2020 June 24 Ugly Biscuits

Wednesday

Welcome, family and friends to our daily journal,from Liberty Hill, Texas

Pull up a chair, sit a spell.

Another cooler morning. Mostly cloudy translates to completely overcast and a short rain passing through.

It didn’t rain enough to determine if yesterday’s attempt to seal the holes in the awning worked or not.(See yesterday’s post)

The sky looked like soot filled smoke. Thank God that it only cloud and not smoke.

We had no bread for breakfast this morning. No bread equals no toast. So I mixed some biscuits together and dropped them by spoonfuls, as the instruction said. I usually make rolled and cut biscuits. For some reason I couldn’t get the dough to drop where I wanted it. Made ugly biscuits.

Bisquick biscuits seemed too dry. If/when I make then again. I’ll add some butter or oil to the mixture.

Even though I made biscuits, we seen out for breakfast at Sonics. Well, that’s not quite correct. We purchased food at Sonics but took it to the church parking lot to eat it.

While in the parking lot, Ella sent a message to our new pastor. Temporarily, she is staying at a church owned house, just across the street from the church. Pastor Michelle came over to talk. We sat at the picnic table and visited until she received a call from her daughter, so we left.

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Before leaving town, we stopped at Parker’s for essentials: bread, sugar cookies, and ice cream. Okay, you have your essentials and I will have mine.

The remainder of the day was much like every day lately. I’m sure that many off you can relate. Many people have chosen to behave as if Covid-19 no longer exists. We, on the other hand, have chosen to wait for re-run season or Covid2.0. To that end we ordered and received some paper masks. I know what many of you are thinking, “masks don’t work.”

You are partiality right. Unless it is a respirator type mask that has been fitted to your face, they offer very little, if any, protection for the mask wearer. These paper masks are to offer some protection to people around us, to protect them from us. Which is why I’d rather be around people wearing masks, that offers some protection for me. See?

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  • 8 months 23 days since we returned to Texas.
  • 3 months and 09 day being self isolated.

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2020 June 16 Taco Tuesday?

Tuesday

Welcome, family and friends to our daily journal,from Liberty Hill, Texas

It was a nice sky this morning. Too bad I slept through the pre-dawn. I’ll bet it was spectacular reflecting from the cloud cover.It seems that the temperature is in a hurry to reach the high for the day. In about two hours it raise five degrees. At this rate, it is going to be higher than ninety one by day’s end.Poor Rudolf the Red Nosed Pickup, he is covered with bird poo. We are not allowed to use the RV Park’s water for washing our vehicles. That is understandable, since the water comes from the owner’s well. However, I have captured rainwater that I will use to do some cleaning.For breakfast (in honor of Taco Tuesday) I filled two tortillas with cheese, eggs, bacon or sausage, more cheese and then topped with another tortilla. Then it was grilled for a minute our so. Salsa was optional.I had considered having tacos for lunch. However, I used all excerpt two of the tortillas for breakfast.Other than our walk around the park and to check for mail, we stayed inside all day. It got hot early and stayed there.The only DIY project on which I worked was drawing schematics for a truck topper rebuild. As soon as the accompanying video has uploaded, I’ll post it here.Also I worked some more on a sermon idea.The two of us played four, five, maybe six games of Fast Track, I don’t know. All I know is that I won one and Ella came in next to last on the others. 😀Thanks again for stopping by. Share this with your friends. See y’all again tomorrow. Stay safe. Remember, we love you.

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My NEW sermons blog Armchair Sermons. Sermons posted most Sundays 10 AM central time.

http://armchairsermons.com

  • ©2020 Thomas E. Williams

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  • 8 months 16 days since we returned to Texas.
  • 3 months and 03 day being self isolated.

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2020 June 15 Halfway

Monday

Welcome, family and friends to our daily journal,

from Liberty Hill, Texas

After breakfast, I got a pair of thick-cut butterfly-porkchops out of the freezer to thaw. Later I realized they weren’t going to thaw in time for lunch. That’s when I pressure cooked them then left them on keep warm until just before lunch.

