Wyoming - Living Free, One Day AT a Time

The Springfield XD .45 ACP compact was FINALLY delivered on Monday. Between the inefficient snail mail and the FFL nonsense, it took more than two weeks. Hard to imagine that anyone could honestly say that accomplished anything except making for one very agitated Mama!! Oh well.

Here it is!

I was a bit disappointed to find that this one is a bit longer and heavier than the one I shot in Gillette this summer, but the real bummer was the lousy “holster” that came with it. First time in and out it scratched the new gun up pretty badly!! What’s up with that???? I will certainly be writing to Springfield to give them a piece of my mind about it. GRRRR

DTOM was here Tuesday, so we took it out to the range in spite of the fact that it was snowing and quite cold. DTOM took photos, so I’ll post them as soon as he sends them to me.

I had both American Eagle and some Wolf loads for the XD, and both did very well with no misfeeds or other problems. I’ll have to shoot it quite a bit more before I have good enough control to be able to determine any difference in accuracy!

Colonial Shooter was here last week to talk to the Weston gun club about the Appleseed (which was enthusiastically accepted and scheduled for June) so we went to the range with my rifles and I learned how to use the sling!

I found a synthetic stock for the SKS, so it will hopefully be a bit lighter once that’s put on. I’m going to try doing that myself, so wish me luck!

We got about 6 inches of snow yesterday and last night, so I guess I’ll be doing a lot more dry fire and other drills in the basement instead of shooting until the weather gets better, but nothing is going to stop me!

As always, the invitation is open to anyone who wants to come shooting with me!

I’ve enjoyed seeing the horses all around me since I moved here, but yesterday was special. One of them came to visit!!

He let me pet him a bit, and feed him some small apples.

Mostly he was interested in the tall, ripe grass. Eventually, he found some that was green, but it was too near the road. I had to toss small rocks at him when he actually got onto the road. Too many fools who drive too fast around here. Big as he is, they might have hurt him. He ran back up to the higher ground, but he wasn’t at all frightened.

After that, he decided to go home and vanished down the draw toward the bottom of the bluffs. I called someone who knows the owner so they could suggest that the fence be repaired. We’ll see if he comes to visit again.

It’s been a very busy summer here in Newcastle, and I’ve been remiss in keeping up with this blog. Lots to share, however, so I’ll get right to it.

The trees are growing, though the deer have kept the Caragana trimmed back almost completely as feared. Many of them are coming up from the roots, however, so we’ll see what spring brings. I’m putting mothballs around them now, per advice from someone here, so we’ll see if that helps. None of the Pinion pines have been nipped, though two of them died for unknown reasons. They’ve been replaced. Only a few of the Ponderosa pines have been damaged, but they should survive.

I’ve completed the NRA Instructor’s training for basic pistol and range safety officer, thanks to Clem and his team. Just waiting for the “number” to come so I can start to schedule classes. A first, strictly informal and unofficial introductory class was held Sat. Sept.22 for friends, and it was a great success. Three people who had never before fired a handgun learned to overcome their fear and actually put some holes in the target with .38 specials from an old .357M revolver! They are thrilled, and ready to take the full, official pistol and home defense classes as soon as they are scheduled.

The great news is that the Weston County Sportsman’s Club is behind me 100% and will allow me to use the facilities and range there as needed. They even gave me a key to the indoor range! Such confidence is most appreciated and will be honored, you can bet.

Then, last weekend, Seniortech and his lovely wife built a wonderful little “deck” for me on the back so I’m rid of those dangerous, narrow steps at last!!

Thank you, friends and neighbors. God bless you all.

It’s been a busy summer and I’ve not written here as much as I planned when I started. Lots going on, but not much that seems worth writing about sometimes.

The tire stack gardens are providing a few tomatoes, and I am still hoping for some squash. The shared garden with the neighbor has produced some nice zucchini, but not much else besides weeds. We never did get the hay spread as we had planned. Better luck next year!

The deer continue to nibble the Caragana trees, and the jury is still out whether or not they’ll be allowed to grow much, but so far they just keep coming back with new leaves so I’ll hope for the best. Two of the Ponderosa pines were damaged, but the pinion pines have been untouched… so maybe I’ll be allowed to keep them at least.

