Chronodex week 41 42 43 and 44

A work day just isn't complete without a chronodex.

even a fast one.

doane paper notebook
esterbrook 1555 nib ground to a stub
wine crate clipboard

doane paper notebook
esterbrook 1555 nib ground to a stub
ultraoptix ruler
rhodia pencil
maica hi-tec c .4 red pen
esterbrook cord clip

doane paper pocket notebook
tackco compass
esterbrook 1555 nib ground to a stub
eagle turquoise 10 drafting pencil
esterbrook no 20 clip

doane paper pocket notebook
esterbrook 1555 nib ground to a stub
rhodia pencil
eberhard faber mongol 868
handi-lens ultraoptics ruler

doane paper pocket notebook
pilot prera with calligraphy nib
rhodia pencil
kodak clip
hl human pelican clip attached to my leather pen holder

doane paper pocket notebook
pilot prera with calligraphy nib
koh-i-noor 5611 drafting pencil with mitsubishi red lead
derwent graphic 6b pencil
tombow mono zero eraser

doane paper pocket notebook
pinky eraser
pilot prera with calligraphy nib
derwent graphic 6b pencil
maica red
esterbrook no 20 clip

doane paper pocket notebook
esterbrook 1555 nib ground to a stub
stablio point 88 blue .4
rhodia pencil
esterbrook no 20 clip

doane paper pocket notebook
oxydol bullet pencil with generals pencil
twsbi mini with 1.1 nib
esterbrook no 20 clip
french curve

tackco compass
doane paper pocket notebook
kaweco skyline mint
tombow mono graph pencil
esterbrook cord clip

doane paper pocket notebook
kaweco skyline mint
fenix 01 flashlight on a hl human pelican clip
wine crate clipboard

2014 deer season

Had a GREAT time out in western nebraska with this year's hunt.

because of my work schedule i am only able to take off friday through monday

but 

that was enough to completely recharge myself.

friday starts with food, drink and a ton of carrom!

that combination right there will drop the blood pressure of the most stressed out person.

2014 deer season starting off with carrom

saturday had two very different weather patterns. we knew there was a front that would be coming in mid morning and was hoping for some good snow to put some contrast in the terrain. with some more white in the background it would be much easier to pick out the deer. we were seeing quite a bit of movement and were VERY hopeful for the afternoon. 

then the front came in. unfortunately, this had the opposite effect we were looking for. with the snow came bitter cold and wind gusts up to 30 mph. this pretty much forced the deer to bed down.

that afternoon there was basically no activity in the fields. 

snow to help pick out the deer in the field

sunday was the same as saturday afternoon, but even colder. started the morning in the negative degrees and the wind was gusting in the upper 20s. it took 3 hours to see our first deer (and even he was bedded down). with the weather as it was and because i only had one more day of hunting, i felt like i needed to take the shot. this little 3x3 mule was now going to be heading home with me. definitely no trophy but younger meat will taste better. there was also a good amount of fat on the deer.   

i was able to spend the afternoon and monday hunt relaxing and helping the guys i was with go after their deer. 

what this picture doesn't show is the less than comical scene that happened moments before. after field dressing we were flipping over the deer to drain when my boots (that didn't really have any tread) lost their traction and slipped right under the deer cavity as it dumped blood. boots still have that old blood smell to them.  needless to say the others thought that was pretty damn funny.

Restored ball peen hammer with rubberized handle coating

I am never short of hammers waiting to be restored in my house

so

when i decided to add a dedicated ball peen hammer to my leather making toolbox i merely had to extend my arm to grab one. 

i picked out a perfect size and went on to polishing the peen, cheeks and head. i did leave the necks unpolished. cleaned of debris and rust but natural. 

 i do really like a little bit of color on the strikers to help it stand out on a cluttered work bench. orange has always been my color of choice for this. 

grip is important so for my non-octagonal hammer handles, i do like to add some sort of a grip coating. 

in this case, i thought i would try something new. i used a easy to get undercoating rubberized spray. the same material used to deaden traveling vehicle sounds and to apply to wheel wells.

i was really quite surprised how well this felt in the hand. the surface is smooth yet there is a sort of tack to the feel. i do sand in a notch toward the bottom of the handle that my pinky finger fits into, but even with out that i think i would still have the same confident grip. 

another nice element to this coating is that it is flexible. this means when the material hits something else it doesn't just chip away. it moves with the dents. of coarse it does come off with wear and enough pressure will remove it but is more durable than straight paint.

sometimes my experiments don't pan out but i am pleased to say that this one did.

rivets beware. 

Bizen beer cup moment

A time to think,

a time to rest the body.

i have found that the more purposeful the break the more rejuvenated i am when i get back to work. 

i also am able to get to work faster. a sort of "power nap" when done right.

in this case, i brought out one of my favorite beer cups. 

an EXCELLENT Bizen beer cup (i purchased in Bizen in the fall of 1997). I have found a strong relevance with this Japanese regional pottery to my Great Plains aesthetic. Richly textured with warm colors and tactile variations, my mind gets lost in the cups qualities and my body just r-e-l-a-x-e-s. 

Bizen yaki valued in Nebraska

i was eagerly ready to get back to work before I was halfway finished with the beer .

for the record, stout and Bizen beer cups are a damn fine compliment.