Koda's Gone Where The Winds Hit Heavy on the Borderline...

....Where the Snowflakes Fall, Where the Rivers Freeze When the Summer Ends.  Icy roads on the way to meet Koda's new family reminded me of a song (!) and it's been running through my head all day.  We met up at mid-day, took care of paperwork, and helped Koda work through his case of jitters from seeing new places, people, and real COLD SNOW. One Degree Fahrenheit Snow!  It will be a switch for a little dog accustomed to Southern Illinois, but he will have a cozy bed and loving people to take care of him.  Here we see Koda conducting the adoption interview.  Best Wishes for a Happy New Year for Koda and his Forever Family!

Here's Bob Dylan's song, performed by Lester and Earl.

We Interrupt This Program...

We've been busy with family, dogs, and firewood. Koda is going to his new home today. We should return nearly to normal soon.

Weekend Steam: Old Steam Powered Machine Shop 34 & 35

Merle's snowed in out by Lake Erie, and he couldn't fire up a steam engine for me this week.  Let's all hang out in Dave Richard's Steam Powered Machine Shop and warm up a bit.

Hotcakes; Can You Say Hotcakes? Ruger Has A New Pistol Caliber Carbine!

Ruger is always pushing great new products out the door to surprise and please their customers, and I think this new little rifle is going to sell as fast as they can build them.  Nobody is saying anything about additional calibers, but I bet those are already in the works.  They have the 9mm ready to go, so that is what they are pushing now; just be patient if you want other pistol calibers, because it only makes sense that those will be chambered, too.  The 9mm packs plenty of punch out of the carbine barrel, and it would be good for home defense, varmint control, and even deer hunting in some states.  CLICK HERE to read Jeff Quinn's written review on his GunBlast site.

Ralfy Review: Whiskey Of The Year, What Is Your Defintion of Cozy?

Ralfy lives on the Isle of Man, in the Irish Sea.  He lives in a stone house, and he always is wrapped up for his videos.  Tonight he has a rather small fire on his hearth, and he is "Cozy."  It's a fraction of the fires we have in our stoves, and you can see Ralfy's breath.  He is made of stern stuff, Ralfy is!  I always enjoy his videos, and I think I would like him a lot if I were to visit with him.  Several years ago he made a video with his Mother, and you could tell that he loved her, and she loved him.  He was very kind to her.  That video is gone, and I fear his mother probably is gone, too.  Let this video be part of your Happy New Year celebration.  Ralfy is a good guy, and I like him.

Stayin' Alive!

Back in November I drove to Chickasha, Oklahoma and back in one weekend to pick up Lisa Marie.  It turned out to be 1302 miles.  I went 100 on both Thursday and Sunday, when I stopped in St. Louis to break up the miles.  Staying awake when driving alone can be a challenge.  I am pretty good at pouring coffee from my Stanley Thermos as I drive, because I have been doing it for decades.  Sometimes coffee is not enough, though.  Susan had packed caffeine shots in my snack bag, but they are hard to use when you are driving.  You have to cut the end off a foil tube, dump the powder into a little bottle of water, recap the bottle and shake it up.  Coming through Oklahoma and Missouri on Saturday I had a heavy crosswind and rain that kept visibility restricted. There were wrecks because of the wind, so I had to pay attention to my driving, and I was fighting sleep.  I reached into my snack bag and fumbled around.  The bottle I pulled out said ENERGY!  I did not have my reading glasses on, so I couldn't see the small print.  I thought it was a bottle with one shot of foul tasting psuedo fruit juice with a big shot of caffeine.  I managed to get the seal off of it and started shooting juice into my mouth.  That stuff seemed mighty intense...got about half of it down and put on my glasses.  Holy Cow.  I had just consumed at least 6 shots of caffeine!  I have over-indulged in coffee a few times, and the results are not pleasant.  The main thing is you can feel your heart pound and your chest tightens up.  About then Susan called and asked how I was doing..."I'm trying not to have a heart attack!" is what I told her.  I was chugging water to dilute the stuff down, and I got out at a rest stop and walked around a bit.  I made it to St. Louis and slept just fine that night, but I don't plan on doing caffeine shots like that again!

Essential Fashion Advice For Senior Men!