My gun club membership got messed up, and it took a while to straighten it out, so I’ve not been shooting as much as usual lately, but will resume now that I can get in the gate again. Their membership runs from the end of April to May, and I joined in October last year. When the renewal notices went out, they forgot they had promised me to honor that - so when the lock got changed, I couldn’t get in. I don’t know why they didn’t just pro-rate it when I joined so I’d be in step with everyone else… but Oh well… We’re square now.

The end of August and the first of September will be busy with more NRA classes. So far I’m signed up to take the Basic and handgun instructor’s course and the Range Safety Officer class. Then in Sept. I’ll take the Personal Protection out of the home course and a class so I’ll qualify to teach RSO - but I’m going to get some real time experience before I try teaching that one!!

More information available here:
Marty Brown, NRA Senior Training Counselor, (307) 682-4668, mdbrown@vcn.com
Laurel Vicklund, NRA Senior Training Counselor, (307) 686-3758, lev@vcn.com
Clem MacIlravie, NRA Master Training Counselor, (307) 467-5215, clemmac@starband.net or clem@scotsdown.com or PM “clemmac” from the forum.

This is all so I can help the Second Amendment Sisters revitalize the Wyoming chapter and have the resources to begin putting on some SAS shoots for local women. Right now they have some good ones in South Dakota, but I’ve just not managed to get to any of them. If anyone wants to help establish the Wyoming chapter, please let me know!

Well, back to work! I’ve got to get The Price of Liberty updated and some guns cleaned (and maybe wash dishes) before I can go shooting!!

The old trailer has been moved and is ready for renovations. There is a mound of trash and other stuff left at the old site, and plans are being made to clean it up so trees and bushes can be planted there.

Here are some of the pictures. Lots left to do.

Wayne and Sylvia visited this week and we all had a good time. They looked hard for a place to buy here, and will be looking at other places. I just hope they’ll find it near me. What great neighbors and friends!

In the meantime, they helped me get most of the rest of the trees planted, and installed a beautiful storm/screen door they bought for me as a thank you. What a blessing it will be too! They also helped me install the air conditioner I got a month ago for my office. Now I’ll be in really great shape for the hot month to come!

On other notes.. My cataract surgery went well and you can see by the pictures that I’m not needing glasses for most things now. What a blessing! Praise God.

Edit on 07-28-07
Couldn’t figure out how to post a photo in the comments. I decided to edit this whole entry so everyone can see Rascal!!

And yes, he’s eagerly awaiting the next FSW visitors (or anyone else who will pet him). But he’s good about it if someone just really doesn’t like him, or doesn’t like dogs. It happens like that sometimes with rare people, poor souls.

Independence Day (I refuse to say “4th of July”) has become a difficult time for me in the last decade or so. To say that I’m ambivalent - or even downright cynical - is an understatement sometimes.

And yet, I can’t help but remember history, the fine and lofty hopes and dreams of so many people - past and present. I can’t help but be moved when I read the declaration, or consider the incredible sacrifice so many have made to make that declaration live… regardless of the rightness or wrongness of the outcome.

In so many ways, so much of the time, I’ve become terribly cynical. I’ve lost most hope that ordinary people can see that they’ve been duped and conditioned to accept - even demand - slavery for themselves and their children. I have a hard time believing that any but a hard core remnant will ever do the hard work of learning different and accepting personal responsibility for their own lives with integrity and non-aggression as their foundation.

I have little but thinly veiled contempt for many of the symbols of “America” that have been hijacked and polluted by the socialists and statists. I refuse to consider the US flag as anything but a badge of total dishonor. I have no intention of ever “pledging allegiance” to any flag or “nation” it may represent since doing so is incompatible with individual sovereignty.

And yet…

As I was driving home from a FSW picnic yesterday, I listened to a recording of John Wayne reading that long poem about why he loves America. And I began to weep.

“America” isn’t the Golden Gate bridge, or the Grand Canyon, or any place on this continent, and yet they are incredibly and indelibly commingled with the spirit and honor of those who conceived of an entire continent of free men exercising individual liberty in voluntary cooperation.

How did that grand and wonderful dream fail? What could the founders and citizens of the original colonies have done differently to avoid the mess we’re in now? Is that even possible at all? Must we be content to recapture that dream the best we can only in our own lives?

And thinking about all that, remembering what America has become and is becoming… the tears came again as the fireworks brightened the sky last night. I couldn’t help wondering how many of those watching the bright display had any real idea what it was all about. Even in Wyoming.

Give me liberty or give me death.

