"What are you going to do with that?"

Ever have a desire to simply do something for no reason at all?  I get those feelings, especially when I have a little time on my hands.  My last project has triggered many of my friends to ask; "What are you going to with that?"   Quite frankly, I don't know, I just wanted to build it!  That is how I learn. 

We have friends out in the country and Larry found an old spring wagon in the grove that had deteriorated to almost nothing; just the metal and a few rotten boards were left.  He rebuilt it for a landscape feature in his yard.  The first time I saw it he was working on it and it caught my eye; what a neat project.

I started asking around if anyone else had a similar wagon that might need some tender loving care and I found one less than half a mile from home.  Hitting the community garage sales last year, Mel told me he had one setting along the creek and that I could have it if I wanted to dig it out of the trees.   I DID!

I dug through the parts and found the wagon's manufacture or name plate; it was a "Bain."  I check them out and the company started in 1850 in Kenosha, Wisconsin and became one of the premiere wagon companies in the mid-west.  I even found a illustration of one.  This particular model was referred to as a 10 by 3 (foot) or 26 bushel model.  They were very popular.

The Bain

This spring I pulled out pieces.  It was in sad shape, the wood had mostly rotted away but it appeared most of the metal parts were there.  Parts of the metal still had orange paint and some of the boards were still dark green.  I pulled the axles apart, pulled the wheels and dug through the debris for metal parts and hauled them home. 

The Beginning

I learned it was a "hybrid" of sorts; representing the transition from an early wooden wagon toward a more modern style using metal and rubber wheels.  The wheels were standard wooden hub and spoke wheels but the spokes were cut off to accommodate a steel rim and rubber tires.  This appears to have been a factory conversion.  While the wagon's axles, supports and spine were made of wood, the cradle supports that held the wagon box were made of metal rather than wood in the old style.  This was a farm wagon designed to haul grain.   Mel said he had paid $10 for it on a farm sale and used it to haul junk.

Amazingly, the wheels turned but the spokes had rotted and couldn't be repaired.  I had purchased some metal wheels last year and they fit the tapered axle bearings just fine.  There was enough of the original wooden parts left to provide me the patterns necessary to make replacement parts. 

Rebuilding the Axles

I soaked all the bolts in WD-40 and remarkably all but one broke free.  The rear axle was in good shape but the front axle had quite a bit of rot.  The bad portions of the axle was replaced with new oak and a new collar was made out of pine.  I didn't have oak for all the wooden parts so I used treated pine instead.  I didn't plan to haul a load of grain so strength wasn't a primary concern of mine.  Before I new it, I had all the pieces of the running gear and it came together.

Taken Shape!

I got some orange paint and painted the running gear before starting on the box.  I had some old barn wood on the farm and thought that would be appropriate.  Some of this wood is 90 years old and dates back to when this wagon was probably built.  The original wagon was constructed using iron rivets, but I couldn't find any locally so I used carriage bolts instead. 

The one item that was missing was a spring seat.  Honestly, I doubt it had one but that was something I wanted.  I checked Craig's List and low and behold, there was a set of seat springs for sale from a guy in Arkansas.  I bought them and they arrived.  It took no time at all to build the box and seat.

A Bain 3 by 10 Box Wagon

Now I'm in a quandary; do I leave it rustic or paint and pinstripe the wagon box?  That is going to take some time and quite frankly I'm in no hurry.  Its kind of fun watching those reruns of Gun Smoke and Wagon Train and then wander out and sit in my spring seat and imagine the old west. 

"What are you going to do with that?"  normally snaps me out of my dream as neighbors and friends ask me that question.  For the time being, I'm going to enjoy it.  It will be used by the Bennington Historical Society during Bennington Dazes (June 15-17) this year and who knows??  Maybe I'll try to come up with some type of covering for the iron wheels so we can pull it in the parade next year.   Its been fun!

Spring So Soon?

The weather has simply been amazing; from a mild and short winter to an early spring.  Here it is the last day of March and everything is in full bloom and the weather guy is forcasting a high of 91 tomarrow!  This is the first time I've witnessed our daffadils bloom the same time as our tulips. 



