Full Moon

I snapped the above photo on my Steve Jobs camera-phone a couple weeks ago, as I was leaving our Southwest, Missouri property.  As I drove away I couldn't help but notice that the moon seemed perched right above our little cabin; kind of like the star of Bethlehem only different.  Thankfully, I had my almost worn out phone in the cockpit of the Max-Mobile to commemorate the moment.  It's not every day you get a chance to see a full moon at sunset.

A full moon is prime time for just about anything that involves going outdoors.  A possible exceptions to that rule might be if you were planning to slip inside your neighbor's house for the purpose of milling around inside their underwear drawer while they're at Braums for 2-for-1 night.  I don't know if Braums actually has a 2-for-1 night, but if they do there's a pretty good chance your neighbor is going to be there.

Now before I start getting nasty emails from all the Braum's fans, I'm NOT recommending this kind of behavior to anyone, especially Braums Fans.  Braums fans are some of the most loyal food-fans of all-time!  The New York Giants would do good to pick up even a few hundred new fans from Braums.  Once a BFF (Braums Fan Forever) commits to supporting your program, they won't leave you because of one bad experience.  They are the very definition of loyalty.  In fact, if you look up "fan" on your dictionary ap, you'll find a picture of Braums number one fan, "Big Train" Walt Stackhouse (he's a huge man, but a super nice guy and a heck of a good cook!).  And trust me, Walt knows burgers and cones like nobody's "bidness".

Back to the main topic: If you are currently keeping anything of value in your underwear drawer besides your favorite underpants, you might want to rethink your underwear security drawer program (USDP).  They tell me that when a thief breaks into a home, one of the first places they're going to look for loot is, you guessed it, your underwear drawer.

As soon as I came across that bit of intel, I immediately made adjustments to my overall home security plan.  I moved all valuables out of my underwear drawer to a much less conspicuous location: my sock drawer.  They'll never think to look there.

Hopefully you'll find this information of some value as it relates to all things security.  I'm not technically a security expert and of course "I don't like to brag" but most of what you have to do to keep yourself and your loved ones safe and secure is to stay just a little bit ahead of the bad guy.  And in the event of a worst case scenario, it won't hurt if you're prepared to whack him upside the head with a stick...they hate that:)

Until the next post, Happy New Year, stay safe and I'll keep you posted...





     

Christmastime Rambling🎄

Christmastime is here!

Whether you're a child or golden oldie, you have to love the sights, sounds and smells of Christmas, or if your prefer, "The Holiday Season"...which is often times code for Christmas.  A lot of folks use the phrase "Holiday Season" instead of Christmas when they don't want to say the actual word in fear of offending someone who does not believe in The Christ of the New Testament Scriptures.  I've never really understood why that would offend anyone.  Thankfully, we can all choose what offends us and what doesn't.  Personally, I'm not offended by much.  Everyone has a right to their opinion.  But Christmas is in fact Christmas and no one should be offended by that unless they're being forced to celebrate it against their will.  That would be unacceptable, in my opinion.

Interestingly, few folks are actually interested in my or anyone's opinion.  When, for example, was the last time someone asked sincerely for your opinion (unless you're an attorney or judge)?

If you're into sharing and receiving opinions, however, Facebook is a great place for you!  I'm no longer a Facebooker because of the time it takes to keep up.  But for those who are it's a truly wonderful place where you can openly and freely share your opinion with the world...even though the vast majority of the world doesn't care about your or my opinion

Back to Christmas/"The Holidays"....
I like red at Christmas.  It's not actually Christmas without red.  You simply cannot have too much red during the holiday season!

Also, you can't have too much of the right wood-working equipment anytime of year.  For Christmas this year my bride gave me a Estwing 4 pound spitting maul which will be a nice compliment to my Garnsfors Bruk splitter I've written about numerous times.  She also gave me an Estwing splitting wedge to go along with my antique wedges acquired some time ago from Dad.  All these tools are made in America or Sweden.  Nary a one made in China...not that there's technically anything wrong with that.

Wood splitting is an excellent way for those of us in the 60 plus crowd to confirm we're no longer teenagers, in the event you had any doubt.  After a few hours of wood splitting, your back, shoulders, forearms, biceps, fingers and neck will confirm this fact.  One time (at band camp) after a good oak splitting session, even my ears were sore.  And I've learned to not question my ears unless I think I've heard something from a politician that seems to make sense.



