Crankin' It Up: Seasonal Music

This is the time of year when we think of bobbing for apples, husking corn, and of course, going to a barn dance. "The Circle No.2" on this Victor record from 1918, was played by the Victor Military Band. Why a military band is playing a country dance, I don't know, but it would still be good for kicking up the dust in the barn. This is one of Fannie Gilbert's records; I never knew she was such a party animal.

Let's Visit A Logging Job During Forest Products Week!

I recognized Jason's truck as I passed this logging job, so I turned around and went back to say Howdy, and took some interesting photos as a bonus. It was the end of the day, and Jason's partner had already headed to the barn, but logs still had to be sorted. After he finished he had a log to show me.

This is a top log out of a big red oak tree. It is a blocking log because of knots and limbs, and it has a small hollow in the center. The growth rings are amazingly even throughout, and there is no ring shake, so the only real defect is the hollow spot, which is just a volume deduction. Jason took the three logs below it to a mill, along with the rest of a load, and the mill owner had just called him to come and take the entire load back, because of the hollow spots. Jason couldn't figure out what the problem is, and I wonder if maybe the mill has a new log scaler who doesn't know how to handle a routine problem. The bright spot in all this is that Jason is taking another load to the same guy, so he doesn't have to deadhead 100 miles one way to retrieve his logs.

Here is Jason's semi trailer, all loaded up with white oak to deliver the next day.

Extreme Leaners

Chainsaw novices often have trouble dropping a vertical, well balanced tree, and when they are confronted with a leaner, things can be very interesting.  Many don't realize that leaners need to be hinged  to take them down successfully, and this leaning ash tree is  a prime example.  The stem split for a short distance both ways before it fell, and the woodcutter left it without putting it all the way to the ground.  Leaners can split and smack the cutter in the head, or trap your saw to complicate your day, so make a plan before you cut.



A horizontal stem is an extreme leaner, and the hinge needs to be built to prevent the stem from splitting lengthwise. You do need to build the hinge a bit thicker than you normally would for a vertical tree, because it is under a lot of compression, and it will collapse, trapping your saw at the end of the bore cut if you misjudge. Cut the backstrap after you make your setup, and the stem will fold down on the hinge.

Challenges Of An Engine Videographer

I heard it from way off, and wondered what it was at first. When I got a little closer I realized that my engine videos were going to be soundtrack impaired. Remember seeing a kid with a whistle or a harmonica? They walk around at a family reunion or school picnic driving everyone nuts by blowing, and blowing, and etc... Well, he grew up; and he still has a *&%$#ity whistle. Oh Well, or words to that effect. I had fun, anyway.

What's Wrong With This Picture?

Nothing!  This is the way things should be during Forest Products Week.  We recently bought paint at a Sherwin-Williams store in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, and there was an entire box of WOODEN paint stirrers at the counter.  The fellows waiting on us said to take as many as we want.  Stop and think about the U.S. Forest Service, which runs the Smokey Bear campaign.  One of their educational mainstays through the years has been the Smokey Bear Ruler, which hundreds of thousands of kids have taken home to use.  They were made of wood until recent years, when a switch was made to plastic.  I don't know the reasoning that went into that switch, but it doesn't quite compute with me.  Does Georgia Pacific sell steel 2 x 4's? Or does the maker of Chinet hand out Tupperware?  We have been proudly stirring paint the last three weekends with genuine American grown wooden paint sticks! And you should, too. 

Now, let's go make some sawdust.

My Pick For The Prettiest Tractor Ever Built

 This great looking Allis was the Boonville fall show.  My dad bought one of these to replace his WD, just before he had to leave the farm and move to town.  I can't pass a D-17 without giving a look, and it just occurred to me that I have never driven one.  Dad really liked this tractor, and giving it up was one of his regrets the rest of his life.

How Ya Gonna Get Your Corn Meal Made?

Back To The Old Grind!

Not My Victrola

Let's hop across the Wabash, and see what folks in Indiana are up to...



The Hoosier Hop was posted by 240252. Recorded by the High Hatters in 1929; from the movie "It's A Great Life."

AND:  My gosh the moon has been pretty the last several nights.  It reminded me that it is time to recycle this oldie.



Posted by BSGS98.

Posted by EdmundusRex

Weekend Steam: Decisions, Decisions

The Boonville, Indiana fall show, and the Pinckneyville, Illinois Fall show are both happening this weekend. We have decided to go to Boonville, so we will hit the road early on Saturday, have a look around, and maybe get back in time to do a little work outdoors before dark.

Click Here to go to the Farm Collector Show Directory, and see if there is a show near you this weekend. You will need to click on pages three and four of October to see this weekend's shows.

What The Heck Happened To Smokey?

This is the face of the bear we all know and love.  I've been a Smokey fan since I was a little kid, but Smokey has changed.  I first saw his new look last April on a billboard, and since this is National Fire Prevention Week, that came to mind, and I looked him up.  Go have a look yourself, and ask yourself if kids are going to love this face.   It looks like a bad taxidermy job, or maybe he's become a zombie.  Move your mouse around Smokey's room to see him looking back at you. 
Click Here to look see Smokey the way he should be.