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

[Back_Roads]

Mornin...
Damp and dreary this morning. Temp is 67. The line of rain is moving out and sunshine is expected for the rest of the day.
Nothing on the to do list but a trip to the local grocer is possible for things we don't buy at the bulk store and things we like that they didn't have.
 We were surprised at the amount of things not on the shelves at Walmart such as many of the value items. Even the locations for many items have disappeared as if they just quit selling them. And they've jacked the prices up on the name brand stuff.
 Also, they used to separate the brand name items from the value store brand items. It was easy to find the value item, such as can goods that taste exactly the same as the brand name. Now they mix it in and makes it a game of search to find them.
Eggs...
We have decided to completely remove eggs from our diet until the prices go back to something reasonable. I am not paying upwards of $15 for a carton of 18 eggs. Less quantity cartons are even more. We live right in the middle of poultry country. You can't drive 5 miles in any direction without seeing a large chicken farm here.
I happen to like other options for breakfast that don't require eggs.
Bakery goods...
Virtually non existent. The shelves of fresh baked breads and rolls were bare... nothing... nada. Maybe they can't afford the eggs to make bread.   
Rant over... sorry.

You may end up "hobby farming" in your retirement??? Food Co-Ops are another option.

[avator]

Mornin...
Damp and dreary this morning. Temp is 67. The line of rain is moving out and sunshine is expected for the rest of the day.
Nothing on the to do list but a trip to the local grocer is possible for things we don't buy at the bulk store and things we like that they didn't have.
 We were surprised at the amount of things not on the shelves at Walmart such as many of the value items. Even the locations for many items have disappeared as if they just quit selling them. And they've jacked the prices up on the name brand stuff.
 Also, they used to separate the brand name items from the value store brand items. It was easy to find the value item, such as can goods that taste exactly the same as the brand name. Now they mix it in and makes it a game of search to find them.
Eggs...
We have decided to completely remove eggs from our diet until the prices go back to something reasonable. I am not paying upwards of $15 for a carton of 18 eggs. Less quantity cartons are even more. We live right in the middle of poultry country. You can't drive 5 miles in any direction without seeing a large chicken farm here.
I happen to like other options for breakfast that don't require eggs.
Bakery goods...
Virtually non existent. The shelves of fresh baked breads and rolls were bare... nothing... nada. Maybe they can't afford the eggs to make bread.   
Rant over... sorry.

You may end up "hobby farming" in your retirement???

LOL.... with Rambo and Boss around the best I could hope for would be scrambled eggs.

[Rabbit\Squirrel Killer]

I let my Great Dane out of the house yard fence yesterday and he went over to the east fence at the spot nearest the neighbors’ chickens and seemed to notice them for the first time. He froze and stared at them walking about their pen for a long time. I am sure he was wanting to go introduce himself but there was a 6' chain link fence and their coup fence between them. He loves to chase anything that will run and I'm glad for the fences separating them. Usually, it's horses or cows that he is most interested in.

The first Great Dane we had was outside more and would leave a few kibbles in her dish and ACT like she was sleeping but ready to pounce to catch birds and would catch them all the time. That dog was a hunter at heart and really good at catching/killing wildlife when we moved to the Missouri countryside in 1979. The Great Dane we have now, Hank, will chase cats or lay down with them and enjoys either one, whichever mood the cat is in. LOL
 I would not rule out that he might kill chickens, but I do believe it would be easy to train him to leave them alone if we had chickens. We buy our eggs from a retired AG teacher just down the road 1/2 mile, currently $5 per dozen just raised from $4 a couple of weeks ago.

It was 31°F at 6:00 AM and is supposed to get to 57°F today with a 50% chance of rain this afternoon.
 I mowed the spots that were tall yesterday and then dug two sign post holes with my old manual auger since the ground was moist and soft. My low back was killing me by the time I finished the second 3' deep hole. I put off digging those holes for a long time but knew the ground would never be better than it is/was now after the recent rains. A couple of months ago the ground was dry and rock hard. Despite the extra back pain, it feels good to accomplish getting those holes dug. Now I need to get some cement and someone to help get the large sign up and cemented in. It goes on top of a hill beside the driveway entrance and is really a two-man job. People have busy lives, and I may just figure out a way to do it by myself.  It's a 4' x 8' sign and the longest leg is 8' 8". You can see it in this pic before it got snapped off by a high wind.

