Today I visited a store that sells all kinds of things at a discount including food

products that are close to or beyond their expiration date. On March 19th of
last year I showed a creepy (to me) lamp this store had for sale. Well, during my

2022 Birthday Extravaganza they STILL had this monstrosity (to me) for sale but

for some reason today, sans the shade and pushed to a little corner of the store.

I couldn't  find a price on it and I wasn't gonna ask.

While brainstorming about the Iron Man bust upgrade at the Dollar

Tree store on Wednesday, I picked up some of this $1.25 popcorn
to snack on while watching a movie. As it turns out, when it is first
opened, WO... smells kinda rank, plastic-ee. But after the first few
fat and calorie loaded bites, it started to taste kind of good. Not
something I would buy all the time and that is for sure.

One thing I do like about the product is
this Bible Verse on the back. I just think it
is nice. Some might not appreciate it. I do.

Okay Santa, put it down, give it a rest. It's over.

While out and about during my 2022 Birthday Extravaganza

I took a moment to enjoy dusk. Dusk has always been one of

my favorite times of the day/night. It could mark the end of a

great day and holds the possibility of a magical night.

I mean, that's what it has always felt like for me, more so when

I was younger and lived in the city. So many "adventures".

Another favorite time of day is dinner time, especially when
you are in the drive-thru at Tom's, waiting for a delicious
burger and fries. Magical, most of the time.

No Mr. Tom's, thank YOU!

I visited Dollar Tree (where everything is now $1.25) during this, my

2022 Birthday Extravaganza. I came across a cool little Iron Man bust.

$1.25? Oh yeah. Mine. Further on down the aisle I spotted a display dome.
My brain went into OVERDRIVE.

$1.25 Iron Man bust + $1.25 display dome = a collectible!

I glue gunned little Iron Man inside the dome and now you are
looking at a big ticket item. I am bettin' that I am up at
least 50 cents on this deal.

I put him into the bar cabinet with some other stuff and I am waiting for

somebody in the household to spot him. Could be a while.
I actually think he looks pretty cool.

He wants you to take him home.

As I have written before, it is my once a year Birthday Extravaganza

tradition to try and find a REALLY inexpensive Star Wars (hopefully)

related figure to add to the collection that I display behind my TV. This

year I found Grand Moff Tarkin. I found him at Comics-N-Stuff.

And here he is now with all of his "pals". You are looking at about

five or six years worth of (not completely Star Wars) tradition. I have

also written that the Millennium Falcon is my favorite piece, but

I dunno.... Mr. Tarkin may take that honor. Probably not... but maybe.

Oh, and Grand Moff Tarkin was made by Kenner.

I went out and bought my very own copy of

HALLOWEEN KILLS.

This includes the theatrical version and an extended

cut with an alternate ending. My curiosity is PEAKED.

I will watch SOON.

Shiver me timbers!

I'm betting a monkey painted this.

For my birthday I bought something that I did

not need, but something that I wanted. I bought

for myself this MSR Titan titanium kettle.

It is a great fit for my MSR Pocket Rocket. The

water boils so fast on this thing that you barely

have enough time to reach for a potholder before

it is done. Fantastic.

It all comes together to form a really simple and fun

way to make a hot drink on a cold day. Two minutes

to make and as long as you want to sit and take in the

day, or night.

I bought this hat at the thrift store. With a

coupon it was actually about $3.50.

I am going to try to make a simple tricorn

out of it.

Something like this only my stitching will
be nicer.... hopefully.

I will for shore post a photo of it when I

get it done, unless I do a completely

terrible job of it.

The 2022 Birthday Extravaganza continues!

While out and about on my
2022 Birthday Extravaganza
I spotted a rather sassy
peanut butter.

At the mall for my 2022 Birthday Extravaganza. I
bought the LOKI button at Comics-N-Stuff.

I also bought a new Star Wars figure to put behind my TV
set as is my birthday tradition. I usually get something that
is inexpensive and something that I am willing to open and put
on display. This year that is Grand Moff Tarkin. I will post a
picture of him out of the box and with the rest of the
Star Wars stuff that is behind my TV soon.

Later on I visited World Market to stock up on some incense I

like. In addition to the incense, I special occasioned it and

treated myself to some jalapeno stuffed olives. This is an about

once every two year treat as they ain't cheap.
Man, I LOVE these.

