Hot again, certainly as hot as Houston, although it takes a while longer to get there, and really only in the sun. In the sun it was over 105F yesterday, but real temp was probably high 90sF. Today is supposed to be similar.
Slept late but did eventually get to work. Spent hours mowing and edging and then blowing the debris. By then I was pretty done with being in the heat. I used a duster brush thing to get the spider webs off of the outside of the house, the eves and the fascia and then I called it quits. Family arrived while I was laying on the floor cooling down.
Had dinner and played a game, then suddenly it was midnight.
Today I’ll do more cleanup and I’ve got a bunch of red white and blue decorations to put on the dock. Our local fireworks show is right over the lake in front of our lot so we have people join us on the dock to watch. I might have to do some minor repairs to deck boards as well as the decorating…
W will want to get the boat in the water, I’m sure. It will be a full day.
I’m calling it a prep, as we are deepening our ties to the community, and making good memories for the kids. If things go crazy that will help them.
Stacking is easy, joining an existing group is hard. Do both.
nick
Idle curiosity, how big is the lake? Not exact measure in square feet or acres, but is it a pond with pretensions or is it a real lake? More importantly, what is the lake’s size divided by the typical or maximum number of people on it on a given day?
Didn’t forget. I copied Cromwell’s title from 400 years ago, then got curious and looked into why Wales wasn’t mentioned.
Nah, he’s pure southern European, as is evident by face and physique, while I am almost pure northern European, as is evident by face and physique.
Being an executor is time consuming and aggravating. Especially when no one told you in advance that you got the job. And the relatives are coming out of the woodwork…
I hope they undertook appropriate resuscitation measures! Cold drinks, foot and shoulder massages, exclamations of wonderment at all the work done, etc., etc.
Enjoy your national holiday break. Sounds like it got off to a good start.
Friday. A day of rest, so of course I woke at 4am. When W1 got up around 6, I was able to turn on the radio, and that got me back to sleep until around 11. I was tired…
No real rest for the witless, though. I need to catch up today on a lot of stuff that went on the long finger because of megaproject. Time to get up and busy.
Have an excellent day!
Ever since the night after the Brexit vote, I’ve believed that Nigel Farage has a date with destiny in 10 Downing.
Sorry SteveF.
Whether or not Farage works out as PM, it will set the Left’s hair on fire in Britain.
Watch the Nick Shirley video from the British protest against the PM two months ago. Shirley gets more love from the crowd there than he does in the US.
There should always be a Britain, led by British people. Real British people.
Ah, that is disappointing. I always thought it looked kind of cool on TV: Edward Fox, custom suppressed rifles, garrottes, poison, intrigue and all that.
I expect that was Vladimir Vladimirovich’s plan for him too. Recent revelations about Nigel’s unexplained financial dealings might derail it, though.
Happy 3rd of July. That just doesn’t ring right does it?
Things to do today. Pool, BBQ and fireworks coming up.
New Research Suggests Moderate Egg Consumption Is Linked to a Longer Life, Doctor Breaks It Down
https://creators.yahoo.com/lifestyle/story/new-research-suggests-moderate-egg-consumption-is-linked-to-a-longer-life-doctor-breaks-it-down-150000967.html
So two generations of the quacks and government running amok and giving “guidance” that had no scientific basis, resulting in excess death and increased disease.
How much more?
First approximation, more than all the deaths in war, plus all the deaths in automobile accidents, plus all the homicides in the U.S. during that time.
Have to refine the calculations, but maybe even add in all the damage caused by the Fauci Abwehr’s Needle Brigade.
ADDED:
I have six pounds of butter in the refrigerator and I’m going to use it.
ADDED:
If the government has the power of life and death and tells you that you must do something for life, you can bet there’s at least an equal chance that the result will be death.
“Happy 3rd of July. That just doesn’t ring right does it?”
Think of today as the “PRE-4TH”
Happy Independence Day (observed)
I normally have a pound or two in the fridge and 6-10 in the freezer. Plus reserved bacon fat. Plus several pounds of lard (purchased) and sometimes lard or tallow that I rendered myself. A quart or two of olive oil and a varying amount of coconut fat.
