Now that we got some daylight, I was able to see and photograph the backyard from my bedroom window.
This is the first real heavy snow since I cut down the brush in the backyard.
By the way, that's a deer butchering/skinning rack at center left foreground.
Here's a photo:
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| Above, the lobster tails I had aboard the Norwegian Sky two years ago. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Outside of hanging around a cruise ship's pool area, using exercise rooms or drinking adult beverages, cruisers main activity is eating.
Most cruise ships have several restaurants or other eateries on board to choose from.
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| Above, a friend and I dining aboard the Norwegian Sky. |
Travel + Leisure posted what they consider the seven best cruise lines for the "foodie set" of travelers.
None of the cruise lines I've cruised with made the list.
They start it with:
While cruise ship cuisine used to get a bad rap, a lot has changed over the years. In fact, today, some onboard culinary programming can rival what you’d find on land in any major food city. Moreover, many cruise lines are taking food seriously, partnering with Michelin-starred chefs and the James Beard Foundation, using regional ingredients, and bringing respected land-based restaurants to sea. Some have reworked the traditional cruise model, folding what once counted as specialty dining into the base fare; others up the ante even further with culinary excursions and themed sailings spotlighting local flavors.
From mainstream brands to small-ship luxury lines, we take a closer look at the cruise companies that are truly delivering when it comes to food, with insight from cruise experts.
To read more, go here.
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| Above, the New Mexico State Capitol "The Roundhouse". Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Thanks to a boatload of amendments to Senate Bill 17 in the New Mexico legislature, the bill died a well-deserved death just before the legislative session ends.
According to Pinon Post:
In the final stretch of New Mexico’s legislative session, two sweeping gun control measures championed by progressive Democrats have effectively collapsed — a major victory for New Mexicans’ Second Amendment rights.
Senate Bill 17, the so-called “Stop Illegal Gun Trade and Extremely Dangerous Weapons Act,” was rolled indefinitely in the House Judiciary Committee, halting what critics described as one of the most aggressive gun control packages ever introduced in New Mexico. Meanwhile, Senate Bill 261, which sought to dramatically expand so-called “gun-free zones” around polling places and ballot drop boxes, failed to advance out of the House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee after Ranking Member Rep. John Block forcefully exposed what he called “massive holes” in the legislation.
According to reporting from the Santa Fe New Mexican, the bill’s sponsors admitted the bill’s effective death, with state Sen. Debbie O’Malley telling the outlet, “There’s not enough time to hear it again.”
With time running out in the session, Democrats were unable to muster the momentum needed to ram the bills through — despite heavy pressure from national gun control groups. Pro-gun groups, lawmakers like Rep. Stefani Lord (R-Sandia Park), concerned citizens, and others were instrumental in the death of the radical bill — described the most far-reaching anti-gun measure in the entire country.
It is said that radical leftist Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham will call for a special session to try to revive the bill.
To read more, go here.
It's nothing like waking up to a yard that is snow-covered.
That's exactly what I woke up to this morning. The deck table has about four inches of snow that fell overnight. This snowstorm started yesterday afternoon/evening. That was on top of the freezing winds we also had.
It looks like I have some snow shoveling to do today.
I took a couple of quick shots of it:
4 Excellent .22 Rimfire Rifles For $200 or Less! video by mixup98.
Summary:
Ruger, Savage, Rossi and Derya (Rock Island) all make excellent .22 rimfire rifles that are inexpensive yet reliable and accurate. The Ruger is one of the most accurate .22 rifles that I have ever owned, shooting 3/4" groups at 50 yards with CCI MiniMag 40 grain round nose ammo.
mixup98 reviews four .22 rifles costing under $200, including a Ruger 10/22. Each rifle's features, performance with different ammo types.
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| Above, Rush Limbaugh awarded the Medal of Freedom by Melania Trump in 2020. |
These five years flew by fast. For many out in radioland, Limbaugh's passing was a life-changer as they began their days listening to his radio show.
President Trump lauded Limbaugh yesterday in a video.
Mediaite posted:
President Donald Trump commemorated the five-year anniversary of the death of conservative radio giant Rush Limbaugh on Tuesday with a video message mourning the loss of “a really great man.”
