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Got up this morning and the wind was a blowing. Didn't think much about it until I went out the door on my way to the church. That wind reminded me that my suit was not lined and that the temp had dropped from Saturday by at least 20 degrees. It was sharp. I'm not so sure that I didn't see a few snow flakes mixed in with the misty rain that we had for a while today too. We just looked at the temps for next week since we have a few days that we want to take off with our son. Monday is supposed to be sunny and in the mid 50's. Not as bad as today, but it sure could be warmer. Tuesday is to be mid 60's and partly cloudy. Again, it could be better.
But you know what? I really have nothing to be griping about. I've been given the freedom to spend some time with my family. I've been given good health. I've been given the means to take the time and do some fun things with my wife and son that a lot of people cannot do, especially in today's economy. When it comes right down to it, I have it pretty good. I can put on a light jacket or a sweater and be even more comfortable than anytime during the summer when I'm complaining about being too hot.
Kind of reminds me of the Israelites when they were brought out of Egypt. Instead of coming out as former slaves, God brought them out of Egypt as victors. They camped along the Red Sea and found the Egyptian army heading toward them on the only escape route, yet God delivered them by parting the sea. A couple of days later they found themselves traveling through the desert and running out of water. They found an oasis with a pond, but the water was bitter. Instead of looking to God for answers they began to gripe and complain. Yet their leader, Moses, prayed, and God showed Moses a piece of wood and instructed Moses to throw the wood into the water. When the wood hit the water that water became sweet. They went from there to the next oasis and not only were there several sweet water springs, but there were date palms as well. They began to travel again and it did not take long and they found themselves out of food and fussing about that too. This time when Moses prayed, God said that he would provide quail and corn bread but that the people could only gather enough for one day. If they gathered more it would spoil. What a deal. Of course after a couple more days, the water ran short again and God had to send Moses to a rock and let him beat the rock with his staff. The water poured out and the people once again saw the power of God.
Why do I tell you all of this? The story of the Exodus reminds us that God wants us to look on the bright side and to rely on Him. When the hard parts of life come along, those times when we tend to be automatic with the complaining, we should instead turn to God. Is He trying to teach us something? Is He showing us, or someone else, His power and greatness? Is he testing us? What ever it is, you can rest assured that He wants the best for you. If you'll rely on Him for all your needs, He will show you, and the world, just how good He is.
Depending on Him ...
Monday, March 30, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Jim Atkins
This past Thursday night I got to attend Louisville Area Woodturners' (LAW) monthly meeting. I don't get to attend very often since I live about 1 1/2 hours away. However, since I had a meeting that I needed to attend in Louisville on Friday morning, I took the opportunity to go to the turning club and spend the night with my parents. Jim Atkins from MO was our guest demonstrator for the night. You are probably not familiar with Jim's work, but he turns fairly good sized pieces and then does what he describes as a basket illusion on them.
During the demo I had the chance to wonder over to the display table where a couple of his pieces were on display. They are extremely intricate. I'm still not sure that I'll ever try one, but they are beautiful and fetch a fair price. At least Jim's do.
After turning the piece and sanding it fairly smooth, Jim begins the illusion process. There are a series of beads turned on both inside and outside. The idea is that the outside must mirror the inside in order to give the appearance of being a basket. Once the beads are turned, the real fun begins, the radial lines. Jim suggested starting with dividing the piece into 4. Each of the quadrants are then divided into 9 equal spaces. You now have lines that are 10 degrees apart. Each of those spaces are now divided into 5 equal spaces so that you now have the piece marked out with each line being only 2 degrees apart. Of course you cannot run these radial lines all the way to the center. They get to be too many lines too close together and would only create a blob for the next process.
That next process is to burn each of those radial lines. Jim makes his own burn tips in a Burn Master rig. Each radial line on each bead is burned in. Where a design is to be included using color, each little block that has now been created must be individually colored in a way that the color does not run into the next block. Other wise the pattern would be messed up.
Some one asked the question, "How much time to you have in that piece?" Jim was holding one of the examples of his work that he had brought with him. His reply, "Something like 40 hours" said with a shrug. I'm not sure how old Jim is, but maybe when I'm his age I'll have the patience that he has in order to do one of these pieces.
