Maggie’s What's Your View II

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Great trip, BB. Someone gave me one of those Yeti coozies for Christmas two years ago, and it really works better than any I've ever seen or tried - incredible. Yours is powder coated, or something? Mine is in natural-finish, brushed stainless.

I'd describe it as a hard plastic coating or sleeve. They had stainless, green, that yeti blue color, and black IIRC. I've only used it a few times, but like it compared to neoprene which gets my hands all wet and funky which makes lighting a cig difficult. The downside is because it's so heavy I can't tell how much beer is left in the can and I find myself going empty unexpectedly. A small price to pay for a very cold beer. I tried it with a bottle as well and would say it was "good" but not great.
 
Bogey - If you are in Charleston SC, you need to go eat at Paiges Okra Grill in Mt Pleasant.

I'd describe it as a hard plastic coating or sleeve. They had stainless, green, that yeti blue color, and black IIRC. I've only used it a few times, but like it compared to neoprene which gets my hands all wet and funky which makes lighting a cig difficult. The downside is because it's so heavy I can't tell how much beer is left in the can and I find myself going empty unexpectedly. A small price to pay for a very cold beer. I tried it with a bottle as well and would say it was "good" but not great.


 
Had a PT appointment at 0700 :confused: , Mr. NIchols package is suppose to be here today and a new set of excavator tracks were 'suppose' to be dropped off as well. They called and said nah, we'll be there Monday between 8-12. WTF? There goes the weekend plans for a couple projects with that. Son of a Bitch. :( So ok, I thought I'd knock out a couple other projects in the reloading room. Gotta couple 300 WInMag's to start load development on. One buddy bought some Winchester Brass and as I was rounding out the necks and chamfer/deburring them outta a bag of fitty I had to pull 8 outta the mix.

It's been awhile since I've had that kinda rejection rate. I'll be firing off a letter to Winchester letting them know Jimmy ain't happy with their product. Some of these cases are very uniquely FUBAR'd on a level I've never seen before. :mad: Necks and Shoulders have either very deep gouges, cracks, ripped mouths, and one that looks like someone soldered a chunk of brass to it. Amazing. Thanks Winchester........


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Bogey - If you are in Charleston SC, you need to go eat at Paiges Okra Grill in Mt Pleasant

Thanks for the recommendation. I was actually staying in Mt Pleasant, but being from NOLA chose to do all my own seafood. I hit Geechie's and got 15lbs of fresh jumbo shrimp and 3 whole snapper. Grilled them up over the course of a couple of nights and boiled a few lbs of shrimp, the rest were done New Orleans BBQ style.



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The whole trip was solely about being with family, so I basically got to see nothing of "real" Charleston, despite being only minutes from the beach across from Fort Sumpter. However, in the few days I was there I completely fell in love with the place, its history, and it's amazing people. It's definitely on my very short list of places I'd consider for a relocation in the future.
 
Had a PT appointment at 0700 :confused: , Mr. NIchols package is suppose to be here today and a new set of excavator tracks were 'suppose' to be dropped off as well. They called and said nah, we'll be there Monday between 8-12. WTF? There goes the weekend plans for a couple projects with that. Son of a Bitch. :( So ok, I thought I'd knock out a couple other projects in the reloading room. Gotta couple 300 WInMag's to start load development on. One buddy bought some Winchester Brass and as I was rounding out the necks and chamfer/deburring them outta a bag of fitty I had to pull 8 outta the mix.

It's been awhile since I've had that kinda rejection rate. I'll be firing off a letter to Winchester letting them know Jimmy ain't happy with their product. Some of these cases are very uniquely FUBAR'd on a level I've never seen before. :mad: Necks and Shoulders have either very deep gouges, cracks, ripped mouths, and one that looks like someone soldered a chunk of brass to it. Amazing. Thanks Winchester........


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Shit, reading the story i thought you were probably just being super OCD. But damn those look like shit. Some worker probably practiced his "curb stomp" on the bag.
 