At lunch time I nuked some baking potatoes. Out of the microwave and into the George Foreman grill, using the grill plates. The potatoes stayed there until the grill was at maximum temperature, when I swapped them out for the chops. Once the chops had nicely browned grill marks, they were served

Ella read somewhere that Costco had cloth facemasks for $10. So, having nothing better to do, we went to Costco. They do NOT have facemasks. At least not in the one nearest to us. And miracle of miracles, we left Costco without buying anything.

It wasn’t a total waste of time and gasoline. We stopped for treats at Dairy Queen.

And then at Parker’s Corner Market for perishables like milk,bread, butter, eggs, sausage, and bacon. Oh, and cookies. Cookies are to perishable! Don’t try to tell me differently.

I really like Sudoku. It’s the only game that I have on my phone. I can’t play it four hours on end like Ella does her various games, but, on the expert setting, I can spend a good half hour.

Let’s see, what else happened today. I did not work on/in the topper … but I thought about it alot. I’m working through various designs in my mind. Planning what order the rebuild would take place. First, of course, everything that I packed in there has to be in packed and stored safely out of the way. Next the current iteration of the topper would be carefully disassembled, because I will reuse much of that lumber. So I’ve done a lot of planning for something I am not sure I’ll build.

I also downloaded the lectionary readings for this coming Sunday: Genesis 21:8-21, Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17 , Jeremiah 20:7-13, Psalm 69:7-10, (11-15), 16-18, Romans 6:1b-11, Matthew 10:24-39. I’ve read through them and have a germ of an idea for a sermon. We will see where the Spirit leads.

We are halfway through June and nearly halfway through the year!

Thanks again for stopping by. Share this with your friends. See y’all again tomorrow. Stay safe. Remember, we love you.

  • God bless and g’day.
  • If you enjoy our journal: comment, like, and follow. Also see our Facebook page and our new Instagram page. Just search for “Tom and Ella Journal.”

My NEW sermons blog Armchair Sermons. Sermons posted most Sundays 10 AM central time.

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  • ©2020 Thomas E. Williams

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  • 8 months 15 days since we returned to Texas.
  • 3 months and 02 day being self isolated.

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2020 June 13 Iris is Tired

Saturday

Welcome, family and friends to our daily journal,

from Liberty Hill, Texas

Good (educated) guess by the weather forecasters. Ninety degrees was predicted and ninety degrees was the high.As I fried some bacon for Ella’s breakfast, I also browned some for corn chowder in the Instapot slow-cooker.As we did yesterday, we took our Fast Track game outside. It wasn’t until almost noon before we found the need to close up and turn the air conditioner on.For lunch we had the afore mentioned corn chowder. Corn, potatoes, bacon, milk, vegetable stock are the bases for my chowder. Before serving, I blend in sour cream. And personally, chowder should not be eaten without crackers. And as shaky as my hands are now, without crackers, I would lose half the broth on the way to my mouth.We accomplished a little yard work today, before it became uncomfortably warm. For as long as we have been on this site, there had been a tire buried in our yard. I’ve assumed it to be a flower bed, though no followers are in evidence. However, about eighteen inches away, irises have tried to grow. Every time the mowers come, they run over both the tire and the flowers.My thought was to raise the tire from it’s sunken position and place it around the irises, solving both problems. However, the reality was that it was easier to transplant the flowers than dig the tire out of the rocky ground.To stop the mowers from mowing over the flower bed, it is now outlined with rocks.Once again I also did a minor chore in the topper. Some time back I had stapled some nylon screening over the opening to assist in convincing various insects to “move along – you’re not wanted here.” However, with use, the screen has torn lose from the staples. Today I used duct tape to hold the screen on place and re-stapled through tape and screen. Hopefully that will work better than the first attempt.The remainder of our rest-day was used to read, write, watch, listen, and game. Oh, I suppose some time was allotted for thinking also.Thanks again for stopping by. Share this with your friends. See y’all again tomorrow. Stay safe. Remember, we love you.

