Let's Go Hiking With Tristan! White Mountains, Eastern California

More Bird Babies, Turkeys Holding Up Traffic

 Three mamas and their babies were out for a stroll. 

Weekend Steam II: George White Engine Pulls A Sled

 Thanks, Merle! Low speed torque is always impressive to watch.

Weekend Steam: Fish In A Locomotive?

 Only if someone puts them in the tender. I can understand that engine crews might have time to fish, and store their catch, but that is the only way fish could get there. The suction line that is used to draw from surface water sources has a strainer because you don't want chunks going through the check valves when drawing water. The line from the tender to the engine likewise has to have a strainer for the same reason. Stick a check valve with rocks, dirt, or fish bones, and the engine can be quickly disabled.  Thanks for the pick, Merle!

'Maters!

 Susan is canning tomatoes! Also salsa, ajvar, green beans, and freezing eggplant and berries.

Crankin' It Up: January Fitness Edition With Our Svelte Schipperke

Originally published January 2, 2014, this post with our little Skipper dog attracted a commenter selling boxing gloves. Might be legit, I don't know. If you need boxing gloves, check it out and let us know. I can think of better places to sell fitness equipment than the blog of an old overweight dude! 
The slicks in the newspapers are featuring fitness equipment, just like they always do in January.  We weighed Skipper recently, and he has his weight down to thirteen pounds, which is five pounds under his weight when he moved in a little over a year ago.  He didn't eat farina, but he loves to snack on carrots.  Skip is a bit nervous when he is up on the Brunny, and he was glad to get back on the floor.

More Baby Buzzards When You Need Them!

 They are growing day by day. I sneaked in and had a few looks at them today and they are very shy. You get a glimpse and then they dart into their cubby hole. Mama feeds them in this short collection. 

Brassman Bart: Alexandar's Ragtime Band

The Last Gladiolus

 Gotta celebrate the Glads with good old Joshua Rifkin!

The Baby Buzzards Are Stretching Their Wings!

 These two little guys are quite active and I can see them growing day by day.  You will see the Mama in a couple of the clips in this video.

Tuesday Torque: Big 4 30 HP Tractor Pulling The Sled

 I am glad the operator quit before the motor pulled all the way down. Parts are hard to come by for these old beasts. Thanks for the link, Merle!

Susan's Potatoes

 Susan has been digging potatoes for a few mornings, and today I helped her finish out the patch. All of them are down in the basement, along with zucchinis, peppers, onions, and tomatoes.

Did You Sow Your Turnips?

 Days are growing shorter, you better plant them soon!

We Are Loving Our Baby Buzzards!

 It is great fun to sneak into the barn and have a peek at these little guys!

Cut it, Chop It, Grind It!

 If you think you are rough and tough, see if you can match the guys on the wagons stacking corn off that one row machine.

Back To The Old Grind!

Weekend Steam II: Steam Powered Brick Works!

 Last week we looked a gravity powered conveyor system that delivered raw material to a brick works.  Here is a steam powered brick works to show what happens next! Thank You, Bursledon Blogger for the information!

Weekend Steam: Big Boy On Tour In August!

 Study the schedule and map and try to see it in person! It would be worth a recon to scope out vantage points in advance.  Thanks, Merle!

Boonville, Indiana Show, This Weekend!

 It's always a good time, with a sawmill, threshing, and lots of tractors and gas engines! Facebook Link

Brassman Bart: Ta Ra Ra Boom De Ay!

Got It Back, Looking Better Than New!

 We give Fender Mender in McLeansboro, IL Two Thumbs Up!

I Found Work...

.

...So I had to write something...If you drive an old truck you always have something to do. The left rear brake cylinder was dripping a wee, or a bit more than that. We also just changed the master cylinder again. Gotta change the other side, too, then do the front wheel bearings and brake pads.

 I gotta say that I really don't enjoy doing drum brakes. The last bit where you hook up the springs is always a challenge. This time I ran a strap around the new shoes and that was a great help in holding things still while I wrestled.

The best brake job I ever did was on a 41 Willys Americar. I bought it in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa and drove it 30 miles to home. The brakes were weak. You had to plan your stops well in advance. I popped the drums off before driving it again and found that all but one of the pistons in the brake cylinders  were stuck. One brake shoe was doing all the work. I rebuilt those cylinders and the master cylinder and had good brakes again. 