Both of these are of the same piece. Sorry about the quality, but they are both taken with my phone. Let me know what you think, please.
During the demo I had the chance to wonder over to the display table where a couple of his pieces were on display. They are extremely intricate. I'm still not sure that I'll ever try one, but they are beautiful and fetch a fair price. At least Jim's do.
After turning the piece and sanding it fairly smooth, Jim begins the illusion process. There are a series of beads turned on both inside and outside. The idea is that the outside must mirror the inside in order to give the appearance of being a basket. Once the beads are turned, the real fun begins, the radial lines. Jim suggested starting with dividing the piece into 4. Each of the quadrants are then divided into 9 equal spaces. You now have lines that are 10 degrees apart. Each of those spaces are now divided into 5 equal spaces so that you now have the piece marked out with each line being only 2 degrees apart. Of course you cannot run these radial lines all the way to the center. They get to be too many lines too close together and would only create a blob for the next process.
That next process is to burn each of those radial lines. Jim makes his own burn tips in a Burn Master rig. Each radial line on each bead is burned in. Where a design is to be included using color, each little block that has now been created must be individually colored in a way that the color does not run into the next block. Other wise the pattern would be messed up.
Some one asked the question, "How much time to you have in that piece?" Jim was holding one of the examples of his work that he had brought with him. His reply, "Something like 40 hours" said with a shrug. I'm not sure how old Jim is, but maybe when I'm his age I'll have the patience that he has in order to do one of these pieces.
Both of these are of the same piece. Sorry about the quality, but they are both taken with my phone. Let me know what you think, please.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Busy Schedule?
I cannot believe that the end of March is already here. Yet March Madness is not only here, but we've nearly seen the end of it already. Somebody asked me the other day how I was doing. My immediate reaction was that I've been busier than I've ever been, but I've also gotten more work done and still had time for the things I want to do as well (except for turning). Seems that ever since the first of the year there has been one issue after another. We had deaths, ice storm, our building used as a shelter, more deaths, illnesses, the sale of our church building, getting together of our thoughts and ideas for the new building, the list goes on and on. Of course the routine stuff never stops just because the unusual has poked its head up.
I remember looking over my calendar on a Monday morning and thinking, "Finally, a week without fifteen extras stuck in." Boy was I wrong. I think that was the worst week of all. Lately I have had a day here and there where I could get into the shop and either straighten up a bit, or make a tool or jig I've been needing, or just turn for the fun of it. (I haven't forgotten I owe you a few pics.) The two things I haven't had the time or energy to do is to finish several pieces and take pictures of those I have finished. That will come.
I guess all this comes to mind right now because of the events of this day. I attended the funeral of a man who died at age 43. I didn't know him, but I know his aunt and uncle. What I know about his is that he contracted some rare disease that very few ever see the outside of a hospital. This man did indeed come home and had 2 great weeks with his wife and children. He made sure all the stuff that comes with dieing was taken care of for his family. While there were tears, there was also laughter. The pastor who presided talked about this man's "achieving."
My mind began to wonder a bit and think about the things I'd like to achieve in my life. I won't bore you with my list. I will challenge you to take some time. Ask yourself the questions concerning the importance of the stuff in your life. Does it really matter? What goals do you have? What will it take to achieve your goals? Are you on the way or simply dreaming about it? What memories are you building with your kids, your spouse, your friends, and even more important, your God? Most important, will the God of all creation find you, "a good and faithful servant?"
I remember looking over my calendar on a Monday morning and thinking, "Finally, a week without fifteen extras stuck in." Boy was I wrong. I think that was the worst week of all. Lately I have had a day here and there where I could get into the shop and either straighten up a bit, or make a tool or jig I've been needing, or just turn for the fun of it. (I haven't forgotten I owe you a few pics.) The two things I haven't had the time or energy to do is to finish several pieces and take pictures of those I have finished. That will come.
I guess all this comes to mind right now because of the events of this day. I attended the funeral of a man who died at age 43. I didn't know him, but I know his aunt and uncle. What I know about his is that he contracted some rare disease that very few ever see the outside of a hospital. This man did indeed come home and had 2 great weeks with his wife and children. He made sure all the stuff that comes with dieing was taken care of for his family. While there were tears, there was also laughter. The pastor who presided talked about this man's "achieving."
