told me she could not tell me when the delivery would be made but it would be sometime this week. Once again she asked if I wanted a courtesy call before they came and of course, I said YES, but knowing fully well that they never call...and I was right!

I even disconnected my wonderful call screener answering machine so I could hear the phone ring...and I did...but he was not on his way...he was in the backyard and had already filled my tank and only needed my check.

If you bought 75 gals or more the price was $2.95 if you bought less than 75 it was  $3.05. I bought 100 gallons or is it pounds? It cost $295.00 plus got charged a new fee of $6.99 for the Safety and Compliance Fee...a new charge where they spray the propane tank and check for possible leaks...bringing the total to $301.99.  At that price, it's a good thing they included a 2023 calendar!

The cool weather finally reached us and will stay for a couple of days. It feels wonderful and has helped me sleep better...my definition of better is 5.5 hours versus 4 nightly hours. 😪

Our gasoline prices have been holding steady for over a week...so I finally took the opportunity and gassed up at $2.999 for unleaded gasoline.

Good night. May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

Aunty Acid

Val Verde County Property Taxes / Flu Shot / Long lines

I woke up Friday morning to some powerful wind gusts and waited until 1:00 p.m. for them to die down before I went to run my errands. First on the list was to pay our property taxes at the Val Verde County Courthouse. For the past two or three years, it has been a mess and tax statements did not even go out until November last year but I came down anyway so I could get our discount for paying them in the month of October.

This year they were sent out the last week of October but since I drive down to the post office once or maybe twice a week if I am expecting something I do not know exactly which day they arrived. I was very surprised to find a LONG line of people there for the same reason. We in Del Rio are not used to long lines especially retired people such as myself. The line was made up mostly of women who shocked me when someone came in and wanted to walk directly up to the three payment windows...they would yell at them and tell them to go to the back of the line....jajajaja...😄

Though they had three windows open, one clerk had a closed sign on her window, and another had a lady that was there when I arrived and was at the same window almost the entire time I was in line. Needless to say, the women were all commenting on why this lady was taking so long.

I made my payments and was given four envelopes but I paid for five so I thought perhaps she had placed two in one envelope as that is the way they mail two of the lots. By now my feet were killing me so took a seat on the bench next to the license plate division and checked on it. Sure enough, she forgot to give me a receipt for one of the lots so I sat there waiting for the line to go down before I rejoined it.

At least I had the check number to prove I had paid it. In past year's blog entries, I mentioned that I could not believe how many elderly property owners pay with cash, and this year the trend continues...that is so dangerous!

The clerk apologized for her mistake and handed me my receipt and told me that I should have just gone up to her window and not stood in line again. Fat chance I was going to do that with those aggressive women!

For the past couple of days, I have been looking for my Covid-19 vaccination card but have not been able to find it. Hopefully, the four vaccines I have previously been administered will keep me healthy until I can locate it. I went to HEB and got a flu shot instead. Here I encountered another long line but at least they had chairs to mitigate the wait. Again most were senior women I only saw one young lady in her twenties.

I had every intention of going to Ollie's but my plantar fasciitis did not agree...so I came home 😒

Just Thursday gasoline at HEB had gone up a dime to $3.159 for a gallon of unleaded gas. Friday that same gallon went down by .12 cents to $3.039...what a roller coaster ride!

Today's Aunty Acid is a day late since I failed to make a post last night but I think we can all identify with it. Happy Belated Internet Day!

Good night. May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

Aunty Acid

Should not have procrastinated / Recycling Center / Library

I have had two opportunities to fill my tank but passed due to long lines at the pump. I knew I would get the call to go pick up my prescriptions but due to some "kitty drama" got a late start. I thought gasoline prices were on the way down but today I found gasoline went up by .10 cents to $3.159 for unleaded gasoline. My camera has a problem taking pictures of pixel images like the ones used at HEB for their gasoline prices so I had to delete it.

Went to the Recycling Center where each time they reduce the items you can bring to them. Yet they do nothing about people that bring their dirty cat food cans that stink and contaminate the clean ones...I was pissed off but I could not find anyone to complain to....grrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!

Swung by the post office only to find our P.O. Box full of political and flipper junk mail. When are those darn Houston area flippers going to give up? 😝

Needed a lot of room to spread out to sort my mail and write checks...what better place than the Val Verde County Library. They have lots of light, cold air conditioning, and I do not have to listen to the neighbor's dogs barking or put up with the free-range chickens of Walter's former owner. Not to mention our own cats, hopefully, I will have an opportunity to update their blog soon.

My trip to the library left me calm and relaxed that I fell asleep before the ten o'clock news and did not have a chance to make a post.

Since it's morning I can not wish you Terlingua Dreams so have a nice day!

Aunty Acid

Early Voting / Whataburger

The State of Texas began early voting this past Monday, October 24th for the 2022 Mid-Term Elections. I usually cast my vote during this time as there are fewer people and in case I drop dead at least I did my civic duty and voted for the candidates of my preference.

There were not that many cars in the parking lot, but quite a few people were voting inside. There was no line and I was checked in and given a ballot in less than one minute. The ladies and men that work the elections are always so nice. They greet you with a smile and when you leave always thank you for voting. Kudos to them for having to run elections in these trying times.

