steamshovel

I like to see them do things that are non phone related and all three of my kids can do wood working and are mechanically inclined. Preston

Amen to that, can't bend over and get lost going to the mail box and its only 70 feet from the house. Preston

My daughter Mary made me a dust pan in the 7th grade in 1987 in metal working shop. It is blue colored so I won't lose it. She gave it to me that Christmas and I have used it ever since. It stands about 18 " off the floor. It is very handy and means a lot to me. Preston

I have many pictures and short videos and no commercials. I have done a lot of things in my life but this was number 1 oops my wife and kids were number 1. Preston

The 2 shown are young chicks that have flown yet. I don't know what sex yet. They may have to get a little age on them first before the colors come out on the males. I have been trying to post an explanation of what happened but I'm not to good on these things. I sent John Morris my write up about these wonderful birds. He said he would put on when he can. To make it short I trimmed a tree and we found these chicks and a nest and what transpires is quite a story. It kept us busy for about a month. Good news is they made it. My granddaughter named them. I'll interduce them to you all as Trim & Prune. Preston

This happened to our family in 2016, myself, my wife and my granddaughter Alisabeth who was staying with us that summer. She was 21 years old at the time. I wrote and placed on the computer to have a record of what happened. This was a very heart warming experience for all of us. At first it was just myself, my wife and my granddaughter Alisabeth. Our friends, relatives and just anybody who had heard would show up and we would tell the story. I will put a copy of how things fell into place. I will enclose 7 pictures. The 3rd pic shows the duck tape at the top[ of the picture. The grey thing at the bottom is the nest. It is very small. Anyone has question-ask away. Preston & family June 25, 2016 at 700 N. Dewey St., Middleton, Id at about 10 AM we decided to trim and prune a London plane or Sycamore tree at our back door. My wife, Judy took a long handled pruning saw and cut several low hanging branches. They all were in a big pile in the yard; well it was about time to eat so we retired to the house and ate lunch. Well it was about nap time (that happens when you get old and good looking). About 2 ½ hours later we went back outside. I went into my shop and was working on some molding for the shop door. My wife, Judy and my granddaughter, Alisabeth went to work on the pile of branches cutting them up to take to the burn pile. I’m working away in the shop when my wife comes in and says I have something to show you. So I follow Judy back to the yard and there is Alisabeth on her knees looking at a branch about 3 feet long on the ground. I get down and look and they were, 2 baby humming bird chicks. They were so small and helpless. Alisabeth wanted to know what to do with them. Alisabeth was real concerned to say the least. So between our 3 brilliant minds we set to work. We didn’t want to leave too much of our human scent on the baby in fear of mama rejecting the baby chicks so Alisabeth put a finger underneath the one baby and it crawled on and Alisabeth put the chick back into the nest. By the way the nest was very small, well both of the chicks fit and they looked like they were at home. Alisabeth was holding the branch and we came up with the idea of using duct tape on one end with the tiny hummingbird nest and wrapping it around another branch on the tree where they came from. Well we found a branch and snipped back the leaves on the tree branch and the leaves on our branch with the nest. This took a couple of ladders, 3 people and some duct tape. We positioned the nest branch to the tree branch and duct taped away. We got the branch with the nest in the up position. We only had the nest about 6 feet off the ground. The main thing the chicks were safe and in their home. Now while we were eating and napping the 2 baby humming birds were on the ground. Did momma feed them or know what was going on? We cleaned the area up and sat down in our chairs by the back porch and waited. The new spot for the nest was a lot lower and back toward the house several feet. When I work in my shop I have a box fan in the window to help cool down the shop. Well momma came looking for the chicks in their new location and was not having any luck. Finally it dawned on me; shut the fan off and maybe mamma can hear the chicks. It worked when she came back she found them but everything was different. It took her several minutes but she zeroed in on them and she fed them right away. By the time we went to bed she had made several trips to feed. Oh by the way, the 2 babies are named Trim & Prune. JUNE 26, 2016 The chicks slept good as they were still with us. Oh by the way the chicks are Alisabeth’s god babies. We cut another small limb about 3 feet long and held it up to the limb that the nest is on and we cut leaves off to accommodate the shape of the nest limb. We tied the new limb to the old limb with the nest with bread bag ties keeping in mind for the new leaves to shade and camouflage the chicks. JUNE 27, 28 & 29 The chicks are sleeping good and mom feeds about every 20 minutes and she knows when about 30 seconds feeding time is up. We have cut several limbs to replace the old dried out limbs. Mom’s activity around the nest is increasing, so something is up, maybe time for the young ones to go into the world. They are a joy to have around and we will miss them. Maybe next year they will remember our good nectar and return to raise some more chicks. JUNE 30, 2016 There is about the same amount of activity as the last three days. Mom does act a little different. She flies around the nest as if she is giving flying lessons. JULY 1, 2 Same activity as previous days. JULY 3 Mom is very busy today compared to the last few days. Maybe this will be the day. Mom is flying around the nest again giving flying lessons. We went into the house to eat around noon. We came back out about 2:30 PM and guess what an empty nest and I wanted to be there when they flew off. Already we were missing the chicks. We sat down and watched the tree where the nest was and saw mom doing her feeding thing. The kids were in the tree. Mom was taking nectar from our feeder and taking it to the chicks in the tree. From time to time a young one will check out the nest but not stay. This has been a great experience for all of us. We tried hard to not humanize ourselves with the young hummingbirds. They seem to be doing fine and who knows; maybe we will see them next year.

