Hello all
Another crazy busy day. Snow storm moving in and they are predictiong between 8 and 18" in our neck of the woods and possible loss of power.
Have a unit that has to be delivered on Thursday. Trying to adjust for a loss or two of days and still meet the dead line.
Hobby front : Carpenters showed up this morning ( my back said THANK YOU ! ) After I got them started with all of the millions of details they were applying plywood to the wall I built in preperation to raising it.
Ed - Thank you again.
Angel - That work is in one day.
Ulrich so glad to see you running trains and posting videos : ) !
Gotta run LOTS of W**K to do !
TTYL
YGW
angelob6660Steven- How bad does snowstorms get? To show a empty gerocery store. It's not like a hurricane, tornado, or earthquake evacuations.
Here in New England, a Snowpocalypse Event like this one is always preceeded by a few days of paranoia. But, we do not evacuate, and we will typically be stuck where we are for a day or so. Therefore, everybody stocks up on food enough for a week. Bread and sandwich fixings are important, because we sometimes lose power. Therefore, to feed their paranoia machine, the media always shows the bread shelf, typically the first one to empty.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Steven Otte. . .Not looking forward to snowblowing when I get home tonight. Stay warm, everyone!
Steven: I did a double-take on your post. The first time I read it, I saw, "Not looking forward to snowboarding when I get home tonight."
Richard
Argh! I am starting to feel real stupid. I have been trying to finish my work bench for modeling for several weeks. All it lacks is a drawer. Decided to do a dove tail drawer. The first attempt was made usign 3/8 in. thick stock. All went okay until I tried to put the bottom of the drawer between the sides and front. While trying to but the back on, managed to split the back where it was routed to accept the bottom. Started over using 1/2 stock the past Friday. Got ready to test assemble the box before routing the dove tails and sure enough, had routed both sides identically when they needed to be mirror images. So, its time to vent about my stupidity and wait for the wife to return from playing bridge so I can head to Lowe's for more 1/2 drawer stock. Kind of sucks only having one vehicle as the daughter has been driving my old work truck since the granddaughter came home from college to work and save money. I thought this was a short term loand but it is turning into a many month ordeal.
The empty shelves picture from Steve reminds me of a friend in Alabama who owned a couple of grocery stores. He said any time they forecasted snow all the bread and milk would sell out and then his income would be in the tank until his customers had used up their hoard of milk and bread.
Hopefully spring is truly just around the corner.
Think I will take the dog for her afternoon walk as the weather in SE Ohio is pretty nice today. The nasty stuff may hit here tomorrow.
YGW, the barn/shop/layout building looks pretty impressive. Nice supply of 1:1 ballast in the foreground of the picture.
Jim
JAMES MOONThe first attempt was made usign 3/8 in. thick stock. All went okay until I tried to put the bottom of the drawer between the sides and front. While trying to but the back on, managed to split the back where it was routed to accept the bottom. Started over using 1/2 stock the past Friday. Got ready to test assemble the box before routing the dove tails and sure enough, had routed both sides identically when they needed to be mirror images.
I know the feeling quite well. I did some trim in our bathroom last year. I needed eight pieces. After the first attempt I had to re-order the trim. I think I cut 13 pieces or more in total, and I still didn't get all the corners mitred properly. To add insult to injury, the trim was ordered from the cabinet maker to match the new cabinets so it was very pricey! Fortunately, the trim was almost square with a slight bevel on one side so the differences are hardly noticeable. It will stay like it is!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Afternoon Folks!
Janie, I'll have the fried chicken dinner tonight with a couple trips to the salad bar as well. As is usual, I have had a busy day today. Got up two hours early so I could get over to Waterloo to see my Granddaughter (#1) get her reading Award. She was second place in the entire 4th grade. They also had the Middle School band come over and put on a short concert promoting the band program to the 3rd. - 5th. graders at her school. They were excellent, BTW.
Did more work on the lighting and some on the Keuka Creek Scenery as well on the layout. Then I spent a few hours sitting here at the puter working on my Powerpoint Presentation for the NMRA Meet next Saturday. Had to get more done on the layout for the slide show....... Here is what the Keuka Creek Outlet looks like at the moment (and as done as it will be for the Clinic). This is not finished by any means, but is getting to the look I wanted to create.
