Brrrrrrr !!!!!!

Seems like I recall a time or two back in July and August that I wished for some cooler weather. You know what I'm saying, back when the sweat was running down and the ticks were climbing up to see where it was coming from. Well, I knew then that I would regret that thought sooner or later. The temp. has not gotten up to 50 yet and it is 2pm. And this is only the beginning.
The weatherman is predicting our first hard freeze of the year by the first of the week. But of course there is always a brighter side to everything that comes our way. I can think of a couple of things like, no more grass to mow, and no more ticks. No more garden to tend, no more yellow jackets hiding in the bushes. I could go on and on but that gives the general idea. All we have to do now is wait for the inevitable ice and snow to start. I can hardly wait for the freezing to start so I can break out the tank heater for the stock tank, dig out the snow shovels, winterize the vehicles and all that other fun stuff that goes with it. By the time we get all that done, I will no doubt be saying "I sure would like to see some warmer weather", and the whole thing starts all over again.
I guess we should just learn to do as the apostle Paul said, and be content with whatever situation we find ourselves in. That is a great idea, and I know the Bible is right, but, sometimes it sure is hard to do. If mankind had grasped that concept from the beginning, we'd all still be living in the Garden of Eden. I heard a preacher say once that we should learn to be humbly grateful instead of grumbly hateful. Makes sense to me !

Via Con Dios DM

Today's Prayer

Dear Lord,
So far today, Lord, I've done alright. I haven't gossiped, haven't lost my temper, haven't been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish or overindulgent. I'm really glad about that, Lord !
BUT..... in a few minutes, I'm going to get out of bed, and from then on, I'm probably going to need a lot more help.
Thank you, In Jesus Name,
AMEN

Things are kinda slow around Poverty Flats this week. We have been so busy with the BBQ business since last Spring that we have about forgotten how to slow down. It's not like there is nothing to do here, It's just that doing absolutely nothing feels good for a change.
Well, to be completely honest, we havn't been totally idle. Construction has began on our new front deck. I promised Granny that I would start it as soon as we had a week off from selling BBQ so the work started this week. It will probably take a week or two working by myself to complete. It is going to make a big change in the front of our home. Wish we could post some before and after photos, but Granny or I neither one know how to post them.
MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT THIS WEEK !!! We have a couple of younger horses that came from a rescue situation last year. That would be Star, and Blaze . They had not been worked with much when we bought them, and they had originally come from open range in N. Dakota near the Canadian border. On top of all that, with the abuse they had been through, they did not trust anyone. Well, I have been trying patiently for over a year to get a halter on Star. I could have just roped her and forced it on her, but would have destroyed the trust we have been working to build. Then, yesturday, I tried once more to slip it on and all of a sudden I'm standing there looking at her with a pretty pink halter on her head. WOW !! I thought it was just luck so today I went out and took it off her. Then she stood there and let me put it back on. Like I said, major accomplishment.
OK , Granny is looking over my shoulder saying, "Haven't you gotten that thing updated yet ?"
I think that is my que to go eat some ice cream so I'm out of here.

Via Con Dios DM

Another cool night

We have another cool night in store for us here at Poverty Flats. The temp. dropped to 42 last night. I was ouside cooking BBQ all night and it was pretty cool. I don't particularly like really cold weather, but after a really hot summer the cooldown feels pretty good. Guess we had better enjoy it while we can because as we all know, it is going to get a lot colder in the near future. I can just picture myself wadding through snow up to my beltbuckle to light a fire in the smoker to cook BBQ. South Texas was never like that !! Down there, when it gets too cold to go skinny-dipping in the Gulf, it's wintertime.
Well, the weatherman on the local TV station says it is going to start warming back up tomorrow. Hope he is right for a change. We have a big festival over at Girard KS this Saturday that will run from 9am until 10 or 11pm. The weather is supposed to be great with temp in the low 80's and sunny all day. We are expecting to do really well at this event. It will be our first time to sell BBQ in Kansas. Those folks just don't know what they have been missing.
We have had an unbelievably great festival season this year. The response to our BBQ has been far and away beyond anything we could have imagined. We have had the opportunuty to meet a lot of new people, we've had a great time doing what we do, and made a pile of money in the process. You just can't get much better than that !!!!!
We are still looking at landing a spot locally to set up and sell BBQ weekly thru the winter months. I just have to get back to the owner of the property and tie up the deal. We have gotten a lot of local name recognition this year and a lot of folks keep asking when our BBQ will be available locally. We are already doing some local catering and I think we will do well with the spot.
We have already added some new equipment to the BBQ truck and we will soon be adding to the menu as well. Soon we will be adding potato salad and cole slaw to accompany our already popular BBQ ranch-style beans. AND, as soon as we can get everything approved with the health dept., we will begin to bottle and sell our BBQ sauce. We still have to get our label designed, and still have to decide on a name for it. So far, we just call it 'our sauce '. Granny says we need to have a contest to find a good name for the sauce. Don't know. Maybe .
This has all just snowballed beyond the original plan of just once or twice a month to suppliment our retirement income. I guess it goes to show again that GOD's word is true. Jeremiah 33:3 says " Call on me and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not ".
It's late, I'm tired, and a warm bed is waiting. Via Con Dios to all .
DM Pitmaster
Texas BBQ & Beans