My friends

[dusty texian]

Checking on my friends . How are Y'all doing ? Myself just laying low . Hope we all get through this , my prayers for Family and Friends . ,,,,,DT

[Black River Smith]

I would like to believe I fit into the crowd you are addressing.  It is very kind of you to ask, at this time.  I am certain we all feel somewhat 'ALONE'.  So, my wife and I are still doing fine, in our home.  As a school teacher she is having a tough time with this situation.  We are managing through the lack or limitations of certain items.  While she is still pseudo teaching from home, I am occupying my time with different little project that have been on the back burner for a long time.

Our grown children are still staying healthy, also.  One is a nurse that we fear for the most.

I hope you and yours' stay well and healthy too and the same to everyone else that replies, to this carrying post here.

BRS

[jthbjr]

We are pretty much "forted up" in town. So far all is well. Deep freeze is full. Daughters and sons-in-law are able to work from home. We keep the grandson 2 1/2 days each week. I have done one divorce mediation using Zoom. It worked pretty well. No other work on the books this month. I've only been out to the grocery store a couple of times in 3 weeks. Most of what I need from the store is dried chiles, tomatoes, tomatillos, fresh chiles, onions and milk.
Most of what I've been doing is food related. Back in February I made a lot of sausage, mostly venison and pork Polish style and an all pork Lyon style. I just finished curing and smoking a pork belly so we won't run out of bacon. In February I cured a bunch of collar bacon and sliced it at 6.5mm so its like a ham steak.
Gun related has been mostly organizing and planning. That and talking to non gun owning friends who suddenly want to buy an AR. I tell them its probably too late and the give them links to several gun safety videos.
Lots of good rain at the ranch. I talk to my ranch neighbor who says things look good. Dusty, since you are south of the highway you have gotten even more rain than I have. Hope you stay safe and well.
That's more than anyone wanted to know about how I'm doing. I do know 2 people who have tested positive. So I'm being careful. Wearing a mask in public for last 3 weeks. Wear exam gloves too.
John, At the Fort.

[King Medallion]

Glad to hear health is good for you all. I'm "lucky" I guess, as I still get to go to work every night. Where I work, Anchor Harvey Components, we are an aluminum forge shop. We make essential parts for the medical field, so for the time being, we are open. Business is very slow tho, last week the company asked for voluntary layoff. But mostly our business is making upper and lower for AR15 and AR10's, therefore we are essential for providing to the military and police force. We got 11 letters from various government agency stating we must remain open if at all possible. Upwards of 40,000 uppers and lowers get forged every WEEK!! So if you have an AR upper with this little AH on the right side, chances are I made it. Lord only know where 40K plus a week are going. 
As far as my wife, she is a nurse in a nursing home, right across the street from our house, so she is obviously still working.  All in all we are healthy as is all our family an hope to stay that way. Every piece of brass in my house is loaded and ready, waiting for the day to unleash! 
KM.

[greyhawk]

Like BRS I would be pleased and honoured to make it onto Dustys list
Our little piece of downunder is ok at this point - we have state borders closed into Queensland and South Australia - Essential businesses open like you have I guess - no gathering in the open - Quarantine for returning visitors . Once you get more than about twenty miles inland from the coast, population density in this country is very low - we are three hundred miles inland and settled about like western Nebraska plus we live out of town. All family healthy at this point - wife and daughter work for an accountant (separate towns) so are regarded as essential - son works cattle on a place about 100miles north of us so he is ok - the drought has broken with good rains and the country is lookin good right now with stock and grain prices still at good levels - maybe we catch a decent season for 2020.
I usually go on the road about now and for most of the winter doin my organic consultancy stuff but with that northern border shut I am confined to barracks for now - plenty work to do on my own little farm and lots of empty brass still hangin out in the loading room so boredom is not a factor.
I think I posted a while ago I sawed my achilles tendon through last year - saw the last of the crutches and walking sticks mid january - making slow progress back to mobility - about 40% now I guess - but I was good on my feet for my age before I did it - dont have to look far to find someoone my age in more trouble than me - and theirs is permanent  - I will get back if I keep workin at it. Got fat and everything went slack sitting about while that tendon grew back 

Ranges are all closed but I can walk out the back door and shoot any time I feel the urge (havent been doin it but I can if I want!) - we worked hard all our lives and never owned a new car but I count myself lucky - kids are decent people without problems, we all in good health, and none of us lack for anything we need.