We generally don't get a major run at the grocery stores here in the Finger Lakes Area when they predict a storm. This time of year it is just business as usual. Prediction for the next few days for here as follows:
"... WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 8 PM EDT WEDNESDAY... * LOCATIONS... LIVINGSTON... ONTARIO AND ALLEGANY COUNTIES. HIGHEST AMOUNTS TOWARD THE HILLTOPS. * TIMING... FROM EARLY THIS EVENING THROUGH EARLY WEDNESDAY EVENING. HEAVIEST SNOWFALL TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT. * HAZARDS... HEAVY SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW. * ACCUMULATIONS... 1 TO 3 INCHES TONIGHT... 4 TO 7 INCHES TUESDAY..3 TO 5 INCHES TUESDAY NIGHT... AND 1 TO 3 INCHES WEDNESDAY... LEADING TO STORM TOTALS OF 9 TO 18 INCHES. * VISIBILITIES... AS LOW AS A HALF MILE AT TIMES. * IMPACTS... HEAVY SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW COULD PRODUCE VERY DIFFICULT DRIVING CONDITIONS WITH VERY POOR VISIBILITY AND DEEP SNOW COVER ON ROADS."
I do expect that the schools will be closed for the next couple days.... I am supposed to get my granddaughters off the bus on Wednesday Afternoon. If they have school, I do hope I can get my driveway cleaned and over to their house. We will play it by ear!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
YGW: What did you use to design your outbuilding? I am looking for a decent program for designing the floor plan for our next house and am curious as to what you would recommend. I have some experience in designing a home. We designed the house we are living it, right down to the elevations, then hired a draftmans to convert our plans into construction blueprints, hired a general contractor, and blammo, we had a house. (If is was really that simple...) However, that was twenty years ago.
Here in southern ontario we are in for a snowstorm. Nothing like you guys in upstate New York though. Work may be quiet tomorrow though which will make for a long day
Good evening all.
Yep... It's snowing.
Zoe - I will take a slice of cake, and a hot cocoa please. Thanks.
Steven - Working retail, it always surprised me how much panic shopping would be done. And then we would get the crazies... The crazy people who would come in during the storm, just to buy a Hershey's Bar and tell us how bad the weather was... Yep. Crazies...
Cudaken - Did you decide on a new computer yet, or sticking with the old one?
Weather front - Yep. Snowstorm here as well. Weather guessers are saying anywhere from 9" to 19"+ for us... And, the same Winter Storm Warning that Howmus has... Although here it was from 8PM tonight (so started) through 8PM on Wednesday. Snowstorm tonight through Tuesday afternoon, then Lake-effect through at least Wednesday.
W**k - Well, my boss is now officially fed up with the remodel. That makes two of us. I ended up going live on local radio on Saturday during the NASCAR broadcast, (During a Caution break) talking about our ongoing sale (Sunday through Tomorrow) as the radio broadcaster came on Saturday to do it, and my boss is off on Saturday's.... Turns out he is also a model railroader, just getting back into it. So, after the live broadcast, we talked trains for about an hour. (Off air.)
Trains - Finishing up the gift box for my friends son, changing everything over to Kadee's, and getting them the correct height. Soon will be good to go, and, hopefully, get someone into the hobby.
Hope all are well, and all have a good night!
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
Mint tea, please.
***Ray, that looks cool.
Found an answer to my earlier question. Looks like Atlas code 83 bridges can work with Kato Unitrack. That's a start.
Well, dizzy tonight, so staying in bed between horse feed rounds.
Take care all. Rob
Good evening .
Ray... I am very impressed with your scenery project ....
Rob .... Dizzy ? .... I hope you are okay.
