Guest Cottage... Now Available!

Due to the overwhelming success of this year's Holiday Season, and countless requests for more quality time, and extended stays from our guests and visitors; officials are pleased to announce that an exclusive Guest Cottage is now available at The Compound. The Guest Cottage will be available on New Year’s Eve, for the first time ever.

In the coming year, the Guest Cottage will be available for all major holidays and weekend getaways. This is the latest addition to an ever expanding list of amenities available at The Compound. The Guest Cottage, of course, is already booked for this year’s New Year’s Eve Party and Celebration.

The Guest Cottage is a charming, one bedroom bungalow, nestled beneath the pines on the north quadrant of The Compound, and is within easy walking distance to the Main House. Guests can enjoy watching the wildlife as they sit comfortably on the cozy front porch/sun deck.

This secluded and romantic hideaway is the perfect place to get away from the it all. The Guest Cottage is tucked away in a truly picturesque setting, complete with a view of the snow capped Wasatch Mountains, and is just minutes away from several world class ski resorts. But, why would anyone want to go skiing, when you can just enjoy your stay at The Compound?

As always, an open bar is available. Fun, music, and entertainment, as well as exquisite gourmet meals are provided to our guests and visitors by the wonderful and friendly staff, at no additional charge.

Reservations are now being accepted for next year's Holidays, Weekends, and Special Events, and are booking fast. Call today, so that you don’t miss out! We hope to see y’all real soon!

The Compound Rules

We have a lot of family, guests and visitors at The Compound all the time. In a concerted effort to maintain and preserve the Mystique, Character, Class, Dignity and Charm, that have always been associated with The Compound, we felt it was necessary and timely to establish a set of guidelines or rules; essentially setting the standards for acceptable behavior for our guests and visitors to abide by, while enjoying their stay at The Compound.

The Compound Rules are as follows:

Have Fun and Laugh Today
Eat Good Grubbin’
Don’t Get Too Parched
Do Not Violate Any Compound Rules….
Repeat

While we always have fun at The Compound, we’ve been very, very busy lately and have been running behind schedule, much more than usual; or at least, more than we want to admit to. Usually on the weekends, we are enjoying our Treat-Treats by 9:30 or 9:45. But never past 10:00 am. But Sunday, the day after Christmas, was not a normal day for us. We had early phone calls from the kids, lots of wrapping paper and boxes from Christmas to deal with, and other stuff to take care of. There were lots of interruptions and the time just simply got away.

Not realizing this, until it was almost too late; and I hate to even say this but, we came dangerously close to getting too parched! I dropped everything and ran into the bar. I grabbed the basics, put a few ice cubes in some glasses and whipped up a couple of Treat-Treats for me and Jill, ….just in the nick of time! “Whew, that was close, Jill; I almost got too parched,” I said to her. “Yes, that was close, but it’s going to be O.K.,” she reassured me. “No one needs to know about this,” she whispered. “Can you even imagine what people would say if we had actually violated one of our own rules?”, she asked. “No” I said, “but that really was a close one!”

A few moments later, after quenching our thirst, and regaining our composure; everything got back to “normal” here at The Compound.

We continued to enjoy the rest of our day without further incident. And we followed "The Rules" very carefully! Just sayin’.

Lumberjack Spotted at The Compound

Reports are sketchy at this time, but officials have confirmed that a wayward lumberjack was spotted at The Compound, late in the evening on Christmas Day.

The lone lumberjack was reportedly seen wearing Paul Bunyon-ish garb, complete with the puffy vest, heavy denim logger jeans, big logging boots, and the required “Brown Beenie.” He appeared to be lost, and confused by the surroundings.

This seemed odd, for this is the type of clothing you would expect a lumberjack to wear when chopping down unsuspecting pine trees in the forests of the pacific-northwest, on a -25 degree day. This type of clothing is not something the “locals” would typically be wearing in this warmer Utah climate.

Witnesses reported that the brown beenie was unusual, as it looked relatively nice for a beenie, and seemed to fit rather well. As you know, most beenie hats come to some sort of a point at the top. However, these pointy hats do fit lumberjacks with pointed heads quite well!

The lone lumberjack was last seen scurrying away with what appeared to be a full set of scissors. The witnesses, got away unharmed, and said they were very relieved that he wasn’t wielding an axe.
Although he looked familiar, witnesses were unable to identify him.

If you have any further information concerning this mysterious, lone lumberjack, please contact the authorities at The Compound.

At The Compound - It's Christmas Day

Up the big driveway,
And in through the Gates.
We’ll drive up the lane,
And over the snow.
To Grandmother’s house,
For Christmas we go.

It’s Christmas Day,
And we’ve come to play.
We hope with new toys,
Santa brought in his sleigh.

The kids will be there, with presents to share.
I hope there are treasures, under the tree,
Maybe there's one or two just for me.

We’ll sit by the fire, comfy, cozy and warm,
We’ll open the gifts, each, one by one.
We’ll keep on laughing, and having fun,
All the day through, until we are done.

Grandma’s made some cookies to eat,
Lets all go see, there could be more treats.
We’ll enjoy all the goodies, to our sweet tooth’s delight,
We want to play ‘til it’s late, even, maybe midnight!

The table is set, all festive and nice.
She’s made a good meal, that we’re sure to like.
We’ll love it so much, we’ll want to eat twice.

Grandma’s been cooking for Santa’s Big Day,
And we hope you all, enjoy your stay.
I hear some bells ring, ting-ting-a-ling,
Hooray, Hooray, for it’s Christmas Day!

And Grandma and Grandpa like it that way!

G-3 and The Gingerbread Man

Gingerbread, Gingerbread, Gingerbread Man,
You’d better run, as fast as you can.

There’s a new kid in town, and she has a plan.
She’ll eat you up, Little Gingerbread Man!

She wants to hold you, ever so tight.
With every moment, it’s pure delight.

She saw you and liked you, and she wanted more.
Mommy and Daddy, were not really sure.

This little kid, likes how you taste.
You’d better run, you’d better make haste.

She thinks you’re yummy, and wants more in her tummy.
So, Mr. Gingerbread, Gingerbread Man, .....you’d better run, run, run, as fast as you can!

The Holidays...Shop 'Til You Drop

The season for Holiday shopping is here. There's a feeling of Christmas in the air.
The tree is all decorated, the halls have been decked, and the stockings have been hung by the chimney with care.
We’ve made a list and we’ve checked it twice, we even know who’s been naughty or nice. We know who's been sleeping and we know who’s awake. We also know who’s been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake, etc., etc, etc., and...... Santa Claus is scheduled to make a stop at The Compound.
......The "elves" have been busy,
...and we’ve shopped ‘til we dropped.
So please read the story and see what they got!