Drippings from cooking most meats, eg a pork loin, are contaminated enough that they’re not worth attempting to render. Instead, I make a pot of rice using those drippings and give it to my chickens. They eat it very enthusiastically. White rice doesn’t have much nutrition for them but a dish every now and then is ok.
I do have a container (cannister? tube?) of vegetable shortening for making cookies because kids complain that cookies with lard taste funny. (They still eat the cookies, mind you, but they complain about it.) And usually a small bottle of vegetable oil for some other recipes which I can’t make come out right when I use melted lard. Presumably the old-time recipes called for lard but the modern recipes have been tweaked for vegetable oil and I haven’t been able to figure out the reverse tweak. But that’s OK. I’m just waiting for my mom to die or be put in a home so I can get the cookbooks from before I was born and a couple of her mother’s from before my mom was born. Hmm… I’m her health proxy and a few other things. I can probably make a call on Monday and have her put in a home. Hmmmmmm………
Regardless, today is the Federal holiday as well as the observed day at many private employers.
“I do have a container (cannister? tube?) of vegetable shortening for making cookies because kids complain that cookies with lard taste funny.”
Butter.
You might try leaf lard.
I’ve made chocolate chip cookies (the all-around favorite over the years) with all butter. Kids complain about the funny taste (while continuing to eat them).
We experiment with “Chicago” deep dish pizza every Christmas Eve, and using margarine, corn oil, and, in some cases, olive oil is essential to getting the taste and texture of the crust right.
If Buc-ee’s ever receives sufficient tax incentives to build in your part of the country, one of the products they carry in the stores is Bacon Up for baking cookies.
I’ve never quite figured out the “Why” regarding that section of the stores, but the co-founder with the retail business family heritage never seems to stop experimenting.
The section reminds me of the Lodge factory store/roadside attraction, which is probably the intent.
The whole world discovered Buc-ee’s this Summer.
Mostly Harmless.
Starting to warm up, after a week in the 80’s, should be in the low 90’s today.
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I didn’t realize this was a federal holiday, this highlights one of the downsides to being retired: when every day is a holiday, you forget the joy of an extra, paid, day off!
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I have about 3lbs of butter in the fridge. Some is unsalted, which tastes strange. There is also a thing of lard, but unopened.
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There is still xeriscaping to be done, and I will do a bit, but it is more an effort relegated to cooler days.
—
Something is gnawing on my veggies, time for some pesticides.
—
No fireworks yet, but I expect that will change. There are reports that some municipalities are using drones to surveil for illegal fireworks. One of them is fining homeowners $1000 per firework fired from property. Apparently someone is going to lose their home. It’s going to be a different game when cities and counties realize the 4th can be an income source rather than sink…
But we were born free.
n
85F and sunny.
Coffee from the Moka pot, so much better tasting…
Bacon, frozen hash browns, and the kids are eating tube cinnamon rolls.
Late start but it is a holiday.
n
I take great glee in reminding my retired friends that they will never have another day off work or a holiday ever again!
It doesn’t seem to bother them much, though …
About the only thing I try to grow is tomatoes, because home grown taste better.
Horn worms last week but I just pick them off in the early morning. Voracious vegetarians.
Found one on w1’s jalapeno plant.
I’m sorry for your loss, and I sympathize with the executor pain as well. I’ve done it twice. Which is why I have my estate structured through trusts.
It’s very likely there will be no probate when I go, and minimal court supervision.
Regarding BaconUp: You don’t have to wait for Bucee’s. The BaconUp website has a “Where to buy” button, and there are several places in NY that sell it.
Having said that, I’ve never used it. I cook mostly with butter, EVOO and bacon grease we save ourselves. I don’t bake, cookies or anything.
Well, I bake bacon. Sheet trays, 255 degrees F, 2 hours. Which renders the fat nicely.
