Weekend Steam: British Plowing Engine, Pulling A Sled!

 I never thought about the Brits having tractor pulls, but now I know better! Thanks for spotting, Merle, and Happy New Year!

Tight Branch Angles, Included Bark

Tight branch angles are trouble. They trap bark between the stem and the branch or fork, making a weak connection that is prone to breaking up in a storm. You lose wood quality, timber volume and maybe the entire tree. If you can reach the problem branch when it is young, take it off.  Take the tree out so other, better trees can grow if you do a pre-commercial thinning. Trees like this are good candidates for firewood, too. Sawlog trees with this problem should definitely be taken during a harvest, rather than keeping them for the next sale. They are high risk.

This is how the tree appears when you can look inside.

This is what happens when you don't nip the problem in the bud. Rot is introduced into the tree, and there will be ring shake at the year of the injury.

 

The Bryn Athyn Train Wreck, December 5, 1921

 This wreck should not have happened, and it caused the change to metal passenger cars.

Almost A Chainsaw Disaster!

 Eaton Rapids Joe sent a link for a chainsaw story in the UK Daily Mail (click the link), and it is an educational article and video. Much of the information in the article is obviously wrong if you have spent any time on our chainsaw posts. Matt Charland, the man who is nearly killed, is no lumberjack, though he may have cut trees before. He said the tree had a weird angle, but the tree appears to have forward weight and it should have fallen right if he had made the proper cuts. The tree is dead, and that is one of the failure factors. Dead trees can be brittle and lose fiber strength. So, what did Mr. Charland do that was wrong?

You always should evaluate weight and lean on every tree you cut from two different angles, and assess whether the tree will need to be wedged, and if so, how much lift you need to provide. Wedging a dead back-weighted tree is risky because the hinge is likely to part when you lift with your wedges. 

This screen shot at 36 seconds makes the tree appear to have forward weight, and the next one at 39. Click on the first photo and they will come up so you can click through them.

seconds shows the tree tipped forward. Then the hinge fails. This is the real failure in the process. The hinge was obviously not strong enough, and probably was cut too thin. The back cut on any tree you fall should be perpendicular to the stem, which usually is a horizontal cut, not angled as this one is. Many novices cut on an angle, and the explanation they always give me is that it will make the stump push the tree over. At best, you cut through more wood to make the back cut. At worst, as in this case, the hinge failed, the tree slid on the sloping back cut, and the butt of the tree was propelled forward by about three feet, totally changing the balance of the tree, brittle wood was jarred loose from the treetop and rained down, and the tree which had started forward, changed direction and fell opposite of the planned direction. 

                                                                      Sliding

                                             

                                                       Landed, tipping back, and wood is falling.

Make a plan for every tree you cut, starting out with the hazards. Use a plumb to determine weight and lean. Avoid wedging dead brittle trees if they have much back weight. If you do, have an escape route in case the hinge pulls apart. Do not cut trees that have any chance of hitting valuable improvements, especially power lines.  Thank You Very Much, Eaton Rapids Joe, for the link!

All The Snow Has Turned To Water,

 Christmas Days Have Come And Gone...

Back To The Old Grind!

Weekend Steam: The Flying Scotsman, One Week Ago!

 Merry Christmas, and a big Thank You to Merle, our engine spotter!

A John Prine Christmas

I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day, Jim02026 Player Piano

Angels We Have Heard On High, Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Carol Of The Bells, Jennifer Thomas and the Ensign Symphony

Let It Snow/Winter Wonderland, The Piano Guys

Merry Christmas From The Family, Robert Earl Keen

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, John Prine

1913 Massacre, Arlo Guthrie

 Written, recorded and released by Woody Guthrie in 1941, and recorded by Arlo Guthrie for his Hobo's Lullaby album in 1972. A waning moon on a cold winter night before Christmas is a sad reminder of the Christmas Eve disaster.

Vivaldi Four Seasons: Winter, Cynthia Freivogel and the Voices of Music

It's official now. The days will be growing longer again.

 

Outdoorsman Challenge

 Find the deer. It is less than fifty feet away. Spotting a tiny bit of your game can be the key to success. I spotted her, took photos, and left without alarming her.

And here is the answer. One ear. She spotted me first. Both ears turned to me and I stopped. In a few seconds she relaxed and she no longer faced directly at me. If you are hunting meat and not a trophy, the time you spend in the woods will make the deer become somewhat accustomed to you. 

Silent Night and Adeste Fidelis, Brassman Bart

Tuesday Torque: Riding Along In A 1919 Model T

 We haven't visited Road King for a while, and his videos are always fun and a bit educational. This T Roadster starts and runs great, and it looks like an easy driver, too.

Good Christian Men Rejoice, London Philharmonic Orchestra

Working The Old Way!

 

Back To The Old Grind!