We've been to the big box stores, we’ve shopped at the mall.
We've bought stuff that’s little, and gifts that are tall.
We’ve bought things to cook with, or use in the hall.
We’ve bought gifts so pretty, and others so small.
We’ve bought things to read, or hang on the wall.
We’ve found something bouncy, very much like a ball.
We’ve tried to pick out, just the right doll.
We've bought gifts quite useful, and some not at all.
If you want something special, just give us a call.
So many presents, so much to haul.
But rest assured, we have gifts for all.
We hope you don’t take any, back to the mall.

But if you must, return it for sure.
Back to the mall, or the big box store.
I'll bet that you'll find, what you want even more!

The shopping is done and its time for a treat, maybe we’ll even have something to eat.
The gifts are wrapped up with ribbons and bows, which ones for you, ...only Santa will know.
You’ll have to wait ’til Christmas Day, and see what Santa brings in his sleigh!

P.S.….We’ve got to remember Ol' Santa, so dear, to put out his favorite Cookies and Beer.
....We sure don’t want, no trouble 'round here!

Merry Christmas from Gary and Jill. We hope ya'll have a Wonderful Holiday Season This Year!

'Tis The Season

It’s that time of year again, and the Holiday Shopping Season is in full swing. From Black Friday to Cyber Monday and beyond, shoppers from all across the country have been flocking to the malls and specialty stores and flooding the internet too, trying to select just the right gift for that special someone. Everyone wants to shop early, all in hopes of getting done and wrapping up this holiday frenzy, and not leave anything ‘til the last minute.

This year, with the exception of a few, requests for Christmas Wish Lists to arrive in a timely manner and certainly before the Holiday is over, ........... have fallen on deafed ears.

Therefore, we are pleased to announce that a generous donation has been made in each of your names to a Charitable Organization of our choosing. The organization selected this year by the committee is "The Compound Maintenance Fund" and "The First Annual Christmas Food Drive."

We are certain that you will take great pleasure and joy in knowing that this generous donation made in your honor, is supporting this wonderful and worthy cause!

Happy Holidays to All!

It's Time For The Tree!

I think just about everybody likes Christmas time; some when it’s over, and some when it rolls around. One of the usual rituals at this time of year is to go get the tree. As a young kid, I remember going with my Mom and Dad to get the Christmas tree. We would always go at night, because my dad was always working and that was the only time he could go. It was always cold and if we were lucky, it wouldn’t be snowing. We would go from one tree lot to another, always looking for just “the right tree”. Trees were available in any color, as long as you wanted green. Once the “perfect tree” had been found, we would take it home and my Dad would have to build a tree stand. Then the tree gets put up, decorated with a variety of ornaments of different shapes and sizes, etc, etc., you know the drill. Some people would even put those silver stringy hanging icicles on their tree. I hated those. They didn’t look like icicles.

Then one year my Dad pulled a fast one. We went through the usual yearly tree ritual, but instead of taking the tree home, my Dad took it to my Grandma and Grandpa’s house. My Grandpa had an auto body shop out back, and he fixed and painted cars. This year my Dad painted the tree white. Pure white, with automotive paint! Now this was way before the days of the “flocked white” trees, that you may remember. This was genius, absolute genius. When the paint on the tree was dry and ready to move, Dad brought it home and set it up.

Our home had a big picture window in the living room, right in the front of the house. My parents decorated this white tree with big red ornaments. All red, all the same size, and I got to help. Then one more brilliant idea. They put two big spotlights in the corners of the room, one on each side of the tree, to shine up on the tree. When the tree was finished, the other lights in the room were turned off. They opened the drapes, just about two thirds of the way, like a big curtain on a Broadway stage, exposing and highlighting the tree, center stage. We went outside and looked at the tree through the window. I remember, the tree was stunning. Absolutely beautiful!

Neighbors and other people driving by at night would stop in front of the house and stare at the tree for the longest time, totally amazed. I’m sure they’d never seen anything like it before. I remember lots of people even coming to the door to find out what in the world they did to that tree. It was pretty impressive. It was cool!

Now, fast forward to my era as a parent. I remember Jill and I “dragging” our kids to the tree lots, looking for the perfect tree once again, just like my folks did with me. I think it’s important to “punish” your kids a little, and pass on a time honored tradition to them. In our day, flocked trees had become quite common, however, you could still get a green tree if you looked hard enough. We did this tree thing with our kids for years and years.

Nowadays, our kids are married and on their own. I don’t know if Jill and I are not as adventuresome as we used to be, or if we’re just getting older, or maybe, we’re even getting smarter. A few years ago, we bought the ultimate tree. No, it’s not painted white with automotive paint; it’s green, and it’s quite nice looking. It doesn’t need water, it doesn’t dry out, and the needles don’t fall off. Our tree even ‘grew’ it’s own lights! We don’t like to say it’s artificial; we prefer to call it genetically engineered, or technologically advanced! It might not be as spectacular as the Beautiful White Tree with Big Red Ornaments, I remember as a kid, but it’s a lot easier to deal with. And when Jill does her decorating magic to the tree, it is a wonderful thing!

It will be interesting to see if our kids “punish” their kids and pass on that old, time honored tradition. We’ll just have to wait and see! …….I can’t believe they would even think of doing that to our grand kids! ........... Can you?
But you know what, ….they’d better! .....Hmm, I wonder,

Do they still have tree lots? Can you still get a flocked tree?

Moms and Dads out there, you ought to find out! It makes for some pretty good memories!
Just sayin’!

Black Friday......Not at The Compound

Black Friday. Retailers wait all year long for this day to come around, the biggest and busiest shopping day of the year, but nooooooooo, Not at The Compound. It’s Christmas Decoration Day, complete with Christmas Music. Christmas Music alllll day long. It just wouldn’t be right without Christmas Music, make no mistake about that, and Jill has a job to do; it’s like she’s on a mission. The Big Thanksgiving Day meal is over, and the Fat Lady has sung. Now it’s time for the leftovers and for Jill to decorate the Tree with all the fancy ornaments and such. Jill has to put up the wreaths inside on the windows, hang the garlands on the stairway and railing, deck the halls, and hang the Christmas Stockings on the fireplace mantel and so on. It seems like Jill has a lot to do, doesn't it?

