Our day today was all over the place!
Since this was my dad’s first visit to our new house, he requested a morning walk around our new neighborhood around 7:30 a.m. The weather was cooler than usual and Sadie was extra chipper, so we were all in the mood for a nice family fun walk and loved his idea!
Look who decided to be twins…
The bean boys! Aren’t they cute?
My sister and I didn’t get the matching memo…
We went on a leisurely 30-minute walk around the neighborhood before heading home to immediately head back out for something very special.
Tas-T-O’s Donuts
Tas-T-O’s Donuts!
Yeah, buddy.
Seven doughnuts for four people? Sounds about right.
We ate the doughnuts on the curb because we’re classy like that.
My favorite doughnuts were the glazed knot doughnut and the fritter that I had last week.
Though it sounds a bit like an oxymoron, these doughnuts are incredibly light. I feel like I could down five of them without batting an eye.
Ocala Gun Range
After breakfast (round one), we drove about 25 minutes to the gun range where my dad, sister and Ryan fired at some targets.
My sister and mom got their concealed weapons permits a couple of weeks ago, and my dad has been hunting for years. It was my first time visiting a gun range and I was really, really uneasy at first.
I didn’t shoot a gun myself and preferred to just watch the others. I want to take a concealed weapons class to get my own permit and learn more about guns and gun safety before I feel comfortable shooting a gun myself.
My dad and Ryan hit the targets time after time and my dad got several bulls eyes!
I finally calmed down and stopped feeling so antsy after about 25 minutes. Everyone at the gun range was very safety-conscious and respectful which helped me feel better about the place.
I guess I was just a little thrown off because I expected gun ranges to be much more regulated. I always thought you would have to show an ID to a ranger or something in order to fire a gun, but you can just pull up to the range and shoot. Though there is 24-hour surveillance, I still felt like it was kind of crazy and a little too unregulated.
We spent about an hour at the gun range before driving back. My dad suggested stopping for breakfast (round two!) so we pulled over at a hole-in-the-wall restaurant for some eggs.
I ordered two dippy eggs, home fries and whole wheat toast.
Perfect-o.
Back in a bit with more recaps! 
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I’ve never been to a gun range but I have shot a gun. My best friend is a hunter and let me shoot his rifle at clay targets and at a paper target. I missed both. Perhaps that tells me I shouldn’t fire a weapon.
Yes, take the concealed weapons class. Even if you don’t plan on carrying a gun, it is a good class to take. And as far as having the gun range be more regulated, is a member of your family a member there? That is odd that no one had to show an id or anything. I go to a gun range with my dad but he is a member there, or we go to a different place where you have to show id and they keep records, etc.
nope. no one is a member. i felt like it was WAY too unregulated!
My husband took me to an outdoor shooting range back when we were dating and I remember thinking the same thing. I was floored by the lack of “security.” There were no partitions and people were literally just firing right next to each other. The shells from the guy next to us were flying in the air and kept hitting me in the head. It was a freaky experience and it scared the heck out of me. Guns just make me uncomfortable!
i love your family, julie! we are lucky as well to have both of our families close by. it’s so fun to spend quality time together.
those donuts look just as mouth watering as last time…
I have a .38, a Ruger, all ready to go for its first practice at the range…after I have a baby! Due date is tomorrow. Bought the gun, found a concealed carry class and was all set to go, then learned I was expecting. Was too worried that the sound of a gun going off would scare my unborn baby!
Shady, this blog is a very positive place. Please be respectful, particularly since this isnt even your country! Thanks very much!
I’m not a donut person at all but those have really spurred a craving. When I was younger and nutrition meant zilch to me, I used to eat a glazed donut at least every day at school…good times :)!
Ouch guns are evil! You have now been removed from my RSS feed…
Get a grip John. Guns are evil? That’s absurd. People are evil. And you can kill people with a ballpoint pen. Are pens evil?
I have a phobia with guns, I hate them, they freak me out! Go you for being so brave! Hate that ppl are deleting ur blog bc of your gun post. How silly, have a great week! Ps the banana pancakes rock!
I love going to the range. I actually went yesterday with my dad too. Everyone in my family has their concealed weapons permit and my fiance and I keep a 9mm at our house (unloaded).
I think the more you are around guns and have to proper education, the more comfortable you feel. I still, to this day don’t feel super comfortable. But I think that’s good. Because if you’re too relaxed, then accidents can happen.
My dad runs through the rules every single time we shoot. As long as people respect the rules and gun safety, then I do not see a problem with them, and think it’s actually a really fun hobby to have. It’s also a great way for my dad and I to spend time together.
#1) I can’t believe people are unfollowing your blog because of this post. That sucks and you don’t deserve that.
#2) As for being afraid of them, it’s really good that you realize it’s because of lack of knowledge. And take an NRA course, they’re well designed and the instructors are great. The more you know and the more you handle a weapon, the more comfortable and safe you will feel and be. The fact of the matter is that the safeness or unsafeness of any weapon depends entirely on the person wielding it. And a properly unloaded weapon is more dangerous as a projectile than as a gun.
#3) Shady, get lost.
#4) The de-regulation of a firing range is only a matter of perception. There are certain rules that are understood at every firing range and the expectation is that the onus is on the owner of the range itself to enforce them. Respecting and maintaining the firing line, holding firing lanes, reloading and retrieving targets…the expectation is that as a gun owner, you can safely handle your own weapon and know and respect the rules of the range.
The fact of the matter is that it’s your responsibility to safely handle your own weapon and that if you screw up, in the range or on the street, you will be charged and prosecuted.
Ooo fun! I want to go to a hand gun shooting range but i dont think they have them in NY… at least not in the nyc vacinity.
My boyfriend and his family go to the shooting range too! I’ve never been before and am kind of nervous, guns scare me, but I want to give them a try. Its something they enjoy so much and I don’t want to be the debbie downer.
I can relate to this big time!
I recently went shooting for the first time with my hubby and in laws out in the middle of nowhere. I was really uneasy about it at first and wasn’t sure if I’d shoot…I ended up enjoying it, but I had butterflies in the stomach the entire time!