HEB has BaconUp on the shelf…
I use peanut oil primarily, and saved bacon fat, along with butter. I did use lard for my fried chicken the last time, and you need it for pie crust. I have avocado, veg, and corn oil for special needs, and olive oil for taste.
Old oil can be saved for lighting in the apocalypse…
I’ve also rendered beef tallow from the brisket I’ve made and I’ve got some duck fat in the fridge too.
Yummy yummy fats…. aaahhhh…..
n
“I’ve made chocolate chip cookies (the all-around favorite over the years) with all butter. Kids complain about the funny taste (while continuing to eat them).”
My chocolate chip cookie recipe uses all butter, and is half the reason I have 6-lbs in the refrigerator at present.
If yours taste funny you might check your other ingredients.
If everything checks out the complainers probably have genetic defects in their taste organs, and there is no reason to continue sharing. I’m sure Dollar Tree or one of the other discount stores has cookies worthy of their attention.
Rogue USAF Major’s Speech Garners Progressive Praise, but I Don’t Think They’ve Thought This Through
https://redstate.com/streiff/2026/07/03/the-rogue-usaf-majors-speech-garners-progressive-praise-but-i-dont-think-theyve-thought-this-through-n2203972
“He’s probably thinking that the Air Force will not hold him on active duty for a court-martial”
He disgraced the uniform. Court martial him and give him the maximum sentence.
Get the Hard Copy! Sony Just Proved the Risk of Digital Ownership
https://redstate.com/bradslager/2026/07/03/get-the-hard-copy-the-risk-with-digital-ownership-seen-as-sony-eliminates-hundreds-of-purchased-films-n2203968
No, they’re just used to cookies made more cheaply – partially hydrogenated vegetable shortening with a few drops of genuine artificial butter flavor.
Not related to the fat but relevant to chocolate chip cookies, I’ve found that a majority of teens prefer chocolate chip cookies made with mini chips rather than regular-sized chips. I picked up a bag of mini chips by mistake and my daughter discovered that she liked them better. When she shared with classmates, most of them also preferred the mini chips. They’re easier to mix, too.
(One may wonder about the strange claim that a teenager shared cookies. Unbelievable but true! Generally when she came here during the college school year I’d send her back with homemade cookies and sometimes a dish of pot pie or chili. A pound of homemade jerky toward the end of the school year. At first she ate all or almost all of the cookies herself, maaaaybe sharing about three cookies from the five or six dozen I gave her. As the school year progressed, she mentioned that she was eating only about two of the cafeteria meals per day and supplementing with carrots, celery, or romaine lettuce that she picked up at the grocery store. About the same time she said that she was eating half or less of the batch of cookies and handing the rest out to the RAs at the dorm or her couple friends. Eh? A teen eating somewhat healthily? And she goes for walks almost every day, weather permitting, and even went to the gym a few times. Good thing I don’t have a weak heart or that news would have done me in.)
Takeovers Now Sparking Fear Across July 4 Weekend
https://redstate.com/wardclark/2026/07/03/out-of-control-teen-takeovers-now-sparking-fear-across-july-4-weekend-n2203967
What’s wrong with water cannons and tear gas? They’re not flamethrowers and puke gas.
Four vehicles with rapid razor wire deployment systems could make “Gulag on the Beach” in about sixty seconds.
Funny how they mistakenly used a photo of a race riot to illustrate a “teen takeover”.
I like chocolate chip cookies. My Mom would vary it a bit. Her oatmeal cookies plain were great. Sometimes she added chocolate chips. Sometimes raisins. They were all great.
I don’t know her recipe.
Last night after Bedtime Potty Walk, I hoisted Penny onto the bed. Buddy was in the living room under the ceiling fan. I went and took a shower.
Then I had to take a picture: https://remsset.com/files/penny&buddy.jpg
He sleeps there or on his bed. That blue thing behind him is his bed. Or he sleeps on the bathroom’s tile floor.
The picture is how the phone took it. No editing.
Pete Holmes’ Badman (Complete Series)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDdHYjb5sBk&t=1660s
What’s this on Krypton?
