• Cinnamon pretzels and diet Coke – The breakfast of champions.
• Contrary to stereotypes, the bunnies at the farm were not interested in the carrots we brought along for them due to the presence of an entire head of cabbage for them to munch on in the hutch.
  • The sheep, goats, llama, donkeys, and horse were much more receptive.
• For the first time in my life, I have acquired a pistol that is new and still needs a breaking-in period.  I guess I’ve been fortunate up to this point.
  • At least that’s what I’m going to attribute the stiff action and double-feeds to.  If it’s still doing this after 1000 rounds, it’s off to the gunsmith with her.
• Girlie Bear was tickled to be offered the chance to give the safety briefing by the range officer this afternoon, but politely declined.  She did, however, blush a rather adorable shade of pink.
• When a centerfire or rimfire rifle does not go boom when you pull the trigger, it’s not that hard to get the charge out of the chamber.  When a muzzleloader has a failure to fire, it’s an entirely different story.
  • I’m guessing the Pyrodex pellets were just too old.  The 209 primer was firing OK.
  • Luckily for me, it was a true dud and not a hangfire.   But I still kept it pointed downrange for about 15 minutes before pulling the rifle off the line and taking out the breech plug.
• When trying to zero a non-scoped rifle at 100 yards, it is probably a good idea to bring a spotting scope or binoculars to the range with you.
  • Oh well, guess I’ll just have to go back to the range to finish zeroing it.  Shucks.
• Pro-tip – A clear plastic bottle full of water left in the sun on the dash of a car gets very warm after a couple of hours, and does wonders to clean out the bores of muzzle-loaders and guns that have been firing corrosive ammunition.
• I am blessed with a wife who leaves me alone when I’m cleaning my guns.  Or maybe it’s the smell of the solvents that she can’t stand.
• Using the term “We who, white woman?” while discussing the new terraced garden boxes that “we” will be excavating, building, and filling before planting season next year might not have been the most diplomatic thing I’ve ever said.

I distinctly remember making my father an ashtray in art class at the suggestion of the teacher.  No-one batted an eye when I asked how big to make the grooves so he could park his butt on the corner.

Fast forward 30+ years, and Girlie Bear changes her design for something she’s working on because having a cigar in it would mean she wouldn’t be able to take pictures of it to school to show to her friends.

Not sure if this is progress or not.