Restoring History

Its pretty obvious that Josh and I are pretty alike.  Most people who know us even a little bit understand that statement.  Whoever said opposites attract certainly didn't hit the nail on the head when it comes to us.  The similarity that begins with our (mostly) quiet personality,enjoyment of the simple stay-at-home country life and simple food, love for everything family, do-it-yourself projects, lack of technological understanding and longing for things to be "the way things used to be" carries into an appreciation of family memorabilia and heirlooms.  Anything with any kind of sentiment to it will find a home in our house!

The latest object of sentimentality we've unearthed (almost literally, I'll explain soon) is a set of steel running gears, complete with steel wheels, that Josh's Grandpa Elmer used in his early years of farming.  (Running gears are the framework complete with axles and wheels that wagon boxes, hayracks and similar objects sit on.  Usually one never sees them because they are under the equipment.)  A few years back, Josh ran across this set of old running gears partially in a ditch in the back of the farm.  We always had an idea to dig them out and restore them, but it was always too wet to safely take the tractor back to dig them out.  But with this year's dry weather, Josh was able to finally get back to the area where they were and lift them out of the ditch!

When things slow down a bit after harvest, we'll get it ready for decorative use.  We've got a spot picked out on the yard to put it and I have big ideas for accessories!  But that'll be for a post in the future, when it actually happens.  For now, pictures of the running gears "as is", straight from the ditch:

Here are running gears.  We know from Loren that they are John Deere.  This was verified when we found green and yellow paint under the rust.  We don't know anything about when Grandpa Elmer acquired.  There's even a possibility that his dad, Josh's great grandpa, originally had them.  We need to do some research and then we'll know for sure.

Josh was impressed that despite sitting for decades in the elements, the wheels still spun beautifully without so much as a squeak!  The wheels were partially buried from sitting out and having soil erode over them, but were no worse for the wear!

Caleb thought it was pretty funny that the kitty was interested in the running gears, too!

The kids had fun spinning the wheels.  I love that kids find fun in even the simplest of things!

When Josh and the kids were done admiring them (okay, I admired them a little, too...), it was time for them to go bye-bye.  We've got them stored and will get them back out soon to refinish them.

All this took place on one of those 100+ degree days.  We had stayed inside until the temps dropped under 100, and then headed out.  The kids were eager for a little fun:





Caleb thought it would be absolutely hilarious if we took a picture of the kitten drinking Daddy's pop.  Can you tell he's having a good time?

They couldn't wait for a tractor ride to Great Papa's place to put the tractor away and bring the truck home. 

Chicken chasing.

And so ends the adventures (for now) of the running gears.  Despite the similarities that I spoke of at the beginning of the post, we are at odds at what to do with them: Josh wants to sand them down and give it an original color paint job; I want to leave it rustic, in its old form.  We'll see what happens.  I know we won't be doing anything until after harvest, which will be several weeks... plenty of time for Josh to conform to my way of thinking!!