bugscufle
07-01-2007, 09:21 AM
It has been one wet week, on top of one wet month, on top of one wet spring. It is most definitely the age of Aquarius. On the upside, we just got four inches of rain in eight hours, when south of Marble Falls got over 19. Nonetheless, the ground was wet before it started raining. So the rain had to figure out where it wanted to go, and we had to figure out how to stay out of its way. County roads nearly always get shut down for a few hours during these events but if we can get to the highway, we have it made. I guess they call them highways because they are high. That rain rage closed highways in several locations.
It is 5.6 miles from my house to the highway. Some people may have larger low water crossings between them and and a highway. Some people may have worse low water crossings. But I'm betting a Badu House chicken fried steak dinner that ain't nobody got more low water crossings between them and a highway than the folks in this community.
Llano CR 408 has more in common with a roller coaster than it does with a road. Each water crossing has it's own personality. Kind of like siblings in a large family. Some are easy to get along with. Some are always challenging you. That's okay with me, helps keep the yankee and left coast riff-raff away.
Picked up this weeks mail today. Doug Birch sent me a fine article from the Houston Chronicle about chicken fried steaks. I just don't believe there is anymore exciting reading than a good chicken fried steak story.
Drove on in to Llano and picked up some Quikrete. Stopped by Inman's barbeque on the way back and got a pound of brisket.
I fix the ruts in my lane with Quikrete. Man has that stuff gone up. I use that stuff like some people use duck tape. I got to kick the habit. One of the many things my place has taught me is that a clay road is just ruts waiting for rain.
All the days are the same--hot, humid and still. Got the cellar pumped out today, sort of. Saw Marie, my 80 pound neighbor sitting on her back porch today. She may be just 80 pounds, but it is all spunk. She looked well, for a person that has diabetes and emphysema, plus a heart attack earlier this year.
Marie and Bobby lost their garden to the Easter snow. Then Bobby's tiller broke for good. I'd till the garden for them if it would ever dry out.
Anyway I asked Marie if she wanted any tomatos. She did. My garden has an eight foot high deer fence and a six and a half foot gate. It kind of reminds you of the state prison over at Eden.
I opened the gate, walked inside, and took off my shoes. In two strides I was in mud about three inches from my knees. Good thing my pants-of-choice are cut offs. I felt like a hobbit going through the garden. The nice thing about that was I didn't have to bend over as much.
Gave Marie a dozen or so tomatos and picked up my shoes and walked around to the back porch. I could not exist without a water hose and a concrete porch facing away from the neighbors. I am a mud magnet. Always have been. The times in my life when I have been dirtless or stainless are nothing but brief episodes. I wear a lot of black. Makes me more presentable.
I demudified myself. Sometimes I have to hang up clothes and spray the mud off. I don't know if everyone knows this or not, but being naked outside in summertime is more enjoyable than being naked inside. I guess it is what you call a cheap thrill. Now I realize that all off you who know me are saying, "Let's not go there." But it is true. Just the opportunity to be nude outside alone is reason enough to move to the country. Just be mindful that some vehicles don't make much noise so always keep an eye on your road.
Which reminds me, I had a date to take Beth Denton out to eat tonight. Owed her for a pot roast dinner last week. Kind of surprised about how much water was standing around her place since the last time I was there.
I showed up early. Sometimes I'm late. I figure it balances out. We left for town around seven o'clock. None of the low water crossings were over six inches high. No water at all was on the road at the Sand Springs crossing. The sky got dark in a hurry over towards Mason as we drove into town. No problem so long as it stays west.
We were suppose to go to the Llaneaux Seafood House, but they were closed for the Riverfest Barbeque Cook-off. We could have eaten at the Cook-off but I have this thing about not eating outside when it is hot and humid and there are a lot of flies around. Beth had never been to the Tin Cup Cafe so that is where we went.
The Tin Cup is about ten miles south of town going towards Fredricksburg. It is in a cow pasture. Manuevering between the cow patties requires your complete attention. I don't know why, but cows seem to prefer pooping on a road. Of course you could just drive over them, but I don't like that sound.
Anyway, Beth had the brisket with fried okra and I had the chicken fried steak with pan fries. We both had black-eyed peas.
Coming back we watched the sun set where the storm had been over Mason. The western sky was like a bright orange curtain. We listened to a CD of Don Edwards singing cowboy songs. Cowboy singers almost always seem to have clear, pure tenor voices. The difference between cowboy singers and so-called country and western singers is that is that the former sings and the latter yells. I guess they are trying to make up in volume what they lack in quality. I much prefer singing to yelling.
When we got to Llano we stopped on a hill south of town. I brake for color or panorama. We were listening to the Fort Worth Philaharmonic Orchestra perform "Ghost Riders in the Sky" while watching lightning pounding the snot out of an area north of town where we lived.
Well at least the firework show this evening would be a go. We got a good spot on Ford Street where we could watch the spectacular from inside the car. Really was impressed by the length and quality of show the town put own. I've seen the City of Austin do less. We listened to Dimitri Tiomken's musical score of the battles in The Alamo.