Trump spoke directly to camera in the video, which was filmed with Trump seated at his desk in the Oval Office and posted to Truth Social. The president praised Limbaugh, who died of cancer in 2021, as “somebody that loved our country.”
“Well, this is the fifth anniversary of the loss of a really great man, a great conservative, somebody that loved our country, loved his family, loved a lot of things, but he was a friend of mine, Rush Limbaugh,” said Trump.
To read more, go here.
Yesterday morning, I was awakened by strong winds hitting my bedroom window and a bathroom vent cover. This was about 3:00 in the morning.
About an hour later, I heard rain hitting my bedroom window. Sure enough, it was raining outside. Then, around 4:30, it started snowing. In all, we received about an inch of snow until it ended a few hours later.
The rain/snow were welcome. That, plus the rain we received last week, is a big help to the trees out in the yard. One pine tree is starting to revive.
I took the below photo after doing a little shoveling. It was almost melted away by late afternoon. We're supposed to get more in a couple of days.
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| Above, the deck is covered with snow this morning. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
It started out with high winds and rain and then it turned into snow flurries. At this time, we have about a quarter inch on the ground.
We'll have to brave it to drive to Denny's this morning for our Tuesday coffee.
According to the National Weather Service, the week's forecast in the Jamestown/Gallup area is as follows:
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| Above, a 1921 Morgan Silver Dollar (AU) reverse. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Investing one's money in stocks, bonds, treasury bills, CDs and other things is prudent if one is retired or are about to retire.
What about silver investing for retirees? Is it too risky?
CBS News has posted an article on the pros and cons of investing in silver by experts for retirees.
They begin with:Silver saw a pretty big run-up in 2025, and that price trajectory continued into 2026, with the price of silver even surpassing prior records and climbing past the $100-per-ounce mark. However, prices have moderated a bit recently, leaving precious metal investors wondering if silver is still a smart investment.
And, for retirees or seniors nearing retirement, the silver's ups and downs in price may be even more concerning, as there's rarely room in people's retirement budgets for copious amounts of volatility. That begs the question of whether silver is just too risky a bet in retirement these days.
Timing, goals and your overall portfolio all play a role in the answer to that question, but there are important factors to consider before buying silver once your working days are up. Here's what experts say you should think about before buying silver in retirement.
To read more, go here.
Bringing Back a Piece of History: Winchester 94 Preservation video by Outdoor Tactics.
Summary:
I’m preserving a 1915 Winchester Model 94 in .30-30 in this first episode of the One More Hunt series. This rifle is 110 years old and has seen better days—but it’s not done yet.
We’ll fully disassemble, clean, and preserve the rifle while leaving its history intact. There will be no rebluing or heavy sanding. We will just give this lever gun what it needs to get back to the field.
The .30-30 Winchester cartridge has been around since 1895. It was the first to use the newly-developed smokeless powder.
It is still a popular cartridge and Field & Stream has posted their list of the best .30-30 Winchester hunting loads for 2026.
They begin with:
It all began in 1895 when a 0.30-caliber cartridge was introduced in Winchester’s now iconic 1894 lever-action rifle. It was America’s first sporting rifle cartridge designed for use with smokeless powder. Originally marketed as the 30 Winchester Smokeless, it was also known as the 30 WCF (Winchester Center Fire) but is now simply known as the “Thirty-Thirty.” The cartridge was originally loaded with a 160-grain bullet, but it wasn’t long until 150- and 170-grain loadings became more popular. Today, bullet weights ranging from 125- to 190-grains are available.
Though the 30-30′s 150-grain bullet at around 2300 fps is big-game capable at modest ranges, the desire for more reach has pushed most hunters to more modern cartridges and bolt-action rifles. Still, the 30/30 Winchester has remained popular because it works, and because of the svelte lever-guns it’s available in. Toward the end of the 20th Century, ballisticians began to apply modern bullet technology to this 100-year-old cartridge, and the loads available today offer greater versatility and enhanced external and terminal ballistics. More than 125 years after its introduction, the 30-30 is still with us and is a better hunting cartridge than ever. Here are some of the best 30-30 loads you can buy for tagging almost any critter in North America.
