Wednesday, June 30, 2021

Daily Visit

This mama and her baby are out here just about every day. I also see another fawn, but its mama is more secretive. We have NO day lilies this year, because the deer like to eat the tops. Oh Well, they are staying out of the garden. Peter Rabbit is the little troublemaker there. 


 

How Bad Is It?

 The guy behind us said our brakes smoked them Bam! We killed a deer last night, and are fine. The radiator leaks and tomorrow the adjuster will inspect it with our body man. The air bags did not deploy. That's a good thing.  Adrenaline is almost back to normal.  UPDATE: Almost $3200. 



We got it back July 21 and it looks better than new! They even gave us a new litter bag! Fender Mender in McLeansboro, IL is great!

Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Home Is Where The Heat Is

 We are working on restocking the woodpile. It's going pretty well.



Tuesday Torque II: Scandinavian Drama! New Chainsaws In A Thrilling Video!

 I like the auto-tune of the 90, but my 385 XP is still running like a youngster at ten years old. I'd like to have one of each, but an old man needs a lighter saw to pack around. Plus, I have a new jug and piston to put in the 359, and then it will be like new again. Nothing wrong with kicking the tires, though!


Monday, June 28, 2021

Tuesday Torque: Stickney 5 HP Engine

 This nice looking Stickney was over at Evansville during the SIAM show. The fuel pump is unusual by modern standards.


Sunday, June 27, 2021

Will Handle Corn, Cob, And All


                                                             Back To The Old Grind!

Weekend Steam II: Take A Ride On The Cass Scenic Railroad!

 Merle, this is a great place. We went many years ago and I remember a lot of twisty roads getting there, but totally worth the drive! Thank You!  


Friday, June 25, 2021

Weekend Steam: Clayton And Shuttleworth Engine

 Thanks, Merle. I love these oddball and obscure engines you find!  


Thursday, June 24, 2021

Timber Inventory Basics, Gathering Information For Management


Here are some of the basics for figuring out what you have in your timber stands, so you can figure out what you need to do. Things you need are a map or aerial photo, a layout of how you will be arranging your plots, compass for navigation, plus your pacing skills, Biltmore Stick, diameter tape, and a prism and/or angle gauge. Spray your ankles to keep the chiggers off. A tick lifter may be needed, too.

Wednesday, June 23, 2021

Brassman Bart: Washington Post March, by John Philip Sousa,


"Hello! This week's number is the Washington Post March, written by John Phillip Sousa, performed by me, Brassman Bart, using Audacity multi track virtual recording system. All parts are performed by me , and yes, I used all 18 tracks this week. This was written in 1889, copyright renewed in 1917, and yes, it is public domain and the written music is available free of charge at bandmusicpdf.org. Parts covered in this performance: solo cornet, 2nd cornet, 3rd cornet, 1st trombone, 2nd trombone, 3rd trombone, and euphonium; these parts were performed with my classic York euphonium; tuba, using my Eb Climax Brand American made tuba; bass drum, covered using cowbell; drums, covered using tambourine, and cymbal. This is a very popular American march. Please like, please share, and please subscribe to my channel. This week's trivia questions are at the start of the video, and the answers to last week's trivia are at the end. Thank you for viewing and listening. Brassman Bart "

Monday, June 21, 2021

Tuesday Torque: Falk 5 HP On Display At Evansville

 Our friend Gary took the Falk engine over to the SIAM show at Evansville. When you get the Falk dialed in you can walk away and let it run out the fuel tank. 


Sunday, June 20, 2021

The Days Will Soon Be Growing Shorter

 Prepare for it!



Back To The Old Grind!

Saturday, June 19, 2021

Weekend Steam II: Keck Gonnerman On The Sawmill At Evansville


The SIAM (Southern Indiana Antique Machinery) show was back this year at Evansville! The Keck was doing the honors on the sawmill, and the Huber was steamed up and waiting for its chance. Andy Glines told us that he had just finished installing new flues in his Huber, including the main flue, which is 22" diameter on one end and 23" on the other. Beading that big flue just about did Andy in. It's tough, noisy work.