What a nice picture of Penny and Buddy!
Makes me want to go snooze, too. As it is nearly bedtime, that is precisely what I will do. Goodnight!
“Highlander”, “Total Recall”, and “Terminator 2” would have been popular downloads, but “Hot Fuzz” was probably a launch title for a streaming service on the PS3.
Motivation for @Nick:
Make sure your tetanus is up to date. Hillsboro has a significant rat problem.
@paul
“The picture is how the phone took it.”
Someone snuck in and tipped your dogs over while you were in the shower.
Do you have a cat?
Cats are outside critters. I have a problem with some creature that buries its poop getting on my kitchen counter.
I have cats. Eight at the moment.
missed this bit of too pron when it came out 8 months ago:
US Military’s “SPEC OPS” Impact Wrench is kinda insane
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNCwMYGeiyw
250 years and it is like nothing? no decorations at the heb. I drove past the edge of the court house square and didn’t see anything.
Sure ain’t like the way i remember 1976.
Or lots of other 4ths.
Any large celebration would be a target.
Plus, everyone is home watching World Cup.
I haven’t been anywhere except home and the hospital for the past week. Very busy and spending much of the day on the phone and email. I’ll be running around to a bunch of govt offices and banks and I don’t know what else next week, but that will be after Independence Day (actual) so I don’t know whether to expect anything.
Regardless, today is the Federal holiday as well as the observed day at many private employers.
We got mail today so the Post Office did not take today off. I bet they take Saturday off.
About the only thing I try to grow is tomatoes, because home grown taste better.
Horn worms last week but I just pick them off in the early morning. Voracious vegetarians.
Found one on w1’s jalapeno plant.
Stay away from the screwworms. I understand that they can mess you up something fierce.
Very sorry to hear that, SteveF. I apologise for my previous flippant remark about executors; for whatever reason, I had entirely failed to grasp the gravity of the situation. Best wishes for all with which you have to deal.
Not a problem, Denis, and no offense taken.
My brother received a death sentence a couple years ago. He thought there was more time and dawdled in setting things up, then his last five or six days were a very sharp drop, leaving a number of things for me to take care of with no warning and no guidance. Gee, thanks.
And, as I mentioned above, the relatives have shown up and are making claims not necessarily in accordance with his desires. Double gee, thanks.
For some reason, I was very active in June and July on Facebook 10 or more years ago. And now I’m getting reminders of memories.
There are several posts of mine, and comments on them by ex-friends and dead people.
Even the good memories, like a 2 hour flight in a small plane with my best friend, become bittersweet when my deceased sister’s approving comment is attached. I miss her, warts and all.
LIfe goes on. And Balnellen Sherry cask Scotch exists.
Good night, all.
(One may wonder about the strange claim that a teenager shared cookies. Unbelievable but true! Generally when she came here during the college school year I’d send her back with homemade cookies and sometimes a dish of pot pie or chili. A pound of homemade jerky toward the end of the school year. At first she ate all or almost all of the cookies herself, maaaaybe sharing about three cookies from the five or six dozen I gave her. As the school year progressed, she mentioned that she was eating only about two of the cafeteria meals per day and supplementing with carrots, celery, or romaine lettuce that she picked up at the grocery store. About the same time she said that she was eating half or less of the batch of cookies and handing the rest out to the RAs at the dorm or her couple friends. Eh? A teen eating somewhat healthily? And she goes for walks almost every day, weather permitting, and even went to the gym a few times. Good thing I don’t have a weak heart or that news would have done me in.)
My son spent the Christmas of 2006 in Hit, Iraq. My wife sent him about 300 homemade Christmas cookies in the US Mail, enough to share with his platoon. He told us that since we sent so much stuff, his fellow Marines would gather around mail call to see what was in the 2 or 3 boxes he got a week. When the Marines saw the Christmas cookies with sugar icing in individual ziplock bags, they went nuts. He managed to keep 20 or 30 for his stash, the rest got snatched.