If you've looked ahead, aside from the red patch on my friend Randell's Big Smith overalls, the bottom picture has nothing to do with Christmas.  I thought I'd just throw it in for fun.  He texted that pic to me a couple years ago and asked if I thought he'd fit in down here in Arkansas.  I told him he absolutely would.  And if he'd of had a beer in both hands, he'd automatically qualify for immediate residency in most southern states, as well as Wyoming. New Mexico and of course Wisconsin.

Odd as it may be, this will have to suffice for the O, R and R F Christmas post 2019.  Until next time, I'll try to continue keeping you posted....and thanks for tuning in:)

Randell of 1970's Rolla Fame

🎅

Sassafras Cabin Stair Railings

I thought I'd report in briefly this morning on a project I've been dragging out for a couple years.  That project involves the stair railing that leads to the cabin loft.  I've discovered that sassafras works well for non-loadbearing spindle work.   With the use of a draw knife or other similar tool, you'll expose a layer of orange between the cambium layer and outer bark.  A look that, as far as I know, is available only with the easy to find North American sassafras tree.

Sassafras is a very lightweight wood, not much more dense than balsa.  As a result it's very easy to work with.

I'll keep you posted on sassafras, hickory and oak as this project drags on...

NOTE:  The table was a gift from my Ol' fiend, Nick-Nick-Nick...still in use after all these years:)    

Backwood Polaris Upgrades

I've been finding satisfaction in using things I already have rather than buying new stuff.  

An example of that is a few  modifications I recently made to my 2004 Polaris Ranger.

1. I attached a saddle gun scabbard to the driver side that I had purchased several years ago from Cabellas in anticipation of some day acquiring a Mule named Ruth, just like Festus Haggen.

2.  A rough chainsaw scabbard was crafted from western red cedar scraps and fit nicely into the existing stake-pockets.

3.  A heavy duty bed-divider was added utilizing a 2"x12" red oak slab sawn from a tree that previously occupied space in the side yard of our old house.  This old slab also worked nicely for hanging a large felling axe and 25" Scandinavian forest axe, both compliments of the good folks from  Gransfors Bruk, Sweeden.  As a bonus, these fine timber-cutting tools are now more pleasing to the eye than when they previously bounced around in the bed of the Ranger.

These relatively minor upgrades have helped modify the Polaris Ranger from a general purpose utility vehicle into a more focused firewood and log-work vehicle.   The three upgrades were completed at a total cost of $0.  And, importantly, the .44 will be readily available when Armadillo-whacking opportunities present themselves.

My next planned Ranger-related project is a pull-behind trailer for hauling firewood, assorted campfire material and grandkids.   Rather than purchase a new trailer, I plan to do what Dad and his good friend Don Baird would have done back in the old days: make one out of previously used parts.

Thanks to my handful of reasonably loyal readers for tuning in.  When it comes to random internet reading I'm aware you have myriad choices.  Thanks for including Old and Ridiculous/Regular Folks in your random reads.

Best wishes for a Merry Christmas (or whatever you might be celebrating this time of year).  
As we continue making our way through the holidays, I'll try to keep you posted on firewood and campfire related matters...

(A heartfelt shoutout to Nate and Madeline Dodd from Nashville, Tennessee:)

Flummoxed By Ever-Changing Technology

A sure sign of getting old is when, more and more, you find yourself flummoxed by todays ever-changing technology.  If not for advancements in health care, I think I might prefer to have been born around 1780-81; even though I would now have been dead for at least 150 years.

I'm aware there have been perhaps millions of articles written on the basic subject of "flummoxed by current technology"; at least a few by your's truly.  But in the category of making a point, "done before" shouldn't discourage a person from trying again.  If we did only what has never been done, we'd all be spending our time trying to figure out how to get politicians to just tell the truth.

The iPhone to me is more than just vexing: it's vexing X 10!  These darn updates are nearly killing me.  Just when I'm about to figure out how to work around the previous updates, Mr. Cook and his no doubt super-smart group of techno-wizards come up with another round of updates.  Hey Tim, if you're reading this on your iPhone, which is probably several versions ahead of mine, how about a moratorium on iPhone updates until at least the first of the year; which is like two weeks.  You could consider it a Christmas gift, or if you prefer, a Winter gift, to all your loyal iAddicts.

