Today we spent the day cleaning, getting ready for the groups coming in for the weekend. Mark and I mopped the dining hall and I mopped the Fallow meeting area. We also "spruced up" the outside areas. I burned up two tank fulls of gas in the leaf blower, just getting leaves of porches/decks and away from the immediate area of the buildings.
Tonight I made a batch of my grandmothers potato soup. I'm still missing something. It just isn't quite as good as when she made it, or my Mom, or Kathy. I think maybe I'm not frying the bacon long enough. Kathy emphasized that you have to get it right on the edge of being burned. I think I am being to cautious about burning it and am not getting it cooked as much as I should.
I talked to the RV repair guys about the awning again, now that I have the motor home back at the camp. They will call me Monday to set up a time they can come out and look at it.
I've told John that I was pulling out a week from Monday, Dec 10th. I may be here a few days longer than that, depending on how the awning repairs progress.
It is tough being old <grin>, I am usually tired by the end of the day (nobodies fault but my own, my ego won't let me take a day off, other than on the weekend), also it is getting lonely being here by myself every night. It is a half hour drive to either Bryan or Hearne, so driving into town isn't high on my list of things to do. By the time I take a shower, fix something to eat, and eat it; I sure don't feel like driving into town.
I may move about 160 miles east of here, to the Triple Creek Music Park, near Woodville, TX. It is a typical RV park, but one that focuses on bluegrass/country/gospel music. They have a show three of the Saturday's in every months. On the Saturday's with no show they have potluck dinners. They also have "jam sessions" on Thursday and Saturday afternoon. I don't sing or play an instrument, but I bet I would enjoy listening to others.
Originally I had intended on heading west from here, eventually ending up in Tucson or Phoenix before heading north to see Utah's canyon country. I've pretty much given up on that because Utah's canyon country isn't warm enough for RV'ing until May, at least not warm enough for this wimpy RV'er. (On May 1st the average low at Bryce Canyon National Park is 33 degrees.) I think I want to return to Missouri before mid to late May.
I have had a good time working the the guys here at Messiah's Ranch, but maybe I need some R&R at a place with other folks.
Good night to all. May God bless you and yours.
Friday, November 30, 2012
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Nov 29th - MOTOR HOME BACK AT CAMP!!!
Bryan Freightliner FINALLY finished working on the motor home. I brought it back to the camp this afternoon. Praise The Lord!!! I think they gouged me to the maximum extent possible, but that is another story.
Mark and I finished the "floor" in the cabinets today. We also did some trim work on the cabinet. It kept us busy the entire day. We still have some clean-up to do before the groups come in tomorrow.
It got down into the high 30's again last night but warmed into the low 70's during the day. It is supposed to hit 80 again one day next week.
Well, time to get my mountain of dishes done before Person of Interest. I also need to go over to the camp washer and remove one load of clothes from the dryer; and transfer those in the washer to the dryer.
Good night to all. May God bless you and yours.
Mark and I finished the "floor" in the cabinets today. We also did some trim work on the cabinet. It kept us busy the entire day. We still have some clean-up to do before the groups come in tomorrow.
It got down into the high 30's again last night but warmed into the low 70's during the day. It is supposed to hit 80 again one day next week.
Well, time to get my mountain of dishes done before Person of Interest. I also need to go over to the camp washer and remove one load of clothes from the dryer; and transfer those in the washer to the dryer.
Good night to all. May God bless you and yours.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Nov 28th - Cabinet Floor
Last night it was pretty cool in the Freightliner parking lot. It got down into the high 30's.
I got to the camp around 9 this morning. John asked me to put a bottom/floor under some counter/cabinets. The bottom framework was open and and somewhat a catch-all, see the 2x4's on the left of the photo below. We went to the "barn" and found some old barn siding from a 100 year old barn John had torn down some years ago. We brought it back to the camp. I ran the boards through a planer to smooth the roughest areas and started cutting them to fit.
This is the counter/cabinet area where I am working. The counter extends about 4' beyond the wash tub.
Below are two photos of the "carpenter's workshop". In the one below the sliding chop saw in on the first table and in the background there is a table saw. The steps on the left lead up to the back deck on the dining hall. The other set go to the upstairs of the new building.
