Thank You For Your Prayers...

Big 'un came through surgery just fine, and was up on his feet again in the evening. I brought him home today, and he is no longer in pain. He will be pretty again. He was a big cat, but the last month has taken him down to six pounds. Vets are extraordinary doctors.

I'm Pullin' For The Squirrel...

A good friend sent the link for this great nature video.  Thanks, Jerry.



Vid by 13NatureHD

They're Still On Guard

Things have quieted down now, and the only hunters afield are looking for coyotes, not deer.  The deer are relaxing just a bit, but are still alert.   I was staying back in the shadows in the barn, but when the others in this little group got up they spotted me.

I think they nailed me by spotting my hands working the camera.  These were out at 50 yards, well within their danger zone, and they all bounced away when I blew out a loud breath.

Ruger's Auction To Benefit Homes 4 Wounded Heroes

Here is a special one this week.  Ruger is selling an early 7 1/2" Redhawk from the first year of production, and folks, they aren't making this model anymore.  I have a 5 1/2" Redhawk, and with the iron sights I can torpedo a muskrat on the pond, or take the ears off a rabbit.  The longer barreled version will perform amazing feats of marksmanship in your hand.  Collectors are piling on this one, but you should go watch the auction, and bid if you can.  100% of the proceeds go to benefit Homes 4 Wounded Heroes, and this fine .44 will sell mid-day, Wednesday, February 19, 2014.

$1825!

Please Say A Little Prayer For My Cat...

Big'un is a semi-wild barn cat, but he comes running every night when I call him for supper.  He's been in our nursery for a month, but antibiotics didn't help his eye, and he is going in for surgery first thing Tuesday to have the eye removed.  

Tuesday Triple Turbo!

Barnacle Bill The Sailor, by Frank Luther

Frank Luther's Barnacle Bill #2


And here's Bix! Vocal by Carson Robison.

I'll Stick To My Vibrams...

Back To The Old Grind!

Not My Victrola: Everybody Get To Work On This...

Weekend Steam: Operating Tutorial

Courtesy of RCDon.

Crankin' It Up Valentine's Day Trifecta!

Just for Valentine's Day we have the Good,



Tea For Two, August 1924 by TrueBlueSam

 The Bad,


True Blue Sam (TheTravelin'Man) by TrueBlueSam

And the Ugly!  Don't forget!  You've had fair warning.



Some Of These Days by TrueBlueSam

Listen To Your Ford!

Once upon a time, every shade tree mechanic serviced the wheel bearings on his car, and the bearings usually lasted through the life of the car.  Well, new cars have bearings (wheel units) that you don't service. You run them 'til they die, and then you replace them.  You will know when the time comes with grinding noises, or alarms, like we just had with our '08 Ford Explorer.




The scary part of this part failure was how the car let us know something was wrong. No bearing noise, no wobble in the steering, but in turns the ABS system began applying the brakes, and would grind us down to a dead stop while we pushed on the gas. We were lucky that it didn't kill us, given all the ice we are driving on. When I figured out what was stopping us, I pulled the ABS fuse and we were able to drive again, but still had the RSC (Rollover Stability Control) alarm going off every few minutes.

The service manager had us come out in the shop.  He shook the wheel and told us that it wasn't safe to drive unless we had the wheel unit replaced.  We got out of there for about $500, and it's nice to have the car driving quietly with no alarms. 

Ruger's Auction To Benefit Homes 4 Wounded Heroes

Ruger's auction this week is a very special 10/22®.  This "Ruger Race Rifle" was never listed in Ruger catalogs, and is very rare, indeed.  One like this sold last year, and collectors slept through the auction, making one of our gun blogger friends a very happy winner.  Bids so far are taking this out of the bargain category, but it is a special, rare rifle, and 100% of the funds will go to benefit Homes 4 Wounded Heroes.  This rifle will sell mid-day Wednesday, February 12, 2014.  Click Here to visit Ruger's auction page, and place a bid.

UPDATE:  $1030!