So heres to continuing good health for all of us ..................   

picture attached of our little patch

[Slamfire]

Thanks Dusty ,, I have been honored by your words. So far all's well here ,, I sneakted ( new word ) off to ck. on a "older " friend,, who lives over by a open shooting range,, two birds one stone ,, . Our daughter is a nurse down WACO way ( wife worry's ) Our older son lives w/ us we give him shots & treatments every 8 hrs. ( wife worry's ) I have never met any of the friends I visit with here,,don't make ya'll any less FAMILY,,  " Thank you " !!!


coffee's ready ,, Hootmix

[pinto beans]

Greetings All,

It would be a honor to be counted among the friends here.  Hope this finds all well and safe during this time.  Last 6 months we have been taking care of my folks.  My Mother took a fall back last fall and only within the last month has she started making great progress on recovery from fractures in her back.  My Dad is mentally slipping away from us but still able to be out on the farm within reason.  These last 3 to 4 weeks things have ironically improved here with my Mom getting better. 

All our grown kids thankfully are able to work from home, and the youngest is completing college classes from home.  All in all plenty to do without having to get out much.  I still work part time at local gunshop.  We wear safety glasses, safety gloves and have face masks but they are impossible to wear all day without overheating.  The wide counter keeps the distance as does limiting number of folks allowed in at a time but I ain't there much. 

Plenty to do at the farm with spring coming up, and still have some brass to load plus doing things around the house. You would think after 5 years almost of being retired I would have some of this caught up but it seems to multiply overnight!!

Prayer and faith in God keeps us settled and grounded.  Taking care of family and keeping our heads down things are going well - we are all blessed.

Hope all the good folks out there are well and staying safe.  Mr. Dusty, thanks for asking about everyone.  You sir are a scholar and gentlemen but most of all a friend here to us all.

Keep ya powder dry.

P.B.

[larryo1]

Pinto Beans:
I figure that this would be a good time to let y'all that i am still alive and kickin--sort of!Am stickin close to my farm and even tho I am over the 80 year hill now, my son is doing the field work and I am settin, snoozin and doing some reading.I did, finally, get my '76 out and attempted to  kill 4 pop cans the other day.  It was the first time that I did this since last summer and let me tell you--that 45-75 kicked me harder than I remembered. I did manage to kill one pop can tho so didn't feel to bad.We only go to town for groceries once a week or so--that is if the need arises.  So, we are pretty well off when it comes to this mess the country is in.  We don't have an outdoor Biffy anymore but are managing pretty good from that aspect.  My dad used to say, that during the War (WW2) they said to take one square of TP and fold it in the middle and carefully tear out about a one inch hole in the middle.  Then use that and when you pull it out just toss it away.  There all done--sort of!!  We ain't to that point yet and hope that this is over before then so have a good one folks and keep a stiff upper lip and whatnot.

[dusty texian]

Glad to hear from each and every one of you my friends . And even more glad to hear that Y'all are getting along well . Like Y'all I am at home in town so the Wife and I can be near the family in case they need us . We only get out once a Wk. or less to get groceries and medicine as need . Our two Son -in -law  work in the petro chemical refinery's and cant work from home .  One Daughter HR  can work from home half of the wk.  and our other Daughter CPA  can work from home totally . We have plenty of  groceries stock on hand  ( been through many hurricanes ) so that is nothing new . Plenty to do around here , but not doing much ,  kind of hard to stay focused on hobby stuff right now . Hardest part for us is not being able to hug our Children and Grandchildren . My youngest Grandchildren usually run up to me and we have a big hug , and that I miss the most  .  Staying here in the city is not my favorite place , this is the first Spring in over 50 yr's that I am not out in the Texas Hill Country or West Texas prairie somewhere chasing turkey and wild hog  and just breathing in God's clean air .   I do know we are all strong people and will adapt and overcome this ugly thing .  Stay safe my friend's , take good care of your people and yourselves . It is I ,  that am honored to have such good friends as Y'all . ,,,,,DT 

[wildman1]

We have been to town 3 times in the last 4 weeks and are pretty careful about contact with others. Groceries are all stocked up so we will not have to make that trip again for at least a couple weeks. My wife has a DRs appointment today, I have two DRs appointments but am going to cancel and reschedule for later on. I've been tumbling brass for about two weeks now, two loads a day and am just finishing the acps today. I've finished the 45-70s, 45-90s, 44-40s, 38-40s, 38 spl and 357 mags. Maybe I'll get to the 45 Colt and some of the other less used calibers in the next week or so. We are able to go to the range 2 or 3 times a week so haven't gotten too rusty in that regard. I may even take my old 25-35 and run a few rounds through it.
Hope you all stay well and survive this.
wM1

[JustinGr]

While a newbie, I am also hold up. Lucky to have a few projects to work on, my 1876 Winchester restoration is keeping me busy. Glad kids are grown and on their own, but safe.

JTHBJR, I have done a few divorce mediations online also, and now my business is getting calls for landlord/tenant issues and I'm sure the dissolution business will ramp up once the cootie quarantine is over. Sad, but a byproduct of such an event.

As we tend to be in the older portion of the population, I wish you all a safe and healthy journey, and that you all weather this and get back to your daily routine soon.