Below is the portable planer I was using. The boards I'm planing are stacked against the screen room
Tonights supper. It is their Tex-Mex plate. Under all the cheese are a couple of enchiladas. On the left of the plate is pork in some type of sauce. It was GOOD, and a great deal $6.95.
This morning I gave up on the first RV repair guy I had called about the awning. I talked to Fred, the other volunteer who is now in Arizona, and he gave me the name of another RV repair place. I called them and the guy I talked to at least sounded interested. Once I get the motor home back to the camp I will call them so that they can come out and look at the awning that needs repair.
About 3 I called to make sure the motor home was finally done. I was told it was ready to be picked up. I arrived at the Freightliner place around 4 and got the invoice from the service department. I noticed that they had not replaced the air brake desiccant filter(?), as I had discussed with the service guy on Saturday when I made the appointment. They said that if I was willing to wait for an hour they would do it while i waited. I said to do it. On Saturday the service guy has said it really was something that should be done.
While I was waiting around I looked at he invoice again and noted the part number for the fuel filter. On Saturday, and again on Monday when I dropped it off, I made a point of telling them that the CAT 3186E had only one fuel filter and that it was a very small micron size filter. I went back over to the service counter and questioned them about the part number. They went to the parts people and the parts people told them that it was a better grade filter than what was required. Tonight I called Freightliner in South Carolina and talked to their support people. They could not find specifications for the filter that was installed but they think it is the wrong filter.
Back to the air brake desiccant kit. They service people said they didn't have the kit in stock so I'm stuck in the Freightliner parking lot again tonight. A kit is supposed to be delivered in the morning.
In the morning I will fight the fuel filter battle with the parts department.
Twice service people have overfilled the crankcase with oil. This particular engine holds only 22 quarts. Both on Saturday, and again, Monday morning, I specifically told them to make sure the crankcase was not overfilled. I checked the oil level Tuesday morning and it was OK. Today I noted that I was charged for 7 gallons of oil, 28 quarts. In addition to discussing this with the service department I plan on having a talk with the manager of the place in the morning. I am also going to write an email to the Lonestar Truck Group, who own the place, and another to Freightliner letting them know about the terrible service I have received.
It will be good to get back to the camp tomorrow and go to work on my cabinet flooring. Dealing with American business, and their incompetence, is tiring. Is it any wonder why our nation is going to hell in a handbasket.
Good night to all. May God bless you and yours.
I got to the camp around 9 this morning. John asked me to put a bottom/floor under some counter/cabinets. The bottom framework was open and and somewhat a catch-all, see the 2x4's on the left of the photo below. We went to the "barn" and found some old barn siding from a 100 year old barn John had torn down some years ago. We brought it back to the camp. I ran the boards through a planer to smooth the roughest areas and started cutting them to fit.
This morning I gave up on the first RV repair guy I had called about the awning. I talked to Fred, the other volunteer who is now in Arizona, and he gave me the name of another RV repair place. I called them and the guy I talked to at least sounded interested. Once I get the motor home back to the camp I will call them so that they can come out and look at the awning that needs repair.
About 3 I called to make sure the motor home was finally done. I was told it was ready to be picked up. I arrived at the Freightliner place around 4 and got the invoice from the service department. I noticed that they had not replaced the air brake desiccant filter(?), as I had discussed with the service guy on Saturday when I made the appointment. They said that if I was willing to wait for an hour they would do it while i waited. I said to do it. On Saturday the service guy has said it really was something that should be done.
While I was waiting around I looked at he invoice again and noted the part number for the fuel filter. On Saturday, and again on Monday when I dropped it off, I made a point of telling them that the CAT 3186E had only one fuel filter and that it was a very small micron size filter. I went back over to the service counter and questioned them about the part number. They went to the parts people and the parts people told them that it was a better grade filter than what was required. Tonight I called Freightliner in South Carolina and talked to their support people. They could not find specifications for the filter that was installed but they think it is the wrong filter.
