February 01, 2010 - Did You write?
A new month have arrived. A new Monday has arrived. It is time to report your writing activities. Knowing this note is coming should get you to sit down and write something, anything, of any length, on some project so you can report you have written.
This is for those of us who will go months without writing, then write a bunch of stuff for a few weeks, then go another couple months without writing. The idea is that you develop the habit of writing even a little bit each week so you can report that you accomplished something. Do this each and every week, and you end up with some visible production by the end of the year.
The amount of words that you write, is not important. What you write, is not really important. While new writing is thought of as writing, Editing, world and character creation, poetry blogging, article writing, writing assignments, are all writing. there are others that also can be writing if that is something you are willing to accept as writing. The object is to develop a habit of placing words onto "paper."
As for me, I barely wrote. On one piece, I added a total of 40 words. On another I added a hundred words. Neither production is much, but that is a hundred and forty words I won't have to write the next time I open the files to work.
I finished the month with 31 story ideas posted. That ended up as 55 pages at 33272 words. that is not too bad for about an hour, hour and a half of writing drivel.
For those couple of you who are interested, you can see my story ideas at http://www.xprodigy.net/board/index.php and Go down to Writer's Roost. While you are there, if you click on page 6, you will find the beginning of the board and you will see the Waxy Dragon stories I have posted. Spread through the rest of the board, there are some 60 Waxy stories posted.
I did a count of my compost pile and including the story idea I don't have time to post tonight (I started writing it but have run out of time to finish it) I have 41 concepts to post. The top six are still good ones to post. Will have to see about the ones lower in the pile. It is called a compost pile since the worst ideas tend to sink to the bottom.
I can say,
YES, I WROTE!!! (even if it was a pittance)
DID YOU WRITE?
Monday, February 1, 2010
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Week 525 Woodworking diary
year 10, Week 3, Day One (week 525) (January 17, 2000 was my first carving day.) 01-31-10 Sunday
Saturday: 80 degrees, good breeze, mostly cloudy. No humidity made it so it did not feel like 80s. Light front passed over during the night.
Sunday: 72 degrees, breezy, heavy cloud cover. Temps started to drop at about three. Won't drop past 60 degrees. This weather report is brought to you by the City Of Pompano Department Of Tourism. Our stores and entertainment is open for you and your money.
Saturday,
No wood working at all. We went yard sailing!!! Mom is a master navigator. I picked up a good drill and we got several trays of parts and pieces for a couple bucks. I got some wire we need for the model railroad.
At a church rummage sale, I got some books. We went to a condo yard sale, a condo with hundreds of apartments, we got some kitchen stuff. We then went back to the church sale and got a whole bunch of books a few other things. I spent about twenty-five bucks total!!
One thing I got at the church rummage sale was two Christmas displays. One is a little Bavarian band. They are off their mount.
The other was an unopened wooden Christmas tree with little hooks and tiny figurines to hang on the hooks.
I got all of these for decoration. the idea is to if I have a piece I break, I can make it into a little amphitheater or use these pieces in my own ornaments. One time, I had carved my own little people for such a project, but it turned out to be too big a project for the time I have to work. I sold the little people individually.
Sunday.
I got some woodworking done. Nothing finished, but made some good headway.
I petted Beggar several times. He actually acted like a moody cat, rather than a grinch. He tolerated my brother being there, but because my brother did not sit still, there were several times where Beggar would leap up and be gone for a while. He is very skittish around strangers.
I got to Mom's house early, and was setting up when My brother also arrived early. It took me a bit to get set up to actually work. My brother sharpened his drill bits using the DRILL DOCTOR 400. He found that the drill bits, all by the same manufacturer, required adjustments on the "advance" of the twist compared to the setting that the Drill doctor suggests. He said that this was one thing that has taken him a long time to figure out. He was fighting his drill bits all the time until he figured this out. the more expensive units likely adjust for this, but this unit does not.
I dug out a couple drills and One was having problems. My brother opened it up, re-did the wire and put it back together. He used it for a while and finally we figured out that the switch was what the problem was, not the wire as I thought it was. A yard sale special from many years ago.
I searched Mom's garden for appropriate leaves I wanted to add to my flower vase. I carried the vase with me and quickly figured out that leaves had to be very small. I gathered half a dozen different leaves, sat down with the vase and examined what would have the right effect. I forgot what plant I took the selected leaf off. I traced around it, placing only two leaves on each side of each stem. Once I had leaves I was satisfied with, I started grinding wood away.
