More Garden News

 The potatoes were done. The wet July weather caused a few to rot, but the damage was minimal. We will be moving them down to the basement shortly.

Sixteen Pints!

Susan canned two batches, for a total of 16. 

 

Tuesday Torque: Oil City Allis WC!

 This is just neat as heck. It is an Oil City powerhouse two-stroke engine installed on an extended frame of an old Allis Chalmers WC tractor. (A bit of a guess on the WC model.) The engine is belted to the belt pulley on the Allis, and that provides power through the transmission. Many thanks to Merle for spotting this one!

Coming Up From The Basement Monday!

 

Susan will be canning our kraut Monday afternoon! Back To The Old Grind!

Abandoned Locos....

 ....courtesy of Merle! This would be worth the trip!

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Don't Disturb The Roots!

 Going way back for this one! One of the earliest things I remember from forestry classes is that trees do not like having their root systems disturbed. Add or remove an inch or two of soil from around an oak, and it will croak. Sometimes it takes a few years. Sometimes it happens quickly. Many have called me to select trees to keep or remove around a building site, and I would tell people to not build in the woods. Build in the open and then plant the trees you want. Some listen, the rest pay big money for tree removals over the next decade.

Here is a newly killed swamp chestnut oak at our county courthouse. It was planted about five years ago. A new parking area is under construction, and the contractors scalped a couple inches of soil from around this tree. The other trees from this planting project were unmolested, and are still thriving. 

Weekend Steam: Boonville, IN Summer Show, This Weekend!

 The show ground is just north of Boonville, Indiana. Lots of shade available. Hit the road!

Tinian, The Forgotten Invasion, From The History Guy

 

Susan's father, O.T. Bentrup, was fighting on Guam at the time. O.T.'s brother Lloyd Bentrup, serving on the U.S.S. Colorado, was mortally wounded and evacuated to Saipan, where he passed a week later.

Where Do The Years Go?

 

Dad has been gone twenty years today. It doesn't seem like that long. Little Isaac, enjoying a train ride with Dwain turned five that day.

Patti passed away seven years ago today. It still seems like we should be visiting with her every day.

Participation Trophy Winner!

 Carmi Rifle Club and the White County Farm Bureau host a steel shoot every July. We recently had our fifteenth annual event. Young, old, fast or slow, all are welcome to compete, and each competitor has a chance of winning a pistol that is made available through a local firearm emporium. A winning score is nice, but that is mostly just for bragging rights. This year, I was the lucky winner, and now have a new Mk IV Ruger Competition pistol. I ran it for the first time yesterday and have it pretty well sighted in. The trigger pull from the factory is a crisp 3 3/4 pounds. That's nice in a new factory pistol. It will probably break in to around 3 pounds. Anyway, here is some of the action, and a photo of the new hardware. 

Tuesday Torque: Oil Creek And Titusville Railroad

We are visiting Merle's home state today, to ride the Oil Creek and Titusville Railroad! Many thanks for the suggestion, Merle! I like the old Diesel switcher engines. They used to be a common sight on branch lines and small independent railroads. 

 

Susan Is Busy!

Back To The Old Grind! Tomatoes Tomorrow!

 

Weekend Steam II: Denton, North Carolina

Weekend Steam: A Couple Of Good Ones!

 

Many Thanks, Merle!

Cowboy Boots And Shorts? Not A Hard Hat To Be Seen.

 Here's a pulling unit that was working just a little way down the road from us. They did not pull the tubing, so this was probably a job to change the pump, which is on the bottom end of the rods you see being run in. It might have been a fishing job for a parted rod, but I don't think so. When you have a fishing job, the pumper will often have a spare rod on his headache rack to be added when the string has been run in, and no spare rod was picked up when they finished.

Tuesday Torque II: Holt Crawler

Tuesday Torque: Tractor or Automobile?

 I really like this one, Merle! Lanz Bulldogs are always great to hear, and this one would be a good ride for cruising the main drag.

Starving Squirrels?

 Here's an odd one for you. The squirrels around our yard are eating the new cones from the white pines! Hickory nuts appear to be scarce, with lots of aborts, and very few good ones to cut. The squirrels will taste like pine sap, I think. They have also been raiding the garden, eating tomatoes on the vine, more than they usually do. Susan is canning produce as fast as she can, because these signs are pointing toward a cold, hungry winter! (Avacado for scale) Back to the old grind!

Triplets!

 

Weekend Steam: Antique Mamod Engine.

 These little engines were favorite toys for kids lucky enough to have one.  Many Thanks, Merle!

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The Latest Schips, Bella and Stella

 Little Bella is a very small 7 + pounds fluff Schipperke. Stella has obvious Chihuahua traits, and may be mixed with Schip. Bella acts like she wants a piece of you until your lap becomes available, then she is all lovey-dovey. These are two delightful little dogs and they need to stay together. They are 9 years or a bit more, and their owner passed away. The veterinary needs are nearly done and they will soon be ready for adoption. Bella has no teeth, and needs a soft diet. Stella lost 11 teeth, so she can still handle some kibble. Request an adoption application from Michele at Schipnut58 (at) yahoo.com.

William Kirk, Washington Gun Law Channel, On Illinois Firearm Laws

 William Kirk is an attorney who keeps us updated on firearm legal issues nationwide. He covers Illinois news regularly, and this video is a good one. 

Tuesday Torque: 1911 Mack Manhattan

 This is a mighty fine vintage truck. Many Thanks to Merle for spotting this beauty.

Weekend Steam: UP 844, 80 mph!

 Good One, Merle!

Fledged Phoebes!

 This photo was on June 26, just a week ago. I checked the nest this evening and the little birds have fledged. Younguns grow up so fast. We can use our outdoor lights again, until next spring!

The Beer Can Burglars Are Back!

 Back in 2011 we were being  checked out by burglars. We sent a signal back to their little probes, and nothing happened to us at the time. One of our neighbors was burglarized, though. They are back, and the business must be doing OK, because now they are checking our vigilance with Budweiser longnecks.

I can't shoot holes in bottles, so I am debating on a good way to let them know we are not worth fooling with. Please leave suggestions in a comment!

Interview With A Funeral Director/Undertaker

The first part covers much of the basic stuff of the business. The end, though, will make you sit up and listen. He covers some of the rumors you have heard, or maybe seen in family and friends, and of young people dying unexpectedly.