From One Year to the Next

On the first full day of summer last year, I was lamenting the need to fire up the propane heater to enjoy a cigar on the deck. 

This year, the wall thermometer tells me that today's evening repast will require no such preparations. I do expect it may cool slightly when the sun sets and I'm fully ensconced outside with a cigar and bourbon, and some new blues coming from the outdoor speaker.

Truth be told, I prefer the present weather to the previous year's.

Happy Friday.

Cheers!

Five O'Clock Friday: Weekend Weather Forecast

I have bourbon, cigars, and fire. I'm ready.

Just to be safe, the snow blower and generator are ready as well.

Cheers!

Whither Summer?

Science tells us that summer began for us on June 21 at 5:13 AM EDT.  The thermostat on the wall said otherwise. Cool, windy, and rainy conditions greeted the morning and remained throughout the day.

Despite it being the longest day of the year, though we never saw the sun, it was necessary to fire up the supplemental heat. That provided warmth on the outside, while the John J. Bowman Single Barrel and a Tatualje T110 Tuxtla took care warming my insides. Needs must as they say.

Cheers!

A Weather Delay, Green River Bourbon, & Tatuaje Cigar

The Father's Day weekend got off to an odd start. Well, maybe not so odd for Virginia. Windy and cloudy most of the morning, before the sun actually appeared mid-afternoon. That meant it was time to squeeze in cutting the grass. That overdue chore done, and dinner consumed, it was time to think about the evening's entertainment. Then . . . 

The sky darkened, the wind howled, and the house was pelted by hail. Half inch hail, and lots of it. The storm went on for about 20 minutes, after which I discovered the furniture on the screen porch was all wet due to the blowing rain. Fortunately the love seat along the house had been covered with pillows, and while they were wet, they protected the seat cushions. After dumping the water from an ashtray I was in business.

I looked in the humidor for a larger cigar since I was planning a longer, relaxing evening and picked the Tatuaje Avion 13 Broadleaf Double Perfecto. The  6 7/8" x 52 stick would give a couple hours of pleasure. The Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper and Nicaraguan binder and filler creates delightful notes of sweet chocolate, coffee, later adding a bit of cocoa mild pepper. I've had these cigars in my humidor for a couple years and there's still one left. It's worthy of restocking.

The Green River Kentucky Bourbon was a picked up in Maryland a few weeks ago. I saw it on the shelf and recollected hearing the name, but knew nothing about it. The $36.99 price tag made it an easy chance to take. According to the distillery, the 90 proof bourbon is aged a minimum of five years.  The flavor profile is pretty much what is to be expected in a classic bourbon -- caramel, oak, some brown sugar, all well-balanced.  There's a bit of spice heat on the tongue but it fades quickly and is not felt in the swallow.

This is a truly enjoyable bourbon. It's an easy sipper, it's flavorful, with enough body to be interesting. The price point makes it suitable as an everyday sipper, but it should not be relegated to the bottom shelf. I don't have too many under $40 bourbons on my shelves, and Green River proves good whiskey does not have to be expensive. The distillery is one of the oldest in Kentucky. It was renovated and brought back to life in 2014 after being abandoned for years. This is a brand I'll keep an eye out for when next shopping out of state. I don't expect this bottle to be around here long.

Cheers!

Saturday Fire and Whiskey

After shooting a quick, fun IDPA match Saturday morning, I got some chores around the house taken care of. Not the least of which was getting the spare grill tank refilled to ensure successful completion of Sunday's steaks. Despite the after-dinner temperature on Saturday hovering around 80°, I threw a couple logs in the fire pit and we enjoyed a relaxing, but warm, evening sipping a bit of rye whiskey around the fire. The birds were singing in trees and there were even a few fireflies making an early appearance.

We are expecting a much more oppressive heat blast to come through the next few days, so it was good to get in one more fire before summer truly arrives.

'Twas a Rainy Saturday

Saturday plans were rained out. The IDPA match I was very much looking forward to was cancelled. After careful consideration, I opted out of doing brewery visits since I didn't feel like driving through the predicted heavy rains. (And I saw reports of numerous accidents around the area.) So I did this...