After the fireworks, we went by Town and Country. That's just about the only place to go in Llano on Saturday night if you don't enjoy loud and obnoxious drunks and/or music. About a third of the town showed up. Beth got the 24 ounce bottle of Dr. Depper. I got a 44 ounce brewed ice tea. Jeff who works the second shift at Tand C asked if Beth was my wife. I said, "Yes." Beth said, "Not in this life or the next." Man, women going through the change sure don't have a sense of humor. Of course, maybe she just resented Jeff's presumption that she looked old enough to be married to me.
The skies had cleared and a full moon was in the sky. Soft white light was falling on the world around us. Even better, there was no traffic, so I could drive as slow as I wanted while listening to the 101 Strings perform "Fly Me to the Moon." I feel so much more in control of my world when I can drive slow. I have never been able to do anything fast, except maybe thinking occasionally.
The Sand Springs water crossing is only about 300 yards from where you turn off Highway 71 onto CR 408. What had been dry less than four hours ago was covered by an angry torrent. It had rained between an inch and a half and two inches on already saturated ground. We were in 2001 Cadillac. That thing only has about nine inches of ground clearance.
I put on the Celtic Woman CD. I knew Beth would like that, cause she used to play a fiddle. Watching water run across the road in moonlight is a whole lot more fun than watching television these days. And the air conditioner worked fine.
Somebody came by in full size truck and made it across easily. Later, Julie and her daughter Tam, who live just beyond Bobby and Marie, showed up in her husband's dually. We visited for awhile. Tam, who will be a senior this year, stood apart talking on her cell phone all the time. Julie decided to cross and made it just fine.
Beth started to get a little antsy. Females going to the bathroom are a bit of a problem these days. They seem a lot more adverse to taking care of business outside in the dark than they used to be. Anyway, with Beth's, shall we say, encouragement, I crossed Sand Springs. Now, no way would that heavy a car have washed off the road, but just the same, I'm glad we waited as long as we did.
None of the rest of the crossings were as bad as Sand Springs. When we got to Beth's place, it was a mess. Where there had been water everywhere, there was now, more water everywhere. And to make things worse, power was out. I keep a flashlight in the trunk. Beth lit some candles. Light is nice. But all the same, on a hot, sticky, still, moonlit night I will trade it for an operating fan anytime.
With Beth happily headed towards the bathroom, with no water pressure, I got back in my car. I drove about four yards and the car sank to the undercarriage. I then walked home. This is not the way some of the neighbors are reporting the incident, but it is my story and I am sticking with it.
I got to thinking about the evening after I got home, and you know, a lot of the dates I had when I was younger didn't turn out much better.
It is 5.6 miles from my house to the highway. Some people may have larger low water crossings between them and and a highway. Some people may have worse low water crossings. But I'm betting a Badu House chicken fried steak dinner that ain't nobody got more low water crossings between them and a highway than the folks in this community.
Llano CR 408 has more in common with a roller coaster than it does with a road. Each water crossing has it's own personality. Kind of like siblings in a large family. Some are easy to get along with. Some are always challenging you. That's okay with me, helps keep the yankee and left coast riff-raff away.
Picked up this weeks mail today. Doug Birch sent me a fine article from the Houston Chronicle about chicken fried steaks. I just don't believe there is anymore exciting reading than a good chicken fried steak story.
Drove on in to Llano and picked up some Quikrete. Stopped by Inman's barbeque on the way back and got a pound of brisket.
I fix the ruts in my lane with Quikrete. Man has that stuff gone up. I use that stuff like some people use duck tape. I got to kick the habit. One of the many things my place has taught me is that a clay road is just ruts waiting for rain.
All the days are the same--hot, humid and still. Got the cellar pumped out today, sort of. Saw Marie, my 80 pound neighbor sitting on her back porch today. She may be just 80 pounds, but it is all spunk. She looked well, for a person that has diabetes and emphysema, plus a heart attack earlier this year.
Marie and Bobby lost their garden to the Easter snow. Then Bobby's tiller broke for good. I'd till the garden for them if it would ever dry out.
Anyway I asked Marie if she wanted any tomatos. She did. My garden has an eight foot high deer fence and a six and a half foot gate. It kind of reminds you of the state prison over at Eden.
I opened the gate, walked inside, and took off my shoes. In two strides I was in mud about three inches from my knees. Good thing my pants-of-choice are cut offs. I felt like a hobbit going through the garden. The nice thing about that was I didn't have to bend over as much.
Gave Marie a dozen or so tomatos and picked up my shoes and walked around to the back porch. I could not exist without a water hose and a concrete porch facing away from the neighbors. I am a mud magnet. Always have been. The times in my life when I have been dirtless or stainless are nothing but brief episodes. I wear a lot of black. Makes me more presentable.