I got back home Sunday late, after an unsuccessful attempt to visit Mac at his hideaway - which was too well hidden!!

The training was put on by Mark Fricke, owner of American Firearms Training and Tactics out of Prescott, AZ. He and his whole team were first rate and very helpful.
The classes were awesome and so much fun. I came home sunburned to a crisp and tired out of my mind, and I’d go back and do it all again today - but I’ve got to rest up for the FSW Jam, and maybe get a little work done this week too, so I only took two days of the courses. I’m already signed up to go back next year, and expect to take some of the tactical rifle courses too then. YAHOOOO!

And, if I’m a very good girl, I may buy myself one of those Ruger 9mm carbines to take with me for it. LOL I’m sure the boys will consider that a “sissy gun,” but since it handles so well for me, and the ammo isn’t insane to buy, it’s a good deal I think. There is simply no way I’ll ever be able to lug the SKS around like that.

You’d be really proud of me on my shooting too! One of the last exercises had us shooting a rifle from a standing position (we could choose other positions, but I was afraid I couldn’t get up quickly if I got down!) Anyway, the first set was shooting an AR at various distances, with obstacles. My time was terrible, but I hit every target the required number of times with no misses. I had never fired a rifle standing like that (except the 10/22), with no support. I was also shooting left handed because of my cataract. So, I was dumbfounded to hit all the targets without a miss.

Then we shot a Ruger 9mm carbine from cover, moving, and also had to shoot a 9mm pistol - don’t remember what kind it was. It was too big for my hand and jammed, so I finished the exercise with the carbine. I missed 2 hits out of 12 shots on that one because we had to maintain cover… and it’s hard to think of everything at once! We were to reshoot our misses, and I made both of them! I think I did darn good. I was actually the least experienced
shooter there. This is an intermediate to advanced seminar, so I’m glad I didn’t fall on my face.

We did the Arizona CCW course with our handguns Saturday, and I scored a 96 out of a possible 100 with my Ruger .357 (shooting 38 specials, of course)… so I’m darn proud of myself. Just think how much better I can shoot when I have this cataract taken care of and can see with both eyes!!!

I did not think I could shoot half of those guns, but I did - and shot well! I didn’t tell you about the last exercise - before I had to leave. They had 8 different handguns on a table, all but two autoloaders and all different - one a Colt single action revolver, like the cowboys had (if they were lucky, of course).

The object was to be able to pick up any gun available in order to defend your life. The chance of needing a gun other than your own is pretty remote, at least in my situation, but it COULD happen. I don’t know why each kind has to operate so differently, but there it is. Anyway, we were to pick up each one and shoot each of three targets (at various distances) once with each gun. The instructor was right there to help and I shot all of them with no problems. I just switched hands with the bigger ones. This really tickled the instructor! They couldn’t believe that I could so easily switch, sight and aim with the left eye, shooting either right or left handed that way.

Of course I camped out - and discovered everyone else was going to a motel, so I was out there on the range all by my lonesome in a small tent. It was quiet and beautiful. The thunderstorms came through both nights, and there was some wind and rain, but I didn’t have any problems. I actually got to hear coyotes for the first time since I came to Wyoming. Only saw one deer, but there were tracks everywhere and I kept an eagle eye out for bear and wildcat sign. I was armed at all times, so I could probably have taken care of it, just would like to have a rifle with me next time. Wish I’d had the dog too, but I left him home. I’m not afraid to be out alone, and figure I’ll just take whatever comes.

So, I’m tired and sore, but still pumped up and can’t wait to go to the Jam.

I took a few pictures of the camp and Devil’s Tower, but forgot all about the camera once the classes started! I’ll try to do better next year.

I was starting to think time was going to stand still… and then, all of a sudden, it’s almost time to pack the car and leave! I’m going to camp near Devil’s Tower this weekend, to take some handgun classes. More on that when I get back.

Then, FINALLY, it will be time to head down to Guernsey for the Jamboree!! YIPPEE

And I’ll post more about that when I get home.

Still planting trees… I think they reproduce when left in the dark. There never seem to be any fewer of them now!! Anybody want some trees?

Sorry I’ve not added to this in quite a while. Still planting trees. I have gotten 70 of them in the ground, and -since PaulWy didn’t come to pick up his - I’ve now got another 70 to plant before it gets hot around here.

I’ll get back to posting more pictures and other stuff as soon as I can. ML