Good morning! Are you up yet? What's your plans for today?

[Jshooter71]

Good morning GTA! Up at 0500 CT.
Scott, Bill, Jerry- thank you for your kind words and thoughts.
It’s like a bad dream. I’m trying not to think or be too negative over this. Not a nightmare, just surreal. The past few weeks, months even, Chopper & Millie weren’t doing too good. We did the right thing, they weren’t suffering intensely, but they were going fast, together, in a short amount of time. My wife & I agreed we wouldn’t let them suffer or arrive at a crisis point. But they’re gone now and it’s just surreal how things are so different from how this house has always been. We got Chopper within weeks of buying this house and Millie the very next year. It’s just not the same home right now. I’m going to try to do some things here & there to keep busy and take care of things that could use attention, anyway. I’m on call this weekend, so I can’t make any real plans today or tomorrow. I’ll do something, but I’m sort of glad I don’t have to figure it out right now. I’m just sitting here on the couch having coffee, with no dogs… probably have one more cup, then take a shower, get dressed and tink around with something.

[avator]

Time will heal John. Thank you for your strength. I will lean on it when it comes Rambo's time.

Headed to Troy for a shopping run. Then back here to pick Boss up and take her to visit Killer in the nursing home. Betty Lou put together a collage of pics to hang on a board in his room. His birthday was 2 days ago and a visit from Boss will brighten him up.
After that I plan to spend the rest of the weekend with airguns.
The Ahole down the road raised a big fuss over us shooting in his direction. He is 500yds. down the road and realy don't have a leg to stand on. Much more to that story but I won't get into it here... it's more fodder for FaceBook.
Anyways... I will change my shooting direction. I will lose about 20yds in max distance but it's all good. I realistically wouldn't have spent much time shooting 100yds anyway. Yes, I'm justifying... 
More on this later, including pics.

[maraudinglizard]

John sorry for loss. Take care and prayers for all.

Up early, getting the supply run lined up, mow grass later today, work on traps, and spend some air time with the guns this weekend.

[Hoosier Daddy]

it’s just surreal how things are so different from how this house has always been.

Get a puppy!
That will fill the void in your soul.
Worked for me. 

[Lt. Dan]

John I was busy the last couple of days and didn't get a chance to log on to the forum. I'm just now reading about Chopper & Millie. I'm so sorry for loss.  I wish I could help with your grief. My dog Toby, 1/2 dachshund and 1/2 Jack Russell was 12 years old when I had him put down in 2000 got him when he was just a tiny pup.  My heart was broken and I couldn't bring myself to try to find a replacement because I knew there could never be another like him. For 22 years we have not had a pet because it hurt me so much when we lost Toby. Scott suggested a puppy, that may work for you. Take care and I'll be praying for alk of you in this horrible time of grief.

[Jshooter71]

Thank you Kris.

I appreciate it Scott… maybe someday I’ll get a giraffe, always wanted one named Jeffrey that could be seen over the top of the house from the front yard. Until then, there’s a lot I’ve wanted to do around here that puppy just won’t fit in yet. Realistically, we’ve had animals and baby humans for so long, my wife & I need some time off.

[Jshooter71]

John I was busy the last couple of days and didn't get a chance to log on to the forum. I'm just now reading about Chopper & Millie. I'm so sorry for loss.  I wish I could help with your grief. My dog Toby, 1/2 dachshund and 1/2 Jack Russell was 12 years old when I had him put down in 2000 got him when he was just a tiny pup.  My heart was broken and I couldn't bring myself to try to find a replacement because I knew there could never be another like him. For 22 years we have not had a pet because it hurt me so much when we lost Toby. Scott suggested a puppy, that may work for you. Take care and I'll be praying for alk of you in this horrible time of grief.

Thank you Brother Dan… that’s how I feel right now. It’ll be ok just having had the 2 best 4 legged buddies ever. Chopper was a Husky/Healer/Aussie Shepherd (12 years) and Millie was Half-Doxie/Half-Big Dog of some kind (11 years) and they were the best.

[Hoosier Daddy]

I get it John...
We are "Empty Nesters"... without a young one around to take care of, we would "stagnate"

[Jshooter71]

I get it John...
We are "Empty Nesters"... without a young one around to take care of, we would "stagnate"

I hear that Scott… I intend to sign the deed over to Ayrabella so she can stay, or keep us, however you look at it. I’ll be 60 when she comes of age.

