Dance Macabre

 

River Birch Bites The Dust

 We think this river birch was struck by lightning.  It has a large dead area where the bark is falling off, and the crown has been receding for a few years. We got it on the ground and bucked up, ready to split for firewood. 

Fall Has Fell!

 The fall colors ease us into the dark time of year, but the rain and cold remind us what comes next. The stoves offer necessary comfort. We fired up the basement stove yesterday.

Wednesday Windage: Five Minutes To Better Shooting

Re-post from 2011.

 If you shoot a Ruger Single-Six, Blackhawk, or Super Blackhawk you can cut your trigger pull in half by installing an aftermarket trigger return spring. They will give you trigger pull around 35 to 40 ounces, which makes hitting much easier when you are aiming small. 

After you have your spring in hand, clear a small work space, unload your revolver, and gather your tools.  The tools you need for this task are:  a small screwdriver for removing the grips, a small pin or punch to push out the pin that goes through the trigger return spring, and a set of small pliers or needle noses.

I like to remove the cylinder when I am working on one of these guns so that it is obviously unloaded without having to repeatedly check the chambers every time I pick it up.  Replace the cylinder pin so the action can be cycled easily, without the transfer bar catching on the firing pin.

 The little pin in this photo has to be pushed out with your punch.  Set it aside in a safe place so you don't lose it.  Unhook the back end of the trigger return spring from the grooved pin at the back curve in the frame.

 Rotate the spring downward so it is parallel to the mainspring, and bring it out of the frame.  Insert your new spring.  You will need to watch through the pin-hole to see when the spring is lined up properly.  The mainspring spreads the trigger return spring so it tends to catch as you wiggle it in, and I like to stand the gun on its muzzle so I can get my fingers on both sides of the trigger return spring as I do this. 

Replace the pin, hook the back end of the spring over the grooved pin, and cycle the action.  Replace your grips, and the cylinder, then take it out to the range. 

Wolff springs can be purchased from Brownell's and Midway, and Wolff Springs. (Thanks to JLM in comments!)

Tuesday Torque: Potpourri

All the above are courtesy of our video spotter, Merle. Many Thanks, Merle! Below is a Vice Grip Garage video that popped up while I was grabbing the embeds for this post. Stuck engines, rodent-eaten wiring, brake pedals falling to the floor, none of that stops this guy.

 

Another Monday, Back To Dark Time Next Sunday

Back To The Old Grind!

 

Weekend Steam: Coonrod Engine

 I remember seeing this road locomotive by Coonrod when I started attending Old Threshers regularly in 1965. Mr. Coonrod was in the construction business, with cranes, heavy duty truck transporters, and etc. He was instrumental in moving engines to Mt. Pleasant to be installed in the stationary steam building.  He tragically was killed on icy roads one winter when travelling to Mt. Pleasant for a board meeting of Old Threshers.  Thanks for the link, Merle! (PS...While reminiscing one time about past acquaintances, a royal smart person asked, "Does everyone you know die?"  Hmmm. Looks like that might be.)

Dusty's Son Dawson Made A Perfect Shot!

 Dusty's son Dawson came to hunt yesterday evening, and made a perfect shot on this nice buck just before sunset. Please note that Dawson put his arrow at the neck/shoulder junction, through the heart, and out the lung on the other side. That shot will bring an animal down quicker than any other except for a central nervous system shot. I bragged on him.  We like to see hunters who take the craft seriously and prepare themselves so animals are not wounded, but are taken quickly and ethically. Congratulations, Dawson!

Al Jolson, May 26, 1886-October 23, 1950

Al Jolson passed away 75 years ago. He was known as The World's Greatest Entertainer for his music, Broadway shows, silent movies, and being in the first talkie. He was performing before microphones, and his voice could fill a hall, reaching all the way to the back rows. His most well known songs came from the acoustic recording era, and his career waned quickly when microphones came on the scene. Crooners took over the popular music scene, but he made a comeback in the Forties with electrical recordings. His final gig was in 1950 when he went to Korea to entertain troops.  He died of a heart attack shortly after returning to the states.