My job is to put the big wreath on the front door and make sure it's centered and to put up the wreaths on the front porch lights, and deal with the other outside stuff. Jill is like a well oiled machine when it comes to the decorating. She just tackles one chore after another, just like clockwork. She's got this decorating thing down to a science. I’m afraid if I tried to help, I would just get in her way; so it’s best if I just stand back and tell her that looks perfect! I’m certain that if she needed my help she would ask for it.

Did I ever mention that Jill is a pretty good cook? Did I mention anything about the leftovers?

"Wow, Honey, It’ beautiful. It sure looks pretty, you sure did a nice job. Oh, by the way, don’t forget to hang the mistletoe! Now let’s have that Turkey Sammie! I’m starvin’. You know…..I have been working pretty hard around here!"

Thanksgiving Day at The Compound

Thanksgiving, the Harvest Festival, one of our favorite holidays, has finally arrived. The day starts off as usual…with a cup of fresh hot coffee, and the morning news. Jill gets the turkey in the oven and the final countdown to the big meal is underway. All of the side dishes are ready to cook or reheat, and I am always ready to stir.

The morning continues with the parade. Yes, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a must see, along with Bloody Mary treat treats. as we continue with preparations for the big day. The whole gang is set to arrive around 2pm, and then the Food Fest will begin.

Here is a look at the Menu for this years Wonderful Thanksgiving Dinner. I certainly hope no one goes away hungry. We wish L, A, G1, & G2. were here. Maybe next year!

Cocktails
Ginger & Anise Pear Bellini
Sauvignon Blanc
Black Label Claret Cabernet Sauvignon
Spiked Egg Nog
And of course, the Beverage of The Day - Bud Light

Appetizers
“A”s Apple & Pear Slices w/Brie Cheese
Butternut Squash Soup topped w/Savory Croutons

Salad
Mixed Greens w/Roasted Beets, Tangerine Slices, Red Onion,
Candied Pecans, & Shaved Pecorino Romano w/Poppy Seed Dressing

The Main Event
Slow Oven Roasted Turkey
w/Herbed Stuffing & Herbed Dressing
Port & Cinnamon Cranberry Sauce
Cranberry Jelly
Fresh Home Made Crescent Rolls w/ Fresh Blueberry-Cinnamon Jam

Side Dishes

Parsnip Puree
Maple Mashed Yams
Bleu Cheese Cauliflower
Butterscotch Baby Carrots
Jill’s World Famous Baked Beans
Seasoned Green Beans w/Butter & Toasted Almonds
Brussels Sprouts w/Shallots, Bacon, Garlic, & Pecorino Romano
w/A Drizzle of Balsamic Vinegar
Mashed Yukon Gold Potatoes w/Jill’s Home Made Gravy

And For Dessert
All Fresh Home Made of Course,
and served with a cup of Fresh Hot Coffee!
Dutch Apple Pie
Maple Pecan Pie
Grandma’s Lemon Pie
Grandma's Pumpkin Pie
Grandma’s Banana Cream Pie
Served w/ your choice of Fresh Whipped Cream or Vanilla Ice Cream
Grandma’s Home Made Chocolate Fudge & Divinity Samplers

As you can probably imagine Thanksgiving Dinner is an all day Event, as well it should be!
YUMMEEE!
And the best is yet to come.....I can 't wait for the Turkey Sammies!

The Cooking Marathon

It’s that time of year again, here at The Compound. The leaves have been raked up, the sprinklers have been turned off, Halloween is over, and Christmas is just around the corner. Yes, that means it’s Turkey time! Jill has been planning the menu for weeks now, and she’s finally nailed it down. The specialty foods and ingredients have all been picked up, the shopping is done, the centerpiece is finished, the sterling has been polished, and the table has been set.

Now it’s time for the cooking marathon to begin, not to mention the taste tests and samplers! Maybe she’ll even let me help stir! I’ll bet it’s going to be good!

The USSSA

The United States Snow Shoveling Association (USSSA) has received approval from the committee and is pleased to announce that The Compound will be this years Venue for all of the Competitive Snow Shoveling Events, as well as the workout and training site.

Tryouts for this years team are expected to be fun, exciting and entertaining, but can sometimes be long and grueling. This years Snow Shoveling Team will not be announced until later in the season, but certainly before the Competitive Events are scheduled to begin.

If you are interested in trying out for this years team, or would simply like to train and workout with the coaches and current team members, and learn the proper techniques and secrets to effective, world class snow shoveling, you may sign up at any time. However, it is best to sign up just before an expected storm, as it can be challenging to train without any snow.

Once you become a workout and training partner, you will be notified of the training dates and schedule. Workout/training partners must supply their own cold weather gear. Snow shovels will be provided by The USSSA, as they wear out quickly during the training sessions. Please be advised, this is the kind of extensive training that will build character and personal values that can last a lifetime.

Oftentimes, the workouts are followed by a bowl of Hot Chili and a cup of Fresh Home Made Hot Cocoa, also provided by The USSSA.

The USSSA will be applying for acceptance into the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.
Snow Shoveling is not a Professional Sport….yet, ....But we have people working on it!

The USSSA is not sponsored by, nor affiliated with The USSA, NCAA, NBA, NHL, NFL, AFL, USU, U of U, UVU, BCS, IFA, EPA, KOA, FHA, PTA, NRA, NSA, PGA, LPGA, AAA, TSA, UTA, USDA, PLO, LGBT, ACLU, AARP nor DWTS.

The USSSA is supported entirely by donations from generous citizens, like you! If you would like to donate call 1-555-GO USSSA. Thank You!

Snowflake Convention at The Compound

We were expecting a pretty good turnout for this weeks Snowflake Convention; however, we had far more attendees than we bargained for. Once word spread through the Snowflake community that the Convention was going to be held at The Compound, the Snowflakes invited all of their friends and colleagues, resulting in Snowflakes flying in from as far away as Alaska, Canada, the pacific northwest and other surrounding states.

Commuter travel around The Compound was restricted as usual, and because of the number of attendees, parking was limited, resulting in most of the Snowflakes finding alternative ways of entering the Convention. Many Snowflakes seemed to just simply fall in from the sky!
By the time they got to The Compound they were cold and freezing, and there wasn’t nearly enough space for all of them and they were literally sitting on top of each other.

The Snowflake Convention was to begin on Sunday afternoon, but most of the Snowflakes arrived earlier than anticipated, prompting an earlier start time for the Convention. This weeks agenda will address weather patterns, including el nino, la nina, and climate change. Al Roker is scheduled to be the Keynote Speaker at this weeks event. Time permitting, discussions will include Winter Sports and Recreation and it’s growing popularity.

The Snowflake Convention is scheduled to last until Wednesday. Clean-up is expected to take several days.

