I have heard through all of my forestry years to go up to a tree, hug it and look up to see which way it leans. You will see trees going in unexpected directions on YouTube videos when people listen to that advice. Put a heavy nut on a string, or use a straight stick for a plumb to assess where a tree wants to go. View it from two sides and you will have the info you need to drop a tree where you want it, and be in a safe place when it falls.
We never heard about this in history classes. Disney ran a short series about the Swamp Fox back around 1960. I doubt it was an accurate portrayal, and I don't remember any of the episodes, sixty six years after! Here's History Underground.
That's impressive! Six power strokes per revolution! Thanks, Merle!
....for work well done! Here we have a very nice young walnut surrounded by lesser trees impeding its growth. Look at your timber with a critical eye and these decisions are easy. The sap running from the grapevine was a nice little bonus.
Back To The Old Grind!
Contrary to the caption on this video, the engine is not ejecting cinders. The Sandaoling coal mine is low quality coal that throws lots of cinders when the engine is in a hard pull. It is dramatic! Many Thanks, Merle!
....Pritzker's at it again! Tom Grieve provides a good update.
It's like we are living in a script by Mel Brooks.
Groundhogs are legal game until the end of March, when a two month pause happens while they raise their young. I have been watching. Today was sunny and relatively calm, and I spotted one at the north barn. It's a 110 yard shot from the dog yard, and the .308 bullet took the first one from the back of the right ribcage and out the opposite shoulder. I went up to retrieve it and checked inside the barn. Another groundhog was sitting just outside its hole, but my eyes were still dazzled. The groundhog went down its hole before I could line up with my .44 Vaquero. I stood behind a post and waited. It popped back up, but just showed the silhouette of the front of its face beyond a straw bale. Well, bullets go through straw pretty well, and at 20 feet the iron sights worked just fine. Two groundhogs in one day!
This video is a new upload, but I recognize the content, so YouTube must have taken down the original and Tim had to delete something. Oh Well. I have had very good luck with Ruger products, and others at the rifle club have had several problems with Browning Buckmarks. I have added after market internals to some of our Ruger Mks, and our latest seems to be settling in at a 4 pound trigger, so I will be getting some Volquartsen parts to improve that.
We had nasty cold and wind, and I have not been out to shoot lately. It's going up to 60 today, so Spring is on the way.
We all were very fortunate. The weather was perfect for this event, and the next day a nasty squall line blew through, bringing dangerous winds and cold temps.
Merle is sending all of us to Hungary today to enjoy a pretty little engine and railroad. It looks to be about a two foot gauge, so I bet there is some oscillation in the cars. Don't try to read while you ride! Thanks, Merle!
Pretty Neat, Merle! Thank You!
The Spring show is coming up in May, and the Summer show in mid-August. Rough and Tumble Website
I recycled a couple of videos from last year, trimming them down and focusing on the process. An after action review is at the end, to reinforce the lesson.
Holy Cow! I went up to the north barn today to get the utility vehicle and walked up on a groundhog who exited stage left under the east end of the barn. I retrieved a camera that I had in the barn, and there is another groundhog living in the west end, and a possum, too. There has been much to much digging going on in the old barn, so I must spend some time and deal with these little vandals. I note that the little earth movers like to come out in mid-afternoon as well as the morning. I have scouted a couple of good spots where I can break up my silhouette with trees. Years ago I would lie on the ground behind a log, but now I think I will use a folding camp chair and a monopod rest.
These little video segments can be good dry practice for you. Use a laser practice pistol, play the video full screen and sit back about 8 feet. Try to pop the laser dot in the vitals every time the groundhog appears. They never give you much time!
...passed away Sunday, March 8, at age 84. Country Joe was at Woodstock, and that is where he became a solo artist when he was asked to get on stage and take up some time. He performed his famous cheer and the Fixin' To Die Rag, featured in the film and on the LP of Woodstock.
During the 1970s he recorded his War War War album, but never performed it for audiences. It didn't sell well, and in later years when people wanted it, it was not available. Joe tried to get his publisher to reissue it, but they weren't interested, so he recorded the whole album again, live, in Canada in 2007. It is a fine album, and you can listen to the songs on YouTube. It was for sale on Joe's website, and I don't think you will be able to get it now that he is gone. Country Joe was a good guy.
Here is the 1970 recording of the Man From Athabasca, and the 2007 live recording.
