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Post by cavsgt on Jan 15, 2022 17:15:41 GMT -6
AAAAHHHH Feel so much better. Thank You
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Post by ydderf on Jan 15, 2022 17:41:27 GMT -6
They need a cable across the river to Glens place so it can be crossed without a motor. A reaction ferry uses the rivers current to move across.
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Post by iamnobody on Jan 15, 2022 19:29:05 GMT -6
That's so true about not worth keeping money in the bank, even if you have money.
I have been a long time customer of my bank.
They are offering 10 cents interest on every $100 in my checking account.
20 cents on my checking account if I keep a min of $1,500. Who can keep that kind of min in their account!
No, that is not a misprint. It is 10 cent interest for $100.
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Post by gipsy on Jan 15, 2022 21:35:53 GMT -6
Thanks for the update.
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Post by freebirde on Jan 16, 2022 0:27:07 GMT -6
They need a cable across the river to Glens place so it can be crossed without a motor. A reaction ferry uses the rivers current to move across. It would need to be high enough (6 feet +) to allow boating on that public river but low enough not to interfere with flights. Another downside would be bringing attention to that location. Wouldn't hurt to set some eye bolts if ever needed in the future.
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Post by CountryGuy on Jan 16, 2022 11:07:53 GMT -6
They need a cable across the river to Glens place so it can be crossed without a motor. A reaction ferry uses the rivers current to move across. It would need to be high enough (6 feet +) to allow boating on that public river but low enough not to interfere with flights. Another downside would be bringing attention to that location. Wouldn't hurt to set some eye bolts if ever needed in the future.
I believe he also mentioned somewhere the landings are like over 4000' from each other. An 8/10ths of a mile is a long, heavy cable to string, tension and maintain plus the issues Freebirde mentions with clearance, access and being a neon sign.
However, maybe a direct line across and build some ramps just under the water to act as in and out points for a barge/ ferry as a just in case. Though honestly would make more sense for Glen to have a spot inside the 'compound' to retreat to if the natives get restless.
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Post by kiwibutterfly on Jan 18, 2022 13:01:57 GMT -6
Needing MOAR......please
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Post by ncsfsgm on Jan 18, 2022 23:21:40 GMT -6
I'll get something out soon. I had a kidney stone removed and have been burdened with a hauling around a catheter bag. I've got to talk the Urology nurses out of a clean one. They'd make great wine botas while laying in the hammock.
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remembergoliad
Member
if you send friend req on FB, message me too. I won't accept if I don't recognize you.
Posts: 158
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Post by remembergoliad on Jan 19, 2022 1:21:45 GMT -6
Painful, both the procedure and the recovery....not to mention stepping on the tubing when you forget your lugging your pee around with you!
LMK if you need a legbag and strike out with the nurses. DW has beaucoup extra legbags with straps, I'll overnight you one or three if you need them. She's got both 19 and 32 oz bags. They have a screw type drain, and she can't manipulate the drain being she's a quadriplegic...she needs the ones with the ball valve drain...so they're sitting around gathering dust. Just sing out before about 8am and I'll be happy to haul a handful of whatever size you want to town with me. PM incoming with my phone number.
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Post by kiwibutterfly on Jan 19, 2022 2:37:34 GMT -6
I'll get something out soon. I had a kidney stone removed and have been burdened with a hauling around a catheter bag. I've got to talk the Urology nurses out of a clean one. They'd make great wine botas while laying in the hammock. Ohhh crikey....been there done that (having a stone removed) BUT heck I feel a hellva lot better for it. Heal fast so we can enjoy more of your story. Kiwi
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Post by freebirde on Jan 19, 2022 5:53:12 GMT -6
I'll get something out soon. I had a kidney stone removed and have been burdened with a hauling around a catheter bag. I've got to talk the Urology nurses out of a clean one. They'd make great wine botas while laying in the hammock. I don't know how picky you are about your wine, but how about wine in a box attached to the side of your hammock with plastic tubing/water line on the valve. Forty years ago, when I lived alone, I used aquarium air tubing to siphon drinks from a large glass on a bedside dresser.
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Post by udwe on Jan 19, 2022 7:51:10 GMT -6
Heal fast! My boss (at 42) got her tonsils out this week.
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Post by gipsy on Jan 19, 2022 8:24:22 GMT -6
Feel better soon. We will be here when your better.
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Post by cavsgt on Jan 19, 2022 12:44:10 GMT -6
Thank You for the update on your situation. Take it easy heal and get your life back together. We will be sending Thoughts and prayers your way.
Phill
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Post by ncsfsgm on Jan 19, 2022 17:37:35 GMT -6
Chapter 187
Gil took the buckets of waste from the canning house over to the compost pits and dumped them in, covering it all with dirt so the worms could start working on the debris. The women has blanched and flash-frozen the Brussel Sprouts and since it was all they were going to process for the year, pulled the plants up to run through the chopper to add to the compost. After preparing the soil, collard plants were set . Next were the cabbages. Some were prepared for root cellar storage and the rest were turned into Kraut. Even Glen came over to help with the harvest for a portion of the canning. He really loved the krauts. When they had wrapped up the canning for the day, Glen went over to Gil.
"Gil, do you have any scrap lumber I can use to make more shelves? I've dug out the cellar more under the cabin and need extra shelves."
"We burn all our scrap in the furnaces, but I've got plenty of logs. Come back over when you're ready and we can cut what you need."
Gil headed for the house and walked in on Mollie dishing out pot roast onto a serving platter while Grace was making a thick gravy out of the juice. Gil quickly washed up and got, with Billy's help, the twins into their chairs.
"This smells good, Grandma," Billy said as he took his seat.
After a brief blessing, Grace filled plates from the heavy platter and passed around the gravy boat.
"We got a lot done today." Grace said.
"I can['t wait to have some of those Brussel Sprouts with the hickory smoked bacon." Gil said.
"Looks like at least two nests of turkeys hatched out." Billy said.
"You'd better keep an eye out for foxes and coyotes . They'll be sneaking around." Gil commented.