Autumn Leaf Roundup - The Results

As expected, “The Annual Autumn Leaf Roundup Competition” was a huge success. The weather was threatening, but as usual, the skies above “The Compound” cleared, temperatures were above normal, the winds were mild, and the event went forward as scheduled without a hitch.

We were surprised and overwhelmed by the number of contestants that signed up to participate and compete for the honor of “Best Leafer in the Land”. Both of the competitors received high marks for originality in style and technique, not to mention, the sheer volume of leaves collected, along with their speed and creative abilities to tie up a leaf bag. The contest was very close and the expansive grounds were cleaned up to near perfection, just in time for the impending cold, snowy winter weather. The judges ultimately declared a tie for First Place in the competition. Well done.

Prizes, Cash and Trophies were awarded to the Winning Contestants during a brief ceremony shortly after the event.
As promised, the event was followed by a delicious Chuck Wagon Style lunch consisting of Slow, Roasted over the Campfire, Pulled Pork Sammies served with Gary’s Smokey Barbeque Sauce, Fresh Home Made Coleslaw with Jill’s Tangy Dressing, Chips and Sauce King Flavors. For a finishing touch, Ice Cream with Home Made Chocolate Syrup was served to all of the participants and spectators. It was quite a crowd pleaser.

It was a perfect day....We couldn't beleaf it.

The Annual Kickoff to the Winter Season followed at dusk with a light dusting of snow.

The Annual Autumn Leaf Roundup

Just a reminder…. The Annual Autumn Leaf Roundup Competition and Kickoff to the Winter Season will take place today, Saturday, November 20, 2010. The event will of course, take place at The Compound, and because, after all, it is a roundup, it will be followed by a chuck wagon style lunch.

Rakes and leaf bags will be provided for each of the contestants. Leafers, as they are known in the sport, should provide their own protective gear, ie, jackets, boots, goggles, gloves, etc. Brown jersey gloves are recommended. Although very stylish, mittens are discouraged. Rugged outerwear or anything denim is suggested and encouraged for their own protection. Contestants should arrive early to select the best, most leafy areas which will yield the best results. Mother Nature has been kind and we’ve had a good crop of leaves this year, and there should be plenty for everyone.

Leafers may compete alone or in teams of two. Leafers will be judged, not only on volume and the number of bags collected, but on overall style, form and technique. Leafers that compete in the wind will be awarded extra points, as this adds a higher degree of difficulty. While jumping in big piles of leaves is fun for the competitors, it only slows down the process and will not be part of the judging. This is an old fashioned competition, and while effective, Leaf Blowers will not be allowed. Those that participate in the annual event will automatically become members of The American Leaf Club. The ALC sponsors events such as this in nearly every state in the nation.

Cash and prizes will be awarded to the Winning Contestants. Remember, this is only a friendly competition, and while it may be tempting, wagering will not be permitted.

One final note. Leafers will be required to count their own number of leaves collected to determine the winner of today’s event, as the judges are still counting leaves from last years roundup.

This is truly an American sport that is timeless and fun for all ages. With a little practice, anyone can do it. Lots of food and fun for all those who participate. Hope to see you all there.

It's Official! ......."The Backyard Festival" Is On!

It was confirmed late yesterday, by a reliable source, that "The Backyard Festival" to be held at The Compound, scheduled for early August is on, and will proceed as planned! Tickets have been selling faster than anticipated and the event is expected to sell out!

The unnamed source has also confirmed that G-1 and G-2, along with their manager, L, will be arriving a few days before the event. They will be staying at an undisclosed location, but it is likely at a small resort just southeast of the city. They will be making preparations and rehearsing for the show, which is scheduled for the weekend. Those planning to attend, should arrive early to get the best seats, as seating is limited.

"The Backyard Festival", affectionately dubbed the “G-Summit” will begin at 12 noon on Saturday, August 14, with a Golf Cart Parade, followed by a photo op for everyone to meet and greet the performers and get signed autographs. At 2 pm there will be a Special Barbecue Picnic on the lawn surrounding the 18th Green for all those attending. Later that evening, G-1, G-2, and G-3 will perform together under the “Big Umbrella” on the south lawn for the first time ever. Everyone attending will surely want to bring their cameras!
It is certain to be a memorable event!

Due to the overwhelming response, "The Backyard Festival" has been extended for another day, beginning with a Sunday Brunch, featuring some of GJ's "All Time Favorites". Brunch will be followed by an Encore Performance of G-1, G-2, and G-3, telling stories and performing some of their biggest hits. The event will conclude with a brilliant Fireworks Display, or at least some Sparklers!

As always, the air space above “The Compound” is restricted, and a “NO FLY ZONE” will be strictly enforced from noon on Friday until 6 am on Monday morning. Paparazzi will not be allowed to attend the event for obvious reasons! Furthermore, those attending the event, may be required to sign a non-disclosure agreement!

After the event, G-1 and G-2 will be taking a few days off to relax and spend some time in the Park City area, with parents/managers, L and A, before returning to their home near Dallas.

G-3, along with her entourage, and parents/managers, R and A, will of course, return to her busy schedule touring and entertaining local fans, while continuing to make regular stops at The Compound!

(Story and photo credits, courtesy of "the compound reporter"!)

"The Ultimate Sunset" at The Compound

At the request of our daughter L, who resides in the Dallas area with her husband A, and our
granddaughters, G-1 and G-2, and because she loves our sunsets so much.....just one more.

Here It Is!..........."The Ultimate Sunset"

"The Sky Is On Fire!"

I don't think we'll ever see another sunset quite like this one!

"What's On The Menu?"

I don’t think anybody is much different than we are when it comes to busy weeks and busy schedules, but when the weekend rolls around, we like to have family and friends come over and spend a little time with us, and maybe have a bite to eat. As you may have heard by now, my wife Jill is a pretty good cook. She puts a lot of effort into planning what to prepare for the weekend festivities. She always serves something really good and flavorful for the weekend meals, and we always end up with quite the spread!

The “kids” come over almost every weekend to hang out, help around "The Compound", or whatever, but most importantly, just to have fun. Sometimes they bring friends and sometimes they don’t. But they always bring a healthy appetite. Whether the "kids” stop by for Saturday Sammies or come for Sunday Brunch, they know the food is always going to be great. K and D are quite the regulars, and R and A are stopping by more and more often, with G-3, to join us for a weekend meal.

When they arrive, everyone always asks, “What’s for Lunch?", "What’s on the menu?", or "What are we havin’?” I try to keep ‘em guessing just for fun, and I say, "I can’t tell ya’!, it’s a secret! If I told ya’, I’d have to kill ya’, so you’ll just have to wait and see!" "But I can tell you, it’s going to be good!"