Merle spotted a beautiful 1915 vintage triple-expansion marine engine that resides in a museum. It's turning, but no steam. This engine replaced the original engines in the 1863 ironclad, HMS Scorpion. It's a beautiful piece of machinery.
And, here is an operating triple expansion engine in the SS Jeremiah O'Brien, one of the two surviving Liberty Ships from World War II. About 200 of these engines are sitting on the ocean floor.
I was seeing two deer until I was ready to hit the Export button, when I saw movement from a third. See how long it takes you to see it!
Thanks again, Merle! I would be nervous riding the front end of this contraption!
Merle sent a rare one. Cam Stoppers had a different method of governing the engine speed. I have heard of them, but have never seen one in the flesh. Thanks, Merle! Even today, engineers are trying to find the perfect engine design.
...worked from 1870 to 1917. The first and last of its kind. Thank You, Merle, for sending this one!
Steam lorries made a few appearances in the Iron Men Album many years ago, but if you didn't take that magazine, you probably never heard of them. Great machines! Many Thanks to Merle for spotting this vid!
None of us are Errol Flynn. Use safe techniques when running your saws. Make a plan for every tree. Wear your protective gear. Start your bore cuts with the bottom corner.
Chainsaw safety is serious business. There was a man killed just west of us in Jefferson County, Illinois, when a tree he was bucking came down on him. You always have to be looking for a tree to fall, roll, or kick back on you. Branches that fling when a tree comes down will aim right back at the stump. Study those safety rules on the left side of this page, and review them frequently. Click This Link.
Meet Fizzgig, one of the young Schipperkes rescued in Eagle Point, Oregon on January 6 of this year. Many people had to step in to help in this rescue. Jim Hamilton, Eagle Point Chief of Police, contacted Midwest Schipperke Rescue in Illinois for help, and veterinarians, techs, and other volunteers were organized in just a few days. Fifty eight live dogs were seized from a hoarding situation and were taken to the Jackson County Animal Shelter. The youngest dogs and their mother were soon taken in by a local volunteer*, and those dogs have all gone to permanent homes. One of them is Fizzgig, the beautiful little guy in the photos. His adopter flew to Medford, rented a car, met our Oregon foster volunteer, adopted Fizzgig and drove more than 1200 miles, an 18 hour drive, to take him home.
As remarkable as this rescue operation was, it is not over. There are still about forty young adult dogs who will be adopted over the next several weeks. Every adoption will be made by good folks who step up to make a trip to help a dog. We have applicants from coast to coast, and volunteers will be transporting dogs east. Adopters will then have to travel to a central location to get their Schipperke. It is an unusual situation for a little regional rescue organization, but so far, things have been falling into place, and the adoptions so far have been successful.
*God Bless our volunteers out west. The family who took in those pups has made countless trips to their veterinarian with numerous problems, and has had to coordinate with adopters to meet at a remote location for meet, greet, and adopt, plus handle the paperwork for Midwest Schipperke Rescue. The breeders who are handling the newborn pups are doing hard work, too. The dogs that came out of the hoarding house all had health issues such as worms, giardia and coccidiosis. Many people would have given up on the pups and watched them die one by one, but the pups are thriving now.
A court decision gave the dogs in the county shelter to Midwest Schipperke Rescue. The dogs have been moved from the county shelter to Dogs For Better Lives, a service dog training facility in Medford Oregon. From Michele Kasten: "Midwest Schipperke Rescue has given the trainers at Dogs for Better Lives the green light to assess any of these dogs that may fit into their service dog training program! Dogs for Better Lives trains hearing assistance dogs, autism assistance dogs and facility dogs that help physicians, teachers, counselors, police officers and child advocates. The organization trains shelter dogs as well as purpose-bred dogs to become service dogs. A Hearing Dog is a career that schipperkes could be well suited for and also allows clients that prefer a smaller dog the chance for one that fits their home better than a large breed dog. We are hopeful that one or more of these dogs has this unique opportunity, it would be a win-win!"
Many thanks to Fizzgig's new Mom for sharing his photos. You can see more of Fizzgig on Schipperke Country on Facebook.
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Lira and Glenda have been in the basement for not quite two months. That's long enough for these good little girls, who have taken to being housebroken really well. The skunk that strayed into their dog yard forced the issue of taking them upstairs, so we have been busy.