When my son and I went on our Annual Halloween Crawl

in October we stopped by Boot Barn to see if they might
have in stock jacket I want. They didn't and never do.

But here is a little spur keychain I picked up.

I will check out a couple other Boot Barns for my
jacket during my 2022 Birthday Extravaganza
which officially started.... today.

Wow. It is 2022 and he is still popping
up all over the place.

This is good.

Happy New Year 2022
from El Rancho De La Tex!

I bought a new lighter today. This is a practice run for my 2022

Birthday Extravaganza which officially starts next week. This

Zippo lighter is called the Classic Brushed Chrome model. The

sides are a high polished chrome and my fingers are able to grip

it a bit better than the one I have been carrying for two years

which has brushed chrome all the way around.

I think that was another of my famous long sentences.

Anyway, it's always fun to have a new lighter. Almost as much fun

as having a new knife, or pistol. ALMOST.

Oh, and according to the markings on the bottom of the
lighter, it was made in June of 2011.

Good-bye old friend.

Hello new friend!

~ Merry Christmas from Lizzy Tex Borden, 2021 ~

After we finished our Christmas Eve dinner leftovers

we sat down to watch Abbott & Costello in their movie
"Africa Screams". It was a lot of really corny fun and on
the ten foot screen it is even more fun.
We had a great Christmas.

It's officially Christmas Eve here at The Ranch and we have had quite

a bit of rain overnight. A lot of wind too. I'm not a big fan of the wind.



The rain filled this bowl up.

Christmas Eve!
Sing it baby, sell it!

!!!!!!!! WHEEEEEEEEE !!!!!!!!

Happy Christmas Eve, friends!

Ensuring our safety and the safety of our property

during the most wonderful time of the year.

HO HO HO!
Yeah, somebody knitted this guy.

One of the strips of tape holding our outdoor Christmas light

display came loose. As I was adjusting it, this spider came

running out. Not a big one, but it WAS a surprise.

One of my mom's nativity scenes. I like

this one. It has little stuffed fabric figures.

I thought that I had posted this before, but I apparently did not, so

here goes. These photos are from my 2010 visit to the Autry Museum

of Western Heritage. Above is the display featuring a chuck wagon.

Everybody probably knows that a chuck wagon is where meals were

prepared for hungry cowboys while on cattle drives etc. The term chuck

wagon came from the word "chuck" which is slang for food. I bet THIS

was a welcome sight at the end of a long day.

"Don't short me on the beans there, cookie. I got my eye on you."

The cooks were often called "cookies". And you did not mess with a cookie.

This man prepared all of your food while on the trail. You give him a hard

time and your meals are going to SUCK. The above cowboy's meals are

going to suck.

And while in this section of The Autry, overhead you will be hearing a

great rendition of "The Old Chisolm Trail" sung by I have no idea. I

love this song and it brings back great memories. I am just hoping that The

Autry does not mind my posting this song. I'll find out I reckon. Please

enjoy the above audio of the song as heard in the museum.

- Update: Saturday, July 27, 2024 -
I have learned that the person who sang this version of
The Old Chisolm Trail is Harry “Haywire Mac” McClintock.
1882 - 1957

When they left their litter on this Lot Cop

I wish that it could have tazed them.

Enjoying some HOT chocolate...

...during a COLD sunset.

Potatwo.

Two movies that I am excited to see. In Old Henry the trailer seems to

point to Henry being an older repentant Billy the Kid. But this could

merely be a red herring. I will find out. And Steel Dawn, a 1987 film set

in a post-apocalyptic world. In Mad Max it was gasoline. In Steel Dawn

it is water. They made quite a few of these movies in the 80's and 90's
and they can be a LOT of fun.

I bought them both at Walmart.

The dust up here in the mountains can be heavy and between my

action figures and electronics, it comes close to being a nightmare.

Compressed air has been my best friend, but it is expensive and as

of late it is difficult to find around here.

I finally broke down and bought this Alpthy air blower. It charges

via a USB port TYPE-C cable (supplied) and it puts out a pretty dang
good bit of air. There is also a built-in LED light to help you see just what
it is that you are dusting. The air blower comes with a nice little storage
bag as well. I actually use it. The device was not totally inexpensive but
 it will hopefully pay for itself in about six months.

So far it has the Tex

Borden Seal of Approval.

Just another slice.