tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49363512355807515602024-03-05T01:16:31.716-07:00Small town, Big house, Big life...A small glimpse into the life and times of us... now in a much larger house, having completed the peanut desensitization protocol!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger105125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4936351235580751560.post-39798849541743933612016-01-19T12:00:00.001-07:002016-01-19T12:00:05.706-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDpVQ85FDTeov3tbK7q3Tyo4t2RKIyfsmGn6rgbvqwgh17FZgh2WkjEgm0jzGrARxV6actqlaeX5S7Rwl7hMwlAFKhFbu1QQvH4M4z6J40ol1XEQTLyBVxRa1LQV1XEOfHKY3NMqY83px/s1600/Sam-Multiple.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDpVQ85FDTeov3tbK7q3Tyo4t2RKIyfsmGn6rgbvqwgh17FZgh2WkjEgm0jzGrARxV6actqlaeX5S7Rwl7hMwlAFKhFbu1QQvH4M4z6J40ol1XEQTLyBVxRa1LQV1XEOfHKY3NMqY83px/s320/Sam-Multiple.jpg" width="320" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4936351235580751560.post-30728851410035229992015-11-23T11:44:00.001-07:002015-11-23T11:46:06.951-07:00The Home of my Great Grandfather<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My uncle Jim sent the etching of the street in Denmark where my Great Grandparents lived in the early 1900s. He included a photo that he took of the same street. I have combined them into a nifty little GIF showing the old and new. The artistic credit goes to Axel Holm, the painter and engraver who created the original etching and to my uncle Jim Christensen who composed the photograph. My claim to fame is the ability to adjust the opacity setting in Photoshop.</div>
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You can click on the image to enlarge it. Once it has played through, you will need to hit the refresh button in your browser to replay it.</div>
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Enjoy.</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4936351235580751560.post-83974769966477472692015-10-30T10:50:00.000-06:002015-10-30T10:50:08.384-06:00Is it really almost Christmas?It seems that it has been a while since I last posted.<br />
Where has the time gone?<br />
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Oh well, it has been a good time, where ever it went. Attached are a few photos explaining what we have done with the time.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdMXY6AEch2V_KspA9iNoocew06IIXN4KRVHaqpDstqyBBt2_tsnJVPvqp5XNh2C6X8BgdJt3SqqlGPLa2YPX-_PbzRuAUyiT6uPjlA0o8xBAN4hZfJBnB5nTNLFtMd6eGfFb8x6hF91R9/s1600/2015-10-18+08.38.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdMXY6AEch2V_KspA9iNoocew06IIXN4KRVHaqpDstqyBBt2_tsnJVPvqp5XNh2C6X8BgdJt3SqqlGPLa2YPX-_PbzRuAUyiT6uPjlA0o8xBAN4hZfJBnB5nTNLFtMd6eGfFb8x6hF91R9/s320/2015-10-18+08.38.14.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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In October we celebrated our 20th anniversary by spending the weekend in our honeymoon cabin.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3ZjJdHKixyGd_r-SHKydlXULMTPL6IWjDDFdBEpOl6m3W9D058rZRRUayPtUP1XJdq_o5DYOh8jJcv4ht9zPTy8f8Ooa_zNsONUCUXe2gcWFoSn7okIxreHX1h3Xx7DYeJsEY6zQlSmx/s1600/2015-10-11+17.37.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3ZjJdHKixyGd_r-SHKydlXULMTPL6IWjDDFdBEpOl6m3W9D058rZRRUayPtUP1XJdq_o5DYOh8jJcv4ht9zPTy8f8Ooa_zNsONUCUXe2gcWFoSn7okIxreHX1h3Xx7DYeJsEY6zQlSmx/s320/2015-10-11+17.37.52.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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We finally have our back yard complete... not finished, just complete.