Christmas 2018

It's hard to believe but this is our second Christmas in our new home here in Covington, Louisiana.

And this year it really looks like Christmas.  Judy did a great job decorating the tree and yard.  I helped a little by getting the boxes out of the attic.  There were lots of boxes.  The elevator performed perfectly.

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve.  We're joining up with Sister and Brother-in-law, Joyce and Allen, to ride with them over to New Orleans to celebrate with Nephew # 1, David and his wife, Michelle.

It will be a double celebration because David just landed an Assistant Manager job at Rouse's, everybody's favorite chain of food markets in South Louisiana.

We will be home by dark unless traffic is heavy.

Then I will put a 4 pound rump roast in my Sous Vide immersion cooker.  It will cook in a bag, under water, @ 137° until Christmas morning when I will remove it from the bag and put it on the Big Green Egg to smoke for a neighbor.  She brought it over today so I could do some trimming and prep work.

It is sealed in the bag, and all the air has been removed.  The seasoning is inside the bag with the roast and will eventually be distributed throughout the meat.  It will be cooked through and through, all at the same temperature of 137°.  When it is ready, I will remove it from the bag, dry it off, and place it on the Big Green Egg to smoke until just before Noon, about four hours.  I'll take it off, wrap it in foil, and deliver it to the neighbor to serve a hungry crowd.  It should not only be very flavorful from the seasonings, but also from some Hickory smoke she asked me to use.

Soon after I take it off the Big Green Egg, we will be cooking some nice prime steaks for Joyce and Allen, and Judy and myself.  That's pretty much enough to make me want to take a nap.

It all sounds like fun.

Merry Christmas

Terra Mariae Christmas Quarterly Luncheon

It has been a great year for Terra Mariae residents who enjoy the Quarterly Luncheons. 

The last one of the year was held on December 7th at Keith Young's Steakhouse in Madisonville.  They are well known for their steaks, but their other dishes are equally outstanding.  And their service is fantastic.

Everyone brought a gift to be distributed to someone else.  Pretty cool... No one went home without a gift.

But Judy and I wanted to do more.  After all, these are now our friends and neighbors.  Plus, we wanted to show our appreciation for the work done by the luncheon organizer, and for the leadership provided by our Homeowners Association President.

So we made Christmas Birdhouses for them. 

One was to serve as our gift to be distributed to whomever.  The second birdhouse was to be a 'door prize' to whomever had the winning ticket.  The third birdhouse was to go to the event organizer for her efforts, and the fourth birdhouse was to thank the HOA President for her leadership efforts in keeping Terra Mariae the wonderful place it is.

I took photos and have combined them into a YouTube video which I shared on Facebook and by email to all residents who have access to computers.

This was a great way to end a great year.

Here's the video:  Terra Mariae Christmas Luncheon

Forty-Fifth Anniversary

Over the years I must have told a million people that I won my Sweetie in a poker game in New Orleans back in 1973.  I think half those people believe me and the other half hasn't fully decided if the story is true or not.  Most don't doubt it could have happened considering my past life.  I was a rascal, for sure. 

No matter, because we celebrate the day, December 1st, 1973, as the official day we were legally married, in both the Eyes of God and The State of Louisiana.

I have to say, it was a good move as evidenced by 45 years of absolute love and devotion to each other.  We wouldn't change a thing, even if some of it could have been made easier if we planned our life together better.  But instead of being wealthy in money we are wealthy in memories and friends.

It could not have worked out any better.  She is the main player on this team. 

We both wish for 45 more years, but knowing that it may not happen, we are thankful for every moment we have shared together all these years, and for any and all of the years to come.

Thanks also to all who have grown with us and wish us more of the same.  We can handle 45 more years with easy grace but forty-five years from now we may not know who the people are helping us celebrate it.

Leroy   AKA Mr. Judy.