Friday, June 18, 2021

Weekend Steam: 1910 Erie Engine Works Restoration

 Merle, this is a good one. The catalog pages included with this video are really great for study. It would be nice if an original flywheel and base could be found, but at least another old engine is saved from the scrapheap. Thanks, Merle, for spotting!


Thursday, June 17, 2021

Can You Run Out From Under Your Hat When You Need To?

 Nuts319 sure can. In this video he is cutting a big red oak, and at the 3:22 mark, the tree pulls fiber all the way down a root that Mr. Nuts319 is standing over. He makes an impressive escape. I will never stand over a tree root again when I am dropping a tree.


Poor Ways?


 We have fence all the way around the garden, but most of it is low, just to keep the rabbits out. Well, a mama deer is raising a baby on the edges of the yard, and she has discovered our garden. She likes bush beans, and luckily, the dogs saw her and alerted us today. We ran her off, but of course she will come back. We added taller fencing around another side of the garden and hung cans and ribbons around the rest to discourage her. I'm not making any bets.

Two Pets In Less Than 24 Hours


 Here we are digging a grave for Yellow Cat. He showed up as an adult 16 years ago, and his body was totally worn out. That was expected. The strange thing is that the day before, Lottie, our little gray cat who came in two years ago, was healthy and hungry in the morning, and dead in the afternoon. She was curled up like she was sleeping. No idea why.

Wednesday, June 16, 2021

Pushing Over Small Trees

 You can handle small trees like these with a come-along and a rope, but having a tractor with a loader makes life easier. Wear your hard hat at all times so you don't bust your head on the bucket. Keep it high enough to walk under or low enough you won't bonk your head. Watch out for overhead hazards. Don't work in close proximity to energized conductors. Be methodical and plan every tree before you start. The ideal push is straight against lean, with no side lean. Don't push the limits on side lean if a tree can do damage.


Tuesday, June 15, 2021

Wheat Harvest 2021

 We always take some time to watch the wheat come out every year. Susan got to ride several rounds in the combine. This is one of those things that makes us think of Patti. She was always excited at wheat harvest.


Monday, June 14, 2021

Tuesday Torque: Rumely 30-60 Oil Pull Joyriding At Evansville!

 

This good-as-new 30-60 Rumely Oil Pull was out for a joy ride at the Southern Indiana Antique Machinery show at Evansville, Indiana on June 12, 2021. It was great getting out to a show and seeing old friends and familiar faces.

Sunday, June 13, 2021

There Is Always Work If You Want It


                                                             Back To The Old Grind!

Weekend Steam II: Western Maryland Shay #6

Merle sent a link for a good one! The Western Maryland Shay, #6 used to be at the locomotive museum in Baltimore, but you can see it at Cass Scenic Railroad now. Read about it HERE and Also Here and then watch the video to see it do a run-by. It is the last, and second largest Shay built by Lima. Thank You, Merle!


Friday, June 11, 2021

Weekend Steam: Illinois Railroad Museum, Frisco 1630 Return To Steam

 Great Pick, Merle! You gotta come to Illinois sometime and we will go have a look at this one!  Many Thanks!


Thursday, June 10, 2021

Crash Site?

 Looks like he really piled in! The things we see out in the country!



Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Brassman Bart: Entry Of The Gladiators

 


"Hello again! This week's performance is Entry of the Gladiators, also known as Thunder and Blazes, written by Julius Fucik, first published in 1897, and all parts in this low brass version are performed by Brassman Bart. If you have ever been to a circus, you have probably heard this, as it has been associated with circuses for over a hundred years. This number presented some unique challenges, such as phrasing and breathing on a low brass instrument, and covering the clarinet cues, and all 18 tracks were used in the final production. If you want to perform this number with your own local band, the printed band music is available free of charge as a download at bandmusicpdf.org, as this is public domain. Please like my video, please share, and please subscribe to my channel. Thank you. Brassman Bart"

Monday, June 7, 2021

Tuesday Torque: Massey Engines And Tractors At Evansville!

