Quiet Time

Sunday by design is a day for rest, quiet time. It's dark and gloomy and I hear distant thunder and light rain like lead shot pelt the roof. Makes me want to build a fire and sip coffee and wish for cold weather as an excuse to wrap myself in an old wool blanket. To settle in with a novel and pretend to read when really I'd rather nap.

Soon, autumn leaves will begin the journey down, bits and pieces of amber and brown and red closely followed by northern winds, the official signal for the best time of the year. My favorite. I believe it's written upon Hemingway's grave marker, 'Best of all he loved the Fall.' I understand.

This morning, after church and fried chicken, we drove home under black threating skies. Sweet Wife asked what I'd like to do today. My first thought was to finish in the garage. I'd worked and sorted odd clutter for several hours well into the night and wanted to reorganize my ammunition and reloading supplies. I voiced this to her. She frowned. Not a good sign.

A mile or so down the road she took note of the weather and suggested perhaps my idea held merit. Now, she sits to my left deep into her bible study.  Over the last few months she's sought solace in her religion and it seems to have worked miracles; she's at peace and for this I am grateful and attend church with her even if I am found on the pew with my Kindle lost within its digital pages.

Yes, I listen to the sermon. It is possible and I have proved one can chew gum and walk with coordination. Once upon a time a friend found it quite shocking that I attended church. He asked if the candles flickered when I entered the sanctuary. I said, for the record, they indeed dimmed on occasion. He asked what had changed me. I said, "A little girl came into my life."

As I type I hear the rain as it hits my old metal wash tub I have hung on the back fence. It reminds me of my days of youth on the farm. Whenever I'd see the weather turn towards wet I'd head straight to the barn. Our barn had a metal roof and if you were able to find a clean spot of hay it made for the best bed in town. The hard southern thunderstorms made for a wonderful late afternoon sleep. 

I suppose I've made a liar of myself. I haven't ventured near the garage and my chores. It's too peaceful to work. Instead I think I'll head to the kitchen and build a pot of coffee return and pretend to read a book. But you and I both know it'll be cover for a nap. After all, the rain won't last forever.

Or will it.

Stephen


 
 

Bored To Tears

Not much to report. Sweet Wife is still in a great deal of pain. Seems she has a bad disc in her back.

*****

Guy called a few minutes ago and asked if I'd like to purchase five, in his words, huge ammo cans. I asked how large and he replied, "I can stuff my dog in them and he'd have room to move around."

Interesting. I asked his price and told him I'd take five. If and when they arrive I'll take a picture and post it here.

Here's a file photo off Craigslist. I expect something like the one on the left...without the dog.

One cannot own too many ammo cans.

*****

I'm bored to death. I need to get out and shoot....something. This weekend I'll be tied to the home front. I can't leave Sweet Wife alone. Guess I could load her into my truck and drive, but road bumps hurt her back. Perhaps she'd enjoy a ride in my wheelbarrow. I could wheel her down to the river and set out a few lines. Fish for dinner is always nice. Maybe prop her against a tree. She'd at least have a view. I'd be careful and spray her with insect repellent. I am, after all, thoughtful.

We've had some tremendous thunderstorms the last few nights. In bed, last evening, as our room was soaked with the silver flashes of lighting, she said, "I'm so glad we have a good roof." I chuckled. She has a point though, the sound of the hard rain makes one appreciate a tight roof.

*****

My banana trees sure like the rain. This past weekend as I moseyed around the yard I noticed one, in the cluster of about eight, is at least twelve foot tall. Now, if we can escape a hard freeze this winter we should have a crop of little 'Lady Finger' bananas next year. It takes two years of freeze free weather to produce a crop of fruit.

 Between the squirrels and birds raiding my fig tree we didn't eat a single dadgum fig this year.  And people wonder why I collect squirrel tails....

*****

Guess I should pull out my Kindle and read a book. Lord knows its loaded with some pretty good literature.
I still need to take down my copy of Unintended Consequences and once again read it for about the fifth time. John Ross did himself proud when he wrote that masterpiece. If you haven't read it, do so. Now the problem is if you can find a copy, say at Amazon.com, it'll cost you about a hundred and twenty dollars for a later edition. If you want a first, forget about it. A first edition will cost you over a thousand dollars. I keep my copy in an archival cover. I don't loan it....

****

Just stood and jerked another cup of coffee. Between customers I've been typing this mess for about three hours.

Billy just phoned and said he wants a shotgun. Asked for details. Said he didn't care just as long as it was a shotgun. He did mention he'd like a pump. Billy prefers private sale. With our current administration and congress we should all lean towards private deals. Leave no trail. Make your footprints light. Guess I'll keep an eye out for a closet queen with Billy in mind.

My Coleman Ebay baby arrived yesterday. Took it long enough. Seems the post office decided to keep it tucked away in their pile for two days. I drove over and grabbed it. She's a beauty. Original box and all....Now I believe I'll bid on a single burner Coleman model 502. One of the old ones. A 502 should fit inside my get home bag just fine. I also plan to rebuild and refurbish my old flood damaged Coleman two-burner. I've already ordered a NOS tank and other parts. I'll strip her down and repaint her. Should be a new and fun hobby. Never know, maybe one day I'll open an Ebay store.

