Blacksmithing ...

Smithing .......

Working on an anvil ... All you "anything snobs" will say it's an anvil shaped object ..... So go ahead and say it ... But to someone that has a thirst for knowledge and a huge need to smith .... It is a work in progress and a thing of beauty ....

 Just ruffed it out with the torch... There is A LOT of grinding to be done before the two plates on top and the one on the bottom can be welded on ...... And then A LOT more grinding !!!

I don't really like to ask of favors, but ..... If any one has any old smithing tools (hammers, tongs and such) and would like to see them put to there intended uses .... Please let me know ! Hey I may be able to pay ya a little for 'em !

The COMMENT button is in green just under this !

Carry on .....

  

A sad, very sad day......

Not for the folks with a weak stomach .....

The last few days Moma goat has been acting funny

Not that she was acting much different.... When we got her back in July the old man that we got her from said she was pregnant ... We thought that's why she was acting skittish to people. But we have gotten her to eat from our hands .... But the last few days she didn't even want a banana from us (and she LOVES bananas) .... Watching for her to have her kids all summer and till now I (we) have been looking for her teats to drop and her udders to fill .... All my research said that is how we would know it was close to happening. We had made a second pen and shelter just for that time, but it hasn't happened yet.

So this morning I went out to feed all the critters on the farm ... And when I got to the goats Moma didn't even come close to the feed bowls ?? Odd ! After I filled the feed bowls and filled the heated water bowl I saw something in the shelter that made my heart stop for a second .... She had a kid !!! After I made it closer to the shelter I saw a second kid ..... Both were dead !!!! My heart DROPPED ... I an going to show a pic of the two (still born ?? ) kids ... Not to be morbid ... But maybe some one can tell me if they look a little small (never have I done this animal husbandry thing before) Were they not fully developed ??

They were cold but not stiff .... Maybe from the shock of being moved (but they got here in July) I feel safe saying that I KNOW it wasn't from malnutrition..... These goats eat better than some people !...... Well there is nothing we can do about it now... Just hope it doesn't happen again ....

My heart is still heavy....

Carry on ....
 

Social networking ....

Social networking....

  What kinda social networking sites are y'all using ?? I have grown to like LOVE Facebook but with all the news and facts and even more research ... I don't think I want to give anyone the "O.K." to search my property just because I want to "log in"

You do your own research... I can only speak for myself ... I think I need to leave this place but I'll miss you all !

My "friends" list is growing smaller and smaller by the day, in my life and on the interweb, mainly because of things "like" the interweb... So many people are using one of the best tools in anyone's lifetime for "useless" "me time" .. Ya know .... Games, soap operas, sports, porn, and all that crap. It seens to consume so many folk that it makes me want to just walk away ..... I guess I am trying to say "goodbye" to facebook....

So, what are y'all using other than the book of faces ?? I'm trying Seen.is and tweeter and of course blogger .... Please let me know what y'all like so I can try to keep in touch with you ...

For y'all that "like" this blog and know me .... Stay in touch ! For y'all that have only come here from "fed-book" .. Thanks for stopping bye !

I will be here and looking for some real "face" time from you all ..... Until then ... I love you all !

Carry on ....

Blacksmithing....

 "Smithing"

I have done a few "blacksmithing" projects over the years, mostly just fix'n broken stuff .... But a few "pretty" things as well. I made a few crosses from timber nails as gifts for a coworker ..

I just threw the nails in the wood stove and beat them flat ... And then brazed them together ....People loved them and I really found it therapeutic "shaping steel"

I have been looking for an anvil for a while .. But folks that have them conciser them "antiques" And want way to much money (in my opinion) for them. So I am working on making one for myself ... Crude but I can see it !

Here is one I found that is made from a R.R. track that I think will fit in my shop ...

So now I need a "forge"

Not this big ... But with some "scrap" and a little "need" I started making a small one ....

...... Yeah, I have the need not to be the "old guy" that makes bird houses ....

I shall make what is needed with my dirty hands !

Isaiah 54:16 Behold, I have created the blacksmith that blows the coals in the fire, and that brings forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the destroyer to destroy.

 More to come on my next "smithing" venture ...

Carry on ....

Update .... Last night was my Maiden fire .... https://vimeo.com/115450862

You can't do that ....

