Not My Victrola

RReady555 has posted Paul Whiteman's recording of 'Valencia,' which was the first electric recording made by Paul Whiteman. This song was very popular, as was Paul Whiteman, who was considered to be the Jazz King. Anyway, it's a good song to put a bounce in your step. Have a great week!

Monday Again!

We saw this litte kitchen gadget at a flea market last fall. These things can be used to make flour or corn meal, but they are very popular with home brewers who need to crack malted barley to make their mash. When we had time to home brew, we belted up our stone buhr mill to the John Deere to crack our malt. That was much more fun than hand cranking out a bushel of malt, and it was part of the heritage of our mill, which used to crack malted corn in Eastern Kentucky for moonshiners in the Beaver Creek area in Floyd County. Back To The Old Grind!

Weekend Steam

This week we will take a look at the Kettle Valley Railway, courtesy of G1Trains, a fellow YouTuber. You will enjoy listening to the whistle talk.

Crankin' It Up

This week's Crank It Up is genuine longhair music from the drawer of our Edison. This selection is 'Dream Of The Tyrolienne' by the Venetian Instrumental Quartet.

The Stash Is Replenished!

My private stock of smokey tea almost ran out, but the Walnut Street Tea Company came through for me again. Walnut Street Tea is not a mail order store, but we began buying from them when EJ was going to school in Champaign, so they take care of us now when I send a check with a plea for more Souchong. This is a particularly good batch; it smells just like a burning pine stump. If you are passing by Champaign, IL, it is well worth the trip into town to visit this shop.

What A Load

This is what nine inches of a snow-sleet mix can do to a clear span building. There are several buildings with this problem in the Fairfield, Illinois area, and we had it easy compared to the deep southern end of the state.

Food When They Need It

This house finch is chowing down with gusto, when most foods are covered with a blanket of snow. This is one of the ash trees in our yard, and though it is little known as a food source for wildlife, ash provides valuable sustenance for birds during the winter when snow is on the ground. Our trees typically shed their seed in January, but if you look closely, you will see many clipped wings, because they have been picked off the trees by our feathered friends.

Catalpa is an under-appreciated tree, and the cigar-like seed pods contain hundreds and hundreds of winged seeds that fall in late winter. They have just begun to fall in Southern Illinois. I saw the first seed on January 31, and today they seem to be everywhere I look.

Grumbling Groundhogs!

Our personal prognosticator has been out of his den checking things out, and I imagine he is not too happy with what he sees. The January Thaw came on the very last day of the month, and the sleet/snow mix on the ground makes for hard going.

It looks pretty bleak for a sun and clover loving critter. I hope he gives us a break.

Not My Victrola

Pax41 has posted a great dance version of 'I Wanna Be Loved By You', recorded by Nat Shilkret's orchestra in 1928. This is a great song to practice your Charleston moves, and will really get your circulation going to start the week. Click on his name to go over to his channel if you would like to hear more of his collection.

Here Comes Monday!

Back To The Old Grind!