Pistol & Pluck, LLC

08/30/2026

It’s been a BUSY week!

We wrapped up the week strong after teaching a total of 57 students. I’m seriously grateful for everyone who chose to spend their time learning, training, and building the skills to take more responsibility for their own safety.

This video is from one of our training exercises, where we tested student equipment and strategy while adding the stress of a simulated surprise attack as they walked toward their parked vehicle.

All safety measures were in place, but one important lesson became obvious pretty quickly.

When tunnel vision kicks in and someone locks onto a perceived threat, the muzzle of a firearm can start moving in directions the shooter may not even notice.

That’s exactly why we train.

Skills that feel simple when you’re standing still and thinking clearly can change a lot when movement, surprise, stress, and decision-making are added.

Training isn’t just about learning how to use a firearm. It’s also about learning how to manage yourself while using one.

And because apparently teaching 57 students this week wasn’t enough... we also started another project. 🏃‍♀️

Today I power washed the east-facing side of the house, and I have to admit—it was ridiculously satisfying watching all that dirt blast off the siding! Tomorrow, we begin painting!

I’ve been a little MIA on social media lately and that’s why. Life has been happening.

Teaching. Traveling. Training. Projects. And apparently forgetting to take pictures. Thanks, motion-activated cams! 📹

08/26/2026

Sunrise & Gratitude

This morning’s Sunrise Series comes with a little smoke in the skies, but the beauty remains.

After late Monday’s narrow evasion of that gigantic moose moving into our lane on the highway, we’re still counting our blessings this morning. It was a reminder of just how quickly an ordinary drive can become something very different. Having been one of the first on scene after the motorcycle wreck on the same stretch recently, one cannot help but feel the fragility of life.

So today, we’re grateful for another sunrise, another day, and another opportunity to learn, teach, and live intentionally.

Looking forward to tonight’s The Legal Use of Force class. There is so much more to responsible self-defense than simply knowing how to operate a firearm. Understanding when you may legally use force—and when you may not—is a critical part of being prepared.

See you tonight.

08/25/2026

Yesterday was one of those long Montana days that leaves you exhausted, grateful, and already knowing you’ll remember it.

We traveled to Dillon, Montana, home of the University of Montana Western, for a double-header of classes. Twelve folks came out for our first class in town; then we packed everything up and headed over to campus for round two, where we were joined by 27 more.

The drive down was its own adventure.

We passed a sprawling fire camp along the highway, with smoke hanging in the air from the mountains. The Beaverhead Mountains have been dealing with multiple lightning-strike fires, and seeing the fire crews, equipment and activity up close was a sobering reminder of just how quickly Montana’s summer landscape can change.

After a long evening of teaching, conversations, questions and packing up, we started the drive home.

And that's when things got interesting.

At 65 mph, a giant bull moose suddenly appeared in our headlights, charging out from the passenger side and progressing directly into our lane. He was nearly on top of us before he became visible in the darkness.

And he wasn't alone.

A second, shorter, brown, fur-covered animal was right behind him. Another moose? A bear? At 65 mph, with only the split-second illumination of our headlights, there was no time to figure it out.

Ron expertly hit the brakes and maneuvered around that massive encounter, thankfully avoiding a collision. I can tell you one thing—we both had a significant spike in our heart rates!

By the time we finally rolled into bed, it felt absolutely heavenly.

But sleep didn't come before my mind replayed the day: the sprawling fire camp, the fires glowing against the mountainous night sky, 39 people who chose to spend part of their evening learning, and all the conversations and questions that followed us home.

Long day. Late night. Great people. A little Montana adrenaline.

And memories worth being tired for. ❤️

08/22/2026

Next Friday, a new series begins!

Are you in?

Link in comments ⬇️

08/22/2026

I shared just days ago about my teacher and mentor from mid school.... how he taught us to store up moments for hard days.
Please share the story of his tragic demise near and wide. His killer has remained at large for far too long.

You have been missed Mr. Nelson.

The information provided could make you eligible for a cash reward. If you have information that could help solve this crime, please call Crime Stoppers at (406) 721-4444.

08/21/2026

I've been a baker for a very long time 😉 Recently, I became interested in the health benefits of freshly milling the wheat and incorporating that into my recipe for sourdough baking.
It's entirely different! 🤯
I'm a long fermentation prep with no added sugars or granulated yeast baker. Best advice from those who've gone this route? Show me your best loaf, I'll show you some of mine! 😊

(These are all sourdough, long fermentation with (mostly) unbleached organic white flour. I had that recipe mastered... but this fresh milled whole grain recipe is a whole new ball of shaggy dough!)

08/21/2026

Flashback Friday...

Ten years ago, we loaded up the kids and headed out to explore Oregon and Washington. Looking back, I realize just how incredibly blessed we were to be homeschoolers during our sons’ formative primary years.

We weren’t just teaching from books. We got to take the classroom on the road.

We explored the route of Lewis & Clark and followed pieces of the story of the Corps of Discovery. Since first learning of Sacagawea as a young school girl, and being native myself, I have long held admiration for her bravery, tenacity, skill and strong leadership. Seeing the path, even years later only made my admiration grow.

On our path because of amazing maps... there was crabbing, exploring, learning, wandering, and plenty of those little moments that seemed sweet at the time... have become treasured memories.

And Cape Disappointment? It did not disappoint! 😉

Ten years later, these photos are a reminder that some of the greatest gifts of homeschooling had very little to do with the curriculum.

They were the experiences. The time together. The freedom to explore. And the memories we made as a family.

Those memories are absolute treasures.

Do you have a treasured flashback too? I'd live to hear about it!

08/20/2026

Another coat of stain is still drying, but I had to share our entry refresh on the pergola!

Spencer & Son of Blastoff helped us prep the wood with walnut hull media blasting, taking it down to a clean slate.

Then it was my turn. Four coats of walnut stain, applied over several days in the heat of this southwest-facing patio, was no joke! (With a tiny bit of help from my husband, because apparently I’m not above accepting free labor. 😂)

Finally, we needed a solution to protect all that hard work from Montana’s harsh exposure and weather. Chris Hale absolutely knocked it out of the park after hearing my idea for a "reverse gutter" or metal cap to shield the timbers.

If you need custom metal work, I can’t recommend Chris enough!

Before and after… a LOT of hard work, but completely worth it.

08/19/2026

Blessed to live and teach with this in my backyard.

Today is about preparing for tonight’s class and working with Chris Hale to bring new life to our entry pergola.

A good day in Montana. What are you all up to today?

08/17/2026

Your body has a plan. Do you understand it?

When you are faced with a violent encounter, your body doesn't simply wait for your mind to catch up. There is a physiological sequence designed to help you survive, and understanding that response can make a tremendous difference in how you prepare for, manage and process a violent encounter.

The interesting thing is that some of those responses can be confusing afterward. Your perception may be altered. Your memory may not unfold like a perfectly organized story. Your body may react before you have consciously processed what is happening. When you later have to explain what happened, those physiological responses can become incredibly important to understand.

This is the focus of Violent Encounters & the Aftermath, part of my Defender Series. We'll talk about what happens to the body during a violent encounter, why it happens, and how understanding your own physiological response can better equip you to manage the incident before, during and after it.

This isn't about living in fear. It's about understanding what you are capable of experiencing when your body believes your survival is at stake. Knowing what to expect can help you make better decisions in the moment and better understand your own response afterward.

Wednesday $35

If you've ever thought, “I hope I never need this,” that's exactly why I want you to have the information before you need it.

If you'd like to join us, text 406-961-5375 and I'll add you to the roster.

Knowledge. Skill. Life.