[TheMom]

Finally a shoot thread is up!

[Jim Robinson]

Have sent a request to CVR to reserve canyon cottage#2. See you there. God bless.

[TheMom]

Lodging is filling up pretty quick at Cherokee Village, we’ve already reserved half the place. In the event of a stall, folks have until June 30th to make their final reservations.

Thanks to everyone that has offered to help in any way. The most difficult part, finding the locations, is done. (OK, so I cheated a bit on that one LOL) We’ve been doing this for so long it is like a well oiled machine. The nights and Friday morning at CVR we’ll either figure out something to cook or go into town to eat. All that will be decided at some point on Thursday. Our resident cook, cpdiii, will feed us his amazing brisket for lunch at the range ~ just need a few of us to bring side dishes.

Hopefully these next six months will fly by.

[cpdiii]

That is Donna’s (The Mom) shot!

[TheMom]

Today few of us FReepers were discussing the shoot IRL, thought I’d just put a “Hey what’s up?” ping out here.

[PGalt]

BUMP for TexasCowboy and FR’s finest.

[dirtboy]

I’ll be there for a day trip. October is my busiest month at work, but I should be able to get away, I now live down in Georgetown.

[Osage Orange]

humblegunner has volunteered to make some containers in which to place Eaker’s ashes, which will be attached to containers of tannerite so that we can all blow Eaker’s ashes into the wind. It will be an epic send off!

Ha!! I love it!!

[luvie]

This just in from Donna—TheMom:

“Hey - I just talked to the folks at Cherokee Village. They told me that 7 of the “hotel” rooms still have not been reserved. He also said that there is a group of men working on a project in the area that want to reserve those rooms (from Mon - Thurs). The CV people will be working out the deal tomorrow morning.

Let people know this and for them to get off their butts and make the reservations.”

[TheMom]

Almost three weeks until the shoot ping!

This past year has been a bit hectic for me which has cause putting the shoot on the back burner of my life. My usual enthusiasm for this event hasn’t been up to par of past years. I have read your comments on this thread and am sad to hear that some of you will not be able to make it due to health or work issues ~ you will be missed.

Here is as far as I have gotten on planning - for those of us arriving Thursday, we will have chicken spaghetti for dinner . . .

Plan to arrive at the range Saturday morning around 10:00. We will blow up Eaker’s ashes starting at 11:00. There are 11 clay pots, so everyone will get a chance to send Eaker to the Heavens.

I am thrilled that this event has become a well oiled machine after so many years because this year it is running on auto pilot.

Looking forward to seeing all of you.

[dirtboy]

Hopefully I can make it Saturday. October is going to be insanely busy for me at work, but I can work from just about anywhere and hopefully can arrange my workload to have long-running jobs going while I am up there.

[SandRat]

What is IT???WHAT IS IT???

Technology, much like history, has a way of repeating itself. History, of course, deals with the day-to-day reality of events (natural and those created by human hands) that affect the Earth and all on it. Technology includes the small stuff that regulates, on the human level, quality of life. Every generation has a different tag to describe older technology. In the last 15 to 20 years, the phrase "old school" has been used to describe older methods and items, most notably from the previous 20 to 70 years. In some cases, this newfound interest has only restated what was previously recorded, in some form, since the advent of the Gutenberg press. Before that date, it was oral tradition which, in part, created the guild system that has continued into modern times.

From Tubal-Cain to the modern-day blacksmith, the art of shaping hot metals has always held a fascination for those who watch the process. As with all technology, as time progresses the methods evolve along with the materials and continue to change to this day. There are no old-school methods in blacksmithing, just the continuing celebration of past experiences at the forge.

This item is called a cherry, a tool used to create a mold, which is then used to create a musket ball for a smooth-bore weapon, be it percussion or flintlock. For something so small, the process is extraordinarily laborious. First, a blank has to be forged to a particular size either freehand or using a mold, then one hand files the cutter pattern into the shape and with a final hardening, we have a tool. Wait, there's more – to make the actual molds, two small blocks are heated and a punch or chisel is used to rough out half of the spherical form on either side. By clamping the two blocks together at a fixed distance, the cherry is used to refine the mold recess. As the cherry takes very light cuts, the spacer blocks are made smaller until the two blocks are tight together and the recess is finished. A sprue or pouring channel is cut, the two blocks are attached to handles and the ball is poured. With the exception of the filing of the cutter, this work is all done hot and at the forge. It should be noted that the tool is meant to be used in a hand brace. This is a simple description of a process that has endured for over 400 years. No CNC machine or 3D printer can ever replace it. As mentioned above, this is a skill set acquired from long and patient study with a master who deigns to pass on information to each new generation.

[TheMom]

I just received a phone call from Scott at Cherokee Village. There are six of the Bates Hotel rooms still open - he is going to take them off hold and offer them up to the general public. So if you waited until the last minute to reserve a room, consider this that minute.

Because we didn’t book the entire place, the pavilion will also be open to the same said public people. That should not be an issue, we will welcome those folks to join us.

Oh yea - TWO WEEKS UNTIL THE SHOOT PING!

[Big Red Badger]

EAKERS Ashes ??

How about a Group Photo
Before sending Him to his
Eternal Rewards?