For those who ask Mom, what Dad would like for his birthday I present some ideas. Cash is always acceptable because Dad has some ways to purchase many items at a discounted price. But for those who like to shop and give surprises, here are some ideas. I have provided a picture, and a location which sells the item. However, as always, an Internet search for the lowest price plus free shipping is always recommended. In fact, hunting down the best deal is a great part of the fun.

Happy Hunting,
Dad

Stack-On In-Wall Cabinet
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://i.walmartimages.com/i/p/00/08/55/29/90/0008552990055_150X150.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.walmart.com/browse/Hunting-Gun-Accessories-Gun-Accessories/_/N-919uZaq90Zaqce/Ne-2p4g&usg=__5dyBbNTx68xa_BFiRkix9iQkXRg=&h=150&w=150&sz=4&hl=en&start=4&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=DwCI3GmJrApDXM:&tbnh=96&tbnw=96&prev=/images%3Fq%3Din-wall%2Brifle/shotgun%2Bcabinet%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1W1ADBF_en%26sa%3DG%26um%3D1

Visual Optics 18" VO-Halogen Scope (4mm Series)at: http://www.inspectortools.com/product-p/vivo184h.htm

Pachmayr Master Gunsmith Screw Kit at:
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=967567

SCREW CHEK'R available at: http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=775/Product/SCREW_CHEK_R

Shotgun Dummies, 12 GA 2-3/4", per 25 available at:
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/sid=16762/pid=6811/sku/Shotgun_Dummies__12_GA_2_3_4___per_25

Roll Pin Holders Set available at:
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/sid=3016/pid=781/sku/Roll_Pin_Holders_Set

58 Bit Master Set Plus w/ Magnetic Law Enforcement Handle available at: http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/sid=1915/pid=417/sku/58_Bit_Master_Set_Plus_w__Magnetic_Law_Enforcement_Handle

My HD Shotgun Is Finally Finished

Seven rounds in the magazine, one up the spout and six more standing by at the ready. She will now reside at the far end of the house until needed to Repel Boarders.

She's a tad on the beefy side, kind of comparable to a M1 Garand but I am not planning on taking a hike into the woods with her. Additionally, the weight also contributes to reduction of felt recoil.

A 2009 Merry Christmas

Everybody likes to open a present Christmas Eve.

Fun times in Mom's lap on Christmas Eve.

The baby really likes Shasta; whose big nose can be seen in the lower left corner of this picture.

Christmas Eve 2009, the stockings are hung and the children are in bed.

Christmas morning.

Placing Bunny in the baby swing.

Sometimes the first thing you see seems to hold your attention. That was the case of this baby swing.

But then the swing was almost immediately replaced by the new baby and the new baby stroller.

Somewhere Nana located some small play baby bottles, one a "milk" bottle and the other a "juice" bottle.

A runny nosed Mom feeds her new baby. She was serious, she did not want any advice or assistance from Nana or anyone else. Like her brother she seems to already know what she knows.

Later in the day, more grandchildren arrived from their house for a sharing of Christmas Cheer.

More gifts were exchanged.

While dad fits a new pair of sneakers on one child's foot another shows of his new Leapster game.

Busy children checking things out all around the tree.

Even the adults have things to check out.

Mother and son looking at things together.

The last Christmas present has been claimed.

It Works

Today I fired my HD Shotgun with the Knoxx Butt Stock and Forearm. I also fired a Western Auto copy (Revelation) of a Mossberg 500. Both shotguns were 2 3/4 inch 12 gauge shotguns. I fired each with bird shot, No 6 and No 7 1/2. I also fired the HD shotgun with Winchester 2 3/4 inch double ought 9 pellet buckshot.

There was a noticeable difference in the felt recoil between the HD shotgun with the Knoxx Buttstock and the Western Auto Revelation. In fact the Western Auto Revelation's felt recoil using bird shot felt stronger than the HD shotgun's felt recoil using the double ought buckshot. To be fair, the Western Auto Revelations butt pad is very old and probably has little noticeable effect.

My intent when the project is completed, is to keep the firearm loaded with double ought reduced recoil tactical ammunition as used by many police agencies.

There are more additions on the way, so stay tuned.

