so get this... i can eat ice cream and put ice in my drinks. all do to the power of the sun. so with the addition of the solar power system i acquired and a refrigerator salvaged from the galveston storm, an addition of a insulated (6" of R80 iso brd.) and a power closet to keep the batteries out of the weather, life in the desert is good. no more running for ice or meats that have been sloshed around in cooler water. so as the finger heals i eat well. here are some pics of the life abound in terlingua. i really like the blair pitman in the starlight pic well he was telling stories of terlingua during the green scene party in town. the scorpion was found while moving a water barrel to make room for the new closet. big bend snake which was in the road that i hit

so here is jan- feb constrution. stopping the heavey work to the finger heals. pics if ever up load. check out this dude... the best i seen in galveston old quarter, but this is else were. also check out this album...some great pics from the top of the world. http://s160.photobucket.com/albums/t181/krissiepissie/texas/?start=0

one stone at a time

plugging away with the rocks, which seam to stack themselves with some back braking fule behind them. also got the garden started

started the rock walls on the house

while the holiday season has come and gone and its time to get to work. I First got the mead and letchiga (sp?) started to ferment, finished the rock stairs to the guest house, still the first guest, and the walls to the main house. would like to post more but I am getting run out of the cafe in midland were i am and the hotel does not have a connection like they say. the tecno gods are keeping me away..back again the next day to add comments on the pics. I like the one were squirt is riding on the back of josie hunting the roads for what ever breaths now that Kriss is gone and she has no one to scratch up. Then there's Hermans peak, the name sake of my neighborhood. A pic of Kriss doing the dishes, got to pay for room and board out at the salvage yard ranch...lol... some more shots of the great sun sets which blows away anything you got on tv... man i for got how bad that tv shit is, while sitting in the hotel room flipping thru the channels brain dead last night. Then there is the chimney pics from the wash from latter falls which is on the way down to terlingua creek. It is a great hike, about 4 to 5 miles to a great pool of water, cant wait for some warmer days to dive in for a swim, just hobo bathing in it now. Kriss and I mad the hike while she was here and i tried to start a fire with the bow drill but was unsuccessful, so the magnesium block did the trick. I did get a coal later that night when greg showed up and her throw me a couple of pointers. "Fire man" he calls me now. xmas night on the porch... Finally some water on the top of the world...we all like to share

trying to start fires without matches or lighter

So its december and ya it gets cold in the desert, at night that is...and when you need fire you should know how to make it. Tracker Greg come over one day and we was talking and got to the topic of the hand drill fire starting method. So he started to demonstrate how its done. He went to his truck and got his kit, fire board and spindle. Showed me how to do it. (See video), he got smoke but no amber. I had a give at it to no ad-vale so we used the thumb drill to start the night fire. The next day i gave it another try, got smoke and a hand full of blisters as result. Huh, while talking about my blisters to the folks about town, they all respond, " use a bow drill". So thats what I have tried. I got a soltol stalk for the fire board and spindle, a willow spring for the bow and a cupped rock for my hand block, and made cordage out of the yucca leaves. I first got to it and smoke started right away...all right piece of cake... then the cordage broke and the sun was going down. So I grabbed some more yucca and started to mash the leaves so to get the fibers to bind into new cordage, and hurry the sun was so to be down and the cold is a coming. Just as the sun creased below the ridge, the new bow string was set. I got to bowing and bam got a coal, got the tinder burning and then my hand as i tried to get to the fire. The coal drops out and the tinder starts to die... i blow trying to get flame, but instead get a face full of smoke... it was a cold night with out fire... but soon I will be warm with the knowledge of the fire spirt but till then know its brother the cold. When all else fails drink a case of shiner and fall asleep on the wood pile like Jossie. Did you see the plants Jupiter and Venus and the sliver of a moon make that tight triangle. Here is a photo from Dec 1. here is more fun through water in the desert. Been going some hiking in the near to home kind of way and here are some shots of the ranch from far away (ya that speck out there is my land) Some pics are from the top of black messa...thats black messa behind the out house



Also got to track a deer which was not very old tracks and scat, and came upon the resting spot, no i did not see it but it left this great track of its body and knees. Note the indent near the water bottle. Finally merry christmas to all...here is my desert xmas tree

thanks giving

been a long while since last post, so here are the up dates. Got walls and heat in the cabin, ready for the cold winter nights, had a visit from Christina, and have been on the rive Rio Grande twice. All is quite well and words can not hit on the way of terlingua life. I have been making cordage at night and gonna make some constructions, maybe they will sell better then paintings. There have been many days waking up to dead mice in the dogs water... little bastards can't swim. Some great sun rises and a party had out at my place, even the great Wade came out, and preached to the dogs, while Brin played her Earl and Wade songs. There was the day of the dead party, which was missed but here are some photos from the next day.











