There is a Peanuts charter, drawn by Chuck Shultz, Linus Van Pelt. He was known for a quirky need to carry his security blanket. I must have that same quirk in a different form. I don’t carry a blanket pressed to my right ear, but I do have a blanket. In fact, I have six!

This article is going to be show and tell, in some sense. It will be more of a showcase of a very talented artist. I’m a little ashamed of myself for not sharing this tribute sooner. The word smithing to tell this still comes emotionally hard, even after eight years.

My mom Bonnie Jennings was my major artistic influence. I grew up watching her sewing, knitting, crocheting, pretty much anything in that creative form. Mom wasn’t known to always color within the lines though. She ventured off into making Santa Claus dolls, that progressed into other dolls. She eventually acquired a long arm quilter ( overgrown sewing machine in men’s terms)

Mom’s last sewing room was a loft over a oversized 2.5 car garage. There was plenty of room in that creative space. The room was deemed Olson’s room, the long arm quilter had a name. The room held the long arm, which dominated a good amount of space. The table for the machine was 16 feet long and 4 feet wide.

There was also a couple sewing machines, a cutting table, a desk, racks of material, several steamer trunks, and a comfortable seating area. Most defined was also the electric feeling of creativity in the air, from the moment through the door. It was an inspiring place, where many talents blossomed.

I was one of the few males tolerated in the space. Mom always told me it didn’t have everything to do with being her son, to be in her somewhat secret club. I drove a pickup and knew how to keep my mouth shut. I had involvement in a few conspiracies, sneaking home large objects. I kept silent. Mom had a thing for steamer trunks and I didn’t want to end up in one!

This first quilt is called Wild Flowers. It has been on my bed ever since completion in 2011. It’s a little distressed now, but it’s where it was created to be.

This one is a turning twenty design. I have no idea what that term means. This is a good one to see the stitching detail on the back.

This originally was on my bed before I got Wildflowers. It now does duty making my guest room more comfortable

Mom would travel to quilt retreats and she belonged to a local guild. I’m not real sure what went on beyond sharing enthusiasm and ideas. All I remember was she’d come back recharged and full of new creative ideas. She always had more than one project going on.

This quilt is another one of my favorites. I like the color and theme, our family were avid SCUBA divers and that may be my reasoning to like it so much

The next one is always handy draped on my couch. The fact the colors go well with my furniture was a happy accident. The wall hanging I’ll display next demonstrates how well things come together in my living room.

Wall hangings were another demonstration of mom’s artistic expression. The first one compliments Wild Flowers. The other one I have gives impression of a imagined window

One of the blankets I have still travels many miles. Of course there is one near by while I’m at work! This blanket almost didn’t come about. In 2010, when I was assigned my very first new semi tractor, mom decided a bunk blanket was in order to celebrate. The blanket was started, before she became sick from cancer.

My first wife was responsible for the monumental task of closing out Olson’s room after mom passed. Loosing mom was hard enough, a bunk blanket was that last concern on my mind. My ex got in contact with me out of the blue and we got together. I was driving my second new truck at the time.

I was presented with the blanket completed. She had taken the extra time to finish the project without my knowledge. This blanket is special because of the fact two women that were important in my life worked on it.

The blanket is in my third new truck now. Mom may not be around, but her memory always will be.

On a pleasant spring morning, in April of 2014, mom’s ashes were scattered. I created the following poem during the week before hand. I published it to Facebook on the day mom’s remains were laid to rest.

After the sunset

The sunset has past
leaving ashes and dust
from the start, nothing will last
Strong iron eventually shall rust

Your life was an interesting one
that touched many a heart
Creating far more than a daughter and son
your legacies never will part

today, we cast your remains to be free
Well knowing your love shall endure
the beauty of your art, left to see
Is the sign you left us to ensure

You rest on hallowed ground
a secret known by only one other and me
But your memories will abound
take root, to always be

I’d imagine every one of us, with the tractor passion, has a farm toy replica collection. Farm toys don’t take up as much room as the real thing. The toys don’t cost as much and easier to maintain the collection.

Read the last part of that previous paragraph and then try to stop laughing! For example, I was once at an auction where I watched a pedal tractor replica bring a higher bid than the real tractor selling on the same auction!

I was allowed a viewing of an amazing collection, owned by Don Nowak. I have to warn you, the pictures I tried to take don’t do the collection justice. His collection is housed in a 26×40 building, and there are toys everywhere!

What toys Don can’t find he will replicate himself. I was fortunate enough to have him customize a Farmall 806 with a cab, that was just like the real one I learned to operate as a kid.

Don has done many other custom works. For examples, building a tandem tractor setup ( which was recognized in the local paper), a plow, a flatbed utility trailer and even a corn crib. The crib was featured in Toy Farmer magazine.