One day while we were shopping at our favorite restaurant supply store, I stumbled across some actual menu covers. “Oh, this will be cool,” I told Jill. “I’m going to create our very own menus." “Then when the kids come over, and ask what are we having for lunch,” I can simply say, “Well, perhaps you should take a look at the menu!”.

The next weekend, the “kids” came over, and just as I had expected, they asked again, “Hey, what’s on the menu?, we’re hungry”. “Well, maybe you should just take a look at “The Menu”, I told them.

The first menu that we created was for Saturday Sammies, featuring Italian Deli Sammies, with Italian Roast Beef and Hickory Smoked Turkey, with Italian Salsa & Balsamic Vinaigrette, tomatoes, cheeses, peppers and onions, served on either Home Made Rosemary Garlic, Red Onion and Roasted Red Pepper Focaccia Bread, or Fresh Home Made Vienna Rolls, Relish Tray, Chips, Drinks, etc. plus our very own “Sauce King Flavors.” As you can imagine, the “kids” were quite surprised to see an actual menu, but they loved it. They really got a kick out of it!

We don’t make menus for every meal, but usually on Saturdays or Sundays. We will certainly make a menu if there is special event, holiday or birthday. Jill will prepare something in keeping with the theme of the event, or for a birthday, she’ll prepare their Favorite Meal, with all the fixin's!Actually, we look for any excuse, holiday, event or otherwise, to have a fun and enjoyable weekend. (We have been known to create our own “special events,” the kind of events that the “outside world” just isn’t aware of!) Now, every time the “kids”, family or friends come over, they can’t wait to see “What’s On The Menu”! ....... It’s always a surprise worth waiting for!

If you’re interested, take a look at a couple of our recent menus! Then you’ll know just how wacky we really are! Enjoy!

"Texas Decor"

Disclaimer: The story you are about to read, may or may not be entirely true……the names, dates, and places mentioned in this story may or may not have been changed to protect the innocent and the unsuspecting. Any similarities to actual people, persons or events, fact or fiction, real or imagined, are purely coincidental.

As you may be aware by now, my wife and I don’t get out much after dark. We really don’t care to travel much. However, several months ago, we were invited and encouraged to come and visit our daughter, L, and her husband A, the parents of G-1 and G-2. They moved back to the Dallas area about a year ago, and moved into a new home.
We had not been down to see them or their new home since they had moved back, and they wanted us to come and stay with them for a few days….After a lot of thinking and some more thinking, we decided to brave it and go.

Not having been able to visit their new home until now, we felt it necessary and appropriate to get them a “House Warming Gift”. We were not quite sure what to get them. We knew they had a pretty nice place and all, and they had recently bought a few new pieces of furniture, tables and chairs and such. We just didn’t know what they needed, but we wanted to surprise them with a really nice gift.

We wanted to get them something special...... something timeless. Something that would be enjoyed and appreciated by all who came to visit. Something that would last for generations. What the heck could we get them?.....Hmmm? Then it hit me!
A conversation piece, that’s it! That will be perfect! Well, being kinda’ creative and sort of a do-it-yourselfer, I think I came up with the perfect “gift” for their new home. A Wonderful Table Centerpiece!

Here’s a little something for ya’…… hope ya’ll like it…….I made it myself!

I know they loved It. Words could not describe their joy!............They were speechless!

"M5".....Why Didn't They Tell Me Sooner?

When I was really, really young, my parents had, what I thought was a very cool radio. It was in the kitchen, and of all things it sat on top of the refrigerator. Kind of weird, but it fit in with the décor of the times…..maybe, that is where I learned to enjoy and appreciate music…

As such, I’ve always enjoyed music, ever since I was a kid. I don’t sing and I don’t play any musical instruments, wish I could, but I can’t. I just enjoyed listening to music. I had a clock radio in my room, and when they came out, I’m sure I was one of the first to have a Transistor Radio. It was pretty cool. I could take it with me and listen to the local AM stations, and hear the DJ’s play all the hottest hits of the day.

As a kid, I thought my family was fairly affluent, we had a color TV, most of the neighbors didn’t, and my folks had just bought a HiFi. We could get AM and FM radio, and it also had an automatic turntable. We could play and listen to records. Remember records? LP’s, 45’s and 33 1/3’s, 78’s too. We could stack up a bunch of them, play the first side of each one automatically, then turn the whole stack over and play it again. Sweet. Uninterrupted music for about an hour or so!

When my wife and I got married, our big wedding gift was the new “Magnavox Hi-Fi Stereo” console. It was nice! It was the latest and greatest in music technology at the time. It even came with an 8-Track Tape Player. We bought records and 8-Track tapes and built up quite a collection of our favorite music.

A few years later, technology progressed and new, high end component systems with separate receivers, amps, preamps, cassette tape decks and turntables became the must have systems. Yes, sad to say, 8-Track tapes had become a thing of the past, going the way of the dinosaur. When we could afford it we upgraded and bought a really nice music system. Way nicer than most of the friends we hung around with, and music was always playing in our home. We loved it. Our kids loved it. I think they learned to really appreciate music because it was always playing in the house.

Time moves quickly, so does technology. Compact Discs had just come out and a new music format was about to take over the world. Trying to keep up with the latest technology, we upgraded and added a CD player to our Home Entertainment System. CD’s it seemed were here to stay. The music industry seemed like it had settled on “THE FORMAT”, the one to have. This is the keeper. Everything had gone to CD’s, and once again, it’s off to the music store.

Over the years, we have bought a gazillion CD’s, spending a small fortune expanding our library of music. We enjoyed all types of music. Pop, rock, blues, jazz, country to classical, we had ’em all. We listened to music, it seemed, more than we watched TV. The only problem was, it was hard to take our music collection with us. We had a big boom box we could take with us, but who wants to lug that thing around with boxes and boxes full of CD’s and stuff? Not Me!

Then, without warning, technology and the music industry changed once again. This time leaving us behind. They call it “Digital Music”. This is the new must have technology. This, they say, is THE ONE to have now. The trouble with “Digital Music,” I believe, is it involves computers and such, other technology that I don’t know a whole lot about, or how to use. So here I am, years and years later, and it seems like I’m stuck in a CD time warp, when the rest of the music world is speeding by. Don’t get me wrong, we still enjoy listening to our CD’s when we are home, it’s just a little tough to take your whole music collection with you, in the car or anywhere else.