Also check out http://share.shutterfly.com/share/received/album.sfly?sid=0AatXLZwzbOGL-4&startIndex=0&fid=fdb4cd62eb25d06a to see more photos off Christina's camera this is a spring found not to far from my land

another day passes

so here are some pics from the past month. The video is of Brin Moore doing songs about wade, a local icon, then there is the coyotes on the road today and some paintings and such. Not much has been going on since the cyanide spill, glad they forgot to tell me about the evacuation, but you cant get to me.






































there is also the new power plant, which is mounted on the guess cabin. those fools in the pics are the two that helped pour the slab. Thats Gregg the ghost who will work for beer and larry "carry bucket" who came in just the right time to geter done, thaks guys. while here is the pic of the coyotes i left out and an up date with the doors on the cabin. things have been well, however i have been hearing a lot from galveston and may need to head back there for a little bit, they pay in dollars not Paso's.






here is also a video of george a great cowboy of these parts singing one of his songs, he was hanging out for the song writers party at garth park here in town, meet him back in the day of the mine jam session, a previous post. Lots of fun texas style.

THE RIO GRAND IS FLOODING

while made it to town today, something not even thought about in the last few days, but visited my neighbor, Clyde last night and watched the skys change. Here are a few pics of the show, as well as what is believed to be a red racer snake about 5' long which was in the road last monday, a pic of the out house and swing as well. Need to fix the trailer lights again, so that i can get to the city and get materials for the next phase of building.

Gonna rain again

the ants arer hungry too.

there has been a lot of action in the hurmans peak neighbor hood. A visit from lary at his camp, and the truck i knew was gonna get stuck. See it was a new night and these head lights appear out further then I. It was headed to the creek, where I go just about every day to sit ,swim in the water and read and look for tracks. The water has been up, only one truck has cross in 3 weeks, my swimming hole was relocated by the currents, and this truck was headed right into it at night. I wondered if they were lost, or going to a camp which is not out that was, well there will be lights again, well there were none that night as I went to sleep. The next morning I heard a truck... it was 20 minutes away... it turned out to be crazy diamonds larry, but 5 minutes behind was a tow truck, yep...just as i thought. An hour passes and I see the tow truck and night truck on there way in. I could hear there tires getting closer, then bam Larry was over, I did not hear the difference in the distance. Another 15 minutes pass and the tow truck is coming into my ranch... we meet him at the gate... "so they got stuck in the creek""yep" "they walked back to the hotel, go there at 4:30, I guess about a 6 hour hike. the dogs barked that night, but it was not at them... I saw there tracks leading out the other side of the creek, a male and female..



its september now and I am taking more pics of rainbows and all the flowers which are blooming like fireworks around these lands. My water tank is leaking so all that good water is in the ground now, and the hardware store is open again, closed for the holiday, but gots to wait till tomorrow when the delivery comes in with what I need. So take advantage of the towns power and try to keep in touch with you all, not much else left to do except go down to the swimming hole and keep a chill on.

rain, rainbows, swimingholes, and flash floods, ya in the desert

so i decided to get in the truck and see if i could get to town this friday night. My neighbor Larry of the crazy diamonds is coming out this labor day, a labor day without my party. I was told I don't need a house for a house warming party, but what are the people to be impressed with, the out house, although it is coming together as a piece of shit. Any way made it, like driving on buffalo ice roads after a nice inch of snow, man that mud makes you do some weird things, sticks to every thing and would be great for mud wrestling in, Ya so it has rained, dressed for about 36 of the last 48 hours and I recored an inch and half of rain, fill those buckets... place all around catching the drips and about 30 gallons of more water. There have been many rainbows, man this place is the home of the rainbow, and the pin flower is good for candy, (Chris I need a recipe for that). There are pics of the terlingua creek were I bath, and read, " the tracker" it is for now, thanks chris. And a shot of the new painting, as it take shape. Oh ya, that phot of the truck and poles, while thats were I get my phone calls, not to far from home ethith, about two and 1/2 miles.