While I was there Don had a corn picker project underway. I’ll let him reveal that project when its completed. Don would like to find a cozy cab to customize tractors with. No parts suppliers make anything. I’m willing to bet he gets frustrated enough waiting and designs his own at some point.

So as your mouth waters and you secretly wish you had a collection to rival Don’s, just remember….you can. The most remarkable aspect of Don’s collection. This isn’t the first one he amassed. There were two others before this one!

Maybe I’m just a sentimental old fool, but lately I’ve been reflecting on friendship and memories. The past few year’s social isolation, due to the pandemic, could be a major contributor as to why I personally cherish my tight bonds. The loss of close friends is also a factor. We make memories everyday, little realizing it may be the last.

People with the tractor passion seem to create very close lasting friendships. Some can be deeper than just mere acquaintances that share a common interest. The closeness in the “tractor” community also is founded from family involvement. The tractor families in central IL. generally number more than one generation.

Central Illinois recently lost, yet another great collector. Russel Miner was well known for his enthusiasm toward the tractor passion. Even in his advanced age, Russel participated in as many club activities and tractor events as his health would allow him.

Russel’s enthusiasm flowed throughout his family. His tractor legacy will not end with his passing. Just like other tractor friends that passed on before him, the community will continue to be blessed with happy memories.

I wish I had known Russel better than I had. The few encounters I shared were wonderful. I could feel the loss felt by the family and my close friends that knew him better than I did.

Central Illinois has developed a unique way to send off and celebrate life now. This wasn’t the first time tractors have been involved in some manner. I reference my blog article The Final Ride in which I shared about Andy Harris’ final journey.

Saturday March 19, 2022 was a dreary chilled morning. Even Mother Nature must have been sad in Russel’s passing. Four of Russel’s favorite tractors stood guard in the church parking lot. Five more were posted in honor of him across the street.

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The melancholy aspect to our tractor community is we added, yet another name to our list of friends that now live in our memories.

Recently, my blog was hijacked by Jack LaFountain. He has much latitude in this action considering he is the publisher and editor for my upcoming book New Perspectives that will be released in the near future. Jack is doubly forgiven since he shared his memories about aircraft. I enjoyed hearing from him, and I hope you, the reader did as well.

Jack has several books published. A good number are also available to be listened to, for those that don’t have time to turn the pages.

I personally have taken full advantage of my Audible account, recently Here are three titles I highly recommend for reading or listening pleasure.

I’m a fan of westerns. I was introduced to Jack’s western style by listening to Redemption. This is the tale of Kit Mann, a frontier preacher with a dark past. Kit has a congregation in a lonely little town in Wyoming. His world gets turned upside down when an outlaw gang rides in. Unfortunate for Mann, this is the gang he used to ride with.

Kit is forced to face his shady past. In the process his secrets are revealed. Mann helps to take the outlaw gang, without resorting the need of a gun.

Judgement is Jack’s follow up to Kit Mann’s story. Kit goes back to Nebraska to face a long time murder charge against him. His faith is tested, but he puts his life in God’s hands.

Kit faces the gallows and his opponent is a no nonsense judge and a prosecutor that hasn’t lost a case yet. A letter pleading his pardon follows behind in the hands of a Cavalry officer. The soldier faces major hardships to reach the trial in time.

Throughout the series Jack shares a message of Christian faith. There is a strong message of morality. Jack presents these works so well the moral message doesn’t come off as preachy.

Death Rides the Red River is a western theme with an interesting twist. This story takes place just after the civil war. Confederate officer Nate Carson drifts his way to reconstruction Texas. He manages to acquire a ranch where he tries to live in peace within isolation.

Unfortunately, a civil war secret weapon follows him, and he has to face the horrors of a Werewolf again. That isn’t the only monster that Nate has to deal with. He also has to fight a corrupt congressman.

The government official may be the true beast in this story. The hero’s of the saga have several unusual allies that are not always viewed as good, as they battle to a conclusion.

I personally like Jack’s interpretation in this book. The storyline reminds of similar issues James West and Artimus Gordon faced in the old TV series Wild West.

Jack’s books can easily be found on Amazon and Audible. Simply do a an author search for Jack LaFountain and make your selection. I’ll try and share links during my next recommended reads review in the future. Jack is also on Facebook.

Hello. Rick stepped out for a moment and while he’s gone, I’m hijacking his blog. Unfortunately, I know nothing about the types of machinery he discusses here—I do know a thing or two about vintage aircraft.

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Well, they are vintage now. They were just elderly when I crawled around beneath, atop, and inside them. I’ve found there’s no better shelter from the rain on the flight line than a big plane’s wheel well.