I let that beauty go when I was going to college. A guy in St. Louis bought it and he was tickled to get it. It's a crime to take one of these Willys bodies and put it on a dragster.

Tuesday Torque: Coolspring Videos By Reddryder

Make Ajvar?

 That would be a logical thing to do!

                                                                  Back To The Old Grind!

Weekend Steam II: We Don't Need No Stinking Steam Engine!

 This is one of the neatest things I've seen!

Weekend Steam: Move A Cold Loco

 Hesston Steam Museum, LaPorte, Indiana. Every steam railroad has little Diesels like this one for moving the rolling stock.  Thanks, Merle!

Buzzard Cam!

 I checked the camera and we have more than an hour of baby buzzards in 10 second segments! Here's a few minutes of the joy for all of you!

Prepping Corn For The Freezer

 

Our friends George and Sally brought a bunch of corn over this morning, and Susan has been working hard to get it put up in freezer bags. I shucked and silked it, and Susan is doing the hard part. The electric knife makes the process go faster.

Brassman Bart: Fairest Of The Fair

 

This week's music is a Sousa march, The Fairest of the Fair, composed in 1908. Producing the audio for this video required me to use all 18 tracks available with Audacity, including the metronome track. Most parts were played using my 1912 York vintage euphonium, which you see in the video. Tuba part was played on my 1924 vintage Climax brand American made tuba, and percussion was covered with cowbell, tambourine, triangle, and cymbal.

Forty-Six Years!

Our rings still look pretty good, because we haven't worn them often. We've kept them tucked away because of the risk of degloving a finger, plus not wanting to damage them when working. We can put them on, but getting them off again is a challenge.

 

Tuesday Torque: Jay Leno's Hudson Hornets

One More Load For The Splitter

 Then another, and etc. This load has cherry, black locust, ash, and shingle oak.

Back To The Old Grind!

Weekend Steam II: Kory Anderson's Case 150 Pulling 36 Bottoms

 This was the debut of Kory's big project in 2018. Thank You, Merle, for sending the link! Surely there is someone who wants to build one of their own. One Case 150 in the World is not enough! Follow Anderson Industries on Facebook to keep up with the 150.

Weekend Steam: Hillcrest Lumber Shay Locomotive

 It does my heart good to see that Shay locos are still operating. They never got important roles in movies and TV, but they are great for tourist railroads.  Thanks for the pick, Merle!

Heli-Crop Dusting

 I got lucky today and enjoyed a bit of an air show. The pilot wasn't happy with the nurse truck being parked on the road next to the distribution line, and he had the driver move down the road. There still was a lot of flying close to the lines.

Cobbler Comin' Up Soon!

 Blackberries from the garden, plums courtesy of Sally, and Lazy Wife Greasy Beans. Those were the third most popular bean in 1907. They also can be used as a shelly bean. 

Yum! That didn't last long.

Brassman Bart: Old Grey Mare

Tuesday Torque: Ottawa Log Saws

 One of the neat machines you will see at engine shows is the log saw. These were made way back in B.C., Before Chainsaws! They are fun to watch, and are a bit more exciting than an engine that is not doing any work. The attachment  for a tractor is a new one for me. I will be sticking to my chainsaws, I think.

Independence Day Weiner Roast Extravaganza!

Susan and I go hog-wild, burn a brush pile, and put mustard plus ketchup on  our hot dogs. Soft tortillas are great for eating a hot dog. They wrap up neat and don't dribble the trimmings all over you! We hope your Fourth was Glorious, too! Kroger All Beef Hot Dogs! Susan's homemade relish from her garden!

Jefferson And Liberty

Make It A Double!

B-B-Baby-B-B-

Buzzards!

You must be very careful. Do Not Alarm the Mama! I don't know how far they can project vomit, and have no intention of learning!

Weekend Steam II: Marshall Portable and Rock Crusher

 You will have a great time watching this! I love the sound of a rock crusher munching cobbles into gravel. The old tractor and loader is a treat, too!  Thanks, Merle!

Weekend Steam: Berkshire Doubleheader!

 Thanks, Merle, another great one!

Rattlesnake Beans

 We got 1.07" of rain Wed/Th, and the garden is happy! Look at those 'maters comin' on!