As usual, there were more people supporting their candidates than actual voters. Early voting takes place at the Del Rio Civic Center for all Precincts.

The reddish-brown brick building in the background
 is the Del Rio Police Department. There were also
two units from the Val Verde Sheriff's Dept. by
the front door.

After being disappointed on my last visit to Dairy Queen decided to give Whataburger another chance. It was the ideal time as hardly anyone was dining inside. It was the best hamburger I have had in a long time!

As I ran errands afterward noticed that Wendy's was closed for remodeling which is a good thing because this store has always been dingy and I have not eaten here in years.

Gasoline went down by .04 cents to $3.059 for Unleaded and by .03 cents to $4.529 for Diesel.

The weather has been beautiful the high yesterday was only 76 degrees.

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

Aunty Acid

Great Weather / HEB Haul / Power Outage

Click on the Pictures to Enlarge

In my last post of exactly a week ago I mentioned cooler temperatures coming our way. They were wonderful and even allowed me to sleep with a soft fleece throw. These were last night's Texas temperatures on the 10:00 p.m. news...a wonderful 74 degrees both in Del Rio and Houston.

I have the A/C set at 82 degrees and this past week it has not even triggered the unit to come on...so I am very pleased about that as it will save us money!

I do not know if it is a good thing that I follow a lot of Financial Channels on YouTube. They usually also endorse Prepper channels of their preference many of which I subscribe to. I already suffer from chronic insomnia and have for decades...now I can't sleep from all the information I absorb from said channels and wonder how really prepared I am for when the economy tanks and drags us to a Depression worse than the one my grandparents and parents lived through.

Even though it was Friday morning and I never went to sleep on Thursday, I dragged myself to HEB to stock up on more preps before our currency is severely devalued as most if not all YouTube Financial Channels tell us...note...I said YouTube Financial Channels as the mainstream media is keeping this from us.

With all this stress it was nice to be greeted by this Día de Los Muertos ofrenda altar.

It relaxed me and I almost bought a candle before reality made me snap out of it...I can not eat a candle better I spend my money on provisions...but a cute candle nevertheless.

Remember I was whining on my October 9th post about how expensive a 5 lb bag of potatoes was at $2.67 in comparison to a 15 lb bag that was selling for $3.47? Well, today I really have something to whine about...that fifteen-pound bag is three dollars more...grrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!

I checked out a lot of items mentioned on Prepper Channels but that I do not buy such as sugar and baking powder since I do not know how to cook...much less how to bake.

On Pinterest, I learned that you can kill ants using Corn Starch but after I took the picture I got distracted and forgot to buy it :-(

Bought some HEB brand cereal...

This Mango flavor is new but I am not a fan...though I probably should have bought it anyway...beats starving to death!

I have no idea where my last bottles of Tabasco Hot Sauce are so bought another one...

Stocked up on a lot of cans of tuna...

Chunk Chicken Breast was cheaper here at HEB than at Walmart.

I still have cans that I bought for $2.00 each during the pandemic and look at the price now...

The same goes for canned Diced Tomatoes I purchased the ones in my stash for .88 cents each back in March and they are selling for $1.36 now.

Since I have no room or the budget for real potatoes...I purchased boxed mashed potatoes which should last me longer :-D

I debated whether or not to buy Powdered Milk but talked myself out of it since I know it would be cheaper in Ciudad Acuña. For those readers new to my blog Del Rio, Texas is a border town with neighboring Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila - México.

I also debated whether or not to buy liquid eggs for hopefully my upcoming trip to Terlingua. I have never bought any before and since I do not have a camping stove I am better off just buying regular eggs and boiling them before I head there.

Decided to buy my favorite paper towels while they are still affordable at $17.98

Bleach is expensive that is why I buy mine at The Dollar Tree or in México. I guess HEB noticed that and now has their brand for the same price as Dollar Tree...$1.25 each

Even before the pandemic bleach was expensive and it has not gone down these are HEB brands...name brands like Clorox are even higher. Clorox has factories in México so I can buy them much cheaper there.

I spent almost $200.00 dollars but hopefully, it will be my insurance against inflation, a disruption in the food supply chain, or a World War III scenario.

The price of gasoline went down once more to $3.099 for Unleaded and $4.559 for Diesel. By the time I left the store, the lines at the pump were long so I will fill up this coming week.

Friday evening/Saturday morning I was editing my photos around 12:15 a.m. when out of the blue the power went out. As soon as the internet was restored it would go out again so in disgust I just shut down the computer. At around 2:10 a.m. the power went out for good and it was not restored until 5:20 a.m.

The weather was wonderful and most people did not have their A/C on, there was no wind or storms so I have no idea why this happened. It had been a while since the last outage but I suppose this is going to be the new norm?

Now I am going to sound like the YouTube Channels I watch...leave a comment and let me know how the prices in Del Rio compare to where you live.

Today's Aunty Acid hit the nail on the head for me. I know worrying is silly so I am poking fun at myself...but I am still worried 😔

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

Aunty Acid