[lefteyeshot]

Shoot my new Umaerx Wather PPS/M2 co2 bb came yesterday from Grab-a-Gun (only vendor still had them) and two spare mags from PA. Metal slide, blow back, lock back, single action only, slide release and safety button in trigger blade.

[Novagun]

Off to Levin to buy petrol for the mower and the quad  later I am off to see Jeff. I go there just about every Friday for about half an hour just to see what he is doing. He is a back yard genius. He makeS wooden propellers for vintage planes and exports them worldwide. He also restores vintage motorbikes and model T Fords  just a very clever chap  sometimes the half hour gets a bit longer than 30 minutes.

[Insanity]

Off to Levin to buy petrol for the mower and the quad  later I am off to see Jeff. I go there just about every Friday for about half an hour just to see what he is doing. He is a back yard genius. He makeS wooden propellers for vintage planes and exports them worldwide. He also restores vintage motorbikes and model T Fords  just a very clever chap  sometimes the half hour gets a bit longer than 30 minutes.

When I talk to my brother a quick question turns into a hour long conversation.

[bReTt]

Tomorrow starts a 4 day weekend for me. 

First up is a daughters 24th birthday on Friday.  Cooking ribs and going bowling 🎳 later in the evening.  I’ll meet my dad at noon to play pool like we do most Fridays.  Saturday I’m not sure what is planned but it will be nice to just be home instead of going to work in the afternoon.  Sunday will be church and I may cook some drumsticks on the grill and then Monday is my birthday and I have bible study that evening.  Looking forward to the time at home.  Right now the alarm is set for 6am so I can get up with some coffee and enjoy the peace before the day starts rolling.  Maybe I’ll get to shoot.

[buellm2]

Looks like I'll be moving snow around.   I went out at midnight to push the first inch and a half off the driveway.   The exercise and fresh air felt really good even with my bad back.   When I wake up in the AM there'll probably be enough to bring out the snowblower.   I'd rather shovel for the exercise but my driveway is pretty long and I'm pretty old.

[avator]

A slight cool down is on the way beginning today and then rain moving in for the weekend. Betty Lou found  an iron rings from a wooden wagon wheel in the barn and wants to use it and reform the quarry rock fire pit with it. Then we'll most likely put a fire in it and just hang out a bit.
No real plans other than that but, we always find something to do around here.

[maraudinglizard]

Messing around the house today, get the garbage to the road, feed the zoo, clean out the shop some more - I might find another brand new fishing rod in there. No big plans or a schedule to keep, just taking it easy for the day.

[avator]

Enjoy it Kris, you've earned it.

[maraudinglizard]

Enjoy it Kris, you've earned it.

Thanks Bill, I am really starting enjoy everything around me again.  Spent most of the week tying up the loose ends with the retirement process. Started looking at what I could do without to reduce the monthly budget. It's just so nice to get up and not have to fight with the working world anymore. I have plenty to keep me busy around here and in no hurry to get it done, it will get done and not end up in the hospital or in the ground doing it.

[Jshooter71]

Good morning GTA! Happy Friday!!! Got up at 0500 CST. Started the coffee in the brand new plain old Mr. Coffee maker I got yesterday. Walked Chillie, got Ayrabella off to school and started laundry. Once I get the first load folded and the ground outside warms up, I’ve got some top soil and fill dirt I need placed around the perimeter of the house. Meanwhile, I have a pile of sticks & fallen limbs that need “bonfired”. I really hope to shoot some airguns once it gets to 50* or so. After Ayrabella gets home later, I’m taking her to the playground, we went yesterday and had a blast. I’ve got her roller skates in the back of the car, too. 
Mama’s coming home tomorrow! 

[Madd Hatter]

We got dumped on last night and I40 is closed. There was even ice and snow ❄️ in bullhead city. Phoenix is even being warned of lows in the low 30s.

[avator]

Enjoy it Kris, you've earned it.

Thanks Bill, I am really starting enjoy everything around me again.  Spent most of the week tying up the loose ends with the retirement process. Started looking at what I could do without to reduce the monthly budget. It's just so nice to get up and not have to fight with the working world anymore. I have plenty to keep me busy around here and in no hurry to get it done, it will get done and not end up in the hospital or in the ground doing it.