1J04 - I forgot to say how cool the sawmill is, but thanks for sharing. Very cool.

I've never seen brand new brass that looked like that, and really can't imagine how QC could be that bad. If 8/50 are that bad just visually, I'd be worried about the unseen defects in the other 42 that may or may not be there. In any case, a 16% "useless" rate for a brand new product is unacceptable by any stretch of the imagination.
 
Southeastern Five-Lined Skink - I went to move a piece of plywood today that's been laying on the ground in my way for a while. I was half-expecting to find a copperhead underneath. Instead, I found this little gal guarding her clutch. You can see some of her speckled eggs behind and below her head. They're not my favorite species, they can be kind of creepy, but they really don't do any harm, and do eat a lot of insects. I think the fact that they so closely resemble snakes is my issue with them. Anyway, I thought you guys might be interested, so I quietly snapped a pic and eased the plywood back down into place to restore her protection and privacy. I'll check periodically until she's gone before I move that plywood out of my way.
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Third cast this morning. 2 pound bass....

Mistakes made. Lessons learned.

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Mistakes:

1. Not leaving enough slack in the line while trying to the fish off.
2. Not having my pliers.
3. Going fishing when I should have been snoozing on the couch.

After I got the fish off and released back to the pond I snipped the line and retreated to the house.
Used the side cutters and snipped the hook so I could pull it the rest the way through.
I thought my wife was gonna faint as she watched me do that, but it really wasn't that bad.
 
Pushing it on through sure beats the alternative. My dad put a rattle trap in my ear on cast when I was a kid. He always said he'd kick my ass if I got my ears pierced, then he pierced my ear with a treble hook.
 
Oh, man! Tucker, that's awful. Glad you got it out. Once you get that barb to pop through you have it made, but that can be hard to do. I take these out of someone's dog's lips (90% Labs) almost every week (under sedation, of course). Sometimes I'm AMAZED at how hard I have to crank on that hook to get the barb to pop through so it can be cut off and the hooked backed out. It would be hard to tolerate that without at least a local anesthetic, especially doing it on yourself! Good for you that you were able to get it. I kind of have a standing joke whenever one comes in where I look at the owner and say, "So, it looks like they're hitting ______ (whatever name and color of the lure is) pretty well this morning, huh?" It can be quite a challenge to get a 90 lb. thrashing, upset, energetic Lab with five more hooks sticking out of his mouth restrained and sedated without him hooking up one of us in the process.
 
Third cast this morning. 2 pound bass....

Mistakes made. Lessons learned.

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Mistakes:

1. Not leaving enough slack in the line while trying to the fish off.
2. Not having my pliers.
3. Going fishing when I should have been snoozing on the couch.

After I got the fish off and released back to the pond I snipped the line and retreated to the house.
Used the side cutters and snipped the hook so I could pull it the rest the way through.
I thought my wife was gonna faint as she watched me do that, but it really wasn't that bad.

This brought water to my eyes for all the right reasons. lmfao Geezus Kryst that's a great job. I think that's what they refer to as sunk to the hilt. ;) I'll bet you couldn't do that again unless you tried, real hard. :eek: Oh, and you really have pretty hands.......... :p
 
Thems what a IT career will do for your hands, boys. :D

I cleaned it with alcohol and then ran HOT water over it for as long as I could stand. A little neosporin and it's good to go. Doesn't feel any different than the rest of my gorgeous little digits at the moment. :p:rolleyes:
 
The X-Rap strikes again. One of my favorite lures, but it's up there with the Devil's Horse and jointed Jitter Bug/Stick as far as lures I hate to extract from a thrashing bass. I've come perilously close to doing that to myself many times.

You get a gold star on your man card for doing the surgery yourself.
 
It really wasn't bad. The worst part was getting the fish the rest of the way off and not doing additional damage to myself. Just got back from taking the Mrs. to lunch and picking up some more fishing supplies. My pliers were ordered from Amazon this morning.