Back to the air brake desiccant kit. They service people said they didn't have the kit in stock so I'm stuck in the Freightliner parking lot again tonight. A kit is supposed to be delivered in the morning.
In the morning I will fight the fuel filter battle with the parts department.
Twice service people have overfilled the crankcase with oil. This particular engine holds only 22 quarts. Both on Saturday, and again, Monday morning, I specifically told them to make sure the crankcase was not overfilled. I checked the oil level Tuesday morning and it was OK. Today I noted that I was charged for 7 gallons of oil, 28 quarts. In addition to discussing this with the service department I plan on having a talk with the manager of the place in the morning. I am also going to write an email to the Lonestar Truck Group, who own the place, and another to Freightliner letting them know about the terrible service I have received.
It will be good to get back to the camp tomorrow and go to work on my cabinet flooring. Dealing with American business, and their incompetence, is tiring. Is it any wonder why our nation is going to hell in a handbasket.
Good night to all. May God bless you and yours.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Nov 27th - Cleaning
Overnight at the Freightliner dealer was okay. I stopped at Denny's for breakfast on my way to the camp.
I had checked with the Freightliner service department before I left. They said they would clean up the grease/oil on the carpet and that the tailpipe should be installed by lunch. I went to pick it up around 3 and they had not started on the tailpipe. They did do a decent job of cleaning the carpet. After getting the old tailpipe off they realized that the one they had ordered was the wrong size (ID versus OD). I will be staying at the dealers again tonight. Hopefully they will get things straightened out tomorrow. This is not a big deal. I filled the water tank full, and emptied both waste tanks, before I left the camp Monday morning. The only "problem" is that I have to run the generator a couple of hours a day to keep the batteries charged.
Today John and I cleaned. I spent about 4 hours sweeping and vacuuming while he cleaned bathrooms and did misc odd jobs. The non carpeted floor will get mopped Thursday, probably by Mark and/or Robert (the young guys).
The campers are supposed to clean up before leaving. Below is the pile of dirt after I swept Fallow's first floor. The pile is about 18" across, the narrow way.
Some variety. Below are photos of the sinks and showers at one end of the Lakeside building. The wall finish is old barn siding.
Below are photos of the sinks and showers at the other end of the building. John builds with whatever he can get cheap, or free, at the time.
I like the trim at the ceiling.
Temperatures were much cooler today. The high was maybe mid 60's. John said there was an inch of rain in the rain gage at the camp, more than I thought.
Good night to all. May God bless you and yours.
I had checked with the Freightliner service department before I left. They said they would clean up the grease/oil on the carpet and that the tailpipe should be installed by lunch. I went to pick it up around 3 and they had not started on the tailpipe. They did do a decent job of cleaning the carpet. After getting the old tailpipe off they realized that the one they had ordered was the wrong size (ID versus OD). I will be staying at the dealers again tonight. Hopefully they will get things straightened out tomorrow. This is not a big deal. I filled the water tank full, and emptied both waste tanks, before I left the camp Monday morning. The only "problem" is that I have to run the generator a couple of hours a day to keep the batteries charged.
Today John and I cleaned. I spent about 4 hours sweeping and vacuuming while he cleaned bathrooms and did misc odd jobs. The non carpeted floor will get mopped Thursday, probably by Mark and/or Robert (the young guys).
The campers are supposed to clean up before leaving. Below is the pile of dirt after I swept Fallow's first floor. The pile is about 18" across, the narrow way.
Some variety. Below are photos of the sinks and showers at one end of the Lakeside building. The wall finish is old barn siding.
I like the trim at the ceiling.
Good night to all. May God bless you and yours.
Monday, November 26, 2012
Nov 26th - Motor Home Maintenance
Man it gets dark early here. Last night, a little after 6 and I was working in the dark when I moved the motor home over to an area with a straight shot at the entry gate, and where I could hook up the CR-V. I guess it should not have been a surprise since I've been here as long as I have.
I made it to the Freightliner place without incident. I checked in, unhooked the CR-V and was back at the camp by 9. I did more insulating and cutting and fitting wood boards to finish the room around the water to heater as much as possible. When Fred did the plumbing it is obvious that he did not think the inside of the room was going to be finished. I also cut some scrap T100(?) siding pieces to finish a wall area behind a future vanity. Doesn't sound like much, but it kept me busy all day.
