Tractor design was a painful process, and there were a lot of bad ideas during the transition away from steam and horses on the farm. Henry's Fordson was a major step, and then IHC's Farmall pretty well settled how a tractor should be built. Many Thanks, Merle. I have never seen one of these Gray Drum Drives.
Monday, June 30, 2025
Tuesday Torque: Gray Drum Drive Tractor
Sunday, June 29, 2025
Driving Home From The Farm...
...I had a light show both west and east. This picture is looking east, just before sunset Saturday evening.
Dogs Go Out, Dogs Come In!
Weekend Steam III: UK's Oldest Locomotive
Saturday, June 28, 2025
Weekend Steam II: Steam Fans Know The Answer!
Thanks, Merle!
Friday, June 27, 2025
Weekend Steam: Chinese Coal Mine Steam Trains
Great Pick, Merle! Many Thanks!
Foster News! Zahara And Princess Peaches Have Left The Building!
Zahara and Peaches moved in with us at Christmastime last year, and are great little dogs. We finally found the perfect home for them and they left on a twelve hour trip Thursday morning. We have had a couple of good reports from their new home today. Joy!
Zahara and Peaches' new digs! (Click)
NEW M1 Garands From The Civilian Marksmanship Program! What You Should Know
Thursday, June 26, 2025
Phoebes!
We are not using the outdoor lights on the east side of the house. We don't want to cook our babies! Mama Phoebe has been very patient with us, flying a short distance away to watch us when we are near her nest. These babies will fledge soon.
Tuesday, June 24, 2025
What Are Raccoons Made Of?
Very Late Tuesday Torque: Grease The Rails, Have Some Fun!
Sunday, June 22, 2025
Surfing The Heat Wave, Keep Your Pups Cool!
Hop In, Hop Out, Repeat. Back To The Old Grind!
Saturday, June 21, 2025
Out Behind The Barn: Doe Deer And Baby
This little scene was a real treat for me yesterday when I was checking on the farm.
Weekend Steam II: Why Are Mallets So Special?
They pulled heavy coal trains out of the Appalachians...Thank You, Merle! I showed up too late in E. KY to see any of these in action.
Weekend Steam: Shays Are Beasts Of The Woods!
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Last Chance To Visit The McLeansboro Viaduct!
Look up Marx Brothers Viaduct if you don't understand the cultural reference. Groucho aside, if you try to drive through there during a heavy rain, you will know Why A Duck! You'll never make it on a chicken!
Harvesting Wheat Between The Storms
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Punch And Crunch That Cabbage!
Susan is growing some beautiful cabbages this year in the garden. She cut up twenty pounds for the crock, I added salt and punched and crunched. It is down in the basement now for six to eight weeks with our kraut rock pressing it down.
Tuesday Torque: 1915 Mogul 8-16
Sunday, June 15, 2025
It's Always Something!
We were gifted a nice little mini-tiller with a Honda engine, but it hasn't been used in many years. Rather than try forcing it to run with a clogged up carburetor, we just ordered a new carb along with new fuel lines, because the old ones are hard and shrunken. It should be up and running this week if I can get an hour or two to swap in the new parts. Back To The Old Grind!
Saturday, June 14, 2025
Plumbing, A Difficult Blessing
Changing the kitchen sink's faucet means replacing the shutoffs first. A one hour job takes all day!
Friday, June 13, 2025
Weekend Steam: Southern Indiana Antique Machinery Show, This Weekend!
SIAM got rained out Friday, with 2.8 inches in 1/2 hour, but tomorrow is bound to be better. There are lots of gas engines, tractors, old cars, a few steam engines working, and much more. North side of Evansville. Be There! Here's Andy Glines' Huber pulling the sawmill a few years ago.
Thursday, June 12, 2025
Day Lily Success!
Tuesday, June 10, 2025
Stop And Smell The Basswood Flowers!
Monday, June 9, 2025
Tuesday Torque: Rumely Oil Pull Details
Have you ever noticed this on Oil Pulls? The big 30-60s are started from above by the operator pushing the flywheel clockwise with a leg. That always looked risky to me, but I guess it is OK. The smaller Oil Pulls are started from the ground by spinning the flywheel counter-clockwise, as in the following video. (Please don't grind the gears. Pull the clutch out, wait for the parts to stop spinning, and then engage the gears.)
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BONUS VID! Rumely Oil Pull Winch Tractor!
Sunday, June 8, 2025
Saturday, June 7, 2025
Weekend Steam II: Engine Rides
Friday, June 6, 2025
Driving A Cornish Bull Pumping Engine
A short film showing the driver's platform of the Bull engine at Kew Bridge Steam Museum, as the engine is started, run and stopped. This engine is the only working example of a Bull type Cornish pumping engine in the World, and one of only four known examples surviving. The engine was manufactured and installed by the celebrated engine makers Harveys of Hayle, and has a seventy inch diameter bore and a stroke of about ten feet, with the cylinder positioned directly over the pump.
And here's another video of the same Bull Cornish Engine. Click the pic for the link to YouTube.
Thursday, June 5, 2025
Keep Your Powder Dry!
I dumped 150 .38 Special cases in the ultrasonic cleaner and ran it for two eight minute cycles. After rinsing and shaking out water I dumped them on a cookie sheet to dry and found an unfired cartridge. Well, there is nothing you can do but knock it down. The surprise is that the powder was still dry! It's good to know that a cartridge is fairly water resistant, but I won't be tempted to fire a cartridge that has taken a bath. Hangfires, squibs, and stuck bullets can wreck your day.
Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Danger From Above
Another Nighttime Hunt Is Coming Up!
We have another nighttime hunt coming up. A second armadillo has invaded the compound, and it will be ejected!
Tipsy Mulberry
This mulberry tree was a challenge. It was falling slowly, but was definitely going to block the driveway to the rifle range, and an event is coming up in a few days. This tree was situated on a creek bank, and to make the felling cuts I had to climb down and stand on exposed roots. You will see me clear the work area, then disappear to make the face and bore cuts. I released it from the back, and then we cleared the wood out of the road. This was a quick job, and with some difficulties because of the tree's placement. We got'er done, and made it home before dark. Many thanks to the club member who came to shoot and helped us clear the road!
Tuesday, June 3, 2025
Tuesday Torque: I Will Keep My Huskies!
Thanks, Merle! I really like this one!
Sunday, June 1, 2025
Rock Garden Fun!
Our priorities have changed over the years. Susan had a great time building her rock garden, but it takes a lot of time and we have more important things to do. Gardening, wood cutting, grass mowing, and caring for Schipperkes keep us occupied and entertained. How on Earth did Susan move those big 'uns?
It's always something. Back To The Old Grind!