In 1974-5, I was stationed in the Philippines, where I was assigned to the ground crews working on C-141 and C-5 transport as part of the Military Airlift Command (MAC). Our job was ferrying cargo in and out of Southeast Asia. We had just completed Operation Babylift, and the evacuation of Saigon and I was returning stateside.

I was being assigned to SAC (Strategic Air Command), not to the B-52s that I trained on but to a squadron flying the Boeing KC-135Q Stratotanker, the Air Force’s first jet powered refueling tanker—the command’s flying gas station. It was equipped with four Pratt and Whitney J57 turbojets that used water injection for take-off. Besides the usual fuel tanks in the wings, this plane carried a belly full of jet fuel.

On the underside of the body just below the tail was the “boom pod”, a small bubble at the base of a winged refueling boom attached below the tail of the aircraft. This boom would be lowered when an aircraft needing fuel approached and was then “flown” into the approaching plane’s refuel port by the boom operator called the Boomer. He had a single “stick” (like you see on helicopters) that allowed him to control the boom and reportedly the ideal job for any man—to lay on his belly and pass gas.

The “Q” designation was given because these models were equipped with two refueling ports, one in each wheel well. One port allowed fueling of tanks within the body of the aircraft, the other the wing tanks so it could carry two different types of fuel. This modification was needed to allow the aircraft to carry out its special mission of refueling the SR-71 Blackbird which burned a unique fuel not burned by any other aircraft as far as I know.

I was given my own plane and crew and the 1958 model tanker I was assigned to was older than all of my assistants and as old as many of the men flying it. Tanker ground crews, back then, flew along with their plane when it left its home base. The old plane, 0084, took me and my crew over the pole, south of the equator, to Europe and to Asia. One day we flew circles around an island just off the Florida Keys before returning home.

On one particular trip home after months in England, we were dragging F-4s back to the States. In a Fighter Drag, our big plane was followed by fighter aircraft whose fuel tanks were not large enough to cross the Atlantic without refueling. Like a swarm of hungry mosquitoes, they followed us along drinking as we went. The pilot stepped out of the cockpit, went into the toilet, came off, got coffee and returned to the cockpit. Nothing unusual until the flight crew broke into laughter.

It seems a fighter jockey impressed them with some rolls and loops and radioed, “Let’s see you do that!” Following the pilot’s visit aft, he radioed back, “I just got up, went to take a pee, got a cup of coffee, and walked back to my seat. Let’s see you do that!”

I watched over the boomer’s shoulder once while refueling the SR71. He said there they are and pointed to a microscopic black spec that I could barely see. I could tell from the sound of our engines; we were going as fast as we could. Seconds later that dot was a big black plane right beneath us. The boomer unlatched the boom, flew it back and forth until it looked like he was going to put it through the SRs windshield. Then with a neat little flip of his wrist it slid miraculously into the receptacle just above the other pilot’s head.

The KC-135s were still flying for Operation Desert Storm. Like most aging machinery, the cost of repairs sent the Air Force looking for a replacement aircraft.

It was great talking to you. It was fun for me because I don’t usually get the chance to talk about aircraft, my blogs are about writing, politics, and Christianity. I’m out of here before Rick gets back. If I don’t get in serious trouble for this one, maybe I’ll try and sneak in again and tell you about another plane.

Editor’s note~ Jack, feel free to share about another airplane anytime you would like. Aircraft can easily be included as on topic ~ Rick

I gave hint to a new writing adventure, I’m undertaking, in the article 2022?. I wrote a book. The manuscript submission earned my first contract. Sometime, in the next year, New Perspectives will be available for purchase.

It’s amazing to reach the goal of being a published novelist. This wasn’t an actual goal I set for myself though. When I was an 18 year old high school graduate, I was just glad to be done with school. I should have paid closer attention to what my pretty English teacher was teaching, instead of admiring her.

I still plan to pursue being a journalist. There will still be articles, here, describing tractor adventures, such as shows and pulls. This blog will still celebrate the passion of country life and antique tractors.

Since my horizons are expanding, I want to give this readership the opportunity to enjoy the adventure too. My advancement in writing happened because of the supportive following. Thank you for that support!

I will be introducing new people in this blog. They won’t necessarily be interested in tractors, but our tractor friends may be interested in learning more about them. Our readers can look forward to meeting fellow authors, publishing with House of Honor Publishing.

One of the first people I’ll be introducing is Jack LaFountain. He is not only one of the authors in the House of Honor family, He is the publisher. I’m honored to be working with him.

Jack has several books available. I have listened to two so far using Audible. I plan to share a review in a future article here.

Anyway, that’s what will be happening in 2022. I hope you enjoy the new road I’ll be guiding down. Back to work, My next adventure is half way written! This manuscript isn’t going to take 8 years to complete!

