Wake Up And Smell The Ozone!

This is a good look at an old electric coffee grinder like you would have used in grocery stores some 60 or 70 years ago. Note the sparks in the motor when he fires it up.

Back To The Old Grind!

Not My Victrola: Advice To The Love Worn By The Red Hot Mama!

I always liked the expression, "Kissin' Don't Last; Cookin' Do! Pancakes, bacon, eggs, brisket, mashed taters, biscuits, gravy and PIE is the strategy I would recommend. But it's a good song! Here's Sophie:

Weekend Steam: Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad

Crankin' It Up With Our Old Buddy Brat

Let Me Call You Sweetheart was published in 1910, and was first recorded by the Peerless Quartet. This recording was made in January 1926, at the end of the acoustic recording era, and it's a good one. This record has been in my collection for over forty years, and as usual, this is the first time I have listened to it.

Problem Solvers Making This World A Better Place

 Problem?

Solved!  Now That's Country!

Coolspring Flame Ignition Expo!...

...Going on right now!


You can visit the Coolspring website HERE, and read all about it. This museum is on every iron collector's bucket list, and I hope to go some day, myself. Do searches on YouTube in the weeks ahead for videos of the engines being shown at this special event.

Ruger's Auction To Benefit Honored American Veterans Afield

This week we have another example of a prototype commemorative Ruger. It is a 1999 Mk II pistol, to mark the anniversary of the 1949 beginnings of Sturm-Ruger, and the original Mk I Standard Pistol.

CLICK HERE to read all about it and to place your winning bid! 100% of the proceeds of this auction will go to benefit Honored American Veterans Afield. This fine, rare pistol will sell mid-day, Wednesday, June 17, 2015.
$1527.88

Tuesday Turbo Boost

Here's Roger Miller lip-syncing one of his classics from fifty-some years ago on American Bandstand.

Plant, Shuck, Shell, Grind, Repeat

Here's Shelling:


Back To The Old Grind!

Not My Victrola: This One May Make Your Head Hurt A Bit!

Weekend Steam: Cumbres And Toltec

Carmi Rifle Club Youth Shooting Camp

A group of dedicated volunteers got together at Carmi, Illinois on June 6 for the annual Youth Shoot. The group was split for the morning activities, with half blasting clay pigeons outdoors, and half learning how to handle pistols and revolvers at the indoor range. The groups swapped places mid-morning. I was indoors and managed to get a couple photos. Kids generally love shooting pistols, and after the initial single shot exercises they really burned the ammo.

Safety was the number one concern all day, and the kids were good students. The only unfortunate incident was one little girl that was hit in the side of the face with a .22 hull. She left the line, but soon came back to have another go at it. Then she got burned by a powder particle in the same spot. She stayed at the range with her father the rest of the day, but she was done shooting.  We all hope she eventually gets over it. We old-timers need to be mindful of the sensitivities of beginners, and talk about  these difficulties before they happen. We should have moved her to the left end of the line before she shot again, but who would expect the same kid to have something like this to happen twice?

Here's Valinda Rowe explaining to the kids how to score a bulleseye target

Some of the kids were pretty darn amazing. Click this photo to have a good look at the target!

After lunch the kids shot pistols (Both rimfire and centerfire), rimfire rifles, and centerfire carbines at paper, steel, clay pigeons, and Tannerite. The 10/22's with drop reticles were well liked by kids who figured out they could hit clay pigeons on the 100 yard berm. It was amazing to watch kids figure that out and make the shots.  The volunteers stayed and cleaned the range of equipment and trash after the kids were done. It was a great day for the shooters, parents, and the volunteers.