I got back over to the Freightliner place around 4. There were still waiting for a hydraulic filter, the chrome tailpipe, and the hubcap I lost on the way down here. The tailpipe and hubcap won't be here until tomorrow. I told them I would stay the night in the parking lot because I didn't want to drive back down miles of BUMPY dirt roads and then come back in the morning. I'm going to have some discussions with them in the morning about the grease on the carpet, between the bed and the closet. My guess is that the guy was on his knees while changing the air filter, through the closet floor, and the tops of his shoes got oil/grease on the carpet.
It rained quite hard here this evening. It is still sprinkling but the radar looks like most of the rain is done. I doubt that we got more than a half inch, but it came in a short period of time. The temperature dropped around 15 degrees. The high today was 83 while tonight's low is supposed to be in the 40's.
I had supper at Denny's, it is right across the highway from the Freightliner dealer. The waitress was an older lady, not as old as me. It was sad. She was obviously new to Denny's and maybe had never waited tables before. It took her three tries to get everything right on my food order, I think the kitchen kept sending here back to ask more questions about sides. I waited and waited for the salad. When it came she brought all my food at one time. It was a nice salad, the grilled tilapia was good and so were the other sides. Hopefully she will catch on quickly, because if she doesn't I can't believe they will put up with her for very long. The other two waitresses seemed to be efficient, I don't know why they weren't watching over her a little.
It's about 9, I'm going to hit the bed and read until I go to sleep. If they think the tailpipe will be delivered so that they can get it installed by noon I may just wait so that don't have to come back again. It isn't a big deal, it is a 30 minute drive in the motor home, back to the camp; maybe 25 minutes in the car.
Good night to all. May God bless you and yours.
I made it to the Freightliner place without incident. I checked in, unhooked the CR-V and was back at the camp by 9. I did more insulating and cutting and fitting wood boards to finish the room around the water to heater as much as possible. When Fred did the plumbing it is obvious that he did not think the inside of the room was going to be finished. I also cut some scrap T100(?) siding pieces to finish a wall area behind a future vanity. Doesn't sound like much, but it kept me busy all day.
I got back over to the Freightliner place around 4. There were still waiting for a hydraulic filter, the chrome tailpipe, and the hubcap I lost on the way down here. The tailpipe and hubcap won't be here until tomorrow. I told them I would stay the night in the parking lot because I didn't want to drive back down miles of BUMPY dirt roads and then come back in the morning. I'm going to have some discussions with them in the morning about the grease on the carpet, between the bed and the closet. My guess is that the guy was on his knees while changing the air filter, through the closet floor, and the tops of his shoes got oil/grease on the carpet.
It rained quite hard here this evening. It is still sprinkling but the radar looks like most of the rain is done. I doubt that we got more than a half inch, but it came in a short period of time. The temperature dropped around 15 degrees. The high today was 83 while tonight's low is supposed to be in the 40's.
I had supper at Denny's, it is right across the highway from the Freightliner dealer. The waitress was an older lady, not as old as me. It was sad. She was obviously new to Denny's and maybe had never waited tables before. It took her three tries to get everything right on my food order, I think the kitchen kept sending here back to ask more questions about sides. I waited and waited for the salad. When it came she brought all my food at one time. It was a nice salad, the grilled tilapia was good and so were the other sides. Hopefully she will catch on quickly, because if she doesn't I can't believe they will put up with her for very long. The other two waitresses seemed to be efficient, I don't know why they weren't watching over her a little.
It's about 9, I'm going to hit the bed and read until I go to sleep. If they think the tailpipe will be delivered so that they can get it installed by noon I may just wait so that don't have to come back again. It isn't a big deal, it is a 30 minute drive in the motor home, back to the camp; maybe 25 minutes in the car.
Good night to all. May God bless you and yours.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Nov 25th - Moving (Not Really)
I went to church at Five Points again this morning. BOY DO I LIKE THE PASTOR!!
