The pleasure of fine things

[Safari Dave]

If I could ever focus on one thing, I might could be a master!

But, I swing between hunting, fishing, off-road vehicles, firearms, fly-fishing equipment, expense watches, hobby farming, fish/wildlife biology, tools, etc. to the point, that I will never be an expert on anything.

 

[analog_peninsula]

My wife threatens to practice opera singing or an equally obnoxious pastime if I take up any more hobbies.

 

[cwpayton]

That’s why I have Massey to drive 8 miles to town.

Dad had a few fords and new holand.
But when I came along he had went to Massey 135 and 249 then the last one 2615

Back to my post I knew a man that got a D U I so he drove his tractor on the side of the road to town, and they left him alone .

 

[Doug3006]

One of the finest things ever produced by the creative genius of mankind is……the Weber Kettle. George Stephen wanted a better grill, so in 1952, he cut a metal buoy in half and created the Weber Kettle. Most of the finest meals I’ve made or simply enjoyed started with meat on a Weber. It’s elegant in form. It’s effective. It’s shiny.

 

[Flbt]

Back to my post I knew a man that got a D U I so he drove his tractor on the side of the road to town, and they left him alone .

Here no license need with in 150 miles of the home farm lol

 

[Huvius]

My wife threatens to practice opera singing or an equally obnoxious pastime if I take up any more hobbies.

If she’s good let her fly!

My 17yo daughter took opera/voice lessons for a while and it fills my heart every time I hear her sing.
Truly, that is one of the finer things in my life.

 

[thriller]

On the finer things my vices are guns, custom leather goods and bourbon.also, I as a forester am a sucker for custom wood products I find interesting.

 

[Betterinthebush]

If she’s good let her fly!

My 17yo daughter took opera/voice lessons for a while and it fills my heart every time I hear her sing.
Truly, that is one of the finer things in my life.

Bravo for your daughter. I had the pleasure of seeing Sarah Brightman perform. Any person who has the vocal strength to train for opera is an amazing talent. I can only imagine how beautiful those memories of her must be for you.

 

[mdwest]

I did buy myself a Chris Reeve's Sebenza 31 for my 50th birthday present!

The Sebenza is one of the best made and best designed folders out there.. Chris knocked it out of the park on that one..

The Yarborough is a phenomenal fixed blade as well… Reeve is one of the true masters ..

 

[mdwest]

Back to my post I knew a man that got a D U I so he drove his tractor on the side of the road to town, and they left him alone .

Believe it or not you can 100% legally get away with that in some states..

Back when I was a cop in West TN there was a guy that did the same thing.., he had gotten multiple DUI’s and had his license revoked for I believe 5 years…

Per state law at the time, to get a DUI you had to be operating something the state identified as a motor vehicle.. farm tractors and ATV’s weren’t motor vehicles according to the definition… so this guy just drove his little ford tractor into town every day and bought beer…

Until the local cops in that ward started arresting him for public intoxication…

Just cause you’re not in a “motor vehicle” doesn’t mean you can be drunk as a monkey at 3 pm out in the public for everyone to see lol…

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

If I could ever focus on one thing, I might could be a master!

But, I swing between hunting, fishing, off-road vehicles, firearms, fly-fishing equipment, expense watches, hobby farming, fish/wildlife biology, tools, etc. to the point, that I will never be an expert on anything.

I am a launchmaster class 2, which is the license everyone must hold in Zimbabwe to drive a boat under 24 ft I think. My daughter Hannah holds the South African equivalent and she is very adept and experienced at handling Kariba waves. This is us handing in the tag on day 1 of the kitft tournament, in her boat, Sengwa with a yamaha 250sho on the back.

 

[Pondoro]

I second the Weber gas grills..I have 2, one at home and one at the cabin.. The workmanship..its like looking at the engine bay of an expensive 1960s Mercedes..

 

[SaintPanzer]

Since other people have posted pictures of saddles & tractors, I think it's clear that the definition of "fine things" is a personal one as it should be. Generally, I try to avoid acquiring more stuff than I can use and take care of but whenever I do buy something, I am fond of quality & craftsmanship. Like most other people, I have a penchant for certain items that I don't expect everyone else to share.