Back at Home on the Ranch

So, been awy for some time in the north east (if you would like to know about that trip you'll need to go to http://myspace.com/salvageyardranch since this site is all about my experiment in Terlingua. Here is what has been going on this month- the new outhouse is under construction, some real great music at LaKivia's, rainbows, rain, and flash floodings, check 'em out.

Move in day.

I made it to the ranch. And man not sure what is trying to keep me away or warn me, but it was a hard journey. Isbee is berried next to her grandmother blue over at black rock cannon, and then when Joey and I showed up at the ranch, I did my normal walk thue of the camp and walked up on a mohave desert rattler. "Joey get the shot gun." two shots thru the weber bbq cover and the thing still slivered out, "joey get the shovel" with it pined down off with its head, after two blows. The next day the power plant failed. The next day we got to go to a show in an old mine shaft. totally private. , thanks Cowboy dave and co. Sorry the pics are from my phone, the dam camera is out of order. Then the next night while shooting in the dark the last bullet was a tracer and man it started a fire. Joey starts running down to the flame, " I cant come you got the only light:", i said as he barreled down the ledge towards the flames. Man, it was crazy. He stamped the fire out, after jumping off a 15 ft ledge. Then there has been the rain. lots of it, there is water every where and we have been in it. So life is good and who knows what it will bring.

rain upon our arrival

the last load has made its way to terlingua. The rains started just as well got to Study Butt. Hiding out in the Boat House drinking and playing pool while the rains poured down. When they stopped, Joey (my helper) who has not been out to the ranch yet, says "ok it stopped lets go." I did not think we would make it... and I was right. The first big wash we got to was flowing like a river. We stopped and camped on the road. The next morning it was slow enough to cross. I was not sure we would be so lucky crossing the black rock cannon creek crossing, but we got stuck in the mud prior to even getting there. With some digging and a lot of mess we got the trailer moving again and made it to the ranch that day. Spent a lot of time over at the Auga Fria watering hole, where the dogs had fun with the longhorns watering there as well. Joey passed out in front of some folks we met and were talking to. Vinegar drink was the cure. Here are some shots before the camera stopped working.

a major step closer

the surf boards and tv sold at the yard sale of things that you can not use in the desert. All other things are now in Alpine. Trip mission accomplished. Then the phone rings in Terlingua and the bad news starts to roll in. Delays in G-town house, and an architecture project going bad... I fell like the dead Rat Snake with out his brains. (note this is the type of snake that I have seen on my land but alive). A good snake to have around when they have there brains. Now back in galveston and worried if I can finish this journey towards un-know adventure, will the moines hold out until the sale, as the winds currents blow against my sail. The ocotta plants were in bloom, they left these great patterns of falling flowers on the round mixed in with the rock. I just hope i look as good as I fall on my face.

Sand&Gravel

300 gallons more moved for the slab...not many photos taken... but check out the old icestation stove burring again after being silenced since 1996...now its time for the portland and steel placement...some new animal sightings (most while driving)... a couple of cats small like bob cats, a huge buck in the middle of the road around the bendand the sound of the coyotes with pups in den near the terra incognito

terlingua water and land

this is shot in October, notice what a little water over a long poeriod of time can do.

Moon Full of Cash

johny cash singing the 309 under the solstic full moon and camp fire out on the cincoo cietoo terra icognito

solstice moon scapes

the full moon lite up the the darkest nights of the year

Constructions Art

Some of the "placed objects in space"

more heavy work

moved 500 gallons of sand and gravel from the black creek crossing for the concrete slab, and worked on improvents to the shower corral. Granite and brick flooring with bench. Felt like samson when the pile was my own little mountin and get a kick out of that photo.

360 view from the picnic table

Back to Marfia and the Slab

Another trip with rainbows and rain, Art and Music, raccoons, jahavalina,jack rabbits being chased by coyotos running with in two arms lenghts one morning while taking the morning dump by the creote bush. Josie and squirt joined me to the channiti party and sonic youth show. After runing of the police man squirt was next found on the stage after the show....love performance art. The water tanks were full and the slab awaits 125 cu. ft of concrete...how many trips will this take?

