Memorial Day Rain

Well, it did rain yesterday, which we needed. 

I ended up grilling hamburgers inside instead of barbecuing. I used one of my mom's cast iron frying pans that she had ever since I could remember. They came out good (with some original Stubb's barbecue sauce).

Since Denny's at the Flying J has been closed for two weeks due to a fire, out coffee group will be heading to Lil's Cafe in Thoreau today. I haven't seen any activity at Denny's to get it reopened yet. Wonder what's keeping them?

As for yesterday's rain, we did have some evening lightning and thunder. I guess the monsoon season is starting early this year. That would be nice. 

There may be some more rain coming today.

Memorial Day Thunderstorms?

Above, outside this morning. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today's weather may put a damper on this year's Memorial Day.

I am planning on staying home today and barbecue hamburgers. But, there is a chance of thundershowers today, about 70%. We can use the rain.

I could still barbecue rain or not, I've done it before. 

According to the National Weather Service forecast for Jamestown, New Mexico:

 Memorial Day

A chance of rain before 9am, then a chance of showers between 9am and noon, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 68. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tonight

A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9pm, then a chance of showers between 9pm and midnight. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 44. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Tuesday

A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between noon and 3pm, then a slight chance of showers after 3pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 71. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Cowboy Cooking Steak Trick

Above, grillin' a steak in Yosemite National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As today is Memorial Day, many people will be barbecuing their meals, whether they do it at home or camping in a national or state park. Personally, I will be barbecuing hamburgers today.

RV Travel posted an interesting article on a "cowboy cook trick" to make a tasty barbecued steak.

It begins with:

A cheap steak doesn’t have to eat like one. In the video at the end of this post, Cowboy Kent Rollins [3.52M subscribers, 425.7M views] takes a thick sirloin, one of the leaner and tougher cuts at the meat counter, and turns it into something far closer to a steakhouse plate with one simple move, a cold coffee marinade.

The trick isn’t fancy, but the details matter. Once the coffee, seasoning, and fire all line up, that budget cut gets tender, smoky, and full of beef flavor.

To read more, go here. 

Nithya Raman Proposes Backyard BBQ Ban

The Looney Left Report

Here's one for the books.

LA mayoral hopeful Nithya Raman, who is currently a member of the Los Angeles City Council, wants to ban backyard barbecues during red flag warning days.

The New York Post reported:

Los Angeles mayoral hopeful Nithya Raman wanted to ban backyard barbecues for residents during certain high fire danger days across the city.

Raman introduced a motion Wednesday directing city officials to examine emergency restrictions on grilling during Red Flag Warning days, when high winds and dry conditions significantly increase wildfire danger across Los Angeles.

The proposal specifically asks officials to consider possible limits on backyard barbecues, fire pits and other open flames in residential neighborhoods during those high-risk weather events

Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, who represents much of the San Fernando Valley, stepped in and successfully blocked the proposal by introducing a separate motion that stripped Raman’s barbecue ban.

To read more, go here. 

Gallup Lions Club Rodeo 2025

Rodeo season is almost upon us in the Gallup, New Mexico area.

The first rodeo will be the Gallup Lions Club Rodeo at Red Rock Park Rodeo Arena on June 12, 13 and 14. 

There will also be a downtown celebration on Saturday, June 7 featuring a parade, bar-b-que, battle of the bands and rodeo legends autograph signings.

Here's the official poster:

For more information, go here.

Friday Night Barbecue and Campfire

Above, cooking steaks in the barbecue. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Friday night at the Cottonwood Campground at Navajo Lake State Park in New Mexico marked the first time in nearly two years that I had a steak.

The last time prior to this was at Ashurst Lake near Flagstaff, Arizona with some of the gang of the Lost Dutchman Chapter of E Clampus Vitus in August 2020.

Since I was craving one and my last visit with my cardiologist went well, I decided to treat myself to a barbequed steak. My Weber barbecue worked well, even though the charcoal briquets of a new bag of Matchlight briquets wouldn't light. I had to use an older bag of them and, oddly, they lit up just fine. Weird. The new bag of them must be defective or something,

The briquets, after dinner was over, were used to ignite the evening's campfire. Nothing goes to waste! Luckily, the ban on open fires at the park was lifted Wednesday and one of the rangers came over to tell me of this.

Above, the briquets came in handy to start the campfire. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

 

Rudy's "Country Store" and Bar-B-Q

Above, one of the dining areas. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yesterday was spent in Albuquerque with Larry and Greg Lucier taking care of business (theirs and mine).

Above, the order counter. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

We wrapped up the day at Rudy's "Country Store" and Bar-B-Q in town. I had never heard of them before. Apparently, they are a popular small restaurant chain of barbecued food (beef, chicken, turkey and pork) and all the trimmings in the southwest. There have restaurants in Texas (where it started), Oklahoma, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico. 

According to them they serve "Real Texas Bar-B-Q" (which should thrill Glenn Thornhill). There are two locations in Albuquerque.

According to their website:

Just north of San Antonio, at the edge of the Texas Hill Country, sits the small community of Leon Springs. Founded in the 1800s by Max Aue, Leon Spring's cityscape changed when Max's son, Rudolph, opened a one-stop gas station, garage, and grocery store.

Bar-B-Q was added to the operation in 1989, and Rudy's "Country Store" and Bar-B-Q has been serving up tasty food ever since. The same original recipes that built Rudy's Leon Springs' reputation are now available throughout the Southwest.

Our pits are 100% wood fired with oak, a slower burning wood than the mesquite used by others. Along with time and oak, we cook with a dry spice that ensures each plate of Rudy's Bar-B-Q is perfectly ready for you. Apply some of our famous " Sause" and dinner is served.

Above, Greg Lucier selecting sodas. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I had the half chicken and it was quite good. Along with that, I also had the barbecue beans (very good) and potato salad (excellent). 

Above, the meat slicing station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Naturally, social distancing was enforced for indoor and outdoor dining. We ended up outdoor. 

Above, one of the other indoor dining areas. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Before we headed back to Jamestown, I stopped at their "store" (they didn't have too much) and picked up a bottle of their barbecue sauce (which is quite good). I like to try out different barbecue sauces. It is interesting to see their spelling of "sause".

Above, the bottle of barbecue sauce I brought home. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I got back home around 8:00 last night. It was a clear night with the Milky Way band clearly visible.

To access their website, go here.