whackadoodle coconut

today was a wonderful day as Christmas eves go. I shot an awesome two rounds today at 20 yards, enjoyed the company of friends/family and still "working on it" of which I have made excellent progress. happy Christmas, to you and yours.

Early morning day two at the range. This past weekend John and I traveled to Orange County to participate in the NRA’s Personal Protection Outside of the Home course.  In OC they are passing permits out like candy, unlike SB County.  This course satisfies the training requirement for a CCW permit.  Needless to say, it doesn't do us a lot of good to take the class and not receive the “reward” or the permit.  However, more training is just that. Big city range. We were shooting in the bay on the far end.  The two day course (max 16 hours) was incredibly valuable.  I have trained with TJ Johnston previously, but John had not.  This was his first class with TJ and his first formal training opportunity (after our basics class last year).  As he said in the “was the course what you expected” portion of the class, all I told him was that it would be challenging and you would have to work for it.  All true.  Even in my case, h...

unbearable. intolerable. agonizing. excruciating. insufferable. just plain hot.  seriously though, it's pretty awful when it get's this ------- warm. you see, I live on the coast of beautiful California and generally, it's 70 degrees all year round.  with short times of the year when it's colder and warmer. however, when I hear that inland is cooler than the coast by at least two degrees, it throws this temperate weather girl off. I have been seeing an increase in knitting patterns perfect for fall.  and I tell you, here we are in October and I can't even think about knitting without a laugh attached to it.  the worst part is that I am dying to make some new sweaters.  I even had to unravel my custom "girl not grey" sweater due to some weight loss recently. when it's this hot, I usually think two things.  first, I wish I was still working as a lifeguard.  a quick dip in the pool would really refresh me right now. and second, why can't we have n...

it's been a busy last month.  a little crazy, but I've made it to August. phew!  I hope to capture the last two months in a short list. 1.  began teaching Women's 101 at our local shop - 37 future gun owners and lady shooters 2.  recruited new members for CCLSC.  we had 3 new shooters join our club.  my game warden and I have a lot of fun activities to do for the rest of our first year. 3.  certified in another NRA class - PP in the home.  this particular class was challenging for me and I passed and earned a 94% on the test. 4.  wrote my first article for the Austin Sure Shots magazine and my first On the Firing Line radio show. 5.  taught my first shotgun clinic for my hub's company picnic. 6.  purchased a set of combs for spinning wool.  this was a coolest. I'm super excited about it.  I have a pair of cards already and I'm not too sure if these produced the kind of preparation I was hoping for.  I have...

well, a lot of things actually.  in this case, what do I do when the hubby's down for a week with the sick?  I'll show you. a few bags of 1 ounce measure of sheep hairs.  these have been shorn, dyed and cleaned through ready to card and spin. this is what they look like once you've pulled them out of the bag and have them ready to card. yes like a dog brush. I know you will ask.  these are 112 flat carders that are used to "brush" or "tease" the wool so they are ready to spin. think of it as separating the locks so they can be drafted easily onto the wheel. I actually had to learn a new spinning method to do this. really unsure at this point if this is working.  looks like it is, but that really isn't a guarantee of anything. we'll see when I get ready to ply, then wash and finally knit something with it. so you all know, I do more than pew pew pew in my time.  this has been a huge undertaking. I am one step away from s...

I did a little shooting and then shooting a few weeks back.  It feels like forever since I've posted something.  So a recap is probably in need here.  I took some awesome pictures though, getting better and making do with what light I have and then getting into position to shoot properly has all been a benefit to growing. The best one ever of the Hubby - John and his Tavor.  Which promptly sparked the comment "a boy and his dog"? What can I say, I didn't mean to, but my best photos are when I don't mean to take something and it just turns out just fantastic!  And this is no exception. My bestie also had some work at an exhibit in Santa Barbara.  She has been such a huge help with honing my photo skills. Here are her pieces that she had- The glare is ridiculous.  Sorry for that.  Camera Phones what can you do? Finally, this week I went shooting to get a little in and wahoo, here's my target that I taunted buddy Julie with. ...