My son had come home for the weekend to go to a local event with friends. That event that was also cancelled. On the plus side, we had an enjoyable day just visiting.

Sunday looks to be even wetter. I'll be catching up on some reading.

Five O'Clock Friday: Just. Stop. Raining.

Please. I have plans this weekend.

The IDPA match I planned to shoot on Saturday has already been cancelled due to expected storms. Perhaps I'll hit the pub instead.

H/T Wirecutter for the pic.

Monday Range Time

The prognosticators are predicting we'll face a late winter, or early spring depending on the timing, snow this week. It's frustrating when a range trip must be cancelled due to inclement weather. Since I have long been anticipating taking some time off work on Wednesday to spend some extended time at the range, I opted to hedge my bet and visit the range after work on Monday instead.

I didn't quite get the variety of drills I had previously anticipated, but it was a fun session nonetheless. I spent some time shooting quick body to head transitions. I noticed the faster I try to go, the lower the heat shot gets. I'll note that for more work in the future. A significant amount of time was spent shooting while holding a flashlight, as well as some strong hand only shots. As usual, I made use of the fun timed turning target too. I finished my "workout" with some slow distance shooting. Loading and shooting 200 rounds in about 30 minutes time, led to a noticeable drop in accuracy near the end. That seems to be about my limit in a sustained practice without a rest.

When leaving, I noticed this view of the flag flying high above the gun range. I couldn't help but wonder just how triggering that scene might be for passing snowflakes and other leftists. The thought gave me a smile.

My rescheduled range outing was shortened from what was originally planned. However, it so happens that March 19 is the Feast Day of Saint Joseph, Patron Saint and guardian of families. The range visit seemed especially apropos for that day.

Now if it doesn't actually snow on Wednesday, maybe I'll enjoy a twofer this week.

Winds of Change (in plans)

I'd been looking forward to shooting the Sanner's Lake IDA match this past Saturday. This is always a fun match, and for a first time in a while it wasn't supposed to be raining during the match! However, Mother Nature did have an extreme wind event in store for us. Through the evening and into the wee morning hours Friday, I listened to the wind howl, and waited for the inevitable power failure. Sure enough, around 4:30 AM the power went out. Later in the morning, I cranked up the generator.

Still optimistic Friday evening, I packed my range gear for the match. Surely power would be restored soon. Throughout the night I waited. And waited. By the time I would have needed to leave for the match, we still had no power. And I had a generator in need of fuel. So my shooting plans were scrapped in favor of runs to the gas station. This was the gear I would haul around on Saturday.

At least the beer would stay cold.

There's A Reason Bears Hibernate

Until recently, I had never heard of a "bomb cyclone." Apparently that is the meteorological term for the conditions that brought the severe cold to the east coast this week. Fortunately for us, the storm brings little snow accumulation, but it is blanketing a large area with extremely cold temperatures.

I've been anticipating shooting the monthly IDPA match at Sanner's Lake on Saturday, and have been watching the weather forecast closely. A few weeks have passed since the frigid match last month, and the memories of the cold have faded somewhat. I was determined to persevere and give it another shot. Heavy winter gloves, complete with chemical hand warmer pockets, were dug out. Boot liners located. Wool cap dusted off. Insulated clothing was brought out from the depths of the closet.

Then I saw this forecast for Saturday morning...

Does that say "feels like" -4° at the match start time? It's time to face fact; I would not have fun in that. The decision was made and I disappointingly submitted my withdrawal request to the match director. Instead, on Saturday morning I'll enjoy the fireplace and an extra cup of coffee. Maybe a visit to a warm, well-lit indoor range later in the day...

One the bright side, I learned something new this week.

UPDATE: Shortly after posting this I received an email announcing "Due to the low temperatures and snow/ice on the range, the IDPA match scheduled for tomorrow, Jan. 6 is cancelled."  If I had waited a day before bowing out I could have gotten away without admitting my weakness.

"Match Cancelled"

It was disappointing to see those words jump out at me from my inbox. I was looking forward to the road trip with a friend tomorrow to shoot the September IDPA match at Sanner's Lake in Maryland. But alas, inclement weather has brought those plans to a screeching halt.

