Grist For The Mill...

Grain Elevator, Charles Konowal, provided by the National Film Board of Canada

Back To The Old Grind!  Many Thanks To Engineering Johnson for this pick!

Foster Schipperke Update

This year has been a blur, with a small herd of Schipperkes coming in and out of our lives.  We currently have three, Betty Boop, Sisko, and Godiva.  All three could go to a permanent home as soon as the right people are found.  We are getting attached to all of them, but it is time to let them go.  This one is Godiva, and she has chosen me as her main buddy.  She likes to sit on my lap, and always comes when I say her name.  She is a real sweetie!

Weekend Steam: The Welsh Pony Under Steam, After 80 Years!

This is a great video.  The Welsh Pony last ran in 1940, but in June this year it came back to life!  Many Thanks for the pick, Merle!

Hickok45 Introduces Pistol Caliber Carbines To New Shooters

Hickok's videos are always enjoyable to watch, and they are great instructional videos for new shooters and geezers, too!  Pistol caliber carbines and rifle caliber pistols are great for those who like to load their own ammo because a handloader can tweak the performance of the ammo to fit the firearm.

Brass Man Bart Strikes Again...

...With a couple of old railroading numbers. Great Stuff, Brass Man!

Do Not Go Into A Mob...

Do not let a mob stop you.
If a mob stops you, be alert for people touching your vehicle.
If they attack your glass, this is your last chance.  You have to fight and drive.
The people in the mobs plan to stop you, remove you from your car, and beat you to death.

Joe Rinaudo's American Fotoplayer; Hang Onto Your Hat!

Joe Rinaudo has a YouTube channel where you can go if you need to energize.  This is a California Gold episode to acquaint you with this maestro.

Water Main Project

Our county's water company is upgrading its crossings with the CountryMark petroleum pipeline, and we had a good show out of it at the south end of our property. Everything was well coordinated and the pieces fell in place with no problems.

Tuesday Torque: Starting And Running Old Engines...

...with great sound! Hearing old engines come to life is always a joy.  Many Thanks To Merle for another great pick!

Socializing The Fosters

Godiva (the blonde Schip) moved upstairs many weeks ago and has made great progress.  She has assimilated into our pack and now we are worrying about hurting her feelings when she moves on to her forever home. Last week we brought Betty Boop (above) and Sisko upstairs.  We move their kennels into our bedroom at night and we weren't sure if we would get any sleep the first night.  They cried for quite a while, and Jack tried to hide in a corner to get away from the noise.  The next night it took just a few minutes, and last night they settled down quickly.  Housebreaking is coming along great, and all three of the fosters respond well to their names.  We will be putting new writeups about these dogs on Midwest Schipperke Rescue's Facebook page this week.  There are always more people wanting Schipperkes than there are dogs, but that allows us to place dogs in the best homes for them.   If you are wanting to adopt a Schipperke, fill out an application with Midwest Schipperke Rescue and submit it to Michele Kasten at Schipnut58 (at) yahoo (dot) com.  Back To The Old Grind!

Roaring Twenties Music: Margie, Original Dixieland Jazz Band

This is the recording that started Margie on the road to fame.  It was written by Con Conrad and J. Russel Robinson of the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, who recorded it in 1920. The song was named for Eddie Cantor's five year old daughter, and Eddie recorded it in 1921, where it stayed on the top of the charts for several weeks. Vaudevillian Frank Crumit also had a very popular recording, and the song has been covered by a multitude of entertainers. The piano roll is a QRS recorded by the composers.

Is That A Good Luck Charm In Your Pocket... (Repost That Bears Repeating!)

or a disaster waiting to happen?  Is your .380 going to throw lead when you need it to do so, or is it going to choke on pocket lint?  We had company over the weekend, and I asked the husband if he had cleaned and lubed his pocket pistol lately.  Nope!  I said, "Give it to me and I will take care of it for you."  I guessed it would be worthy of photos and I was not disappointed.  Lint on the trigger, lint stuck to the side of the magazine and inside, too.

The barrel was fuzzy.  It definitely needed to be disassembled.

The slide catch and the hammer were both loaded up with lint, and also the mag well.

The underside of the slide was also covered in lint and a bit of powder residue.  So, we know this pistol has been fired and put back in its holster dirty after the last range trip.  I cleaned up all the dirt and lint and then lubed the little LCP II properly, even using my special blend of grease on the rails so the lube doesn't run away.

Our carry guns are not magical talismans.  They are tools and you should attend to them on a regular basis.  Guns have reciprocating and revolving parts that need to be oiled or greased to run properly, in spite of the torture tests that gunwriters love to do.  Pockets, pocket holsters, and lint all wick away oil.  The gun you lubed two months ago is probably dry by now.  The need to clean and lube is double for little pocket guns like the LCP and LCP II.  They are light, and require a firm grip to operate properly.  If you do not keep them in top operating condition, they are likely to fail you when you need them most.  You also need to practice with these little guys regularly, and make sure your grip is up to snuff so you can empty entire magazines without getting stovepipes.

Just in case you haven't read it, Grant Cunningham's article on lubrication is linked:   Here.  Be serious about your ability to defend yourself.  Criminals think about their work all the time.  We should do the same for our safety.

Weekend Steam: C & O 1309 Arrives At Cumberland, Maryland, 2014

Many Thanks to Merle for sending his great picks!  I will have to do some research and see how this project is progressing.

Serious Sandbox Skills!