Easy Thanksgiving

We had some delicious turkey on 'Turkey Day" but we didn't have to cook it.  Brother-in-Law, Allen cooked it..  It was tender, juicy and delicious.  He cooked it 'Spatchcocked' style on the Big Green Egg.  It was his first time cooking turkey Spatchcocked style and he likes it much better than the traditional method. 

My Sweetie, Judy, and her sister, Joyce, cooked all the side dishes.  There were many and all tasty.  No photos.

I mostly sat around and watched.  I think I like doing that on Thanksgiving.

We arrived back home before dark, full as ticks, and ready for bed.  But we stayed up to watch the Saints win over the Falcons.  Brees is awesome.!

Now we wait for Christmas.  Except we also celebrate our 45th anniversary in 8 days.  It also calls for food.  At this rate I'll always be a few pounds overweight...

Halloween Party a Success

Well, the long awaited Halloween Party went off without a hitch, and turned out really well.

The only possible 'hitch' was the weather.  Predictions for bad weather held off until well after the party, giving us time to clean up the decorations and put away the leftovers.

And as of today, all the stuff is in boxes in the attic for when it is needed again.

I took some photos and borrowed a few from others, edited and assembled them into some kind of order and made a video.  It's worth watching if you like to see how 40 neighbors can get along, have fun and even act a little crazy.

Here's the video...   Halloween Party

Updated on 11-10-18:  On a sad note, one of our guests fell and hit his head a few days after the party.  He did not survive the fall, and will be buried next week.  He was the Pirate in the red pirate suit.  His wife was dressed as the Pirate's Woman.  He also celebrated his birthday at the party.  He was a Veteran, and lost an arm in Afghanistan.  He and his wife had just moved into their new house in Terra Mariae a few months ago.  He said a number of times that he really enjoyed the party.  RIP Henry.

Halloween Party in the Works

Yes, there's another party brewing at La Maison des  Poulets.  This time Judy and I are getting ready to host a Halloween Party for residents of Terra Mariae.

Crazy huh?  A little, but think about it.  Halloween  has established itself pretty well as the first of many 'holiday season' events.  And this one is especially great for children of all ages to have some fun.  Plus, the weather is usually better for getting out after dark.

No, there won't be any little children at this party.  But I'm sure there will be plenty of 'sweets & treats' for everyone.

If you didn't see it, here's the Video Invitation sent to all Terra Mariae residents.  Those without access to the Internet received their invitations via 'tube mail.'

The video is kinda cute.  Video Invitation

Yes, it's from 7:00 to 9:00 pm on October 31st (Halloween Night)

Meanwhile, preparing for the party has taken on a life of its own.  Judy and I are working fast and furious to get things looking 'Halloweenie.'  And some of those who said they were coming said they were dressing up and bringing snacks and beverages to share.

There could be 50 to 75 party-goers here.  We just hope the rain holds off.

Yes, there will be a lot of pictures taken and possibly made into a video to show those who couldn't be here what they missed.

Happy Halloween

Surprise Birthday Party

A couple of months ago a neighbor approached Judy about having a surprise 70th birthday party for her husband.  She asked if we could host it at our house to keep it a surprise.  She would take care of all the details and all we had to do is just open our house to those attending.

Of course.  We would be happy to do it.

But then she said a neighbor and friend was also celebrating his 70th birthday about the same time.  So could it be a surprise birthday party for two?

Of course.  We would be happy to do it.

But since keeping it a secret might be difficult, the party would be announced as being a Congratulations for Defeating Cancer party for the wife and another neighbor.

Well, secrets kept, days of good planning, and last minute details taken care of paid off wonderfully.  The two honorees were totally surprised.

And while at the party another neighbor was also surprised to be celebrating with them.

There was lots of food and beverages, and some nice gifts. But most of all, it was friends and neighbors enjoying the moment.

I made a video that pretty much tells just how much fun we had.

Surprise Birthday Party

New Coop is Almost Finished

On May 20, 2018 we began bringing in the lumber to start building our new outdoor kitchen, referred to as New Coop until a better name comes along.