Although I don't consider myself an iAddict, I have come to the realization that it's nearly impossible to run my world-wide operation on a 1965 Sears transistor radio.  However, if Klietus can figure that out I'm going to dust off the most recent issue of the Sears Wish Book and get to ordering.  If I call my order in today, my new transistor radio could be ready for pickup at our local Sears Catalogue Store as early as mid February.  Oh how I miss the old days!

We'll see how things develop.  In the meantime, stay tuned and I'll try to keep you posted on technical matters and such as that...

Homesteading Misnomer

-Running water and electricity preclude this place from homestead status: Dangit!

The word "homesteading" is thrown around pretty loosely these days by the fine folks at places like The History Channel, National Geographic and most of the TV shows about Alaska (my favorite DVR category is Alaska).

In my view, living on a few acres of land just outside the city limits and within a fairly short drive to a grocery store does not qualify as homesteading.  Also, if you're able to watch Naked and Afraid (perhaps one of the all-time stupidest ideas for a TV show) or have internet access, you're probably not a real homesteader.

To qualify for homesteader-status there should be some basic qualifications; like no electricity or running water for starters.  Also, if you have an online bank account, curbside garbage/recycle pickup or routinely shop at Piggly Wiggly, you're homesteading status should be called into question.  Not that there's anything wrong with having amenities or buying your bacon, eggs and milk from a store.
But by definition, homesteading is about living without amenities.

Most of the folks who will read this post over the coming years will likely have electricity and indoor plumbing.  It's also likely they won't be overly concerned with what life-style category the good folks at Old and Ridiculous put them in.  But that doesn't mean they don't care.  And I have several reasons to believe that most actual homesteaders will appreciate someone taking a stand on their behalf.

With all this in mind, I'm for redefining homesteading to mean you:
1) live off the land
b) barter as a means of acquiring stuff and
trace) don't shop in a store more than maybe 3 or 4 times a year.

Now this is just a suggestion--not a mandate.  I'm in no position to mandate anything, especially another person's living status.  But for my money, I'm going with "They live in the country" versus "They're homesteaders".  As a note, I'd be willing to reconsider any homesteader situations that are brought to my attention providing that, for starters, the folks in question are willing to give up their indoor toilet and homogenized milk.  If that's the case, I'll convene a special quorum with Nick-Nick-Nick and Klietus and we'll get back with you.  In the meantime I'll try to keep you posted.

Post Script:  If we've offended anyone who considers themselves a homesteader even though you have a weekly standing appointment with the fine folks at Hull Dermatology and pay your monthly connectivity bill on-line while waiting to have your oil changed at WaltonMart's "Not So Fast Tire and Lube Express", you have our sincere apologies.

NOTE:  In this post I've used words like our and we instead of my and I because it makes us (me) sound more like a group.  Which, incidentally, is another old business trick.  Using the word "group" in your business name sounds like a big organization instead of just one person.  Kind of like being a LinkedIn CEO (me and half the folks I know:) or the founder of a LinkedIn company (also me and half the folks I know).  Not that there's anything wrong with that...

Tool-Connection to the Past

Using old tools creates nearly an immediate connection to the past.  And as was reaffirmed yesterday afternoon, can add enjoyment to your tool work-related activities.   

While getting ready for some chainsaw work yesterday out at our Barry County cabin, I decided that instead of using modern day wedges I'd use a couple of old tools handed down out of Uncle Pat & Aunt Katherine's basement tool collection.

This hammer and chisel were part of the group of stuff Dad gave me several years ago that, for untold years, occupied space in his oldest brother and sister-in-law's capital city home.

I was surprised at the hardness and overall strength of this near ancient cold chisel.  I have no idea how old it is but it appeared to be hand-forged and made to last.  Unlike most of the chisels you might acquire today at places like Home Depot or Lowe's, this one is made of very high quality steel.  After numerous hits with a perhaps equally old rock hammer (a tool-gem in and of itself) the chisel was virtually unscathed.  Not a mark on it!

For my money, I'll take an old hand-tool most of the time over the stuff you can buy today. There are no doubt a handful of places that still make and/or sell high quality hand-tools that match up nicely to the tools of old, but they are the exception and not the rule.  From my experience, if a tool is stamped "Made in China" it might as well say "Not for frequent use": Not that there's anything wrong with that providing that's your expectation.

