Weekend Steam: Big Boy At St. Louis and Kansas City

 Leaving St. Louis:

Leaving Kansas City:

This Would Be A Blast, But My Firewood Is Too Darn Precious!!

 

Major Milestone For The Hoarded Schipperkes!

                                                 Wilbur

                                                                              Olive

Wilbur and Olive are the final dogs to leave Dogs For Better Lives at Central Point, Oregon. Susan was hoping to have all the dogs placed and moved by the end of July and that has happened! Eight dogs are now in the Midwest, with two going in their respective homes tonight in Wisconsin. The rest are going to Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Texas. Wilbur and Olive were picked up by our transporters today, Thursday evening, and are on the road. Wilbur is going to Pacifica, California and Olive is going to Reno, Nevada. The hard part for us is done now, and phone calls will slow down. Spay and neuter reimbursements will be processed for a few more months, and then this project will be over. The good people in Oregon who volunteered made it all possible, and many generous donors made the rehabbing and transports work. Dogs For Better Lives invested countless hours with the dogs and they have come out in great shape. Photos and videos of adopted dogs in their homes are coming in now, and they are a joy.

Pacing Big Boy

 

Big Boy, Thursday, Friday

 

Montana Teen Rescues A Drowning Man!

An Evening With Ed Dickens

This is a wonderful presentation by Ed Dickens, telling about his steam history, and the road to rebuilding the 4014.

Wednesday Windage II: .475 Turnbull

Wednesday Windage: Illinois FOID News

Big Boy Heading To Jefferson City, Missouri

Big Boy, Pacific, Missouri

Tuesday Torque III: Atlas Imperial Marine Engine, Made In Oakland, California

Beautiful engine, Merle! Thanks for sending this one! Makes me think of Walter Mitty! Pocketa-Pocketa!

Tuesday Torque II: Witte Powered Homebuilt

 Suggested by Merle! Thank You, Merle!

Tuesday Torque: Cold Lanz Bulldog Startup

Big Boy Near Washington, Missouri

Big Boy In St. Louis

 

Another Busy Week!

Ten dogs from the hoarding case remain at Dogs For Better Lives at Central Point, Oregon. A breakdown delayed their transport, but that is currently scheduled for this week. A really big forest fire north of DFBL could complicate matters, so we don't want any north winds in southwest Oregon. Seven of the dogs have homes waiting for them on this trip. Two will be going to a trainer in Indiana for finishing before they can be adopted. Leo, in the photo does not have an adopter, so he will be coming to us to foster until we can place him.  When the transporter hits the road it is a 24 hour a day job driving and delivering, so Susan has her phone with her around the clock to help with coordination updates.

Last week we delivered Miska, who is one of Dottie's pups, who stayed with us for six weeks. She really finished out strongly, nailing down her house pet skills. She is making her new family very happy.

We are seeing the new crop of fawns running around in the yard, too! Always a joy to see!

 

Weekend Steam II: Interviews With Ed Dickens

Link To Video

Weekend Steam: Where's Big Boy?

 Through Illinois, from Chicago to St. Louis. This is near Pontiac.

Springfield, Illinois

Near Girard, Illinois.

Big Boy At the Arch.

Transitions For Rescued Schips

Dottie (Now at new home in Montana.) and her pups. Photo by Foster Mom Taomi.

Dottie's pups doing well! Mary Jane is now Miska. Photos by Foster Mom Taomi.
 

Miska and Mina arrived at Lambert.

Mina is now in northern Illinois at her home. Miska has been at our house for a bit, but is moving on to Indiana. She had a shower tonight before bedtime.

"You're sending me AWAY?!" Life will be good, little girl!

 

Potted/Ball and Burlap Disaster

July is really not the time to talk about tree planting, but we saw a disaster happening yesterday that illustrates the necessity of planting correctly. This white pine was probably a balled and burlapped tree. When you plant a potted or burlapped tree you need to get down on your knees and dig your hole to the proper depth. Bust up the soil at the bottom and adjust the hole depth so the soil on the tree is level with the surrounding soil. Remove the pot/burlap, and set the tree in the hole, and make it plumb/vertical. Then get out your pruners or a sharp knife and cut all of the circling roots. Circling roots will girdle, stunt, and ultimately kill the tree if you leave them. Fill in the hole, compact it in with your little shovel, and water down the soil. A little more fill can go in then. Use a small shovel or entrenching tool. A long handled shovel is awkward and your result will be sloppy, with air spaces around the perimeter. Small shovel, on your knees, plumb stem, pruned roots, no air space, water. Enjoy your tree the rest of your life. 

Hickory Tastes Good!

 

Here's a cerambycid beetle!