  • God bless and g’day.
  • If you enjoy our journal: comment, like, and follow. Also see our Facebook page and our new Instagram page. Just search for “Tom and Ella Journal.”

My NEW sermons blog Armchair Sermons. Sermons posted most Sundays 10 AM central time.

http://armchairsermons.com

  • ©2020 Thomas E. Williams

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  • 8 months 13 days since we returned to Texas.
  • 3 months being self isolated.

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2020 June 12 Playing With Food

Friday

Welcome, family and friends to our daily journal,

from Liberty Hill, Texas

The sun from the bedroom window.

Another beautiful, cool morning

Sunshining through the trees

I‘m playing with my food, again. I fried some bacon, broke a couple eggs on the griddle, put the bacon on top of the eggs, and then put pancake batter over the egg and bacon. With the cover closed on the George Foreman grill, I let it cook until the pancake was set but not brown on top. I then flipped everything, pancake side down and egg side up. It was topped with a slice of American cheese and left to brown the pancake and melt the cheese (cover open). Ta da! A complete breakfast.

Since it was so nice out, we sat and played games outside.

And then we just sat outside.

My second tactical shovel, this time from Amazon, arrived today. I did a video unboxing and comparison of the two shovels.

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The top of this large bush is in bloom, but not the rest of the bush.

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My NEW sermons blog Armchair Sermons. Sermons posted most Sundays 10 AM central time.

http://armchairsermons.com

  • ©2020 Thomas E. Williams

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  • 8 months 12 days since we returned to Texas.
  • 2 months and 29 days being self isolated.

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2020 June 11 Look What Came Today

Thursday

Welcome, family and friends to our daily journal,

from Liberty Hill, Texas

ver night was quite comfortable with the bedroom window and all of the ceiling vents open to the night air.

Though we had been awake for several hours, neither of us were inclined to be other than reclined for a long time. Between be quiet or bestired, we chose bestilled. Finally, in bequest of our bodies, we rose.

Knowing that breakfast would be much later than normal, I made it larger and it became brunch.

hile preparing brunch, I also began chopping vegetables for the slow cook setting on the Instapot. I added a precooked pork roast to the pot then a scoop of dried greens powder, some seasonings, and a can of cream of mushroom soup.

After brunch I washed the few dishes from last night and this morning. That served two purposes, clean dishes and clean warmed hands, before checking my blood.

hursday’s are the day that I test my blood’s clotting factor. The target range is between two point zero and two point nine. Today it was two point one. While that technically is in range, I’m going to raise my blood-thinner dosage ever so slightly by one mg.

Speaking if blood-thinner, my prescriptions had been filled and the medications were ready for pickup. Away we flew (obeying all speed laws) to Cedar Park. Upon arriving we packed in “our” pharmacy parking spot. Out of all the times we have picked up medications lately, only once did we have a spot other than number four. Once settled into the spot, the pharmacy was notified that we had arrived.

needed to use the restroom. I haven’t used a public bathroom in nearly three months. The need was greater than my ability to hold it until we returned home. So into the store I went, masked and disinfectant spray bottle in hand. Of course course the handicapped stall was occupied and the other stool was clear to the top in soggy toilet paper. Eww. So I waited. I always feel uncomfortable standing around in the restroom.

Talk With Tom Video

THROW BACK THURSDAY

This was posted one year ago. I think it is even more fitting today.Psalms 46:1-5

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble. That is why we are not afraid even when the earth quakes or the mountains topple into the depths of the sea. Water roars and foams, and mountains shake at the surging waves. Selah There is a river whose streams bring joy to the city of God, the holy place where the Most High lives. God is in that city. It cannot fall. God will help it at the break of dawn.

And also for throw back Thursday: this was our patio at Cutty’s Campground in 2014. It was such a nice inviting place to sit with friends in the afternoon.

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  • God bless and g’day.
  • If you enjoy our journal: comment, like, and follow. Also see our Facebook page and our new Instagram page. Just search for “Tom and Ella Journal.”