On September 11, 2018 we finished up the last major detail of what we wanted it to look like.

114 days... 

Not all of them were productive, and some were slowed considerably by the oppressive heat and occasional rain.  But we wanted it done right so 'how long' was not the issue.  We wanted it to be a really special place, and we definitely got what we waited for.

We've already started cooking in it, but the real test comes when everything is in place and works well for us.  So far we are tickled pink with how comfortable it is. 

The last project was to set the salvaged "Katrina Windows" in place to make it look like a bistro.  We finished those yesterday and they really tie everything in to the Bistro look we want for the space between New Coop and New House.  We've got lots of plans to make it even nicer.

But as of now, we have an outdoor kitchen worthy of showing off and fun to cook in.  What more could we ask for to round out our new life here at Terra Mariae in Covington, Louisiana.

Here's a short video as it was late yesterday when we put away the paint brush.

New Coop on 9-11-18

First Long Cook in New Coop

Now that New Coop is 'operative' I've been trying to catch up on some cooking.  Yesterday I decided to cook a small pork butt that we found on sale at our neighborhood Walmart.  

But I also wanted to try some rub seasoning we bought at the Abita Springs Farmers Market last week.  It was our first time there and we really like what we saw.  We'll be going back.

It was raining and we had to get some stuff from Lowes, so we didn't stick around long.  But we did get to meet one of the vendors and try some of his BBQ.  And we were impressed enough to purchase a bottle of rub and a bottle of his BBQ sauce.

Anyway, it was a good day for cooking so that's what I did.

Here's a video of the cook.

https://youtu.be/6dvF09Rt8Ks

First Cook in New Coop

We moved into New House on November 1st, 2017.  Our first priority was to get settled well enough to function.

Then we built the attic elevator to help store some of the items we just couldn't get to fit anywhere.

Then two months ago we started building New Coop, our outdoor kitchen.

We aren't finished with it yet but we're far enough along that we can cook in it.  And that's what we did yesterday.

I made a video of the that long awaited moment.

First Cook and Tour of New Coop

Maybe now you can better understand why we worked our asses off in the heat to get New Coop up and running.  

Life will definitely be more fun around here.

Kirkpatrick McMillan - The Devil on Two Wheels

As many of you know, I have a lot of Irish and a lot of Scottish in me.  Some of it in the form of DNA and some in the form of beverage for which each country is noted.

Being a little of each gives me both curiosity and enthusiasm in a world where technology is quickly exceeding my ability to absorb its advantage to the world about me.  But I am blessed with a decent mechanical aptitude that sometimes allows me to repair what can be repaired, and even create something that has never been created.

Even so, nothing has ever gotten in the way of my curiosity nor has it stopped me from trying to understand things I can't change.  And there's great joy in changing what I can change.

I would dearly love to leave this planet in better shape than I found it.

There was another McMillan (also spelled MacMillan)  (note the spelling is slightly different than my own name: McMillin) who's ability to apply ideas to the technology of the day set in motion a form of human transportation that quickly changed the world.  And it continues to do so today.

My distant relative, Kirkpatrick McMillan, is now recognized at the person who invented the human powered bicycle in 1839/1840.

And in doing so, he changed the world for the better.

If you have ever owned a bicycle, you owe its existence to Kirkpatrick McMillan.

If you have a few minutes you might read this accounting of him and his invention.

Devil on Two Wheels

Jack Semmes Ranlett Baptism and Party

Nephew Chase Ranlett, and his wife Cheryl, asked if I would take pictures of their new son, Jack, as he was baptized.  Of course. 

But there would also be a family celebration party afterward.  Of course.

The timing was perfect.  It was Easter and the day was beautiful.

Everything went smoothly, and before the day was over I had over 200 photos and a lot of video.  I had to discard some, of course, and edit others, but in the end I think I did a fair job of showing the two events.

The whole day was very nice.