My mind began to wonder a bit and think about the things I'd like to achieve in my life. I won't bore you with my list. I will challenge you to take some time. Ask yourself the questions concerning the importance of the stuff in your life. Does it really matter? What goals do you have? What will it take to achieve your goals? Are you on the way or simply dreaming about it? What memories are you building with your kids, your spouse, your friends, and even more important, your God? Most important, will the God of all creation find you, "a good and faithful servant?"
Sunday, March 8, 2009
In The Shop
Saturday I had to take my boy to his b-ball game. Momma was gone to make breakfast for a camp our youth group was at. So we got up later and started a boys morning together. We started by watching a movie. He loves it when he picks one out and I watch it with him. As soon as it was over we went to one of the local places and got some breakfast ourselves. About 20 minutes before the game was to start we arrived at the gym and had some time to relax before the game began.
Once the game was over we went home since it really wasn't time for lunch yet and neither of us was hungry yet either. Momma was home by then so the two of them began to have some fun together and I retreated to the shop for a bit of cleaning up. Sorry for the use of the "C" word but from time to time you just have to do it. I swept up several loads of curlys, shavings, and saw dust and decided that I had made enough trips to the compost pile. So I picked up a piece of cherry scrap that was laying on the wood pile and decided I would see what I could do with it.
Originally I planned to turn a platter. However, as I go the blank round, I realized the diameter and depth would allow for a shallow bowl rather than a platter. So that is what I did. I used my Ci1 Easy Rougher for the biggest part of the turning. Man that thing can remove a lot of wood quickly. Finished up with the Thompson bowl gouge that I got with my last order from Doug and it did a wonderful job.
Anyway, I thought it came out pretty good. LOML thought it was pretty nice too. That's the opinion that means the most to me other than someone who wants to buy a piece. I look forward to getting some finish on it and getting a picture of it so that you can see it too. Hopfully that pic will be coming soon.
Swept up that mess and decided to reward myself with some more turning time. I had a piece of Masur birch that I bought at the Louisville AAW symposium. I started it a couple of weeks ago with an idea of turning a box with it. I turned the bottom and had it looking pretty good. I turned the top and had the tenon turned and fitting the body pretty good. Might have been a little loose, but had a plan for that. As I hollowed the lid was where I really messed up. I was going to town and got it pretty thin. The problem is that I nearly cut my tenon off the lid. Really glad that I stopped when I did. I reversed the lid and was cleaning off the tenon when the lid launched. Hmm, wonder what that's about. Picked it us only to discover that my tenon was a bit too thin and had broken into 4 pieces. So I was left with a top and bottom of a box with nothing to join the two together.
Solution? I turned a piece of walnut down small enough that it would just fit into the bottom of the box. I used my parting tool and cut through that 1/8" in from the edge. Bottom is solved. Now the top. Took me a while, but I finally came up with a way to reverse the top so that I could clean up the broken tenon and fit it for the new replacement tenon. About the thrid attempt, perfection.
The fit was so good that I was able to chuck the box by the tenon that was on the bottom of the box and reverse turn the top of the lid. I removed the lid and reversed the bottom and chucked it in expansion mode. With the bottom finished up I hand sanded the inside edge of the lid a bit. Made a mistake in sanding the fit surface. Still a good fit with no slop at all. The pop is gone now though. No matter. Lid is a lot easier to take off now. Like the cherry bowl, pictures will come as soon as I get some finish on it. I hope it won't be long.
Until then, spin 'em round.
Once the game was over we went home since it really wasn't time for lunch yet and neither of us was hungry yet either. Momma was home by then so the two of them began to have some fun together and I retreated to the shop for a bit of cleaning up. Sorry for the use of the "C" word but from time to time you just have to do it. I swept up several loads of curlys, shavings, and saw dust and decided that I had made enough trips to the compost pile. So I picked up a piece of cherry scrap that was laying on the wood pile and decided I would see what I could do with it.
