Nope, I'm not taking this bait, but it is a sad day for our country, or what this country used to be anyway.   

So how do you feel about Joe's retreat from Afghanistan?   

I'll bet I know.

Hang in there, Moe.....I'll be right there with you here until the last dog is hung.  I hate to see this place drawing to a close too, but I guess all good things must come to come to an end sometime.....at least that's what I've been told.

Stan's gone....Old Philosopher is probably toast, too.  In the end, when we lose members that actually had something of merit to say, we all lose.  I turned 75 years of age in February and I am still riding my Harley-Davidsons, but I can read the writing on the wall and I see that this might be the last year for that endeavor, too.      My greatest fear is not being able to contact old friends that have contributed to this forum in its halcyon days.....no new knots, no new compass fun....what's this world coming to?

At least.........we still have VELVETA!

  That we have old friend, I have a quarter block of it left in the back of the fridge for Mac & Cheese this weekend, truth be told I have been using it along with grated cheddar to make our Mac & Cheese ever since our lively discussion about it so long ago, the damned stuff just refuses to go bad, I didn't tell you because I didn't want to steal your thunder.
  It's so good to hear from you again, I also had a birthday in February, I turned the big 80, I was telling my wife just last night that I miss my touring bikes, I had to give it up a few years ago, my reflexes were slowing down and my ability to trust my balance wasn't as good as I needed it to be to be comfortable riding it, plus my wife's back couldn't take the pot holes anymore.
  Icepicks post started me remembering all those great folks that have faded away that would fill these pages with joy and information, and just plain being great company, Stan's passing was a shocker, I still wish I knew what became of Paul (OP), Smoke Walker, Woodswoman, and The Professor, and a long list of other friends that we shared so much with over the years
  Getting old may have a few perks, but overall, it really sucks, but it does beat the alternative.   .

  Are you still shooting your air rifle, I haven't been doing any shooting to speak of, a couple of days when the weather got warm but for most of this winter it's been too damned cold, even now the temps are still not above the high 40's F., but I am looking forward to getting out this coming spring, summer, and fall, God willing and the rains are not heavy.
  If you have time drop me a PM if you've heard more about what took Stan, well that's about all for now, I'll try to post more if you'll try also.   

Nothing for a week.
I hope this isn't a portent that the previous posts regarding B&B's possible demise are coming true.

 My daily waking routine is to hit the head, feed our cat, make a pot of coffee, and do a few light chores while the coffee is brewing, my final chore of the morning is cleaning the cat's litter box, all of this takes me about thirty minutes, then I can sit down in my favorite recliner with a freshly brewed cup of coffee and relax while visiting a few of my favorite forums, the first place I visit is Blades and Bushlore, and as usual it's rare to find a new post.
 I've been a member ever since PW and Red got it off the ground, it actually grew pretty quickly in the beginning, we had some great members that had allot to contribute to the forum, some days the new posts would number up to fifty posts covering a host of topics, most were about the outdoors, camping, knives, fishing and hunting, and about just plain living, food was also a favored topic and recipes abounded.
 Sometimes we'd drift off the rails and discuss UFO's and Big Foot, a few things about this forum were a constant, that we weren't just posters, we were all friends, most of us had never met face to face, but we were a real community and we genuinely cared about one another, B&B reached it's peak about five years ago or so, some members drifted to other interests, some died off, and some had lifestyle changes that didn't include B&B, life goes on.
 A few of us that have been here since the beginning still hold on but sadly I believe the end is near, another one of our most prolific posters and dearest friends has passed, he will be sorely missed by all of us that called him friend, and so it will be with the rest of us, little by slow the last post in the last thread I fear is not very far down the road.

 I raise my cup to all that have contributed and left, and the few of us who remain.   

 Today we mark the Vernal Equinox which has been commemorated in various ways over the years.

in one culture the celestial event was represented by the goddess Oestra (now Easter)
Her companion associations included the fowl egg and the hare both symbols of fecundity and the Spring planting seasons

Much later christian associations overlaid the observances and commemorate the resurrection dogma. Which seems pretty reasonable in spirit.

The festive colored eggs hunts and chocolate rabbits remain as vestiges of the ancient commemorations. Along with the holy day observances ot is well to celebrate a time of renewal.

Enjoy the Solstice one and all