These conversations about storms and people buying out bread, etc. reminds me of the storm here 8 years ago. In that case, it was a massive ice storm which crushed forests throughout much of Kentucky. Broken trees and downed power wires were laying everywhere. Our road was blocked by broken trees and had a thick layer of ice. We had no power, no land line phone, no cell phone, and no county water for 9 days. We hunkered down in the middle of the house, and survived on cheese, crackers, and soda pop. A gas fireplace was our only heat.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Rob, and Garry, thank you! I hope the folks at the NMRA Meet next Saturday will be pleased with it.............. Now I have to fit my presentation into a space of 35 minutes. It is going to be a busy and tight on time morning. Two major clinics, two other presentations, 4 model contests to vote on and give awards for in less than 3 hours, and some time for coffee and donuts and some chatting as well. The afternoon will have several local layouts and an LHS open for us and some railfaning time. Always a fun time for us, and this one is shared with the NMRA Division to the East. (We get together about every other year to do some joint activity.)
Janie, can I get a refill on the decaf please.... Thank you Ma'am!
Just about time to head off to bed for the night. Have a warm and safe night out there!
Eveing Diners
Flo, Ed and I will have a please.
Woke up this morning and looked outside (glasses where off) and it looked foggy? That seemed odd? Put on my glasses, it was Snow? Tree limbs where bowed down a good 2 feet, cars had 4 inches of the fluffy stuff and yard was covred. Boy, I was not excpeting that! It had been mild temp wizes and roads where just wet so getting to work was easy. Snow is all gone now which I am a little sad about.
ricktrains4824Cudaken - Did you decide on a new computer yet, or sticking with the old one?
Rick that depends on Thursday and my wife. While turning off the background programs have helped, i know this system is going to die some day. Thursday we will have my wife car looked at for the hail damage and I am sure it will be a total. (car does not look awful and she wants to keep it) So depending on the sizes of the check and what I can pry out of her hands, maybe.
Later, Ken
I hate Rust
Good evening Diners,
Brunhilda, I'll have an Earl Grey tea with cream and honey, please.
We have snow after none through Jan. And Feb. I'm not a fan.
YGW: Great to see the hobby barn/train shed taking shape. And, you must be a very fortunate man to live in an area that beautiful with the horses and the white fences and all. But then again,.......perhaps..not! (Said in ominous voice).
Ken: Nice touch with the candelabra. Gives da joint some class, but a little out of scale.
Well, enough levity.
Hello to everyone, and I hope everyone is OK, safe, and warm.
Jim (with a nod to Mies Van Der Rohe)
Snowing for second ady in a row now, weird saturday was sons birthday was nice out, neighbers had a cookout on the grill, now snow.
I had been thinking of putting a layout in the laundry room where we live as we have no washer/dryer so the space could be used for a layout. However the other night when i went to work i noticed water on the floor. Looked up and there was a hole in the roof, OPS the bathroom is right above that room, not sure if tolit or bathtub is leaking. Not sure maintance will come out and look at it. So a good thing i did not build the layout there i guess. Thinking now if move stuff around in my bedroom should have room.
Modeling on the cheap
Happy Pi Day, Fella's π
All the Pie you can eat is on me...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pi_Day
I think I'll start out with Pecan and come back later for some Raspberry! Real whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream??? Surprize me
Stick a candle in it for Mr. Einstein's Birthday, too!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein
Yeah, Ken, that candleabra has me looking for Liberace hanging around there. Be very careful, a few drips of that hot wax on the foam and you could be getting a visit from the fire department
Well, time to turn-in—
I hope you are all having a great week! Stay safe, stay warm and stay healthy!
for those less fortunate,
Regards, Ed
Good Morning!
It´s a nice day, but a little cold. Not as bad as you folks in the east of the US are having it right now. I hope everyone´s high & dry or safe & warm!
A pair of herons seems to have decided to nest close by, which is accompanied by a heck of a noise. But still a pretty sight!
I don´t have any plans for the day, other than going for a walk in the afternoon.
How about a taste of Italy?
Here is a video showing Miniatur Wunderland´s latest addition - Bella Italia!
The video is quite long, but worth while watching!
Enjoy!
For all Harry Potter Fans...
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Local TV news started broadcaasting at 4 am to tell us we have an inch of slush. Meanwhile further north https://hdontap.com/index.php/video/stream/bald-eagle-live-cam
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Good morning .
Ulrich ... Thanks for the video.
Lion .... I see you are a creative wirter.