[Firewalker]

Thank you Kris.

I appreciate it Scott… maybe someday I’ll get a giraffe, always wanted one named Jeffrey that could be seen over the top of the house from the front yard. Until then, there’s a lot I’ve wanted to do around here that puppy just won’t fit in yet. Realistically, we’ve had animals and baby humans for so long, my wife & I need some time off.

Mama and I are in that place right now, I feel for you John I really do, companions that are always faithful are difficult if not impossible to replace in my mind. We decided to go pet-free so we could travel and be able to go wherever whenever we wanted. I'm sure any year or two we will get another dog but it most certainly will never be a puppy! Ain't nobody got time for that!

[Jshooter71]

Thanks David.

[Blowpipe Sam]

My condolences John.  We are looking at the same situation soon.  Flytrap is 14 and she is having more and more trouble walking.  She’s a big girl so when she can’t get up anymore we’re going to have to make a big decision.
In times like this I am reminded of Kipling’s poem “ The power of the dog.”  It always  brings me some solace.

[Sqrl Klr]

The Ahole down the road raised a big fuss over us shooting in his direction. He is 500yds. down the road and realy don't have a leg to stand on. Much more to that story but I won't get into it here... it's more fodder for FaceBook.
Anyways... I will change my shooting direction. I will lose about 20yds in max distance but it's all good. I realistically wouldn't have spent much time shooting 100yds anyway. Yes, I'm justifying... 
More on this later, including pics.

If you use a backstop where it's safe to shoot that direction I'd tell him cram it clown.


Sorry for your losses John and I completely relate to needing a break from animals. You'll see them again.

[Jshooter71]

Thanks Carter, and thanks Gil.

[Jshooter71]

Good morning GTA! Happy Sunday! Up at 0430 CT. I’m on call, but haven’t gotten any calls, yet. I’m planning on mowing when the sun comes up. With everything that’s been going on, the lawn’s gotten pretty bad. My wife’s going to Ch**ch, I’ll watch it later online. For Mother’s Day, my wife wants snack food and watch the NASCAR race. So that’ll probably be our day. At some point, I’ll call my Mom, of course. 

[avator]

Happy Mother's Day to some of you and Happy Mutha's Day to others. I qualify for the latter. 

Betty Lou's wish is just to hang out and work her little garden and shoot guns.... Nascar later.
We went to Troy yesterday and we picked up some veggie starter plant at Wally World. She also got a circle sprinkler to water when needed.
Stopped at TSC and bought a Husqvarna line trimmer. I have most of the place trim free but there are a few spots that I can't get close enough with the 0 turn.... around the new garden fence being one of them. I'll also keep the new shooting lanes cleared with it.

No puppies for us... when these two are gone we're done.

[Lt. Dan]

Good morning GTA! Up at 0430 CDT.

 Happy Mother's Day!

This is the day we honor all mothers.
My mother went home to be with the Lord on
Oct. 26, 1998. My wife's mom on June 12, 2012. We miss them tremendously.

For without them we wouldn't be here. LOL

[Matchstickshooter]

  Taking my wife out to dinner today!

[Back_Roads]

 I recently bought a Cobalt pole saw / hedge trimmer , darn thing is making me work on much needed landscape maintenance, anywho, I got things cleaned up now letting no mow May go by before mowing the lawn. 
 
 Main point is I use the hedge trimmer as a sickle mower for chopping up dead wildflower stalks and trimming tall grass, where a string trimmer would get tangled up.

 Today grilling out for the family and some range time in the wind SE quartering left to right, 10- 20 mph, good practice, not good if sighting in, so will avoid that 

[Blowpipe Sam]

To honor mother’s day the memsahib and I will be going to Floresville Texas to visit her 96 year old father in a nursing home.   Back home in Florida my 83 year old mother will be paddling Econfina creek in her solo canoe today.  They are both amazing people who have lead fascinating lives and we  are blessed to still have both of them with us.

Packing the truck for the trip home today.  We’ve got a load of tool boxes and hand tools this trip.  Depending on how I’m feeling we may leave early tomorrow morning about 2:00 a.m.  That would get us home late Monday evening.