take a looksy at the list. 1.  35 and my second round in braces. it's just as "awesome" as the first time. minutes after the ortho visit. 2.  being a leader is harder than it sounds.  but frankly it's just as fun as you'd think if you were one of "those" people. not really a "leader" picture, but how do you really photograph that? 3.  happiness is a lot of things.  but I'm sure that it's none of those things you see on pinterest.  really. 4.  dying to spin on that wheel over there (pointing).  funny thing, I saw a post on facebook of the company and there was the man who made my wheel sitting right there. hubby asks, "who is that?"  I said "I think he's the guy to made my wheel" (picking up my wheel and turning it over) "see?  there's his name on the bottom." it's like the earth just opened up and revealed a tiny pot of gold. yup, right there on the bottom. #176 5.  ...

it's been nice weather lately.  warm but not too warm.  it feels like summer and it smells like the sun.  yes.  it smells like the sun.  I actually love the way the sun smells. I can't really describe it, but imagine the smell of coppertone, banana boat, chlorine, salt, sand, concrete, grass, warmth....the smell of, well, summer. so, in this sudden feeling of whimsy, I take to my spinning wheel and relax.  ahhhh.  the whir, the hum, the calm. when I'm through with this batch, I think I will learn to use my cards and create something amazing. I've been shooting too, don't get me wrong, the powder, the cold, the sound of gunfire.  in fact over Easter weekend, the hubby and I shot some steel at 400 yards.  I scored 3/20, with my zombie killer.  I stopped while I was ahead.  not bad, since I couldn't hit it with a .308 a while back.  I am still disappointed about that one.  I might do better now.  the regular workouts...

at least the one that covers my bed.  yes that means after almost a year, actually about 8 months I have finished the duvet.  do you want to see?  of course you do.  the size of the duvet is for a king sized bed, adjusted pattern for our queen sized bed.  the reverse is the lighter sage green solid fabric making for a reversible duvet. the edging on the three sides are flat like a pillow case whereas the bottom with snaps is hemmed a bit to reinforce the snap closure.  there's about a 1.5 inch hem there to help stabilize the edge.  the only unfortunate part of the entire thing is that I had to hand stitch the snaps on the edge. the machine just wouldn't do a good job.  but the silver lining is the snaps are invisible to the top side. and there is no seam on the bottom edge. first thing this morning picture the edging close up  snaps.  to finish the bottom closure. there are about 75 there. guess what will never fall out t...

I have been accused of going 160 km in one direction at any given time.  you mean that I give 110% to what I do and believe in?  go figure.  you have coaches telling you that all the time.  give it all you've got.  not a bad thing.  really it isn't. dichotomy -  a division or contrast between two things that are or are represented as being opposed or entirely different. I live this. the contrast between my newest handbags and my chest rig for example.  lovin' it. schooling macho men in how to operate their (or my) firearms, major ego check.  the smell of my perfume in my tactical condor alpha fleece. yup takes you off guard. I like to think of it as being who I am and loving every minute of it. a whole new happy.  find it. on the couch and packed for the day -

1.  I quilted this weekend.  yes on that huge drunkards path.  I have only two more rows to go and it is taking forever.  soon it will be done. 2.  shooting range today too.  took 70 rounds and attempted to get them in the small black ring.  it kind of happened for me. 3. CCLSC club is tonight. excited because we might get some super tips.

I was asked a few weeks ago if I was still spinning and if I did anything else except shooting.  now that I think about it, that's pretty bad friend manners of me not to say anything until now.  well, I have said it and I have been doing other things besides shooting...and cleaning my guns....thinking about guns....ahh the cold metal, the smell of gunpowder....ahhhh. almost ran away with it there for a bit.  I have been up to other things.  I spent the better part of last week spinning and working through the first of two plies of wool that has been moving faster than a speeding bullet. heh heh.  take that.  really it did though.  I had quite a bit left when I sat down and thinking that I would never finish, it was done in record time.  I should tell you that I haven't been too concerned with the supermodel type yarn with this batch, rather making it look nice and if it goes fat and skinny in places that was okay.  I fixed the obvious spots...

