Where are we today ?
Catalina Spa Desert Hot Springs, California
Well heck, was another wonderful cool night so nice for sleeping gotta love it! Not humid, no wind, no snow and not freezing.
This morning early walkabouts and the sunrise here is so wonderful. Can see the sun on mountains over Palm Springs to the west and the low lying clouds looks so cool.
After a quick run for some fresh veggies, my project today was to flush out our hot water tank. Like to do that every year or so to remove the lime and hard water buildup. So I removed the plug and used this adapter to give it a good flushing, works wonderful,
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| use this tool for flushing out our hot water tank |
Then I did a really dumb thing. Put the old nylon plug back in. It looked real good so thought there would be no problem. WRONG!. turned on the water and it was dripping so I tighten it up a bit and leaked even more. HMM.
Better take it out and guess what it broke off in the heater ! I got drenched with warm water and said a couple bad words. Did this same thing a few years ago in Georgia, spent a couple days trying to resolve the problem and eventually took our coach to a dealer to fix the issue. Hundred dollars later the problem was fixed. Don't want to do that again.
I ran (drove) to Blair Station down the road and bought 2 new nylon plugs and asked for advise. Blair is pretty knowledgable. Sent me to the Hardware store on DHS on Pierson looking for an easyout.
The very knowledgable staff recommended this tool below. A Nipple Extractor only $6.50. So back home with great hopes and guess what, worked like a charm!! No damage to the treads put in the new plug, filled the hot water tank heated it up and no leaks!!!! Yahoo, success...
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this tool did the trick
a nipple extractor |
By now my clothes are dry, hot water tank working, (not leaking) and we all all happy.
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| no leaks |
Ok, got this done but the sun has gone away and getting cooler. Not a problem we have a plan. Suzie would like some carrot cake. Good day to bake inside. Happen to have a mix here so just fired up the oven, mixed it up and baked 8 small carrot loafs. Smells so good baking on a cooler day.
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| carrot and raisin small cakes |
Managed to sit outside for a bit and read but the cloudy weather was not the best. No problem have few more things to do.
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| cannot even see the mountains for the cloud cover |
So my next project was twice baked potatoes for supper. Baked up a huge one on our Weber Q.
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| cut in half |
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| carefully scoop out the flesh |
Mash the tater and I added garlic, spices, cheese, then re-stuffed it and added cheese, salsa, onion bacon bits, parsley, whatever.
Now to fire up our Weber Q. Taters in a foil pan until heated through (45 minutes or so), fresh mushrooms, red pepper and onions in foil. Last few minutes I put on two bacon wrapped fillet mignon steaks. Not something we normally do anymore, but have been in our freezer for a long time, gotta use them up.
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| a fresh bun with garlic butter too |
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| add that to a small salad we had a great meal |
But you know its been so long that we have had beef, really did not sit well with us. Tasted good not very much anymore.
Thanks for the visit today. We love this area and even the weather, not too much sun , not too hot, not much humidity and great for sleeping at night. Great sunrises, great sunsets and very peaceful. Not only the the great hot springs just put it over the top.
Posted by George, a.k.a. "The Weber "Q" Man of Blogland" according to Rick Doyle.
Check out the interactive map below to see where we have been this Winter.
Now to fire up our Weber Q. Taters in a foil pan until heated through (45 minutes or so), fresh mushrooms, red pepper and onions in foil. Last few minutes I put on two bacon wrapped fillet mignon steaks. Not something we normally do anymore, but have been in our freezer for a long time, gotta use them up.
Between the carrot cake and the potatoes you are killing me George! Can't wait to get home to a real kitchen! Good news on the water tank - that was close - eh!
ReplyDeleteReal kitchen is nice, but so is the warm weather and the beach.
DeleteI too like steak once in a while, but must make sure I have a lazy day after. It takes a long time to digest.
ReplyDeleteThat's why we tend to stay away from it, but I have a weak moments one day when shopping.
