whackadoodle coconut

there's only one more actual day before Christmas and I thought I'd just drop you a note and share the Christmas greetings we have already had the pleasure of this year before a short holiday break through the start of the new year. first, I'm still working on something for my brother and since I still have a way to go, it probably won't be there in time to open on Christmas day, but it's winter where he lives so there is still time to use said gift.  not too worried there.  I'll have to get on it today to get it finished to mail. second, there has been a high level of gift giving already around our house.  as you might have figured we each purchased a new gun for Christmas.  not a "surprise", since in CA we have to fill out paperwork to get ownership of said firearms and then wait 10 days to take them home.  as you might imagine there isn't much surprise there.  however, the guys at the shop did a number on the gift giving and a super surprise...

it wasn't anything like that at all.  funny, but nothing like it at all.  this last weekend we head south to Santa Barbara to meet the nice people at Ear Inc. who create instamold ear protection.  the company is based in Colorado and the couple that we met up with are from Idaho by way of Santa Barbara.  lucky that they were in town for a while and could take some time to do a sale. it takes about a couple of hours from start to finish.  you can get just about every color combination imaginable. or mix of colors.  there's also two styles to choose from.  an instant mold (impression) of your ear and a lab fit from an impression of your ear.  we opted to get one of each to try them out and see which one we like better. pricing is reasonable, when you can spend anywhere from $15 to hundreds for good ear protection, $65/$75 for ears isn't bad.  the higher price is for a mix of colors.  the lab ones are $110, but you can't take those with...

well last night was the final exam for my shooting class and I fell short of my goal. of course I wanted two things, 1. to win and 2. get ten bullseyes. didn't happen. I am not upset, I did a good job, but I did learn a few things. Practice. duh right? I don't think I need to elaborate. Respect the firearm. it's a .22, not a big deal, but it takes the same level of respect as a .45. Finally, you can't predict how it will work out. you can't muscle your opponents into submission, there isn't a right or wrong answer and you can't control the environment you find yourself in.

...and I already have my present.  well, not exactly.  I do, but I don't.  (this is a normal phrase if you know me)  it was on order and it came in yesterday and I was excited to go visit it and shoot a box worth.  I just gave it away.  not that you didn't already know.  it's an M1 Garand.  totally legit I know, right. took it for a little test drive and here's what transpired. learned a few things along the way. 1.  height above bore . this is the space between the sights and the bore of the rifle.  at short distances, your shot will be off (based on the sights) since the accuracy is meant for longer distances.  so you have to adjust. 2.  I will need to practice loading .  had a hell of a time "trying".  I say trying because I didn't actually succeed getting it loaded myself....much to the laughter of the peanut gallery.  (love you sweetheart!)  especially when this weekend there was a woman at the...

in the midst of the shooting gallery I call my weekends, btw I am so glad that we had that little chat last week, I have seriously been neglecting my spinning wheel.  my favorite magic making machine.  I took a looksy yesterday and she's covered with dust and I just wanted to clean her and make her feel loved.  then I saw the long and ongoing project that I swore I would finish before starting on any spinning, you know as a reward that I completed that massive monster of the quilt. that's when it happened.  I should stop telling myself that I HAVE to do anything and just do what I want.  it's a hobby right, I don't have to do anything in any order.  so today, I resolve to clean my wheel, do a little maintenance and start on that awesome, lovely fiber I've had for a while and get to spinning some soft dk weight yarny goodness.  that will fit just so with my 900 yards of crimson yarn I spun earlier this year. I can hear the wheel now.....puuuurrrrrrr...