Originally I planned to turn a platter. However, as I go the blank round, I realized the diameter and depth would allow for a shallow bowl rather than a platter. So that is what I did. I used my Ci1 Easy Rougher for the biggest part of the turning. Man that thing can remove a lot of wood quickly. Finished up with the Thompson bowl gouge that I got with my last order from Doug and it did a wonderful job.
Anyway, I thought it came out pretty good. LOML thought it was pretty nice too. That's the opinion that means the most to me other than someone who wants to buy a piece. I look forward to getting some finish on it and getting a picture of it so that you can see it too. Hopfully that pic will be coming soon.
Swept up that mess and decided to reward myself with some more turning time. I had a piece of Masur birch that I bought at the Louisville AAW symposium. I started it a couple of weeks ago with an idea of turning a box with it. I turned the bottom and had it looking pretty good. I turned the top and had the tenon turned and fitting the body pretty good. Might have been a little loose, but had a plan for that. As I hollowed the lid was where I really messed up. I was going to town and got it pretty thin. The problem is that I nearly cut my tenon off the lid. Really glad that I stopped when I did. I reversed the lid and was cleaning off the tenon when the lid launched. Hmm, wonder what that's about. Picked it us only to discover that my tenon was a bit too thin and had broken into 4 pieces. So I was left with a top and bottom of a box with nothing to join the two together.
Solution? I turned a piece of walnut down small enough that it would just fit into the bottom of the box. I used my parting tool and cut through that 1/8" in from the edge. Bottom is solved. Now the top. Took me a while, but I finally came up with a way to reverse the top so that I could clean up the broken tenon and fit it for the new replacement tenon. About the thrid attempt, perfection.
The fit was so good that I was able to chuck the box by the tenon that was on the bottom of the box and reverse turn the top of the lid. I removed the lid and reversed the bottom and chucked it in expansion mode. With the bottom finished up I hand sanded the inside edge of the lid a bit. Made a mistake in sanding the fit surface. Still a good fit with no slop at all. The pop is gone now though. No matter. Lid is a lot easier to take off now. Like the cherry bowl, pictures will come as soon as I get some finish on it. I hope it won't be long.
Until then, spin 'em round.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Aiedes of March
Today is the first of March, and yes the wind is blowing. The previous week has been pretty hectic even though there wasn't much in the schedule. I was really looking forward to having a week that was laid back, non-eventful. Funny how schedules get blown out of the water when you least expect it. Being a pastor I expect that kind of thing from time to time. This has been going on for too long though.
I had a thought the other day. Jesus said that following him would not be an easy path to follow. We are pretty well guaranteed that following Jesus will cause Satan to attack us. Whether that attack comes in the form of physical, mental, or emotional really does not matter. What is sure is that Satan hates it when we follow Jesus. Want to know if you are doing what God desires you to do? If Satan is attacking you, you know that you are in the will of God. He hates it when we're doing what God desires of us. On the other hand, if all is going well and there seems to be no trouble or aggravation on the horizon, you can bet that the wheels are about to fall off the wagon. When God is being ignored, Satan has a way of letting us thing all is fine. You can, however, rest assured that when you guard is at its lowest, Satan will dump you on your head. He has no intention of allowing you to rest.
What has this to do with turning or events int he news? Nothing really. Just what was on my mind this morning as I sat down to make an entry. I'll have some turnings to add soon. Just have to take care of business sometimes. Today was one of those.
I had a thought the other day. Jesus said that following him would not be an easy path to follow. We are pretty well guaranteed that following Jesus will cause Satan to attack us. Whether that attack comes in the form of physical, mental, or emotional really does not matter. What is sure is that Satan hates it when we follow Jesus. Want to know if you are doing what God desires you to do? If Satan is attacking you, you know that you are in the will of God. He hates it when we're doing what God desires of us. On the other hand, if all is going well and there seems to be no trouble or aggravation on the horizon, you can bet that the wheels are about to fall off the wagon. When God is being ignored, Satan has a way of letting us thing all is fine. You can, however, rest assured that when you guard is at its lowest, Satan will dump you on your head. He has no intention of allowing you to rest.
What has this to do with turning or events int he news? Nothing really. Just what was on my mind this morning as I sat down to make an entry. I'll have some turnings to add soon. Just have to take care of business sometimes. Today was one of those.
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