I don't think I would look any further for a church if I were living here, not much danger of that happening.
All four of the messages I've heard him deliver have centered around we, as individual Christians, need to do what God call us to do. If each of us does our jobs, as individuals, the "Christian Team" will flourish. We need to focus far less on "the other guy" and more on ourselves.
He provided the "special music" today. They played a 26 year old recording of him singing "People Need the Lord". I don't know if he sings any more, he has not during the services I've attended, but man he sure could sing back then.
Today's message was titled, "Diagnosis of America". He preached while decked out in surgeon scrubs, he even had a hair net over his shaved head. The basis of his message was taken from Hosea and Amos. The passages came from the Message Bible.
He commented that he wondered if present day America was much different that Israel when the nation continuously fell away from God. The following is God thoughts about Israel's condition at the time.
Hosea 13:1 and following - God once let loose against Ephraim a terrifying sentence against Israel: Caught and convicted in the lewd sex-worship of Baal - they died!
2 And now they're back in the sin business again, manufacturing god-images they can use, religion customized to taste.
Professionals see to it: Anything you want in a god you can get. Can you believe it? They sacrifice live babies to these dead gods - kill living babies and kiss golden calves!
3 And now there's nothing left to these people: hollow men, desiccated women, like scraps of paper blown down the street, like smoke in a gusty wind.
6 I took care of you, took care of all your needs, gave you everything you needed, you were spoiled. You thought you didn't need me.
American has been one of the most prosperous nations of all time. Name some other place where people flock to as they have flocked to the opportunity provided here.
Now we are falling. We Christians have been so besieged by all the smut that we have become numb. It is almost as though we have been given a shot of spiritual novacaine. ( The following are my comments. We accept people shacking up as normal. We accept men refusing to pay child support as normal. We accept nearly half of all babies being born out of wedlock. We accept that we taxpayers have to foot the bill for over 40% of all births in the nation.)
He mentioned some of the reasons for the fall of the Roman empire; i.e. total moral decline, a heavy tax burden to pay for an ever government, etc. We have similar issues in America.
He then moved Amos 6:1 and following: Woe to you who think you live on easy street in Zion, who think Mount Samaria is the good life. You assume you're at the top of the heap, voted the number-one best place to live, (he replaced Zion and Mount Samaria with locations in Texas)
2 Well, wake up and look around, get off your pedestal. Take a look at Calneh. Go and visit Great Hamath. Look in on Gath of the Philistines. Doesn't that take you off your high horse? Compared to them, you're not much are you?
3 Woe to you who are rushing headlong to disaster! Catastrophe is just around the corner!
4 Woe to those who live in luxury and expect everyone else to serve them!
5 Woe to those who live only for today, indifferent to the fate of others! Woe to the playboys, the playgirls, who think life is a party held just for them!
6 Woe to those addicted to feeling good-life without pain! Those obsessed with looking good-life without wrinkles! They could not care less about their country going to ruin.
He is quite down on the massive growth of government and its intervention in our lives. Government is not the solution, it is the problem (I think that is a Reagan quote).
As usual he ended with an up note. He mentioned God sending Jonah to Ninevah to warn it of God's upcoming wrath. Those in Ninevah repented and the city was spared. We in America have the same opportunity.
Time to get out and "fold up my tent". I'm taking the motor home over to the Freightliner place near Bryan tomorrow, for some maintenance. I want to have it all folded up and the car hooked to it so I can leave the camp no later than 7:30.
Good night to all. May God bless you and yours.
PS. I didn't proof read this. Please forgive my typo's, etc.
I don't think I would look any further for a church if I were living here, not much danger of that happening.
All four of the messages I've heard him deliver have centered around we, as individual Christians, need to do what God call us to do. If each of us does our jobs, as individuals, the "Christian Team" will flourish. We need to focus far less on "the other guy" and more on ourselves.
He provided the "special music" today. They played a 26 year old recording of him singing "People Need the Lord". I don't know if he sings any more, he has not during the services I've attended, but man he sure could sing back then.
Today's message was titled, "Diagnosis of America". He preached while decked out in surgeon scrubs, he even had a hair net over his shaved head. The basis of his message was taken from Hosea and Amos. The passages came from the Message Bible.
