Wednesday, May 31, 2023
Susan's Garden Is Progressing Nicely!
One For The Kid!
Tuesday, May 30, 2023
Graue Mill
Back To The Old Grind!
Monday, May 29, 2023
Captain Carr, Tenth Illinois Infantry, 1862, New Madrid, Missouri
Many young folks today may not be familiar with the expression "Three On A Match," and probably haven't been around pipe smokers. The third man lighting a cigarette off of a match was likely to be hit by enemy snipers during WWI. The above passage illustrates that one man could suffer the same fate if his smoke was a pipe. I can remember my dad's step-father lighting his pipe when I was a little tyke. A pipe is rather dramatic when it is being fired up with an Ohio Blue Tip match. Every draw pulls the flame down into the bowl, and then the flame flares up big and bright before the next puff. Captain Carr learned the hard way that you can't do that in front of soldiers armed with rifled muskets. It was a sad end to an experienced veteran of the Mexican War. During that war, muskets were smooth bores, and the Captain may have gotten away with taunting the enemy while lighting up at night. I bet that no-one in the Tenth and Sixteenth regiments repeated his mistake during the next three years of war.
Saturday, May 27, 2023
We Remember
The uncle we never knew...Lloyd Tru Bentrup served on the U.S.S. Colorado during World War II. Three of his brothers also served, all in the Pacific. Donnie served on a seaplane tender, Maurice was in the SeaBees, and O.T. was in the Third Marine Division. Lloyd was mortally wounded on July 24, 1944 when the Colorado was hit 22 times by Japanese shore batteries at Tinian. He was evacuated to Saipan, where he passed one week later. His brother O.T. was fighting on Guam at the time. Lloyd's remains were shipped to St. Joseph, Missouri after the war, and his mother's peonies decorated his grave at Memorial Day for many years. O.T. mourned his brother Lloyd until his dying day.
Weekend Steam II: Western Maryland 734
Thank You, Merle!
Friday, May 26, 2023
Weekend Steam: Southern 630
Thank You, Merle, this is dramatic!
Thursday, May 25, 2023
Squatters Moved In!
Tuesday, May 23, 2023
Dead Ones Can Still Bite You!
This tree would have smacked the house if we cut it from the stump, so we brought out the pole saw and attacked it higher up. I got a reminder to always wear my safety gear!
Monday, May 22, 2023
Tuesday Torque: Power Unit Shorts
Here are a couple of gas engine Shorts spotted by Merle. Many Thanks, Merle!
Twin City Power Unit
1920s 45 HP Holt Combine Harvester Engine
Sunday, May 21, 2023
Saturday, May 20, 2023
Weekend Steam II: Colorado Narrow Gauge
Merle found a great channel. I will be looking at more of the videos there. Thank You, Merle!
Friday, May 19, 2023
Weekend Steam: Beamish Steam Gala 2023!
Thank You, Merle for spotting this one! It is superb, and current, too. Just one month ago!
In Other Wildife News...
Tiger Beetles are numerous this Spring! They are a pretty little beast who does no harm. Do not mistake them for emerald ash borer. Tigers are boxy; ash borers are streamlined.
Murder In The Dog Yard!
We think one of our baby squirrels was picked off by an owl. I found a couple of bloody spots under their hickory den tree. Owls have wickedly sharp talons that would punch deep into a little gray Squirrel.
Thursday, May 18, 2023
Busting Bradford Pear
We had to pick up these big chunks with the tractor. Before we had a hydraulic splitter we would bust big ones where they laid with the Monster Maul, but I religiously avoid that activity now. It's too hard on the elbows! I put one load in the barn yesterday and have another load split on the RTV.
Tuesday, May 16, 2023
Wonderful Wildlife Surprise!
We have four pairs of geese hanging around the pond this year, and also too many raccoons. I had given up on having goslings because of nest predation, but today five goslings appeared, grazing their way around the pond with the proud parents.
It looks like we will have fawns soon.
Monday, May 15, 2023
Tuesday Torque: Steam To Diesel Abominations!
This is another new one for me, Merle! I must say that I'm agin'it! It is interesting history, and I can see why they would convert a plowing engine that could have its useful life extended. Thank You for the referral!
Sunday, May 14, 2023
A Bit Quicker Than A File!
Back To The Old Grind!
Saturday, May 13, 2023
Appropriate Sentiment For The Day
Weekend Steam II: Disney World Railroad
Pretty neat, Merle. I did not know about this!
Friday, May 12, 2023
Weekend Steam: Western Minnesota Steam Threshers' Reunion At Rollag, MN
This video is by Seven In All Adventures on YouTube, and was spotted by Merle, our faithful reviewer of engine videos. Thank You, Merle! I must watch every second and see if I spot myself wandering the grounds with my cameras!
Thursday, May 11, 2023
Stump Talk
Wednesday, May 10, 2023
More Oil Pull!
This is Model W 20-30 Rumely Oil Pull. These were made 1928 to 1930, and were rated for 30 horsepower on the belt. The old tractor does pretty well for about 95 years, peaking at 27 horsepower. Kids are special. The little guy doesn't realize that he is getting a rare treat, riding around with his dad on an old Oil Pull tractor. He will figure that out soon enough. This touching scene happened at Rollag, Minnesota, Labor Day weekend, 2023.
Monday, May 8, 2023
Tuesday Torque: Plowing With A 1930 Oil Pull
Thank You, Merle! Always love the Oil Pulls!
Women On Target, Carmi, IL, 2023
Sunday, May 7, 2023
Saturday, May 6, 2023
Weekend Steam II: 2 1/2% Grade
The writeup says it is 1 in 42, which is real close to 2 1/2 percent. It doesn't sound like much for money, but for a train, that is a big deal. Watch the engineer deal with it.
Friday, May 5, 2023
Ranger's Ride
Ranger is exceedingly energetic and he needs extra time to run in the dog yard every day by himself. Once in a while we treat him to a ride in the utility vehicle. He loves a ride.
Weekend Steam: Engines At Rough And Tumble, 2022
Many Thanks, Merle! In these video shorts you see an Avery Undermounted, Advance Rumely, and an A.D. Baker.
Thursday, May 4, 2023
Bean Trellis Is Up!
Susan is hitting the garden hard this year. Last year, with her surgeries running interference, she still managed a great garden. Should be good this year!
Wednesday, May 3, 2023
Chickanic, With An Important Tip For All You Lawn Mowers!
Tuesday, May 2, 2023
Tiny Thompson Engine
These cute little engines were not meant to be toys, but were meant to do light work. It's cute, but it was a commercial failure.
Tuesday Torque: Road Roller Rabbit Hole!
Did you ever hear of McDonald Road Rollers? I sure haven't. Merle sent a clip of one, and you have to drive all the way to Australia to see them. There are several videos on YouTube for our gratification. Thank You, Merle!