I made mine out of pegboard and hooked up to my dust collector. It works great so far. Preston

Looks like a winder-upper for something that is windered-down. Preston

heck, I was working 40 hrs a week my senior year in HS. When I got married one full time and 2 part time so my wife could raise the kids, but of course I would show up in my time off. Preston

Hey you got me mixed up. My name is Preston Edwards NOT Preston Rich. Preston

FREE did you sat free, get out of my way. Preston

The writing was done on a laser machine. I thread the stamps through the bottom and the mouth and push the rest of the roll in the opening in the bottom like you thought. I can't remember where I got the idea from. Sorry. My daughter came up with the duck one shown. Preston

It has a big red dot but in the sun it does not show up. Preston

I'll wait till almost dark or use a string level.

I have a speedway series laser level with no instructions. It is 15 & 1/2" long. This might be the one they call the 16". My problem is I can't see the red dot when the sun is out. I tried to go from shady spot to shady spot and the red dot won't show. I changed the batteries and still nothing. I got this at a garage sale. I tried a google search and really couldn't find anything. My wife says go out when it is dusk. Don't tell anyone but that may just work. Is it something I am not doing? Preston

I bet in person It really looks good. Thanks for showing Gerald. Preston

These are stamp holders that I made from wood that was planted at our state capitol in Idaho. I made 160 of these and I got to keep 5. They went to all the offices and the elected folks. The design was done by my daughter Tresa. I had about 45 minutes into each one plus the finish and the eyes are from brass welding rods. They were fun to make but I was glad to be done. Preston

I have a manual drill press ACME that was used as a yard ornament for years and now stands in my wife’s flower garden. I have had it there for about 20 years. It is rusted but on close inspection and it is not too bad. Every now and then someone will stop and ask if I want to sell it. It is frozen down where you can’t turn the manual wheel. I don’t want to force it and break it. It is a favorite but never gets used. My wife refuses to turn the handle. Preston

Amen, if I don't do that at least once a day-something is wrong. Time to put the wrong side of the bed against the wall. Preston

The last place I look is in my wife's purse. If its not in there then mankind doesn't need it. Preston

Gas gets old and loses it punch after aging. I have had gas over 2 years old and it would not work. I put in the gas treatment and it worked. I may keep both systems gas & BO just in case the power grid goes down. Preston

I have chain saws, trimers. leaf blowers, etc, and all are gas. The gas gets old and I pull and pull and if I'm lucky they may start. I'm to old and worn out for this. I bought some of that gas additive that refreshes the gas. I use it in my gas can according to instructions. I'll put a little dab (teaspoon) in the tank on my tool and make sure its mixed up good, then I'll pull the starter rope with choke on a few times and let the tool sit for a few minutes to let the gas additive soak in, and hopefully start. I agree battery operated are a lot more user friendlier. when the gas ones quit I'm going BO. The gas additive is called renew or refresh. It will keep the gas cans in good condition for up to a year and If needed recondition the same gas again. Preston

I hope you wear a mask. With my COPD I have to. Ok everybody please tell me you use a mask. Don't learn the hard way like me. Preston

Very nice grandfather clock. It will be the center of attraction for many years. Preston