My host hit the big 4-0 yesterday trapping pocket gophers. The property looks clean an clear for the first time since I moved out here.

He used a trap called a 'gopher hawk'. I wish I had some of those when I was a kid trapping for the 60 cent bounty.

My little front yard has been invaded by meadow voles, leaving raised trails in the dirt a la the old Bugs Bunny cartoons. Too shallow for gopher hawk traps, im gonna have to get inventive with Tomcat bait...

Texas living, I tell ya.

Weather aside, I'm told that scorpion season is fairly short and being as I haven't seen any in a few weeks, and since the last week of July danged few houseflies, ill take it. The fire ants haven't thinned out a bit though, and my whiptail lizard population has grown to where they're laying eggs on my little 4X5 foot porch. I haven't gone out barefoot since parking my little house here.

Today's wakeup call was an 18" juvenile copperhead sticking out from under the trailer. He scooted off by the time I'd grabbed a shovel, so now I've got a better reason to watch my every step outside.

I'm trying to "save" gas money on a fixed income, little progress so far. I've promised myself a trip to (H)umble, but budgeting is a challenge so far. I'll get there, Jaime. Sooner or later!

Meanwhile we're continuing the fencing project, still drilling and setting railroad tie braces. My friend has a dose of mesothelioma, so understandably we take a lot of breaks. Two worn out old dufusses in their later 60s, what can possibly go wrong? 

The PuddinFace continues to excel, 4.0+ and in 5 different brainiac honors societies and just received ANOTHER scholarship. And she has trademarked the PuddinFace name for a future business endeavor, at the time being a pastry/health food bakery.

Maybe this lonely old man will live vicariously through his overachieving daughter for the duration...

Looks like Stetto's gonna be traveling soon enough.

Long story, but I've been kindly asked to move on. This dang-near 67 year old dufus has never pulled a trailer like this, and for some reason I'm terrified of the prospect. With all the stuff I have stored here, my old Ram 1500 may well be towing a uhaul behind the 20' Forest River.

I towed a 14' Alumacraft for some years, and a few trips with 8x10 uhauls, but I'm pretty sure that those apples don't relate to the pumpkin I'm in now.

Sucks to be Stetto today 

Hey Amigo, give me a call so I can run some stuff by you...

Bummer, know where you are landing yet?

Quote from: jetmex on August 19, 2026, 08:50:46 AMHey Amigo, give me a call so I can run some stuff by you...

Tried a little after 3 o'clock. A kindly answering machine alerted me to your unavailability. I have a Texas # now, I made sure to leave it, as I don't know if you guys were alerted...

Quote from: Onepoint on August 19, 2026, 09:09:56 AMBummer, know where you are landing yet?

So far I have no earthly clue. Obviously I have options, but I'm so resource poor none are realistic, even closer ones.

My hosts have given me a wide time window, so my first task is to get my damn head on straight. Wish me luck, it's been in mighty short supply...

Sorry I missed you, I was hip deep in the RC project and didn't have the phone with me.  I saw a couple of unknown numbers, one of them was probably you.  Try again, and leave a message if I don't pick up.  Hoping you called my cell...sent you a PM with the number.

I just wanted everyone here to to know this: our wonderful friend Jetmex talked me off the ledge today.

Thank you, esè...

You're welcome, mi amigo.

Moving day tomorrow. I found a decent little RURAL RV park about 15 miles south of here right on the Guadalupe River. At least I won't be living in a van...

Rent is low, lots of year-round tenants, still close enough that the PuddinFace can come down and go fishing with Pop like we did when she was a pup.

I really like where I am, and I'm grateful to my hosts for the 5+ months they gave me here. They're still close, and will continue storing belongings I can't haul around with me, and my porchlette is coming with me.

I'm feeling pretty neutral about the new digs, but there is every chance that this will turn out a positive turn of events.

Y'all can feel free to wish me luck!

Keep the faith brother. Thing happen for a reason.  In my case the reason more often than not, is I'm stupid unfortunately, but its not wrong.   

Hopefully the new space will work out fine.

Quote from: Onepoint on September 10, 2026, 12:51:52 PMThing happen for a reason. 

Funny, Terrin used to hammer those words into me like a Bible verse. I wonder if she still believes it...

QuoteHopefully the new space will work out fine.

One thing is for sure: I won't be beholden to anyone anymore.

Looks fine to me, but you have not seen my room.  

A scurvy bunch of ruffians if I ever saw one!   

5 bar cell service. What a change from the occasional single bar I was getting northeast of Luling. Wifi is free and that too maintains a 4-5 bar strength. Haven't met any other residents yet, I'm sure they'll ooze out of the woodwork soon enough.

My trailers orientation is exactly the same, front door pointed north by northeast, and there quite a few more tall oaks providing morning & evening shade.

So far it's been pretty quiet, with the 5:30 am exodus of folks going to work. Perfect for me, I'm generally awake between 5 & 5:30 anyway.

Good place to sit, sulk and mull on what I want to do, if I decide to do anything. For now...

...here I am...