GUNS? good or bad.....?????? Necessary???

Winter home for the Lippazon Stallions, The owners credit General Patten for saving the horses from extinction during WWII

The sign Forest at Watson Lake on the Alcan highway. Many travelers carry a sign to put in the sign forest. Probably near 50,000 signs there now. It was started during the construction of the Alaskan/Canadian hignway.

Today's entry mostly guns......

Thanks to experts with guns a man is free to go home to his family and three kidnappers are not. I know our president is for more gun control, I know I am not. I do not know what the answer is, but I will look in detail durning the next few days.

I am not for outlawing guns. I have mixed feelings about assault and automatic weapons.

WE were warned:
'Those who hammer their guns into plows will
plow for those who do not.' ~ Thomas Jefferson

Jefferson was a smart man but he was not Deity. I do think there is wisdom in that statement. There are many pretty intelligent men in this country that see things in the same light. There always some pretty intelligent folk who see it in the opposite light.

Recent acts of terror and mayhem give fodder to those against citizens being armed. Many innocents have been slain in the past two months here in the United States. If guns were outlawed, could these men have caused the damage and mortal harm? Man has, since the creation, figured how to kill or maim another creature. So with explosives and unlawful guns, I think you would have the same results. WE only have to look at 9/11 to see what devastation a small box cutter can create. My plumber once showed me how to make a potato gun that would kill you. 2" PVC, potato, Lighter fluid and a match.

I am not a member of the NRA, even though I do believe in some of the statements made by the NRA.
ONE is the irrefutable fact that if guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns.

Do you believe the following statistics? It is hard to believe. These are the top ten countries with the highest crime rate. And the USA is not on the list..
· Country
· #1..

Iceland
· Sweden
· New Zealand
· Grenada
· Norway
· England & Wales
· Denmark

· Finland
· Scotland
· #10..Canada ·

I was surprised at the list. Could it be that we have a lot of armed citizens? I do not know. I own three or four guns. I do not know where they all are. All are in storage, somewhere. I would have a hard time getting to one if I really needed it.
Thanks for coming by the log.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

*** God must love stupid people; He made so many of us.

*** The gene pool could use a little chlorine.

*** Consciousness: That annoying time between naps.
***Ever stop to think, and forget to start again?

This is the Alaskan pipeling crossing a river, South on the Richardson Highway. From The FAirbanks end.

Sherry and Kat looking at an ice sculptor of a bull moose. You cannot see his antlers well, but they were thin ice.

If you go to Alaska you must see Chicken Alsaska. Population 35, Just to say you have been to Chicken. It is down from the Top of the world Highway, the road is 95 miles of scrub board road. I want to go back, Sherry doesn't want to see the road again. Reckon we will go?

Today's EXPLAINATION! Clarify two entries back! Called Let me go!

THERE HAS BEEN A MISUNDERSTANDING!!!!!!!!
No, no , no!!!!! In my last entry I said just let me go, I didn’t say I didn’t want a bunch of crying and wailing. Shucks I want Aunt Polly to fall into the casket yelling why did he have to go so young. I want folks to stay up all night telling stories of how good I was. I want Uncle John to lean in and say ‘He was such a sweet child, the good die so young!”

I can’t wait for all, all my old girl friends (BOTH OF THEM! Or was it just one?) to come by crying! Challenging the heights, “Why couldn’t he have been mine!!!!” While their rich husbands stand by and can do nothing about it.
No Sister, I still want a commotion, a three day wake(maybe more). I know you will furnish some of the best food, since I did not live long enough to collect the inheritance.
Be sure and sit me up in the casket so I can see what is going on. Offer me some banana pudding, I love banana pudding. I won’t take it of course, but I will appreciate the offer.
Have Smokey sing ‘He will be coming around the mountain’, OH yes, and the ‘Cowboy’s lament,” I love that one. If you don’t mind spending a little more, you could hire the Sons of the Pioneers to back Smoke up.
No lady, you took that entry all wrong, Cry your eyes out, faint I want everybody to have a good time, but try to be real SAD!!!!!!
So when it comes my time, Let me GO!, But mourn like the dickens!