I've been through this town I don't know how many times, and until I stopped at the gas station across the street, I'd never noticed this water tower.

It had some power lines in the picture, but they're gone now. ;)

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Third cast this morning. 2 pound bass....

Mistakes made. Lessons learned.

T1OhwvQ.jpg


Mistakes:

1. Not leaving enough slack in the line while trying to the fish off.
2. Not having my pliers.
3. Going fishing when I should have been snoozing on the couch.

After I got the fish off and released back to the pond I snipped the line and retreated to the house.
Used the side cutters and snipped the hook so I could pull it the rest the way through.
I thought my wife was gonna faint as she watched me do that, but it really wasn't that bad.

You now hold the catch and release record for sucker in your state...
I've seen this done with a musky lure, had to make a trip on that one.

R
 
I agree not a bad way to end the day... here's the view from Schloss Nitrocellulose this evening... full moon rising over the cloudy mountains. Crappy cell phone picture... but an impressive sight in person!

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Same here tonight. Would love to sit by the fire and gaze at it, but, our breeze died and I'm afraid we would be eaten alive by skeeters.
 
Our mature Transparent apple tree under attack by Japanese Beatles. Transparent apples are used here solely for homemade applesauce. I've treated twice now in 2 weeks with a fruit tree insecticide (even closer together than the label recommends) but fear I've lost the fight. My view today...with me waving my white flag faster than the French.

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Quick rust with vinegar / water. Stopped the reaction by boiling in water with baking soda.

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Traps on right are some I've had. They're dyed and ready to wax.

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Degreased, boiled, dyed, waxed, pan tension set and had a prayer said over. Ready to go. Broke my left hand last Saturday driving on of those anchors. No shit. Hotter than 40 Hells, sweat in my eyes and a swing and a miss... My 12 y/o watching was like "I bet that hurt". "If you're going to be stupid.....". :-D

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Our mature Transparent apple tree under attack by Japanese Beatles. Transparent apples are used here solely for homemade applesauce. I've treated twice now in 2 weeks with a fruit tree insecticide (even closer together than the label recommends) but fear I've lost the fight. My view today...with me waving my white flag faster than the French.


Malathion them motherfuckers.
 
Unfortunately, that was the active ingredient in the spray along with a petroleum distillates. 2 week carry over prior to harvest (which is in a week or so). I can kill what's on the tree, but they are coming in off the soybean fields in waves. They haven't reached a financial threshold yet on the cash crops to be treated on a large scale. So, they eat Miss Lori's apples.
 
Quick rust with vinegar / water. Stopped the reaction by boiling in water with baking soda.




Traps on right are some I've had. They're dyed and ready to wax.




Degreased, boiled, dyed, waxed, pan tension set and had a prayer said over. Ready to go. Broke my left hand last Saturday driving on of those anchors. No shit. Hotter than 40 Hells, sweat in my eyes and a swing and a miss... My 12 y/o watching was like "I bet that hurt". "If you're going to be stupid.....". :-D


Traps look great! Sorry about your hand, that sucks. What do you trap down your way? Hotter than hell here too (for us northerners) anyway.

 
Our mature Transparent apple tree under attack by Japanese Beatles. Transparent apples are used here solely for homemade applesauce. I've treated twice now in 2 weeks with a fruit tree insecticide (even closer together than the label recommends) but fear I've lost the fight. My view today...with me waving my white flag faster than the French.


That's fricking terrible. Damn those bastards to hell. Not gonna be easy, but you still have a chance don't cha?