Here's the link to the YouTube video: 

Jack Semmes Ranlett Baptism and Celebration

Another Sod Day at Maison des Poulets

You wake up thinking that it would be a nice day to recover from yesterday's sod wounds.  But no - there's even more sodness to be dealt with today.

Maison des Poulets just doesn't look like it did yesterday.  And in many ways it looks even better after we came to grips with our sodlessness.

The truth is, we really needed some 'Sodness' in our lives.  If for no other reason than to perhaps serve to remind us that not everyone is lucky to even have Sod.  We had it but Mother Nature took it from us. So Sod.

We were fraught with worry over what we should do.  But in the end it became clear that we just had to take matters into our own hands.  We did, and we feel really good about it.  And we decided that Sodness can be a good thing when handled properly

So once again we're off to the Sodest place in Covington, knowing that we would end up being even more banged up and dented, and a lot Soder than yesterday.

Maybe these photos will show you what I mean.  These were taken this morning as a new sun arose.  You can actually see the sodness as it spreads to the right, affecting everything in its path.

Here too...

Yes, we need about 1,500 more pounds of Sodness before we can truly say we've got our sodlessnes under control and our feet firmly on the ground.

Next day, we added another 1,500 pounds of Sodness, plus two full wheelbarrows of beach stuff.  Then we waited for the promised rain.  It came and looks like our efforts to achieve Sodness Nirvana paid off.  We feel the power of success.

More proof that Sodlessness can be overcome with a plan, some $$$ and a lot of effort.

Finally, A Shed

A shed for our growing collection of lawn care and gardening tools equipment was high on the list of 'things to do' here at La Maison des Poulets. 

(Yeah... I know I said I would no longer have to do lawn mowing, but somehow my plans went awry)

We flipped and flopped as to what kind of shed (build it ourselves or buy one) because of the area where it will be located.  We wanted it to look nice but be functional.  But most of all, it needed to accommodate items that were unnecessarily taking up space in the garage.  And it had to meet the Homeowner's Association guidelines.

In the end, we opted for a resin (plastic) shed that would do the job.  And the one we chose comes with a 10 year limited warranty.  I take that to mean if it fails on the last day of the warranty, the cost of it's warranty replacement will be calculated by dividing its original cost by 3,650 days minus one.  So in this case the company would give us a prorated refund of $0.22. 

But hey, if I built my own, my warranty would be 'Zero.'  So we probably made the right decision.

It came in a box and was set up and functioning as a shed before the day was over. Judy and I assembled it ourselves.

Take a look.

I will be mounting some hangers and hooks to hold most of the stuff off the floor.

Next project: our outdoor kitchen...

More Concrete Makes For More Patio

Back when the house was being built we could not for the life of us make a good decision on what to do with an area between the house, the porch and where the New Coop (outdoor kitchen) would go .  So, as expected, nothing good comes from indecision.  Sure enough the area was unusable. 

So we finally called the concrete guys and they took care of it.  It really turned out well and instantly made our porch/patio/outdoor kitchen area more like what we really needed all along.

More photos will follow as we get it completely finished.

Visit From Texas Friends

February 2018 started off with a visit from eight of our long-time friends in Texas.  We really had a great time visiting, but we made sure we all had plenty to eat and drink.  We may be living in another state now but it didn't take long for the food and drink to start its magic for having a good time.

Lots of photos were taken and although it was hard, I edited out as many of them as I dared so we would not bore people with too many 'happy-smiley photos.'

I combined them into a video that should pretty much tell the story.

Enjoy

Texas Comes to Covington

Jack Semmes Ranlett - Age 'New'

My Sweetie and her sister Joyce, have been waiting a long time to become Great Aunt and Grandmother.  And now they are...

Introducing Jack Semmes Ranlett.

He is the product of Cheryl and Chase Ranlett, and is not shy about showing off his good looks and captivating smile.

And he seems quite pleased about how quickly his parents respond to his commands.

Here's the short video of the momentous occasion - his first birthday.