DeleteGeorge I smelled those fixin clear over to 59! MMM Good. Love Carrot Cake. Glad you got the Hot Water Heater fixed. Nifty tool there. Joe likes that hardware store.
ReplyDeleteWell Betty you should stop by for a carrot cake.
DeleteTo be able to fix something you broke and then admit you broke it in the first place, is a mighty brave thing. Good for you!
ReplyDeleteI did it again, so no problem there, I need top fix it. Also a tip to other RVer's for a neat tool.
DeletePaul flushes our tank out once a year also. Very good idea.
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot, George. Now Paul wants twice baked potatoes. Quit giving him ideas and me work....lol...only kidding.
Flushing the tank helps keeping it in good shape.
DeleteTwice baked are very easy and you can even make them a day or two ahead of time, keep in the fridge.
Another great day and another great dinner, glad you were able to get your water heater plug replaced and you saved $$$$.
ReplyDeleteThanks guys, it worked out to be a pretty good day.
Deletethat reminds me I am overdue for a hot water heater flush...
ReplyDeleteGood idea to get it done. Something that we kinda forget about, but wanted to do it when we have full hook ups and and Rv parts store close by, just in case.
DeleteSeems like every plumbing job I do turns into a bigger job like yours. I love it when I find a real goodie in the freezer that needs to be used. While we rarely make them (not sure why), twice baked potatoes is one of my all time favorites. Happy New Year.
ReplyDeletePlumbing can beba bit troublesome at times, but can always be fixed.
DeleteWe enjoy the twice baked potatoes too, a special treat for us as was the steak.
Glad you got the hot water tank cleaned and fixed without it costing you too much $$$$.
ReplyDeleteWhen you get away from any kind of food in particular it will not sit well in your stomach but you will survive. That did look more like a feast on your plate rather than a meal.
Be Safe and Enjoy!
It's about time.
It was a nice to get that maintenance done.
DeleteWe don't eat beef much anymore if at all. And feel much better.
It was a feast for sure.
That extractor was what I needed when I did the same thing last year when small drip turned into a flood. Finally got the old one out with a sharp knife, screwdriver and long nose pliers! Nylon is a poor material for those plugs, I guess replacing them every 2 or 3 years would be smart.
ReplyDeleteThe extractor worked pretty slick, so easy to remove the broken plug. This tool is a keeper.
DeleteI put a brass one in once, but was told not to use it because the metals were not compatible.It almost was ceased and not removable.
I rarely eat beef anymore either, and when we do it seems tough and tasteless. Even if it is a prime cut! Hamburger works out because I mix it with other things, but I'd rather eat chicken.
ReplyDeleteWe the same too, chicken, fish, lean pork and turkey, even ground turkey instead of hamburg.
DeleteIf you're like me, you'll put that new tool away and not be able to find it when you need it again. ;c)
ReplyDeletePaul I know where all my tools are, if nothing else, no problem.
DeleteDang those little carrot and raisin cakes look good. Send over a doggy bag to me will ya !
ReplyDeleteExcellent tip and reminder on the hot water tank. Gotta go check my schedule now to see when my annual flush is due.
Denise will probably still have some in the freezer when in Quartzsite or can even bake some more. So come on over.
DeleteWell done with the fix up on the hot water tank. I need to get one of those extractors. Very cool tool!
ReplyDeleteCarrot and raisins are about as good as it gets for desert, in my view.
It is a very handy tool, worthwhile picking one up, reasonable enough.
DeleteThe carrot and raisin loves are wonderful.
The right tool for the job is always the best:)
ReplyDeleteIt sure did the trick perfectly.
DeleteA nipple extractor, eh! Who knew?
ReplyDeleteThat's a plumbing nipple.
DeleteThis lady at the Ace Hardware, knew exactly what I needed. Love the local businesses.
If you lose that extractor tool you can use a power drill and just drill a few holes in the plastic plug and it'll soon fall apart by itself.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you and Suzie, George!
Thats what I did the last time and screwed up the threads. I will not loose this extractor now that I have it.
DeleteHappy New year to you and Paulette,.