A unique set of circumstances

Post for Friday - October 24, 2014

This year a unique set of circumstances presented themselves.  I could either spend three days in the desert or six days.  The only catch was that it would involve two trips.  What do you think I went with?

Last year we had a rain event on Sunday that pretty much almost ruined the trip. Packing and then having to clean wet gear is not my idea of fun.  While I cleaned it, I never set up the tent and shower again to make sure it was mud and dirt free.

Yes, I know I am a procrastinator...waited till the last minute to do it and then I had help from Ralph who decided to show up on this particular day after being missing in action for days.

If your cat can get under your tent shower....you probably did not set it up very well :D

 

If you have a favorite campsite you tend to get pretty attached to it even though other people may not see the beauty of your prime piece of real estate at the cook-off.

I wanted to avoid having them beat me to my favorite spot so I left late on Friday October 24th and barely made it before it got dark.  Fifteen miles out of Del Rio the low tire indicator light came on.  I was not a happy camper as I SHOULD of remembered to have them inflate my tires while the car was at the dealership as I knew I was going to be fully loaded down.  This my friends is why I go into so much detail, so next year I will remember things when I go back and read this cyber journal :(

It was Friday late in the afternoon...neither Comstock or Langtry have much to offer in the way of gas stations. Turning back to Del Rio was not an option. Against all odds I made it to Sanderson where at the local Stripes I asked a very nice (and cute) Sheriff's Deputy where I could have my tires checked.

He sent me to Slim's.  The gentlemen was nice enough to check the pressure on all my tires and inflate them to accommodate the ungodly weight I was hauling. When I asked him how much it was, he told me nothing and for me to have a great time at the Chili Cook-off.

If you are ever in Sanderson, Texas and need a mechanic, tire service, or a tow please consider giving Slims Auto Sales and Wrecker Service your business. After thanking him I asked his permission to take a picture of his business and to mention them on my blog.

Did I mention I got a late start?  Did not stop to eat in Alpine as I usually do. Pressed on to beat the setting sun.  As I drove by the American Legion Post, I honked my horn...being Friday they had a good crowd.

As I arrived at the cook-off there were quite a few people there considering the event did not start for six days. You can not see the cooks section which is located to the left of the picture but each year people get there earlier.

This year the official festivities began on Wednesday October 29, 2014 versus the usual Thursday of years past.

This folks is my little piece of Chili Cook-off real estate, I came to claim.

This year they decided to drape off a big junk of land to keep people from driving down the ravine?

It cut off a good piece of my campground.  Especially the part that has taken me years of rock raking to clear...but it did not matter, I was finally here in the desert that I so love.

My bare bones camp

Stay tuned for more adventures from the desert and the pictures to back it up.  I am still without Internet service but will try to make more trips to the library now that the weather has improved and that our out-of-town doctor's appointments have concluded.

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

Quality time with the critters

I am so looking forward to this weekend and the cold front they are predicting. Of course it will only drop to a high of 79 but that is better than the temperatures in the 100's we have been experiencing.

Past couple of nights I have had so many problems going online even using my little netbook.  If it is not some shock wave that fails or something similar to that, it is something else.  I am a woman of little to no patience...that is why I have not posted or been able to visit other blogs. Have seriously considered purchasing a Chrome book since I have read it has a much faster start up and it just works better with Blogger.

Remember I wanted to buy a cordless home phone at Target but they would not mail it to my P.O. Box?  Well, decided to buy one at a much higher price at Walmart.  It was a V-Tech and the darn thing only lasted me two weeks! Only reason I bought it was because I have had one for five years that I am very happy with...in particular the battery life. This time I took it back like I should have done with that worthless Stanley thermos.

The good thing about not going online is that it gave me a chance to sit outside and look at the beautiful moon and stars.  So looking forward to being able to do the same in Terlingua.