I don't know if this is true, but I think if you asked people who know me, not just know of me, but really know me what I do best.  I think they would say that I was a good teacher.  there's an old adage that says "those who can't do teach".  in a lot of ways this is true.  it's a cop out for a lot of people who really can't do.  they end up teaching, because they can't cut it in the "real world".  and then there are those who teach and teach well.  they enjoy it, spreading knowledge and encouraging others to seek out new information and expand their minds.  not the drug fueled expansion, but actually rejuvenate brain cells. this is what I actually love.  the skill of teaching others.  I like it. I think I'm good at it.  oh yeah and there's another line, if I have to tell people that I am then I'm probably not.  this one is probably true.  even though I'm telling you right now. anyhow, I am going to some training in th...

we had an amazing club meeting this week on Monday.  five ladies showed up and we had people shooting and laughing and having (what looked like) a really good time for the entire hour and half.  I have taken some suggestions for games and topic training.  stuff that everyone should be able to do and know.  it will be good and important. I added the photos we took the night of and posted them online.  I didn't get a chance to shoot or a shot to shoot, however you want to look at it so I returned the next day to do some practice.  I am always trying to evaluate my progress and set better goals for improvement. here's what I found out.  back when I first picked up a pistol in august last year I had shots all over the place.  no doubt the bad guy will drop, but I needed to be better.  I wanted to be better.  in the meantime, we stocked up on lead and I took to practicing twice a week.  once on my own and once with my hubby. tak...

tomboy chic, that's what I was going for.  so I was actually able to get some things when I went out to venture into this ladylike shopping spree. I picked up two scarves, one pair of ballet flats, a sweater, a cardigan (both grayish) and a teal button up.  not to mention a replacement for my old fleecy, except that specifically, it wasn't a girly one.  it was a men's fleece, with hook and loop on the sleeves, for some bitchin' patches. you say "we don't need no stinkin' patches", well sir you do. and I have some. and there will be more, you wait. okay....here's the pics from the shopping spree, I don't have a photo of the button up or the second scarf, but you get the idea. -     I didn't purchase the coach bag on the trip, I'm just amazed that it matched perfectly with the scarf I DID buy.

apparently that's what I wear, except it's more tomboy.  I'm missing the chic part.  this week, I have a play date with my buddy Ari.  I need to spruce up my non stylish wardrobe and get a little more, how do you say?  je'ne se quoi? I've been experimenting with new hairstyles.  did I tell you?  yeah, for the last month.  there have been new braids and ponies and twists and buns and side braids and what not.  I guess I should take a picture, but that kind of selfie is hard to come by.  the behind the head and off to the side without reverse mirrors is practically impossible. anyway, back on topic, here's what I'd like to look like when the week is over - I'm in search of some good pieces that will send my current stuff in the right direction. a few cardis, plain striped t-shirts, sweaters and a button up maybe?  shoes are the other thing, maybe some loafers or oxfords.  I've always loved oxfords.  ballet flats...

cordite - noun, a smokeless, slow-burning powder composed of 30 to 58 percent nitroglycerin, 37 to 65 percent cellulose nitrate, and 5 to 6 percent mineral jelly.   this morning I met up with a new friend at the range.  remember, I coordinate/founded a shooting club in my neck of the woods?  this new friend was on the email list of ladies who were interested and she contacted me and was interested in shooting the AR-15 rifle.  I offered her mine and a short lesson at the range in order to get some experience.   this is a good start to the week and gets zombie out for a walk.  best part of the day was the girlish giggle she let out about halfway through her second mag.  nice.   that's the way we do it girls.    

just had the car washed and when asked what scent I wanted, I chose clean car.  usually I get island coconut.  clean car smells like the soap they use in the car wash.  this might be nice.  when I came home and walked in the house, I realized the best car freshener would be gun oil.  since presently, that's our home fragrance of choice. oh yeah and I knit this - that's the Cambrian Cowl from coastal knits designed by Alana Dakos, pre final blocking. If I don't say, that's a smashing picture of myself.   with these buttons - 

and there should be.  that's why I was convinced, against my initial reclusive instinct, that there really should be.  what's that?  a ladies only shooting club.  there's one in Bakersfield, one in just about every big city around the nation.  but, not here.  not within 100 miles. after all there are only three ranges and one outdoor public range in the area.  and that IS within 100 miles. thus a founding of the Central Coast Ladies Shooting Club was born ?  no, not born. incepted. developed. founded? maybe, proposed and then followed through. there was a lot of interest and it seems to be spreading like wildfire of women who are interested in joining.  that's a good thing.  it's a really good thing.  word of mouth.  everyone uses it like it's the most effective way to spread news...I mean gossip.  in this case, it's news.  news that is welcomed, desired, and needed. yesterday was our first meeting and with...