[h=2]CONTROL AND PREVENTION[/h] [h=3]HOW TO GET RID OF JAPANESE BEETLES[/h]
Good horticultural practices, including watering and fertilizing, will reduce the damage caused by these beetles, but oftentimes you simply need to get rid of them. Here are some ideas:
  • Row Covers: Protect your plants from Japanese beetles with row covers during the 6- to 8-week feeding period.
  • Hand Pick: Unfortunately, the most effective way of getting rid of Japanese beetles is to hand pick them. It’s time consuming, but it works, especially if you are diligent. When you pick them off, put them in a solution of 1 tablespoon of liquid dishwashing detergent and water, which will cause them to drown.
  • Neem Oil: Neem oil and sprays containing potassium bicarbonate are somewhat effective, especially on roses. The adults ingest a chemical in the neem oil and pass it on in their eggs, and the resulting larvae die before they become adults. Neem can be harmful to fish and should be reapplied after rainstorms.
  • Use a Dropcloth: Put down a dropcloth and, in the early morning when they’re most active, shake them off and dump them into a bucket of soapy water.
  • Insecticides: If you wish to spray or dust with insecticides, speak to your local cooperative extension or garden center about approved insecticides in your area.
    • Or, try this safe homemade solution: Mix 1 teaspoon of liquid dishwashing detergent with 1 cup of vegetable oil and shake well; then add it to 1 quart of water. Add 1 cup of rubbing alcohol and shake vigorously to emulsify. Pour this mixture into a spray bottle and use it at ten-day intervals on pests. Homemade sprays can run more of a risk of damaging plant leaves, so be careful.
    • Apply sprays in the morning, never in full sun or at temperatures above 90ºF. If your plants start to wilt, rinse the leaves immediately with clean water.
  • Traps: Japanese beetle traps can be helpful in controlling large numbers of beetles, but they also might attract beetles from beyond your yard. Eugenol and geraniol, aromatic chemicals extracted from plants, are attractive to adult Japanese beetles as well as to other insects. Unfortunately, the traps do not effectively suppress adults and might even result in a higher localized population. If you want to try them, be sure to place traps far away from plants so that the beetles do not land on your favored plants on their way to the traps.
  • Fruit Cocktail: You can buy Japanese beetle traps of all sorts, but most are no more effective than a can of fruit cocktail. Open the can and let it sit in the sun for a week to ferment. Then place it on top of bricks or wood blocks in a light-colored pail, and fill the pail with water to just below the top of the can. Place the pail about 25 feet from the plants you want to protect. The beetles will head for the sweet bait, fall into the water, and drown. If rain dilutes the bait, start over.
  • Geraniums: Japanese beetles are attracted to geraniums. They eat the blossoms, promptly get dizzy, fall down, and permit you to dispose of them conveniently with a dustpan and brush. Plant geraniums close to more valuable plants which you wish to save from the ravages of Japanese beetles.
  • Japanese Beetles on Roses? Note that insecticides will not fully protect roses, which unfold too fast and are especially attractive to beetles. When beetles are most abundant on roses, nip the buds and spray the bushes to protect the leaves. When the beetles become scarce, let the bushes bloom again. Timeliness and thoroughness of application are very important. Begin treatment as soon as beetles appear, before damage is done.
NOTE: Many dusts or sprays are highly toxic to honeybees. If application of these materials to plants is necessary during the bloom period, do not apply during hours when bees are visiting the flowers. If larger than yard and garden plantings are to be treated, you may need to contact nearby beekeepers in advance so that they can protect their colonies.
 
Yotes. They were eating my corn and turning over live traps to get the honey buns out (thought I had a coon problem). I put up a trail cam and they stopped. Pulled the cam for a few days and they're right back. Smart little fuckers... I want to send them all to Hell...
 
Thanks for the info 1J04. We've fought this battle before and have done a fair amount of research on them. Several problems this year leading to the perfect storm.
1. We didn't get milky spore put on the soil last fall. It stops the life cycle of the little bastards. That's on us.
2. Mild winter that most folks enjoyed, but we always pay the following summer.
3. Infestation level in the commercial/cash crops in the surrounding area doesn't warrant treatment...yet.
4. And finally, the type of apple itself. A Transparent is very soft/mealy and sweet. Damn bugs love them.
Its crazy because this tree is directly adjacent to a Whitney apple. Actually their tops touch (planted too close years ago by someone else), and nary a bug in it! Weird. We tried the traps years ago and killed them by the thousands...while their friends devoured the apples. You feel like they have more men than you have bullets. We will probably harvest 30-40% of a normal crop as thankfully the beatle life cycle is 2-3 weeks.
 
