Kitty Integration, Cabin Build & Cayenne Overload | The LOTS Project Morning Show Ep 851
Good morning and welcome to Episode 851 of The LOTS Project Morning Show! I’m Brian, your host, and it’s August 18th, 2025. This morning, I’m enjoying a fresh cup of Light Costa Rican coffee from FoodForestFarms.com—because life’s too short for bad coffee. Remember, you can get 10% off with code LOTS10, and shipping is always free.
Today’s episode was a fun one that covered everything from kittens and cayenne peppers to cabin building and conspiracy theories. Let’s dig into the highlights.
Dolly the Kitten: Integration in Progress
A few weeks ago, a tiny stray kitten wandered into our lives, and of course Kori gave her a can of tuna—meaning she wasn’t going anywhere. We named her Dolly, and she quickly became part of the family.
Kitten integration into a house with dogs is never easy. Norman and Clyde have been intensely curious (sometimes a little too curious). Norman even drools when staring at her, which makes me wonder if he wants to play, chase, or… eat her. At one point, Dolly ended up soaked in slobber after being cornered, but luckily she wasn’t hurt.
Kori has been working hard on gradual introductions: daily play sessions with Dolly in the back room, gated time with the dogs watching, and even short moments of close contact under supervision. It’s going well overall, but we’re taking it slow. Dolly is pampered with a “cat palace” in Kori’s room—complete with an upstairs perch, toys, and her own little ramp. Honestly, this kitten may have it better than I do.
Cabin Build: Baby Steps Forward
Progress on the cabin continues—though slowly. This week’s big step was hauling gravel and precast concrete piers from Lowe’s. And let me tell you, watching a checkout clerk try to figure out what a concrete pier is was comedy gold. After scrolling through hundreds of unrelated items, I finally suggested she type in “concrete pier block.” Lo and behold, the right product popped up instantly. Sometimes it’s the little victories.
We staged gravel and blocks out at the property and even put up some shelving in the shed for better organization. It was hot work, but every small step moves us closer to getting the floor hung and the main structure underway.
The big material haul is still pending. Scheduling with the hauler has been tough, but once that lumber shows up, we’ll be ready. For now, it’s a waiting game, but at least we can prep the pier pads with gravel bases in the meantime.
Cayenne Pepper Overload
Kori has been keeping a small garden near the camper this year, and the peppers have been the real stars. The jalapeño plant has been producing steadily all summer—perfect for our weekly carnitas. But the cayenne peppers? They’ve gone wild.
At first, the cayenne plant was all flowers and no fruit, but when it finally kicked in, it produced a huge flush of peppers. Kori turned the first harvest into a refrigerator hot sauce—bright, tangy, and plenty spicy. Just as soon as she stripped the plant, it filled right back up with more fruit. She’s already made a second round of sauce, and now even more peppers are ripening.
In Minnesota, growing peppers was always a race against the frost. Here in Tennessee, we’re seeing multiple harvests in a single season, and it’s a whole new experience. I’m hoping we’ll experiment with drying the cayenne next—maybe even trying out the old “truck cab dehydrator” trick.
Trivia Time: What’s the Capital?
On a recent drive, Kori and I ended up playing “What’s the Capital?” It started when we were talking about the Tennessee State Fair and realized we weren’t sure of the capital. I thought Nashville was too obvious—it had to be a trick. Turns out, it really is Nashville.
That launched us into a game of trying to remember all 50 state capitals. Between the two of us (and a little help from ChatGPT), we worked through them, but man—it made me question why we had to memorize these in school. Has knowing the capital of New Mexico or Wyoming ever been useful in my life? Not really. But it sure made for a fun ride and some laughs.
The Windshield Washer Fluid Conspiracy
Here’s one that’s been bugging me (pun intended). Why do windshield washer reservoirs hold slightly less than a gallon? Every time you buy washer fluid, you end up with an inch left in the jug. That leftover sits in your garage, piles up in your truck bed, or just annoys you until you give up and dump it.
Wouldn’t it make sense for reservoirs to be a full gallon—or for washer fluid to be sold in ¾ gallon jugs? It feels like a built-in design flaw, maybe even intentional. A small thing, but one of those everyday frustrations that makes you wonder if the system is rigged to waste your time and money.
A Few Extra Thoughts
To wrap things up, Kori and I watched The Founder again—the story of Ray Kroc and McDonald’s. It’s fascinating to see how McDonald’s grew into what it is today. Especially ironic, since the McDonald’s in our nearest town is always packed. We haven’t eaten there in years, but clearly they’re doing something right—or at least something addictive.
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Final Thoughts
From kitten chaos and cayenne peppers to cabin projects and conspiracy theories, Episode 851 covered a little bit of everything. If you enjoyed the recap, check out the full episode on YouTube, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.
And if you’ve ever figured out what to do with that last inch of windshield washer fluid, please let me know.
