Not My Victrola

We haven't listened to Lee Morse for quite a while, and she is a rare talent. 'Let's Fall In Love' is a slow Fox-Trot, so grab your sweetie and dance close tonight.

Here Comes Monday!

Back To The Old Grind!

June e-Postal Contest Is On Now!

Sebastian has announced the contest for June; it will be challenging and fun for the whole family. Use your best ammo and check your sights from the bench because there are some tough shots on this target.

Weekend Steam

We have one of these little steam tractors tucked away in a closet, and bring it out to run it on special occasions. It is more than thirty years old and looks identical to the ones being made now. It is good to see that a company can still survive making a nostalgic product like this, mostly with hand operations instead of automation.

Crankin' It Up

Palesteena is a happy Fox-Trot from 1920 that is fun to dance to. If you hear it sung, you would call it a novelty song, with lyrics that are humorous, even by modern standards.

In the Bronx of New York City
Lived a girl, she's not so pretty
Lena is her name.
Such a clever girl is Lena
How she played her concertina
Really, it's a shame.
She's such a good musician
She got a swell position
To go across the sea and entertain.
And so they shipped poor Lena
Way out to Palesteena
From what I hear now, she don't look the same.

They say that Lena is the Queen o' Palesteena
Just because she plays the concertina.
She only knows one song,
She plays it all day long
Sometimes she plays it wrong,
But how they love it
Want more of it
I heard her play once or twice.
Oh! Murder! Still, it was nice.
All the girls, there dress like Lena
Some wear oatmeal, some Farina
Down old Palesteena way.

Lena's girlfriend Arabella
Let her meet an Arab fella
That she thought was grand.
On a camel's back a-swaying
You could hear Miss Lena playing
O'er the desert sand.
She didn't play such new ones
All she knew were blue ones
And Yusef sat and listened by his tent
And as he tried to kiss her
You heard that Arab whisper,
"Oh Lena, please play your instrument!"

Frank Crumit was one singer who recorded this song, and I would love to share it with you, but I don't have an original copy. It was published in a four CD set titled 'The Roaring Twenties' by Intersound (www.intersoundmusic.com) in 1998, so you can probably find a copy if you look for it.

Look Up When You Park, Or Stand Under A Tree

What goes up, MUST come down, and trees, even though they look like peaceable types, are often just waiting for a chance to kill you. I have had several close calls over the years, and the owner of this camper probably has newly found respect for trees. This limb came down during calm conditions in a public campground, while the family was sitting around a firepit just outside. There was about four feet of this limb sticking out the top of the camper; I am glad nobody was sitting in this chair. Whenever you pass by or pause under a tree, look up, down, and all around. Eventually all that wood you see standing in a forest is going to end up on the ground, and whether you are in the way when it comes down is just a matter of timing.

A Big Old Dog Tick Would Be Welcome

The only ticks I have been seeing this year are these tiny little aggravations. You can't feel them until you start to itch, about a day after they have dug in. Most are deer ticks, but some are seed ticks with just six legs. Deet reduces the numbers, but doesn't make you entirely safe. The Tick Twister is seeing lots of use this year.

The Weekend Is Over!

Back To The Old Grind!

Under The Wire

I went out behind the barn to shoot one more set of targets for Manfred. This time I used my first rifle, the Ithaca Model 49 single shot that Dad bought for me many years ago. You still have a little time, so get a move on!

Time's A-Wasting: Get To The Range!

You have until midnight to submit your e-Postal targets to Manfred, and don't forget to figure in the time zones. I shot my targets yesterday between rain showers, and you should have no trouble beating my scores!

I clicked the rear sight up one for the first five shots, which all threw too high, and I clicked it back down for the remainder, which saved my bacon.

I shoot my little single action better than I do the Smith and Wesson, but this wasn't too bad.

I banged off five, checked the target, and found that I was throwing far left at twenty-five yards. It was about to get dark, and I didn't have time to start over with both targets, so I held between the club and the right side to shoot the second five shots. I managed to touch the circle three times. Now, go show me up!