Maybe it was the way my father raised me ..... I have never opened my mouth to tell someone "you can't do that" unless I HAVE done that ......

Seems as of late most people to many people like to inject their opinion as the Gospel ... I have had superintendents on job sites tell me I "can't" drive a 16 penny nail into a motor joint simply because he never has ..... Yeah it works when ya know how to swing a hammer. I have had people tell me that I "can't" use wood chips for mulch in a garden bed .... What the hell do you think is on a forest floor ?!?!?! 

Every time I get told "you can't" I always ask "have you ever tried ?" And 99.999% of the time the answer is "well no.... But ya can't" ... I am so sick and tiered DONE with anyone that can not answer that with "yes and here is why it wont work" 

I do not care if I am leaving Facebook because of privacy issues or making a shotgun from scrap in my shop.... If you even think of telling me that it wont work or it's a bad thing ....... You better be able to back up your opinion addiction to what you have been told !

I do not want nor have a use for negativity in my life, to old and wise for that. So if you can't use your brain for something constructive.... Please do not try to pull me down to your level ... You'll just get left behind !

O.k... I'm done with that rant but I feel better getting it off my chest ....

Carry on ....

A day in the life ...

A day in the life ...... 

  We had some nasty weather the other day ... It was a little windy 60 mph winds !!! And thank the good Lord we did not have any damage to speak of ... We did have a couple dead trees fall... But hey... They were listed to come down anyway ... So it saved me a little work. I figured I would get to them when I had a few extra minutes (yeah right)

This one had to be dealt with A.S.A.P.....

Then I got to cutting up our free B.T.U's

After I got some cutting done I got to enjoy my favorite time ... Breaking bread with my best friend ! Oh yeah ... She saw the doctor today and the bone is healing great ... The took the original cast off (went from knuckles to past her elbow) and they put on a half cast ... She can bend her arm at the elbow now !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That helps her A LOT !!!

After we ate, her beautiful daughter wanted to go to one of my favorite not so favorite places ... THE MALL ?!?!?! I really do not belong in a place like this .... The most grotesque music being blared through the speakers, the nauseating smell of perfume and the people ...... Wow is all I can say .... But I like to spend time with these two women !!!! But its the MALL.... 

After "daughter" hit the dressing room she came out in a cute outfit and did something that almost stopped my heart ..... She asked for my opinion !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She is really cool for a kid ;)

And if she finds out that I took this photo ... She will KILL me .... Oh wait .... I don't think she knows I do this "blogging" thing .... So as long as YOU don't tell ... I'm safe !!

Just a day in my life .....

Carry on !

Gunsmithing and metal machining

Gunsmithing and metal machining  

 For those that didn't know already ... I like LOVE firearms ... Everything that goes with them, cleaning, shooting and working on them !!! Some years back I took an online and correspondence course for gunsmithing and with some background in machining (3 years in high school and a few years in a machine shop) I bought a Machine for my self  and my passion continues ....    A little while ago I showed y'all My Nagant project ... 

Before 

And after

It is shooting very well ... But the felt recoil is somewhat of a mule it HURTS !!! So I started looking around the interwebs for a Muzzle brake to tame it down..... I found a few that "said" they work .... But if I bought one it really wouldn't be mine.... And at around $200 ....I set up my little machine !!!

With some help from my friend BROTHER on some tooling and material I got to designing and cutting one for myself .... This is the prototype that I am working on ...

I wasn't sure if the series of holes would let out enough of the gasses to my liking. But I do like the looks of it! So I decided to slot it between the second row of holes ....

I think I like it ... And more so I think it will work (tame the felt recoil) the way I want it to !!!

  Once I get it mounted on the riffle I will give y'all an update !!!

It's a little hard to do the gardening with all the global warming winter freeze we are having so this keeps me occupied .....

Stay warm out there and keep your powder dry !!!

 
 

Important update !!

 Important update !!  

Please comment .... I would really love to hear from Y'all .... If you enjoy reading blogs ... Like mine ... Or if you know me personally and that's why you stop by .... If ya have a question or just wanna say hi .... Please leave a word or two under each or any post .... Would really help me to develop this blog and maybe make it better and easier to read .....

Thank you all who have stopped over to "see" me !

  

Getting "caught up" ?? 