Technology is most kind to the young. They just seem to get it, they understand it, they had it in school, they know how to use it. I’ve tried to learn, but it doesn’t come easy. I do have a computer, you know, it’s not like I haven’t tried to keep up at all. But, it’s old, and kinda’ slow, and not much fun to use. I seem to have gotten by with it, doing the things I’ve needed to do; you know, writing letters and other stuff, but that’s about it. Computers are pretty boring, if you don’t know how to use them. Another thing, it’s a desktop computer that sits in the office, and the only time I use a computer is when I have to go into to the office, which is in our home, but still, not very convenient either.

Earlier this year, prompted and encouraged by our “kids,” they told me that it was time to upgrade and get a new computer. Not knowing much about what to get, or where to get it, I relied heavily on their input and suggestions. My wife and I started looking at new computers. We didn’t want to spend a lot of money; not sure about how much we would use it, so we shopped around and compared different ones. At my oldest son, R’s suggestion, we ended up buying a portable computer. They call it a Laptop. Holy Cow!, What have I done, I can’t believe it. I just bought brand new technology. The latest, greatest thing available. I got me a new eweb machine.

Again, not quite knowing how to use this eweb machine to it’s full potential, I relied on the tutors in the family, the techie ones. The “kids” showed me some of the basics and stuff, and I started to learn how to do more and more things on this eweb machine. Knowing that my wife and I had always enjoyed listening to music; one of the first suggestions from K and D was to download a Music Management System, one that’s available on the ewebnet. Anxious and willing, I was ready to try some new technology, and D showed me how to download this thing.

They call it, iTunes. They even have a store and you can buy stuff, digital stuff. Music, even movies. Pretty cool. K and D tell me that I can put all of my CD’s on this thing and have all of my music in one place. It keeps track of my music alphabetically, by artist, album or song, Genre too. Easy to use, easy to access. Unbelievable. This is way too cool, I thought to myself. K and D showed me how to use this iTunes thing, and it seemed pretty easy, so I tried it myself. Wow, that wasn’t too hard. Maybe I’ll do some more CD’s. I go and look for my CD’s, I can’t find ’em! Where are my CD’s? Then I realize, K had “borrowed” a whole bunch of my CD collection. K reluctantly returned my CD’s to me after lots of encouragement, bribes, and “threats”, and he even let me “borrow” some of his CD‘s! After about a month or two or three, and in my spare time, and going through a whole lot of CD’s, I had downloaded a big part of my music collection. This is way cool. I can play any of my music on my eweb machine. Then, I‘m told, that with the right equipment and cables and such, I can plug this thing in and play all of my music on our Home Entertainment System. How Sweet!

Feeling pretty good about what I had just accomplished with my music management system, K and D tell me, "Hey Dad, now all you need is an MP3 player, and you can take your music with you, anywhere you want to go!" "An MP what?", I questioned. "Is it kinda’ like a Transistor Radio?", I ask. “Sort of, only better.” they said. “Wow that would be really, really cool! Tell me more!”

Well to make a long story longer, I started looking at these things, trying to learn as much about them as I could. I decided to get one and ended up buying an "M-5". ( MY MINI MOBILE MUSIC MACHINE.) I think the rest of the world calls them an iPod! I didn’t want one of the wimpy ones, the ones that are only 8 or 16 or 32 of those giga thingies, I bought the big one, the big daddy, the big “classic.” The one that holds 160 giga thingies. The one that holds 40,000 songs or more. I’m told that I can put my pictures on it, even movies! I don’t have nearly that many tunes to put on it, but I’m workin’ on it. The M-5 holds more songs and stuff than I could listen to in a lifetime, but at least I can take it with me wherever I go; and I can leave my boxes and boxes of CD’s behind, in my music vault, along with my 78’s, 45’s, LP’s, 8 Tracks and Cassettes, right where they belong!
I just hope that technology doesn’t pass me by, again!

"M5".….Why Didn’t They Tell Me Sooner????!!!!

Charlie Brown's Christmas Tree

As a preferred provider to Charlie Brown's Christmas Special on TV every year, we are doing our best to have Charlie Brown’s Christmas Tree ready for delivery by early December.

By the looks of it, we’re right on schedule!

“Growing” one of these ain’t as easy as you’d think.....

Good Grief....This Place is a ZOO!

We get lots of "critters" that like to visit us here at the Compound.

Some like to stay, others are just passin' thru'!

Take a look. More to come!

More and More "Critters"

Here are some more of our "visitors"!

It's Time For A New BBQ Grill

Our youngest son and his wife, K and D, have been married for nearly two years. They did the usual thing after marriage, (NO, not that, that’s not what I’m talkin’ about!) They moved into an apartment for awhile, and started to settle into their day to day lives. When they could afford it and had the right opportunity, they began to look for a home to buy.

Last fall they purchased a home in another nearby community, had some updating and remodeling done. They made the big move to their new digs a month or so later. They settled in and started to decorate the place and make it their own.

Now that summer is here, It’s time for a new BBQ Grill. You know, Manly, Man stuff, - Man of Fire, that sort of thing. K is ready to take on new challenges, and master the grill. Who can blame him? They want to start enjoying their patio and have friends over for dinners and parties and such. K and D went shopping for a new gas BBQ Grill. They checked a couple of stores and found the one they liked. Later that week, they asked ol' Dad to help them pick it up. I told them, “Sure, I’d be happy to help, just let me know when.”

Plans were made for the next day, and K and I went to the Home Depot store to pick it up. When we got there, K showed me the grill they were in interested in, and asked me what I thought . I looked at it, then compared it to one or two others. I pointed out a couple of differences and I told him, “This one has a lower shelf for the tank to sit in securely, this one also has 4 burners, not three, and it has a back and doors on the front. And it’s not much more than the one you guys picked out.” “If it was me,” I said, “I would want this one.” K agreed with me and made the new purchase. Oh, by the way, you have to purchase the tank separately, and so he bought one of those, too.

We loaded the new grill in the back of the truck and delivered it to K and D’s mini-compound. We put it on their patio and I helped him get it set up. “There you go, Buddy. All you need now is to fill the propane tank and you’re ready to go!”, I said with enthusiasm. K said he would fill the tank on his way home from work tomorrow. I said, “Great, let know if you have any questions.”

