The Way Of All Steel...

Oxide to oxide and rust to rust!  Better keep a light coat of oil on your hardware!

A neighbor hit this old Winchester with his plow about fifty years ago, and judging from the looks, it was probably on/in the ground for about fifty years.  The 1902 Sears catalog has octagon barreled Model 94s listed for $12.50, or about half a month's pay for a laborer back then.  This would have been a painful loss for whomever laid it down or lost it off his wagon.  You could buy a Model 94 in 32-40, 38-55, 25-35, and 30-30 back then. 

Speaking of losing things, Cameron Bosworth was making firewood down east of the farm in the Auxier/Shelton Creek Bottoms with Susan's Grandfather, Martin Knapp.  At the end of the day, Cameron hid the wedges so they wouldn't have to carry them out.  He had the misfortune of dying that night, and Martin never found those wedges.  That ground is all row-crop now, and I wonder if they have been plowed up and hung up in a toolshed as a souvenir.

Two Black Crows In Hades, Part 1 and Part 2

Dance Macabre, Horowitz

Click to Full Screen so you can read the annotations.

Olney FFA Did Well At Indy!

Jamie VanDyke, Olney, Illinois FFA Forestry Team, Representative from John Deere

                                                                    Click To Enlarge.

Jamie VanDyke, Ag Instructor at Olney, is a dedicated teacher.  I think this is the third time he has taken a forestry team to the FFA Convention, and they did very well.  The Team placed 8th in the nation, and they had two individuals in the top ten.  It is an impressive accomplishment for both the students and their teacher.  Congratulations!

Ruger's Auction To Benefit Honored American Veterans Afield

Here's a good GREAT one from Ruger!  It is a 1991 Ruger Red Label Over-Under Shotgun, in 20 Gauge, with 3 inch chambers, 28 inch barrels, Modified and Full Chokes. Top of the line walnut, too!  This is the shotgun you have been waiting for all your life, so CLICK HERE to read all about it and to place that winning bid.  This extra-fine shotgun will sell mid-day, Wednesday, October 31, 2018.  $1625

The Extent Of My Deer Hunting

We are just about on a first name basis with some of the deer around here, and we know where to go to have a visit with them.  Our friendly little six-pointer is hanging out in one barn, and this little four-pointer is hanging out where I park the tractor.

Tuesday Torque: Smoke Rings!

These big old Fairbanks engines are famous for blowing smoke rings.  That is one thing I always watch at the Boonville, Indiana show.  RoadKing 805 shot this video a few years ago, and Merle spotted it for us.  Thanks, Merle!

Old Times Are Not Forgotten

Back To The Old Grind!

Weekend Steam: A Visit To Jay Leno's Garage

1832?!  Good Catch, Merle!

The Moon Makes Me Dream

Ruger's Auction To Benefit Honored American Veterans Afield

Ruger is offering a real winner this week and it probably won't be run up by the Collecitibles Crowd.  This is a 1990 (first year of production) P85 Decocker Pistol, with 15 round magazine in 9mm.  These are great pistols for home, vehicle, sport; whatever!  They are built like a tank, and the Decocker would be my pick if I went looking for one.  It is New-In-Box!  You can't go wrong with this one.  Click Here to read the description and to place your bid.  This fine pistol will sell mid-day, Wednesday, October 24, 2018.  $655

Tuesday Torque: 30-60 Rumely Oil Pull

These big old machines are more fun to watch if they are working.  Here we see a big Oil Pull on a sawmill.  These were a big step up from steam engines, but life was still hard.  There is no description with this video, other than it belongs to Charley Roadhouse.

'round and 'round She Goes! Hard To Beat Stone Ground!

Back To The Old Grind!

Here You Go: LINK

Hey, did you notice that Mr. Freeman might just be a bit supersitious?  One of his galluses is twisted, and that will protect you from being struck by lightning!  I have heard it from many old-timers who were never struck; it must be true!

Tree Farm Field Day!

You could not have asked for a better October day than we had in Wayne County Illinois today for Gary and Debbie Stratton's Tree Farm Field Day.  Gary and Debbie were the Tree Farmers of the year in 2017 for Illinois, and today they hosted a party at their Tree Farm for all who are interested in growing trees.  Activities included a portable sawmill, invasive species identification and control, prescribed burning benefits, timber marketing, a fishing derby for kids, chainsaw maintenance, chainsaw use in falling trees, campfire, coffee, and free donuts!

                Gary and Debbie Stratton with Jay Hayek, University of Illinois Extension Forester.

                             
                                    Tree Farmers who have been active in forestry for 25 years.

                                          Susan won a Smokey Bear poster as a door prize!

                     Believe it or not, the chainsaw instructor won the raffle for a Stihl chainsaw!

The Fairfield Forestry District has always been a busy place, with very low turnover in foresters.  Mel Gerardo opened the office during the 1950's.  Mel was a Marine vet, and was one of the Chosin Frozens.  He ran the Anna-Jonesboro nursery when he left the Fairfield office.  Rick Moore was the next District Forester; he was a Vietnam vet.  Gary Stratton followed Rick, and I was the D.F. from 1988 to 2017.  Jenny Lesko has been there for a year now, and she is really getting into the job.  I hope she is there for many years. The Fairfield district has had several Illinois Tree Farmers of the Year.  Bernard and Mike Podolsky, Jack and Beth Riley, Terry Wheeler, and the Strattons were the award winners during my years at Fairfield.