To read more, go here.
Today is Presidents Day.
This being a federal holiday, banks are closed and there's no mail deliveries today. So, we can relax a bit and save some money and not have to stress about receiving bills in the mail.
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| Above, Ronald and Nancy Reagan at the Town & Country Hotel in San Diego in September 1979. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Recently, while en route to Gallup, New Mexico for our weekly Saturday morning group breakfast, two friends and I got to talking about the Alex Pretti killing by ICE in Minneapolis.
We all agreed that while we may have the right to bear arms, even at protests, under the Second Amendment, it is not a good idea to do so. This is especially so if law enforcement will be present.
The San Luis Obispo Tribune came to that same conclusion in an opinion piece they posted.
They start it with:
In recent weeks, the conversation around protests and immigration enforcement has taken a sharp turn.
Some voices on the left are no longer just criticizing ICE or calling for policy changes. They are openly asking why “Second Amendment people” aren’t showing up at protests and, by implication, why they aren’t armed. That framing turns a constitutional right into a political challenge and ignores how these situations actually play out in the real world.
I believe in the Second Amendment, and I will defend it without hesitation. The right to keep and bear arms isn’t a slogan you pull out when it’s convenient. It’s a serious constitutional protection that comes with responsibility and judgment. Having the right doesn’t mean you should use it in every situation. Defending that right doesn’t mean pretending every use of it makes sense or leads to a good outcome.
Read more at: https://www.sanluisobispo.com/opinion/readers-opinion/article314692906.html#storylink=cpy
The stuff that now passes as "music", particularly rock 'n roll, leaves me cold. So, to start off the week, here's a video of a classic rock artist.
To start off the week, we have Don McLean with his hit from 1971 "American Pie".
From Wikipedia:
Donald McLean III (/məˈkleɪn/; born October 2, 1945) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. Known as the "American Troubadour" or "King of the Trail", he is best known for his 1971 hit "American Pie", an eight-and-a-half-minute folk rock song that has been referred to as a "cultural touchstone". His other hit singles include "Vincent", "Dreidel", "Castles in the Air", and "Wonderful Baby", as well as renditions of Roy Orbison's "Crying" and the Skyliners' "Since I Don't Have You".
The ol' Rancho blog of mine has been around since 2008.
Today, it has reached ten million page views. It appears that I am doing something right as it has appealed to viewers from around the world.
Accordingly, I have updated the header reflecting the new milestone.
My thanks to all who have dropped in for a look-see!
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| Above, two .30-30 Winchester cartridges in use today. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
The .30-30 Winchester cartridge (also known as .30 WCF) has been around for over 100 years and it is still a popular cartidge.
MSN has posted an article on the .30-30 Winchester cartridge.
It begins with:
In 1894, a groundbreaking piece of history emerged – the 30-30 Winchester cartridge. It debuted alongside Winchester’s Model 1894 lever-action rifle, forming a perfect tandem that revolutionized the firearms industry.
This duo didn’t just mark the introduction of a new cartridge but also the first commercially available smokeless powder round, a significant leap forward from the black powder ammunition of the day.
What’s in a Name? The Origins of “30-30”
The name “30-30” might sound cryptic at first, but its origins are straightforward. It refers to the .30-caliber bullet propelled by 30 grains of smokeless powder.
Interestingly, the naming convention borrowed from older black powder cartridges like the .32-20 or .44-40, which indicated caliber and grains of black powder.
Winchester’s decision to carry this naming tradition forward while embracing modern smokeless powder was a clever nod to its heritage.
To read more, go here.
Celebrating the centennial of Route 66 this year will spur people to head out in their vehicles to explore (what's left of) the fabled road.
New Mexico has come up with an incentive for doing so: a passport sticker program.
MSN reported:
New Mexico is celebrating the 100th anniversary of Route 66 with a new passport program that allows travelers to collect stickers from participating businesses along the iconic route. Known as the "Mother Road," Route 66 has a long and varied history, and New Mexico is the only state in the country that hosts one of the original crossroads.