"I will Dad. I'll start using the Rokon to patrol and look for signs."
"Make sure you use a controller. Don't be scaring your Mother setting off alarms."
After dinner, Billy watched as Gil carefully measured the powder and poured it into the casing. Sitting the case in the Lee loader, he added the 405 grain, semi-jacketed hollow point bullet and pulled down on the lever, seating the bullet.
"What's the difference between these bullets and the ones you loaded a little while ago?"
"These are semi-jacketed hollow points I use for hunting. The other bullets are for practice. They have a round nose flat point bullet. Those you use for target practice. I like to keep 500 rounds of hunting and 500 rounds of practice around. The powder loads are the same, which is just a titch more than a cowboy load."
"Why is that?"
"If you went and bought .45-70 hunting loads at the gun shop, if you could find any, you would fire a couple of rounds and be ready to call it a day. These will be lighter on the shoulder. Besides, we don't have any 800-1000 pound elk or bull moose wandering around here. This round will take down any deer, bear or boar you'll run across in Tennessee. Go bring me the rifle over here."
Billy went over to the table and picked up the black rifle and brought it over to Gil.
"I don't think you'll ever see another .45-70 like this. This looks like a Marlin 1895 Dark, but it is a customized version, I guess. The Dark model normally comes with a sixteen and a half inch barrel and has a set of ghost ring sights and a picatinny rail. I've got one of those in the gun safe upstairs. This one has the same parkerized finish but the barrel is twenty-two inches and has a Lyman type adjustable tang sight, good for longer distances than the brush gun."
"Why do you have both versions?"
Gil grinned. Well, I guess I'm one of those guys who sometimes buys guns they don't really need, and occasionally I'll plead guilty. But in this case, I caught this guy in the parking lot bringing the two guns in to a show to sell. He had fired them a couple of times and they hurt him. I made him a ridiculously low offer for them and he accepted. Of course, I had to maintain my honor and gave him the cash."
Billy grinned. "Yeah, I bet."
"We'll take them to the range one day. The brush gun version 1895 Dark would take down any boar you'll find around here, no matter where you hit it. It will give you a chance to appreciate the recoil."
"Billy placed the gunpowder and primers back into their cabinets while Gil cleaned off the reloading bench. Gil grabbed the rifle, shut the basement lights off, and they went back upstairs together.
The next day, Gil too Grace on an orientation flight in the Maule. It was hot on the ground but she loved flying around in the cooler air. She complimented Gil on the interior of the plane and got a thrill when Gil swooped into the narrow valleys and flew low over the lake. When they got back home, Billy met them at the airfield and of course, Gil had to take him up for a bit. Gil did, basically, the same maneuvers he had with Grace but then took the plane up to a higher altitude and let Billy fly for a while. That really hooked Billy and from that point on he studied the flying manuals even more and took practice knowledge tests online.
Glen came out of Tractor Supply after buying bow saw blades and walked around the front of his truck. Sitting next to the driver's door was a brown and white dog; it looked like a Rat terrier.
"Well, hello boy! Are you waiting for someone?"
Glen opened the door and the dog wheeled and jumped into the cab of the truck.
"Whoa! You need a ride somewhere?"
The dog stepped forward on the bench seat, placed his paw on the steering wheel and yapped.
"So, you want to go for a ride?"
The dog yapped again.
Glen grinned and got in the truck. Glancing over, he noticed the dog had no collar.
"Well, I know you must have a home somewhere. We'll have to ask around and see who's missing their owner."
Glen started the truck, put it into gear, and headed out to highway 11.
"What's your name fella? You look like a Jack to me. What if I called you Jack?"
Jack snapped a look at Glen and yapped.
"Well, Jack it is, I guess."
When Glen got to Bluff View, he drove straight to the boat garage and parked the truck, taking out his purchases. Jack got out, sniffed around and peed on a post of the overhang shelter. Glen loaded his things on the hovercraft and pointed to the passenger seat. Jack ran and jumped up in the seat and sat down, like it was an everyday occurrence. Glen put on his headset and watched Jack as he started the engines. Jack just sat there and squinted, looking around. As Glen started moving, Jack stood up with his feet on the back of the seat and looked around as they headed for the river. Jack took it all in stride, tongue hanging out, his head swiveling. Glen reached over and swiveled the seat around so Jack could stand facing forward as they entered the water. Jack seemed he was in his element as they skimmed across the water to the landing site. When they reached shore and moved under the boat shelter, Jack waited until the engines shut down, then jumped out and ran over to water a tree. Glen just laughed. Retrieving his bags from the hovercraft, he called Jack and they walked up the trail side-by-side.
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Post by ncsfsgm on Jan 19, 2022 17:39:46 GMT -6
Chapter 188
Glen put his things away and poured a glass of iced tea, then got out a plastic bowl and filled it with water for Jack. Taking both back out on the porch, Glen sat down in his chair and placed the bowl next to the cabin wall. Jack took a drink and laid down, his legs stretched out in front of him, at the top of the steps. They sat there quietly, enjoying the quietness when Jack spotted a skunk poking around in the edge of the underbrush about twenty-five yards away. Immediately, Jack alerted and let out a low growl.
"Jack, you'd best leave that skunk alone. He has just as much right to this forest as we do. But you do what you want. Most times, never rely on what other people tell you is best for you. You'll learn by your own mistakes. A lot of times, it's either what they wish they had done for themselves, or they plan on making some profit off you. Now I know there's no profit in fooling with a skunk, and if you do, and get sprayed, your little butt will be sleeping outside for the foreseeable future."
Jack settled down, but kept a vigilant eye on the forest intruder.
Glen picked up the radio and called Gil, coordinating the cutting of the lumber for his shelves. When he was through, Glen laid the radio in his lap.
"Jack, I guess we'd better get some supper laid on. You feel like eating?"