Ruger's Auction To Benefit Wounded Warrior Outdoors

Well, People's Good!  Ruger is offering a Deluxe Sporter this week that was made in 1972.  The distributor returned it for unknown reasons, and it appears to be as new in the photos from Ruger's website.  Maybe there is a little mark on the left rear of the stock.  If so, that can be fixed.   The reason I say that People are Good is that the next bid as I post this is $760, and suggested retail for a new Deluxe Sporter is a bit over the $400 mark.  Folks are generous!  This fine .22 LR rifle will sell mid-day, Wednesday, December 27, 2017.  The money goes to a good cause, and the winner gets a nice rifle for the contribution.  CLICK HERE, or on the photo to read the full description and to place that winning bid.  $1050

Tuesday Torque: Reversible Marine Engines

Reversible engines are not well known in most of the engine world, but they are well known in the world of cargo ships.  One of my forest landowners had a model of one that he showed me. He worked for an engine company and he loved talking about engines as much as he loved working in his timber.  Click this Link to watch a reversible engine in action as the engine starts, reverses, and then restarts to move the boat forward.  Our Facebook friend Eric Janssen posted this, but evidently the video is not embeddable on other sites.  Remember that when you post if you want your work shared on other formats.  You choose your privacy level on both Facebook and YouTube.

Photo is a screenshot from Eric's video, and is also linked.

OOPS!  The link works only if you are a Friend of Eric.  Oh Well.  Ask Eric to "Friend" you and you can enjoy his posts.  Eric Janssen is an artist who lives on the good ship Valer with his Schipperke Saartje, who may have been Cleopatra in a former life, his wife Lisbeth, and their son.  His posts are always a joy to see.  Eric posts under his name, and also in I Love My Schipperkes on Facebook.

But Wait, There's More! Muppets!

I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day

O, Come All Ye Faithful

Blue Christmas, Elvis Presley

Silent Night, Josh Groban

Away In A Manger, Emmy Lou Harris

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, Bing Crosby

It's A Marshmallow World, Dean Martin

Merry Christmas From The Family, Robert Earl Keene

Weekend Steam: Cincinatti Water Works Engine

Prepare to be amazed!  The low pressure cylinder is nearly seven feet in diameter!  Many Thanks to Merle for being our spotter!
Link  Thanks, John!
Link To Part Two

Angels We Have Heard On High, Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Rusty Chevrolet, Da Yoopers!

John Prine Christmas, 1993

Let It Snow, Dean Martin

Dark Mornings, Dark Evenings

Aren't you glad that you don't have to ride the bus now that you are grown up?!  What a depressing way to begin and end your school day.  In another month there will be a little light in the sky again when they start out in the  morning.

I Saw...

...Three Schips!

(Skipper, Lisa, Junior)

I Saw Three Ships, Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Ruger's Auction To Benefit Wounded Warrior Outdoors

Ruger is offering a stainless P91 Decocker in .40 S&W, made in 1994 for the auction item this week.  It will sell mid-day, Wednesday, December 20, 2017.  Click Here to read all about it and to place your bid. $700

Bring A Torch, Jeanette Isabella, Mannheim Steamroller

Jesus, The Missing Years, John Prine

This should be in our Christmas rotation, near as I can tell.  Always makes me sad, though.

Carol Of The Bells, Trans Siberian Orchestra

Tuesday Torque: Holt 120

This video shows the final seven days of the restoration of this tractor, which was found in Fairbanks, Alaska.  You can read all of the writeup HERE, on YouTube.  Merle spotted this one for us, and it's a good one.  Can you imagine soldering all of those tubes for the radiator?

Your Assignment Monday Morning;

Coffee!

Back To The Old Grind!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas, Johny Mathis

Home...

...is where the heat is.

What Child Is This?, Lindsey Sterling

Winter Wonderland, Dean Martin

Weekend Steam: Back To The Beginning Of Steam On The Farm

I don't know if Westinghouse was the first engine built for farm use, but I think it is the first to come into general distribution and use.  This one is from 1881, and you will probably never see one at a show.  Boilers have to be built to certain specs and be inspected for public shows, and a boiler from the 1880's is not going to make the inspectors happy.  Click this video over to YouTube and you can see that the owners are confident of the boiler at low pressure for private showings, but they do not plan to make it meet current specs.  It would require a new boiler to do that, and this one is good enough for private runs.