*****


Older gentleman just left. He's fine old guy. Came in and asked if I'd be interested in a large estate sale purchase of his firearm collection. I did a bit of double take...asked, "You said an estate sale. Are these your firearms or someone else you knew that passed away?"

"No, they're mine. I just want to sell them before I die and they end up in my kid's hands."

He then told me he had about ten firearms. One, he said, was a little .22 rifle that held at least fifty 'bullets' (his description) and a couple of small handguns. I can't wait to see this fifty-bullet rifle.

Standby.

*****

Hey, have a great day and be careful out there.

Stephen



 

Guess, Update

Someone recently commented and said I should have a 'guess the brand' ammo contest. I thought it'd be fun, so here you are, have at it.

The first person that correctly guesses the brand name on this box of shotgun shells wins one big 'atta-girl' or 'atta-boy.' If you show in person I'll give you a quick pat on the butt for good measure.

Remember, brand name.

This box is sitting on a high shelf in my shop. I took this picture yesterday. Any more exposure of the box would have given away its secrets. The shells are paper hulled. If you are over the age of fifty this should be an easy contest.

Stephen

Update: We have a tie. The winners are Warlock and Russell1200 with an edge to Warlock Sundance.
They both knew the answer, J.C. Higgins sold by Sears. I was not asking for the store but the brand and Warlock is correct in that Federal manufactured the ammunition. Thanks to you both and, Atta-boy. You may redeem you butt slaps when ready.... 

Finally

Took 'em long enough.

Stephen

The UPS Guy

always makes me smile when I look and see him outside my door. Yesterday, his face was a reflection of pain and strain as he tried to ring the bell. I chuckled and buzzed him inside.

He said, "Hey, man, this box sure is heavy for such a little thing. What is it?"

Without hesitation, "Gold bars."

He flips a double take, bends and reads the box while I sign his silly little electronic box. He turns to me and said, "Why isn't it insured?"

Don't you just love it when they offer you an opening.

Me, "Well, you see it's like this, last time I had paid for insurance and the UPS dude figured out what the box held. He stole my gold, and now his democrat butt is sitting in jail." I paused...then, "Now of course my gold is held as evidence and the insurance company will not pay and I'm left with nothing."

I take a sip of coffee and try my best to hold a straight face. He looks at me as if I'm crazy, shakes his head and turns towards the door. I thought for sure I had him.

When he reaches the door he turns and said, "I know that guy." He smiles, "And, he never shares the loot."

And here I thought I'd had him....

My ammo arrived.

Stephen

Bits & Pieces

Just glanced at the calender and realized it's about two weeks until September. Where has the time gone. The old adage is true, you know the one, time and age. Trust me.

Speaking of age, my best friend, Duke, has posted an excellent article on age and tools. Sally forth and read.

*****

I'm not sure why but every now and then I have an urge to clean firearms. This weekend I walked out to the garage to do just that, clean guns. One thing lead to another and I found myself cleaning debris from my reloading bench. Three hours later I finally had two rifles cleaned and a few hundred extra rounds of ammunition I found under the clutter. Don't you just hate it when you find five extra boxes of ammo you weren't aware you'd purchased and had forgotten.

Guess it's time to sort ammunition.

*****

Billy just left the shop. He's a funny fella. He'll walk in and say something like, "Hey, Stephen, you got any guns for sale?"

I'll say, "Sure."

Him, "I'll take it. How much?"

"Don't you want to look it over?"

He'll throw a smug smile on his face as always, I mean, always, and say, "No, just give it to me."

He left with a Hi-Point C9. Just stuck it into his back pocket and paid with cash, just like that...

As he walked towards the door he yelled, "Hey, next time I want a pump shotgun."

"What price range?"

"I don't care."

For real....what's not to love.

*****

Late Sunday night Sweet Wife's back went out. She's always had a problem with her lower back. Pain like you wouldn't believe. 0400 found me driving her to the emergency room. I practically had to carry her from the house to the car and when we arrived at the hospital, to emergency.

Nice young nurse escorted us to one of their rooms. We waited. Two and a half hours later a doctor, nice older lady, came inside and examined her. Said, "Oh, my goodness, you must be in some awful pain."

Doctors, they're bright you know.

Hung an IV. Pain didn't diminish. We waited another three  hours. (side note here...never forget your Kindle) Doctor returned. She took one look at Sweet Wife's face and said, again, "Oh, my goodness, you must be in awful pain." Six years at University and several of residency makes for a very bright doctor.

Get the picture.

They gave her a shot of morphine. Wrote scrip for muscle relaxers and pain medication. The doctor left and we waited. Remember, we'd arrived at 0400. Five and a half hours later and we were on our way out the door. 

As I helped Sweet Wife to our car she turned to me and said, "Thank you for not losing your cool in there....I'm proud of you."

"Well," I said, "It isn't cool to shoot doctors in confined spaces, there's no place for them to hide."

They told her to take the day off....


*****

Hey, time for work. Take care out there.

Stephen

Down

I'll be back ASAP, I'm don't feel well today. Went to church with Sweet Wife this morning and had to leave the service early with severe abdominal pain. Nothing serious.

Time for a nice pot of herb tea...and a novel.

See you later.

Stephen