Jack yapped, jumped up, and ran through the area cleared of underbrush. He must have had a hang-up about pooping out in the open because he sniffed around the bushes, chose an area, then backed his butt into the bush and squatted, his eyes squinting almost closed as he took a poop. Finishing, he came out of the bush, his hind paws kicking up leaves and dirt, his head lifted, seemingly proud of what he had done. He trotted over to the door and stood for Glen to open it.
"Boy, you'd better be checking those bushes good or a snake will bite you in the ass!"
Glen drove the hovercraft over the next morning and walked over to the sawmill. Gil and Brad were checking equipment while Trace and Colt were rolling a log onto the mill bed.
Gil turned, wiping his hands on a rag, when Glen walked up.
"I figured we'd use the oak for the main supports and use the pine boards for the shelf bottoms. The shelves will last for generations."
"Glen nodded. "Sounds good."
"Who is this?" Gil asked, looking down at Jack sitting next to Glen.
"This is Jack. He decided to move out of the big city and enjoy the country air."
"Well, welcome to Bluff View, Jack!"
Jack looked up and yapped.
"We're ready Gil." Trace said.
Brad started the engine and they guided the saw through the first cut. After getting the log squared, they began cutting out 4x4s. Using Glen's materials list, they worked through the morning cutting the lumber. Glen jumped in and helped Colt on the chop saw cut the slabs into firewood-size pieces, tossing the cut pieces onto a pallet.
When everything was cut per Glen's list, Gil kept cutting planks out of the last pine log and added them to the stack on the trailer. They all followed the tractor and trailer driven by Brad down to the river and loaded the Jon boat with the lumber.
"You have everything else, Glen?" Gil asked.
"Yep. I just need to do a little notching and pre-drilling and put them together at my own pace."
"Okay. Well, let's get over and we'll help you unload." It took a little longer unloading and re-stacking the lumber by size up at the cabin, but they got it done. Glen ran them back across the river and First Mate Jack insured everything was done correctly.
"Deb, this is wonderful! This story could have taken place anywhere, not just here at Bluff View. It has all the personalities, emotions and actions that take place without divulging individual identities. Are you ready to submit it to the paper?"
"Only after you and Gil have reviewed it and given your blessing." Debra said.
"Okay. Gil loves Saucy Meatloaf with garlic mashed potatoes, corn, green beans cooked with country ham pieces and homemade yeast rolls. We'll make that for dinner and have carrot cake with ice cream for dessert. That will put him in a good mood. Then after dinner, we'll show him the article."
"I'll start making the iced tea." Debra said.
Gil and Colt banded up the scrap pallet and moved it over to the greenhouse furnace. The wood would be dried out sufficiently by the time they started using the furnace again. Trace and Brad cleaned up the sawdust, bagging it and stored under the overhang at the chicken coop to be used for bedding. Gil brought the compressor down and blew all the dust off the sawmill and they called it done. It was time to evaluate the aging results in the cellar so Gil made that their last duty of the day.
"Saucy Meatloaf"! Gil thought, as he caught the aroma walking into the house. Walking straight to the kitchen, he found Grace stirring a pot of green beans, yeast rolls were rising on the counter and Debra was draining boiled potatoes.
"My favorite meal!" Gil said, kissing Grace on the cheek.
"You've got sawdust in your hair! Go take a shower and kick the kids around a little. Dinner will be done soon."
"Yes Ma'am.
Gil got his shower and put on a pair of UDT shorts, his "Kill A Commie For Christ" t-shirt and slipped on a pair of the moosehide moccasins. He found the twins in the Great Room watching Tom and Jerry cartoons and sat on the couch with them. The two fought to see who could snuggle closer to him. Gil leaned his head back on the cool leather and closed his eyes, visualizing the things he wanted to do the next day. The next thing he knew, Grace was gently rubbing her hand through his hair waking him up.
"Dinner's ready. Let's get these two washed up."
Gil and Billy got the twins washed up and seated at the table. Gil looked at the feast spread before him and gave the blessing. He buttered two hot rolls as Grace placed a thick slice of meatloaf and his plate and ladled sauce over it. Gil added the mashed potatoes, green beans and corn.
Twenty minutes later, Gil mopped up the little bit of gravy left in his plate with the last of his roll and popped it into his mouth.
"Now that was a meal fit for a king!" Gil exclaimed.
"This is great Mom!" Billy said.
"I hope you've left room for dessert. Deb made a carrot cake and I have homemade vanilla ice cream to go with it."
Glen raked the Pan Fries with smoked sausage into a bowl and set it on the counter to cool. Adding ice cubes to a 32 ounce mug, he poured it full of sun tea. He scraped the frying pan out in his plate and set it on the table, then set Jack's bowl on the floor.
"Jack! Come on and eat!"
"Jack's nails tapped across the floor and he took a piece of sausage out of the bowl and chewed it as much as a dog does. In fact, it was almost as if he inhaled it. Before Glen had taken his third bite of his food, Jack was sitting there staring at him, his bowl licked clean.
Glen looked down at Jack. "You need to eat slower, Jack. Eatin' too fast will give you gas bad enough to wake yourself up. 'Sides, we need to get you to the vet and get you some proper food.
Gil sat there sipping on a cup of coffee as Grace and Debra cleaned up the kitchen. Billy had taken the twins into the Great Room and were watching an animal show on the National Geographic channel. The ladies finished wiping down the counters and came over with their cups of coffee and sat down. Grace slid a folder across the table to Gil.
Gil looked at her, then looked at the folder. Opening up the folder, Gil read the contents. When he finished, he got up and poured another cup of coffee and sat back down.
"First, I want you to know that wonderful meal had no bearing on my impression of what I just read. The article stands on its own. It is very good Debra. You should think about writing a book."
Grace and Deb smiled at each other. "That's what I told her!" Grace said.
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Post by ncsfsgm on Jan 19, 2022 17:41:30 GMT -6
Chapter 189
Jack Dickson's father-in-law called and asked if Gil was interested in a forty-foot insulated shipping container that had the cooling unit removed. He'd sell it to him for cost of delivery. Gil thought about it and told him he'd give him a call back. Gil drove the Gator down to the garden and looked around. Gil found a likely area and called Harry back, telling him he'd take the container. He then called up Trace, Colt and Brad and had them meet him at the greenhouse.
