Despite a couple of 50-degree teaser days last week, Old Man Winter reminded us today that it is still officially, according to the calendar, his season. Sometime in the middle of the night last night I was awakened by the plink, plink of small hail hitting the windows and both girls rushing into the bedroom to find out what was going on. Everyone went back to sleep, and when we woke up it was snowing with 35-45 mph winds blowing everything around. The girls went to school and were let out an hour later.
But still, spring seems to be creeping in, even if the only indicator at this point is the egg count. Over the winter the 45 hens averaged 15 eggs a day. The last couple of weeks that’s crept up to 24 a day. Their internal clocks seem to be telling them spring is coming, despite the weather telling us otherwise.
I got my seed starting trays and cell packs washed and sterilized yesterday, but haven’t yet started anything. Hopefully this week I’ll get some things going.
There’s a new blogger on the scene. Wildrose is off to a good start at Over the Garden Gate. Check her out. I’m so excited, she’s got Muscovies and I’m going to buy some off her for fly control around here.
Finally, I wanted to re-post a comment left over the weekend on my steam engine show post from last summer. He added a lot of interesting information about the steam engine shown in those pictures. Thank you!
Thanks for putting these pictures on the web. I am one of the the 2 engineers required to run this engine. I’m the one standing on the steps next to the tank on the engine. I’m also the fireman and my job is to maintain the proper water level in the boiler and fire the boiler to make steam. The engine is rated at 140 horsepower and was the largest cross compound engine that Reeves manufactured. We think this engine was built in 1911 or 1912 and weighs around 26 tons. Because of the size of this engine Reeves included power steering to aid in turning movements. We burn coal for fuel and operate the engine at 175 pounds of steam pressure. We pull 14-14 inch wide bottoms and the engine was rated to pull 20 to 26 bottoms depending on the soil conditions. This engine is the only surviving 40-140 Cross Compound Reeves left that is still in operating condition. I have had the privilege of operating this engine for the past 8 years and am looking forward to many more.
E.Gansen
Have a good week, everyone!