I set the background back a little around each leaf, then I shaped the leaves slightly, creating a vein down the center of each. I could have sat and ground a whole lot more, but I was satisfied with my progress.
I should concentrate on getting the blossoms exactly the way I want them. they will set the highest point on the surface, everything else is to be set back in relief. I have a whole lot of wood to remove to get the final thickness I am after for the background. I may do some serious undercutting of the flower, stem and leaves when I am done.
I have a good half inch to cut into and I can do expansive relief carving in that space. Consider how thin a dime is, and how effective their relief carving is.
I searched out a piece of cherry I had cut for a project and chose not to use. It was glued to another board for a rocket powered race car, one who's design I changed to a more solid design.
I band sawed right down the joint, separating them. I then took the small piece of wood and drew, about five times, a duckling head on it before I felt I was ready to cut it out. I wanted a bigger head, but could not get the size and proportions correct.
What I ended up with is about the same size as the other heads I made last week, but this one is wider. I need to re-shape it more, basically make the head itself round, while it is sort of flat on the top. I have more of the wood and if I get it right, I will make more heads with that wood.
I took one of the duckling bodies I made, a bit bigger, out of Sea grape, and started carving the feet. When I made the bowl, I had a saucer around the base. I have removed the saucer from the side and back of the bowl so the feet stick out, out front. I have a lot of work to do, but got a good start on that bowl too. It needs a lot of finishing that mere sandpaper is not going to solve.
Playing around, I did not get as much done as I should have. I did have a good time working and made headway.
Next week, I have loads of projects to work on but nothing will get completed. They will get another step closer, though.
I will be visiting the antique shop where I have my work on display, and see how things are gong. I get to visit a thrift shop on the way down there and will likely end up with more books, not that I need any more.
I will see what I actually accomplish next week.
Saturday: 80 degrees, good breeze, mostly cloudy. No humidity made it so it did not feel like 80s. Light front passed over during the night.
Sunday: 72 degrees, breezy, heavy cloud cover. Temps started to drop at about three. Won't drop past 60 degrees. This weather report is brought to you by the City Of Pompano Department Of Tourism. Our stores and entertainment is open for you and your money.
Saturday,
No wood working at all. We went yard sailing!!! Mom is a master navigator. I picked up a good drill and we got several trays of parts and pieces for a couple bucks. I got some wire we need for the model railroad.
At a church rummage sale, I got some books. We went to a condo yard sale, a condo with hundreds of apartments, we got some kitchen stuff. We then went back to the church sale and got a whole bunch of books a few other things. I spent about twenty-five bucks total!!
One thing I got at the church rummage sale was two Christmas displays. One is a little Bavarian band. They are off their mount.
The other was an unopened wooden Christmas tree with little hooks and tiny figurines to hang on the hooks.
I got all of these for decoration. the idea is to if I have a piece I break, I can make it into a little amphitheater or use these pieces in my own ornaments. One time, I had carved my own little people for such a project, but it turned out to be too big a project for the time I have to work. I sold the little people individually.
Sunday.
I got some woodworking done. Nothing finished, but made some good headway.
I petted Beggar several times. He actually acted like a moody cat, rather than a grinch. He tolerated my brother being there, but because my brother did not sit still, there were several times where Beggar would leap up and be gone for a while. He is very skittish around strangers.
I got to Mom's house early, and was setting up when My brother also arrived early. It took me a bit to get set up to actually work. My brother sharpened his drill bits using the DRILL DOCTOR 400. He found that the drill bits, all by the same manufacturer, required adjustments on the "advance" of the twist compared to the setting that the Drill doctor suggests. He said that this was one thing that has taken him a long time to figure out. He was fighting his drill bits all the time until he figured this out. the more expensive units likely adjust for this, but this unit does not.
I dug out a couple drills and One was having problems. My brother opened it up, re-did the wire and put it back together. He used it for a while and finally we figured out that the switch was what the problem was, not the wire as I thought it was. A yard sale special from many years ago.