"Guys, I want to put in a root cellar to keep more root crops in rather than storing them up in the chambers. Harry Davis is sending an insulated shipping container minus the cooling unit. The doors are on the end but I want to cut a doorway in the side, wide enough for a wheelbarrow to go through. I'll build an insulated oak door for it. I want to set it over there, cover it with pond lining, then bury it like a bunker. I want to build two, door-high, ten foot long retaining walls coming out at an angle from the door and recess the door under an overhang. We'll put two vents in the top with automatic fans that come on when the air temperature is cooler on the outside but will shut down when the inside temperature reaches forty-five degrees. Brad, you and Trace work on the timbers for the wall and overhang. Colt, you and I will do the door and the vents. The container will be delivered on Thursday so I'm going Morristown today and get the pond liner and adhesive plus the below ground wood preservative. Brad, I'm going to need about four, four foot oak posts to use for anchors for the retainer walls. We've got cable so I'll pick up eye bolts and cable clamps. Colt you come with me and we can get the vents too."
"Where are you getting the dirt to cover this thing?" Brad asked.
"I'm going to get Don to come in and clean out that old spring pond and deepen it. I think that spring may bust open again."
Glen took Jack to the Veterinarian Clinic got his shots, got him microchipped and picked up his food. The vet techs let Jack taste the different kinds of dog foods they sold and Glen picked up two fifty pound bags of the food he liked the most. They went over to Tractor Supply and Glen picked out a collar for Jack and got him a set of elevated food and water bowls, a big box of medium dog biscuits and they headed home. As they came out of the trees at the bottom of the ridge, Glen saw the activity over near the garden.
"Whatcha doing?" Glen asked Gil.
"I'm going to bury a forty foot insulated shipping container and build a root cellar. We're getting everything prepped for the container delivery tomorrow. We're just getting everything over here to build a doorway and retaining walls once we've cut a doorway in the side of the container."
"Well, if you could use the help, I'll be over in the morning then." Glen said.
"We could use you and would appreciate it."
"Then I'll see you in the mornin'."
By 0900 the next morning the men were laying out and leveling the concrete block supports for the container. Don turned loose Tate with the Cat 395 and two dump trucks with drivers. Tate started working as soon as he got there and began working on the pond on the side away from the spring and began digging out old debris and removing dirt, which was hauled next to where the root cellar would sit. As soon as the container arrived it was off-loaded and Tate came up and lifted it in place, then returned to the pond. Gil, using his demolition saw, cut out the door Trace had marked out on the side of the container. After attaching L-shaped brackets, an 6x8 door frame was bolted in and sealed, then the overhang and retaining wall construction began. The six foot walls went up quickly with long lag bolts to bolt the beams together and construction glue. Angled anchor posts were concreted in and cables attached between the posts and the eyebolts in the walls. They were half finished with the walls when the men were called to lunch under the oak trees next to Mollie's cabin. The women had laid out sawhorse tables loaded with fried chicken, potato salad, Cole slaw, yeast rolls, pickled watermelon rind and a five gallon igloo water container filled with iced tea. Billy had hauled down folding chairs for everyone. The men washed up at the water spigot next to the cabin and lined up, filling their paper plates with the delicious foods.
"I need to run up after lunch and cut some stopples on the lathe for the anchor bolt holes." Gil said. "Won't take me long."
"Trace, if you Brad and Glen can finish putting the last of the walls up, I'll get started putting the wood preservative on." Colt said.
"Ya'll are building something your great-great-grandchildren will be able to use." Glen commented.
"We should be able to finish this today. We won't get to back-filling and covering it until tomorrow. Colt, we'll cut the holes and weld on the vent tubes this afternoon." Gil said.
"I'm just about ready to start cleaning out the spring head. The pond it around 7 feet deep right now. If that spring is still good, it shouldn't overflow. There is a layer of gravel about two feet down that will provide natural drainage. Whatever is on the downside is going to be greening up pretty good." Tate said.
"Good, that's one of our wildlife food plots." Gil replied.
"Aren't you going to get a lot of water run-off from the berm?" Glen asked.
"Yeah, we will." Gil said. "I'll take the bottom plow and build a swale toward the firing range to catch anything headed toward the garden. We can later plant blueberry bushes along the swale."
"I know just the kind to get." Grace said. "I'll order some after lunch. How long are you going to make the swale?"
"Oh, let's figure on 250 feet. I'm starting to see some run-off into the garden in the northwest corner."
They rested for about thirty minutes after lunch the got back to work. Gil went and turned out the stopples on the lathe and brought back a long, fine tooth handsaw. After spreading glue on the stopple, Gil drove it into the countersunk anchor bolt hole and drove it in with a sledge hammer. Using the handsaw, he cut the plug flush with the wall, then Colt painted over it with wood preservative. By late afternoon, they were ready to start back filling the walls, but that could wait until the next day.
Saturday morning, Gil drove down to the spring pond and it was filled with clear, chilly water. He walked around to check if it was overflowing in any area and just as Tate had predicted, the gravel layer was letting the water drain underground. He drove back up to the equipment shed and got the tractors ready to start back filling. Brad came in and checked the plate compactor out to get it ready. When the rest of the men arrived, they lifted the compactor into one of the tractor buckets and moved everything down to the root cellar. Next came the job of getting the pond liner on and gluing the overlapping pieces. It took a couple of hours to do this and then they were ready to start back filling. Using the tractor bucket loaders, Gil and Brad began putting the first loads behind the retaining walls and Colt used the plate compactor to pack the soil down. Glen kept a check with the level to make sure they weren't bowing the wall out. Tate arrived and added buckets of dirt along the back wall of the container, carefully packing the soil with the excavator bucket. The soon had it high enough to begin putting soil on the top and added a two foot layer of soil while Sarah, Allie and Shannon came down and started contouring with rakes. Right on time, Grace and Mollie arrived towing a trailer loaded with biodegradable grass seed rolls they gone to Morristown to pick up. These were laid down and secured with landscaping spikes. Billy set out sprinklers to cover the area and all had a feeling of satisfaction when they were finally turned on. Don and another worker stopped by to check out their work and to drive the work truck back.