Oft's Bed & Breakfast: March 29, 2012

  The growing season appears at least 4 weeks early this year.

Another spring event is restocking the pond with our fish.  In late fall, we remove our fish from our pond and drain and clean it for winter.  This gives us a chance for repairs and this spring we actually painted the bottom.  It seemed like it might have been leaking water through the pores concrete. 

Our fish stay in a 40 gallon tank in the basement during the winter.  The painted had sufficiently dried and we filled the pond and let it set for a couple of weeks.   It was time to bring them out.   

We have 3 smaller (6 inch) and one large (12) gold fish.   Its amazing how gold they are.  After draining the basement tank, the large gold fish is placed in one bucket and the smaller ones in their own.   The buckets are taken  out by the pool and pond water is slowly added over half an hour to temper them to pond conditions.  After they are use to the temperature in the pond they are released.  Its always fund watching them become reaccustom to their outdoor home.  

Winding Up the Past

We still have the family farm that was bought in 1880 by Great Granddad Eggert Oft.  The farm always game me a place where I could go out and do some manual labor and simply clear my head.  There is something about walking the same ground as my dad, grand dad and my great granddad did in the past.  I bought a mower for the ATV last year and its relaxing going out to mow the same land I did as a child growing up on the farm.  It's good to reflect on your "roots". 

Linda and I bought ourselves a little something last spring.  To recognize and celebrate the family farm we had a farm sign designed and I mounted it by the lane.  A 132 year celebration of our use of a chunk of prairie the good Lord saw fit to let our family use (with the blessing of the state tax collector).   

Cousin Mike Oft next to the Farm Sign

We had an old, very old barbed wire fence that had to be pulled out.  It dates back to granddad at least and some of the barbed wire design suggests some of the wire might go back further. 

Anyway, the fence was half a mile long; over 2,600 feet composed of antique steel posts supporting five strands of barbed wire and one strand of electrical wire.  I had planned to pull the fence in the spring but the weather was so nice in January, I jumped at it and actually got the wired pulled. 

I did it the old fashion way, the way dad would have had me do it 50 years ago.  I took one strand down at a time, starting with the electric wire.  I started on one end and walked the half mile take the wire down and when I got to the end, I turned around and started rolling it up.   I got about four roles per length.  I did that 6 times walking more than 6 miles wrapping up 3 miles of wire.  The job did in a new pair of leather gloves.

When I picked up the individual rolls it made quite a pile.  The wire was really rusty but some strands were still in usable condition.  I used them to string up a 200 yard section of fence by the Highway.  I think dad, granddad and great grandad would have approved and said; "job well done." 

Nearly 2 miles of barbed wire

Lights! Camera! ACTION!

When we opened as Oft's Bed & Breakfast we never dreamt the different types of clients we would have and not all of them stay the night.  Some simply visit to take pictures. 

We've been discovered by photographers of all types.  We've had several brides have their photographs taken here and a dress designer show cased her designs in our parlor.  Kate Walz is 14 and designs and models her own creations.  A very remarkable young lady!  Our home has also used been used as the backdrop for Senior Class pictures and even "glamour" photos. 


Kate Walz modeling one of her own designs

The most recent was a video shoot by Reliant Studios in Lincoln.  They do video promotional advertisement spots and they wanted to use an old Victorian setting to interview their CEO (who's from Arlington) and the rest of their staff for their own advertising. 

Staff Reviewing CEO's Interview

The interviews were shot in our formal parlor and we were informed they needed some "B-roll."  We found out "B-roll" was back ground or filler for the video.  They took moving shots of our Jude Box and even a zoom in of our old record player spinning away.  Below, is a shop of their set up for the phonograph the shot. 

Video Shoot at Oft's Bed & Breakfast

Does anyone out there old enough to remember the "Bob Cummings Show?"  "I think this is going to be a good one!"

