Weekend Steam: Smoky Mountain Railroad

This video is a from WFMY News 2, in 1990. Engine 1702 is being restored, and will soon be back in service.

Grand Review Centennial-And-A-Half

The Grand Review of three Union Armies in Washington D.C. was May 23 and 24, 1865. It is worth reading about on Wiki. One of the things I noted was the herd of cattle that was stolen from families in the Carolinas. You have to wonder how many people starved out from that. Losing a cow or your rooster was a devastating situation for subsistence farmers. In addition to the 600,000 plus who died on both sides of the Civil War, there were uncounted thousands of invalids on both sides. How many families were wiped out because their sons were gone? That is something that most never think about because the elder survivors die with no-one left to speak for or remember them. Thank You, Professor, for this memorable performance!

Pattie's Rolling Right Along

Last week Pattie broke 9 seconds on the five plate runs we were shooting. That was a major improvement. This week she broke 6 seconds, and she shot very consistently, making most of her shots. We had a few dud rounds, and those were dropped. The scores are the total/average of the four best of five magazines. We were all pretty pumped from watching her in action. Susan and I were busy helping with mag swapping, and we didn't get photos this time, but here are her times.

How Many Old Appliances Can You Find In The Woods Today?

Ash Always Makes A Good-Looking Stump

Planted about 1990.

Ruger's Auction To Benefit Honored American Veterans Afield

Ruger has an extremely rare prototype pistol up for auction this week. It is a prototype 50th Anniversary Mk II, and it is not the version that was made for sale. Interest is high, as you would expect. CLICK HERE to read the description and to place your winning bid. This fine, rare pistol will sell mid-day, Wednesday, May 20, 2015. 100% of the proceeds of this sale will go to benefit Honored American Veterans Afield.
$1382.90

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Things grow better with cow!


Back To The Old Grind!

Not My Victrola: So Little Time...

...This should be my theme song.

Gun Blogger Rendezvous Is Coming Up, August 20-23, Reno, Nevada!

The Tenth Annual Gun Blogger Rendezvous is set for August this year, and organization of this great fund raising event is being handled by Lucky Gunner Ammo. You need to make a commitment to go right away, because Lucky Gunner has a special deal for you.

 "If you can make it and you register here by June 1, Lucky Gunner will give a $10 donation to Honored American Veterans Afield (HAVA) and give you a $150 ammo voucher to use that weekend. (We'll ship the rounds to Reno just before GBR X; you can use or save the ammo as you see fit)."

Yep, you read that right! $35 will get you $150! The Rendezvous this year will again be raising money for Honored American Veterans Afield, and you would be hard pressed to have a better time than you will have with the gun blogging crowd. CLICK HERE to go to Lucky Gunners registration page, and sign up! Sign up now, while the price is just $35, and you will have the ammo you need waiting for you at Reno!

Weekend Steam; Steam Jenny!

You know you are the low man on the totem pole when you are the guy doing the steam cleaning in a shop. Been there, done that! These things do a good job, but they aren't much fun in the middle of July when you are wearing a rubber suit.