 

Meanwhile, Over At The Groundhog Hole...

 Deer, Squirrel, Skunk, and a Cat.

Sixty Degrees Today, Turtles Catching Some Rays...

 ...Frost warning for tonight!

Wednesday Windage; Safety Review by Hickok 45

Reviewing firearm safety is a good idea anytime.  We have featured these videos by Hickok45 before on this blog, and Mr. Hickok's instruction is always worth watching again.

Tuesday Torque III: Engine Sounds

 I get nervous seeing engines revved up when they aren't tied down... I love the sound of the old rotary aircraft engines. It looks like a Curtiss Jenny in the background, and I would love to hear the engine on that one. I have met the De La Vergne engine at Rollag!  Thanks, Merle!

Tuesday Torque II: Steudel Diesel

 Merle found a new one for us! I know nothing about Steudels!

Tuesday Torque: Galloping Goose At Cumbres Pass

 Nice Find, Merle! Thank You!

Another Monday Coming Right Up!

 I shot this video at Rollag three years ago and it has only 150 views, so you probably missed it. If you remember it, Thank You for viewing!

Back To The Old Grind!

Missing Saartje...

 Eric Janssen's Schipperke Saartje passed away two years ago. It was a shock to fans around the world, and I still miss her when I look at Schipperke pages on Facebook.  Eric has since closed his page on Facebook.  Saartje and Eric are based at Arnhem, Netherlands, and travelled the waterways of Europe giving their fans glimpses of an idyllic life for a barge dog. The photos below are from Eric's Facebook page. 

Problem River Birch

 We had a triple stem river birch on the pond bank, and only one stem was leaning into the yard. The other two were heavy to the pond. The water is low from the dry weather, so we took that opportunity to take down this problem tree. The second video is just the exciting part. 

Weekend Steam II: New Jersey Fire Museum

 I gotta say WOW for this one! These old steam pumpers are rare, and few are operable. This one looks like it is ready to go back to work. Many thanks to Merle for spotting this video.

Weekend Steam: 1/2 Scale Case 65...

 ... at Pontiac, Illinois. Thanks, Merle, for the link!

Activity Around A Groundhog Den

 It looks like everyone wants to become acquainted with the groundhog.  This critter is across the pond from our house, about 200 yards, but the den is easy to see from our dog yard.  I was expecting an armadillo, so the whistle-pig is a bit of a relief. The digging is mostly done, and the industrious rodent is busy bringing bedding in for the winter.  I think I will leave this critter alone, and go after the armadillo in the barn.

The Crops Are All In!

 Our farmer finished up the soybeans last week and Susan rode along for a few passes in the big combine. It's a big thrill for both of us. She had a birthday last week and we celebrated by going to the Fall show at Boonville. It was a great week.

Wednesday Windage: A Mature Buck In One Day!

Dusty saw this buck on a trail camera one day last week, made an educated guess as to where the buck was traveling from, and was waiting for him the next evening. He placed an arrow above the right shoulder, cut the top of the heart and out below the opposite shoulder. The old boy ran about 100 yards, spun and went down. He was a big one, dressing out at 235.

You have to line up a lot of ducks to pull off a hunt that well. Marksmanship, understanding animal behavior and knowing the insides of a deer to make that shot at the right time and in the right place all have to be there in your mind to make it happen. Congratulations, Dusty!
 

Tuesday Torque: Oil City Half Breed Engine

 This beauty of a two-stroke engine was at Boonville, Indiana for the Fall show. It began life as a steam engine in the late 19th Century, and was converted to an internal combustion engine.

Old Engines Running Old Machinery, A Wagon Full Of Corn....You Know Where This Is Going!

 We had a gorgeous day at Boonville, with a big crowd and lots of engines. This shell and grind setup was really great to watch. It took a while to start the old hit-and-miss, but it ran well once they got it going.

Back To The Old Grind!

Boonville Engine Show: We Arrive!

Weekend Steam: Antique Steam And Gas Engine Club, Boonville, Indiana...