The county water company has a big project going.  The EPA decided that all the water main intersections with Country Mark's petroleum pipeline should be upgraded.  You can see the water main in the wall of the trench; it crosses just above the oil pipeline.  The upgraded line passes under the pipeline and is enclosed in a steel casing that is 60 feet long.  They had to dig a long trench 8 feet deep to put that in, and it has been interesting to watch the process.  We have a little slide and video show we will post later so you can share in the excitement.

Brass Man Bart: El Capitan March!

Brother Ben has posted a new one, and his description lists seven instruments that he plays.  I am also hearing a cymbal and a triangle in this, so now he is doing percussion, too!  Great Stuff, Brass Man!

You Ain't Nothin' But A....

...Hornworm!

If you have tomatoes be on the lookout for these little blighters. They are hard to spot and you will probably see the damage before you see the caterpillar. Also look for their droppings; they are much easier to spot than the little green buggers. These transform into hummingbird moths, but don't let that prejudice you into sparing them.

Yesterday In St. Louis

You have probably seen the photos of the couple facing down a mob at their home.  Here is the interview with the man.

Tuesday Torque: Charles Mohrle, WW II Fighter Pilot...

He flew P-47s.  2000 Horsepower.  That qualifies for a Torque post!  You are going to love this visit with a great man.

Hurry Up, Those Chickens Are Waiting!

                                    Back To The Old Grind!

Roaring Twenties Music: The Flip Side, Dance-O-Mania!

Roaring Twenties Music: Old Man Jazz, May 1920

This is one of the hot ones from a century ago.  Susan and I actually have a copy of this record in one of the cabinets, but we never posted it to YouTube.  The All Star Trio recorded this toe tapper.  My old cat Brat would have liked this one!

Weekend Steam: Take A Trip And Never Leave The Farm!

Merle found some good ones for us again, in far spread locations.  Thank You, Merle!  The first one is in Australia.

Australian steam locomotive 3801 - Adhesion tests - Cowan Bank - May 2020

"Home to an eclectic mix of historic equipment - with an emphasis on Midwestern lines - the Illinois Railway Museum has something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you’re into diesels, steam engines or electric traction, there’s no shortage of action on any given day! In this program, we present a compilation of various trolleys and trains that you may encounter on a visit to the IRM. For more information, please visit: http://www.irm.org."

Solar Panels Are Almost Done!

We nearly have our solar system ready to work.  An electrician has to do some final hookup and then it will be up and running.  Running the trencher was a little worry.  There is a water main, our water line, a phone line, and a 7200 volt line that is buried.  No problems, though.

Brass Man Bart: Them Basses, Plus A Bonus!

Here's Brother Ben, aka Brass Man Bart, playing one of his favorite marches.  He plays eight parts, seven of them on his euphonium. 


The bonus is the Brass Man on his harmonica, the instrument that started it all for Ben.

Potato Tower Is Progressing Nicely

                                                     Time will tell if this works for us.

Tuesday Torque: No SIAM Show At Evansville This Year

This Covid thing is going to knock out many of the little shows around the country.  A year with poor gate receipts is a hardship.  NO gate receipts is a disaster.  Insurance and other expenses go on.  Get out to an engine show if one is close to you, and show your support for the hobby.

On A Lighter Note...

...Life must go on.  Don't let them wear you down.


                                    Back To The Old Grind!

You Are Not Paranoid

They really are coming to get you. NYC, this weekend.

35 year old man murdered while washing his car

NYC cops watch while man is beaten  Interfering would be police brutality, sure as the World.

We're Doin' The Green Thing!

Susan and I made a leap and are installing solar panels. It sounds like a good deal, and it is a bit exciting. This is why we have been doing extra chainsaw work and digging exploratory holes in the yard.

Weekend Steam: Norfolk And Western 611 Returns To The Mainline!

Click the YouTube logo in the lower right corner to go to YouTube and read the writeup with 611. Great Catch, Merle!

Roaring Twenties Music: Love Nest, Recorded By John Steel, May, 1920

Chestnuts This Fall!

The flowers are thick on our chestnut trees this year.  Chestnut dressing at Thanksgiving!

Wheat's Out

Beans are in!

Brass Man Bart: Repasz Band March On The Euphonium!

Ben's Comments: The Repasz Band March was written in 1901 for the Repasz Band in Williamsport, PA by Chas. C. Sweeley and arranged by Harry J. Lincoln. The march has been performed millions of times and is considered by many to be among the top 100 marches ever written. The Repasz Band was founded in 1831 and is the longest continually active band in the United States. My performance of this march covers 10 parts. The tuba part is played on my Eb tuba, the Eb cornet and 1st and 2nd alto horn parts are played on my Eb altonium, and the 1st and 2nd cornet, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd trombone, and baritone parts are performed on my Bb euphonium, shown in the video. Hope you enjoy this. Please like, and please subscribe. Thank you. Brassman Bart

Brass Man Bart On The Harmonicas!

Brahm's Hungarian Dance Number 5.



Ben's Comments: "Brahms Hungarian Dance #5 is a folk tune written down by Brahms, along with a number of other folk dance tunes. This particular tune is primarily in harmonica minor, part of it is in major, and about two bars are in natural minor. I play this in the key of A with a harmonic minor harmonica, an A major harmonica, and a Paddy Richter harmonica in the key of C, which allows playing in A natural minor. This number won me my first blue ribbon at the Iowa State Fair Harmonica Contest.
Please enjoy. Brassman Bart"