Okay, it’s Friday morning…Father’s day is Sunday. If you get on the phone right this very freakin’ minute, and get something ordered, you might (and that’s only if you strike up some kind of sweet deal with the head honcho) be able to get a gift put on UPS Overnight to ensure delivery on time. But you don’t have to worry about that right? You’re the good one…the one that dad can always count on. You’d never let a date like FATHER’S DAY slip past you right?
Clockwise from Top Left:
Old South Clothiers - These guys are t-shirt gurus. Check out their Facebook page for the latest on what they have going on. Southern Point Co. – Hands down, still my favorite sport shirt. Nobody does it better. Atlantic Drift - Dad will dig the simplistic beauty of this cap. It’s always the simple ones that we end up choosing over everything else isn’t it? Costa Del Mar – Let’s face it, you get what you pay for. Costa might run you a bit more than some, but in the end you have to remember…you’ve done a lot of things that have dissapointed dad. Wm Lamb and Son - Go ahead, be predictable…get dad a tie. Just, this time make it a good one huh? Hudson Sutler – Best. Looking. Bag. Ever. I keep putting mine through the ringer, and it keeps coming back for more. Olly Oxen – Truth be told, you actually are the reason dad drinks. At least with this, he can look good while drowning his memories of your more regrettable life choices.
Found this Land Cruiser sitting there just waiting for someone to buy it the other day:
1978 model, with everything original. Completely rebuilt in Arizona.
Yep…that’s rhino lining on every single inch of sheet metal.
All said, all done? $40K and it’s yours. I will graciously bow out for another potential owner to scoop this one up.
Not much I can say here. The pictures are going to speak for themselves. The Fuji Norcom Straight is here, and the chatter has already started. Does this bike launch Fuji into elite status among the big-boy bike makers? Only time (or time trials…see what I did there?) will tell. For now, you can head on over to Fit Comes First to check out the specs and details. Enjoy!
There is nothing flashy about today’s post. Splitting axes mean hard work, and are definitely not near as much fun to swing as a 56 degree Vokey wedge. In fact the only good thing that I can say about splitting firewood is that no matter how cold it is outside, you’re going to be nice and toasty inside your goose down jacket in a matter of minutes.
It doesn’t have to be all bad though. The folks at Fiskars, who are probably much better known for their orange-handled scissors, make a damn fine tool to get the job done…the X25 Splitting Axe.
For starters, the blade geometry of this beauty is leaps and bounds ahead of the rest of the pack. The advanced bevel convex blade splits wood more aggressively than the competition, but it doesn’t stop there. With the fiber-comp handle, low-friction blade coating on top of hardened forged steel, and perfect balance-to-weight ratio, the X25 is the most efficient splitting axe on the market.
Oh, and did I mention that it’s unbreakable? Take a look at the picture above. If you’ll look closely, you’ll notice a ton of overstrike marks. You get that a lot if you’re like me…not the best axe handler that ever decided to build a fire. I’ve had mine for two seasons, and the blade is still just as sharp as the day that I bought it. Still sharp enough to slice an errant digit wide open.
A word of warning…I’m not saying that you need to rush right out there and buy an X25. Once people (namely thrifty wives) find out that you have an efficient means to building a nice cozy fire in the fireplace, you’re going to be spending some serious time at the splitting block, and as I stated before, there is no “accidentally” breaking this thing to get out of doing it. Just know that if you feel the need, this is the one you want. You can thank me (or send me an angry email) later.
My grandfather worked with leather. He made everything from belts to briefcases. His hand-tooling was some of the best around, and his chinks and chaps are still a sought after item around here. That’s why I can appreciate an item like this, from Frank Clegg Leatherworks.
The Signature Travel Kit from Frank Clegg is a classic. Made from vegetable-tanned leather, this kit would be an instant upgrade to whatever you’re carrying your necessities in now. With a washable interior lining, the inside might last just as long as the outside is going to.
