Day off today - started to snow again 'bout an hour ago, and supposed to go down to 10 below for the next couple nights, and "warm up" again on Thursday. Been outside carving - making a piece for the Friends of NRA banquet next month - wish they'd have it any other time of year but now - not a good time to be trying to do some fancy cutting with a chainsaw. Can get enough heat off the saws to keep your hands warm, but not your feet. Mamacita just left - on afternoons and not too cool about going out - will make sure I have a big 'ol Absolute and tonic set up for her when she gets home. I go back tomorrow just in time for all the ice in the fuel seperators and frozen relay valves, and cashed starters, etc.
Starting on another project - got a grandson for St. Pat's day last year (first one). When his mother was in kindergarten, I bought her a Chipmunk .22 rifle, and that's the one she learned on. Got the rifle back from her ( think the brother in law had it for a couple years, teaching his kid to shoot and it needs some work) -- So.. Will restock it, with a decent piece of claro, make up a trigger guard from scratch, (anything would look better than the stamping that's on it now), file out a steel grip cap and butt plate, and make up a little ghost ring rear sight all scaled down to look right on it. Figure it would be really cool done up that way - ebony fore arm tip, wrap around checkering - the works. Probably been done before, but we're gonna do it again. Looking forward to it. Seems like something I need to do - guess that's how a guy knows he's getting to be an 'Ol fart. Have taught lots of kids to shoot - always start out getting them to shoot at balloons - and when they do it right - well, you know - instant gratification. Never taught any grandkids before. Man, that's gotta be some kinda special.
Still working on the Springer - went back to stock handlebars, and of course it's giving me plenty of crap. Drilled them and put the wires inside and trying to make do with the cables and lines that were on the apes (12 inchers by the way - not 16s - risers made them look higher than they were). Seems like all will work if we can get them routed right. Tried to tell OL how cool she looked riding it all hung out there in the wind with the apes, forward controls, pony tail straight out behind her (just a little gray starting to show in it nowdays), - that went over like a fart in church. So we'll keep thrashing on it until she says it feels right. I love it.
D&H - never tried making a long bow - even though we have always been way into the wood working. Had a buddy (passed away now) who was into the "buckskinner" thing - made his own flintlocks - and made his own bows and arrows - used hedge / osage orange? Anyway, he hunted in buckskins and moccasins that he tanned and made, and used those handmade bows and arrows - The guy was a hunter, and never had an empty freezer. Seems like he made knives also. Got to be a lot of satisfaction in that.
Snow's really coming good now - dog is asleep by the fireplace, and I don't feel guitly about sitting in front of the computer rather than working on something. Hope I didn't flap too much - just seems like a good time to flap, as we can't shoot, fish or ride. Spring's coming.
All you guys have a good one:
D.B.
P.S. Bet 'Ol 'Law is down there in Georgia sitting in a tree stand with a camoflaged T shirt on, while we're up here carrying in firewood.
Here's the Chipmunk and the stock blank. "Before" picture.