Later in the week, he found one of his platoon members had broken his lock and was going through his footlocker, looking for the cookies. And any other food stuff, like the tuna and crackers setups. MREs were really getting old by then.
You are gracious, SteveF. Sincere condolences for your brother. I dread the day that one of mine will die.
Now, since it is early and timezones are on my side:
Saturday! July 4!
Wishing my US-American friends a happy and blessed Independence Day, liberty, peace, prosperity, and another 250 years of your great constitutional republic. It’s not perfect, but it is a shining city on a hill, when seen from most of the rest of the world.
I got a lot of smallish things done today. And had a nice tiny little fire on the dock with the small portacool fan blowing on me. Damp, but a nice cool breeze.
Big black sky tonight. W ID’d the archer and a giant scorpion constellation… but the haze was encroaching from the horizon and the moon rose, so we didn’t get out the big scope. We had the new colored lights on on the dock anyway.
Got my decorations up. Changed out some flags that were a bit faded and worn looking. Did some minor repairs to the dock deck boards. Hopefully we’ll have some people on the dock watching fireworks with us tomorrow night.
There wasn’t a crazy lot of activity on the lake today, nor was there much flashing and banging from fireworks. Maybe people are just out of money. We’ll see tomorrow.
Time for a shower and bed.
n
I have been watching “Love, Death & Robots” on Netflix all day. There are about 40 or 50 episodes. Two episodes are written by Marko Kloos, several by John Scalzi, Nash Asher, etc. High quality stuff.
Some episodes are animated, some are live, some are that weird mismatch between live and animated.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9561862/
Just noticed that the comment count here has surpassed 326K. @SteveF got number 326,000 : https://www.ttgnet.com/journal/2026/07/03/fri-july-3-2026-time-to-do-some-decorating/#comment-326000
I’ve enjoyed most of them. Carry on.
FLASHLIGHTS.
That’s a lot of comments.
n
“Trump signs pardons for six people who he says were sent to prison for ‘fixing their car'”
https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/all-things-trump/trump-signs-pardons-six-people-who-he-says-were-sent-prison-fixing
“Trump had previously pardoned a Wyoming mechanic who served seven months in prison for violating federal emissions laws for disabling air pollution-control equipment on diesel engines.”
I am ok with these pardons. As Nick said, we were born free.
Hat tip to:
https://thelibertydaily.com/
“260 Starlink Satellites Burn Up in Earth’s Atmosphere As More Head for Fiery Ends”
https://www.pcmag.com/news/260-starlink-satellites-burn-up-in-earths-atmosphere-as-more-head-for-fiery
“The rate of Starlink satellite disposals between December 2025 and May 2026 increased slightly from the previous six months, according to a SpaceX report submitted to the FCC.”
I assume that these are the version 1 Starlinks, not the 737 sized version 3s.
Ahhhh coffeeeeee……
Good morning. Sunny and 87F.
I can see the neighbors setting up the fireworks for the show. Can’t tell yet if it will be bigger or smaller. It could be half of last year and still be a crazy big show for a single person to put on.
House is quiet even at the late hour. Teens. I remember being able to sleep until three in the afternoon. Now I’d have to be medicated or at death’s door.
Enjoy the day, and sneak a little extra freedom into it…
n
well, took a little break and took the boat out around the lake. Hit something so we came in early. Got it up on the lift and it all looks ok, can’t even see any marks. Must have been a floating log, the stumps would have left a bigger mark. So that was exciting.
It’s 101F in the shade and hotter than satan’s taint in the sun. Still plugging away at small stuff though.
I might get the pressure washer out, the mist from that will be nice and cool…
n
Ah, I finished up the tasks and went for a swim. No pressure washing today.
Then it was a bit of a rush to get the chairs out and ready for our guests. Fifty minute fireworks show, with a front row seat. Equal to any pro show, except not choreographed to music and the stuff didn’t fly as high. Good times.
Tried to have a great big bon fire but it failed to light, despite liberal application of an accelerant. Settled for a tiny little fire and the kindle.
Now it’s time for a shower, meds, and bed.
n