Many road warriors take photos or buy gifts to remember their scenic drive, and now, for the centennial year, the state and main districts of iconic Route 66 communities in New Mexico are teaming up. Travelers can pick up a passport at a business in one of the participating districts throughout the state and collect stickers from each location.
To read more, go here.
One of the businesses I patronize for parts for my 1952 Jeep is Kaiser Willys Jeep.
I received an email from them and it includes an advertisement for their Presidents Day sale. With the ad is a photo of President Ronald Reagan driving his 1962 CJ-6 Jeep.
Here's the ad:
As this coming Monday is Presidents Day, major banks will be closed and there will be no mail service.
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| Above, camping at the Devils Tower KOA Kampground last summer. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Traveling by recreational vehicle is my favorite mode of travel.
One can go where they want, when they want and take their time exploring. On top of that, RVers sleep and eat in their own kitchens and in their own beds. One doesn't have to worry about some stranger's DNA in the bedding when traveling in their own vehicle.
Last summer, a friend and I took an RV trip through Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, Utah and Colorado. We had a great time going to a Winchester Collectors gun show in Cody, Wyoming. We visited Arches National Park, Little Bighorn Battlefield, Devils Tower, Deadwood and the Black Hills of South Dakota.
According to TravelPulse, RV travel continues to surge.
They wrote (to begin their article):
As 2026 travel trends have identified what’s popular on the horizon for this year, RV travel is continuing to emerge as a segment standout, according to RVshare’s 2026 travel trend report.
Many vacationers discovered RV travel during COVID. However, many stuck with the experience post-pandemic, for several reasons. The road trip becomes part of the fun with scenic drives; random roadside stops and small-town visits. Travel has become more about the journey, not just the destination endpoint. With more time on their hands, retirees love the slow travel and longer stays. Families enjoy the space and convenience. And even weekend adventurers have gotten hooked.
Trends continue to show that RV travel isn’t just a niche choice, it’s becoming a mainstream way Americans are planning flexible, affordable and intentional travel in 2026. Air fare isn’t getting any cheaper and is fraught with delays and other inconveniences. And whether you fly or choose to drive by car, you’ll need a hotel room. RVers don’t.
To read more, go here.
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| Above, an original Dracula lobby card. |
Did you know that Universal Pictures' Dracula (1931) starring Bela Lugosi, Helen Chandler, Dwight Frye, David Manners and Edward Van Sloan opened to theaters 95 years ago today?
Interestingly, Universal first advertised 1931's Dracula as a love story when they opened it on Valentine's Day.
Actor Dwight Frye (Renfield) gained movie immortality with this maniacal laugh:
A Spanish version was produced at the same time with different actors but with the same sets. Technically, many feel that the Spanish version was superior to the English (Lugosi) version. The Lugosi version was filmed during the day and the Spanish version was filmed at night.
The movie ushered in Universal's monster movie franchises that are still popular today.
First of all, Happy Valentine's Day!
Yesterday (Friday the 13th, by the way), we had steady light rain for most of the day. This will be a big help to the plants and trees.
It did snow a little bit after I got home from Gallup where I had dinner at Jerry's Café. But it was too warm out to last and it melted as soon as it hit the ground. Still, we are happy to get the rain. It rained all the way to and from Gallup. We got a good soak.
We aren't forecast for any real precipitation today, the next chance for rain/snow will start Monday night, according to the National Weather Service.
The forecast:
Winchester Model 62a video by Tex Mex.
Summary:
Today we take a look at the classic slide-action (pump-action) Winchester Model 62. The 62 & 62a, also known as the “gallery gun” for its common use in fairs around the country, is a take-down rifle that is able to accept most .22 caliber rimfire cartridges, specifically .22 Short, .22 Long, and .22 Long Rifle. On our range trip we shoot three different 22lr loadings and see how well it does at 50 yards.
I have a Winchester 62A made in 1947 that I inherited from my maternal grandfather. It still shoots great and the last time I took it out to the range was last year. It is one of three Winchesters that I own. I did a thorough cleaning of it the last time I took it out to the range.
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| Above, Jerry's Café in Gallup. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
It looks like we may be getting some rain and snow showers this afternoon.
We sure as heck can use the precipitation.