I Love you all, BUT, if I go before the next entry. You are all invited to my wake; Sister Shirl will gladly pay your way and the motel etc. She is going to miss me, boy that is for sure.
Thanks for coming by for the invitation,
Nite ShipsLog

PS: ***Why don't sheep shrink when it rains?
***Why are they called apartments when they are all stuck together?
***If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of progress? ***If flying is so safe, why do they call the airport the terminal?

He Has Risen

Entering the Yukon for the first time was a wonderful experience, the area is absolutely beautiful...

Happy EAster

We as Christians believe that Jesus the Christ, rose from the dead on this day. He was later tyo leave his folks physically. And when he departed He said there would be a Comforter. We now have that Comforter, that is what gets us through the problems with children. It helps in marriage problems. The Comforter helps us realize we must say good bye, but not forever to our loved ones. Below is a piece of prose. After getting the name from Debbie,I looked for it on the net. I found several but this one says what I want to say to my family:

Miss Me, But let me go….
When I come to the end of the road,

And the sun has set for me,

I want no rites in a gloom filled room.

Why cry for a soul set free....

Miss me a little - but not too long.

And not with your head bowed low.

Remember the love that we once shared.

Miss me - but let me go...

For this is a journey that we all must take,

And each must go alone,

It's all a part of a greater plan,

A step on the road home.

When you are lonely and sick of heart

Go to the friends we know...

And bury your sorrow in doing good deeds.

Miss me - but let me go.

Now when I reach the end of my life I want to know I have done my best to let my family know what I really want. At Easter when He was given back to his followers for a FEW days, he was bound to leave again, They missed Him, but they had to let Him go. They never forgot HIM, they knew where he was. So My family should never say We Lost Dad today, because nothing is lost, if you know where it is.

Nite Shipslog

***Why didn't Noah swat those two mosquitoes?
***Why do they sterilize the needle for lethal injections?
***You know that indestructible black box that is used on airplanes? Why don't they make the whole plane out of that stuff?!

Broomstraw

This is a wild broomstraw field, but then I guess they are all wild. I don't know where all this grows, but it is all over the South. You can take a sheet of notebook paper pierce tow straws from corner to corner in an x, leaving the long stems out the bottom. Tie sewing thread through the paper to the straws and make a great small kite that flies with sewing thread.

Here is a mixture of brooms. The brownest one is broom straw. they installed a handle, I never saw mother do that.

Here are some broomstraw brooms and extra straws.

Todays informative entry.......

I lived in the country once. Well that was not the country, but High Shoals was so small at the time I thought it was the country. Our closest neighbors were black. Well at that time mama called them colored, because that was the respectful title. I was exposed to the ‘N’ word of course; everyone in the world is familiar with the word. It was never used around our house, you would have been safer saying damn, and damn would have got you ‘killed’ in our house.

High Shoals is where I started a fire that burned acres of broom straw field. Did you ever use or see a broom straw broom. If not here is how they are made.

Broom straw grows about three feet high. It has some loose materials near the tops that once made must be shaken or jarred loose, or you leave more trash than you sweep. I would say it takes from two to five hundred straws to make the broom. It is round. It requires some sewing. Mama used a large needle and strong thread. The straws were bunched together at the big ends (bottom of each stalk). They were bound in about a two to three inch diameter bundle. If one was made today it would be taped at the top or handle. It was actually used more as a small whisk broom. Mom bought brooms with handles from the ‘blind folk’ that made them. They sold them door to door.

As a child I wondered how blind folks made brooms. Now as an adult, I still wonder. I am amazed how some folk with a handicap can overcome it while others cannot. I certainly have extra admiration for those who can make their way in life in spite of disabilities.

I am thankful when I realize how blessed I am to have had such good health in my life time. Losing my hearing is frustrating at times, but when reality steps in, I am so grateful I had my hearing as long as I did. Life is good.

Thanks for coming this way. Every once in a while I read something that just stands out. Mary of frankandmary, had a letter of advice to a teen that was very good, yesterday or the day before.
Nite Shipslog
PS:
John Kennedy reportedly once said to an assembled group of scholars in the White House, “I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered at the White House – with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone."

Life's Pleasure....Tucking Sherry in!

Sherry in her nitey (blurring required) , as I tuck her in. I thought the necklace and glasses were a nice touch, especially since she was about to read.

