Foster Schipperke Update

Sisko and Betty Boop are still living downstairs.  Sisko is going to need a strong, energetic human who can do walks, obedience training, run, and play.  Betty is more subdued than Sisko and loves to sit on your lap and cuddle, but she does like to run and play, too.

Godiva has moved upstairs and is fitting in with our pack of dogs.  She was pretty shy at first, but in a couple days she figured out the routine and today even kenneled on command when we had to  go out for a while.  Every one of the dogs we've had is special.

Godiva passes the toenail clipping test with flying colors.   I wish all of our own dogs behaved so well.

Tuesday Torque: Rustons

I first heard of Ruston-Hornsby engines more than fifty years ago when Rev. Elmer Ritzman began publishing the Gas Engine Magazine in 1966. An early article in that magazine was about the Ruston Hornsby oil engines.  Finally, at Rollag last year, I saw some fine examples of Ruston engines.  Be sure to watch closely and note the broken frame and the torch-welded repair.

Picking Up Sticks

No days off when you are retired!  We've been dropping trees, busting them down and moving them.  This redbud was getting tight with the 220 line that goes to the garage, so I cut off the power at the pole before whacking.  Flipped the power back on, but it didn't come on.  The breaker between the meter and the house is having problems, and we were able to get it back on, but now we are going to get a new meter loop and a new pole (The original is 60 years old!).  Back To The Old Grind!

Weekend Steam Part 3! How Do You Build A New, High Speed Locomotive?

The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust built the Tornado, and now they are going to build a new Mikado, The Prince Of Wales.  Here is a detailed discussion of the planning that goes into the process.  Thank You Merle for sending this on in!

More Weekend Steam!; Rebuilding The Sumpter Valley Steam Engine

Zeke sent the link for this one.  If you ever wondered how old locomotives are brought back to life, this video shows how it is done.  Thank You, Zeke!

Weekend Steam: Where Do Model Engines Come From?

Here is a great example of a home workshop where magic is made and steam engines come out.  The Stuart Triple Expansion is a classic kit, and I first saw it in steam catalogs more than fifty years ago. Thank You, Merle, for locating this great video!

Flower Patches

We have been making flower patches by the road for many years.  The last couple years the weeds took over and things weren't pretty.  We are doing a workover this Spring to beat the weeds back.  We've tilled our beds three times to kill the weeds that are up, and have seeded one bed to new flowers.

This patch will get another tilling when it dries up next week, and then we are going to plant squash all over it and hope that we can overwhelm the weeds.  Next spring we hope to redo it again and take it back to flowers.

Earth Day 50? Holy Cow! It's Always Earth Day For Foresters.

Never did care much for tree huggers.  I'm more of a tree planter, a tree counter, and a tree user.  I planted this one thirty years ago, and emerald ash borer doomed it.  Life's not all bad, and this will go in the barn for next winter.

                                                                     Chips. Not Dust.

Does the Earth love it as much as I do when a tree thumps down?  I never get tired of that, and the bigger the tree the bigger the thrill. Let's revisit our Earth Day Tree Murder video. We put it up on YouTube years ago and I still have no hate comments on it. 

Retirement Can Be Sweet

Sleep past Dawn with your little gray cat, warm meals, rides in the truck, nobody expects me to work, and walks whenever I ask for them.  A dog's life is pretty nice. Big Jack is 14, and loving it.

The Great Outdoors: Goose Island

                                                                 Click Photo To Enlarge
"I am not the goose you are looking for!"  Also, I saw some goslings on the pond this evening.  Soon we will be having great baby goose shows in the back yard.