Dairyland Driftings

At this writing ice fishing in northern Wisconsin is in full
swing in spite of ice 30 inches thick and prevailing sub zero
temperatures. The more ardent anglers have a 4X6 collapsible shack
for wind breaks. Fishing is not only a pastime but a sort of a
competative habit. I know several anglers who care very little
about eating fish but catching the big ones seems to merit
publicity in the local papers. However, going fishing and catching
fish can be two different things. I recall overhearing HELEN SATER,
‘We went up north fishing and got a lot of bites; mostly
mosquito bites.’ She should be here in winter, no mosquitos and
no need to rent a boat. (Haven’t got my Norsk spouse interested
in winter fishing yet.)

As for me I persue a less strenuous side line, that of feeding
winter birds. We have to date 12 different species feeding
regularly including the colorful purple finches, cardinals, and
evening grosbeaks, Unusual at our feeder is a slate colored junco
who chanced our winter fare in lieu of the trip south with his next
of kin; maybe he sensed the Cuban situation. Many folks venture to
feed birds and on the contrary keep cats. ‘You can’t eat
the cake and have it too.’

A dejected boy came home from his first day at school, ‘I
ain’t going to school tomorrow.’ ‘Why not,’ asked
his mother. ‘Well I can’t read, I can’t write and they
won’t let me talk.’

Was shredding corn with my ‘Old Faithful’ 10-20
McCormick Deering. I call it ‘Old Faithful’ having spent
more hours with this tractor by far than any other I have owned;
shredded 374hours belt time one season. (More on shredding and
threshing some other time.) At any rate ‘we’ were at it
again when in drives a pick-up from Illinois. It had an illusive 4
hp Mogul for ballast, so I immediately comprehended, ‘Early
Day’ collectors. Sure enough here was ED E. SCHMIDGALL from
Morton and ROBT. VOHLAND of Washington, Illinois. (These boys were
featured in October ‘Engineers and Engines’ page 1.) Had a
nice visit over a cup of coffee with them, but like many other
transients they just stopped in enroute (from St. Cloud,
Minn.).

JOHN M. NELSON and his wife Nellie of Almena, Wis. visited one
afternoon and we sure done some saw mill talk. He gave me a picture
of a Phoenix Log Hauler that he worked with near Couderay, Wis. in
1920. This outfit at one time pulled a train of sleds hauling 100
thousand feet of logs. Many an old time thresherman can boast
bushels but John talks in millions of board feet. John has used
various units for power but keeps coming back to steam. I don’t
know if you would call it just a hobby, in as much as he normally
saws 75 M feet hardwood logs each summer. His present power is a
1915 60hp Case number 29132 which he purchased from HENRY NELSON,
of New Auburn. This engine was bought new by Henry together with a
36X58 Case thresher and was used for threshing, sawing,
breakingland and road grading. At the time John bought it an apple
tree had grown partly through the left hind wheel which raised a
problem as they wanted to save the tree. John installed new tubes
and now has an engine in very nice shape complete with Gould
balance valve.

There has been much talk and protest about this five cent
postage. Geo. Christian sends me a clipping to the effect that
back.in 1847 the cost of mailing a letter was 5cent for a maximum
of 300 miles and likely no one complained.