Shooting, or Shooting Pictures?

Well, here I am at the Carmi Rifle Club last Saturday. I was way down in the standings, 122 seconds for hitting 120 targets, and it looks good in a still photo. Compared to the folks who practice regularly, not so good. Dawson had the best time. 77 point something seconds on 120 targets. I had just one miss in the match, and no malfunctions. I shoot about one second faster per 5 shots when I use a scope instead of iron sights. I like to shoot regularly with irons, just so I can do it well in an emergency. I got some good video of the contestants shooting, and my cleaning station helped out a few shooters who had problems. 

 

Tuesday Torque: A Remarkable Auction Is Coming Up Soon!

 Aumann Auction will be selling a museum collection soon, and you will want to watch this on the internet, if not in person. Take your big billfold with you! This is an extremely rare opportunity. 

Click The Pic For The Link!

Susan And David, The Early Days...

 Time does get away from you.  Susan and I just passed our 51st wedding anniversary, and we still are feeling young and energetic. We are also glad to be retired so we don't have to run off to work every morning. Every evening we set up the coffee maker and remark that we can hardly wait for 5 o'clock so we can have coffee. We met totally by accident at Mizzou many years ago and soon started dating. The first time she met my roommates, one of them said, "Wait until you hear the kind of music he listens to!" Turned out that she liked my kind of music. Our phone calls nearly always ended with one of these songs, way back in the 70s. 

My Lady Of The Telephone

Hello Cutie

Everybody Calls Me Honey

True Blue Sam The Traveling Man

FIRE!

 Hoo Boy! Midwest Schipperke Rescue has been working on placing dogs from the Eagle Point, Oregon hoarding situation since January 6, and the end is in sight. Ten dogs are still at Dogs For Better Lives, and Susan has been on the phone and email all day (Sunday, July 12) making final arrangements for adoptions and transport.  Moving the last ones became an emergency early Sunday because of a forest fire (four square miles!) north of Central Point, and the smoke is rolling in. DFBL may have to evacuate. Studying the aerial and ground photos, the facility is not really in danger of burning, but that mountainside just north of DFBL is low trees, just the kind of fuel that burns ferociously. Our transporter is picking up two dogs early tomorrow and delivering those to California and Nevada, then going back for the rest, which will be coming east. One of them will go all the way to New Hampshire. This week will be busy with many communications to adopters and the transporter.

If strong winds come out of the north, Dogs For Better Lives will be getting a load of smoke!

Lots of clean, defensible space around the facility.

We will be watching the fire weather for SW Oregon!

 Wilbur heads to California Monday!

The Grinding never ends!

UPDATE!!! Our transporter had a vehicle breakdown and has postponed the first pickup until the week of July 20. Susan had to make a lot more calls to let the adopters readjust their schedules, but she got it done. Pray for favorable winds and moderate fire weather in southwest Oregon. The action is on the north end of the fire the last time I checked. 

Weekend Steam IV: Start Them Young!

Beautiful cross-compound showman's engine! Note the baby being inoculated with steam fever!  Thanks, Merle!

 

16th Annual Young Leader Pistol Shoot, Carmi Rifle Club

 

Carmi Rifle Club and the White County (IL) Farm Bureau hosted the 16th annual Young Leader Pistol Shoot on July 11, 2026. It was a cloudy and cool day for July and all the participants had a great time. Sponsors and entry fees support several scholarships given to local high school graduates every year. 

Winners got ammo, and one got a new Browning!

The lucky ones who braved a nasty forecast and came anyway!

Link To White County Farm Bureau Facebook Report

Weekend Steam III: Big Boy Wheel Slip At Horseshoe Curve

Weekend Steam II: Interview With Ed Dickens

Weekend Steam: Tracking Big Boy

Splittin' Hickory!

Those big rounds are killers! Tomorrow I will be lifting them with the tractor! The bottom eight feet of the stem is bug eaten and punky, the rest is really good wood. 

 

I See Dead Hickories!

 The hickory in this video has been dead for about a year, evidently struck by lightning during one of the many thunderstorms. I found another one near the north barn, so we will have some high Btu wood in the barn for cold days. The speed with which hickory rots after it dies is stunning.  Don't waste time thinking about it, Get it down, buck it, split it, get it under cover!

Wednesday Windage II: Keep Your Gunsmith Happy!

 

Wednesday Windage: Be Proficient With The Tools At Hand!

Tuesday Torque: Really BIG Engine!

 Another excellent suggestion from our friend Merle! Thank You, Merle!

Huge Advance In Farm Technology!

Not Old Grind! Neat New Deal!

Mother and Babe

 

Weekend Steam: Big Boy Returns To The Rails!

