Author Archives: Joel

We almost never get morning storms. And this year’s monsoon has been an almost total bust but things have gotten a little more dramatic lately. This morning I woke just in time for a big flash just outside my bedroom … Continue reading →

A few weeks ago Neighbor L (of S&L, not D&L) mentioned that one of her old hens, a Leghorn that no longer lays eggs but is still around because L is too softhearted to off chickens that don’t do their … Continue reading →

Neighbor L talked all last winter about replacing her pellet stove with propane – and then she really did it! Normally this would be none of my business but she bought pellets by the ton, and they all had to … Continue reading →

Yesterday I spent half the day at the big town about 50 miles away, most of that time spent hanging around a Lowe’s waiting for my ride to return. As mentioned yesterday I brought back a dorm fridge but the … Continue reading →

It is hoped that the electrical system improvements of the past year will make this thing practical. Once the newly-expanded battery bank is in place, which it isn’t yet. Right now we have the worst of all possible worlds, with … Continue reading →

When Tobie was a pup fresh from the shelter he had a terrible fear of Jeep rides. He got over it quick but for the first while he wouldn’t stay inside without coercion or bondage. Landlady gave me this cool … Continue reading →

That’s all I wanted to say about that.

I have three old shirts that get the most wear in the hottest part of the desert summer. They’re all old green Dickie workshirts, worn thin, with the sleeves cut off – they got a little too small in the … Continue reading →

A neighbor texted me, asked me to come over, and when I did he handed me a pistol case and asked if I could evaluate it and tell him what’s wrong. He’d only put a few rounds through it and … Continue reading →

This is right up there with ‘I don’t have to be faster than the bear, I just have to be faster than you.”

It’s what the Jeep’s tailgate latch connects to. It’s been broken for years but recently gave up the ghost to the point where the gate is tied shut with 550 cord. I don’t know what it’s called and I’m having … Continue reading →

I live near a town where “the internet is down” is an actual phrase. One that hasn’t been used for a few years but it does happen and when it does it demonstrates the danger of excessive reliance on a … Continue reading →

That’s all I wanted to say.

At least once every day Tobie gets very excited at the windows and comes to get me. It’s usually to demand that I go chase cattle out of the yard. He is resolved – reluctantly – that he’s never going … Continue reading →

My generator has been hanging out in the cool of Ian’s powershed since I dragged it there in the Spring to run his pressure pump – which has since completely failed, complicating the shower situation. I needed it today, though, … Continue reading →

S&L are traveling so Tobie and I went to take care of their chickens and cat… And on the way home we ran into someone unusual. I don’t know what breed of bull this is. The others are all Angus, … Continue reading →

So far this summer I’m getting bulls in my yard frequently but they’re not giving me a hard time about moving on when I want them to. They’re just not in a hurry about it. Tobie and I ran into … Continue reading →

When I first started shooting the Arex going on sixteen months ago I complained that the ejection pattern was all over the place. Since it isn’t a gas-operated gun I didn’t expect that to settle down at all but for … Continue reading →

I haven’t felt well for the past few months, and my outdoor activities have pared down to necessities. Except lately I’ve been feeling better – I’m eating again, though I’m still trying to get into the habit of doing it … Continue reading →

I pruned the living hell out of the pear tree late last year, and remembered to put the anti-cow fencing back up just in time this year so the tree has resisted the persistent cattle invasions of my yard. I … Continue reading →