Present nut cracker is somethinng like this....

My favorite one which was lost long time ago.

Todays entry.........

Now in this world there are some rough jobs, but someone must do them. My Sherry is a (beautiful) creature of habit. Each night after reading journals, Blogspot and trail journals (She keeps up with the progress of the thru hikers on the AT), she gets two pieces of hard candy, her green insulated glass filled with ice and water, picks up her book and heads for bed.

I will not say what she wears or doesn’t wear to bed. BUT she wears exactly what I like. Anyway tonight I fixed her glass of ice and water. I asked if I made any points, she said no. (shoot)

Then for some reason (most nites) I am in the bedroom just as she gets into bed, sooooooo I might as well tuck her in. So I always volunteer to untuck and tuck her in. Tonight as I was leaving the room she made a dis-satisfied face. Her hard candy was mixed fruit flavored, and she was expecting cinnamon. Of course I kissed her and relieved her of the fruit candy. I got her a cinnamon and took it to her. I even fed it to her. Then I asked if I made any points, she smiled and said yes!!!! (YEAH!)

Now I don’t know how many points, but I probably won’t tell you. Don’t ask! Now I am wondering, what else can I do to make some points?

In our interview the other day the young lady at the Gazette, who I am sure is still in grade school (ha), asked what the secret of our long marriage was. I said I think one person in the marriage will always give more in stressful times, and that Sherry has always given much more than I have. My sweet wife said, no, I don’t think so. But I know what I said was true. It isn’t always fair, but I do think that is what keeps two people together.

Do you crack and pick nuts? I learned something years ago. A good nut cracker can save a lot of time. I had one Pecan cracker from somewhere in Texas that was the best one I ever had. Now I have one I got at a yard sale for $3. I don’t get as many halves as the one operated by rubber bands but I get about 90% halves. The rubber band operated one I got 99% halves. While in Florida last winter I met a guy from Iowa who cracked black walnuts and Hickory nuts. Now they are tough, but he had a rig that cracked them very well. I bought a Qt baggie half full for $5, for Hickory nuts, or as we say down here, hicker nuts. I like nuts in about every pastry and cereal.
Now I love nuts, but I prefer to tuck Sherry in, perks of motor home living.

Thanks for coming this way
Nite Shipslog
PS:

(Did not make any points with the picture. Nothing is secret in this motor home. Sometimes she does not like the photo editing programs, but ain't she cute!)

Hints to make your life more fun, since you do not get to tuck Sherry in.

Use Empty toilet paper roll to store appliance cords. It keeps them neat and you can write on the roll what appliance it belongs to.

===================================

To remove old wax from a glass candle holder, put it in the freezer for a few hours. Then take the candle holder out and turn it upside down. The wax will fall out.

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Crayon marks on walls? This worked wonderfully! A damp rag, dipped in baking soda. Comes off with little effort (elbow grease that is!). OR USE WD-40. ===================================

Thursday..........

Today is another oddity, this may become a habit. Sherry wanted to go to the hospital and stay with Sonny today, and I felt like I needed to be here. The asphalt men were here waiting for information from the asphalt company and truck drivers. I am used to sub contractor and contractors telling me, over the phone, they will not be here or I can’t make it because ‘I cannot get the concrete or asphalt’. When I get those phone calls I take them with a grain of salt. Could be the truth or they may be just fibbing because they landed a larger job or one that paid more. I know that happens, most of the time it doesn’t bother me. However when the man has his equipment and men standing around, I know he is wanting material. He isn’t paying these guys for the fun of it.
So Sherry left for the Hospital and Lee and his men left, saying he might be back. I wanted to take that as WE will not be back, because that is what I figured. But I could not be certain. They did not come back but neither has my Sherry.
I moved a swing to Shirl’s rough area where we used to keep two or three swings. I love the wooded area in the shade to just sit in the evenings and relax. I sanded it down. One of the tenants had painted it black. I made the swings from treated wood, they do not need to be painted. Shirl may want to paint it, she mentioned brown. We might do that.
I rehung our gate, so Shirl will remain in a gated community. LOL. And then, Just for the fun of it (evidently). I ran the side grinder, I was using to cut the swing chain, into my left hand. Seems I cannot work unless I cut, puncture, scrape or paint myself. I think it satisfies my psyche that I have been working. I enjoy the peroxide, alcohol, and triple ointment. We had some large band aids from some other injury, worked good. This is the first grinder wound I ever had, it is neat, the blood oozes out all along the grind. I guess that is what you call it. Does this sound bad?...... GOOD! Well it is only an inch or so long, I had better tell the truth. I should have gone with Sherry to visit Sonny, huh? WE all know hind sight is very good.
Hope you all are having a great day. Are we out of the depression yet? You know we expect things fixed fast.
Thanks for coming this way.
Nite Shipslog
PS:
Don & Evelyn are due in from Florida this Sat or Sunday. We normally come basck up after them, but this time was a little different. Oh, I met Agnes She wanted me to speak in Sept or Nov. No can do, we be South by September. She is a nice, VOCAL, lady. She is quick to says who she doesn’t like and don’t like in city Government. She has just remodeled one of the older homes here in Belmont. It is a beautiful home and she put mega-bucks into the renovation. She knows the heirs, whoever they be, will never get the money back out of the house, but she plans to stay there until she departs this world.

