A Great Burger At Russ' Place - Humidifier

 

Song:  You're The Best Thing

Group:  The Style Council

On my way down the mountain for my post office run.

Most of our mountain road was still coated in snow.

But...

once I got on the main road...

there was hardly any ice on the road.

Bandi stuck her head out the window almost the whole way.

After getting my packages...

I took them back home before going to a burger place I had seen online.

It was in a small town almost half an hour away (Divide)...

but I just had this mad craving for a cheeseburger.

On my way to the small town of Divide.

I am almost there in this photo.

I parked and walked to my destination.

This was a surprisingly good burger joint.

I had gotten there before the regulars filled the whole place.

There were families and couples who...

every time they walked through the door...

were greeted by name.

Handshakes and the occasional hugs abounded.

As this is a very small town...

they have regular hangouts such as Russ' Place.

Even though I try to stay off the roads whenever there is ice on them...

I gave in to the call of the wild.

I had been thinking about a good cheeseburger for days...

and I finally had enough...

I just had to satisfy that gnawing craving.

This burger place was just the right place to do so.

This was a very good cheeseburger...

and at a very good price

(not only the best burger I've had so far in Colorado...

but the least expensive).

I also got the battered mushroom platter (very inexpensive as well)...

and quite tasty.

Another plus...

most everyone there seemed to be former military.

They were not hooting and hollering like a bunch of uncouth imbeciles...

even though it was also a local watering hole.

As they were mostly up in age...

they carried themselves with a quiet dignity and respect for others.

The owner and his wife were polite...

and had a good old country air about them...

friendly and polite...

just like everywhere in Colorado I have been.

The owner ( I am guessing his name is Russ  :)...

was a big bear of a man...

but he had the kind disposition and friendliness

of a man who could rip your head off...

but chooses not to because of his sense of honor and friendliness.

I immediately liked him.

He is a gentle giant...

one of my favorite types of people.

The waitress (I believe his wife) asked me if I were a veteran...

and I showed her my Veteran status on my driver's license...

and I got a 10% discount.

My area of Colorado is filled with ex-military.

Whenever I am around veterans...

I feel comfortable.

They have a sense of honor and discipline...

and they are respectful of others.

They are my type of people.

Anyway...

I greatly enjoyed the food...

but I wanted to head back before the sun set.

Just outside the burger joint...

with Pikes Peak in the background.

I walked to my car in the parking lot...

...and headed home.

I always enjoy the country drive home.

I just play music and mellow out.

I arrived home not too long afterwards (1/2 an hour...not long by country standards :)

This is the humidifier I had ordered.

I was impressed with the functions.

It holds 6 gallons...

and it is engineered very well.

I have no doubt this one will work out well.

It is designed to be a whole house humidifier.

As you can see...

it is just half the size of my old one...

but has the same water capacity...

and has so many auto functions to prevent motor burnout.

Even though I love the arid air of high altitude 

(I am at just over 9,600 ft. in elevation with an almost constant 20% humidity)...

just to ensure wood doesn't crack inside my home...

and to keep it at a more healthful 30-40%...

I employ a humidifier.

I have the nasal turbinates of my Nordic ancestors (my father's side).

I am made for the arid northern climates...

for the ice and snow...

and crisp mountain air.

All my life...

in moderate elevations and mild climates...

my nose always ran a little...

causing me to sniffle often.

However...

up here in the rarified mountain air...

I am in my element.

I love high altitude living.

This is me...

what I was made for...

and where I thrive.

I am a mountain man...

through and through.

Sprouts - Thanksgiving

 

Just after my Thanksgiving meal...

I played my mood music as I ate

(ambiance eating).

The music fills the house from that one speaker system on top of the fireplace mantle.

I always play music whenever I am cooking and eating...

or when I am just relaxing in my recliner.

If I am reading...

I will play the music softer...

but I listen to music throughout the day.

On the eve of Thanksgiving...

I had just finished eating Mandarin Chicken...

and I decided to begin making sprouts.

The night was calm...

and it had only lightly sprinkled snow since I had snowplowed my driveway.

Whenever I eat late...

I like turning on most of the lights in the great room...

and playing music while I am eating.

This automatic sprouter is fantastic.

It warms the water well to the optimum sprouting temperature...

as well as periodically waters them from above.

I just filled the water well and put in the water riser.

These two sprout seeds provide the optimum sprouts for overall health.

I put in the seeds on to one tray at a time...

spaced about three days apart so as to allow one tray to fully sprout (4-5 days)

(about three days worth of sprouts)

before the next tray is ready.

The white tray is the water diffuser.

As it is watered from the top...

the water then drips down upon the trays of sprouts.

The sprinkler head.

It will run continuously for however long you place the timer...

keeping the water warm...

and the seeds moist.

I took off the top to show the sprinkler head doing its job.

It only operates every so often...

so as to not keep the seeds too moist.

This is now the sprouter's permanent home.

I can have fresh veggies at any time now.

They keep in the fridge for a while...

but I will finish them off before the next batch is ready.

I usually eat them as a salad with some light dressing.

I had awakened early on Thanksgiving day.

I took Bandi out to her forest bathroom...

and I noticed a partial moon in the sky.

Just before going back inside...

I took another shot of the moon as the sun began to rise.

You can see how little it had snowed since I plowed the driveway.

As I had awakened early...

after taking Bandi outside...

I decided to go back to sleep.

When I had reawakened...

it was early evening.

The sun was going down.

I then felt like eating meat sauce spaghetti.

I am browning the meat as I am boiling the water for the pasta.

My favorite sauce is Prego...

and I love thick spaghetti noodles.

As the noodles were cooking...

I took Bandi out for another bathroom run.

The sun had just set.

I also changed the water in the sprouter.

It takes less than one minute...

and that is it.

I had staged the colander in the sink so I could pour out the pasta and let the noodles drain.

The noodles are boiling here...

and just about ready to strain.

My meal is ready to serve.

These pies were my dessert.

They only cost 75 cents each...

and they reminded me of my childhood.

They were actually quite good.

Of course...

I fed Bandi as I ate.

She reminds me...

of me.

I love food as well.

I also shared some of my pies as well.

Bandi is so loving and affectionate.

She loves sleeping next to me on my bed.

I will soon be taking her on another trip in our search for hidden gems 

in our area.

However...

tomorrow I will be picking up a new humidifier from the post office...

as the last one was not a well engineered one.

This one has a built in hydrometer...

as well as an auto shut off...

and a run dry feature...

so one may fully dry out the wicks.

My old one had burned out the pump as it had no auto shutoff feature...

and I had forgotten to turn it off before napping.

But afterwards...

I may take a short trip somewhere with Bandi...

so long as the roads are not icy.