Memorlal Day 2016

Dad and I are having a quiet day, and will most certainly raise a glass to honor those who have given the last full measure to our country.

It saddens me that there are many that don't know the reason for this day, nor seem to care. I must be getting old, I can remember going to the cemetery with my granny to place flowers and flags on what was then known as Decoration Day.

“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather, we should THANK GOD that such men lived."  George S. Patton Jr

I'm not sure I agree that it is foolish and wrong to mourn those who died. But I for darn sure THANK GOD that such men lived.

Changes...

It's well past 0 dark thirty and I still have two chapters in a book to finish reading, laundry to fold and put away, one more checkup that Dad is tucked in for the night and the house is secure.

I've made some of the changes to this blog.  Let me know what you think... good, bad, ugly... bring it.

Looking Back, Moving On...

Looking Back...

Since it is a Thursday, here is my Throw Back Thursday, a post from five years ago. 

"In the beginning there was a young rancher.  He married a country girl. They raised two great children, a lot of cattle, a bunch of dogs, a cat or two, a little hell, and assorted other things.  Life was an adventure with much to learn along the way. Years passed, the kids had kids, the rancher and the country girl grew older. Life was still an adventure but not in ways the country girl could understand. After a time she left the rancher.  It was difficult, they had grown up together the rancher and the country girl, over forty three years of marriage.  They parted as friends she wanted to think, but who really knows.
The rancher passed away last Sunday. He left a brief note about the disposition of his ashes, and chaos behind him.  There remains a daughter shaking with sorrow, a son taking charge of a thousand things, bewildered grandkids, and a country girl caught between madness and sadness."
 

Moving On...

I'm going to make some minor changes to the blog, it is time. 
I like Brig better than Brighid, so the name is going to change slightly. 
I don't live on a ranch or have horses, like before.  So, the header picture of ol' Clabber will change to something else. 

Other than those things it will probably remain the same confusing assortment of tales from a life. 

the Wrong Dope...

I'm telling you if things get much more exciting around here...

Yesterday, as I was doing some late afternoon jungle pruning between rain storms, I heard water running. Went for a look see around the house and there in front was a busted pipe. Well that's interesting, I'll just turn the shut off valve to off, and repair it. Except that didn't turn off the water, it seems the leak was above the valve. Hmm, off to find the main shut off. I went to where I thought it was, and there one was. Turned it to the off position, tried the faucet beside it, no water. Yeah!  Walked back around the house to find water still pouring out. Hmmm. 

Went in the house to ask Dad where the Main water shut off was.  Well he had to look at the problem before he could answer that. After some discussion it was decided that it had to be the other shut off by the other shut off... Finally the main water main was found and shut off.  

Then Dad decides he will supervise the repair from the seat of his walker. As I head to the shop for parts & tools he is telling me to get the very things I'm in the process of getting. Pipe wrench, hacksaw, couplings, emery cloth, pipe dope, and a trowel.  Following his explicit instructions I dig out the buried part of the pipe. Then, using the ancient hack saw with the first blade ever made, I saw nearly through the pipe below the shut off valve, remove the saw and run the emery cloth around the cut. Finish cutting the pipe, jockey it to the side, and remove the shut off above the cut.  

Here I can see that the wrong pipe dope was used. The seal between the pipe and the valve had failed. I'm not saying much about this out loud, because I'm fairly sure that Dad installed this section when the house was built. Run the emery cloth over all the parts that will be put together. Cleaned and dried all the fittings. Put the correct pipe dope on the top of the valve, shoved it on, waited a few minutes, and did the same with the coupling where I had sawed the pipe apart. 

Dad said to give it fifteen minutes or better to setup and then test the line, he had a ball game to watch.  Put all the tools back, waited, turned on the main and tested the line. No leaks.  Went in to tell Dad it was not leaking anymore.  

Dad said, "Good job, Sis, you learned something today." 

LOL, I did, I learned that I better pray that's the only connection he used the wrong dope on...

Cowcamp news...

 I'm feeling much better, thank you very much! Finally getting my energy back, and can smell the gardenias on the patio.

 

 
Back to Yoga class, so I made a T shirt to wear... only to learn my instructor is on a yoga/message trip to Bali. A girl friend and I will be on our own for a while it seems.

On another note... 
 Gunny mentor T is back from a month in Africa (completing his Spiral Horn Grand Slam and para gliding over Victoria Falls).

 He said it was an amazing trip for him and his sons. Though I have no desire to go there it was very interesting to see his photos and read his comments on Africa. 

I now have a much coveted membership in The shoot'n range here. It has only taken T and two years to get it. I can hardly wait to go and take Dad. Haven't shot the trap & skeet parts of the range yet, and my shotguns are needing some action. Dad is looking forward to going, and instructing from the seat of his walker. 

Meanwhile Hank (the pickup), and I have been on a few missions for parts...