If you're a tool man, woman or perhaps gender-neautral, consider reinforcing your tool lineup with some equipment that was made back when the lightbulb was considered new technology.  From my experience, you'll be glad you did:)

I'll try to keep you posted on old tool matters and semi-related subjects.  And if I get the chance to catch up with my Ol' friend, Nick-Nick-Nick, or should there be a Kleitus sighting, I'll let you know. 

Come Ride the Little Train

Come ride the little train as it rolls down the track to the Junction; Petty Coat Junction.
Forget about your cares it is time to relax at the Junction; Petty Coat Junction.
Lots of curves you can bet. 'N'even more when you get, to the Junction; Petty Coat Junction.

Now that little sit-com theme song from the 1960's brings back a lot of memories, lying on the floor of our family home while watching (you guessed it) Petty Coat Junction!

If you're old enough to have watched TV in the 1960's you'll no doubt remember this half hour TV show.  Hard to believe but if you lived in small town America back then there were very few choices when it came to watching television on your family's ONE "Television Set", which was likely an RCA, Zenith, or in our case, Sears brand console tv.  Inside our rural route 1 home we had good reception on only one channel; KRCG Channel 13 out of Jefferson City, Mo.  KOMU TV Channel 8 came in fairly well when it wasn't too overcast or raining, and that was it.  I can recall on occasion being so starved for TV entertainment, I'd find myself watching shows like Lawrence Welk: No kidding!

I remember the first time ever I laid eyes on a color TV.  It took place inside Biedermans Furniture Store, which was located in Rolla, Missouri during the entirety of my growing up years.  That amazing TV was tuned to "The Beverly Hillbillies" (Come'n listen to a story 'bout a man name Jed...") and I thought it was one of the most amazing things I'd ever seen!  From a technology standpoint, it no doubt was.

In honor of simpler times--and they really were simpler in many ways--the bride and I are planning a train ride sometime soon.  I've never been on a modern day train that goes more than 15 or 20 miles an hour and have never come close to taking an actual trip that lasted more than a few minutes.    We'll see what happens.  It's never too late to go on your first real train ride.

In the meantime I'll just keep driving around in the Max-Mobile in my quest to become the first Scottish-Swiss-Irish-German-American to put a million miles on a Chevy Tahoe.  I'm not goal oriented but holding the unofficial Arkansas State Record for continuous rope-jumping by a 57 year old man, is getting old.  I need to go at least one better.  1,000,000 miles on a Chevy Tahoe might just be the ticket to further stardom.  A solid train ride could put me in the running for an Oscar, as the bar for that award seems to be fairly low from what I can tell.

I'll try to keep you posted on assorted stuff like this.  Judging by how much time a couple of my extended family members spend fixated on their personal hand-held devices, some are probably to a point where they're having a difficult time coming finding things they haven't already read at least a couple times:)

Are You Chicken?

For a lot of reasons, being a chicken would be a rough way to go.  Least of all you go through your short life hearing people indirectly make fun of you by saying things like, "Hey, why don't you jump: are you chicken?"  On top of that you're ugly, have wings but can't fly and likely will end up in a situation similar to the chicken in this picture.

Speaking of that, you should give this doggone chicken a try if you haven't already done so.  It comes in assorted flavors (which may be a further insult to the chicken) and cost about the same as a combo meal at Chick-fil-A.  Sam's Club Member's Mark Chicken.  As Andy Taylor might have said around the family dinner table in 1963, "Ain't Bee, that sure is some mighty-fine chicken...mmm-mmm, might-fine!"

I wonder, given the choice, would most chickens rather wind up in a Chick-fil-A combo meal or a plastic tray at Sam's Club?  Perhaps Klietus will do some light research on that and get back with us.  Or, perhaps another Harvard study is in order?

Well, until I hear back from Klietus or the fine folks at Harvard, I'll do my best to keep you posted on all things chicken:)
 

That's a Good Question!

The right question at the right time!

A few years ago I was presented with the opportunity to fly around the bush country of British Columbia, Canada in a helicopter.  I only had a minute or two to decide whether or not I wanted to participate.  Against my instincts I responded, "I'm in".

When I walked out to climb in the helicopter that had moments before landed on the parking lot of Pioneer Log Homes of BC, I was surprised to discover a young man sitting in the pilots seat who looked to be maybe 21 or 22...tops.   Nothing against Yutes (I was once one myself) but I would have much preferred a helicopter pilot old enough to have legally voted in at least two previous presidential elections: even if they voted for the wrong guy.