Cintinuing with this month's theme..... The CB&Q Twin Cities Zephyr included southwestern Wisconsin in its route. .... Below is the train as it appeared in the 1940's.
well, in 6 1/2 hours, we've gotten 18" of snow, and we are in a heavy stream carrying it up from the south. It shows no sign of stopping, not on the sky-look level or the radar level, that stream is still screaming at us, wiht no tail in sight yet. By the time I finish typing this it will easily be 20".
we are getting concerned, the garage has a flat roof, and the bonus room {where we spend most of our time} has a shed roof. Thats a lot of snow on top. We DO have a roof rake, but gfetting tothe sdges of the roof with 18"+ on the bare ground to start is going to be difficult. They said on the news the plows are having a hard time keeping up and they came down our city street ONCE with a front end loader and plow attachment.
It will be too much for the snow blower which we bought but even with 2 other heavy snows no where near this one, we ahven't used it yet. Want to be sure we can safely operate it wihtout damaging our cehicles on our narrow short single lane driveway. I saw the only neighbor using one trying to "Shove it through" the snow so to speak, making only inch of prgress at a time.
Well I go take a nap whjile I ponder how to attack it now that it is so deep.
Hope all are safe adn warm
Prayers for those in need.
-g
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
Galaxy .... That's a lot of snow. Sounds like the stuff I was in when I was in Michigan's Upper Penensula several years ago.
.....
Here is a photo of the Twin Cities Zephyr as it looked in the 1950's and 1960's.
It's Pi Day! Come and get 'em, hot out of the oven:
And if you're looking for something more hot and savory on this bitter cold and snowy day, ask Janie for the chicken pot pie:
Stay warm and safe, everybody!
--Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editorsotte@kalmbach.com
Lion - Now look at what you have started. I'm expecting chapter 2 shortly. And here I thought I had beaten my Harry Potter adiction.
Tom
Pittsburgh, PA
Mornin'.....
Zoe, glad you made it in today with all the gloom and doom outside in the real world. Not too mention some writings by Lion..... Interesting and scary! I could use a short stack of blueberry pancakes with real maple syrup (and a large pat of Butter) and a pot of Seneca Lake Dark Roast Organic Coffee for my R&GV RR mug.
Today has been cancelled! (Except for the Pi, of course.) Channel 10 News in Rochester reports 249 active closings today and the storm is just starting.... Right now I have a few inches of white STUFF on the ground with a constant mist of tiny white things (the type that can result in a few feet accumulation) coming down outside my window. Broome County ( Bighamton) has all roads closed (By NYS State of Emergency Order). NYS Thruway has banned Semi Trucks from using the Thruway until the storm has passed. I'm hoping my son didn't have to drive to work this morning (about a 20 mile trip one way). If he did, he will probably be stuck their for a day or two.
Have only seen 2 cars on my street so far this morning. Have seen several Foe-Wheeeeel-Drahve Pick'em Up Truuuucks flahin' down the street have'in the time of their lives keeping ahead of the storm and makin' some $$$. (Been a lean year for them so far.) You know them there Foe Wheeel Dahve thingies can go at least 3 or 4 times the speed limit cause they gots Foe-Wheeel Drahve! Just saw one not even slow down for the street corner in front of my house and do a 360° out there. Never even slowed down cause.... Well you know them thingies cans go anywhere's (They are usually what the tow trucks have to pull out of the ditches and peoples front lawns around here in this weather.) I think someone should tell them that all the vehicles out there have 4 wheel braking and can stop just about as good as the pick-em-up trucks out plowing.
OK, my rant about idiots driving stupidly in this stuff is over for the year...
Good day to stay inside, watch the idjuts out there, and get some stuff done on the layout. Stay warm and safe!
Gosh, I must be getting really old now!
I was wondering why you call the 14th of March"Pi-Day"...
Here in the old country, dates are written DD/MM/YY and not MM/DD/YY ...
Feeling a little sheepish - bah, bah!
Steven, considering today´s lunch, your picture makes me feel hungry again!
LION uses YYMMDD This way the computer keeps everything in order.
That peice is a one shot essay, my novel can be found at
http://www.harrypotterfanfiction.com/viewuser.php?showuid=589685
Just scroll down to 'Year 8 Malfoy Manor" I am up to chapter 35 with this story, but it seems I can only post one or two chapters per week.
This story is still waiting to be posted there.