A Change In Life

I am on our City's Council  and I'm currently getting ready to run for Mayor in the upcoming election.  I never dreamt or even considered serving in public office while I was pursuing my career as a research scientist.  I simply didn't have the time nor the interest.  I was focused on science and fish and travelled a lot.  That was actually a benefit in that I saw a lot of beautiful country but also a curse because I was away from my wife, family and community so much.

That certainly isn't the case any more.  I was thinking how one's profession influences a person's relationships not only with one's family, but also with their community.  I have friends who are truck drivers that are on the road for extended periods of time.  We've recently had several service men who were returning or getting deployed oversees for a year or more.  Those are hardships! I'm just starting to realize how easy it is to get physical and mentally detached from our families and communities. 

I wonder if that is happening to our younger generations through career demands and technology?  Many would argue that technology has made us closer but I'm starting to question that.  We recently had a 'tech' savey crew over that used our home for a video promotion section.  I remember looking and seeing all 5 of them working on the smart phones; mentally isolated from each other.  I couldn't help but smile and think about Captain Pecard quote: "I am BORG, part of the collective!" 

As an Inn Keeper, I've switched professions and lifestyles.  I'm not on the road, wading in a river or at a meeting anymore.  I'm working at home with my wife.  The transition took a while but what a pleasant change.  There are certain things I miss about working outdoors but the opportunities I'm experiencing now I wouldn't trade for the world.  I have more time with Linda, meeting such nice and interesting guests, and having time to get more involved in community issues.  I now realize how I sherked those responsibilities for so many years.  

Being a Council Member has been one of the most challenging and at times the most frustrating job of my life.  As a scientist, I spent 30 years solving problems.  I've learned that far easier than trying to get people to accept and move in the right direction, specially when it comes to financial problems.  We all feel entitled in some way and I'm afraid that may lead to our society's decay if we let it.  Local communities, States and our Federal Government is so far in debt!

Take the opportunity to get involved or at least educate yourself what is happening in our society.   Take care.   

Visitors from Over Seas

We have hosted guests from foreign countries but yesterday was the most interesting.  We got a call about 6 pm from a gentleman passing through Kansas City wanting rooms for the night and said he would make Omaha by 10:00.  Well, they hit bad weather and phoned saying it would be past 11 so Linda and I turned on the old Perry Mason reruns. 

At 11:30 they arrived, cold, tired and road weary.   We showed them their room and said we would check them in after breakfast.   Breakfast was at 9 am and what followed was a most delightful discussion about world affairs, their lives and jobs and their exploits in this country.  All three were in the late 20's, early 30's and very interesting people. 

Left to Right: Artem (Russia), Evy (Austria), Tommy (Lithuania)

Artem is a managing editor for a Moscow newspaper with ties with the Washington Post, Evy is a consultant and Tommy is a mutual friend.  They came to the States for business and took some time to drive around. 

They were going to the Duram and eat lunch at Old Market.  Evy had sights on the Candy Store we told her about and then they were heading to Hanibal, MO to see the Mark Twain sights tonight.   Quick trip! 

Who needs to subscribe to "The World News?"

Smile at New Techology

We bought an I-pad to keep on top of e-mail and requests for reservations.  It has a handy camera but I couldn't figure out how to access those photos to add to our blog as we travelled.  A tech-savvy friend stopped by and showed us how to mail it to our blog.  She asked to use a photo for a test and I picked this one. 

Gordon A. Mueller

There was actually a reason for making this selection.  I was asked to participate in a panel discussing possible ways to improve recovery efforts for endangered fish.  The answers have been obvious for 20 years but the same questions are being asked. 

Anyway, just before I retired a fellow researcher wrote me a nice note saying I reminded him of the "Lorax" in the Dr. Seuss stories.  I wasn't familiar with the character but discovered it was the "environmentalist, the one wanting to save the trees"  that was quite a complement.  Anyway, the theme of my talk was Dr. Seuss, something I would never have gotten away with when I was employed.   At the end I showed the Lorax and diffused my image over it.  Fun!  I have to work on my mustache.