I've gotten involved with a farm show that highlights the nations past early days. We have exhibits of old tractors, early gas and steam engines and things done in rural area's of our country. Today, I go to help get the grounds where the show is held ready. I'll be weed whacking and painting some signs. This year they will be teaching me how to make apple cider and apple butter. The people making it now are getting up in their 70's and want to teach some other people so they may take over after they no longer can.
I'll also be helping get the steam powered sawmill ready. Not much time till the show. IT's held on September 11,12,13th this year.

Mark

That sounds like fun
Apple Cider and Apple Butter. Do we get free samples?

Hey Mark!

Did you ever move? Where you living now? Still in PA?

I moved but am still in PA.
it's a long, insane story about the things that occurred since the middle of February. When I have some extra time, I'll write about it and PM it to you guys. Let me put it this way, getting back online and back on this site is the highlight of my year so far.
Hey Chuck, by the way, how you feeling??? I heard you have had some problems of your own.

Mark

I'm doing Great.

I am just glad you are back. I/we are going to need some help keeping Randy in line when he gets back from the lake.

Your project sounds really interesting, Mark. You can't go wrong sitting and listening to the older folks. It's been a lot of years since there used to be a show near me with all the steam powered equipment. That was a farm country thing when I was a boy. I imagine all those old folks are gone now.
Don

that's the idea of my parcipitation Don. The older folks are going, it;s up to us to keep some of those ways alive. If we don't, no one else will.

Mark

Talking about steam

They had a "Steam Train " festival in Owosso MI. this weekend.

Southern Pacific's steam locomotive, SP4449 is running from Oregon to Michigan with some special passenger cars.


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That would be a great ride again, especially with those big windows. Last time I was on a train was heading back to college after a summer on the beach. Eugene, Oregon to St. Cloud, Minnesota. I wonder what they do with wheelchairs now? I don't see myself sitting for that 32 hour ride but I'm curious.
Don

That was a great one to see. I really needed that. It would be wonderful to be on a trip like that!

Mark

Was at the farm they use as showgrounds today doing more work. I painted the cider press using barn red paint. It's quite old and the paint makes it look much better and will preserve it for a few more years. I've worked there the last three days and as usually happens, only two other members showed to do any work. Its a wonder that everything is ready at showtime. The two other people are a husband and wife team in their 70's. They are the ones who do the majority of the real work. Seems everyone else wants the glory but never wants to work.
They tell me since I joined them this year, I've done more work than many members who have been involved for twenty years. I guess its human nature.

the cider will be unpastureized, like in the good old days. Since its only for three days and is not being done as a business, Pennsylvania will allow it to be unpastureized. Boy, I remember many presses that went out of business because they could not afford the equipment to pasturize the cider.

Mark

That is the way it always is. Some people are just better at "Talking the Talk".

I have a guy in my back yard, as we speak, putting a waterproofing stain on the privacy fence and the lawn furniture I made. I am going to keep him busy for a while with a list of minor maintenance items that need to be done before they become majors. I hate the fact I have to hire guys to do the things I used to be able to do myself. I also have to get a plumber in here and the roofers are supposed to be here Wednesday to do my barn roof.

I would lot rather be spending this money on a couple of new guns. :D

I hear you! I'm glad though that we don't have to supervise from bed. :)
Don

I had some really nice lawn furniture but the rabbits ate it all and the bare patches where the grass used to be really looked bad..... :D :D :ROFL: :ROFL:

And, it really wasn't all that strong.... :dunno:


Leep:

Are you trying to say... Don't not sweat the small stuff? :ROFL: :ROFL: or things could be worse... or what are you trying to say. I need your help here. Unlike you I am running out of ideas. :ROFL:

:o :o :o I'm still soooo confused!!!! Or should I say confuzzzed, cornfused( that's corn beforer seperation into hominy grits!) Yeah, I lost it all right!
:D

Mark

Well, Early Days ended yesterday and although I'm exhusted, I had a good time. Worked most of the time from dawn through dusk but at least the club turned a profit so they are solvent for another year. They were really worried for a while that it may have had to fold. Sold out of apples and apple cider. We had seven bins of apples and none were left. Of course, with the low prices, how could people resist? four dollars a half bushle and eight for a bushle. Cider a buck and a half a half gallon, three bucks a gallon made right in front of the people.
Lots of engines and tractors plus much more.
Now, I need rest, I pushed a bit too hard and the old ticker is acting up. Hopefully a few days rest will clear it up.
The deer and bear will be extra big in that area because of all the apple pulp we dumped from making cider. There have been some real big bruisers there in the past.

Mark

Rest up!!! You deserve it!!!

Dawn to Dusk is a long day but it does go by fast when you are doing something you enjoy.

Glad the group turned a profit. That's a great example of Capitalism at work

Great accomplishment. I wish I would've been closer to try try some of that cider. Four bucks a quart for honeycrisp at the orchard by us. I'm anxious for our trees to get a bit bigger.
Don

Well guys, guess I overdid it a bit. Wound up in the ER last night with shortness of breath. They figure something with the heart but since they cannot do much for me because of my syndrome they just sent me home with a prortable halter monitor to watch my heart for 24 hours. Guess I better slow down a bit. Just a wee bit.

Mark

I think you need to slow down more than a wee bit.

You take care there Mr. Mark.

:IAgree:
Don