My NEW sermons blog Armchair Sermons. Sermons posted most Sundays 10 AM central time.

http://armchairsermons.com

  • ©2020 Thomas E. Williams

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  • 8 months 11 days since we returned to Texas.
  • 2 months and 28 days being self isolated.

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2020 June 10 Panini

Wednesday

Welcome, family and friends to our daily journal,

from Liberty Hill, Texas

🎶 Oh what a beautiful morning 🎶 after yesterday’s heat, it was really nice early today.It was so nice that, not only did I work inside the topper, but Ella and I sat out and played several games of Fast Track.For lunch I turned the George Foreman grill into a panini press and made pork and cheese sandwiches. Sorry, no photo, I guess we we’re too hungry.I spent a long time filling my pill sorters. And then even a longer time trying to order refills. The VA now has a handy dandy reorder app … I guess … so far I haven’t gotten it to work. I’ve logged on … It knows that I’m me. But I haven’t discovered how to order my refills. I’m not done trying.With the sky this clear, I’m hoping for a cooler night, without the A/C running. It we still 80° at midnight last night. Maybe we can open a bedroom window tonight.Thanks again for stopping by. Share this with your friends. See y’all again tomorrow. Stay safe. Remember, we love you.

  • God bless and g’day.
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My NEW sermons blog Armchair Sermons. Sermons posted most Sundays 10 AM central time.

http://armchairsermons.com

  • ©2020 Thomas E. Williams

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  • 8 months 10 days since we returned to Texas.
  • 2 months and 27 days being self isolated.

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2020 June 09 A Bomb In Our Home

Tuesday

Welcome, family and friends to our daily journal,

from Liberty Hill, Texas

Just a mite warm this morning and headed toward danged uncomfortable.I‘m quite pleased with this photograph of the rising sun. Generally, I like to crop it to a smaller section of the sky. However, today the broader view was better. The grander scale of the sun radiating from behind the clouds was more pleasing.We have been plagued by tiny, flying, creatures flitting around us as we read or try to sleep. Ella had an appointment for a haircut this morning. Before we left home, I set off a bug bomb to be shed of the wee beasties.Once we returned home, we had to open the door, windows, and ceiling vents to allow and lingering poison to dissipate and then we needed to leave for a couple of hours. Yes, with a heat advisory in effect, we had to leave our home open.Okay, I know that I’m just a guy, but does her hair really look that different?

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We drove to accomplish several things. Number one was to do something while the air in our home cleared out. Number two was to recharge the truck battery. Number three was to drive a road we hadn’t before. Number four was to keep moving and force air through the truck windows (we have no working a/c in the truck).Nearly the same road, there and back again.We gave this young man a bottle of water while we waited. They are widening the road several places along our traveled highways. I know that being a flagger isn’t exactly a skilled-labor job, but I hope they are well compensated for standing for long hours in the 100° weather..Oh yes, a follow up … no little flying bugs tonight.Thanks again for stopping by. Share this with your friends. See y’all again tomorrow. Stay safe. Remember, we love you.

  • God bless and g’day.
  • If you enjoy our journal: comment, like, and follow. Also see our Facebook page and our new Instagram page. Just search for “Tom and Ella Journal.”

My NEW sermons blog Armchair Sermons. Sermons posted most Sundays 10 AM central time.

http://armchairsermons.com

  • ©2020 Thomas E. Williams

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  • 8 months 9 days since we returned to Texas.
  • 2 months and 26 days being self isolated.

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2020 June 01 $30.25

Monday

Welcome, family and friends to our daily journal,

from Liberty Hill, Texas.

Sixty nine degrees was a good start for the day. I heated some coffee and mixed together some pancake batter. Then I sat outside and pulled pop-tops from aluminium cans … again, just like yesterday, just like last week. I will admit that I’ll be glad to have the cans gone to that great smelter in the sky … or where ever the smelter is located.

Having said that, there is something almost cathartic about the repetitiveness of the task. It made me think of snapping beans.

For those of you who had the misfortune of not having a large garden of green beans, I will explain.