With the wet weather we've been having, I have no doubt the conditions at the range are poor, and will only worsen. Looking on the bright side, I was motivated last night to clean my gun in anticipation so it will be still clean the next time I use it. And, given the wet weather, I will get a reprieve from cutting the grass it seems.

Rain

Sad range bag had to stay home today.

So it's an indoor chore day. But there will be college football on TV. And beer.

A Rain Respite: Range Time

Due in part to 15 days straight with rain, it's been over three weeks since I made it to the range. When I saw the sun peak out Friday afternoon, I grabbed my range bag and quickly headed out to get in some shooting time. The target supplies were already loaded in the car, where they've been for a week now, just in case. I expected the bays to be muddy, but I managed to find a space that was mostly grass and gravel. There was standing water, but at least I wasn't slipping and sliding in Virginia red clay.

While anticipating the wet conditions, I also knew it would be a good bet that I wouldn't be spied on by the range officers. I hung a couple of targets and prepared to get in some practice on target transitions and multiple shot strings.

I started out shooting my EDC gun, from concealment. I'm making an effort to start every practice session a few magazines "as I carry." That done, the next hour was spent shooting on the move, shooting strong and weak-hand only, distance shots, and even long strings of fire. It was glorious!

Eventually the ammo boxes were empty and I was starting to feel the 200 trigger presses in my hand. Searching the puddles for my brass was an adventure. I was surprised how quickly some of the casings were sinking into the saturated ground.

Besides all the rain, the past couple weeks have been extremely busy at work. A few hoped for range visits were cancelled due to extra long meetings and phone calls. It was great to finally get out to the range and spend some time being distracted from all that "life" stuff. Self defense and competition goals aside, just getting out and shooting is a relaxing pastime.

Setting Records

Rain records that is.

I've been driving around with targets and other range gear in my car for a week, hoping for a break. We saw some sun briefly on Saturday, and just my luck, the ranges were closed for a maintenance day. So I used the only sun in weeks, to mow the grass that desperately needed mowing.

Indoor Activities This Week

The weather outlook is dreary at best. I haven't made use of the indoor range in the past few weeks, opting instead to take advantage of the nice weather to shoot outdoors. Looks like that will have to change in the coming week.

And perhaps there will be some time for good beer. A man's gotta cope.

Go Home Mother Nature, You're Drunk

And this morning (Tuesday) the radar indicated snow over us.

The Coming Spring Equinox

The Spring Equinox is Sunday, March 20, 2016 at 12:30 AM EDT local time.

So what's all this talk about a Nor'easter?

Ice Stacking

I've never heard of this phenomenon before. I recommend watching with sound too.

It's awesome to watch, but it doesn't make me like winter any better.

Thanks to Colleen for sharing. 

Snow? Enough Already!

I walked out to get the paper this morning, saw snowflakes and thought I was seeing things. Alas, WeatherBug confirmed my vision.

I don't think it will amount to anything, but still, I'm so very ready for Spring.

Virginia vs. Alaska

Prior to the start of the snow from winter storm Jonas last weekend, we received a notice from the range where we shoot...

A reminder for all that the Chapter grounds are to be closed to member access at noon today.  This will coincide with the arrival of the forecasted snowfall that is to continue through Sunday morning. This closing might have to continue thru several days into next week until temperatures & melting snow allow safe use of the grounds in any way.

A post-storm update noted...

The front entrance road to the Chapter is solidly blocked by about a 3 foot ridge of snow left by the snow plow. The Chapter has no means to remove this block in order to access the property so we know it will be there for another week at least.

This evening I was reading the Way Up North blog where Rev. Paul was describing a recent trip to his local range. He commented on the winter requirements imposed there...

The range had sent an e-mail to all its members, warning that ice cleats on footwear is mandatory. When we arrived, we could see why: all the precip had melted and refrozen several times, so that the entire grounds - roads, walkways, and ranges - was covered under two inches of nearly-transparent ice.

Hopefully we'll be able to use the local ranges in the coming weeks.