Xor News » Family http://www.flester.com/blog You can't have it both ways Wed, 18 Aug 2010 03:51:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 QOTW – Stewardship http://www.flester.com/blog/2010/04/14/qotw-stewardship http://www.flester.com/blog/2010/04/14/qotw-stewardship#comments Wed, 14 Apr 2010 02:56:24 +0000 mike http://www.flester.com/blog/?p=286 Dear students -

If you believe that God has allowed you access to a college education then you would want to be a good steward of that which is provided by that education. Yet, it never ceases to amaze me how many students, many very well intentioned, lose focus on the stewardship of their education and don’t nearly receive the return that they should on it. Invariably it is accountability that determines the return on your education.

Personal Financial Stewardship, Ed C. Anthony, p. 16

]]> http://www.flester.com/blog/2010/04/14/qotw-stewardship/feed 0 In which I rough out a bowl from chinese elm http://www.flester.com/blog/2010/04/07/in-which-i-rough-out-a-bowl-from-chinese-elm http://www.flester.com/blog/2010/04/07/in-which-i-rough-out-a-bowl-from-chinese-elm#comments Wed, 07 Apr 2010 02:18:13 +0000 mike http://www.flester.com/blog/?p=270 During the snowmageddon event of 2010 a Chinese Elm tree came down. This particular Chinese Elm was planted by my great-grandfather at the house then being built by my grandfather. The tree hadn’t been in the best of health for the last decade or so, but was a lovely tree and served well for over 60 years. Some pieces were salvaged for bowl making operations.

Here is how a rank amateur roughs out a bowl out of sopping wet elm.

Time 10:30 -- The log

At 10:30 I fired up the chainsaw and started making some flat spots on this log.

Time 10:37 -- Chainsaw roughed blank

At 10:37 the blank is roughed out. Normally a bowl would not go through the heart-wood like this does but since this is a crotch section of the tree and has end-grain on all four sides I am hoping it might work out. Time will tell.

Time 10:43 - Between centers

At 10:43 the blank is mounted up between centers on the Powermatic 3520b. It’s a little off center but not bad. This lathe has plenty of weight to dampen it. The blank weighs in at about 35 pounds.

Time 11:03 -- Rounded blank

At 11:03 the blank is rounded off and running true. Time to dial up the speed a little.

Time 11:16 -- Outer shape with tenon, ready to reverse

At 11:16 the bottom of the bowl is taking shape and a tenon is cut for the chuck jaws. Time to reverse the mount and grab it by the bottom end. It’s a little heavy to get in the chuck, fortunately my good friend Mac stops by just in time to lend a hand.

Time 11:45 -- Hollowed out

Hollowed out with a nice sharp bowl gouge. I’ve never turned anything this heavy before so I left a center post in place for tail-stock support. It may get too warped to use that when dried, but it can be cut away easily enough.

Now it just has to dry for 6 months, then go back on the lathe and get round and thin.
Lots of blanks end their lives at this stage since they are prone to severe cracking and warping.

]]> http://www.flester.com/blog/2010/04/07/in-which-i-rough-out-a-bowl-from-chinese-elm/feed 1 We survived the blizzard of 2010 http://www.flester.com/blog/2010/02/11/we-survived-the-blizzard-of-2010 http://www.flester.com/blog/2010/02/11/we-survived-the-blizzard-of-2010#comments Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:46:06 +0000 mike http://www.flester.com/blog/?p=263 Shoveled out and ready for action!

Blizzard of 2010

Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? Job 38:22, The Bible.

]]> http://www.flester.com/blog/2010/02/11/we-survived-the-blizzard-of-2010/feed 0 Raspberries http://www.flester.com/blog/2009/08/26/raspberries http://www.flester.com/blog/2009/08/26/raspberries#comments Wed, 26 Aug 2009 02:12:39 +0000 mike http://www.flester.com/blog/?p=199 Here is yesterday’s haul of 100% organic home-grown raspberries. That is 7 lb 11 oz of pure deliciousness.

raspberry harvest

raspberry harvest

We have been getting a tremendous harvest from our little row of raspberries this year.