As a general rule, I choose to not fly around in helicopters.  Flying around in a helicopter feels similar to what it might be like to fly around in a rock held up by fan blades.   And rocks don't float from the air: they plummet.  If the word "plummet" is ever used as an action verb in a sentence in which you're mentioned, it will likely make the front page of your local online newspaper describing the manner in which you died.   The exception being, if you're a plumber and someone in Cracker Barrel points you out as "...the fella what plummeted our house."  I'm not huge on plummeting.

After we'd made our second take off and landing on our way to two more take offs and landings, I mentioned to the young lad in the flyer's seat, "You seem kind of young to be a helicopter pilot: how long you been flying?"  "About a year", he replied.  I thought to myself, "About a year? Does that mean he may have been flying for maybe 10 or 11 months?"  Me: "I'll be darned."  Then I asked him what he did for a living before he started flying helicopters.  With no hesitation he responded, "I was a heavy equipment operator."  Now, I have nothing against heavy equipment operators either: I once was one myself.  But I would have much preferred a response like, "I flew F-15's for 9 years before I realized all I really ever wanted to do was be a helicopter pilot.  Fortunately all things turned out well and I'm still around to write this post.

Asking the right question at the right time may be one of the most under-rated actions known to modern man.  I'll have to ask my good Ol' friend, Nickadimus for his opinion on that:).  In the meantime, I'll try to keep you posted.

Barn Improvements

It's never too late to make improvements to your barn!

I wonder how many barn-people like myself have gotten used to the way it is and aren't considering how it could be?  I bet a lot.

For about 13 years my primary way of getting in and out of my barn has been through the roll-up garage door.  My barn has a back door that I find somewhat inconvenient; having to walk around the back of the barn.

It's my guess that on an average day I make around 6 or 8 trips from the cabin to the barn/barn to the cabin.  Since I'm somewhat paranoid about a snake getting inside in the summer and mice year round, I don't like to leave the big door open other then when I'm coming in our out.  That results in opening and closing the roll-up door several times a day.

With that, I finally got around to project #637: installing a new walk-in door on the front of the barn.

This project might not qualify for it's own HGTV spot, "Barn Door Builders", but it was somewhat more involved than your average door project.

I had to first cut out the appropriate rough sized door opening on the inside barn wall, covered in 1.25"x12"x10'  rough-cut pine.  Next was re-routing all the electrical wires (4) located in the 2x6 stud wall which included a 220 wire (220, 230, whatever it takes:) that Dad wired in a few years ago to power a heavy duty planner he gave me.

The next step was cutting out the outside covering of the barn wall and then installing the pre-hung steel door which was recently procured from the Bentonville Lowe's--a good place to buy doors.

After the door was installed, the next step was caulking around the door to seal out the rain, weather, bugs and "such as that".  As a side note, I know a guy who often uses the phrase "and such as that" at the end of a lot of his sentences.  I've always gotten a kick out of that!

Next was putting in a door header and building out the inside door frame., before trimming the frame and painting the door.  These last steps took me quite a bit of time; several hours.  This is likely proof that few people would be willing to pay me by the hour to install a barn door at their establishment.  Which means my life-long dream of being a barn-door builder may be out;  Dang-it!

Aside from the door itself and the paint, I used materials I had on hand including re-claimed redwood left over from a deck-remodel (town project #877) at the old homestead a few years ago, as well as assorted western red cedar I've accumulated over the years from various barn and cabin projects.  I finished off the inside with metal trim originally planned for the inside of the cabin door (Alaskans have it right: don't throw away usable junk if there's any chance you might be able to one day use it).

I finished the door project by building a small canopy from the same redwood and cedar stash I've been pulling from for years.  All-in-all, I think I had about $160 in the project  (the cost of the door) and somewhere between 20 and 130 hours of actual work:)

Having a walk-in pedestrian door at the front of my barn has been a significant upgrade if not complete game changer in the barn category.  Hard to believe I didn't do this years ago! Now onto project #638 and #639.  As always, I'll keep you posted.....

Note: Thanks to my Ol' friend, Nick-Nic-Nick Shepherd, for reminding me I was way behind on posting odds and ends.  Further proof that "you never know who's watching"!