I searched Mom's garden for appropriate leaves I wanted to add to my flower vase. I carried the vase with me and quickly figured out that leaves had to be very small. I gathered half a dozen different leaves, sat down with the vase and examined what would have the right effect. I forgot what plant I took the selected leaf off. I traced around it, placing only two leaves on each side of each stem. Once I had leaves I was satisfied with, I started grinding wood away.
I set the background back a little around each leaf, then I shaped the leaves slightly, creating a vein down the center of each. I could have sat and ground a whole lot more, but I was satisfied with my progress.
I should concentrate on getting the blossoms exactly the way I want them. they will set the highest point on the surface, everything else is to be set back in relief. I have a whole lot of wood to remove to get the final thickness I am after for the background. I may do some serious undercutting of the flower, stem and leaves when I am done.
I have a good half inch to cut into and I can do expansive relief carving in that space. Consider how thin a dime is, and how effective their relief carving is.
I searched out a piece of cherry I had cut for a project and chose not to use. It was glued to another board for a rocket powered race car, one who's design I changed to a more solid design.
I band sawed right down the joint, separating them. I then took the small piece of wood and drew, about five times, a duckling head on it before I felt I was ready to cut it out. I wanted a bigger head, but could not get the size and proportions correct.
What I ended up with is about the same size as the other heads I made last week, but this one is wider. I need to re-shape it more, basically make the head itself round, while it is sort of flat on the top. I have more of the wood and if I get it right, I will make more heads with that wood.
I took one of the duckling bodies I made, a bit bigger, out of Sea grape, and started carving the feet. When I made the bowl, I had a saucer around the base. I have removed the saucer from the side and back of the bowl so the feet stick out, out front. I have a lot of work to do, but got a good start on that bowl too. It needs a lot of finishing that mere sandpaper is not going to solve.
Playing around, I did not get as much done as I should have. I did have a good time working and made headway.
Next week, I have loads of projects to work on but nothing will get completed. They will get another step closer, though.
I will be visiting the antique shop where I have my work on display, and see how things are gong. I get to visit a thrift shop on the way down there and will likely end up with more books, not that I need any more.
I will see what I actually accomplish next week.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Digging Up Bargains, Doing More Stuff...
Oh hi, Autumn here. As you can probably tell by my nose, I've been out digging for goodies in the backyard. Well you know, Mom went out digging somewhere too, and she came home with a whole bunch more people goodies. Nothing I'd like, but she sure seemed happy. Lee went with her and he came home with things too. I still don't understand why they don't trade all that stuff in for a nice big chewy bone or a squeaky toy. It seems to me like that would be a lot more fun, though I might try chewing on some of their new stuff to see what it tastes like.
Well, gotta go, Mom wants the computer back and I have kitties to chase. Bye-bye for now!
Sometimes it is hard to get a peaceful moment around here. We've had our share of ups and downs and illnesses since the holidays were over. I haven't been able to get out much at all, with the puppy sitting and the storms. But I had an afternoon doctor's appointment the other day and it was in the same general area as one of my favorite thrift stores. So, Lee and I packed up early and went thrifting. Afterward we had lunch and then went to my appointment. It was a fun day, and it is always good to have an enthusiastic partner along. *S* Lee does the driving for us, and while he doesn't have a lot to spend on his fixed income, he enjoys the hunt for bargains as much as I do. Thrifting is one of the least expensive hobbies you can have. I like that my purchases help local charities support those in need.
Books are always a draw, I am both a reader and a writer. I have the Gnomes book below and love it, so I picked up that and the Van Gogh as a gift for someone else. I discovered the Gnomes book back in my teens when it first came out. I checked it out of the local library in my hometown and fell in love with it. I got my own copy a few years ago, and was very happy to grab this one, which is in good shape.
When Roger was up here on vacation in August of 2008, I was fortunate enough to get 4 free passes to Yale University Art Gallery for a Van Gogh exhibit of Starry Night and Cypresses. Roger and I, Lee and #1 son Jason, all went together. Imagine being in a small side room and almost nose to nose with those very famous works. Breathtaking. We had such a great time there, the place was filled with art we enjoyed, and there was another museum filled with British art right across the street. We got lunch in a funky little cafe, and made a real day of it. Great memories...
This is the back of the Gnomes book, and the fiberboard cover of the Van Gogh. Both show wear and are a bit musty, but are really in very good condition.