Most of the early portable and traction engines did not survive because of advancements in technology.  The air stackers of later threshing machines required more horsepower, so early traction engines became obsolete overnight.  Boilers were another subject.  There were many bad boiler designs in the early years and boiler explosions were common at sawmills and threshing sites.  If you have been looking at steam engine magazines for the last fifty-something years, you know what I am talking about.

The Westinghouse engines are remarkable because they pushed the Industrial Revolution onto the farm.  There are a few survivors because they were a solid design.  Henry Ford liked them, and maybe they were part of his inspiration.


Many Thanks to Merle for spotting this video for our enjoyment!

Are You Sending A Child Out Into The World? Watch Colin Flaherty's Videos!

I'll Be Home For Christmas, Anne Murray

Holly Jolly Christmas, Burl Ives

No, Not One And A Half!

This was a nice little patch of riparian timber not far from our home.  In 2010 it was 13 1/2 acres, then the owner cleared most of it after selling out the timber.

One and a half acres remained in 2011.

Now it is gone.  This is not a Forestry post, because this isn't Forestry.  I think Heinous Perpetrators fits it close enough.

Ruger's Auction To Benefit Wounded Warrior Outdoors

Chances like this one do not come around often.  Ruger is offering a Left Hand Gunsite Scout Rifle in .308 Winchester.  This is not a production item!  It is ready to use out of the box with its peep sight at the rear of the receiver, or you can mount a scope on the Picatinny rail.  CLICK HERE to read all about this special rifle and to place your bid.  $880

Merry Christmas Darling, The Carpenters

Tuesday Torque: Behind The Scene At An Engine Hobbyist Hideout!

In these videos we see Bob and Rob Gill working with a 1927 Cummins.  In the first video it is running on one cylinder, and Bob finds that the shop air compressor does not have enough pressure for air starting.  It takes a lot of tinkering with old iron to make it perform at the shows.



Bob and Rob lapped all four valves in the air starting system and found that they need 150 psi to roll this engine over for starting.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas, Johny Mathis

Angel Eyes, Emmy Lou Harris

Pass It On!

Bob Smith, at Smith Mill, Rinard, Illinois explains the intricacies of a stone bur mill and the milling business.  Bob and Marlene Smith host an open house in October every year, plus special events throughout the year. Knowledge is fleeting and can disappear in a generation or two. Smith's museum is a valuable resource for folks interested in history and industry.

Back To The Old Grind!

Lisa's Got A Ticket To Ride

Lisa has her harness for trips in the country.  She has been going over to the farm and visiting Jack and his cats.  Jack and Lisa walk well together, but out in his yard she is a bit intimidated when he runs by her.  As long as he is on the leash she is fine, though.

We watched Lisa's mom on Facebook today showing Schipps at a big dog show in Dallas.  That was a thrill!  Time for walking dogs before bed!

Sleighride, Leroy Anderson

Weekend Steam: Top 10 Fastest Steam Locomotives

Many Thanks to Merle for spotting this video for us!

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year, Andy Williams

Winch Truck Re-Visited

I found a snapshot of the old girl!  This was more than thirty years ago, and this truck was a wreck before I worked it over.  It's a wreck again, now.  So sad.

Jingle Bell Rock, Bobby Helms

Some Children See Him, James Taylor

Barking Dogs, Jingle Bells

Alvin and the Chipmunks Christmas Song

Ruger's Auction To Benefit Wounded Warrior Outdoors

You can't go wrong with Ruger's offering this week! It is a New In Box, late 2000 production P 94 DA/SA, Ambi Safety, Ambi Mag Release in .40 Cal with two magazines.  This fine pistol will fit into your life for car, home, or carry.  It will sell mid-day, December 6, 2017.  Click Here to read all about it and to place your bid.  This is a gun that will not attract the collectors, so regular Ruger shooters have a chance on this one!  $525 Someone got a deal!

Silver Bells, Dean Martin

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Mannheim Steamroller

Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree, Brenda Lee

Tuesday Torque: Old Man Motorsports!

Give an old man a Go-Pro and watch him go nuts!

