The similarity of a galaxy forming and a frozen jar of tea

The similarities between galaxy formations and a frozen jar of tea.

just entertaining myself after finding a frozen jar of tea in the refrigerator.

non-newtonian jig

Working on my dance moves:

The youngest son had a "science" themed gift that i may sort of took over.

Hanging guard

Whitetail buck guarding the kindling ladder.

important job in winter.

Macro eye

just reviewing my clear thoughts.

Happy New Year 2015

Say "goodnight" 2014!

I do hope the BEST for your 2015 year!!!

A quality urinal

Crazing for well over 70 years and tall enough for a very large garden gnome to shower in!

I actually wanted to drink more, just so i could use this urinal!!!

Petal slip and slide

When I saw this in the back yard i amused myself with a monte python cartoon moment:

the ready to fall seeds drop one by one, sliding down the wave of the petal like a floral slip and slide. 

the entire time saying, "whoa whoa whoa WHOAAAAAAA!"

Bee and the sunflower photo and the izzi orbit

About a month ago I won an ebay bid for an Izzi Orbit case for a sixth of its retail price

and 

i have got to admit that i really really like this tool.

the lens quality is really quite good.

there are 4 options but really i am enjoying the macro lens the most.

photo taken from their website

I have found myself taking UP-close shots from the dog's nostrils to sawdust piles in the shop

to this bee in one of our sunflowers. 

using the izzi orbit to take take quality macro photos
have to get close to the subject matter so i was glad he was too busy with this sunflower to notice me.

I will say though that i almost always filter my images to better reflect my current disposition and with this particular bee photo i did add a bit more clarity with the camera +'s clarity function.

The ceiling fan

Working under the kitchen sink.

i rolled over and was mesmerized by the fan.

i already had my ipad and beer next to me.

Stance

Cleaning and organizing my work space so i can start up a new project. 

sawdust and wood scraps piled high, it was important that i stay properly hydrated.

i looked down and found myself standing this way. 

i then decided that i am pretty sure that i always stand this way when i drink 

AND

i am pretty sure that this stance makes the beer taste better.

Chronodex week 17 - pants and the tape measure

this week's chronodex started out with the debate over whether or not to wear pants to work. 

a close-open shift leads to just a few hours of sleep, i literally lay down my work clothes in the most "accessible" place, so as to expedite the morn's routine (coffee, food, pants)

but

even for the most motivated; there are those nights when sleep comes late or is rough, 

then the eyes seem to open before closing: 

on these days i see the below image and pause. 

debate is short and i head toward the door (with pants on).

chronodex 4.28.2014 to wear pants or not to wear pants

as my sons know, i have as many tape measures and rulers as i do pencil sharpeners 

(actual much more).

they are in every room. multiplying like rabbits some rooms have multiples. 

on this morn when i woke up to make my chronodex, i reached over to grab a rule and ended up with one of my Japanese tape measures. no need to ask how this happened, it just did. with this in hand, i had one of those simple recognition moments that led to further thought. i realized that for what ever reason this particular item has lived in the same place for 12 years.  my mind raced for a reason but was never really satisfied with the answer.

 none the less, i went on to ask myself how many times do any of us wonder how a particular object has  come to occupy a particular space for such a long period of time.  in the end this was an entertaining exercise in  

"interesting motivations into habitual object placement".

chronodex 4.29.2014 and the Japanese tape measure

so then the chronodex became the object of interest.

chronodex 4.29.2014 with a wider view of the page

during the making of this chronodex, i simply thought about what i planned to accomplish in my open time block. simple feels damn good too!

chronodex 5.4.2014

Working on the presenter

The next step in my entertainment:

 last week i had the idea to do some drawing and writing from the tools i restore. 

after that came that short little video of removing the axe head to expose a slightly ornate outline of the tool and some notes from the restoration process.  the video was a way for me to sort out some thoughts, so now from live video comes the move to try stop motion. 

i decided to create some VERY short stop motion scenes and a figure to present the tool being worked on. the initial idea is to make some sort of figure that can somewhat bridge the two tangents together, tool care and pen work. i thought it seemed fairly logical to have the figure made from materials used in restoration and in making the pen work. realistically i needed some other parts so i opened up the materials used to items that can be found inside the shop.

the materials used to make this fellow are items from the shop: 

1.  a retired double bit axe helve (all of the wood parts), 

2.  a deer antler (for textural variety and common in the shop), 

3.  a dip pen (to help bridge the two facets of tool and writing), 

4.  a handle from an old stanley block plane (such a great moveable head and brings in the shop motif), 5.  a manual counter (can not see, it is on the back. this will be to count the scenes),

6.  misc leather, copper and brass parts.

stop motion protagonist

the epoxy was added right before this image was taken. 

stop motion fellow made from parts inside the shop

next step will be the hands and the backbone. 

i think i can make the hands from old metal wedges extracted from restored axes.

i am still unsure about the backbone, maybe antler and brass pieces.

all the wood pieces are from the old axe helve

another variable to sort out is that the head moves up and down but i need a system for it to express side to side motion. 

despite the name being spelled out, this fellow will not be called stanley

after the body is done i will start fabricating the support for keeping this fellow upright.

even if nothing comes out of this project i have enjoyed the figure making process.