After the green beans have been harvested and before they can be canned, they have to be snapped into bite size pieces. The stem end and the pointed end are discarded. The snapped beans are rinsed and prepared for canning. Since mom had a large garden, snapping beans could take hours, much like the task of removing pull tabs from one hundred and twenty pounds of cans.

Not much in the way of sunshine in the morning sky.

But at last a little bit of color.

I worked at pulling tabs for a hour or so before going inside and making and eating breakfast. Ella was still sleeping, so I went back to pulling the tabs from cans.

At some point Ella came out to join in the fun. There were several bags of cans that needed to be crushed. She chose that task. I think she just wanted to use the new can crusher. (Six dollars at Harbor Freight)

Eventually we finished with the cans and loaded them into the truck topper. Then we headed toward Marble Falls. The bottom leg of our journey, from the green marker on the right to Marble Falls on the bottom left, looks to be much shorter than the upper leg, from Marble Falls up to Burnet, then over to Liberty Hill, and then back to the green marker (home). However, in truth there is only a couple miles difference. What this map doesn’t show is all of the the up and down miles over those hills for which the Hill Country is named.

One hundred and twenty one pounds of cans converted to thirty dollars and twenty five cents. That added to last weeks, equals forty six dollars and twenty-five cents into the Grandies bank account. That will buy a book of stamps for the card ministry.

I recorded a video this morning while I was pulling those pop tops.

Thanks again for stopping by. Share this with your friends. See y’all again tomorrow. Stay safe. Remember, we love you.

  • God bless and g’day.
  • If you enjoy our journal: comment, like, and follow. Also see our Facebook page and our new Instagram page. Just search for “Tom and Ella Journal.”

My NEW sermons blog Armchair Sermons. Sermons posted most Sundays 10 AM central time.

http://armchairsermons.com

  • ©2020 Thomas E. Williams

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  • 8 months 1 day since we returned to Texas.
  • 2 months and 18 days being self isolated.

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2020 May 31 Busy Busy Day

Sunday

Welcome, family and friends to our daily journal,

from Liberty Hill, Texas.

The sky was pretty and odd at the same time this morning.This morning the worship service participants gathered “together” while maintaining distancing. We were there to do the first LIVE broadcast from our chapel. Previously, it had been pre recorded as segments and then stitched together for broadcast.I had two parts in the service. I didn’t realize that the podium mike want live or I would have used my “preacher voice” to make myself heard.Video “Life in the Spirit”This was our Zoom Sunday school class today. Next week we are going to attempt a mask to mask gathering on the worship center’s foyer.After Sunday school, Ella and I went to Sonic for lunch and then back to the church church to await people driving by to deliver food for the Kids’ Summer Snack Program. A program to feed children who, through the school year, rely on the school lunch for what may be their only meal of the day.We also received more aluminum cans which we will sell at the metal reclamation center. The money is used to support the Grandies various ministries. We also save the pull tabs for donation to the Ronald McDonald House Charities.Since not all of the donated cans have the tabs removed nor are they all crushed to save space, Ella and I have been and will continue to both collect the tabs and crush the cans prior to taking them for recycling.We finished at four for collecting food and cans. We them drove to Cedar Park to purchase Ella’s medications. She decided to go into the store for a few others items as well. She came back to the car with her purchases and we drove away. That was when she said, “I forgot the prescriptions.” Sooooo, I turned around and went back. This time we parked and had them bring them to the truck.It was differently nap time when we returned home ten hours after we left.Thanks again for stopping by. Share this with your friends. See y’all again tomorrow. Stay safe. Remember, we love you.

  • God bless and g’day.
  • If you enjoy our journal: comment, like, and follow. Also see our Facebook page and our new Instagram page. Just search for “Tom and Ella Journal.”

My NEW sermons blog Armchair Sermons. Sermons posted most Sundays 10 AM central time.

http://armchairsermons.com

  • ©2020 Thomas E. Williams

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  • 7 months 31 days since we returned to Texas.
  • 2 months and 17 days being self isolated.

..