This item might not have any hand-tooling, and it might not quite fit the western mold that my grandfather worked with, but I can guarantee you, there are more similarities than you might think. It’s made in the U.S. with an undeniable eye for quality and craftsmanship, but most importantly, it’s made with the understanding that honor and reputation are much more than just selling a product to a customer.
With our move finally complete, and the boxes all unpacked, I believe that it is finally time to begin the work on a much-needed Man Cave. Historically, the houses that we have lived in have not included the square footage for a proper place to showcase trophies, gather to play a Hold ‘Em tournament, or just do guy stuff in general. On one of our stops, the homestead included a 30′x50′ shop that could have worked nicely. The problem was, that within a few months of residing there, it was jam-packed full…storage tubs, a three-horse-slant trailer and all manner of tools, accrue space faster than one thinks.
Our new digs are the exception though. With 3300 square feet above ground, and a full-size shop, the cozy little 300 square feet below ground is where I will stage the comeback of this Red-Blooded American Male’s one spot that he can call his own. Normally I would offer to share the space with my lovely wife. She is an avid scrapbooker and needs some room to work as well, but the good news is that her new behemoth of a laundry room includes a very cool craft nook. Win win.
In planning for the creation of my special place, I have consulted a very cool website. A realtor friend of mine showed it to me, and it has quickly become quite the go-to site for everything household related. Houzz.com With its nifty little search engine, one can enter keywords, and instantly pull up thousands of visual guides, that can help someone looking to redecorate (or build from the ground up) get on the right track.
After sifting through all of the suggestions brought up in the search, I’ve narrowed the look that I want to achieve, down to a select few. Above, is the decor that I would like to emulate. With hardwoods on the walls, stained concrete and vintage rugs on the floor, and leather under your backside, this is exactly what I’m looking for.
The space must lend itself to working projects though. I have plans on creating a reloading station, as well as a fly tying station, that will let me keep all of the hunting and fishing work in one tidy location. But just like the picture above, if things are done right, I will still have the room to incorporate a 4′x7′ stretched-octagon poker table.
Lastly, but definitely not least, there are also plans for an adult beverage station in the Man Cave as well. As a variation of the picture above, I plan on building out a full bookcase/bar along the far wall. With room for the mountain of books, taxidermy, game balls and football helmets that I’ve acquired through my better days, I’ll finally be able to confine what the wife refers to as “clutter” in one handy area.
So that’s it…it’s a lot to ask from such a small space, but as I stated before; if done correctly, it can be all that I need. Things that I can’t get anywhere else though, are opinions and advice from you. Have any suggestions? Any prior experiences or photos of your Man Cave to share? Send them my way. We’ll gladly post them here, and let everyone discuss. After all, you may well find yourself visiting my Man Cave one of these days.
The guys at Legacy Classic Trucks in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, are known for their Dodge Power Wagon restorations, and they should be. They restore and re-create one of the toughest, most aggressive 4×4′s the planet has ever produced. Today though, I want to highlight one of their side projects. The Legacy FJ-60 ($111,000).
Based on the 1980-1989 Toyota Land Cruiser Wagon, this beast has been fully modernized. With the help of Legacy, now you’re able to enjoy a modern Chevy Tahoe Powertrain, AC, cruise control, disk brakes, and your choice of a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission in the classic Land Cruiser. Yeah, the price might be a bit stiff, but really…when are you going to run across a Land Cruiser that’s even better than the original? That’s what I thought.
If you haven’t been over to the Atlantic Drift website lately, you’ve been missing out. With a completely revamped look, and a retooled shopping experience, the Propst boys are keeping things looking good all the way around.
Recently, Atlantic Drift came out with their once-a-month program called “Drift Sail”, where they will offer a very limited production item near the end of each month. The cool thing is that, once that rare item is gone…it’s gone for good. The latest item was a sweet visor, but there is another “Drift Sail” coming up on November 26th. I would suggest marking that date on your calendar.