Capitol Fourth 2026

Fourth Of July Special At West Point (2019)

Tree ID, Shumard and Swamp Chestnut Oak

 Here are a couple of versatile oaks, both are suitable for planting on a variety of sites. These are both upper bottomland trees that can handle fairly tight soils, but they can also move upslope and still grow well. A pretty good rule of thumb for planting trees is that you can move tree species upslope, but not downslope.

Just In Time For July Evenings!

Wednesday Windage II: Worst Gun In History?

Wednesday Windage: Hopeful News

 

Tuesday Torque: Can Move Continents, Can't Plant A Tree

 Thanks, Merle, for an impressive beast! I wonder how many horsepower the starting motor puts out?!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1340754204593787

Where Am I Going, I Don't Know,

 Where Am I Headin', I Ain't Certain.  All That I Know Is I Am On My Way!

Atlas finally left our pack and headed off to his forever home today. He has been with us for more than two years, and has turned into a great companion. 

Weekend Steam III: Where Is The Big Boy 4014?

 Track the Big Boy 4014 HERE, and follow along as it goes to Philly and then heads west. Union Pacific has all the information you need to get out and see the Big Boy on its journey home.

Weekend Steam II: Southern Pacific 4449

 Thanks, Merle! I had forgotten about the hidden engine on the back end!

Wikipedia Booster Engine Page

Weekend Steam: Spark Show At Mt. Pleasant!

 Thanks for spotting, Merle!

Good Old Summertime! 1903!

 

Pole of Death!

 It bends bumpers and busts bezels. This light pole is in the parking lot of our family practicioner. I always park next to it so I can't back into it.

Wednesday Windage: You Must Let The Bear Eat You!

Tuesday Torque: Evansville Engine Show

Susan and I missed the Evansville engine show this month, but Someplace or Another was there, and posted this nice video. Vicarious vacationing!

Enjoy Summer!

 A few of Susan's daylilies.

Weekend Steam: Jay Leno Visits Ed Dickens On The Big Boy

 

Walking In Memphis!

 The pet transporter on the southern route went from Central Point, Oregon, to western Montana, Mesa, Arizona, Greenbrier, Arkansas, somewhere down in Texas (not our dogs), then on to Shelbyville, Tennessee. He made a stop in Memphis to walk Roxie, our last delivery on that trip. So Roxie got to walk in Memphis. That's special! 

This song immediately popped into my head, even though I hadn't heard it in decades.

Susan, Zeke, and I visited Memphis once. We saw the ducks at the Peabody! We also rode through on Amtrak while going to New Orleans, a long, long time ago!

Catching Some Rays

 This doe was enjoying the warm sunshine, and probably getting a few minutes away from her baby.

This One Was Past My Limits,,,,

 ...but with nothing to lose, I went for it. This tree showed me that my limits make sense, and I partially won, keeping the tree from going straight into the pond. 

Wednesday Windage: Gun Sam, With .45 ACP vs .357 Magnum

This should be interesting. I do know that .357, shot without earplugs will remind you to be more careful for the rest of your life. It makes your ear drums ping!

 

Tuesday Torque: Pushers and Pullers

 

We Have A New Ag Teacher At McLeansboro High School...

 ...and she wants to put Forestry into her curriculum! Busy evenings ahead! Here's the start.

Back To The Old Grind!

Weekend Steam III: 4014 and 2102

 

Weekend Steam II: Rebuilding Locomotive "D" Valves

 You never know when a locomotive may come into your life, so here is some information you might need!

Weekend Steam: Sanding The Flues

 Oil burners require regular cleaning of the flues while they are on the road.  I first saw this in 1966 when I got to ride the Number 9 Shay from West Side Lumber Company. Stan Mathews was operating on the right side, and they sanded the flues while pulling the little grade to the old time village.  Many Thanks to Merle for spotting this.

Big Boy sanding the flues...

The morning ritual that steam people around the World know--cleaning the flues with a brush or spiral spring scraper.

Rescued Schipperkes Being Delivered!

 Midwest Schipperke Rescue has been busy since early January with the dogs from a hoarding case in Eagle Point, Oregon. Fifty eight live dogs and thirty dead ones were taken in a raid on home, and Midwest Schipperke was given the task of arranging care and adoption of those dogs. Two pregnant bitches had a total of twelve live pups after the raid and most of those have been placed, some as far east as Wisconsin. Dogs have been adopted along the west coast from Alaska to southern California and also one to Hawaii. The Jackson County Animal Shelter was able to place some of the dogs locally, and that was a big help. We are down to a few more than twenty dogs that still need to be placed, and a major step is happening now. Ground transporters picked up ten dogs today and have begun journeys east. The northern route will be delivering in Iowa, Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Maine. The second van will be going to Montana, Arizona, Arkansas, and Tennessee. That means lots of miles, and with stops every four hours to check on the dogs. This is all possible because of countless hours donated by volunteers, and generous donations from dog lovers who have been following this case. Take a look at the route to deliver four dogs to adopters! One way is 3600 miles and about 55 hours of driving!

