ReeferMac

Thanks for posting! If I can kick this cold/virus/flu/whatever, I'll be there Weds.! - K

This is the first year for me gardening down here. Put in a 25x40 garden out at the farm, and have been trying out a lot of new things. The Quinoa got blown over in the windstorms we had a few weeks ago. Didn't root very deep, were very tall plants (6-7'!), but the rootball was only the size of a baseball. Might have been my soil, dunno, first time I tried growing it. A few survived, so will take those for seed and try again! Harvested a bunch of fingerling potatoes! Will be able to get 2 crops of those in per year I imagine. Started them in April, taking them out now in June as the tops have all died off. The Red 'taters I started about the same time are still growing and looking strong. Corns coming up, squash are going bananas, and my peanuts have flowers! Cotton doesn't seem happy, but my canteloupes and melon's are going gangbusters! - K

A lot of people will ask me why I carry, especially from back in NY..... "Do you watch the same news broadcasts I do?"

Congrats to the Predators, they've played an outstanding season. Hang on, Pittsburg's a heckuvateam. - K

When can I come over w/ my fishing pole!? Looks great man, far better than previous. You should charge people for that kinda work.... that's how I started laying block/landscaping on the side. Got tired of helping friends out for beer. - K

It's a HUGE PIA!!!! We are also looking to build very soon, so I find this thread quite interesting! We purchased a plot of land about a year ago, still working on the financing aspect(s) to getting a house built (that, and the missus' thinks we can afford about $100k more than I think we can afford, so there's not a lot of forward motion yet!) That being said, you are going to need AT LEAST 20% down, probably more, constructing a home is one of the most risky ventures for a bank to lend money on. We are being quoted 85% loan-to-value on our property as downpayment (where we have +30% equity), so we're not able to get the full amount down. On top of that there was $12-15k in fee's and other crap I didn't quite understand, that's on top of those numbers (e.g. banker's profit paid up-front!), and this was all from a goobermint subsidized lender (who currently holds the land mortgage and knows all our numbers), FarmCredit. The banker I talked with suggested that commercial/private banks would have even higher collateral requirements, even as high as 50%! You will have to use a builder that they approve, insured and bonded out the wazoo. From what I can tell (having only taken tentative steps thus far), for the average schmuck, it's best to find a builder familiar w/ all the ins-and-outs, and work with them (let them bring the banker, architect, plans, etc.) Prepare to bleed massive amounts of cash. If this is your first home-owning experience, might want to just buy someplace already built, unless you've got your heart set on a plot of land (as in our case, the location was primary importance, dwelling secondary). - K

Welcome. You're going to get along in these parts juuuuuuuuust fine! - Kevin

Welcome Neighbor. I'm down the road in Kingston. If you ever want to check out the range at Oak Ridge, give me a holler. - Kevin

Yeah, gotta agree, that was a simple question to answer!

Ditto what Ugly said. Support the local economy, buy a new gun!

Crap. Don't think I'm going to make it. Would love to hear some reviews of the course.

http://www.preppersdiscount.com/store/c17/SOLVENT_TRAP_KITS.html Saw the above site on another board I read, and was poking around a little... Aren't these just non-approved silencers? Or am I missing something? Can also order a 50-cal upper to mate to your AR lower (Huh?) Interesting.... 200-dollar solvent trap, eh? - K

Plan on being there. Hope to see you! (Obligatory: No, that's not me in the avatar!) - Kevin

Have was around $500 w/ veil and other assorted sundries. "Packaged" bee's is how hives are typically started up. You can order the package (3lbs and a marked queen) for about $120, or join your local Beekeepers club and get it at a discount like I did ($100). Not currently bear-proofed Jeb, but we'll have a fence-charger on the pasture nearby, and I'll use that if needed. Thanks Analog, I may be interested. I joined the Cherokee Beek's b/c a friend of mine is in that group, he's been helping mentor me, but I'm always interested in learning more! @Sidecarist offered to help w/ questions, too (Damned Yankee's stick together!) - K

Well it took a few years (started looking into it when I still lived in NY!), but Saturday my package of bee's arrived, and they're starting to settle in. It's my first hive. Daughter did the artwork. - K

Those stumps are from the big pine tree's, not the little stuff we were messing with. You remember, the 60+-footers? That machine scoops the roots once, twice, than reaches up and.... TIMMMMMBBBBBBEEEEEEEERRRRRR!!! Amazing. Anyone need some firewood? LOL! - K

No, not mine, but I know a guy that will bring his over for $125/hr! - K

Those 2 machines are beasts. OK, update on the pasture-project for those playing along at home. Look, my new stump collection looks very different. - K

Lived outside Roch-cha-cha for 20-years. Any of the one's up there were so loaded w/ Puerto Rican's I felt like I was on a cruise... - K

https://www.andersonrifles.com/product/24-stainless-steel-barrerled-complete-upper-with-bcg-and-charging-handle/ Anderson calls it their Tactical Charging Handle.. It's functional, and doesn't get in the way. I like it. Am happy w/ their rifle parts. Thanks everyone. Dozer's kickin A$$ on those stumps. The one's you saw are long gone! - K

Took a while to finish, but I think it's finally 'done'. 700-800 rds through it so far (probably, maybe more ), 6-inch groups at 200 yds w/ Wolf .223 factory rounds. 3" groups at 100 yds. Anderson Manuf. Lower w/ Houge grip, Anderson 5.56 upper w/ 24" Stainless Bull Barrel 1:8 twist. Nikon P-308 scope, Reflex site, and CAA Group Stock w/ cheek rest. Starting to become a fan of the AR. Want to get another upper in 300 blk. out so I can use that as an excuse to buy another lower! It truly is an illness. I should be able to get government compensation somehow, shouldn't I? - K

I've only had to go to the one in Harriman so far, so maybe that's why, but OMG you folks have NO idea! Coming from NY, the DMV down here is a downright PLEASURE to do business with! The people speak ENGLISH! There's no urine on the floor! Processes are simple, fee's reasonable, paperwork is NOT written in 22 other languages, you don't feel like an international traveller in the waiting area, and you'll be spoken to politely and with respect! Never once had that experience in NY, you've really got it great down here, trust me! - K

Now you know why! LOL! I will say, it was neat being in the spectacle of mother nature. I mean, the cold and snow sucked to live in and have a regular life (go to work, kids to school, etc.), but sometimes you just couldn't help yourself standing there and marvel at the awesome power. I will say I do miss _that_, just a touch. Walking around the yard at night after a snow like that, the near silence was pretty cool. You could hear the snowmobile's whine off in the distance, feet crunched in the snow w/ every step, dog couldn't find any place his ass didn't hit snow. Good times! - K

Greece, NY about a half-hour outside Rochester. Was 1-town over from where I used to live. FWIW, the winter snow had all melted. What you see is just what fell in the last 36-or-so-hours. .... Yup. And they don't make moonshine up there either? Weird how some people live? (that being said, I'd kill for some Molson Tall-boys! Used to keep them outside near the woodpile, man, that was good stuff). - K

Some friends sent me pics today. Don't miss it!!! - K