The next day K stopped by the shop to ask if I knew of a good place to get the new tank filled. I told him “Yeh, there’s one just down the street, on the corner of 53rd and State.”
“Great, I’ll stop there on my way home. We want to grill some steaks tonight!” he said. K went to the propane place and waited for the attendant to come out. A few minutes later, this old woman with poor dental work, (two, maybe three teeth), came out to see what he needed. He told her that he needed to get a tank filled. “ A brand new tank” he said. “A New Tank, a Brand New Tank?” she asked. “Yep, I just got it,” he said. “Can’t do it, it’s got to be purged,” she exclaims. “Purged?” K asked, “Yep, it’s got to be purged,” she insisted. “Well can you purge it?” he asked again. “Nope, we don’t purge ‘em!, You’ll have to take it someplace else.” she says. “Well, do you know who can purge this thing for me?” “Well,” she says to K, “I think you can take it to any Smiths Grocery Store and they can purge it for you.” “Smiths, huh.” “Yup,” she says.

Frustrated and disappointed, K continues on his way home, empty tank and all. Driving down Redwood Road, K passes a Smiths store, flips a Uey and pulls into the Smiths parking lot. The manager just happened to be standing outside. K pulls up and asks him, “Hey, do you guys purge tanks?” “No, we don’t purge, but we can exchange your tank for a full one,” he replies. “How much?” “About 40 bucks.,” he answers. “That’s not what I want. I want to fill my new tank.” “Well, we don’t purge, we can only exchange it.” “Well that’s not what I want to do,” K said with disgust.

Again, K continues on home, thinking, Dammit, I wanted to grill steaks tonight. How can I grill steaks without Propane? Sh*t! Then, without warning, he passes a lawnmower repair shop and notices they have a big propane tank out front. Again, K flips a Uey and pulls into the parking lot. This time, armed with experience and knowledge about all things propane, he asks the attendant if they can purge a brand new tank and then fill it with propane. The attendant, another gal, (what’s the deal with lady attendants at propane stores?) She replies, “I don’t know let me check.” She disappears for a few moments, then comes out while talking on the phone to her boss, “Hey, can we purge tanks?,” she asked him. “Yeh,” she says to K, “How do I do it?’, she asks the boss again. “O.K., O.K.”, she says to her boss, and hangs up the phone. “Yeh, let’s go purge your tank and fill it up for you,” she tells K, “I think I can do it.” K and the attendant make their way over to the big tank to start the process. The lady attendant sets the tank up on the stand, then notices, right there on the new label of the brand new tank:

FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE, THIS TANK HAS BEEN PRE-PURGED.

I’m not sure, but it’s probably a good idea to read the labels and instructions on stuff. Maybe that’s why they’re there. “I’m just sayin’!” ….. Later that evening, K and D enjoyed the best steak ever!
Sweet!

Daycare At The Compound

We are now accepting applications for Grandma Jill’s exclusive Daycare Academy for Gifted Children. The successful applicants will be required to be happy and cheerful at all times.

We will be offering Advanced Courses in Early Development, in the following areas:

• Number and Letter Recognition (1.2.3’s and A B C’s)

• Nursery Rhyme Memorization (Mother Goose Collection, Winnie the Pooh, etc.)

• Animation Appreciation (Cartoons, Sesame Street, Dora the Explorer, etc.)

• Stuffed Animal Studies (Peter Rabbit, Mr.Monkey, Eephmo, & Friends)

• Imagination and Creativity (Making up Fun Stories, Grandpa's Seminars)
  

We will expect attendees to follow a strict schedule including, Mealtime, Bath time, Study time, Play time, and Nap time. Diaper changes are mandatory. Goobering will not be allowed.

In addition, attendees will learn to smile all the time and to pose for perfect photos, speak in full and complete sentences, using proper grammar. They will learn to speak in three languages, English, French and Spanish. They will also learn to tell time and tie their shoes. Walking, will of course, be encouraged, but actual results are beyond our control, and cannot be guaranteed!

We have rigid guidelines and qualifications, and not all who apply will be accepted for enrollment. Insider’s Note: (We will tell you, it helps to be related to Grandma Jill!)

Local Celebrity Arrives At "The Compound"

We are pleased to announce the arrival of our newest family member, Granddaughter No. 3, (G-3). She arrived as scheduled, early in April, 2010, to much fanfare and hoopla. (that means excitement). She is the first child of proud parents, R and A. She will be residing in a nearby community. She plans on making the compound a regular stop, while touring and entertaining other relatives.

G-3 is preceded by Granddaughter No. 1, (G-1), and Granddaughter No. 2, (G-2). G-1 and G-2 currently reside in the Dallas area with their parents, A and L. G-1 and G-2 occasionally make surprise visits to the compound, when they are in town, and their schedule permits.

Plans are in the works at the compound, to host a Backyard Festival in early August of this year. The Festival will feature entertainment from G-1, G-2, and G-3, together for the first time. Parents will be required to attend the event. Make your reservations early as seating is limited.

It's Just A Flat Tire

I got a call from a friend a couple of months ago, and we talked for a while, catching up on current events and, among other things, he told me he had just bought a used four-wheeler equipped with a snow plow to use around his home. In addition, he said it came with a small utility trailer. He told me he had no use for the trailer, and said “Hey, if you’re interested in the trailer, you can have it. But, I need you to come and get it today, and oh, by the way it has a flat tire.” I told him, “Yeh, I could probably use a little trailer like that to tow behind my maintenance vehicle, (the golf cart), and do chores around the compound.” I started to imagine all of the things I could haul around….shovels, rakes, tools, …grand kids…wow, I’ll bet they’d love it!

Later that day, I went over to his place to pick up my new yard equipment. There it was, sitting in the corner of his garage. It was a cute, little black Craftsman utility trailer with a removable tailgate, and it had a dump bed! Sweet, I thought to myself. It just had a flat tire. How hard can it be to fix a flat on this little thing. Besides, it was only FLAT on one side! “You’ve got an air compressor, don’t you?”, I asked, “Let’s pump up that bad boy and I’ll take it home.”

Well, I towed the little trailer home. Actually, I just pulled it down the sidewalk and parked it in my driveway. I was pretty excited with it. I checked it over carefully and it seemed to be in pretty good shape. The tires appeared to be weathered and cracked a bit, but I checked the air pressure in both tires, squirted it off with the hose and cleaned it up a bit. Wow, I thought to myself, the flat tire seems to be holding air! Maybe the previous owner just didn’t put the air in right, or maybe it just needed some fresh new air!

I went out the next morning to check on the little trailer, and sure enough, one of the tires was flat again. It’s kind of hard to use a trailer with a flat tire, so I started looking around to find a replacement tire. It’s the size of a wheelbarrow tire, but has a wheel with a special hub to fit the trailer axle. I went to the local Home Depot store and asked if they sold tires for wheelbarrows, not the whole thing, just the tire itself. The guy said, “Nope. We only sell the replacement tire and wheel together.” “How much,” I asked. He said “they cost about $40 bucks or so.” Too much, I thought, especially if the wheel doesn’t fit the trailer axle. I asked the guy, “Do you know of anyone who might sell just the tire.” “Nope, sorry,” he said.