 The SIAM (Southern Indiana Antique Machinery) show is coming right up on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Featured machines are anything Massey, engines, tractors, garden tractors.


Here is a Massey gas engine we saw at Pinckneyville back in 2010.



Inspect Your Air Conditioner Before Hot Weather Arrives!

 The fins on your air conditioner condenser are out-of-sight-out-of-mind, but you can save yourself some money and trouble if you inspect and clean them yourself. Turn Off The Breaker! Don't use any sharp objects. Use very soft brushes so you don't damage the fins. Use 1/4" drive sockets to run the screws, not a screwdriver! Remember to turn off the breaker! Maybe tape it in position while you are working. Watch out for wasps. You got this!


Sunday, June 6, 2021

Fiber Optic Comes To The Boonies!

 

It seems we always have a project going on. Back To The Old Grind!

Weekend Steam II: Take A Trip On The White Pass And Yukon Railway!

 This trip is courtesy of our Chief Video Picker, Merle. Many Thanks, Merle!

Friday, June 4, 2021

Weekend Steam: Steam Trains Galore 8


“Steam Trains Galore 8 is finally here! In the next installment of the Steam Trains Galore series, we once again travel around the country to see a wide variety of steam locomotives pulling passenger and recreated freight trains. We will see large steam locomotives like the Pere Marquette 1225 and the Union Pacific 844 as well as smaller locomotives like the Alaska Railroad 152 in Michigan and Shay type logging locomotives in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. Brand new intro music recorded by The Mysterious Mr. Shoe is also featured. CoasterFan2105 is the home of all sorts of train and railroad related video content. Stop by every Friday at 9 AM Pacific time for an all new railroading adventure and be sure to check out all of my social media pages @coasterfan2105 for even more great railroad content. Thanks, and I'll see you down the line!"

Merle found another great one! Thank You, Merle!


CoasterFan2105

Thursday, June 3, 2021

Another Old Engine Saved!

 Our friend Gary has found an Otto engine, something that he has wanted for a long time. He brought it home from an auction, and it had come here from Argentina! It is important to note that the engine was seized, but Gary has had a great deal of experience with engines that have sat in disuse. The time from unloading to running in the video is five weeks and a day, and Gary worked on it only in his spare time!  Amazing!

                                                  Photo used with permission of Gary Bahre.

The Otto four stroke cycle is the system that we use in most internal combustion engines to this day. It is interesting to note that the Otto hit-and-miss governing system coasted against compression with both valves closed. Most American hit-and-miss engines coast with the exhaust valve open. Slow Gary's video down with the Settings feature at the bottom right corner and you can see the top of the pushrod toggle over to miss the rocker arm when the engine is coasting. 

Tuesday, June 1, 2021

Brassman Bart: Bell Cow Novelty March, by George Rosenkrans


 "Hello! The month of June is National Dairy month, so this is dedicated to anyone who has ever milked a cow. This week's number is The Bell Cow Novelty March, written by George Rosenkrans, originally published in 1914. Listen and you will know why it is called a novelty march, as it uses some unusual instrumentation. Many of the parts were performed on my vintage 1912 York euphonium; those parts are solo cornet, cornet 1,2, and 3; trombone 1,2, and 3, and the euphonium part. Tuba part was played on my Eb tuba, and percussion was performed using tambourine, cowbell, cymbal, and a steel bucket. If you have ever milked a cow, you will know the significance of the steel bucket. All parts were performed by me. Hope this makes you smile. Please like, please share, and please subscribe to my channel, Brassman Bart.

Thank you very much. Brassman Bart"