Wednesday Windage: 22 Long Rifle For Self Defense?

 Here are a couple of videos from Gun Sam on the .22 Long Rifle as a possible defensive round. The big problem you will always hear about with .22 Long Rifle is reliability.  Premium cartridges tend to run nearly at 100 percent, but not quite as good as centerfire ammunition. The little micro pistols will malfunction more than larger pistols. They require more fastidious cleaning and lube, plus a firm grip to add mass to the pistol frame in order to function reliably. Elderly arthritic hands are not a good platform to run micro semi-auto .22s. Gun Sam chose round nose Mini Mags as his choice because of penetration.  Hollow points and flat point designs will make a bigger wound channel. Listen to Tim Sundles on stopping dangerous game, and then draw your own conclusions. .22 Long Rifle probably will not penetrate out the other side of a rib cage, so over-penetration is less of a concern than with centerfire ammo. The heart is right behind the ribs, so I tend to think the wound channel is a higher priority than penetration with rimfire ammo.  Avoiding a gunfight is preferable to having to fight...

Big Boy At Irving, New York

Big Boy Parallels Lake Erie Into Cleveland

 

Tuesday Torque: Southern Indiana Antique Machinery Show, Coming Right Up!

 The annual SIAM show is going to happen this next weekend, June 12, 13, and 14!

This is always a good show, with plenty of shade available. It happens south of I-64, just north of Evansville, just off US Hwy 41. Turn west off US Hwy 41 at Boonville-New Harmony Road and go across the railroad tracks. The showgrounds will be on your left. 

There is usually a good selection of Economy engines at this show, because they were made in Evansville.

We Never Stop

 

Back To The Old Grind? We never even paused!

Bonus Saturday Fun:  Ranger gets to go see a vet at Fairview Heights occasionally to do side by side AIs with hopeful Schipperke mothers.  We got to see one of his offspring the other day. They are soft like a plush toy before they grow their guard coat!

Weekend Steam II: Big Boy In Ohio

 

BIG BOY SCHEDULE LINK

From Oregon To Lambert

 Two more Schips started their journey to new homes today. Misha and Mina left Heppner, Oregon early Saturday morning and arrived at St. Louis Saturday evening.  Mina goes to her new home Sunday, in northern Illinois, and Misha goes to Indiana next week. They are safe in Southern Illinois now.

Weekend Steam: Big Boy In Indiana!

 Knox, Indiana

Argos, Indiana

Days Are Long...

 ...and we can come home before sunset, avoiding deer danger on the road. We hadn't shot at the Carmi Rifle Club for nearly a year, and it was a beautiful evening, with a nice breeze to keep the buffalo gnats and skeeters off of us. I shot with iron sights and was making the five hits in the five to six second range most of the time.  No misses on the times, but out of four rounds I had to go back and pick up three plates that I missed on the first shot. Everyone else who shot last night was using a red dot sight, and that makes you faster, but my thinking is, what type of sights are on your carry gun?  I want to practice with what I would use in an emergency. 

Big Boy Crosses The Missippi!

 

Wednesday Windage: Is The 30-06 Still King?

 

I am a bit surprised that 450 Bushmaster and 350 Legend weren't mentioned. Those new cartridges are popular in Illinois and are taking the place of shotgun slugs. There is a new .40 caliber straight wall that looks good, too. 

Big Boy In Iowa

 Courtesy of Chester!

Tuesday Torque: Svoboda Tractor

 Never heard of it before, but I want one!  Many Thanks, Merle ,for the link and giving me engine itch!

Today We Chop!

      Back To The Old Grind!

Chainsaw Kickback And Your Chain Brake

 I saw a video the other day where a fellow was complaining that chain brakes are useless. He was demonstrating how he formed his opinion by doing kickbacks with his saw with his bar vertical. That launches a kickback right at your face, and luckily, he never made a serious kickback, because a bad one is powerful. His brake probably was fine, and he wasn't hitting wood hard enough to make it set. Sometimes when doing a demonstration you may have to hit several times to get the effect you want, but if you do, you must have your saw turned so it launches to your right, not vertically at your head. A strong hit will swing the saw several feet.  Here's instructor Joe Glenn demonstrating a kickback at one of the classes he taught.

The next video shows me out in the woods to cut up a black oak, and I show how to check your brake to make sure it operates correctly.