The Making Of Gingerbread Houses, 2009

Every year, Nana likes to have the grandchildren make gingerbread houses for Christmas. No gingerbread is harmed during this exercise. In fact, gingerbread is not even used during this exercise. The childen are armed with graham crackers instead of ginger bread. All of the other participants, such as frosting, gum drops, M&Ms, etc., and the children are real.

A view of one participant working on his masterpiece.

Here we have a Mom applying gobs of cement frosting to hold the graham cracker walls together.

Future homebuilder at work applying the roof of his creation.

I can assure you that not all of the gum drops in that bag made it to his, or any other, gingerbread house.

A check of the paper plate on the right shows that most of the gum drops did make it to the paper plate.

Working, working, working.

The youngest cousin present is really checking out the task at hand. As you may have guessed, this is his first year "at the table."

Pumping his older cousin for his trade secrets.

Those fingers are stuffing a face, not decorating a gingerbread house.

It takes an industrial size mixer operated by the Construction Superintendent to make enough frosting cement for this construction job.

It may be hard to see, but he has a face full of goodies and frosting on his eyelashes.

Not much left for young beater lickers.

This one is coming together real nice.

Bracing a wall. Sometimes they had so many goodies put on a wall or roof that the wall or roof collapsed and required a redo.

Mom beefing it up with a large dose of frosting cement.

A Family Trip To St. Augustine Before Christmas

This Christmas we decided go to St. Augustine for the day with as much family as could make it. We wanted to walk around, look at the sights , see the lights, spend some time with each other, and then have a nice meal together.

This is a modern day copy of what the city wall fortifications used to look like when St. Augustine was young.

The gates to the city.

The oldest wood school house in the USA.

An old ship's anchor next to the oldest school house.

The family minus the photographer.

A shop located next to the water wheel.

A view down the street to the South from the water wheel.

A tourist with his blankee.

The view down a side street.

Inside a ceramic shoppe.

Reading one of the informational signs posted along the street.

My Blushing Bride and also one fantastic Nana.

A shop in a period building.

A street entertainer playing various instruments at the same time. The foot he has off the ground is attached to a drum on his back.

More posing tourists.

Christmas Poinsettias in full bloom.

Tourists sitting on an old cannon barrel.

Handsome grandson number 1.

Handsome grandson number 2.

Handsome grandson number 3.

Handsome grandson number 4.

The only granddaughter.

Grandson number 4 in his "sneak up" position. He assumes this position when told to sneak up on someone.

On our way to eat. Unknown to all, someone's "Bunny" had fallen out of her stroller as we crossed the street just before we entered the A1A Alehouse. I overlooked the bunny on my way out so I ended up at the other end of the park before I turned around and headed back to the Alehouse. Luckily, I found "Bunny" leaning against a light pole just outside the Alehouse. Bunny was most likely picked out of the street and placed there by a sympathetic passerby.

The A1A Alehouse in St. Augustine. We ate there, the food and the service were both excellent but pricey.

There were lights covering the trees throughout the park.

She thought this pipe would look good as a prop in the family Christmas photo her Mom wanted taken. Her Mom thought "not so much".

It's getting a little tired out.

The boots are slowing down.

Sitting under the Christmas Tree at the park.

Resting on a park bench.

Swinging the chain.

Checking out the graveyard in the dark, a good place to not be alone.

Christmas lights in the background.

A quick shot.

Go over there, I want to take your picture.

Checking it out, whatever "it" is.

To make a run you first have to sink uprights to hold the cable run. I used 10' 4x4s treated for ground contact. They are set 3 feet into the ground into a 4 inch diameter hole with a bag of concrete added at the base. They were then allowed to sit for a week to ensure the concrete was well hardened.

The cable is 1/4 inch steel. The cable is attached to the post with a 6X1/2 inch eye bolt through the post. Between the eye bolt and the cable is a large stainless steel turnbuckle. Two steel cable clamps are used to clamp the cable ends. Both ends of the cable run are attached to the uprights with the same arrangement.

Steel cable clamps were installed to limit the travel of the pulley up and down the cable.

A steel pulley is used as a trolley to support the chain which will be attached to the dog's collar.

I started with a 16 foot chain which turned out to be excessive. The chain was shortened to 10 feet which seems to give her plenty of room to move. Time will tell if I need a swivel in the chain. So far the swivels I have found are two lightweight for this dog.