I have had conversations with friends and family when I ask the "how are things going" I often hear ... "I just got caught up ... Now I'm just relaxing" And I have to wonder how does one get "caught up" ?!?! I honestly could not tell you when the last time I could "just relaxe" because I am "caught up" Am I setting my goals to high??, is my "list" that long??.... Or perhaps their goals/ lists are that small ?? ... I have been trying to keep this blog updated for the 5 people that come here and don't get me wrong this is something that I enjoy!!! But I have to find time "make time" to do it ! I do have one part of each day that I get to "relax" ... When I get to sit down and break bread with the most important and beautiful woman on this earth ... My better half ... That is the highlight of my day !!!

It is work tending to the flock....

 But we get the best freshest eggs ! 

Cutting and splitting fire wood is not easy it hurts a tired back ....

But it doesn't hurt as bad as it could using hand tools

And it will keep us warm ! And we have the tools and know how to do it if the Hydraulics break down or there is no gas !!

For Y'all that didn't know I have a small Fabrication/Gunsmithing shop that helps keep my "list" long... A few of the latest "scope jobs" required some measuring tools that I did not have a means of setting up .... Well I do now !!!

    When drilling and tapping holes in a rifle barrel to mount the scope I need to know how deep EXACTLY how deep to drill .... And with an hour or so of head scratching and doing now I can ! This is a $10 Mosin-Nagant that I finally finished for myself .... 

Before.... 

And after ....

A Mauser and a Marlin done for my friend Guy  

 

...... With all this talk of getting "caught up" I just looked at the ever spinning clock ..... I gotta get !!! And go get CAUGHT UP !!!

Carry on !

Putting the Hugelkultur bed to rest 

Getting the Hugel bed prepped for winter .... My friend Mike and I pulled the remaining plants out gave them to the very thankful goats today

We then gave a light raking to the bed and sewed a combo of Buckwheat and Rye as a cover crop 

Then we raked some straw and mulch over to help protect it from the ever hungry and curious chickens 

Before planting in the spring I will "chop and drop" the cover crop as a living much. This all helps with soil compaction, fertility retention and to help prevent weed growth.

I have to throw in a few pictures of the ducks as they were swimming and eating while we worked ... And because the make me smile :) 

Great sunny 60 degree day on the third of November.... But soon it will all be covered in snow and ice and will have me longing for another sun burn !!!

 

Broken bones and the Rocketmass 

It's been really busy on the farm....... Trying to get everything I can ready for winter and then this.....
Last Wednesday my better half came home from work early (normally that would make my day) with a broken arm......I always knew how much of a help SHE IS TRULY  MY RIGHT ARM.... She is more than  half of what keeps me going .... And to see her hurting like she is KILLS me !
The place she works will remain nameless (one of the big three and it ain't Ford or GMC) will not let her take any time off for the injury (they don't want to damage their "no loss time due to injury" thing... So she gets to go in and sit around .... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot....

In-between helping her get thing done I have spent a little time on the Rocketmass project ..... IT IS DRAFTING AS IT SHOULD !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Looks like the greenhouse may just stay producing this winter !! A few pics of the feed tube/burn chamber (I would post a video if I could figure it out)

rocketmass from marty loose on Vimeo.

A day getting ready for winter 

 As the temps and the leaves start to fall it's clear that global warming old man winter is on his way....
Today I spent some time with a great old friend .... HYDRAULICS !!! As I get older it gets harder and harder to get done what I could when I wore a younger mans clothes.... But when you have hydraulics as a friend (not many folks like to lend a hand these days, the farming-homesteading preparedness life is hard work) it gets done !!!

With the help of my 'ol 52 and a log splitter I did get a little firewood put up....

I was able to get 4 of these boxes moved to the front of the house were they will get stacked on the porch for easy hauling to the woodstove .....

Had a few minutes to finish the new dog house .... This thing is made from old pallets ... It was thick enough to get a R-21 insulation value .... And the "permadogs" love it .....

 

We had an old truck bed liner laying around and we needed to keep the hay in the newly made goat feeder dry (goats don't like wet hay)...

And some more of the goats (because they make me smile!)

  Speaking of smiling .... These guys make me :) too ... The new adds to the flock (thanks Kevin)

They FOUND THE POND !!!!

 And people say we are strange to want to live like this ... It IS hard work .... Some one once said "Dirty hands and a clean soul" I like that !

More in the morning .... Stay safe out there !!!