"You all did a hell of a job!" Don said.
"It was challenging work, but I think it will be worth it." Gil replied.
Grace and Deb had put together boxes of cold fried chicken, potato salad for Tate, Glen, and the two single drivers and everyone watched as the construction people convoyed up the drive.
"Billy, let the sprinklers run for two hours or until you start seeing run-off. We'll need to water them each day for a couple of weeks. The wind will dry the mats out quickly."
"Okay Dad."
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Post by ncsfsgm on Jan 19, 2022 17:44:08 GMT -6
Chapter 190
Glen and Jack returned home. Pouring a glass of sun tea, Glen got Jack a dog biscuit and they went out on the porch to enjoy the rest of the late afternoon.
"Well, what do you think Jack. We build some more shelves tomorrow?"
Jack stopped chewing on the biscuit and looked at Glen, then returned to his biscuit.
"I guess it doesn't make any difference to you. You only supervise anyway. Not that you don't do an outstanding job of it."
Glen took a sip of tea. He would finish the shelves tomorrow and start filling them. He needed to store more lamp oil for the Aladdin lamps. He'd used them a couple of times during the winter when they had that week of snow and it was too overcast to recharge the batteries. He wondered if he should put in a wind generator like Gil used to help keep the battery bank charged. He'd ask him about that. Only thing was, he didn't like the idea of that thing sticking up like a flag showing everyone where he lived.
They both went inside to enjoy their fried chicken dinner. Glen watched as Jack cracked and ate the bones. Good. Any dog that couldn't eat chicken bones was far too removed from his ancestors to be worth a damn. Jack was smart though. He carefully cracked and chewed the bones with relish. He didn't care for the Cole slaw but the potato salad was tasty. Glen stripped down and took a bath, then listened to an old Dragnet radio show that played on a station out of Kentucky. When the show was over, Jack was already asleep at the foot of Glen's bed, so Glen decided to turn in too.
"How many watermelon do you have?" Grace asked.
After everyone gets a couple, there will be fifteen." Gil replied.
"That's enough to make the pickled and candied rind. I'll get to girls together Monday and we'll do some canning. Please say you are going to make wine too."
"I will if you want."
"Yes, I like the watermelon and strawberry wines."
"Your wish is my command. While you all are cutting up the watermelon, I'll sterilize the carboys and get everything ready."
Sunday, at church, Gil slipped Reverend Jim a deerskin pouch with six 1863 Double-Eagles.
"Closing up on Winter, Reverend." Gil whispered.
"Gil…"
"Don't feel belittled Reverend. I sent a dozen to St. Jude, but they are a bit bigger organization than you have here."
"Thank you Gil. This will be a big help with the Thanksgiving boxes this Fall."
"Well, don't go buying vegetables before checking with Grace. We probably can provide most of it except celery. But we'll have sweet potatoes out the ying-yang."
Grace walked over and wrapped her arm through Gil's.
"What's Gil doing now, Reverend?"
"He was just telling me you'll have an abundance of sweet potatoes for our Thanksgiving boxes."
"Yes we will. As a matter of fact, Mollie and I are going to meet with Margaret Hays next week. to go over the contents. We're planning on adding a little cookbook of holiday recipes to the box. We've still got several weeks but it never hurts to plan ahead."
"You are most correct. If you'll excuse me, I need to talk to the Gilberts."
"Of course. Have a nice day."
"Are you ready to go? The twins are getting hungry."
"After all those blueberry pancakes they ate this morning?" Gil asked.
"They are growing children."
"An Omani 747 cargo aircraft crashed last night at Chicago's O'Hare International airport. Witnesses say the aircraft seemingly flew into the ground short of the runway, possibly indicating an instrument malfunction during the stormy landing."
Grace stopped tossing the salad.
"How can you fly a plane that big into the ground?" Grace asked.
Gil turned the radio volume down.
"Well, under instrument conditions, if their altimeters are malfunctioning, it would be easy."
"Those poor people."
"If you will get the kids, I'll set everything on the table." Grace said.
"On it."
After lunch, Grace sat on the couch with her laptop.
"I'm glad you mentioned celery to the Reverend. I'd thought about stalk celery earlier this year and it had slipped my mind. All I can find for stalk celery seed is hybrid, so I'm going to order a bunch of it and put what we don't use this year in cold storage. We can easily freeze dry stalk celery."
"Sounds like a plan." Gil said. "While you're on there, order me another couple gross of wine bottles with corks. I have enough wax."
"Okay." "Hello, the house!"
Gil got up and went to the door.
"Glen! Jack! Come on in, my friends."
"I don't mean to bother…."
"You're not bothering us. We're just sitting here listening to music and relaxing."
"Glen can I get you something to drink?" Grace asked.
"I've got him something." Gil said, and got up. Maybe Jack would like one of those dental chews."
Jack's ears perked up and his head swivel between the humans to see what was going on. When Grace came back with a rock glass with two ice cubes in one hand and a stick-looking-thing in another, he perked up. He sniffed the stick-looking-thing when it was offered and found he liked the smell. He gently took it into his mouth and lay on the floor with it cradled between his paws. Glen eagerly took the two ounces of River Bank Gil poured over ice and handed to him.
"Gil, I was thinking. This past winter, my batteries didn't recharge very well due to that spell of bad weather we had. I was wondering about your setup. I know you said you had wind generators but I didn't see them when I came up."
"Bring your drink and follow me." Gil said.
Gil and Glen got up and headed for the deck door. Jack grabbed his chew and followed them. Gil led them down to the wind turbine tower and showed Glen the assembly.
