May e-Postal Match!

Manfred, of Armes et tir Passion is the host this month for Mr. Completely's e-Postal Match. CLICK HERE to go to the rules and to print your targets. The weekend is coming, so be sure to make some time for the range.

Bad Sweet Gum

This sweet gum had a girdling root, and lots of exposed wood where the cambium had died. It still had lots of solid wood, and it was easier to drop than we expected when we first saw it. The trunk was hollow about 12 feet up. Taking the tree down before rot progressed saved a bundle of money; waiting another year or two would have made a bucket truck mandatory for safe removal.

Two Trees, One Slot

These yellow-poplar stems had a severe case of lawnmower blight and needed to be taken down before they fell on a house. Both stems were weighted toward the house; one appeared to be balanced fore and aft in the line it needed to fall, and the second one had definite back lean. Our chainsaw students made their cuts carefully and dropped both trees successfully where we wanted them.

A Chainsaw Novice Drops A Gnarly Tree

This boxelder tree at our class last week was a nasty looking individual. Most of the limbs overhead were dead and rotting, the trunk had extensive rot, and it had lots of weight to one side. It did have forward weight in the direction it needed to fall, and the student put his hinge low, finding solid wood for a good hinge. Note how instructor Joe Glenn keeps a close eye on the student through the process.

Every tree cut during the class at Dixon Springs Ag Center presented problems that had to be worked out before cutting could begin. The particpants were enthusiastic and took home a valuable set of new skills. I will post more photos and videos of this class in the days ahead.

Here's A Neat Idea!

Economical pistol cases can easily be made from trouser legs. Pick up used trousers from a Goodwill or other thrift shop on the bargain days, make a bag from each leg, or make them double thickness like these. Add Velcro for a closure. Two legs can be stitched end to end for a long gun case. Hat Tip to Tootsie!

Not My Victrola

240252 has posted the great Charleston number, "Five Foot Two," and it is guaranteed to help you shake a leg and get a move on for Monday morning.

Here Comes Monday!

Back To The Old Grind!

Gun Blogger Winter Rifle Match Results

Sebastian has posted the SCORES FOR THE WINTER RIFLE MATCH! Click here to view. The entrants were few in number, and I encourage all of our readers to enter the next match. These online contests are great for building your shooting skills, and they are a fun family activity. You can still shoot the April e-postal match today, so click the link on the left sidebar, print your targets, and take the wife and kids to the range.

Weekend Steam

You can't just hop on a steam engine, turn a key and drive away. You have to take care of lots of details first, like checking your water level, cleaning out yesterday's ashes.....

cleaning the flues.....

gittin' wood....

filling the grease cups..... (Cup grease makes your skin feel great!)

and oiling every moving part. Steam does get in your blood, and you always have to go back for more. The kids in the video below are already addicted for life and they don't even know it. They will grow up thinking that everyone knows how to run a steam engine.

Crankin' It Up

I never know what I will pull out of the record cabinet. I was looking for "Maytime," a Broadway show tune from 1917, and a favorite old love song. I found Bennie Krueger playing "Maytime," but it's not the "Maytime" I know. Anyway, this is a good Fox-Trot, and the title fits for the first day of May, so push back the furniture and enjoy!

Bonus e-Postal Shooting Time!

The Conservative UAW Guy will accept your April e-Postal targets until Midnight, Monday, May 4. If you haven't shot this month's match, schedule some time to do so during the upcoming weekend. Click the link on the left sidebar to read the rules and download your target, then go to the range and try to save our country from bankruptcy. You surely can do better than I did; I felt sort of Congressional when I added up my score.

Steam Traction School Slide and Video Show

EJ and I went to Mt.Pleasant, Iowa last Saturday and Sunday, and we had a great time. This video is a mix of still and video shots that show some of the classroom activities, and firing up on Sunday. The young man partnered up with EJ on the Advance-Rumely is a thirteen year old engine enthusiast from DesMoines. I bet we will be seeing more of him in the years ahead.