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. 

Summer Song!

 

Weekend Steam: Shays Are Beasts Of The Woods!

 Thank You, Merle. We always love watching Shays!

                                                                   Click Pic For Video

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

It seems like it is raining every day lately, but now the forecast is for four or five days with sun and no rain. Nobody wants to rut up a field, but every rain on ripe wheat degrades it, so folks get nervous.

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

Click Pic For Video

Thank You, Merle!

 

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!

Plumbing, A Difficult Blessing

 Changing the kitchen sink's faucet means replacing the shutoffs first. A one hour job takes all day!

Anon: 

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.

Day Lily Success!

Susan's day lilies have been hammered by deer every spring, but this year they are being left alone. I don't know why, because deer are in our yard on a daily basis. It is great seeing these old friends. 

 

 

Stop And Smell The Basswood Flowers!

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!

Stay Sharp!

 

                                    Back To The Old Grind!

Weekend Steam II: Engine Rides

Scale model traction engine ride!  Thanks, Merle!

Going up the Animas River on Engine Number 476.

 

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.

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. 

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 Torque: I Will Keep My Huskies!

 Thanks, Merle! I really like this one!

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!