"Glen, during the day, the solar panels handle the job of recharging the battery banks, but at night they are worthless. This is a special setup. The extendible tower has a low light sensor that activates a motor that raises the tower and the turbine picks up the recharging of the batteries. When it gets lighter, the turbine shuts down and the tower retracts, bringing the turbine down out of sight."
"That's what I want. Can you set me up with whoever does this?"
"Sure. As a matter of fact, I've got the sheets on the dimensions of the concrete base and we can get that done and have that ready when they bring up and install the components. I'll call Drake tomorrow and get you a system ordered."
"I appreciate that Gil. Just let me know what the bill is."
They walked back to the deck and talked the rest of the afternoon.
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Post by gipsy on Jan 19, 2022 18:56:37 GMT -6
Thanks for the fine update. Life goes on.
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Post by 223shootersc on Jan 19, 2022 19:54:37 GMT -6
Thanks for the great writing.... I suffer with kidney stones my self. I wish them on no one not even my enemies!!!! I hope it was your last!
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Post by cavsgt on Jan 19, 2022 20:52:53 GMT -6
Thank You Make sure that you take care of yourself and yours first,then if there is anything left think of us.
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Post by udwe on Jan 20, 2022 7:10:21 GMT -6
Thank you! Great addition and now Glen has company!
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Post by ncsfsgm on Jan 20, 2022 19:15:38 GMT -6
Chapter 191
Gil heard a horn honk as he was taking the pig candy out of the smoker. He laid the tongs down and walked a few feet to see Drake and three other guys standing by Drake's truck. Gil shouted to get their attention and waved them over.
"Morning Gil. Whatcha doing?"
"Making some pig candy."
"What's that?"
"It's thick cut bacon basted with a secret blend of spices, slowly smoked with a hickory of no more than 125 degrees."
Gil handed them all a piece and their faces melted when they tasted the tasty morsel.
"Great Scott! This is delicious! You should sell this stuff!."
Gil frowned. "I don't think so. It would probably end up being twenty-five to thirty dollars a pound. Anybody can make it. The baste is nothing more than maple syrup, brown sugar, a pinch of cayenne pepper, and whatever other spices you want. I assume you're here to put in Glen's tower and turbine?"
"Yep. How do we get over there?"
"Let me get the rest of this stuff in the house and we'll get you started. Drive on down to the boat garage on the other side of the air strip and we'll get started."
Gil too the tongs and pig candy into the kitchen for Grace to handle and called Glen on the radio.
"Glen, the guys are here to install the tower. Come on over and we'll have the Jon boat on the shore."
"Roger, on my way."
Gil caught up with Drake and his crew and they hauled the Jon boat down to the river and started carrying the tower components down and loading them. They soon heard the roar of Glen's hovercraft coming up the river and watched as it beached about twenty meters from them, Jack directing operations from his First Mate's Station.
"Morning gentlemen." Glen said.
Gil grinned. "Good morning Glen. Is Jack ready to move this stuff over?"
Jack moved from Glen's side and sniffed the equipment the men were loading and returned to Glen.
"I think he's ready." Glen grinned.
Glen hooked the tow ropes up to the Jon boat and gently tugged the boat into the water. Backing up, the installation crew boarded the hovercraft.
"I'LL BE RIGHT OVER!" Gil yelled over the din of the hovercraft.
Glen nodded and slowly advanced the throttle and moved the boats out into the main channel. Gil went back to the boat garage and got his hovercraft, sans wings, and went over, landing just ahead of them. Then began the drudge of hauling the components up the trail to the cabin. Thirty minutes later, everything was stacked around the small clearing where Glen, with Gil and the gang's help, had poured the base for the tower. Gil and Glen just stood back and watched the installation crew assemble the components. An hour later tests were run. The tower went up, the turbine turned into the wind and started generating power. Drake adjusted the light sensor, the turbine stopped and the tower retracted. Drake did some more adjustments to the sensor and stood up.
"I've got the sensor set the same as Gil's. The turbines make noise, but you're far enough from Gil that it won't matter. It will just seem like an echo. If the winds get too high, the turbine will brake and the tower will retract."
Glen grinned. "Ya'll want some sun tea?"
They all sat around relaxing on the shady porch before Glen hauled them back over to Gil's side of the river.
Gil went back over and talked with Drake a bit before they left. As they headed up the drive, Gil headed up to the Chamber to check the carboys. After reading the hydrometer, he decided to check again in a couple of days. The watermelon wine wasn't quite ready.
Gil and Trace loaded the two hogs into the livestock trailer, Trace closing the gate as Glen pulled out.
"When are you picking up the shoats?" Trace asked.
"Not until Wednesday. Reverend Jim told me of a guy over near Liberty Hill Church that could use the money."
They into Hirschfeld's and backed the trailer up to the slaughter area.
"Guten Tag Herr Conner!"
"Guten Tag, Herr Hirschfeld. Wir haben zwei Schweine für Sie. Ich brauche diesmal keine Wurst." ("Good afternoon Mr. Hirschfeld. We have two swine for you. I don't need any sausage this time. Get me all the bacon and pork fat you can and turn the rest into lard.!" )
"Wie Sie wünschen, Herr Conner. Ich rufe Sie an, wenn alles bereit ist." (As you wish, Mr. Conner. I will call when all is ready.")
They unloaded the hogs and Trace closed the door on the trailer.
"Good, they didn't crap all over the place this time." Trace mumbled.
As they pulled out, they heard the muffled sound of a pistol shot.
"I need to stop by Tractor Supply and pick up some more mineral blocks for the deer. I'm going to set some up near the spring pond." Gil said.
"Billy said he saw at least a 14 pointer around there." Trace replied.
"Yeah, he's also picking up signs of feral hogs. We probably need to start thinking of a night hog hunt if they get more prevalent. I want to wipe them out, if possible. I'll get Billy to start baiting an area."
The picked up the mineral blocks and went back to Bluff View. After loading the blocks onto the back of a Gator, Gil grabbed a shovel and a bag of deer corn and drove down to the spring pond. Selecting a place twenty meters from the pond, alongside the food plot, he half buried the blocks into the ground and dumped the corn. Gil returned to the house and returned the shovel to the shop.