Do You Think "Rice Grinder" Is A Motorcycle?

Back To The Really Old Grind!

Photo Courtesy of Zeke.  Location, Tokyo.

There's No Place Like Home For The Holidays, Perry Como

Stuck It!

Silent Night, All Day Long, John Prine

Does the last verse (2:30) get you, too?

Christmas Time's A Comin'! Bill Monroe and His Bluegrass Boys

Weekend Steam: Bulgarian State Railway Tour

Merle keeps finding them, and I keep posting them!  Thank You Merle!

Christmas Canon, Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Where Are You, Christmas? Faith Hill

Yes, You Should Carry At Home!

These "Teens" were cruising a neighborhood looking for fresh fish to skin.  Crap comes down fast, so you have to be ready.

Neglected To Death

This 1966 Chevy winch truck is a sad sight.  I used to drive this truck and I kept it in tip-top shape.  When I started working at Stewart Producers the old girl was not roadworthy, but a well servicing company needs a winch truck for all sorts of tasks, and I worked it over.

Stewart's well servicing operation was sold off many years ago and equipment was scattered.  I stopped and took photos for old-time's sake.  It is a shame how this truck has gone to ruin, mostly by sitting out in the weather and from neglect.

I put new oak boards in the bed more than thirty years ago and kept them oiled to shed water.  The jaw clutch, brake and gear shift on the winch worked like a dream.  This old truck pulled  stuck rigs out of locations, changed out poles, pulled transmissions out of rigs; I really liked using this truck.

Someone has cut the rolling tailboard off, so I guess this old rig is really a goner.  What a waste.

Snitches Get...Witness Intimidation Update From Colin Flaherty

Non-Sporting Breed?!!!

How is mole-hunting not a sport!!!???

Lisa Marie is enjoying life in the country!  She has been seeing squirrels, too, but hasn't figured out that she should be barking at them. That will come soon enough.

Ruger's Auction To Benefit Wounded Warriors Outdoors

Here's a special one for you all this week!  It is a 2004 Single Six in 17 HMR that was part of a small production run for NRA benefit auctions.  The grip medallions have the NRA logo instead of the Ruger Eagle.  This fine revolver will sell mid-day, Wednesday, November 29, 2017.  CLICK HERE to read the entire description and to place your bid.  $605

Tuesday Torque: Engine Aesthetics...

Which is most pleasing to the eye and ear?

Fascinating motion,


Or raw power,
...Or, do we want to see a little work being done?

Videos by our friend, Gary Bahre.

Wash 'em, Grind 'em, Squeeze 'em!

Back To The Old Grind!

I Think They're Onto Me!

The wise old does are pretty good at spotting things that don't belong, and they can sure bust a hunter who thinks he is about to connect with a trophy.

I did see a couple of pretty young bucks on this set.  I am moving the camera again to a new spot.

Now, That's Country!

Those 40 MPH curves are really tough for the guys that just left the honky-tonk and are trying to crack open a brew!  One left the road last night, went through two ditches, up and over the intersecting road and came to rest in a third ditch where his muffler fell off.  Looks like another case of the Mercury Blues, doesn't it?!   Anyhow, check out the country muffler job!  This guy used aluminum foil to fit his muffler to the exhaust pipe!  Country boys were smarter than that back in the Model T days for crying out loud.

  Prolly stole the muffler off his naybor! Wonder if he got the cadillac converter, too?!  You have to be careful, cause you can tear your cadillac converter off when you go off the hard road and across the medium!

Heinous Perpetrating Poachers

Read the fifth story on this edition of WFIWRADIO's news page.  We could tell that poachers were busy in our neighborhood.  The deer typically alarm at 100 yards, but lately you can't get within 1/2 a quarter (220 yards) before they bolt and run.  Our little patch of habitat at the home place is twenty acres of woods that is isolated a bit from nearby deer cover, and we are on the edge of a glacial lakebed that has all been cleared for farming.  The deer come to us for a place to hide because there is no east of us.  We went from having half a dozen deer to more than fifteen, and it is too early for the deer to gang up in herds.  Here is what the poachers have been doing lately:

The poachers have been shooting deer at night with a rifle, cutting out the tenderloins and leaving the carcasses to be eaten by coyotes and to rot.  We expect to hear more about this case in the months ahead.  It is a big deal, and it has had a major, negative impact on the herd in our neighborhood.