Awesome, ain't it?
Watched the weather and news and drank coffee until I could see daylight on the security camera. Then me and Boss went out for a walk. I took the Daisy 25 with us and just walked around plinking at random targets.
I got to thinking... this is exactly what many of us did as kids. Just a boy, his dog and his bb gun. Not a worry in the World.       
I've worked my entire adult life to get to this point and bet your life, I'm going to enjoy as many minutes of it that I have left to do so.

[Jshooter71]

We got dumped on last night and I40 is closed. There was even ice and snow ❄️ in bullhead city. Phoenix is even being warned of lows in the low 30s.

Wow! My office is looking for volunteers for Phoenix… they have a ton of work out there and they’re trying to lure guys out there with the warmer weather. 
I don’t travel anymore, I paid my dues doing it a long time ago. The young guys can have at it. It’s even worse being that far from home for work, unprepared for the weather you didn’t expect. 

[Jshooter71]

Enjoy it Kris, you've earned it.

Thanks Bill, I am really starting enjoy everything around me again.  Spent most of the week tying up the loose ends with the retirement process. Started looking at what I could do without to reduce the monthly budget. It's just so nice to get up and not have to fight with the working world anymore. I have plenty to keep me busy around here and in no hurry to get it done, it will get done and not end up in the hospital or in the ground doing it.

Awesome, ain't it?
Watched the weather and news and drank coffee until I could see daylight on the security camera. Then me and Boss went out for a walk. I took the Daisy 25 with us and just walked around plinking at random targets.
I got to thinking... this is exactly what many of us did as kids. Just a boy, his dog and his bb gun. Not a worry in the World.       
I've worked my entire adult life to get to this point and bet your life, I'm going to enjoy as many minutes of it that I have left to do so.

I can see that clearly, Bill… I’m looking forward to it… I’m hoping it happens for me too, in just under a dozen years.

[avator]

Enjoy it Kris, you've earned it.

Thanks Bill, I am really starting enjoy everything around me again.  Spent most of the week tying up the loose ends with the retirement process. Started looking at what I could do without to reduce the monthly budget. It's just so nice to get up and not have to fight with the working world anymore. I have plenty to keep me busy around here and in no hurry to get it done, it will get done and not end up in the hospital or in the ground doing it.

Awesome, ain't it?
Watched the weather and news and drank coffee until I could see daylight on the security camera. Then me and Boss went out for a walk. I took the Daisy 25 with us and just walked around plinking at random targets.
I got to thinking... this is exactly what many of us did as kids. Just a boy, his dog and his bb gun. Not a worry in the World.       
I've worked my entire adult life to get to this point and bet your life, I'm going to enjoy as many minutes of it that I have left to do so.

I can see that clearly, Bill… I’m looking forward to it… I’m hoping it happens for me too, in just under a dozen years.

I have no doubt it will, John.  ... eyes on the prize. 

[Blowpipe Sam]

Mornin Ya'll. This boy has already done took the dogs for a walk.  Yep, there was a BB gun along.

The memsahib ate something that disagreed with her last night.  Violently.  I came within a hair of calling 911.  She got over it but it was a rough night for both of us.  Right now she is feeling better.  She's sitting up and drinking coffee and I made her some oatmeal.

Plans for today are to monitor the memsahib and work on the Crosman Crusher/Ruger AHEII Frankengun.  Yesterday I built a new moderator/cocking handle for it.  Today I'll be filling parts of the stock with thickened epoxy putty.

The rum is holding out but we are running low on other essentials so a trip to Hooterville is in order.

[Rabbit\Squirrel Killer]

I slept as long and well as I ever do last night. I woke up at 5:00 AM. I let Kellen out but Hank stayed in bed, he usually won’t let her go out without him. He met me at the door when I let her back in and he went out. I got my coffee and then let him back in. It’s 31°F so they don’t want to stay out long.

I sorted, trashed, and/or shredded boxes of papers I inherited yesterday and still have more of that to do when I feel like it. My dad and the family friend that left me her things too never got rid of a receipt, or anything money related it seems.

Todays high is supposed to be 57°F.

I am supposed to meet my brothers for breakfast at 8:15 this morning. My younger brother reached out because he is moving to Michigan and wanted to make sure he got together with us before the move.

I may do the coolant flush, hoses, and thermostat on my ’69 GMC today, I am planning to change the transmission and motor mounts tomorrow when it is supposed to be a little warmer (63°).