Don't pay the Ransom, I've Escaped !!!

If any one has received a ransom note, just ignore it. I have NOT been kidnapped by terrorists or agents of the IRS. I have just been extremely busy for the last couple of weeks with Texas BBQ & Beans. I've been getting about four hrs of sleep a night for so long I'm running on auxillary power. But it is a good tired, solidly surrounded by dollar signs.
We just finished a first for our BBQ business this past weekend. We were set up at two different locations about 75 miles apart, with my son Josh running one at the Buffalo Days festival in Greenfield MO. and myself and crew at the 42nd Annual Memorial Day Races at MOKAN Dragway in Asbury MO.
I don't know for sure about Josh, but we had a blast at the race track. We always set up with a view of the starting line and get to see everything up close. We always have a really great time and get to meet most of the racers when they come over to eat.
There were some really neat things this year like the school bus that does a wheel stand for a full 1/4 mile, and of course,the jet cars. There were two jets that were made to look like Thomas the Train. They really stole the show. Lots of noise, smoke and power in addition to running the 1/4 mi at over 300 mph.
Well, anyway, we're back with a couple of weeks to catch up on things around Poverty Flats so stop by anytime. Until then, as always.......

Via Con Dios,
DM
Pitmaster
Texas BBQ & Beans

Inland Hurricane

It's been a hectic week around Poverty Flats. Last Friday morning about 7:00am we had a storm come through that caused serious damage to the area. Weather forecasters described it as an "Inland Hurricane" with flat-line winds of 85 mph. I'm not sure I agree with that opinion, because of the extent of the damage. I, along with many other people, believe it was a tornado.
We had a huge hedge tree in our yard beside the driveway which was nearly as large around as my Ford F-150. I say HAD, because it was totally uprooted falling over my BBQ truck, the Airstream travel trailer, and the carport roof. About half the shingles on the roof are now somewhere down in Arkansas.
The entire area was without power for days. We here were without for three days, and others are still without power after more than four days. Utility poles were snapped off like toothpicks. Portable buildings were blown away, and roofs were seriously damaged.
We have an insurance claims ajuster coming Thursday morning so we will see how good our insurance is. I'm sorry, but I trust insurance ajusters about as much as I trust lawyers. But we'll see.
On a more upbeat side, the Truman Days festival at Lamar MO was a huge success Saturday. After we dug the BBQ truck out with a chainsaw we had a really great day.
We have always done very well at Lamar, but Saturday was far better than we had ever seen there. We sold the first BBQ plate at 10:00am and by 2:30pm we were completely sold out of everything on the truck. The folks there had been without power and I guess they were hungry.
We are going to do something we have not previously tried for Memorial Day weekend. We will do two entirely different events about 70 miles apart on the same weekend. I will be at MOKAN dragway which is a huge event for us. At the same time, my son Josh will cover the Buffalo Days festival at Greenfield MO. with my other equiptment and BBQ. I'm anxious to see how this works because next year I plan to add a second BBQ truck to our business.
Well folks, it's late so must say goodnight.

Via Con Dios DM

Things are looking up

Today is such a great day I have to sit on my hands to keep from clapping. Why ??? Well, just because it is ! This is a day that God has created, and gave to us to enjoy. And all else aside,I read the newspaper this morning and my name was NOT in the obituary page again. I have spent a great deal of time in the past months in deep sorrow for the loss of my wife Frances. And, there is a part of me that will always be with her. But God has begun to show me through his Word, and through daily prayer, that He is not quite through with my life yet. Only He alone knows when my time will come. But until that time comes, I have work to do and must be about it fervently.
I have begun a new exercise program. My doctor advised me three years ago when I had become disabled due to back injuries, that I needed to walk as much as possible and exercise daily. It took a long time for this to sink into my hard head. But as God made me realize that I had work to do, I began to rethink the doctor's orders. I started walking about six weeks ago, short at first, and am now doing 4 1/2 miles a day. And with this, have returned to an old hobby from years gone by of weighlifting. I think it is working, at least a little. I've dropped 30 lbs so far, and have not had to use my walking cane for over a month. All in all, I feel physically better than I have in 15 years. That's almost scary ! Next thing you know, I'll be trying to take up boogie dancing. HA, not with my two left feet. But I am ready to begin riding my big bay mare Shasta again.
Shasta is my Tennessee Walker and is quite a stepper. I'm just waiting for the ground to dry up some and then we are off and running.
Kelsey's school bus is due in a few minutes so I must sign off. May God bless you real good.
Via Con Dios, DM

Water Everywhere

The rain has been coming down since last night. I think we have received around three inches so far. It takes at least two inches for the water to come over my driveway, and it was at that point around daybreak this morning. The little creek that runs thru my property is out of it's banks and creating a real mess. The whole area is under a flash flood warning and the weather forecast is calling for the rain to continue thru Sunday.
I sure am glad I'm not cooking BBQ or doing a festival this weekend. I hate to stand out in the rain and try to keep a fire going. Besides, if I stand out in the rain, it washes the Colorback out of my beard. ha.
This weekend is an off week for us at Texas BBQ & Beans. We have a 1-day event next Saturday at Lamar MO that will be a busy time. We always do well saleswise at Lamar and always have a great time. But for now, it's rest and relaxation time for me. I have tickets to a good afternoon music show at Branson, and am looking forward to chowing down on some excellent baby back ribs at Lambert's afterwards. AND, I won't have to do the cooking !! How great is that ? I'll let y'all know how good the food was when I get back. Until then........

Via Con Dios
DM