Gotta Try This!

Back To The Old Grind!

Cool And Dreary

We had to fire up again.  We won't have to move wood back to the barn; this cool spell will finish the supply at the house.

Maggie Watches...

                                                                 "Who's coming?"

Weekend Steam: Big Boy 4014

You may remember that we have posted a few times about the Union Pacific retrieving Big Boy 4014 from Pomona, California for restoration.  Engine 4014 is now being broken in and tested!  Videos have been popping up on YouTube this week about this blessed event, so have a look!  Thanks to Merle, I did not miss this!

Favorite Spring Highlights

Poppies began blooming this week, and I stop to enjoy them every time I pass them.  They don't last long, so I pay attention. Our flower bed is getting overgrown and needs to be thinned and scarified to bring the poppy numbers up. I gather the seed heads every year and scatter the seeds, but without disturbance, nothing new comes up.  Gotta do it this year!

Ruger's Auction To Benefit The USA Shooting Team

Ruger is selling another early Mini-14 this week.  It was made in 1976 and is marked Used.  There are a few minor dings and a bit of wear to the finish on the edges of the receiver.

This vintage Mini-14 will sell mid-day, May 8, 2019.  CLICK HERE to read the full description and to place your bid. $993

Tuesday Torque: Starting A Ruston Hornsby Engine Is A Two Man Task

The guy cranking this 1917 model could sure use a helper to keep the flywheel going while he is trying to make it fire off.  They cut out the actual start, so we don't know how he finally made it go.  I am guessing someone volunteered to keep the flywheel at speed so the engine would not bounce backwards.  Thank You, Merle!

An Oldie, and Now, A Goodie!

Here's a good look at the process of bringing an old tool back to life.

Back To The Old Grind!

It's Not A Flying Car...

...but I think it is even better.  Susan had some surgery a week ago, and she has been basically pain free from day one.  She has to be careful for many weeks while she heals up inside, but she will in all probability have a troublefree recovery.

 See her surgeon here:https://www.mockingbirdobgyn.com/davinci-robotic-surgery.html

How many times have you wished for an extra hand while doing some complicated task? The human surgeon has but two arms of his own, and the DaVinci gives him five more! Susan had seven ports for the robot, and no stitches on the outside; the ports were glued shut when her surgery was done.

Weekend Steam: Plowing Across The Pond

I started reading steam magazines in 1965, and one of the wonders I saw was British steam plowing engines.  The cable plowing systems are something you will not see in American farm country.  Here is your chance to see this system in action.  I think that small fields and large engines made cable plowing a necessary invention, and it also is good to avoid soil compaction caused by heavy engines.  Thank You, Merle, for spotting!