They're Talking Snow!

 

A little something for a cold rainy day. Especially if you're fixin' to make another trip to the chiropractor. Fortunately, the problem has gotten much better the last couple of days. Different story for my tooth, though. I had a crown come loose, or so I thought. Seems the crown was still attached, it was the tooth that came apart. It'll be gone next week.

No mail on Monday, a couple of little pieces on Tuesday, no mail on Wednesday, and then a big stack on Thursday.

Meanwhile back at the shack, success on the pipe leak:

Old piece of inner tube and a hose clamp. Adapt, improvise and overcome.

The Acme threaded rod for the basement lathe should be here today. The radiator repair on old Allis comes first, however. And since the subject of my Chicago & Wabash Valley book came up, I'll order up the gizmo I need to access my files, so I can finish it this winter. Thanks to Surly for pointing out what I need, all for only $19.00. It'd be good to knock that one off the list.

The Onion Belt

 

In my last post, Marshall asked if I had any photos of my house as it looked originally. The answer is yes and no. There are quite a few houses all built to the same pattern near the rail line. The top photo is my place circa 1910 according to the sticky note. However, if you look closely, you can just make out the cross buck on the telegraph pole for the Three I railroad, now part of the Norfolk & Southern. The gable roof on the house as pictured here is perpendicular to the tracks. Now the gable roof line runs parallel with the tracks. The house has been added onto several times and there is some indication from the basement walls that the roof line has been rotated clockwise 90 degrees. Who knows? I did read in an old newspaper about the house being built in 1898 when they started building the Chicago & Wabash Valley Railway, also known as the Onion Belt, so I'm relatively certain of the age.

This is a typical "Gifford" house just down the street from my place. If you look along the eave, you can see where the rear of the house was added on to, as most of them have been. There's a Gifford, Indiana and a Gifford, Illinois, both named after the Civil War veteran Benjamin J. Gifford. My house was one of the first built for the railroad for Frank Lewis who helped survey the Chicago & Wabash Valley which crossed the Three I at Kersey. Lewis later became superintendent of the C&WV, and after the line was taken over by the Monon railroad, became superintendent of that line as well. 

Kersey is the little village where I reside. I believe Kersey was named after Charles E. Kersey. That's Frank Lewis on the right, Charles Halliday on the left. 

The top two photos were given to me by a descendent of Frank Lewis. Two guys showed up at my house and wanted to take some photographs of the house. Unfortunately, I wasn't there. It was my first day back at the end of summer vacation, but as soon as they introduced themselves, the Missus knew right away who they were since I had already done some research on the house and the C&WV.  They both were kind enough to send some photos and info along later.

I've written a small book on the history of the C&WV, but I need to correct some small typos and get permission to publish from the Indiana State Library, since I've included a few things from their collection. I have a hard copy printed out but the digital copy is on a 3-1/2" floppy, which I can't open with my computer. Need to correct that situation so I can get it published for local historians and train buffs.

And to answer a couple of Marshall's questions, we've lived here 35 years and haven't found anything of great historical value. However, there was a bunch of road signs in the old barn that were probably swiped in the dead of night by the young resident, and when I was leveling out the sand in my shop prior to pouring the concrete for the floor, I unearthed a cardboard box with some lady's undergarments - hadn't expected that one.

Veterans Day

 

Veterans Day today. Everything we've got in this country is due to 250 years of the efforts of our veterans. Thanks to all who've served to protect our freedoms. Things are a bit on the shaky side these days, but you can't blame the brave men and women who have served. And I won't be surprised if things turn kinetic, the veterans will rise to the occasion to save the Republic.

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I missed the anniversary yesterday of the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Since I've been nursing some back trouble, I haven't been out in the shop, therefore, no radio. I did get some reading done. I finished up the Jack Reacher book I picked up recently. I didn't realize there are a bunch of those, so I went to the library on my way home from the chiropractor and picked up a couple more to read. I'm scheduled at the chiropractor for my fourth visit on Friday, by the way. The pain isn't all that bad, but it wakes me up at night and it's just plain annoying. I've got things to do.

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I put the new basement shelving unit together yesterday - needed to do something besides ride the recliner. I noticed a small wet spot on the floor. Seems it's coming from a copper supply line for the sink. Not from a soldered fitting like you'd suspect, but from a small crack in the tubing itself. Not a big problem, but another annoyance that comes with being a homeowner in a house originally built in 1898. 