Gil watched as Billy did the walk-around inspection on the SuperSTOL. Gil gave no comment as Billy finished his inspection and Prepared to enter the plane. Gil was pleased. Billy had even found the unsecured pin that held the left wing in place. Gil got in and watched as Billy checked the instrument panel as he started the engine. Billy watched the panel until he was satisfied then started his taxi to the turn around. When he was faced into the prevailing wind, Billy opened the throttle and began rolling quickly down the runway. At two hundred feet the plane lifted off the runway and Billy started his slight bank over the low ridge. Upon reaching one thousand feet, Billy took up an azimuth of 038 degrees and held it.
"Take up a heading for Duffield, Virginia. I'll give you directions from there." Gil said over the intercom.
Billy set the GPS and aligned the plane to the azimuth arrow.
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Post by ncsfsgm on Jan 20, 2022 19:17:12 GMT -6
Chapter 192
Twenty minutes south of Duffield, Gil gave Billy his next instructions.
"Fly to thirty-three degrees, zero six minutes, zero five point two three seconds North, eighty-four degrees, fifty-two minutes, zero seven point eighty-eight seconds West."
Billy read back the coordinates he'd written on his leg board and set the GPS.
Ten minutes later Gil gave Billy his next set of instructions.
"To your left front, do you see the two story house with the two red barns? I want you to do a low and slow over the field behind the barns. If you feel it is safe, bring it in and do a short field landing. Watch your winds."
Billy banked and dropped down two hundred feet and adjusted his flaps. He traveled down the five hundred foot field visually inspecting, not seeing any cross ditches. Looking over at Gil, he nodded.
"Go ahead and land."
Billy came back around and turned the nose into the wind and landed, bouncing slightly and coming to a stop in less than one hundred feet.
"Turn right and park behind the barns." Gil instructed.
"Using his rudder, Billy turned the plane and stopped seventy-five feet behind the barns, which had "Jones Knob Kennels" painted on them. A pickup truck was seen coming from the house, heading toward their location. Gil got out and motioned for Billy to get out too. The truck stopped near the plane and a man got out.
"Gil Conner! What the hell a you doing up here?"
"Hey Bruce. Letting my son get in some flying time. I've got something here for you for landing rights."
Gil reached behind his seat and brought out one of the walnut boxes of River Bank Whiskey.
"I hope this will cover the cost?"
"Well, I might have to double the fees next time." Bruce grinned.
"How's everything going Bruce?"
"Doing well, in spite of this Democrat economy. I work with the customers and have even done a little trading when they don't have enough cash to cover the cost of a dog."
"Billy, Bruce trains some of the best bird dogs in the entire fifty states." Gil said.
"Oh Gil, you're just saying that because it's true. Come on up to the barn and let me show you my latest pride and joy."
They walked to and into the barn with Bruce who stopped at one of the pens lining the insides of the building.
"This is Nailer, a Hungarian Pointer, or Vizsla. Damnedest dog I've ever trained. He points, retrieves, hunts turkeys, quail, grouse, and pheasants. Hell, he might even do bear, and I got a feeling he reads minds too."
Billy knelt down beside the cage and stuck his arm through the wire to rubbed the dog's ears.
"You just made a friend for life Billy." Bruce said.
The dog looked as though he was grinning as Billy scratched behind his ears.
"What's a dog like that cost?" Gil asked.
"Depends." Bruce answered. "I'd normally be asking between six and seven thousand, but with the economy the way it is, I'd take less."
"Give me a price." Gil said.
"He's yours for $4000.00."
"Sold." Gil said, holding out his hand.
Bruce shook his hand and grinned. "You want me to ship him down to you?"
"We can just take him back with us on the plane." Gil said.
Bruce frowned. "I don't know. He's never flown before. He might have an accident or something."
"I'll clean up any accidents he has and I know how we can secure him in the cargo area."
Bruce raised his eyebrows. "Okay, then let me get you a leash and clean out his bowls to take with you."
Billy put Nailer on the leash and walked him around outside. When Billy gave the command "Heel!," Nailer stayed right by Billy's side even though the leash was held loosely.
Bruce came back with the bowls and their stand, cleaned and dried. Bruce handed the papers over to Gil and Gil wrote him out a check. Billy loaded Nailer in the cargo compartment and cross-tied him to support struts to keep him from being thrown around in case of turbulence. Gil secured the bowls and stand to the side of the cargo compartment. Billy did his walk-around, got in the plane and started the engines. Gil watched Nailer closely but he was as calm as ever with his head sticking out between the seats, watching what was going on. Gil waved to Bruce as they taxied to the downwind end of the field. Billy turned the plane into the wind and applied power and the plane was quickly in the air. Billy had hit the "Home" icon on the GPS and he picked up the heading for Bluff View.
When they landed, Billy turned the plane around in front of the hangar. Releasing Nailer from the ties he led him out next to the hangar. "Stay!," Billy commanded and dropped the leash.
Nailer sat there while Gil and Bill folded the wings along the fuselage and backed the plane in. When they closed the hangar door Billy walked over to Nailer and removed the leash. "Come!," Billy commanded and Nailer walked right with Billy over to the Gator and when Billy got in, Nailer jumped in the back. When they got to the house, Nailer got out and waited for Billy. They all walked into the house together, Gil carrying the bowls and stand.
"Well! Who do we have here!" Grace exclaimed.
"Mom, this is Nailer."
Grace cut her eyes to Gil. "Well hello Nailer. Welcome to our home."
"HIS new home, Mom." Billy grinned.
OoooKay. How did this come about?"
"He's a good dog Mom. He does all kinds of hunting and everything."
"Okay. Well, set up his bowls next to Sandy's and fill his water bowl. It will be interesting to see how she reacts."
At that time Sandy came down from the twin's room and immediately shook her tail, or was her tail shaking her. Nailer immediately took to her and they did the usual checking each other's butt and danced around.