Weekend Steam #2: Poor Kid...

...will grow up thinking everybody plays with steam engines.  He will be cast a weirdo about the time he hits junior high.  It's worth it, though!

Weekend Steam #1: A Bit Of Speed

Merle is keeping us buried in choices for steam videos.  This one will give everyone a thrill.  Thank You, Merle!

Another Part Completed!

Sheridan Concrete of Mt. Vernon, Illinois came to close up the jackhammered areas, and they did a great job.

We are dry, and that was a good deal, allowing the cement truck to get close.

                                                           The first wheelbarrow load.

They worked the cement for hours to make it smooth and pretty. We still have a way to go in the basement, but having the plumbing finished and covered up again feels pretty good.

Stratton's Tree Farm Field Day

Gary and Debbie Stratton are hosting a party Saturday, October 20 at their Tree Farm east of Fairfield, Illinois. There will be lots of activities, and you can learn a bit about timber management.  Gary will be discussing Timber Stand Improvement, Prescribed Burning, Invasive Species Control, and more.  There will be a safety trainer from the University of Illinois teaching you the things you need to know if you operate chainsaws.

                                                                  Click To Enlarge.

I have the saws prepped and we have picked out a big storm-damaged white oak to drop.  Come and see if it falls the way I want it to! 

All of those annoying little bright spots have been filed away, so there should be chips and no dust. See you Saturday!

The Problem Is Found

The blower started snorting, missing, losing power, and acting really bad the other day.  I thought it had a batch of bad fuel and the piston was sticking.  I was going to take it to the shop where we bought it, but pulled the plug so I could roll the motor over and check it for a scored piston.  The sparkplug told it all.  I cleaned this baby and the motor runs like new.

Ruger's Auction To Benefit Honored American Veterans Afield

Ruger is offering a special Redhawk this week.  It is New-Old-Stock from 1980, when the Redhawk line was first being produced. I have shot one of these and I can tell you that they shoot like a rifle.  It is good for Moose or Squirrel!  CLICK HERE and read all about it and then place your bid for a special revolver. This gun sells mid-day, Wednesday, October 17, 2018.  $2984.59

Tuesday Torque: Fascinating Magneto Drive

We saw this neat machine over at Evansville a year or two back.  I evidently did not take a photo of the builder's tag, so I don't know the make of this engine.  Someone on YouTube will tell us, I bet.

Chili Weather Requires Cornbread

Back To The Old Grind!

Another Dog Has Come And Gone

Groovy is a Schip-Mix that landed on us nine weeks ago.  Just long enough for us to get really attached to the little guy.  He took a trip today and is now residing somewhere in Chicagoland with his new Mama.  They made up right away when they met, and it appears that he will like his new home. It's an odd feeling of separation when a dog leaves to get on with his life.

Weekend Steam: 16" Railroad At Little Amerricka Amusement Park

We may just have to go to Wisconsin and see this in person!  Thanks to Merle for spotting this great little railroad!

Tonight,

...We light!

The Sewer-Septic Saga Continues...

The good news is we can take a shower again!  I have lost track of the number of days the plumbers have been working here, so I guess that's the bad news.  We had the septic tank sucked today, so it should be good for the next decade.  The new sewer line is in place and needs only a floor drain and a cleanout added before it can be filled in and new cement is poured. All of this started because we are going to put new flooring down in the basement.  Mission-Creep is a term that we use daily now.

The Last...

...Violet Of Summer??

Now THAT'S a Happy Birthday!

If you don't understand the thrill of such things, you just haven't lived long enough yet!

Ruger's Auction To Benefit Honored American Veterans Afield

Ruger is offering a very special Mini-14, built in 1979.  This one has the marking for the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, a model that was built for that organization.  1300 were built and marked with O.H.P on the rear of the receiver, and an additional 300 were made without that mark.  This rifle does have the O.H.P. mark.  It has been residing in Ruger's vault for nearly forty years, and now it can be yours!  CLICK HERE to read the full description and to place your bid.  $1834.99

Tuesday Torque: Plowing With Antique Tractors At Will County Threshermen's Association

On Some Jobs You Must Gum Up The Works!

Back To The Old Grind!  (This man is too much of an artist to use a grinder, but that is most of us would do today.)  (Gumming a saw increases the depth of the gullet to match the reduction at the top of the tooth.  If you don't do both, the gullet will fill with cuttings.) Recycled from five years ago. This is valuable information that bears repeating.

Weekend Steam: NKP 765

This one (Courtesy of Merle's video spotting) will put you right back into the early 1950's.  Thank You, Merle!

Ruger's Auction To Benefit Honored American Veterans Afield

Ruger made a run of Flattop Blacktops in 2005 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Blacktop line.  These were the same size as the original Blackhawks with the flat top of the frame that soon disappeared when the frame size was increased. This Blackhawk is engraved, a feature that was not put into the Ruger catalog.  This fine revolver has been residing in Ruger's vault ever since it was built and engraved in 2005.  CLICK HERE to read all about it and to place that winning bid.  $695

Tuesday Torque: Two Nice IHC Engines

Here are a couple of nice engines that look pretty similar. Engine aficionados will note that the one with the new paint fob is a hit and miss model, and is the older engine.  It has a thermosyphon cooling tank, which was soon phased out to a tray cooling system, and later, to a screen cooler over a tank.  The thermosyphon used a lot more water asn was heavier to move around.  The newer, original finish engine is throttle governed.