ROAR
Good Morning,
Sunny and 19F here. Still waiting for spring to start.
Yesterday I finally finished the ground cover on the N scale layout. Next I need to plant the few trees that I have on hand. There isn't much room for many though as the town takes up a lot of space on this layout.
Today I have to take my tax info to the fellow who does my return. I'll keep using him as he keeps finding deductions I had never heard of and wouldn't likely find on my own. I also have a few other errands too.
Guess I had better get going.
CN Charlie
Evening all
At home not working today ( on site ) working from home. Updating schedules, sending out punch list....
Hobby Front : Nothing today. The carpenters decided not to work today. Cant blame them the cold is one thing but the 19+ MPH winds makes it rough.
Lion - Is fan fiction where fans write short stories to the commercial stories like Star wars etc...
Howmus - LOL. My country friends have this saying " four wheel drive just gets ya stuck a little further in.." How do you plan to finish the edge of your scene ?
Steve - Any chicken pot pie left ?
Garry - You know back in the 50s and 60s there seemed to be more style or art in commercially made equipment. The cars back then were wonderful to look at. Peopel still love the old trains made with a bit flare...
Galaxy - if you have any extra wood simply stick a flat piece across the ceiling and then stick a vertical piece under it and that goes a long way in supporting the extra weight and hopefully avoid a collapse.
Henry - We are west of you and we actually got some snow. I hear you though the news media really makes a big deal out of. I wonder if they charge a higher rate for advertising during storms ?
Ulrich - have you ever visited that place ? If I ever get a chance I want to go see it.
Fourt - I have often pondered how to make an N scale layout that could be rolled in and out from under a bed. I could see a small frame built with 1x4 edges, plywood attached to teh bottom and four small wheels mounted on the sides. Then the layout built inside... Pull it out when you want to run trains and slide back under when done.
UP831 - Thanks we have worked our whole lives to get here. The area geographically is called "piedmont". It is the rolling foot hills before the Blue Ridge mountains and area is stunningly beautiful. One evening when a nasty storm was rolling throug, my wife and I were standing on the front porch and she remarked " even when the weather is ugly it is beautiful here ".
Ken - Are the photos you are posting are these photos of your layout during construction ?
ROR - I didnt use a program. I did it teh old school method. Dreamed up teh design in my head. used a drafting table, pencil, paper and a scale rule and put my thoughts to paper. Of course as the building is going up I make some changes based on site conditions, extra material available etc...For instance our supplier ordered two extra windows. They will throw the windows away verses picking them up and returning them. So I got to take the windows and I added them to the end of the building where the tractor will be stored.
Dave - We have this carpentry joke we laugh at ourselves all the time with. It goes like this " dont know what is wrong, I cut the board twice and it is still to short!"
Jim - LOL 1:1 ballast. I had not thought of that !
der - Vitals ? You all have vitals up north ? Heck I thought vitals could be found only in the south eats states !
DC Jim - You are exactly correct. Even if the war is won, one usually looses in these kind of conditions. However my supervisor put me on this site because the City firemarshall/inspectors are known for being bullies, stepping beyond of their legal bounds...He told me specifically, "you are partly on this site to stand up to them using your best judgement..." to keep them at bay.
Histroy qoute of the day from my native Virginia and one of my favorites Patrick Henry and his famous "give me liberty or give me death" speech in full:
St. John's Church, Richmond, Virginia March 23, 1775.
MR. PRESIDENT: No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen if, entertaining as I do, opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely, and without reserve. This is no time for ceremony. The question before the House is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfil the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offence, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the majesty of heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.
Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it.
I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided; and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years, to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves, and the House? Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with these war-like preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled, that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation; the last arguments to which kings resort. I ask, gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other possible motive for it? Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies? No, sir, she has none. They are meant for us; they can be meant for no other. They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been so long forging. And what have we to oppose to them? Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Have we anything new to offer upon the subject? Nothing. We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable; but it has been all in vain. Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication? What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted? Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves. Sir, we have done everything that could be done, to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament. Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne. In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free² if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending²if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained, we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of Hosts is all that is left us!
They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance, by lying supinely on our backs, and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. Three millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations; and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable²and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.
It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace²but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!