There’s just something about going to auctions. The advertising leading up to the upcoming sale, can create an exciting spectacle. Auctions are a great strategy to buy or sell.

Auctions have been changing in the past few years though. In the recent past, a person could take part in the proceedings without actually being on site. This new method of bidding via a phone call and then later by personal computer started as a convenience to bidders. The recent pandemic made this the new normal due to social distancing.

Now in recent times, auction companies are conducting their sales more like the method Ebay uses. The bidding is taking place online for a certain amount of time, with a set closing date.

This new style opens up buyers in a much larger arena. The larger audience may have its pros and cons though.  If a buyer is the type with need to actually “kick the tires” this new method may not be to their particular liking. Auctioneers do have open houses displaying the for sale items.  The con is travel to the open house. This convenience helps insure the buyers confidence. Otherwise consideration in pictures and videos determine maximum bids. Further con is the travel may double.  Generally there is a date to pick up the items after the sale has closed. Shipping is more the buyer’s concern.

A few auction houses have started filming the prospective purchases. This helps demonstrate “real time” authenticity. This helps eliminate questions for distant prospective purchasers.

A buyer needs  confidence in the auctioneer. My personal recommendation is dealing with reputable known companies.  The good ones ease the sale burdens by helping arrangement of shipping, answer questions, and address concerns. Sales managers are only a phone call, text or email away.

A new method of extended bidding has been introduced in the online style of auction. The whole sale continues beyond the scheduled closing time. This gives bidders a last minute chance to place a winning bid. I’ve heard conflicting opinions towards this practice.

The times are changing, we all need to embrace this new reality. What will be sad is live on sight auctions becoming a thing of the past. Listening to an auctioneer chant may become a forgotten song in the wind.

I’m sure everyone has been hungry and have no idea what they want to eat. That would be a great analogy of my writing pursuit. Thanksgiving weekend brought me to, yet, another crossroad.

I completed my first manuscript. Where do I go from here in the novelist aspect? Well, I’ll tell you this much. I’ve ventured into uncharted waters and I’m having an interesting adventure. *Note the bold italics. I have already started to pen my next work. Hopefully it won’t take me 8 years to complete.

I haven’t given up on the video aspect of journalism. I’ve admitted, before, that my foremost focus is writing. Still photography holds my stronger interest. I discovered my camera skills lack writing my last article here in the blog. Thankfully, my smartphone saved me yet again. Practice, practice, practice

I’ve ventured off on different tracts throughout the past years. Partnerships formed only to be dissolved later. I won’t apologize that I look out for the best interest of my writing craft. Mistakes are tools to teach. Some pursuing threads have been left purposely for their rightful time in my pursuit.

I’m very thankful for the guidance I’ve received. I’m also very grateful to those that lend me their ears, listening to my ideas.

As 2021 closes, I want to thank everyone of my friends and followers. I wouldn’t be where I am now without all your support. Thank you for continued patience in my irregular content. I still maintain my integrity to produce quality and not flood the audience will quantity. My hope is that you follow my creativity for that reason.

My predictions for 2022….we all share a prosperous new year! As always….let’s enjoy the ride.

Saturday, December 4th was the inaugural Christmas light parade in New Berlin, IL. Although there wasn’t any snow for Santa’s sleigh, the weather was perfect. There was a slight chill, just enough to remind us of the season.

The parade was led off buy our community’s fire department. Sydney Geyston, this year’s Sangamon County Fair Queen presided over the festivities.

Golf carts, cars, trucks and tractors followed along decorated in lights and displayed the joyous holiday season.

Thanks go to Desi King for this novel idea and being our chairperson. She did a great job and the outstanding turn out was a great reward.

I discovered night photography isn’t all that easy. Please forgive me for the pictures

Happy Holidays!

I’ve learned you don’t always need to be in the parade, there’s need for a crowd to wave to. Digger Dave and I were just spectators for a show in Bushnell, IL.

Spoon River Valley Antique Tractor Club is a great organized group that is based in a historic old barn. Their clubhouse has a rich history. Housing their tractors, in the building, is a suitable continued use.

The two buildings and carriage house are all that’s left standing from the early 1900s the facilities original intent was for breeding draft horses. The clubhouse had a twin at one time standing just to the west of it.

Later times, the building became a Case tractor dealership. Some of the box stalls were removed and parts bins and a counter were installed.

I’m told the second story was packed with snowmobiles. I didn’t get the full story as to how that came about. If an individual is brave enough to venture up there they may still find one or two lurking in the dark.

The group holds monthly meetings and gets their tractors out to sun during fitting weather. There is a two day show held during Memorial Day weekend. I highly recommend visiting. You’re going to encounter a bunch of friendly people that love to talk “tractor”