I found some other books I wanted, and two of them are for grandson Ben. The Lorax was always my favorite Dr. Suess, the one I enjoyed reading to my kids the most. Ben is big on Thomas The Tank Engine, and this little popup book is in fair shape. I don't buy many cookbooks anymore, but this is New England, and maple syrup is just something we do here. There is a recipe in there for a maple pecan pie that sounds amazing. I have always wanted a copy of Black Elk Speaks and snapped that one right up. I read the preface and I am already hooked.
We love comedy movies for those nights where there is nothing on TV and my mother wants to watch something light and entertaining. The Gilligan DVD is still sealed. The game disc is still in very good shape even though the case is toast. Don't know if Jason has tried that yet.
Lee wanted me to show you his favorite find - this very large book of Hubble telescope images of our universe. The pictures in there are amazing! The original cover price on this was like $75, so a steal for $5 because the interior is in very good shape. He talked about that the rest of the day, and I was really happy for him. Sometimes you find a real treasure out there.
You know me and the kitchen stuff... Another old pie tin for my collection. The measuring cup is like brand new. I go through several of those in a sitting when I bake. Tomato slicers are not that easy to find anymore, and nothing makes more uniform slices of the big juicy love apples we grow here in the summer. My find of the day was 7 Corelle salad plates. They are not the color I hoped for, but a heck of a lot better than even the outlet price. That is the size plate I have my dinner on, to control portions and keep me honest about it. I lost over 60 lbs in the last year, and that was one of my tricks. We never seem to have enough of that size plate, but we do now!
And of course there is the thing I have with tins. The one on the left is actually a canister, and it has a filter of sorts under the lid that can be unscrewed and dried out in the oven. I think it smelled like strong coffee, so I have to do that. It was the fruit prints that got me on these, anything botanical will catch my eye.
These small tins were all attractive, so I grabbed all three. The one on the left is hinged. I got into bringing home tins a couple years ago because I saw a couple of nice ones and remembered that a dear friend who has passed on used to collect them, and displayed them on the big beams of her old farm house. I do use mine for storage, so they are here and there around the rooms.
One more big tin with a Victorian feel to it. The Gnome picture frame was the first thing I grabbed, it needs a cardboard backing but is otherwise intact and adorable. The little witch riding through the clouds vignette was kind of cute too - I have a small collection of witches going now.
Speaking of witches, crocheted witch doll #2 is now done except for the jewelry. She turned out as good as her predecessor. I tried for a slightly different expression on her. I still haven't decided if and how I want to trim her hair.
You see how full her hair is in the back? I think it should be shaped, but I am afraid to ruin it, so I am waiting until I am sure what I want to do. I do like the two-tone look. With the exception of the trim, the gown she is wearing is the original pattern that came with the doll instructions, now that I rewrote the awkward areas. I made a seam because I prefer to work it that way. To make a straight seam like that while working in rounds, you have to join and turn back at the end of each row. She looks very California Girl to me.
She appears to be conjuring something on the TV.
How can you not believe a face that open and innocent has your best interests at heart? I bet she rehabilitates bats and sends them back into the wild.
Mischief says that since the day is about over, you should forget about the rest of the chores and relax a little - they'll still be there tomorrow. After all, the clean clothes in the laundry basket will look a little better with some cat hair on them. People will see the cat hairs and smile because they know that you have a kitty at home who loves you. Besides, who can see cat hair on plaid flannel anyway? So take it easy, take a break, and find somewhere warm and comfy to curl up and have a nap for a while today. It will make you feel like purring again.
Well, gotta go, Mom wants the computer back and I have kitties to chase. Bye-bye for now!
Sometimes it is hard to get a peaceful moment around here. We've had our share of ups and downs and illnesses since the holidays were over. I haven't been able to get out much at all, with the puppy sitting and the storms. But I had an afternoon doctor's appointment the other day and it was in the same general area as one of my favorite thrift stores. So, Lee and I packed up early and went thrifting. Afterward we had lunch and then went to my appointment. It was a fun day, and it is always good to have an enthusiastic partner along. *S* Lee does the driving for us, and while he doesn't have a lot to spend on his fixed income, he enjoys the hunt for bargains as much as I do. Thrifting is one of the least expensive hobbies you can have. I like that my purchases help local charities support those in need.