We Three Kings, Kings College, Cambridge

Weekend Steam II: Steam Locomotives In Autumn!

 This is half an hour of steam, so pour a cup of coffee! Thank You, Merle!

Lo, How A Rose E're Blooming

One Tree, Two Little Loads

The ash that snapped its top and tried to get me is all cut, split, and stacked. Two trips in the Kubota RTV got it all, plus another small pole that I had on the ground.

 

Vivaldi Concerto In D Major RV 212 "St. Antonio" Alana Youseffian And Voices Of Music

Alana Youseffian will thrill your heart with this performance. Watch the other musicians as she plays the Cadenza. Especially, watch the cellist, who is about to burst as Alana plays harmonics beyond the fingerboard.  

LMS 46100, The Royal Scot Ascends Hatton Bank

 I never cease to be amazed to see steamers running like new in today's World. Great Pick, Merle! Click the video over to YouTube to read the description.

Christmas Canon, Trans Siberian Orchestra

Bring A Torch, Jeannette Isabella, Mannheim Steamroller

O Tannenbaum, A New One From Brassman Bart

Holy Moley!

 A high school acquaintance  told me how to handle moles many years ago. He managed a golf course and had figured out how to get them. Just push down all the runs that are active, watch and wait. Pretty soon, the mole will start pushing a tunnel roof back up. Pounce with your shovel. Well, we have moles invading the dog yard. It's hard enough keeping grass with all the little feet running around, and the moles make a mess. The dogs want to sniff and dig, too. I did the "pat down and wait with a shovel" trick this morning, and by golly, it worked! The dogs were all a bit spooked by it when I flipped it out. They weren't nearly as eager as when they were trying to dig him out.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, The Piano Guys

Silver Bells, Dean Martin

What Child Is This? Lindsey Stirling

Widowmaker Surprise!

 Always wear your safety gear and make a plan that includes looking for hazards and your escape route!

Angel Eyes, Emmy Lou Harris

Mike Rowe, We've Set Up The Workforce For Failure

Copper Being Dug, Ground, Pulverized, And Much, Much More!

 Back To The Old Grind!

Twenty-Year-Old Saved From Life Of Crime

 Look at the news stations in any big city and your heart will be broken for our country because of lawlessness gone wild. In this news report, a 23 year-old met a 20-year old to sell a gun. I am guessing it was a stolen gun. The 20 year-old got his hands on the gun and took off running. The seller drew another gun and unloaded on the runner. There truly is no honor among thieves.

Weekend Steam II: A Little More Flying Scotsman

Thank You, Merle!

Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem, An Appalachia Christmas Tour

Weekend Steam: Flying Scotsman Fights A Howling Storm

 Thank You Merle! This is grand!

Christmas Time's A Comin'!, Bill Monroe

 Faith Hill wonders where it is, Bill Monroe says it's on the way!

Everything But The Music Box!

 One of my favorite poems has come true! Robert W. Service published this gem in his final volume in 1955. It should have more fame. Read to the end and see what is available in the marketplace today!

Toilet Seats, by Robert W. Service

While I am emulating Keats
My brother fabrics toilet seats,
The which, they say, are works of art,
Aesthetic features of the mart;
So exquisitely are they made
With plastic of a pastel shade,
Of topaz, ivory or rose,
Inviting to serene repose.

Rajahs I'm told have seats of gold,--
(They must, I fear, be very cold).
But Tom's have thermostatic heat,
With sympathy your grace to greet.
Like silver they are neon lit,
Making a halo as you sit:
Then lo! they play with dulcet tone
A melody by Mendelssohn.

Oh were I lyrical as Yeats
I would not sing of toilet seats,
But rather serenade a star,--
Yet I must take things as they are.
For even kings must coyly own
Them as essential as a throne:
So as I tug the Muse's teats
I envy Tom his toilet seats.

A Dream Come True!

Where Are You Christmas? Faith Hill

Away In A Manger, Emmy Lou Harris

Some Children See Him, James Taylor

Santa Baby, Eartha Kitt

Tuesday Torque: Sir Peter Jackson's World War I Vehicles

 This is great, Merle. Thank You!

Bowling Balls, Fascinating Processes!

 

Back To The Old Grind!

O Holy Night/ Ave Maria, Lexi Walker, Piano Guys

Weekend Steam II: Pisgah Central Railroad

 Thank You, Merle! Took a trip and didn't leave the farm!

It's A Marshmallow World, Dean Martin

How The Left Stole The Future

 If you need confirmation, all you have to do is check on your old classmates who became teachers and use social media.

Carol Of The Bells, David Hicken

Weekend Steam: Wash Up And Brush Up, British Loco Maintenance

This is a great video showing history up close. Thank You Merle!

Sleigh Ride, The Five Browns

 Five Julliard trained sibling pianists, on five Steinways!

Holly Jolly Christmas, Burl Ives