I demudified myself. Sometimes I have to hang up clothes and spray the mud off. I don't know if everyone knows this or not, but being naked outside in summertime is more enjoyable than being naked inside. I guess it is what you call a cheap thrill. Now I realize that all off you who know me are saying, "Let's not go there." But it is true. Just the opportunity to be nude outside alone is reason enough to move to the country. Just be mindful that some vehicles don't make much noise so always keep an eye on your road.
Which reminds me, I had a date to take Beth Denton out to eat tonight. Owed her for a pot roast dinner last week. Kind of surprised about how much water was standing around her place since the last time I was there.
I showed up early. Sometimes I'm late. I figure it balances out. We left for town around seven o'clock. None of the low water crossings were over six inches high. No water at all was on the road at the Sand Springs crossing. The sky got dark in a hurry over towards Mason as we drove into town. No problem so long as it stays west.
We were suppose to go to the Llaneaux Seafood House, but they were closed for the Riverfest Barbeque Cook-off. We could have eaten at the Cook-off but I have this thing about not eating outside when it is hot and humid and there are a lot of flies around. Beth had never been to the Tin Cup Cafe so that is where we went.
The Tin Cup is about ten miles south of town going towards Fredricksburg. It is in a cow pasture. Manuevering between the cow patties requires your complete attention. I don't know why, but cows seem to prefer pooping on a road. Of course you could just drive over them, but I don't like that sound.
Anyway, Beth had the brisket with fried okra and I had the chicken fried steak with pan fries. We both had black-eyed peas.
Coming back we watched the sun set where the storm had been over Mason. The western sky was like a bright orange curtain. We listened to a CD of Don Edwards singing cowboy songs. Cowboy singers almost always seem to have clear, pure tenor voices. The difference between cowboy singers and so-called country and western singers is that is that the former sings and the latter yells. I guess they are trying to make up in volume what they lack in quality. I much prefer singing to yelling.
When we got to Llano we stopped on a hill south of town. I brake for color or panorama. We were listening to the Fort Worth Philaharmonic Orchestra perform "Ghost Riders in the Sky" while watching lightning pounding the snot out of an area north of town where we lived.
Well at least the firework show this evening would be a go. We got a good spot on Ford Street where we could watch the spectacular from inside the car. Really was impressed by the length and quality of show the town put own. I've seen the City of Austin do less. We listened to Dimitri Tiomken's musical score of the battles in The Alamo.
After the fireworks, we went by Town and Country. That's just about the only place to go in Llano on Saturday night if you don't enjoy loud and obnoxious drunks and/or music. About a third of the town showed up. Beth got the 24 ounce bottle of Dr. Depper. I got a 44 ounce brewed ice tea. Jeff who works the second shift at Tand C asked if Beth was my wife. I said, "Yes." Beth said, "Not in this life or the next." Man, women going through the change sure don't have a sense of humor. Of course, maybe she just resented Jeff's presumption that she looked old enough to be married to me.
The skies had cleared and a full moon was in the sky. Soft white light was falling on the world around us. Even better, there was no traffic, so I could drive as slow as I wanted while listening to the 101 Strings perform "Fly Me to the Moon." I feel so much more in control of my world when I can drive slow. I have never been able to do anything fast, except maybe thinking occasionally.
The Sand Springs water crossing is only about 300 yards from where you turn off Highway 71 onto CR 408. What had been dry less than four hours ago was covered by an angry torrent. It had rained between an inch and a half and two inches on already saturated ground. We were in 2001 Cadillac. That thing only has about nine inches of ground clearance.
I put on the Celtic Woman CD. I knew Beth would like that, cause she used to play a fiddle. Watching water run across the road in moonlight is a whole lot more fun than watching television these days. And the air conditioner worked fine.
Somebody came by in full size truck and made it across easily. Later, Julie and her daughter Tam, who live just beyond Bobby and Marie, showed up in her husband's dually. We visited for awhile. Tam, who will be a senior this year, stood apart talking on her cell phone all the time. Julie decided to cross and made it just fine.
Beth started to get a little antsy. Females going to the bathroom are a bit of a problem these days. They seem a lot more adverse to taking care of business outside in the dark than they used to be. Anyway, with Beth's, shall we say, encouragement, I crossed Sand Springs. Now, no way would that heavy a car have washed off the road, but just the same, I'm glad we waited as long as we did.
None of the rest of the crossings were as bad as Sand Springs. When we got to Beth's place, it was a mess. Where there had been water everywhere, there was now, more water everywhere. And to make things worse, power was out. I keep a flashlight in the trunk. Beth lit some candles. Light is nice. But all the same, on a hot, sticky, still, moonlit night I will trade it for an operating fan anytime.
With Beth happily headed towards the bathroom, with no water pressure, I got back in my car. I drove about four yards and the car sank to the undercarriage. I then walked home. This is not the way some of the neighbors are reporting the incident, but it is my story and I am sticking with it.
I got to thinking about the evening after I got home, and you know, a lot of the dates I had when I was younger didn't turn out much better.