Post by dwayner2 on Oct 1, 2020 6:50:25 GMT -5
I’m on my way up to Chuckie and Monkey’s Place once again and camped here in Canton, TX for the night. Since I woke up at 4:45 AM and can’t go back to sleep I decided to post a few things I did back in Spring after everyone went into lockdown from the virus.
BEFORE lockdown I ran up in Leavenworth trying to surprise Chuckie for their St Paddy’s Day Parade. I wasn’t there 30 mins when Monkey asked me to help him in the shop. Walked in the door and there on 2 sawhorses was a wooden coffin. I know Chuckie has a bit of the Irish temper but Lord!, now I have to help him hide a dead body? 😳. It was actually a prop for the parade but I’ll let him explain that part.
Then I headed to Mom’s. First thing I did was pick a foot tub of Loquat fruit and make a pie, probably only the second pie I’ve ever baked in my life. Spent an hour getting the fruit and seed separated so I’d have a quart of fruit flesh. Then I decided to put it in the fridge overnight in a little brine water to keep the fruit from browning. Next day I made a beautiful pie, tried a slice and 10 mins later it was behind the chicken house for the Coons and Possums to enjoy. It was the nastiest pie ever! The salt water killed the sweetness and turned everything bitter. Live and learn. 😐.
But I did make an awesome Zucchini Cobbler!
i.vgy.me/fZd6iQ.jpg
Then I spent the first week working on the roof over her picnic table. Dad built it from pipe he found in the oil patch maybe 30 years ago and it was in dire need of a makeover. I removed the tin, replaced and painted some of the boards and then proceeded to sand, acid treat and then ad 2 coats of paint on the pipe. Then I added better tin and cleaned up the mess. After that I rounded up some old tubs and pots and made Mom a flower stand on an old cart sitting out by the chicken house. Pictures below of the before and after, the old paint was in bad shape and the pipe had tons of rust.
Next project was to cut up an old LP tank to make my Sister a burning barrel that would last a few years. I had one round end cap left over so I thought I’d do something fun. Welded it to a tire rim and slapped some paint on it and made a giant teacup flower planter....waste not want not, right?
Most of the next month was spent clearing brush and trees from the pasture behind the house. You have to love Texas for all the thorny plants we have... Rose Hedge, Huisatch trees and Dewberry vines. And can’t forget the 2 Rattlesnakes i came across in 2 days plus a 4 foot Rat snake. Fun times 😃
Did a lot of other little stuff but I think it’s the first time in 5 years I went 3 months never touching a stove part....other than making coffee each morning on Mom’s yellow C in the garage. It was actually kinda nice. 😬
BEFORE lockdown I ran up in Leavenworth trying to surprise Chuckie for their St Paddy’s Day Parade. I wasn’t there 30 mins when Monkey asked me to help him in the shop. Walked in the door and there on 2 sawhorses was a wooden coffin. I know Chuckie has a bit of the Irish temper but Lord!, now I have to help him hide a dead body? 😳. It was actually a prop for the parade but I’ll let him explain that part.
Then I headed to Mom’s. First thing I did was pick a foot tub of Loquat fruit and make a pie, probably only the second pie I’ve ever baked in my life. Spent an hour getting the fruit and seed separated so I’d have a quart of fruit flesh. Then I decided to put it in the fridge overnight in a little brine water to keep the fruit from browning. Next day I made a beautiful pie, tried a slice and 10 mins later it was behind the chicken house for the Coons and Possums to enjoy. It was the nastiest pie ever! The salt water killed the sweetness and turned everything bitter. Live and learn. 😐.
But I did make an awesome Zucchini Cobbler!
i.vgy.me/fZd6iQ.jpg
Then I spent the first week working on the roof over her picnic table. Dad built it from pipe he found in the oil patch maybe 30 years ago and it was in dire need of a makeover. I removed the tin, replaced and painted some of the boards and then proceeded to sand, acid treat and then ad 2 coats of paint on the pipe. Then I added better tin and cleaned up the mess. After that I rounded up some old tubs and pots and made Mom a flower stand on an old cart sitting out by the chicken house. Pictures below of the before and after, the old paint was in bad shape and the pipe had tons of rust.
Next project was to cut up an old LP tank to make my Sister a burning barrel that would last a few years. I had one round end cap left over so I thought I’d do something fun. Welded it to a tire rim and slapped some paint on it and made a giant teacup flower planter....waste not want not, right?
Most of the next month was spent clearing brush and trees from the pasture behind the house. You have to love Texas for all the thorny plants we have... Rose Hedge, Huisatch trees and Dewberry vines. And can’t forget the 2 Rattlesnakes i came across in 2 days plus a 4 foot Rat snake. Fun times 😃
Did a lot of other little stuff but I think it’s the first time in 5 years I went 3 months never touching a stove part....other than making coffee each morning on Mom’s yellow C in the garage. It was actually kinda nice. 😬