Introducing Jack Ranlett

Leroy's Elevator Update

When we lived in Texas, we stored a lot of items in our detached garage attic.  It was always awkward at  best to get items up and down from the attic.  I really hated it.  Not only was it difficult to use the flimsy pull-down folding ladder, it was unsafe.  So unsafe that I actually fell from the attic because of my losing my grip on the ladder.  Yes, my head was well into the attic making the fall about ten feet.  By the time I stopped falling my head was hitting the floor.

Yes, it hurt like a SOB!  But it could have been worse... Much worse.

So when we moved to our new house in Louisiana, I had hoped the garage attic had a better and safer means of access, especially when I found out the climb was three feet more than in Texas.  I knew I would not survive falling from this height.  In fact, my first time up the ladder was so frightening for me that I was shaking in fear.

So I had to come up with something better.

I looked at making a 'pull-down staircase.'    It would be just like a staircase except that it would retreat into the attic until needed.  At least I could easily carry boxes up and down a lot more safely than on the rickety fold down ladder.

I show my design to the builder, and although he found my creation 'interesting' he would not build it.  So I was on my own.

But then I got to thinking that perhaps there was even a better way to solve the problem.  And I started searching 'elevators' and 'dumb-waiters' and 'lifts' to get some ideas.  Eureka!  I actually found some creative people's videos on YouTube showing their elevators.  Not just a 'sling' type lift but an actual elevator.

So I drew some ideas from them and added my own.  I knew this would work and I could build it.

As it turned out, my brother-in-law and nephew stepped up to do the difficult work for me.  I'm glad they did because I'm clearly getting too old to do that kind of work by myself.

The results were better than expected.  We now have an elevator in our garage and we are the talk of the neighborhood.

Take a look at the video I just posted on YouTube.

Leroy's Elevator

Pretty darn cool...  But more important, it's much safer than me climbing the fold up ladder.  Plus, it allows me to take even larger and heavier items into the attic for storage.

It could not have worked out better.

Basil Cell Carcinoma

Nowadays everyone knows about the sun's ability to cause skin cancer, especially among fair complexion  people like me.  So I visit my dermatologist at least once a year, and immediately if I see something that may be a problem.  I sure don't want skin cancer to be the thing that kills me.

Needless to say, I've had some problems over the years and fortunately for me the were easy to treat, some because I caught them early.

This latest incident was not that unusual but turned out to be a basil cell carcinoma.  As bad as that sounds it is the best kind of skin cancer to have if treated timely.  It is localized, so there is very little chance of it spreading.  But left untreated it can cause some damage to the skin and surrounding area.

During a routine visit to my primary care physician my wife asked him to take a look at a bump on the side of my nose.  It had been there for years and seen by at least two dermatologists.  But it had recently started to grow larger, looking more like a wart than anything.

So the doctor took a look and suggested we schedule a visit to my dermatologist because it looks like a basil cell carcinoma.

Needless to say, we drove straight to the dermatologist's office and made an appointment for the next day.  We're glad we did because the resulting biopsy tested positive for cancer.  An appointment was made with a specialist.  She explained what she would be doing to remove the BSC and a date was scheduled for the surgery two weeks later.

The surgery was yesterday.  And it was actually more boring than painful.  The doctor first cut out a sizable piece of the bump and took it to her lab to see if she managed to get all of the cancer.  It took a while to get the results.  When she returned an hour later she said there were some signs that she didn't get it all and would have to cut deeper.  This is what I looked like while I waited.

She returned and cut again.  And this time it was successful.  I was cancer free - a good feeling.

Here are some more photos to show what I looked like on the table and on the way home.  Yes I drove.

By the time we arrived home the pain started to get worse so I took a Tylenol and went to bed.

The bandage came loose during the night and would not re-stick.  So I left it off and followed their instructions to clean around the area with a Q-tip and hydrogen peroxide, then apply a lite layer of Vaseline. 