He commented that he wondered if present day America was much different that Israel when the nation continuously fell away from God. The following is God thoughts about Israel's condition at the time.
Hosea 13:1 and following - God once let loose against Ephraim a terrifying sentence against Israel: Caught and convicted in the lewd sex-worship of Baal - they died!
2 And now they're back in the sin business again, manufacturing god-images they can use, religion customized to taste.
Professionals see to it: Anything you want in a god you can get. Can you believe it? They sacrifice live babies to these dead gods - kill living babies and kiss golden calves!
3 And now there's nothing left to these people: hollow men, desiccated women, like scraps of paper blown down the street, like smoke in a gusty wind.
6 I took care of you, took care of all your needs, gave you everything you needed, you were spoiled. You thought you didn't need me.
American has been one of the most prosperous nations of all time. Name some other place where people flock to as they have flocked to the opportunity provided here.
Now we are falling. We Christians have been so besieged by all the smut that we have become numb. It is almost as though we have been given a shot of spiritual novacaine. ( The following are my comments. We accept people shacking up as normal. We accept men refusing to pay child support as normal. We accept nearly half of all babies being born out of wedlock. We accept that we taxpayers have to foot the bill for over 40% of all births in the nation.)
He mentioned some of the reasons for the fall of the Roman empire; i.e. total moral decline, a heavy tax burden to pay for an ever government, etc. We have similar issues in America.
He then moved Amos 6:1 and following: Woe to you who think you live on easy street in Zion, who think Mount Samaria is the good life. You assume you're at the top of the heap, voted the number-one best place to live, (he replaced Zion and Mount Samaria with locations in Texas)
2 Well, wake up and look around, get off your pedestal. Take a look at Calneh. Go and visit Great Hamath. Look in on Gath of the Philistines. Doesn't that take you off your high horse? Compared to them, you're not much are you?
3 Woe to you who are rushing headlong to disaster! Catastrophe is just around the corner!
4 Woe to those who live in luxury and expect everyone else to serve them!
5 Woe to those who live only for today, indifferent to the fate of others! Woe to the playboys, the playgirls, who think life is a party held just for them!
6 Woe to those addicted to feeling good-life without pain! Those obsessed with looking good-life without wrinkles! They could not care less about their country going to ruin.
He is quite down on the massive growth of government and its intervention in our lives. Government is not the solution, it is the problem (I think that is a Reagan quote).
As usual he ended with an up note. He mentioned God sending Jonah to Ninevah to warn it of God's upcoming wrath. Those in Ninevah repented and the city was spared. We in America have the same opportunity.
Time to get out and "fold up my tent". I'm taking the motor home over to the Freightliner place near Bryan tomorrow, for some maintenance. I want to have it all folded up and the car hooked to it so I can leave the camp no later than 7:30.
Good night to all. May God bless you and yours.
PS. I didn't proof read this. Please forgive my typo's, etc.
Nov 25th - Photos
Just made my morning rounds. Put out cat food at the barn and at the dining hall. Feed the fish in the pond and those in the aquarium. Picked up a couple of bags of trash left by the folks who were staying at Lakeside. Went down and checked on the folks who are staying at Magnolia. On my way down to the barn I chased out a buck with a decent rack. I had to stop the Mule and wait for it to find its way back along the fence. It thought it was cornered and ran into the fence a couple of times.
I forgot to post these photos yesterday.
Below is a photo of the ball field near Magnolia. No one has used it for years. John doesn't even bother marking the base paths any longer.
This is Magnolia. Note the nice patio behind, to the right of the photo. It is a three bedroom house.
This is one of the three pipeline right aways on the property.
It is about time to leave for church.
Good day to all. May God bless you and yours.
I forgot to post these photos yesterday.
Below is a photo of the ball field near Magnolia. No one has used it for years. John doesn't even bother marking the base paths any longer.
This is Magnolia. Note the nice patio behind, to the right of the photo. It is a three bedroom house.
This is one of the three pipeline right aways on the property.
Good day to all. May God bless you and yours.
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