]]> http://www.flester.com/blog/2009/08/26/raspberries/feed 0 Graduation Day! http://www.flester.com/blog/2009/06/20/graduation-day http://www.flester.com/blog/2009/06/20/graduation-day#comments Sat, 20 Jun 2009 01:41:52 +0000 mike http://www.flester.com/blog/?p=171 The boy wonder graduates! Way to go, d00d!

The Boy Wonder Graduates

The Boy Wonder Graduates

]]> http://www.flester.com/blog/2009/06/20/graduation-day/feed 0 America’s Historic Triangle Survives Our Visit http://www.flester.com/blog/2009/03/04/americas-historic-triangle-survives-our-visit http://www.flester.com/blog/2009/03/04/americas-historic-triangle-survives-our-visit#comments Wed, 04 Mar 2009 03:54:11 +0000 mike http://www.flester.com/blog/?p=107 We visited Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown. It was very nice and although everybody didn’t enjoy everything we did, everyone enjoyed something.

wolf_lodge
Some people enjoyed the Great Wolf Lodge, others not so much. Can you guess which ones are in which group?

The Williamsburg Green

The Williamsburg Green


Not too crowded on the day we were there, although the weather was just about perfect. I think there is a ghost wandering around on the green though.

lgs_with_bonnets
Funny hats were worn by several in our party.

Buford and Billy O.

Buford and Billy O.


Buford learned about Billy O. a.k.a. William III of Orange in History class.

Solitary confinement

Solitary confinement


We brought everyone home with us, but just so you know, we didn’t have to.

Powhatans

Powhatans


We found out that we would not have made very good Powhatan Indians – too soft around the middle.

Cool tools and lots of wood shavings.

Cool tools and lots of wood shavings.


That was worth seeing.

Afterward we had a nice visit to the Carlisle Avenue Gospel Chapel in Richmond, Virginia and a nice lunch afterwards.

]]> http://www.flester.com/blog/2009/03/04/americas-historic-triangle-survives-our-visit/feed 0 Some recent goodies from the woodshop http://www.flester.com/blog/2009/01/19/some-recent-goodies-from-the-woodshop http://www.flester.com/blog/2009/01/19/some-recent-goodies-from-the-woodshop#comments Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:39:42 +0000 mike http://www.flester.com/blog/?p=86 Turned out some cool stuff leading up to Christmas, but had to defer posting any pictures of it until afterwards.

Assorted closet vegetables from found-by-side-of-road cedar

Assorted closet vegetables from found-by-side-of-road cedar

Spalted maple dish and cups, first project with new super nova 2 chuck

Spalted maple dish and cups, first project with new super nova 2 chuck

Spalted maple vessel - first project with new Sorby hollowing tool

Spalted maple vessel - first project with new Sorby hollowing tool

American chestnut frame - wood in frame from great-grandfather's barn in picture

American chestnut frame - wood in frame from great-grandfather's barn in picture

]]> http://www.flester.com/blog/2009/01/19/some-recent-goodies-from-the-woodshop/feed 0 The wife-unit at Christmas http://www.flester.com/blog/2009/01/19/the-wife-unit-at-christmas http://www.flester.com/blog/2009/01/19/the-wife-unit-at-christmas#comments Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:31:15 +0000 mike http://www.flester.com/blog/?p=82 In which Cindy gets Mrs. Odelia Fromme’s muffin fork and doesn’t even know what it is.

How did I ever get by without a muffin fork?

How did I ever get by without a muffin fork?

]]> http://www.flester.com/blog/2009/01/19/the-wife-unit-at-christmas/feed 1 Christmas Pictures http://www.flester.com/blog/2009/01/19/christmas-pictures http://www.flester.com/blog/2009/01/19/christmas-pictures#comments Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:28:03 +0000 mike http://www.flester.com/blog/?p=75 In which I post a few nice pictures of the punk-weasels doing interesting stuff.

Number One posing with grandma

Number One posing with grandma



Number Two Ready for Japanese

Number Two - How do you say gravy-sucking pig dog in Japanese?



Three and Four

Three and Four

]]> http://www.flester.com/blog/2009/01/19/christmas-pictures/feed 0 Cornus Kousa http://www.flester.com/blog/2008/06/21/cornus-kousa http://www.flester.com/blog/2008/06/21/cornus-kousa#comments Sat, 21 Jun 2008 13:04:19 +0000 mike http://www.flester.com/blog/?p=46
Want Biscuit with that Cornus Kousa?

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