Found A Treasure In Plain Sight

It was lying in a junk drawer with other assorted miscellaneous utensils. The fact that it was tarnished is what caught my eye. I went through all the other drawers to see what else I might find. Nada.

Either a "sucket fork and spoon" or an "olive pick and spoon" in sterling silver

From what I have read "suckets" were sweetmeats or other "dainty morsels." In more modern times probably something closer to fruit cocktail. Because of the length, though, I believe it is an olive pick and spoon. A sucket spoon and fork would be closer to the length of a standard place setting fork. Also, the shape of the spoon for sucket is more elongated like a teaspoon, not round like this example. The only marking on it is on the untwisted portion of the handle just below the fork where it is stamped "STERLING" making it 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. There are no manufacturer or proof marks making it totally unknown. The "STERLING" mark was supposedly used from 1860 to 1970 but mostly prior to 1940. Since I can't find any info on it, I'll probably just put it in my "Silver stash" of Morgan and Liberty Head silver dollars.

I do have my paternal Grandmother's silverware set I found in the basement of my Dad's house when we were cleaning it out after he passed. The felt lined box is in tough shape, but there is a complete setting for at least 12. When I get home today, I will get it out and see if it is solid silver or silver plated and to look for manufacturer and/or proof marks. It is at least plated because it is tarnished. I remember it kind of has an Art Deco looking design on the handles which makes sense since it was probably a wedding gift. My Grandparent's were married in 1922. My shithead sister absconded with my maternal Grandmother's set. I believe that was stainless steel because Nana used it at every family holiday meal and simply washed it and put it away. It was also a more modern design than the one my Memere' had.

I May Go Back On Twitter!

I was once on Twitter with my former Blogger handle. I had almost 3,000 REAL followers, none that I bought and paid for. I had been in Twitter jail a few times, being forced to delete offensive tweets before being allowed to be active again. I would usually wait weeks before finally deleting the offending tweet. When Twitter cancelled President Trump, I immediately deleted my account.... BOOM! all tweets and followers gone. I have not considered going back, until now.

Elon Musk is now the majority shareholder of Twitter. Somewhat of a free speech advocate, he has been thrown in Twitter jail himself for wrong speak.

Musk Buys 9.2% of Twitter Stock, Now Biggest Shareholder

Now if only he can force out the Rasputin looking microdoper Dorsey and his little basement dwelling censor minions.

Arguing Guns... With a Fudd Butter

To quote Charlie Brown after Lucy pulls the football away....

                           AUUUUUUUGH!!!

 

I was going to write the whole story of interacting with this guy today who is not only a Fudd but is also a Butter. But it was pissing me off just replaying it in my head and typing the words, so I scrapped the whole thing. Bottom line... DO NOT BOTHER TO ENGAGE WITH THESE PEOPLE MORONS!! 

Just. Walk. Away.

FYI in case you didn't know...

Fudd: Named after the lovable bumbling hunter from the Warner Brothers cartoons Elmer Fudd, hunting wabbits or ducks with a double-barrel shotgun. This person thinks no one needs to have (a) __________ (pick a weapon, any weapon). All anyone "needs" is a bolt action rifle with a 3-4 round capacity to hunt with. Maybe a .22 rifle as well. Handguns are mostly a tool of the criminal. If you carry one all the time, maybe YOU are a criminal. Yes, they actually think that nonsense.

Butter: Says "I believe in The 2nd Amendment, but... (insert bullshit excuses here)"  There is NO BUTS! The 27 words of the 2nd Amendment are simple to read and absolute. Every single firearm law restricting access or use of a firearm IS an infringement. Got the money? Buy a fully functional and armed F-16 fighter, M1 Abrams tank, a 5 inch Naval gun mount, any machine gun ever made, etc WITHOUT restriction or permission. Just like the gun I carry every day concealed in a holster on my hip HARMS NO ONE because I am not a violent criminal, having my own M1 Abrams is not going to make me roll through downtown like Kill Dozer.

Nice Outing With My Boy

Gorgeous afternoon yesterday for a couple of miles on the Nipmuck Trail, and then off the side trail to Pixi Falls. My wife was out of town at a fundraiser for my niece's high school senior graduation party for this year (my niece is only a sophomore). I grabbed my trusty walking stick, packed a small backpack with water, snacks, extra dog treats, and emergency supplies and took my 23 month old male Rhodesian Ridgeback. I also strapped on my Ruger GP-161 loaded with Hornady Critical Defense .357 Magnums with two speed loaders. It was all carried on what I call my "Wyoming Deputy Sheriff Rig*."