Bear with a dog coat

I am just going to start out with we do NOT have a dirty house, but 

with three boys and two dogs it takes no time at all before a cleaning is in order.

this morning cleaning from under the couch revealed another dirty couch secret:

a bear wearing a dog fur coat.

fron under the couch, the bear looked utterly defeated

damn dogs!

Grandmother's soap

The soap options from a grandmother's bathroom:

grandmother soap is guaranteed to get you 25% cleaner.
the shell shaped varieties up the cleaning potential to 26%.

although i have a choice of fragrant surfactants, i am almost afraid to choose either. last thing i want to do is be disrespectful and muck up her sink.

i may go with the neither approach. i am pretty sure that being male allows me to exercise this option.

or

maybe i will wash my hands, then i will wash the soap. 

(that should do the trick)

Happy New Year, Boot sliver and long shifts

Letting everyone who had to pull long shifts during the Christmas to New Year transition

or 

still in the middle of the fray:

 HAPPY NEW YEAR & KNUCKLES UP!

it doesn't matter what the job is, nor if you really like your post, really long sessions take a toll

and 

it always takes time to recover.

i am not much for new years resolutions but if i were to make one then i pledge to afford myself

more recovery time. we are all stronger afterwards.

my most memorable moment from this past week was when by boot had a sliver.

double shifts and steel toed boots with slivers

2014 will hopefully see me making rough drafts before i hit "post" or "update".

And the cow didn't quite make it over the moon

and the cow didn't quite make it over the moon

Keeping an eye out(let) for dust snakes

I am just going to start with how i admire good writers.

I have rewritten this opening about 20 times.

i cant find the words to express how "just keep an eye out" can provide some simple 

but 

valued entertainment.

if there is anything i am fairly descent at is "keeping an eye out" for:

the absurd, the humorous, the threatening and the unique. 

or

at least finding an image that can become anyone of those.

after i have captured an image of value, i then take great enjoyment in expanding its context,

basically making up stories in my mind. these stories i usually keep to myself but when the story is rich enough will share with family or friends (once again, all in order to entertain). 

such mind play is absolutely essential in my life. they offset the seriousness, stress and overly hard working, non-creative facets of my life.

here is an example, i was walking down the stairs of a business when i saw this outlet at the bottom.

i find this to be extremely visually rich and full of potential.

this business was actually very well maintained except for this outlet in a back stairwell.

breaking down this into multiple who, what, where, when, how and why will start to expand all of the possibilities. a sort of kafka's "unbridled horses" from the country doctor take control and i find myself just going not fully knowing where it is going to end, if it ever does.

 the stories are endless.

i would keep on going with the stories i have weaved but i am an on the spot oral observer/story teller, 

when i write almost all is lost. 

i admired good writers.

Tobak

Just a pinch between your cheek

and 

gums

Butter licking dogs

Yesterday morning the boys left the butter dish lid off.

when i came back home both dogs were doing their cowering moves so i had to give a quick tour to see what they were going to get in trouble for.

i couldn't find anything, so i sent them out and started to prepare some spread for the banana bread.

and there it was

one of the damn dogs had got on the counter and had their way with the butter stick.

maybe they took turns: "one took the high road and one took the low".

an almost full stick of butter tongue lashed by one of the dogs

we have a pretty good sense of humor here

and just seeing the two main tongue tracks is enough to laugh.

the deed was done.

Clipboards and a quick bit on my benefits/problems with instagram

Clipboards finished:

clips and boards (wine crate lids) attached with copper rivets

the copper nails arrived and i had a moment to quickly attach the clip mechanism to the board. i was in a hurry to get to work so i took a quick shot of it (i was pleased with the final result) on instagram and then bolted out the door. 

this was 4 days ago.

the benefit: instagram has been a great source of entertainment. i am very keen on an image with a simple caption, i find myself to be more visually oriented, so it fits well with me. i often use it for an immediate fix to present.

problem with: embarrassing as it is, i had intended to write about it here. work became absurdly busy. time went by and because i hadn't really made anything in a few days i was onto the next. completely forgetting about my original intent on posting here. this seems to happen way too frequently.

i will need to stay more focused and remember not to mix up the two means of expression.