Junior Says...

OK, But Will He Do Windows?

What A Difference A Grain Makes!

I've had the .44 Mag Vaquero for a little more than a year now.  I had to work on the sights to move the point of impact, and I think it is right where I want it now.  This revolver started out shooting left and low with all the loads that I normally use, so I had to widen the rear sight groove to the right, and lower the front sight to raise the point of impact.  Settling on a load had to be done before I could finish the work on the sights.

I like shooting the 9 grain Herco load under Hornady's 200 grain XTP bullet, but a .44 Magnum should have loads a bit warmer than that.  9 grains is really a .45 Colt load, or not quite a maximum .44 Special load.  I moved the load up to 10 grains, which is above .44 Special, but still under the beginning loads listed for .44 Magnum.  Interpolating from Lee's manual, 10 grains should be in the 1000 to 1100 feet per second range.  It is still easy to shoot in the short barreled revolver, but has plenty of power for dealing with coons and coyotes I might encounter in our woods.

I used  a bottom hold on the figures above, with the front sight centered, and level with the top of the rear groove.  It is shooting just above the front sight at 50 feet.  You can see what the 9 grain load does with the same hold. I am cranking out more of the ten grain loads to have on hand so I can be confident when aiming small with my little hand cannon.

Ruger's Auction To Benefit Wounded Warrior Outdoors

Ruger is offering a 1981 .44 Magnum Carbine this week.  It is New-In-Box, with a little bit of shop wear.  This is not one of the commemorative carbines, so maybe the price will stay in a reasonable range.  (I just looked at the current bid...Oh Well!) There is some very pretty figure in the wood.  This fine, highly desirable carbine will sell mid-day, Wednesday, November 22, 2017.  Click Here to read the entire description and to place that winning bid.  $1501

Tuesday Torque: Early Tractors Must Be Seen To Be Believed

I still look on in wonder when I see some of the early tractor designs.  I am sure some of the steam engine people were disappointed when they switched to gas and tried to operate with a rig like the IHC hit-and-miss tractors. Single cylinder steam engines had two power strokes per revolution, and a single cylinder gas tractor had one power stroke per two revolutions.  Factor in hit-and-miss governing, and the power to run your thresher, silage cutter, or whatever, was totally different even if the horsepower rating was the same.






Well, if everything is in order they do fire up faster than a steam engine. Just DON'T put your foot on the spokes to crank, Please! These old engines can kick back and they can launch you all the way to the Emergency Room.

Meet Lisa Marie!

We had an opportunity.  A well respected Schipperke breeder retired 4 year-old Lisa Marie from the show ring.  We made the call and submitted our information so we could be scrutinized, and we are the lucky new family for little Lisa Marie, aka Tumbleweed's Southern Nights, an AKC Champion Schipperke.  I made a long drive over the weekend to meet Lisa's mama, sign papers, and bring her home.  She is already loving country life and long leash walks around the yard.

Still Able, Just Resting

Back To The Old Grind!

Please Pardon My Absence...

...I had to go see a lady about a dog. Be back soon.

Weekend Steam: Old Steam Powered Machine Shop 32

Let's run down to the parts store and pick up a rod bearing for the old gal!

Gotta Keep It Clean!

We scoop our dog yard twice or more per day. We like it clean so we can walk without fear while we watch and exercise the dogs. Hickory leaves are great camo for what the dogs leave behind, and they have to be dealt with right away when they fall. We have had two big drops, and we will probably have to do one more minor cleanup. The dogs love to walk and roll in the leaves that I've blown out into the driveway.

Ruger's Auction To Benefit Wounded Warriors Outdoors

You will have to compete with collectors for this Ruger.  It is a 50th Anniversary Flattop Blackhawk in .357 Magnum that is engraved.  It is not a regular production item.  This will probably be your only chance to have one of these.  It was made in 2005, and it has the smaller frame that was used on the pre-1962 Blackhawks.  This fine revolver will sell mid-day, November 15, 2017.  Click Here to read the full description and to place your bid.  $806.01

Tuesday Torque: Big Double-Simple Rumely

Merle spotted a good one that was shot up at Rollag.  A two cylinder double-acting steam engine has four power impulses in each revolution, and they can make quite a racket under load.