According to the National Weather Service for the Gallup, New Mexico area:
This may hit while I am in Gallup for my Friday dinner at Jerry's Café. We shall see.
A major win for the Second Amendment in New Mexico!
A district court decreed that Constitutional rights cannot be put on hold. This is in regard to the 7-day waiting period case in which the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the law is unconstitutional.
Mountain States Legal Foundation reported:
The district court in New Mexico delivered a clear message to New Mexico politicians: Constitutional rights cannot be put on hold.
In Ortega v. Grisham, a U.S. district court issued a preliminary injunction stopping the State of New Mexico from enforcing its firearm waiting period law against two law-abiding citizens—effective immediately.
This ruling follows an important decision from the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, which determined that New Mexico’s Waiting Period Act is unconstitutional as applied to individuals who have already passed a background check. The district court’s order puts that constitutional ruling into action.
What the Court Ordered
The injunction blocks the Governor, the Attorney General, and all state officials from enforcing the waiting period law against plaintiffs Samuel Ortega and Rebecca Scott. It remains in effect while the case continues through final resolution.
This can be seen as a major rebuke against "Grishy the Clown" and her Democrat lackeys in the legislature.
To read more, go here.
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| Above, the SpaceGodzilla from Toho's 1994 Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla. Photo by Toho Co., Ltd. |
As such, it has been revealed that the main villain in the movie will be SpaceGodzilla.
According to Maxblizz:
The test screening for Godzilla x Kong: Supernova was reportedly held on February 9, 2026. It is reported that reactions after the screening are mostly positive, with some negative responses.
It is confirmed that SpaceGodzilla is the main villain in the movie. The character is described as being pretty recognizable compared to the original design.
Godzilla is the main focus of the film and has the most screen time, but Kong still has more screen time compared to Godzilla’s role in 2024’s Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.
SpaceGodzilla is created by a greater threat, which is teased at the end of the film. Despite that, SpaceGodzilla still has his own free will and is not controlled by it.
To read more, go here.
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| Above, the pre-64 Winchester 94 I bought in 2019. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Regular readers of this blog know that my favorite rifle is my 1962 Winchester 94 .30-30 lever-action carbine that I bought seven years ago.
There are many other lever-action rifles available. Some are better than others, as in anything manmade.
John B. Snow posted an article at Outdoor Life on the nine best things about lever-actions and six reasons why they suck. If course, that's one man's opinion. It is still worth reading.
The article beings with:
The first centerfire rifle I ever laid hands on was a lever action, a .30/30 Model 94 that was produced in Winchester’s factory less than 20 minutes from my childhood home outside New Haven, Connecticut. It was in a display rack with a dozen identical 94s in a hardware store in town. I was already the proud owner of a Daisy Red Ryder BB gun so I knew how it worked, and the first time I cycled the lever and heard the unmistakable chik-chik sound it made I was hooked. I’ve been under the spell of lever actions ever since.
Lever actions are truly America’s rifle. With all due respect to our iconic bolt actions, the ubiquitous AR, and the Kentucky squirrel rifles of old, the lever gun is the first among equals. And their popularity keeps chugging along, despite the antiquity of the platform.
There are so many things to love about lever actions but, if I’m being honest, they have their drawbacks too. These are the qualities that make them awesome, along with a list of their shortcomings.
To read more, go here.
Over the years, some ammunition calibers have gone by the wayside while others continue on for decades. Some are passed down through generations of family shooters.
The Avid Outdoorsman takes a look at calibers that have been passed down through generations.
They begin with:
Some calibers don’t survive because they’re trendy. They survive because they’re useful, available, and tied to real memories—first deer, first duck limit, first rifle you were trusted to carry alone. When a cartridge keeps showing up in family gun safes and old ammo cans, it’s usually because it worked for the people who came before you, and it still works now.
These are the calibers you hear about at kitchen tables and tailgates. They’re the ones that get recommended with a shrug and a nod, not a sales pitch. They also tend to live in guns that get passed down—lever actions with worn bluing, bolt guns with honest scratches, revolvers with smooth triggers. Here are 15 that have carried stories across generations, plus the classic guns they’re most often tied to.
To read more, go here.