Labor day Trip 07

This years labor day party was a tragic comedy. No one was able to make the trip with me other than my two faithful girls Josie and Squirt. I was a month too early for the Marfa Sonic Youth show, but a nice drive around the SW of Texas and along the Rio Grand,to the left of the pictures is Mexico. Many spiders and vermin seen this goings. A nice looking gray rat took up home in the linen closet making a nice mess for me to find, but upon cleaning up her mess I found her and was able to confront her face to face. It also was a trip of rainbows, lost pots of gold and the first direct work done on the main el hacienda. Formation of the slab began. After 30 loads of 5 gallon buckets full of fill the slab is now level and ready for concrete. The tragic disappearance of Josie one night ended the nights celebration of the days events. Lost and hopeless and many hours of driving around trying to cross paths again, a spiral fossil captured the hot deserts light and burned into my mind and heart. Upon stopping to gathering up the gold, Josie appeared out of the aura limp footed, tail between her legs and nearing collapse in need of water after 12 hours of being alone . Loss was once love again. Speeking of Love, Squirt found her first. Duke of Earl from the boathouse, mated with her every visit to town. One night he some how took a ride in the truck with us without my knowledge to La Kiva's. Puppies anyone? I also had my own smaller version of the burring man. In the pictures is a views of the lighting storm with hen egg and the water corral lit up by the flash. Rain again in the desert. I think that makes the last 5 trips, I was always taught that it does not rain in the dersert, it must be all the galveston hummity I bring with me. Oh the frogs are from Castroville at Nelsons. There were hundreds of them with all the rain they have had there.

Solitario-Terlingua Texas

view from cinco cieto terra incognito salvage yard ranch

Sundial Entry Bench

Entry... House to follow

Empire State Troopers

News Flash : Sonic Youth free September 6, 2007 at the Chinati Foundation, a contemporary art museum in Marfa, Texas, based upon the ideas of its founder, Donald Judd. 1 Cavalry Row Marfa, Texas 432.729.4362 Just Watch out for the Empire State Troopers....they might run you over, also a very sonic band from NY. But be there like wasted

Late May Day

View from Hemans Peak

view of christmas mts. in clouds and 2 pics from Larry of the Crazy Diamond Ranch taken from Hermans Peak, down onto the cinco cieto terra incognito salvage yard ranch

crawfish in the desert

crawfish had a tuff ride out to there boil, only 1/3 made it, but they tasted great. The folks at the pourch were upset that the boil party was not going on, until we showed up with the left overs from the morning. Even cold mud bugs taste good with a view. The folks from New Orlans said I did them right, nice and hot. While Mohawk and Nelson sleeped most of the time, I was able to make improvements to the bath house/corral and to add a compost area and power station which had some problems with the solar panel.

terlingua rainbow

been too long

this has been the longest stint since starting to go to the bend that i have been away. hope to make it for another super bowl party. i have the new addition of a trickle charge solar panal system that i have put together to get out there. meanwhile i have enjoyed the galveston lone star bike ralley. included in this post i s a photo of the black widow which greeted us upon our last vist and a frog which took releif from the heat in the doags water bowl and the new ranch cooking table.

Labor Day at the Yard

Not only did the first annual Labor Day Salvage Yard Ranch party go off with out a hitch, so did John’s truck and popup. He found it out on the road after dragging the kids out at 2 am and walking along with flashlights and a handy piece of rebar holding it in place. The crocodile hunter passed but we had his replacement, Steve’s son Kipling, who found anything alive in his path. We saw a horny toad lizard, a stick bug, lots of scorpions, a small garden snake, a coyote killing a rattle snake, millipedes, caterpillars with spike tales (not sure of their name), and a couple of jack rabbits who Squirt tried to chase but were long gone before she even got a start. Shots rang out all day, till our ears bled….bang, bang…bang. Then there was the trip out to the natural spring at the base of Agua Fria, just 6 miles as the crow flies from the Yard. As we swam we wondered how many dried out cowboys swam the same spot only to look up on the ridge to see a war party of apaches. The shower barn still stood and the metal roof, gutter and water tank are all in place for next visit. Poor neighbor Larry lost his camper down to the valley, buy a strong wind which blew through. The rain had been plenty and the plants were all in bloom and green.

Get ready for the Labor Day Party

starting to get ready for the party, loading up the trailer and building the new cooking table and up grading the food storage.

blue finds the corners of the desert

blue could not hear, but if you listen you can hear her chaseing the winds. RIP at Blue Morning Crossing Black Rock Caynon

Ladder Falles going Off

view of tanaha from another visit...then after the flash. the blue bath house was destoryed durning construction by the hail storm which blew through...twice, but what a sight it was. Ladder falls flashed and left us with a freshly filled tanaha. the second bath house was started and still stood when we left.

going back to load off at the yard

pictures from my last visit.plan on making the BLUE water house with battery powered high pressure shower and claw foot tub