Today, I achieved a dream that I have had for over 30 years.  I've always loved old machinery; just about everyone who knows me is aware of that fact.  Heritage Park in Calgary was (and still is) one of my favourite places to visit, and it was never complete without stopping by the blacksmith shop, or the grain elevator, both of which had old ( Read more... )

It was (another) busy week at the shop, with a few things heading home to their owners, and even more things coming in. The last few days have seen a couple of lawn-mowers, two grain-auger engines, a water-pump, a pressure-washer, a weed-trimmer, and a roto-tiller come in. With the exception of the lawn-mowers and the water-pump, the sites ( Read more... )

     With The Kidling's assistance, I got most of the winter preparation done around the farm.  As an important note, The Kidling actually helped out a lot, with no noticable complaining once we got going.  This is a huge improvement over his normal attitude, and I sincerly hope it's not a one-time deal!

We cleaned up some space in the back of ( Read more... )

     Wasted most of the day today trying to get an old machine from a farm.

A friend and customer, Bernie, told me he had this old machine sitting in the shop of his old farm that he had sold, and he wanted to get it out of there before the new owner decided to just scrap it.  I could have it, all I had to do was get it, and he was offering to ( Read more... )

     It might be late on Friday night, but the week isn't officially over for me yet; There's still Saturday to go, but at least the wost of it is over, I hope!  As noted on Monday, the week got off to an unpleasant start by an irate customer who decided that his inability to remember which saw he bought a chain for was somehow my fault.  The chain ( Read more... )

     It's been raining here for the last two days - not steadily, but on and off.  When it does come down, it has ranged from a soft shower to a torrential downpour.  Here on the farm things have (thankfully) been staying dry indoors, but in town is another matter altogether.  Happily, the bowling-alley hasn't had any problems, but the roof on the ( Read more... )

     As they say, "TGIF!" Not that it makes a huge difference, since I still have to come into the shop tomorrow as well.  This has been a rotten week, with just all kinds of crap happening - some of it good, plenty of it bad.  I wanted to post more in the evenings as things happened, but our internet connection at the farm has become so flakey ( Read more... )

     ...try not to break it!

I haven't even gotten my "new" Haybine and tractor home, and the haybine is already broken!  I went over the Alfie's estate-sale last night after work, and I noticed the tractor and the haybine in the ditch at the farm.  Hmmmm, that really shouldn't be - once I own the thing, it's really not proper for them to be ( Read more... )

     Today, trixstir  and I celebrated our 7th Wedding Anniversary!  Three days ago, we celebrated the Munchkin's 1st Birthday (I've been trying to upload some pictures ever since!)  It's hard to believe that the Munchkin is a year old already, and even harder to believe that Trixstir and I have been married for seven years now!  Time sure flies!

I had ( Read more... )

     The problem with old machinery is that it's OLD...  Parts wear out, sometimes they're very difficult (if not impossible) to replace, so a lot of improvising goes on.  Even if you can get the part, sometimes the old ones are so rusted into place (or at least the nuts & bolts holding them) that removal is nearly impossible.  It seems that almost ( Read more... )