Justin

[doketx]

Thanks for the kind inquiry.  We're doing fine except for being 30 miles from the only outdoor rifle range in this county, but if that's the worst thing to happen to me I'll be alright.  At least my rifles will be clean.   We're stocked up with plenty of food, and since we're both retired and my wife has a good retirement package, we don't have to worry about going to work.  I sure hope everything's alright with you guys and you weather this storm O.K.

[dusty texian]

Governor Greg  Abbott  say's the State is opening back up , look's like this is gonna be the normal for a while . About to head out to the country for a while . Much better that sitting around town . Hope Y'all are doing well. ,,DT

[King Medallion]

Congrats to Texas! Hope you and family are safe and healthy. Our Fatazz guvnah I'm betting is going to keep us pinned in for as long as he can, and add a tax or 4 along with it, and blame the virus for it too. At least I'm still working, I guess that's a plus.

[jthbjr]

I hope you are headed to Art, Dusty. I was out there end of last week. Things look great. I had a full rain gauge at 5" over 28 days since I was there. The grass is growing, the tanks are filling, humming birds are flying, and the sun is shinning. We didn't have any wind damage, but we did have a big red oak hit by lightning and split. Mostly I continued mankind's endless fight with prickly pear. I had some mesquite cleared last fall but the cactus is still there so I rake it up with a front end loader and a heavy duty rock rake. Now I'm back in town. I did hear one turkey gobble. Hope everyone is well and happy.
John, in the Fort in town.

[pinto beans]

greetings folks,

sounds like everyone is hanging in there.  Working on farm projects and taking care of parents and grandchildren so life is good.  Waiting on parts to give the 1949 Farmall C a little maintenance.  Not setting the trail on fire but keeping head down and waiting on pieces and parts to work on various projects.  Here is hoping that all keep on doin well and this time of sickness will pass soon.

[dusty texian]

I hope you are headed to Art, Dusty. I was out there end of last week. Things look great. I had a full rain gauge at 5" over 28 days since I was there. The grass is growing, the tanks are filling, humming birds are flying, and the sun is shinning. We didn't have any wind damage, but we did have a big red oak hit by lightning and split. Mostly I continued mankind's endless fight with prickly pear. I had some mesquite cleared last fall but the cactus is still there so I rake it up with a front end loader and a heavy duty rock rake. Now I'm back in town. I did hear one turkey gobble. Hope everyone is well and happy.
John, in the Fort in town.

John I am  going to stop in there at Art for a few days , cut grass and check on the place . Turkey pear is the  problem at my place , man that stuff is the devil . That country sure needed some rain , hate to hear you lost the oak . If I find the place OK and after getting things cleaned back up / grass cut . Planning on going down to the Brewster Co. place for the same , Less the grass cutting . Weather is still cool in the Mountains and I always like being out in the big country . Good to hear you fellows are doing well and getting along . Take care , back in a wk. or two .,,,DT

[Major 2]

I heard prickly pear was good eating, I have had the jelly made PP in Florida, but I'd like to try
this
https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video;_ylt=AwrEzNQl4qFeUhMAhW.JzbkF?p=prickly+pear+cactus+recipes&fr=ymyy-t-999&fr2=p%3As%2Cv%3Ai%2Cm%3Apivot#id=4&vid=cb4026d4507c3d8eac60aef9ba57b3c2&action=view

[jthbjr]

Dusty  I hope you found everything in order at Art. I just got back from the ranch. I have plenty of turkey pear, or pencil cholla ,as its also known. I had 60A aerial sprayed end of February that had gotten so thick with prickly pear that it was not productive. I still have plenty of both. I like to have some because of the use by wildlife. Quail like to hide under the cholla.
Major 2  There are over 150 types of prickly pear. I think you can eat the young new pads on most of them. I like nopalitos a lot. The fruits are called tunas in Spanish. Different species tunas taste different. I'm going to discuss them further over at the food section.
John - Back in the fort in town

[dusty texian]

Dusty  I hope you found everything in order at Art. I just got back from the ranch. I have plenty of turkey pear, or pencil cholla ,as its also known. I had 60A aerial sprayed end of February that had gotten so thick with prickly pear that it was not productive. I still have plenty of both. I like to have some because of the use by wildlife. Quail like to hide under the cholla.
Major 2  There are over 150 types of prickly pear. I think you can eat the young new pads on most of them. I like nopalitos a lot. The fruits are called tunas in Spanish. Different species tunas taste different. I'm going to discuss them further over at the food section.
John - Back in the fort in town

Had a great trip . Found the place in great shape . The wife said our Jeep rides through the pasture was like riding through a painting  and that is a perfect description . A beautiful time of yr. in the Heart of Tx . Ground tank's full ,  grass seeding , Turkey's calling . Did get a little shooting in , but not much . Hope all are well . ,,,,DT