'Billy, why don't you take them outside and let them run a bit." Gil said.
Billy grabbed two tennis balls and left with the dogs through the deck door.
Gil gave Grace a slightly guilty look. "I thought Billy needed his own dog and the dog is really good."
"It's fine. He is a good looking dog." Grace replied.
Billy is really doing well with his flying. He should ace ground school next summer."
"Can you get him last years written exams? The ones you gave him are several years old."
"I'll check with the examiner in Knoxville and see what I can get."
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Post by ncsfsgm on Jan 20, 2022 19:18:39 GMT -6
Chapter 193
Tate walked into the Red Dog and ordered a Philly and fries. It was close to lunch and people were starting to come in as he was eating his sandwich. Cheese dropped out of his sandwich and he looked down to see where it went. When he looked up, Grace and Debra were standing next to his table.
"Are these seats taken?" Grace said.
"No, please! Tate said, standing up.
"Oh, sit down. That looks good. I think I'll order the same." Grace said.
Both Grace and Debra ordered the Philly and fries also.
"How are things on the back side of the mountain?" Tate asked, grinning.
"We're busy canning almost every week."
"Did you make any more of that candied watermelon rind? That stuff is delicious!"
"As a matter of fact we did. If you'd come by once in a while I'd give you a couple of pints. Hey! We're having a cookout Saturday afternoon. Why don't you come over?"
"Well thank you. I sure will. What time?"
"Well, everyone is going to be shooting on the range. We'll start cooking around 3:00, so if you want to get some practice, come around 1:00."
"I'll be there." Tate looked at Debra. "Did you get that tire fixed?"
"I did. I stopped on the way to Bluff View and had it fixed right after you left."
"Deb, he fixed your tire? You should have at least baked him a cake or something!" Grace grinned, wiggling her eyebrows.
Tate didn't see that but Grace blushed anyway.
"What kind of cake do you like Tate?" Grace asked.
"Oh, I don't know. Anything with strawberries I guess."
"Deb! You should make your Strawberry Shortcake Layer Cake for Saturday!"
Tate glanced over at Debra and she was blushing again.
"Don't go to any trouble…"
"Oh! It's no trouble, is it Deb?"
"No…no I can make it."
Tate showed up Saturday carrying a range bag, rifle case and a rolled up shooter's mat.
Brad called "cease fire" for everyone to put up fresh targets. All the pistol lanes were taken so Tate stood for this round and watched the other shooters. They all were shooting well. Even Billy and Carrie were shooting with SR-22s. Their groupings were very similar.
"What rifle did you bring?" Brad ask.
"I brought a PSA AR-10 Gen 3 in .308." Tate answered.
"I've read good things about Palmetto State Armory rifles."
"This one is really good. I have no problems with shots out to 800 meters with it."
"Well, the best we can do for you here is 400 meters." Brad said.
"That's okay, all I want to do is verify my zero."
"No problem."
"Soon, the firers rotated and the next group went up, to include Tate. When Brad gave the command to commence firing, Tate drew quickly and put all 15 rounds into a six inch group from 15 meters. Tate cleared his weapon, laid it on the bench and waited for the others to finish firing. When everyone had emptied their magazines Brad called a cease fire.
"Anyone else want to shoot pistols? If not, prepare your equipment for the rifle lanes. I'm going to let Tate go first. He only wants to verify his zero."
Tate got his gear and went to the 100 yard and laid out his mat, extended the bipod legs on his rifle, and laid a magazine beside the rifle. Brad gave him a target and Tate went down range to set it up. When given the okay, Tate got down behind his rifle and checked left and right to make sure no one was forward of the firing line. They weren't, they were behind him watching what his was doing. He loaded the magazine, chambered a round and flipped the safety off. Getting his breathing right, he squeezed off the five rounds, clover leafing them. Placing the weapon on safe, he dumped the mag and left the bolt open. Tate rolled up his mat and moved his equipment off line. The first firers went up and set up their positions.
"Pretty good zero." Gil said."
"It's a sweet shooting rifle." Tate replied.
Tate noticed that Debra was on the line with an AR-16 and she was positioned awkward. He signaled to Brad and pointed to her and Brad signaled back to go help her. Tate went over, had her safe the weapon and talked about her position. After getting her positioned better he had her continue shooting. She began making more accurate hits.
They worked on the rifle range for a little more than an hour then Brad called a cease fire. Everyone pitched in to pick up brass. They all went back to Gil's house where he had tables and cleaning equipment set up in the back yard. After all the weapons had been cleaned, equipment was put away and the drinks were brought out. The women got busy preparing sides and the men proceeded to burn the burgers and dogs. The twins were fed inside while the meat was cooking and Billy and Carrie babysat them while the adults were eating. Deb kept an eye on Tate and when he threw his paper plate in the trash, she came out with a big slice of strawberry shortcake and put it in front of Tate.
"Hey, where's mine?" Gil asked.
"Inside, waiting for you to pick it up." Deb replied.
After the remnants of the meal were cleaned up, they all sat around and gabbed. Glen went over and took a seat next to Gil.
"Gil, would you have thought twenty years ago you'd grow older and be sitting here on the deck of this beautiful house, on this little bit of heaven in Tennessee, surrounded by trusted friends and neighbors?"
"Funny. Glen, I never really thought much about getting older. I used to think I'd be dead before I was twenty-five. But they trained me well enough and I guess I just blundered through it all. When I came here I just wanted to live a solitary existence away from all the B.S. that was becoming prevalent more every day and the dumb missions that gained us nothing.. Then Grace happened. She changed me more than anything in my life ever has. She makes me see the beauty in things and to try make things a little better for others. Strange, the way life is.
"Yep. We've been through some bad times. Many of my assignments and missions, probably like yours, were never recorded or even written down. They stuck us out a limb but we still came back. You still get bad dreams?"
"Not like I used to. Sometimes when I have a worry about someone here, something will pop up, but they seem to help me find solutions to my worries."
"Well, at least you're getting something from them."
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