Thanks for the info 1J04. We've fought this battle before and have done a fair amount of research on them. Several problems this year leading to the perfect storm.
1. We didn't get milky spore put on the soil last fall. It stops the life cycle of the little bastards. That's on us.
2. Mild winter that most folks enjoyed, but we always pay the following summer.
3. Infestation level in the commercial/cash crops in the surrounding area doesn't warrant treatment...yet.
4. And finally, the type of apple itself. A Transparent is very soft/mealy and sweet. Damn bugs love them.
Its crazy because this tree is directly adjacent to a Whitney apple. Actually their tops touch (planted too close years ago by someone else), and nary a bug in it! Weird. We tried the traps years ago and killed them by the thousands...while their friends devoured the apples. You feel like they have more men than you have bullets. We will probably harvest 30-40% of a normal crop as thankfully the beatle life cycle is 2-3 weeks.

That's just amazing. I have "NO" experience whatsoever with them, but we have Sasquatch's that ravish our Women and drink our Beer. They're terrible, and it's all damn year long. ;) I didn't take into account the surrounding areas and/or knowledgeable about what can be done early on to help stave them off a bit. One more invasive non-indigenous pain in the ass to deal with. I don't know if they have a natural predator, but introducing feral hogs always seems to be a good idea. Hell, they'll eat anything........... :confused:
 
There ain't enough crows in the world when jap beetles are bad. Malathion is to jap beetles what little boy was to Hiroshima, but if there's fields of infested beans out there, not much help I suppose. The ground doesn't freeze deep enough around here to have much affect. I hate those bastards nearly as much as coyotes and, well, never mind. :)
 
1J, do you have June bugs up there? No childhood is complete without tying a thread to a June bug and flying him around the yard. I bet bogey brown did that growing up.
 
1J, do you have June bugs up there? No childhood is complete without tying a thread to a June bug and flying him around the yard. I bet bogey brown did that growing up.

A few, not many at all. More east I think they get their fair share. But I get what you're saying. I use to catch Hummingbirds at the feeder when I was a kid and do the same thing. It's amazing just how much line they can handle before it's too heavy for them to stay up. It was stupid to do and no I didn't graduate to tying filed cats tails together and tossing them over a clothes line or anything like that. Flew like 2 Hummingbirds and stopped. But I did catch and toss about 15 of them into a tent and jumped in there with them. That was also stupid. Non stop sugar shits.
 
1J, do you have June bugs up there? No childhood is complete without tying a thread to a June bug and flying him around the yard. I bet bogey brown did that growing up.

Who's been telling tales of my childhood? I hated June bugs and our enormous flying roaches way too much to do anything but annihilate them wholesale, but I did tie "leashes" to lizards and any other non-insect critter unfortunate enough to get caught.
 
Haha. When my daughter was little, I put a camilion up to my ear and let it latch on. I came back in from grilling and walked up to her like nothing was going on. I'll never forget the look on her face.
 
I use to catch Hummingbirds. Flew like 2 Hummingbirds and stopped. But I did catch and toss about 15 of them into a tent and jumped in there with them. That was also stupid. Non stop sugar shits.

Sounds like an episode of "Baking With Jason."



 
1J, do you have June bugs up there? No childhood is complete without tying a thread to a June bug and flying him around the yard. I bet bogey brown did that growing up.

We used to snatch a long hair from the gal in front of us in Algebra. Stun a fly if you could, then tie the fly to the hair, then, Scotch tape the end of hair to your desk. It was like those string flown cheap ass RC model airplanes of the day. Round and round she goes...

 
Positional practice while grilling tonight. Check out this train wreck. Stuffed it back it and it fired just fine with an impact. I don't believe I've had this happen with my 10/22 ever before.

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