Foster dogs, Oregon hoarded dogs, skunk in the lower dog yard, hoo boy! We had good weather but I couldn't get out and shoot, so I am just going to share Michael Bane's latest video, which is mostly about lever guns. There is some real competition going on out there now that Ruger is cranking out new Marlins, and they are really nice. I like walnut, but the laminated wood stocks appeal to me, too. I like that Michael ends this video looking at his Ruger LCP II in .22 LR. I carry one of those, and they are a good little tool. Many don't like the manual safety that Ruger added to these, but I find it useful. I like to set the safety before I click my pocket pistol back into its Kydex holster, then I put it back on Fire. It is a nice layer of safety when you are pushing the gun back into the holster. Remember that a firm grip and regular cleaning and lube are more important with these pocket pistols than with larger ones. Get out and practice, then clean and lube
How cool is this? It's the crankshaft from a Lanz Bulldog, single cylinder tractor. I love watching videos of those critters, and this is what goes around inside. Many Thanks, Merle for spotting this one!
We had a sick skunk fall over the retaining wall at the end of our lower dog yard, and the poor critter could not get up and out after I opened the fence. It would move around a bit, and then curl up in a ball, occasionally having seizures as it fought for breath. It probably has either distemper or rabies. Both diseases are common with skunks. We don't want to kill him and get his blood and scent in the dog yard, so we have to let nature work its nasty, merciless process to the end.
Well, life continues for most of us, and there is plenty to do. We moved the two fosters from the basement to be with the pack upstairs. We don't want them in their dog yard until I can spray a mild Clorox solution all over where the skunk could move. It's always something. Back To The Old Grind!
Thanks, Merle! We never tire of the Shays in West Virginia!
I am more of a 2 MPH guy when operating a traction engine! Thanks, Merle!
Back on January 6, the Eagle Point, Oregon Police Department served a search warrant for a dog hoarding situation. There were 58 live dogs taken out of a home, and 30 deceased dogs. Nine pups and two adults were surrendered by the homeowner to Midwest Schipperke Rescue that day, and all of the dogs went to the Jackson County Animal Control shelter. Midwest found a volunteer to take the surrendered dogs and care for them in just a few days. There were two pregnant bitches. One was put in the care of a local show dog breeder, and the puppies arrived soon after. The other dog whelped her puppies at the shelter and another show dog breeder stepped in to care for those pups.
The rest of the dogs were surrendered by the homeowner last week at a court hearing. They have been moved to a great dog training facility in Medford where they are being evaluated by trained staff. Vets and techs have been working this week to bring them all up to date on vaccinations, heartworm and brucellosis testing. Many will be adopted in the west, but many will also come east. We have applications from coast to coast from folks who want to adopt them.
Watch just a few chainsaw videos and you will hear the cutter talk about "Turning" a tree. I have yet to see it happen in videos or in the woods, and I have looked at a lot of stumps and treetops. If a tree turns (deviating from the aiming of the hinge), that means that the hinge has failed and the tree is going where gravity will take it. That is a bad situation, and you give up your control over the tree if that is your method. Aim the hinge where you want the tree to fall, make it long enough and the proper thickness. Use a trigger to put the tree in motion so you can get away quickly.
The tree in this video is a very dead pin oak, and a fancy new pit toilet is just out of view. I had to not crush that! The wedges were placed to give support to the hinge, just in case the wood had rot that could allow it to crush. This was at Sam Dale Lake, Wayne County, Illinois, eleven years ago. I had a spare saw warmed up and ready to go, just in case I had trouble.
Merle, I have seen the steam powered Lombards, but never the gasoline powered ones. Pretty neat. Gotta love the Ts set up for the North Woods.. Many Thanks!
Right now we have entered Mud Season. A few snow bones are left, but rapidly shrinking. The owls are necking and cooing, geese are passing through, and the Old Gobblers' Club is out showing off and looking for ladies.
Many Thanks to Merle for sending the link for the 45 Case. While looking at that one, another video popped up with a Minneapolis. Both of those brands always look good!
Susan and I have had a good time posting songs for our viewers this last month. I hope that you all have had a few smiles! Happy Valentine's Day!
Louis Armstrong and Ruth Etting recorded this classic in 1929. Listen closely to Louis. At 2:12 he quotes Rhapsody In Blue. Listen well to Leon Redbone, too. This is from his debut album in 1976, and jazz violinist Joe Venuti plays with him on this track. Joe was working hard during his revival, and this is one of his last recordings before he passed in 1978. His playing is unmistakable. When I checked this song I immediately looked up info on the recording, and there was Joe Venuti.