Classic Film Cameras: I love shooting my Hasselblad, Rolleiflex, ToyoView, Fuji Rangefinder, Ikonta folding & Mamiya medium format cameras whenever I can. I would never try to convince anyone else that this is a good idea because digital is so much more convenient. But it makes me happy to take photos the slow laborious way sometimes.

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My ToyoView 45A II 4x5" view camera

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My daughter Olivia in Sequoia NP shot on Ilford FP4

Stereo Equipment: I don't have cable TV & I don't stream anything. All I do is listen to music. As I sit & write computer code all day, it's always playing in the background. For no particular reason other than a desire to do so, I cobbled together my system so that each individual piece did one thing really well. I talked on the phone & exchanged emails with each craftsman who built the main components. I would never advise anyone else to do this because you can save a LOT of money by just buying stuff off the shelf. For me, it was a project that was a lot of fun.

Tube amps with mid-century modern furniture is a good combo!

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Building the rack to put the stereo on out of oak & cherry

Sailboats: Whether I'm building a small wooden one out of local sassafras, black locust & cypress or sailing on the one I bought for my upcoming retirement, I always enjoy being out on the water. Owning a sailboat isn't a necessity so it falls into the "fine things" category because it is a reward I give myself.

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A Walkabout designed by John Welsford that I'm currently building.

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My daughter has been living on my Island Packet until I retire.

Bicycles & Motorcycles: If it has two wheels, I'll love riding it. Whether it's my carbon-fiber belt-drive commuter bike I ride to the office or my BMW R1200 GS I go touring on, I can never have too many bikes. I just got back from mountain biking in Utah on my Specialized Stumpjumper & I have the legs scars to prove it.

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Doing a loop around Yellowstone NP

I'm just glad to see that someone else recognizes that sassafras is a great wood for boatbuilding. Makes the boat shop smell like root beer, too. I like it.

 

[Creigh]

On the finer things my vices are ... and bourbon.

You have a favourite? I have a Elijah Craig here, a gift from my wife. Not sure how it rates.

 

[thriller]

You have a favourite? I have a Elijah Craig here, a gift from my wife. Not sure how it rates.

Which Elijah Craig? They are all in the same bottle for the most part only the label is different. I like the barrel proof series personally.

 

[Creigh]

Which Elijah Craig? They are all in the same bottle for the most part only the label is different. I like the barrel proof series personally.

Oh I think it's the original Small Batch. I'm not a Bourbon guy by any stretch, much prefer scotch.

 

[thriller]

Oh I think it's the original Small Batch. I'm not a Bourbon guy by any stretch, much prefer scotch.

Fair that one is good as well. I prefer the higher proof ones as a rule but that makes very nice old fashions and mint juleps

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Expensive beverages? I'm a Coors Lite man. It tastes like shit. Keeps me from getting drunk or fat. That way I'm not obnoxious and may live longer. Well ... somewhat less obnoxious anyway.

 

[Lancaster]

My daughter's Godfather gave her a wonderful Patrick Mavros bracelet as he's a friend of the artist. It was our introduction to the range and we visited his shop in Vic Falls and came away with some lovely pieces.

I'd count my T.T. Proctor custom made English .375 as a fine thing that gives me pleasure.

@Kevin Peacocke - If you like simple Rolex's then they don't come any more simple than my late father's Oyster Perpetual Date than I wear everyday including hunting in the Zambezi valley (where the scratches it acquired remind me of a great adventure.)

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

My daughter's Godfather gave her a wonderful Patrick Mavros bracelet as he's a friend of the artist. It was our introduction to the range and we visited his shop in Vic Falls and came away with some lovely pieces.

I'd count my T.T. Proctor custom made English .375 as a fine thing that gives me pleasure.

@Kevin Peacocke - If you like simple Rolex's then they don't come any more simple than my late father's Oyster Perpetual Date than I wear everyday including hunting in the Zambezi valley (where the scratches it acquired remind me of a great adventure.)


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Absolutely beautiful Lancaster. Well done wearing every day.