Back Slow Down

 

I went to the dentist yesterday and when I sat down in the chair, I Want to be Sedated came on the speaker. Rather ironic, because first of all I was just there for a cleaning, and second of all I don't get sedated whether it's a filling or a root canal. 

I went to the chiropractor Thursday evening and I'm going again this morning due to a serious bout of sciatica. I'm not sure what brought it on, but I imagine it was a result of many things rather than one single thing. I'm pretty sure there was no way out of this other than professional help. This one isn't the sharp, stabbing pains I've had in the past, but it was keeping me from getting a decent night's sleep. Should be back to normal, for better or worse, in a couple of days.

I bought some shelves for the basement that I'll tackle soon. I want to move some things around so I can get a jig saw and a "baby" milling machine set up down there. Rather than irritate my back or chest, I'll wait and get some help on that. 

I need to replace some siding on the dormer. I didn't realize it was that bad until I was up there a few days ago. I'm going to have to give that a few days until I tackle that also.

Still need the radiator replaced in the tractor also. The weather's been nice, but that can change at any time now. 

Election's Over

 

I was thinking the exact same thing when I cast my ballot. However, I'm of the opinion if you don't vote, you don't have the right to criticize. I've given up believing we can vote our way out of this mess - Fourth Turning and all that. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. As Brother Johnny used to say, we're boned.

Boogaloo

 

I rode my bicycle down the lane to get the mail on Saturday and came across something rather interesting on my way back to the shack.

I found a pair of sunglasses and a bottle of whiskey that still had about a half dozen shots left in it. Not sure how or why they got maybe 50 yards down the lane, maybe just the rural version of Boogaloo Down Broadway, or in my case, boogaloo down the driveway.

The unseasonably warm weather has been nice for the flowers and shrubs, the trees have changed colors and most of the crops in my neighborhood have been harvested. Still got some warm weather on tap but looks like it will be accompanied by some rain the next few days. I've still got a couple of things I'd like to get done outside before it gets real cold, but I think that'll happen. 

The remote starter switch came yesterday. All I need now is a battery and I should be all set to raise the bed on the dump trailer project. I checked on batteries last week at Menards. A deep cycle battery was about $110.00 but I've got a lawn mower battery I'm going to hook up initially to trouble-shoot the hydraulics. 

I signed back up at the rec center yesterday. I'm planning on getting over there three days a week to get in some walking miles and some strength training. I'm signed up for a 5K on Thanksgiving weekend. This will be my first event of the year - lot different than when my buddy Kevin and I were running years ago. If I remember correctly, I did 13 races and Kevin got 15 that one year. Mostly 5K events and a couple of half marathons, but those days are long gone. 

Working on getting the basement workshop a little more user friendly. In addition to the maintenance on the little lathe, putting in a shelving unit and a better light over the workbench. I can go down after dinner and do something constructive instead of sitting in the recliner all evening.

I watched the interview of the Essential Craftsman with Hillsdale College president Larry Arn. It's long at 1:20, but interesting. If you've got some time, might be worth your while. You might want to check out some of the You Tube videos by the Essential Craftsman first to see what a carpenter/ blacksmith has to offer.

Best of the West

 

The Missus and I went to Shipshewana Wednesday for the Best of the West show featuring the Sons of the Pioneers and Riders in the Sky. When I bought the tickets, I wondered what the deal was with the Sons of the Pioneers, since I've seen them in old cowboy movies from the forties. It turns out they've been performing for 93 years with the performers changing as they leave the group and are replaced as necessary. The current group we saw put on a great show of classic tunes as sung by the original group back in the day. 

They were followed by Riders in the Sky who likewise had a couple of new members. We had seen them once before many years ago and the years have taken a toll on them as well. Ranger Doug and 2 Slim were the original members still with the group. Ranger Doug's yodeling isn't as crisp as it used to be, but he said they've been performing for 49 years. The replacement for Woody Paul is a world class fiddler, and they've added an accordion player. Their music is still good as is their comedy.

The show closed with both bands on stage singing a couple of tunes and then wrapping it up with, what else, Happy Trails. 

The show was at the Blue Gate Theater, and we stayed next door at the Blue Gate Inn. With the package deal you get an all you can eat Amish style dinner and breakfast. The theater is a great place to see a show and Shipshewana is a nice place to visit if shopping is your thing.