A Few Of FR's Finest....Every Day....01-17-03....Armed Females and the Second Amendment

dansangel; Billie

[Pippin]

Now you're talking, HG!

[GailA]

WOW. While we were visiting DK's Uncle Jimmy down in FL a couple of years ago we were sitting out in the back yard grilling steaks and playing with DK's 22 pistol shooting at bottles (Uncle Jimmy has 40 acres) when DK spots this form slithering it's way toward us. It was a Diamond Back. He shot it with the 22, a head shot, thankfully that killed it. It was about 5 ft long. Uncle Jimmy said it probably was a female. They cut off it's rattlers and DK brought them home.

[Pippin]

Ah, well! He is the mischievious type! LOL!

[GailA]

Did I read QUILT? Me too, I love to quilt. I'm working on a Party Hat right now. Hmm I may have a problem, I have to use the floor to lay the quilt and ROCKY is gonna have a ball trying to Help me.

[LadyX]

What an ordeal that must have been for all - you, your mother - and the opthamologist.
The good news is there are such wonderful new techniques to correct or greatly help most vision problems - if one can afford them.

I am so blessed the long term diabetes has not affected my eyes at all.
I praise the God who made me An Appreciator, and able to see so many of His creations all over America!

[dansangel]

That earned for me the nickname 'Snakecharmer' from a fellow at school.

My first husband refused to do yard work. I was fastidious about the yard...every blade of grass had to be the same height - LOL! I had a few "close encounters" with snakes. Chopped what turned out to be a harmless black snake in half as it slithered in amongst the bahama grass vines while living in Delray Beach. Didn't want my daughter to encounter any such creature while playing in the yard.

While in Sebastian, had a very close encounter with a coral snake. NOT a fun experience. Had a male acquaintance do HIM in....did not have the fortitude to take care of that one myself. Also, in Sebastian, found the remains of a mini rattler in my bedroom. Fearless male cat (now deceased, but not from that) did that one in. Earned his tuna treat that night! LOL!!

[GailA]

When they did my left eye I was totally under I think. I sure don't remember them doing a thing after they started up that IV. They sucked out the cataract with a needle and inserted the new lens with one too. The hardest part was not having much vision until I got new glasses. Unfortunately I didn't get improved vision with the removal. I still need tri-focals and will even when they go after the cataract in the right eye. For now it is growing slowly.

[LadyX]

Having the rifle would have made it easy, but I knew he'd get away before I could return with it, on the move toward high grass.
I kept the rattlers in a jewelry box for decades, finally giving them to a teenage grandson.
Better than pure gold!

[LadyX]

When I returned home with two little boys, they had two jobs when I mowed the lawn - have iced tea ready for me about every 5th circuit of the yard - and stand by with the shovel to dispatch the inevitable snake stirred by the mower vibrations.

They still laugh that it became No Contest, hitting the snakes in the head with one shot, and a waste of ammo.
I reverted to the good old shovel unless it was over 3' long.

Have to laugh, since my husband is not comfortable around snakes either. It always fell to me to kill the snakes, and one day in Port Malabar, a ground rattler was in our bedroom.

He bravely kept the three children out of the room (all 3 laughing..:)) while I leaped up on the bed and decapitated it along the baseboard, kids yelling, "Go, Mom, go!"

[GailA]

On spotting the rattler moving my direction I made a stragic RETREAT to the house and left the rattler to DK to dispatch.

[LadyX]

Looks as if we frightened all the guys away!!
LOL

humblegunner, you must have a few snake stories to toss around, growing up in Texas!

[humblegunner]

kids yelling, "Go, Mom, go!"

Hooo Yahhhh!

[humblegunner]

humblegunner, you must have a few snake stories to toss around

Well, rattlesnake does not taste like chicken.

We had a place in Elgin that was purely infested with rattlers
when I was nine or so.. all these red clay ditches surrounding the rear stock tank.

It was kind of like a maze, ditches and mesquite.. very snakey. The rattlers
had actual dens in hollows there, seven or eight snakes sometimes.
My job then was to clear 'em out..

I decimated the poor creatures. Land maintenance, don'tcha know.

Had to do it, snakes can bite cattle.

[LadyX]

Bet you cracked a bullwhip and struck off the snake's heads...:))

[dansangel]

Well, sorry to wimp out on all of you, but I've been up since 4:00 a.m. I need to wind down for a few, then hit the sack.

Thanks to all of you for joining us today!

Goodnight {{{{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}}}} to everyone!

[humblegunner]

Bet you cracked a bullwhip and struck off the snake's heads...:))

Almost! I discovered automatic rifles then, way more fun than shotguns!
I got my first auto .22 because of those snakes.
Dad is practical.

[humblegunner]

Thanks to all of you for joining us today!

Thank YOU for the great thread!

G'nite.

[LadyX]

"Had to do it, snakes can bite cattle."

How well I know, hg.
The mid-section of Florida used to be heavily cattle country, including where I was.

We had 1,000 acres, using only about 5 of them (my Dad was a consulting engineer), and allowed a friend who was a rancher to place his cattle on the land.

For that reason, we were not allowed to fire our .22 rifle unless it was at a threatening target, the bullet apt to carry a mile and possibly strike live objects.

The concept of respect and common sense in use and handling of weapons was a given for our generation.

It so happens that rancher later sold much of his vast holdings to create the city of Port Malabar!

I used to go along sometimes with them and others in their family for branding, and had my own horse.

[LadyX]

Good night, dansangel.
Thank you for an interesting thread today.
Your presentation was top notch!

[Pippin]

Good Night, Dansangel!