Children's mystery(?)

It was about a young girl living in a small town in either Arizona or texas. I think she was maybe trying to solve a mystery. She had a neighbor that was an old man and he was a mechanic or something(?) And he would always cook with bacon fat. In the end he made a big pot of chili to celebrate. The girl was very observant and at one point said that because of the dry air she had seen every person in town pick their nose. I know they're silly details but that's all I remember.

Possibly The Higher Power of Lucky?

>2 Kathy_Moon: I think that's it!!!!! Thank you so much