Books are always a draw, I am both a reader and a writer. I have the Gnomes book below and love it, so I picked up that and the Van Gogh as a gift for someone else. I discovered the Gnomes book back in my teens when it first came out. I checked it out of the local library in my hometown and fell in love with it. I got my own copy a few years ago, and was very happy to grab this one, which is in good shape.
When Roger was up here on vacation in August of 2008, I was fortunate enough to get 4 free passes to Yale University Art Gallery for a Van Gogh exhibit of Starry Night and Cypresses. Roger and I, Lee and #1 son Jason, all went together. Imagine being in a small side room and almost nose to nose with those very famous works. Breathtaking. We had such a great time there, the place was filled with art we enjoyed, and there was another museum filled with British art right across the street. We got lunch in a funky little cafe, and made a real day of it. Great memories...
This is the back of the Gnomes book, and the fiberboard cover of the Van Gogh. Both show wear and are a bit musty, but are really in very good condition.
I found some other books I wanted, and two of them are for grandson Ben. The Lorax was always my favorite Dr. Suess, the one I enjoyed reading to my kids the most. Ben is big on Thomas The Tank Engine, and this little popup book is in fair shape. I don't buy many cookbooks anymore, but this is New England, and maple syrup is just something we do here. There is a recipe in there for a maple pecan pie that sounds amazing. I have always wanted a copy of Black Elk Speaks and snapped that one right up. I read the preface and I am already hooked.
We love comedy movies for those nights where there is nothing on TV and my mother wants to watch something light and entertaining. The Gilligan DVD is still sealed. The game disc is still in very good shape even though the case is toast. Don't know if Jason has tried that yet.
Lee wanted me to show you his favorite find - this very large book of Hubble telescope images of our universe. The pictures in there are amazing! The original cover price on this was like $75, so a steal for $5 because the interior is in very good shape. He talked about that the rest of the day, and I was really happy for him. Sometimes you find a real treasure out there.
You know me and the kitchen stuff... Another old pie tin for my collection. The measuring cup is like brand new. I go through several of those in a sitting when I bake. Tomato slicers are not that easy to find anymore, and nothing makes more uniform slices of the big juicy love apples we grow here in the summer. My find of the day was 7 Corelle salad plates. They are not the color I hoped for, but a heck of a lot better than even the outlet price. That is the size plate I have my dinner on, to control portions and keep me honest about it. I lost over 60 lbs in the last year, and that was one of my tricks. We never seem to have enough of that size plate, but we do now!
And of course there is the thing I have with tins. The one on the left is actually a canister, and it has a filter of sorts under the lid that can be unscrewed and dried out in the oven. I think it smelled like strong coffee, so I have to do that. It was the fruit prints that got me on these, anything botanical will catch my eye.
These small tins were all attractive, so I grabbed all three. The one on the left is hinged. I got into bringing home tins a couple years ago because I saw a couple of nice ones and remembered that a dear friend who has passed on used to collect them, and displayed them on the big beams of her old farm house. I do use mine for storage, so they are here and there around the rooms.
One more big tin with a Victorian feel to it. The Gnome picture frame was the first thing I grabbed, it needs a cardboard backing but is otherwise intact and adorable. The little witch riding through the clouds vignette was kind of cute too - I have a small collection of witches going now.
Speaking of witches, crocheted witch doll #2 is now done except for the jewelry. She turned out as good as her predecessor. I tried for a slightly different expression on her. I still haven't decided if and how I want to trim her hair.
You see how full her hair is in the back? I think it should be shaped, but I am afraid to ruin it, so I am waiting until I am sure what I want to do. I do like the two-tone look. With the exception of the trim, the gown she is wearing is the original pattern that came with the doll instructions, now that I rewrote the awkward areas. I made a seam because I prefer to work it that way. To make a straight seam like that while working in rounds, you have to join and turn back at the end of each row. She looks very California Girl to me.
She appears to be conjuring something on the TV.
How can you not believe a face that open and innocent has your best interests at heart? I bet she rehabilitates bats and sends them back into the wild.
Mischief says that since the day is about over, you should forget about the rest of the chores and relax a little - they'll still be there tomorrow. After all, the clean clothes in the laundry basket will look a little better with some cat hair on them. People will see the cat hairs and smile because they know that you have a kitty at home who loves you. Besides, who can see cat hair on plaid flannel anyway? So take it easy, take a break, and find somewhere warm and comfy to curl up and have a nap for a while today. It will make you feel like purring again.
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