Two beat puppies....

This is going to be a short day. I have read some journals and have commented little. We are beat. WE went in around 9 last evening and left at 10:45 this morning. Sonny was wide awake and cocky all night. He was not very lucid. As a matter of fact he was really confused. He still thinks the dialysis is temporary and he will be through soon. Or that is how it appears to me. We joked back and forth about his sleeping (or not sleeping). I actually got him out of bed and into a chair for about fifteen minutes. The nurse came in and asked if he was getting ready to leave her, and he said yes He was taking a plane, he thought. He sat on the side of the bed to eat his breakfast and he ate pretty good. His dialysis is normally at around 6 or 7. Sherry to the cafeteria and got him a breakfast biscuit and he ate that before breakfast.
Then the Nurse came in to say he would not go to dialysis until 11 or 1 PM.
I am off of here. Going to sleep as I type.
I did replace the 6x6x * gate post.
Thanks and niteshipslog.

Tuesday!!!!!!

Nostalgia time, Oldest son Jack and his boys. The two in the back are Josh and Steve (Josh on the left) The guy with RED hair is Corey and the cute guy in front is BEN. Here we have Sherece (OUR grand daughter) in a serious conversation. With Jessica, Sonny's grand daughter in the back ground.

Now for Today...................

I met the City council last night. The chambers were crowded. The mayor let me speak second. It went well. I knew all the councilmen except the new mayor and a Martha Stowe who is new to me. I joked with the city attorney. “I know you think I can’t write after the first contract I brought to you?”
“Oh yeah, I remember. It was more whiteout than typing.”
He joked at the time and asked, if I owned interest in White-out. HA! I learned better.

This morning we met Daphne of the Gazette. It was a short interview, about thirty minutes. The story will probably run (if it does) on a slack news day. Daphne was a sweet girl, she talks very low, ha! Of course when you are deaf, not many folks talk loud enough. Sherry interceded for me and all worked out.

One councilman had read Sticky and wanted to know what all was true. I said the fact that Sticky is a great guy.

The biggie for the day was Lee of Robco Paving showed up to start the paving job we contracted. They have the drive ready for asphalt now, but it will be too cold to lay any. They need warm sunny weather (so they say), none in the immediate future.

One of Sherry’s friends, Grethern, came down today. They had a lot to talk about, so they went to lunch. Unusual for Sherry and I to be separated. I stayed here to play with Lee and the boys as they got the drive ready. Give the girls time to talk about their (old) love lives. The construction industry is still in my blood and I like to be around to talk to the men who are working. (I don't have to listen to the old love lives, I got her, the rest can eat their hearts out!!!)

.
Thanks for coming by the log.
NIte Shipslog

PS: We spend the night with Sonny again tonight, it is supposed to get down pretty low here tonight, near freezing (that is cold for here).

I thought of the hat and cutting grass, shucks I never thought anyone would notice and I thought I looked heavy in a couple pictures myself.

Those were photo ops. I really did not cut the grass, I just wanted my picture on the Shirl’s Toro, and forgot my hat!!!!