My dog is smart enough to stay on and follow the blaze marked trail. Once we got a couple of hundred yards from the parking area, he came off leash. He will run on ahead and then come back when I call him for a treat. Later in the hike, not so much. On the way out we ran into an older couple with their two dogs. Because my dog has a growth on his left lower lip that is unknown (and will be surgically removed by the vet in the next week or so) my dog went on leash as soon as I saw them coming. I did not let the dogs come together, and their dogs gave my dog some growling, snarling, and barking. We chatted for a moment and then I continued into the forest, they headed out. Once they were far enough away, my doggo came back off leash for the rest of the hike in and out.

The falls were running nicely. At the top of the falls was an easily accessible pool where the dog got a nice long drink of ice cold water. When conditions are dry, you can hear the water under the rocks but that's it, nothing to see. I have also been there after a rain storm during spring snow melt, and if you get too close it will reach out and grab you. The ride down the falls would be like a frog in a blender.

 

I'm not sure why the video appears this way on the post, but click in the middle and it will play.

 

Here is a map of the area of the trail we were on. The yellow circle is our hike, about a mile in and back out on the main trail. Look at the contour lines, it is very hilly. This area of Kommiecticut is absolutely covered by glacial rubble (rocks from the size of a potato up to a compact car) and the terrain is torn up in places down to ledge from the retreat of the North American Ice Sheet about 12,000 years ago. This is not like walking down a dirt road, it is very rugged and uneven. My feet and ankles are still sore. Clicken the map to embiggen. The entire map can be viewed at https://ctxguide.com/nipmuck.htm and is broken into sections by URL on the main map. The one I have embedded is "RT. 74 To Hillside Road."

I have hiked most of it over the years from the MA border down to Mansfield. There are a few sections in Ashford and south of RT. 44 I have never done. Some day I will get to them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is lots of wildlife out in these forests. The bears are awake and looking for food and to deliver any cubs. Moose are around but infrequent residents. Coyotes are prevalent as well as bobcats, and the rare mountain lion. The state wildlife officials tell us the Eastern Mountain Lion is extinct so there are NO MOUNTAIN LIONS! But the dirty little secret is once in a great while, a male Western Mountain Lion will migrate east in search of food or mates, and end up in NY or New England. One was hit and killed by a car on the Merritt Parkway several years ago. My pistol is a last resort tool of defense. Clapping and shouting and otherwise making aggressive moves is first. My walking stick is second. When all else fails, I will do whatever I have to to save myself or my dog.

 

 

 

 

Wyoming Deputy Sheriff Rig*: The gun belt setup for my Ruger GP-161 is a Bianchi thumb-break holster, a Bianchi dual speed loader carrier, two HKS #586 speedloaders, a snap carabiner for my keys, and everything carried on a 1.75" Wilderness Tactical belt. I wear it over the belt to hold up my jeans, unlike my EDC holsters and mag carriers.

Thank You COVID - School Curriculums Exposed

First, I am really glad I do not have kids in any school system. My own progeny will soon turn 37. If she was still in school either my wife or I would probably be quitting our jobs to home school.

At the height of government imposed restrictions and lockdowns (I don't follow the media's line of "blame the pandemic" it was all government's fault), schools were shut down and learning went remote. Parents having to stay home with the kids got a good look at the garbage being force-fed to a captive audience that they were paying for. This lead to vocal protests at school board meetings wanting there to be curriculum changes, and the declaration by the Department of Injustice  of concerned parents to be "domestic terrorists." CRT and exposing young children to the LGBTQGJFDP1V3@&XZ0.... mental illness making these still forming brains susceptible to questioning who they are, WITHOUT the knowledge of the parents. Why does anyone think introducing young children to sex of any kind is relevent to their education or good idea? Wood chipper sales and rentals will soon be a booming business.

What prompted this post is this news story out of Hartford.

Hartford School Nurse On Leave After Posting Comments About LGBTQ Students 

The spin is "OMG! She said offensive wrong speak!" When in actuality, she blew the whistle on the indoctrination crap taking place in the Hartford schools. From what I understand she described in some detail the goings on with enabling what could be described as mental illness. This woman is a FUCKING HERO!! The following link is from The Blaze.

The Blaze - Nurse On Leave For Social Media Content

While it doesn't display the actual post, it details the context. Comments on this subject are encouraged below.