Ralph and Walter are happy too as I am able to spend more quality time with them.  Of course Ralph then ventures off to wherever it is he goes after I come inside.  While poor Walter has to stay in his prison :(

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

Commitment Phobia

It appears Ralph does not want to make a commitment to this relationship yet. He comes and goes...even though he was here for two days...this evening he is once again MIA.

Since I have commitment phobia as well...I have not wanted to invest $$$$ in our relationship. Decided to pay Dollar Tree a visit.

I know some might think I am being a cheap skate...but for a buck you can buy a lot of things here.  If things do not work out...well, I am only out a dollar.

While he likes his turkey hot dogs, decided he might enjoy some dry food.

They had so many toys, collars, leashes etc. etc. but that will come later...if there is a later.

Why do retailers seem to start holidays earlier and earlier each year?  We still have Labor Day yet they are already having a Pre-Season Halloween sale!

Folks it is still August!

If that was not ridiculous enough...they already have Christmas stuff on their shelves :D

Heads up...2015 Calendars and planners are in...so you better hurry because they run out fast, as I learned last year.

Even found a calendar desk pad and threw it in my cart as well.

With all the turmoil in the Middle East decided to fill-up my tank while the price is still reasonable. With your Stripes gift card $3.07 for regular unleaded and $3.51 for diesel.

It was another scorcher, we got to 100 degrees / 37.7 Celsius.  Lucky for me, it was only 96 when I was filling up.

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

Pissy Ants / Phone Calls / Computer Woes

Yesterday I felt pretty worn out after three doctor appointments in a week.  I guess the lack of sleep and stress is getting to me.  I pretty much did nothing even though there is a lot to do around here.

Today I had to once again go on a killing spree...an ant killing spree!  The rains always bring more out and those pissy ants are hard suckers to kill...but kill them I did...thank you Ortho-Orthene :D

Glad I had finished when Ralph showed up.  He follows me everywhere and I am afraid I am going to trip and fall on him.

Fire Ants in West Texas do not make mounds

The phone never stopped ringing today.  It made my mother happy as it was family members she has not heard from in a while.  It was hot, another 102 degree day...seems to be the going temperature lately. I can hardly wait for mid-October when we get our first cold front or at least temperatures in the 80's.

Orthene works pretty quickly

I am having a lot of problems with my computer.  It freezes up and I think it is pretty much on its last legs.  I write a comment and it takes a while for it to even appear on my screen.  I do not even hit preview anymore as it sends my comments to comment heaven...so sorry for the misspelled words I leave in your respective blogs :-(

Long line of pissy ant mounds going from one
tree to the other.

I have downloaded Malware software and done scans but nothing seems to help.  I was hoping to be able to fit in a trip to Houston and see if I could purchase one there.  They certainly have more stores and back to school specials than in Del Rio.  However, I don't think I can work it into the schedule this month.

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

His name is Ralph

I have been watching videos of how to set up a ridge line as well as learning how to tie knots and for the life of me...I can't do it...sigh!  Lest you forget Terlingua 2014 is less than three months away.

You are probably thinking...there are no trees in the desert why would you want to learn to do that?  Well (I know you are laughing Dizzy) I need to wash and dry my tarps and our clothesline is so old it will probably buckle from the weight.

For those new to the blog last year during Terlingua 2013 we had an unprecedented rain event on the last day and I had to pack up wet gear and get out while the getting was good.  Here is a link to that post http://terlinguadreams.blogspot.com/2013/11/sunday-debacle.html

I did not even go outside until late this afternoon as the temperature reached 101...I know, I am a wimp!  Heard this little meow and saw the little orange kitty running towards me.  Darn thing is so lovable and he cried so much I went and got him a hot dog like last time...followed by a second one.

This was his second hotdog so he wasn't as interested
in eating as he was at posing for the camera.

I decided to name him Ralph.  He was my bodyguard this afternoon as I made my way to check-up on Walter but you will have to read that on Walter's blog.  You can get there by clicking on my header picture or this link http://mylittlewalter.blogspot.com/

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.