This is an overall view of the run. It is located under the oak trees for shade.

HD Shotgun Project Continues

After multiple shoulder surgeries I have decided to try this Knoxx CompStock by BlackHawk from http://www.opticsplanet.net/blackhawk-knoxx-compstock-shotgun-stocks.html. Their theory is the stock will absorb much of the recoil. I will let you know how it works in the future.

As you can see, at this point I have removed the buttstock and replaced it with the Comp Stock. Time freezes here because I now need a special wrench to remove the forend tube nut so I can attach the new Knoxx forend to the shotgun's action bars.


This is a Menck Mark III Forend Wrench. It is good for various Remington, Browning, Mossberg and Winchester shotguns so perhaps I will be able to use it more than once.

Forearm replaced, the project continues, more parts on order, stay tuned.

Checking Out The Back Of The House Security Addition

The Cheez helps two of his grandchildren check out one of the new security additions, a 1967 Model 870 Remington 12 gauge shotgun, for the backside of the house. This is a project in motion. First I tore it completely down, cleaned and checked the internal parts and then refinished the wood. Then I replaced the original 30 inch barrel with a 20 inch slug barrel from gunbroker.com. It still awaits a magazine extension, sling, some type of sidesaddle ammo carrier and possibly some night sights before it will be complete.

I think projects are more fun if they take a little time to complete.However, as shown, it is capable of providing service when requested.

Thanksgiving 2009

Cheez's Pictures from Thanksgiving.

Armchair Admirals and Generals at work with their troops the night before Thanksgiving Day.

I'm not afraid of scales like some folks I know.

Lego Masters at work.

Nana and daughter getting ready for the Thanksgiving Day festivities.

While the meal was not quite ready, someone was getting very hungry. Here he is offering me a seat so we can eat together.

Part of the North Florida crew.

There were cameras everywhere you looked.

Some folks got a little tired later in the day.

A new game he plays is called "Whisper in your ear, or Tell me a secret."


These pies are a good indication of how the day went. They were made by my daughter and were very tasty.

Another mother and daughter combination.

Transformer fan.

Hhhhhaaaaaapppppeeeeee

BBBBaaaaabbbbbbeeeeee

Our pound puppy, 90 pounds and growing. She is an attack dog, she can take down a garbage can in microseconds. She also seems to have a problem with Kleenex boxes; I think they whisper nasty things about her behind her back.

Time for afternoon snacks.

Guess who. A hint, her purse is behind her.

This is a cute pair from North Carolina.

Thanksgiving evening, lets get a picture of the grandchildren in their pajamas.

Taking pictures of a group of grandchildren is a lot like herding ducks. I took about six or seven pictures but with their retention spans, these two were the better ones.

Jac's Pictures of Thanksgiving Day.

The pre-meal toast at the kid's table.

One of the local serving wenches, called Mom by some.

The oldest and the youngest await the lovely serving wenches.

A long shot at the table. this year there was no golden bird decorating the table. The Nana and I had cooked the turkey the day before and sliced it. On Thanksgiving Day it was presented sliced on a bed of Nana's stuffing.

Folks on one side of the table.

And more folks on the other side of the table.

Moving with purpose as my Army daughters say.

Somebody just shines, sometimes, when the camera is on him.

In central Florida there is a party school that people go to for the undergraduate experience. My parent's both graduated from there and that's where I am going to go. Go Gators!!!



Cameras everywhere.

Everybody who loves their Aunt wave their hand.

Nana holding babies against their will and making them pose for pictures.

Nana, I think I know who is making that horrible smell!

Area Hawk

I observed this hawk sitting on a chain link fence and another tree before getting my camera and snapping some pictures. before I got the camera, there was a small grey squirrel moving around on the major limb above and to the right of the hawk. Eventually, the squirrel ran back up the tree.

I think this may be a Red Shouldered Hawk but I am not an expert.

Another large hawk flew overhead while I was watching this one. The flying hawk was making the normal screeching sounds we hear daily and this hawk did not answer. I believe the hawks we normally see are Red Tailed Hawks but again I am no expert.

This is a shot from behind the hawk after I have continued on down the street and around the corner.

Internet photo of Red Shoudered Hawk from http://www.boylanenv.com/Bec-Wildlife%20Photos.htm