I return next week to have the stitches removed, but that's pretty much it.  Meanwhile, I will clean it with the Q-tip and hydrogen peroxide and cover it with a small bandage.  I'm not to do any heavy lifting or strenuous workout for a couple of days.  That's pretty easy to live with in order to be cancer free again.

See your dermatologist...

Update;  I returned today (2-6-18) to get the stitches out.  It looks good and I can return to normal.

The Happy Place - A Great Idea

One of the things we like about Terra Mariae, our little 55 and over community that we now call home, is that it is small (only 70 houses), compact (One long street and two short ones), out of the way of traffic and crime and noise, and there are lots of people who want to get involved.

And it's a perfect place to take a stroll.

So when Neighbor Scott Goodwin decided to build a pergola in one of the large green space areas about half way down the long street, he knew it would be a welcome spot for strollers to get out of the sun or rain.  Not to mention just a nice comfortable place to enjoy a book or just watch the birds.

He decided to pay for it and build it himself.  But that's when a few neighbors jumped in to help.  This was just too good of an idea to NOT be involved in it.

I made a short video showing how the efforts of a few paid off.  Take a look:

The Happy Place

Nice huh?

Not shown in the video is the concrete floor.  He paid for that too.

And he has since built a horseshoe pit.

It Snowed Again

It's hard to believe, but we've already had our second snowfall since moving into our New House on November 1st, only 78 days ago.   And it has only been 38 days since it snowed back on December 8th.  I'm guessing that's some kind of record for here.

Not only did it snow, it got down to 16° with a wind chill of 1° this morning.  And Mother Nature promises even more of the same for today, tonight and tomorrow.

Even so, we sure enjoyed the view this morning.

It's way too cold to work in the garage today so I guess we'll just catch up on something else.  I'm thinking Naps may be the answer.  We sure aren't crazy enough to go somewhere.

Leroy's Elevator

As we get more and more comfortable in New House, there are two large projects that I particularly wanted done. 

The first was to build a new outdoor kitchen, now referred to as New Coop, to not only serve as a place to cook on our Big Green Eggs, but also our Blackstone Grill, while also serving as a gathering spot for entertaining.  I have the plans drawn and approved by the Homeowner's Association, the slab poured, the plumbing, electrical, and natural gas stubbed out, and I'm ready to get on with it as soon as the other major project is finished.

The other project is a freight elevator into the garage attic.  Yes, an elevator - not one of those 'lifts' that work like a motorized 'sling.'  I wanted something that was built strong enough and safe enough for me to ride along on the elevator if necessary.

The elevator project is now almost complete.  Just some tweaking and cosmetic work remains and it will be finished.

It has already delivered its first load into the attic, a very heavy box filled with Mardi Gras beads.  They were much too heavy for me to hand-carry up that flimsy folding attic ladder, so they remained on the garage floor, always in the way until they became the first to ride the Leroy Elevator.

I will make a detailed video of the Leroy Elevator's construction after I finish, but for now I thought I would share this short video of the elevator hoisting its first load into the attic.

Leroy Elevator First Load

Yet Another Nice Surprise Visit

Another Nice Surprise Today

Frank Smith (aka Frank From Houma in Big Green Egg circles) and Maria (aka his bride of nearly 45 years, navigator, and Traveling Companion) drove over from Houma to see New House and its current occupants. That would be us.

It was a wonderful surprise to see them again.

They also brought Poteet and Jolie who quickly discovered my chair.  I like it too Poteet and Jolie.

Judy had some spaghetti and meatballs cooking when they arrived so lunch was served, followed by some good old 'table talk' that included some old times and new times. It was fun.

Naturally, they got the tour of New House, saw the desks we built, where the elevator will go and where New Coop will be built.

But they didn't come empty handed. Frank presented one of his cutting boards to us. It's beautiful and contains four species of wood.

As they drove off into the sunset we were once again reminded that except for the Big Green Egg, we probably would never have met them. But in a way it feels like we've known them all of our lives. Its a real pleasure knowing them.

Y'all come back soon, you hear...