I got thinking about who might sell equipment stuff, you know maintenance things and other implements to be used around a yard , a ranch, or a farm, then I remembered about the IFA store. That’s Intermountain Farmers Association for you city slickers, and I was sure they would sell tires for this sort of thing. I called the local store and asked my questions, and once again was told, “No, we don’t sell wheelbarrow tires. Sorry.”

Frustrated, I started checking into other options. Since it was a Craftsman utility trailer, I checked with the local Sears store. They sell the same trailer, brand new, for about $129.00, but all I needed was a replacement tire, and the store didn’t sell parts. The salesman told me to check their website for parts. Tech savvy as I am, I muddled my way through their website and found the replacement tire that I needed. It too, was about $45 or $50 bucks, plus shipping; almost half the price of a new trailer. It came complete with the wheel, but they were out of stock at the time. Too much money, again, I thought. Remember, all I need is a stupid tire.

I get tool and equipment catalogs all the time, but I never buy anything. I pulled out one of the catalogs and started looking through it to see if they had the tires for what I needed. I was quite surprised. They sell just about anything you can imagine, AND they do sell just the tires I needed, and the price was very reasonable. Should I just buy one, and have a mismatched set of tires, or live a little, and get two. Two brand new matching tires for my little trailer! Wow, for $10 bucks apiece, how could I go wrong. I just can’t have mismatched tires on this cute little trailer, I told myself. That would be like wearing two different shoes on your feet at the same time. Just can’t do it! I checked the tire sizes to be sure, and called their 800 number and placed my order for two brand new tires and was told to expect delivery in about a week.

Anxiously awaiting; the delivery day finally came. After all; I have this cute, new little trailer, and it is completely useless with a flat tire. The UPS driver dropped off a small cardboard box at the front door. I picked up the box. It seemed, however, a bit small to have two wheelbarrow sized tires in it, but I took it to the garage to get the tire change underway so I could start using the new trailer. I opened the box, and these two black pancakes of rubber, folded in an odd shape were stuffed inside the box. What the!, what the!, what the heck is going on with these tires?!, I thought to myself. These don’t look like wheelbarrow tires. Shouldn’t tires be sort of round and look like tires? Holy crap! I just spent $20 bucks plus shipping, for two rubber blobs! AND I had to wait for a week to get ‘em!

I tried to fashion the “tires” into sort of round shapes. I put them in the sunshine for a few hours to try to melt them back to “normal tire” shape, and then proceeded with the repair. I got the old tires off the rims easily enough, and was able to get these flat things onto the rims. They were still smashed so flat, it was almost impossible to get them to make contact with the rim to even begin to hold air. After quite a struggle with them, they did conform to the rim and I pumped them full of air. Success, I told myself. Too late for today, I’ll use the trailer tomorrow.

The next morning I went out to the garage to hook up the trailer to the golf cart, so I could get caught up on maintenance things and such. But No, I had TWO FLAT TIRES on the trailer. What! This can’t be. How can these things be flat? How hard can it be to fix some stupid little tires on a stupid little trailer?, I thought to myself. I pumped up the tires again. This time I could hear a feint “pssss” sound. These tires aren’t holding air, what’s the deal? I looked closely at the fine print on the side of the "new tires" and compared them to the “old tires”. The old tires were TUBELESS tires, the new ones were NOT. They needed to have tubes in them. The stupid catalog didn't say anything about needing tubes. They won‘t hold air without tubes! “Sh*t, now what?” I asked myself. Should I send these back or what?!?

I started calling around again to see if anyone sold “tubes” to fit a wheelbarrow tire. Again, my inquiries, were met with “Nope, sorry, we don’t sell tubes.” I kept calling different places and finally ran across a local tire wholesaler that I found in the Yellow Pages , and asked my same old question. “Do you sell tubes for wheelbarrow tires?” “Just a minute, I’ll check,” was the reply. The gal came back and said, “Yes, we carry tubes for those tires. How many do you need?” “Just two” I said, “but let me ask, Do you also carry wheelbarrow tires, just the tires, Tubeless tires to fit a wheelbarrow.” Again, “Let me check,” “Yes, we carry those tires too!” “How much,” I asked. “Who is this for”, she asked. “Just me,” I said, “It’s for my personal use. I’m just trying to fix a couple of trailer tires.” “Oh, I’m sorry”, she said, “We’re wholesale only. You have to have an account to buy from us”. “Oh, you’re kidding, I just want to buy two little tires from you”, I pleaded. “Sorry, I can’t help you, that’s our policy, we don’t sell to the public,” was her final comment.

Disappointed with the results of that call, I felt I was on the right track. I continued calling other tire wholesalers in the area, listed in the Yellow Pages, and finally reached another dealer that sold that size of tire. My first question to him was “Do you sell to the public?” “Sure”, the guy said. I told him what I needed and asked if they had them in stock. “Let me check, and I’ll be right back”, he said. I waited anxiously. “Yep, we got ’em in stock”. “How much are they?” I asked. “Let me look, ...uh, they're about $5 bucks each”, was the reply. “For TUBELESS", I questioned, “Yep”, he said. “Will you put two of those tires in will call, and I’ll pick ’em up”, I asked. “Sure, do you want us to mount them for you too? “No”, I said, “I’m getting pretty good at changing these damn things. I‘ll just pick them up.”

I picked up my “new tubeless tires” later that day. I took them home, and put them on the new little trailer. Wow, what an ordeal! But now I have a cute little utility trailer, with two brand new matching tires, to do chores around the compound. Success, at last!

So…..Ask yourself, How much does a good deal really cost? Honestly, as you know, hind sight is always 20/20. If I figured the amount of time and energy I put into fixing two tires for this little trailer, over the course of about two weeks, it would have been much cheaper and faster to just go and buy the new trailer at Sears!
But after all......IT"S JUST A FLAT TIRE!….I CAN FIX THAT…..NOTHIN’ TO IT!

Sometimes Life Happens

Sometimes, it seems, life just happens. Life gets busy and you have to focus on other things and issues that come up, things that demand your full attention. You don’t always have the time to do the things you want, when you want, and so, it’s been quite a while since I’ve had much time to update our blog, “A COMPOUND LIFE.” But hopefully, I’ll be able to get you caught up on some of the stories and adventures that have been taking place here at "The Compound", over the last little while. I’ve got lots of things to tell you about. I hope that you’ll enjoy them.