 The annual Fall show is this weekend, so hit the road to Boonville, Indiana!

They Grow Up So Fast!

We have been watching this fawn since last Spring. This photo was on September 7, and the spots are all there.

September 24, the spots were rapidly fading. I had a good look at the fawn today and not only are the spots gone, the pretty brown color has faded to the winter gray that deer have. It is still running around with its yearling sister and mother. They pretty much ignore us so long as we stay in the dog yard.

 

A Big Dig!

Wednesday Windage: Where To Aim

 Groundhogs are a family meal sized squirrel that should get more respect. They hang onto life, and a heart-shot groundhog can often make it back into his hole. They are challenging game because they are extremely wary and will alarm at greater distances than most deer. Groundhogs replaced squirrel hunting for me because of the challenge of hunting them in the woods, and because you get much more meat for your effort. One groundhog makes a meal, plus leftover meat for sandwiches for two people. I recommend that you don't use a .22 Long Rifle, but a centerfire instead, because you want the groundhog to go down quickly. Center on the heart or just over the heart for most shots.  Use a ground blind at close range, or lie down behind cover with the groundhog hole in good view.  Get in position early, be quiet, do not smoke. The hog will smell you!  Here are the typical postures you will see when hunting groundhogs.  Go left to right, top row, then bottom row.

1) Head on, head up. Aim for the head, or below, just above the heart.

2) Quartering to you. Place the bullet where the neck meets the shoulder, sending the bullet through the top of the heart and out the offside lung. Quartering away, go through from the back of the ribcage and out the opposite shoulder.

3) Sideways to you, the heart is behind the shoulder and front leg. Go through the shoulder, midway up the body, or in the ear.

4) Standing, turned slightly, go inside the near shoulder.

5) Standing, straight on, go for the top of the heart.

6) On the ground, face to you, do the head shot. This one was just off center on the right side of his nose.

Some groundhog fans eat the brains. Aim accordingly....

If your groundhog gets back in his hole, find a length of old barbed wire or a greenbriar, and run it down into the hole while you keep it rotating.  When it contacts the dead hog, keep twisting and then pull your groundhog out. Yes, this method really works!

Tuesday Torque: Engine Potpourri

 Good One, Merle! Thank You!

Plus, A Bulldog workout!  Note to tractor novices: Do not pull loads drawbar to front end. Hook that chain back to the drawbar on the tractor you are pulling.  Look at tractor disasters on YouTube. Tractors can be pulled in two, and it happens often on the YouTube!

Beware Of Red Waspers!

 As Fall progresses be on the lookout for red wasp nests hidden around your domicile. These colonies produce a bunch of queens who will overwinter and start new colonies in the Spring. They are looking for cozy homes for Winter, and will even try to go into your pants pockets! They are hungry and ill-tempered right before frost, so deal with them forcefully or leave them alone. They will try to get into your house, so act accordingly.

We are busy getting ready for Winter. We pulled tomato cages today and have many posts to pull out of the garden, then cutting, cleaning up cardboard, and burning. I noted that there was a lot of bird spatter on the pepper plants. Susan said it is from hummingbirds feeding on the pepper flowers. That is a good reason to keep your pepper plants going until a killing frost! Back To The Old Grind!

Weekend Steam: 6 HP Advance Engines

 These are new engines, built with Stutzman boilers in Ohio. They are serialed with numbers following the original Advance serial numbers. The neatest thing about having an engine like this is that you don't need a semi to move it. A heavy duty trailer and pickup truck will handle one of these just fine. They have some improvements from the originals, so they produce more than the advertised 6 horses.

Sky Show

 The clouds have been remarkable this year, and they keep on giving. This was the show coming back from the farm this evening.

The Last Flowers Of The Year....

Goldenrod, boneset and ironweed put on a pretty show, and monarchs are leaving the milkweed patches for the sunny south, and soon it will be winter. Thank goodness for the wood stoves. They keep our spirits up through the dark time. Anyway, here is our annual visit to the goldenrod patch!