The Gothic Homesteader

Guest Post: Rob Nickles  Restoring tools is something important to any homesteader, but as the husband of a Gothic Homesteader, and being a Cowboy Mountain Man my self, with Steampunk Goth twinges, it has kinda become a passion.  When I hunt for tools, be it on Etsy, Ebay, or at local stores and flea markets, one of the key things I look for is usability.   Yes, alot of modern tools are great, but doing things by hand and having that connection with my work is even better. Once I have found my tools, I take pictures as I take them apart so I know how they will go back together.  Then with a wire brush I clean them with 1/2 boiled linseed oil and 1/2 turpentine mixed, and grease them with hi-temp grease.  Then once they are clean ( or as clean as an old tool can get) , I put them back together. Thus far, I have returned 3 tools to working condition, and made one display piece look sharp for the Blacksmith shop.  I would advise it to any homesteader...

I must apologize, all my fellow Gothic Homesteaders, for my long silence on this blog.  July saw us get a job back in the New Mexico/Four Corners region, and we have been swamped packing, moving, settling, and getting into the flow of our life back here.  Our ornamental purple sweet potato vine and setcreasea did survive the move, which is a good thing. I am adding purple mums this week, too. Our other big news is we have been given about a 1/4 to 1/2 acre lot to place a cabin on, near where we work.  We are currently working on getting the money in place to get it placed on the homesite.  Until then we are in a 1920's rented bungalow.  As well, I have blogging on my other blog: A Gothic Minimalist , but as the weeks and months move a head, I will be blogging more on both sites.  Keep an eye on both for alot of info; until then, keep on Gothic Homesteading! ~ Morria