Trespassers, beware!

Another advantage to living in the middle of nowhere is that people can come to your house & have target practice without shooting someone or something. It becomes a disadvantage when said target practice happens right at nap time. Hmph.

Jer called yesterday to see if he & mom could come shoot a little. I was actually making an early supper (shocking, I know...) so I said sure. When they got here, I went out to watch/make fun/document.

Mom is a gun totin', God fearin' woman. Do NOT mess with her. She packs heat, people. Notice the bandages on her arm? I thought maybe she got beat up & that had sparked her need to freshen up on her shooting?! I said, "Mom, did you get in a fight or something?!" Nope, turns out it was just poison ivy...
More instructions from Jeremy...

Then he made mom take a break so he could play Rambo.

More telling what to do... Then he told her, "YOU pick up the casings...

I'LL re-load the gun!" (She can't do it fast enough for his liking. She says it's because 'my fingers don't work like they used to'. He says it's because she's doing it wrong. What have I told ya'll about tough love?!)

Mom says, "Hey Jaime, do YOU want to shoot?!" UHM-here's the thang. I've never ever ever ever shot a gun. Don't wanna. It's a very scary thing. I'm a control freak but a gun is more control than even I care to have. What an incredible power to hold in your hand. Life or death? Mame or dismember? Tomatoe, tomato?

I finally relented & said, "SURE!" Jer was more than happy to do what we do best - tell people what to do...

'Don't hold your hands this way or you'll slice your thumb open!'

'Don't EVER put your finger on the trigger until you're ready to fire. NEVER, EVER!' (I beg of you to make the picture bigger & look at my face! This was my 2nd or 3rd shot. I did NOT realize what a gun does to you when you fire! Wowza!)

Obviously I have to idea how to stand. Jer really wasn't concerned about my stance. I did get a 'LOCK YOUR ELBOWS!' at one point...

Notice I have moved closer to the target? Uh, yea-my shot sucks. I don't think I hit the target once.

He would yell, "LOW!" "HIGH!" after every shot. Duh...but thanks...I did NOT like shooting. It made me super nervous. My hands were shaking. I'm not sure if it was because my arms launched into the air after every shot or because I was shooting actual bullets out of an actual gun? It's a toss up....

I do believe it is the right of every American to own a firearm. Period. My dad has always had guns since we were young. But I also feel it is every Americans responsibility to know HOW to shoot that gun.

{And while I'm on my soapbox about our 'rights', since yesterday was Memorial Day, I would like to mention some special people who are working right now to allow us to keep those rights! My cousins husband, Chris, is currently serving over-seas (he's back in the states right now for 2 weeks! Amber is super excited!). B-rad's cousin, Derek, is in Iraq right now serving as well. My cousin, Kevin, is enlisted but is not serving active duty right now. Thank you to all of you & your families for your sacrifice!}

So trespassing horseback riders, BEWARE! I'm not playing with your asses anymore! Come on our property & I will shoot!!! A horse is a MUCH bigger target than that silly thing I was shooting at!

***(Of course, I'm kidding...I would never, ever shoot a horse! {The rider is a different story...I need to work on my aim!} I'm an animal lover, remember?!)***