Cap'n Bob & the Damsel

Garage Door Opener Repair

After fifteen or sixteen years or so since we built the house, the original garage door opener (pictured, clickable) developed a quirk such that if the sun was shining in the door, the obstruction detector would “think” that there was an object blocking the door and would refuse to close the door. This condition progressively got worse and eventually wouldn’t close regardless of the amount of sunlight. We had to press and hold the indoor control to get the door to close. This was very inconvenient, especially if we were departing, since one of us would have to close the door manually and come out the side door to get into the truck.

Yesterday, enough being enough, I called a repair facility to come out and fix the problem. The technician offered to clean and align the sensors, or to replace them both at our option. We opted for the latter, assuming that zero-time sensors would last longer.

To make a long story short, the tech replaced the sensors in ten minutes or less, and the door worked fine. Same-day service call, reasonable rates and problem solved.

Click on the links below to see the new sensors:

Sensor Transmitter Unit

Sensor Receiver Unit

Bottom line (literally) — stuff is going to wear out in the desert. We already need new exterior paint after only nine years or so. More on that later.

09 Jun 2026 by Arizona Home & Garden Notions Technobabble 0

Chicken Fried Steak

I may have said something in yesterday’s post about a feast. Well, the plate above says it all about a good ol’ Southern tradition of Chicken Fried Steak with all the trimmings.

The steak is actually a butterflied Filet Mignon breaded and fried. The Green beans are just that with a little bacon added. The mashed fauxtatoes are fake – steamed and puréed cauliflower with butter and gravy.

The plated meal is very Keto and Low Sodium diet friendly. It is also very tasty and reminiscent of the good ol’ Southern tradition referenced. Clickable image.

07 Jun 2026 by Classics Food & Dining Notions Retirement 0

82nd Anniversary of D-Day

Today marks the 82nd anniversary of Operation Overlord, also popularly known as “D-Day.” Thousands of Allied troops and equipment were dispatched to the shores of Normandy to begin the invasion of occupied France and then on into Germany thereafter. Take a moment to reflect on the efforts and to pray for their sacrifices in the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi occupation.

Now, in the 21st century, all the sacrifices and successes in the Second World War seem for naught, as the weak-willed governments of several European countries seem to have forgotten the freedoms established by the Allies and have fallen into the trap of invasion by immigration of millions of undesirable Islamics whom the governments seem to want to protect. Pray for Europe and the resumption of freedom there.

We are relaxing in our tranquil and protected desert retreat today and will be celebrating the victory, however brief, by preparing a feast on the Day of Sabbath here. We hope you all will be secure in your places as well. God Bless.

06 Jun 2026 by Islamic Terrorism Military Nostalgia Notions Patriotism 0

Rare Sighting — Caterham R400


The Damsel took this (clickable) photo of a Caterham Seven Superlight R400 (or simply “Caterham R400”), a lightweight, high-performance British sports car. We were pulling out of the parking lot at our local Basha’s and saw this beauty parked on the street in front of St. Anthony’s Church.

It seems that there are only a few hundred of these in the entire United States, so it is extremely rare (a.k.a. Sasquatch sighting) to see one of these in Wickenburg, a town known for it’s Cowboy and retirement cultures and not too many sports cars, let alone this rare beast.

About this car:

The Caterham Seven is a modern evolution of the classic Lotus 7 from the 1950s. It’s an ultra-minimalist, open-top, two-seater roadster designed for pure driving thrills—think raw handling, minimal weight, and maximum engagement. The “R400” (or Superlight R400) is a performance-oriented variant from the mid-to-late 2000s, known for its excellent power-to-weight ratio. The “400” name comes from its ~400 bhp per ton power-to-weight figure, which gives it supercar-like acceleration despite modest horsepower.

Caterhams like the R400 are legendary for telepathic steering, razor-sharp handling, and go-kart-like agility. They’re track weapons that are (barely) road-legal. Expect wind-in-the-face excitement, a loud exhaust note, and a firm ride. They’re not for commuting or comfort—getting in/out is a gymnastic exercise—but they’re addictive on twisty roads or circuits.

More at this SuperGrok link.

03 Jun 2026 by Arizona Classics Notions Photography Something Shiny 0

Desert Cacti and Mountains

The Cap’n and I happened to have an appointment in Surprise, AZ today. As usual on any trip in the truck (or any other vehicle – think RV), I brought my camera to document the trip. On the way home, I took the photo above of the desert with the mountains in the background. It’s nice to live in a place where you can see the naked desert just a few miles from home. Anyhow, this view is looking northeastward toward Castle Hot Springs, AZ, from the Morristown Overpass on US 60 near mile marker 120. Click on the image to enlarge.

02 Jun 2026 by Arizona Environment Notions Panorama Photography 0

Tourist Traps

Grand Canyon

Throughout the entire National Park there have been an average of two to three visitors falling into the canyon each year (excluding suicide attempts). With the annual number of visitors to the park exceeding five million annually, this is not surprising given the idiocy of some people stepping across barriers to get selfies at the canyon edge. Add that to the carelessness of folks stepping on areas of slippery or crumbling surfaces and those who feign falling in and actually do. Still, the casual visitors observing the parks recommendations about safety have little to worry about.

Horseshoe Bend

Before the recent addition of additional safety rails and observing platforms, the number of falls into the 1000 foot deep canyon at the bend were on the order of less than one fatality per year. Now, the numbers have dropped such that between 2010 and 2022 there have been only four fatal falls and those due to not observing the safety rails and rules. Horseshoe Bend gets far fewer visitors than Grand Canyon although that number has risen to about two million visitors per year.

The conclusion here is that no persons observing the rules and safety rails/barriers should have any worries about falling in. Those sane folks will no doubt observe other, less sane folks, doing exactly what gets them into harms way.

Damsel and I haven’t been to either of the locations above recently, but may do so in the coming months or years, depending on circumstances. Our lives have become a bit more complicated recently, but more on that later.

Images: top courtesy of USNPS Yavapai Point Webcam and bottom from SuperGrok AI

01 Jun 2026 by Arizona Environment Notions Travel Wanderlust 0

Memorial Day 2026

Judging from the graphic above, it seems as if our Nation has been in conflicts almost constantly since its establishment. I cannot begin to estimate the number of casualties and deaths resulting from those battles.

We thank the LORD for our freedom and security, none of which would be possible without the terrible losses suffered by those brave and gallant souls.

On this Memorial Day, as we commemorate those lost in the many battles over the years, may we contemplate their ultimate sacrifices and pray to the LORD for the safe keeping of their souls.

AI generated graphic by ChatGPT. Click to enlarge.

25 May 2026 by Comrades in Arms Holidays Military Notions Patriotism 0

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