Many Thanks, Merle, for the suggestion!
The interview with Don Henley is well worth listening to, plus he sings Desperado at the end!
This is a fantastic look at a well kept engine. Note the angled blades on the paddle wheel as it turns. That is high tech in the steamboat realm, and greatly increases efficiency. Many Thanks, Merle!
We got all the top wood out of the timber before the snow and cold snap, but thirty some feet of good, long dead black oak got a foot of snow on it, and we had days of single digit temps. It finally got up to almost 30 degrees F, so I grabbed the rest of the wood before the ground has a chance to thaw. I think we are set now until warm weather. Now, to split forty-some big rounds of oak.
Poor old Hiram Perkins falls in love with the dancing girl at the circus. I wonder how it turned out for the lad. Recorded in November, 1920.
The final part of putting a tree on the ground is to escape from the stump at 135 degrees from the direction the tree is falling, or 45 degrees off the back of the tree. Forces going out will reflect directly back at the stump, so a 180 degree escape route is dangerous. These events happen with regularity, so incorporate your escape into your falling plan. Link To Facebook Reel, Click
Ukulele Lady comes to us from 1925, and it has been a favorite of mine for most of my life. Do a search of this song on YouTube and you will be amazed at the number of artists who covered this song 100 years ago. Arlo Guthrie covered it in his Hobo's Lullaby album 50-some years ago, and I will add it in below Vaughn De Leath.
Here's a good video from YouTuber FortuneCookie45LC. I am glad to see he is still on YT. He gives out great information on loading your own ammo.
This may be the oldest IHC in existence. It certainly does have a serial number in the 100 range. Look at the builder's tag with magnification when it comes up. I can't read the second and third digits, but the first is 1. Many Thanks, Merle, for spotting this one!
I got out again the next day and bucked up all of the second black oak snag. All of the top wood has been carted up to the house, split and stacked. It is burning great in this cold spell. The butt end of the tree is at the house, and part of it is split, There are still thirty-some rounds that I must pick up and split, plus some that is unloaded under the eaves. That wood, once it is split, will be ready to burn before we let the fires go out in April. There will be wood left over to put away for next Fall.
Pinckneyville, August 2025. It was warm, and we had a great time. I especially liked the little Farmall that was retro-fitted with a one lung engine. The kid was having a good time driving it around. Don't let the snow and cold get you down. Stay off the roads. Make another pot of coffee. Don't fall down!
Miss Housley, "Frankie," was a stewardess for National Airlines. She was twenty-four years old and had been a stewardess for just four months. Frankie was called on January 13, 1951, and was on Flight 83, a DC-4, from Newark to Philadelphia on the 14th. Just after 2 P.M. they approached Philadelphia. There was a pilot, co-pilot and Frankie as the only crew, with twenty-five passengers. Conditions were near minimum and the runway was covered in ice. The plane went off the end of the runway, bridging a deep ditch and the left wing was torn open, spilling aviation gas. The fire started immediately. Frankie opened the door and saw the ten foot drop to the ground. She could have left, but went back in the cabin and began bringing people out who weren't making it on their own. She made ten trips taking people to the door and getting them out of the cabin. She went in an eleventh time, and was found later with four month old Brenda Joyce in her arms. There were four other women and another infant who also did not get out. There were 21 survivors. You have to wonder how many people are alive today because of Frankie's bravery that day. She was called The Bravest Woman In America by MacKinlay Kantor and others, and I think that title is still solid today. What a true hero! She is buried in Lynnhurst Cemetery, Knoxville, Tennessee.
You won't see many American Abell engines south of the Canadian border, because they were made up north. If you took the Iron Men Album 60 years ago you saw photos of them occasionally, and you might get lucky and see one in person at Rollag. Here are a few videos from the YouTube.
This went well in spite of having to hold the saw nearly shoulder height. That bit of awkwardness caused me to hit the far end of the hinge, but I got away with it. The tree was balanced pretty well side-to-side or I would have been in trouble. I give the first stump a grade of A, the second one, a C-. Gotta watch out and not do that again!
Today I was bucking, and moving rounds. More bucking tomorrow, then splitting and stacking.