Thanks, Merle!

No Rest For The Rusty

Back To The Old Grind!
6 HP Associated at Pinckneyville

Rodney Still Brings Up A Smile

Colin Update: Black On Senior Violence

Do you carry at home?  Criminals target occupied homes; act accordingly.

Marines' Birthday

Back in 1975 the Marine Corps had a tree planting program to commemorate their bi-centennial.  They arranged to have tree plantings at schools around the country, and coordinated with state forestry agencies to get the trees and tools to the schools so the kids could do the planting.  I was involved with one of my good forester friends, and two Marines.   I wish I had written down their names.  One was an officer, and the other was a Sergeant.  Anyhow, I looked on Google Earth and the trees are there.  They are the white pines up on the hill behind the Pikeville, Kentucky Elementary School building.  I bet most of the projects were mowed down in short order by the grounds maintenance people at schools, because any change makes life difficult, and little trees are easy to run over.  Up in the mountains, though, nobody mows the hillsides, and these trees made it!  I am pleased.

Weekend Steam: Old Steam Powered Machine Shop 31

During this visit, David Richards shows his power hacksaw running, some lathe work, and working on an Associated gas engine block.

Rips Our Hearts Out Every Time

Little Bear starts a 1000 mile journey early Saturday morning.  He came to us last summer from a sad situation, and he had some serious problems, but he is ready to move on now.

Have you ever seen a dog that was so relaxed while having his nails filed?  His only fault is that he likes to go after cats; so he is going to a home without cats!  He likes to walk on his leash, and that is what his new daddy wants to do with him.  I will meet up with a volunteer in Missouri, and then he will meet up with the new parent, who is taking Bear Way-Out-West!  Here are a couple of songs, just for Bear.



It gets dusty when you send a little Schipperke out into the world, so Woody Guthrie's song fits.

Just In Time For Veterans' Day, Hickok Shoots his 03-A3!

I'll probably never have an '03 Springfield, but I always enjoy seeing one; whether it's an early one, or the World War II version.

Trespassers Are No Better Than Common Thieves

One of our friends had his hunt ruined last weekend by a trespasser who slipped into our timber and went up a white oak with a climbing stand.  The guy left before I could get there, but I saw him out by the road waiting for a ride.  I spoke to him, but didn't accuse him of trespassing; just milked him for information.  He lied through his teeth, and said he never was on us.  I looked around and found where he had been. He was 25 feet over the line, which is easy to see.  I'll be looking for him again next weekend.

Ruger's Auction To Benefit Wounded Warrior Outdoors

Ruger is offering something rare this week, but maybe not up there in the Collectible category.  It is a P91 Decocker in .40 S&W.  Usually you see these in 9mm, so this one is a little different.  It will sell mid-day, November 8, 2017.  Click Here to read the entire description and to place your bid. $755.58

Tuesday Torque: 5 HP Fairbanks-Morse Hit-And-Miss

Dick Brown displayed this beauty at Pinckneyville during the October 2017 show.  It is a great one for studying the hit-and-miss latch system that was used with many variations on different brands of engines.  I especially like watching the mechanism that blocks the intake valve from fluttering when the engine coasts.

Crowder's Interview With Mr. Stephen Wileford

Get Your Edge Again!

Back To The Old Grind!

In The Front Yard

Yup, that's a scrape, right out by the road.  Maybe I'll just go out there and shake some salt on his tail!

Weekend Steam: 38s Over The Mountains

Merle keeps finding good ones for us!  Go to Google Earth and look up Katoomba.  South through the mountains, you come to Robertson. That's where this video is, and it's not what I usually think of when looking for old steam locomotives.  Thank You, Merle!

Are Judges Ever Held Accountable?

Good News; Sad News

Little Bear (above), and Titan will soon be moving on.  Little Bear has  been cleared of heartworms and recently had his dental work done.  Both dogs have prospective homes now.  One is going way east, and the other is going way west.  We are going to miss these good little dogs, but we didn't start fostering to collect dogs.  We do it so homeless dogs can be placed into good homes again.  It's what they and their new families need.

Weather Coming In Tonight