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr4TrP_AWaeAwyB9Fw7rsgaU0Y6xMCAP6jOUpSmlxdNl8tPAC0FS5m8U7qgeXkydO8wp3vGwv55J8ovQp0ZvW3e5_ZrKvH5xabVh9JYwBgIszLtsfYYq0-cCoKlbsb2lxlSdcnD34EgrM0/s1600/2015-10-01+15.33.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr4TrP_AWaeAwyB9Fw7rsgaU0Y6xMCAP6jOUpSmlxdNl8tPAC0FS5m8U7qgeXkydO8wp3vGwv55J8ovQp0ZvW3e5_ZrKvH5xabVh9JYwBgIszLtsfYYq0-cCoKlbsb2lxlSdcnD34EgrM0/s320/2015-10-01+15.33.14.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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We began touring colleges for Nathan.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMYgO8J4NEzVizJKGiwBH0U0H01tf3EpbF2RerD9qNPyIjQym3YBqbPalik3zqxcB1iY4C8mvyIlS-yiqnEc1a38ikHsCX46QgS9cZZM5XpGmQaF_bxvEqpd2bhbscfruL9NdnvvySjy2/s1600/2015-07-20+15.47.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMYgO8J4NEzVizJKGiwBH0U0H01tf3EpbF2RerD9qNPyIjQym3YBqbPalik3zqxcB1iY4C8mvyIlS-yiqnEc1a38ikHsCX46QgS9cZZM5XpGmQaF_bxvEqpd2bhbscfruL9NdnvvySjy2/s320/2015-07-20+15.47.56.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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Traveled to Denton for the yearly peanut allergy checkup. Who doesn't need to build a Minion?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQq3J4iW28wM5nX7-7XIswUjFMAf_vqrhrxo70qBu8EJ-jFGF-3wdVQ6gXoFBlnrQuIwY3CIsuscOHniUcjLId7LyRgSXaSFoUAbEQ41875KJat8C04u0CuS2kF5IfPOMukjovIsgkPGv/s1600/2015-07-15+10.34.55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQq3J4iW28wM5nX7-7XIswUjFMAf_vqrhrxo70qBu8EJ-jFGF-3wdVQ6gXoFBlnrQuIwY3CIsuscOHniUcjLId7LyRgSXaSFoUAbEQ41875KJat8C04u0CuS2kF5IfPOMukjovIsgkPGv/s320/2015-07-15+10.34.55.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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We have come a long way on the waterfall.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibctbsNdGGuTHBkhyphenhyphenAOZTSQJ2d9YL9fwf5YKyYI8aIlOyeEhAS6Okvmnx6RvIqMTQNF-lUQe5sAxnmDhf7mhemW658gOcqEyKJCF1IbY4wdzgi5gM_aEd8KN0HnGVmeXgSUjz_SibS8xyj/s1600/2015-07-15+10.34.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibctbsNdGGuTHBkhyphenhyphenAOZTSQJ2d9YL9fwf5YKyYI8aIlOyeEhAS6Okvmnx6RvIqMTQNF-lUQe5sAxnmDhf7mhemW658gOcqEyKJCF1IbY4wdzgi5gM_aEd8KN0HnGVmeXgSUjz_SibS8xyj/s320/2015-07-15+10.34.19.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The Alice in Wonderland themed yard now has Alice's shadow.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrabde3d6PFinRI5gE1X2YBAGG3yHKsKOJqYYA7dxjtFj6_gQFSnLcVqf7s8kYFTGl2PLaeZZb4Sby4IQnhIRNAZ3sXRa_PE7tAtjlTi92PY8tV7cb2WX9rjRbF07CMU0AGMX8hhEZ9rXP/s1600/2015-06-27+17.02.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrabde3d6PFinRI5gE1X2YBAGG3yHKsKOJqYYA7dxjtFj6_gQFSnLcVqf7s8kYFTGl2PLaeZZb4Sby4IQnhIRNAZ3sXRa_PE7tAtjlTi92PY8tV7cb2WX9rjRbF07CMU0AGMX8hhEZ9rXP/s320/2015-06-27+17.02.49.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And the birds from Alice in Wonderland are ready to enjoy the waterfall.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPs9JXgFwLD6eSjWJ2yIC3_piedsygU6J-0Nzw3dCg2Mf8YMn3y7v57py0xXtO-o1n752ok-R-9NIKjKiUG4NsqaoYgBZdU2R0PkA1Sj3yEkfO7luNDuo3OZ0iFC5CwIkF4UyiKrmIVrkI/s1600/2015-06-24+17.29.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPs9JXgFwLD6eSjWJ2yIC3_piedsygU6J-0Nzw3dCg2Mf8YMn3y7v57py0xXtO-o1n752ok-R-9NIKjKiUG4NsqaoYgBZdU2R0PkA1Sj3yEkfO7luNDuo3OZ0iFC5CwIkF4UyiKrmIVrkI/s320/2015-06-24+17.29.32.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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the door to nowhere is up and the Cheshire cat is hanging out. Still need to paint the door red and add the knobs.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5_Sz2jw42Fyv7wAbuVNhWjSli12MHnhul-BFcM89QBnK54OkvJnkjFG-XqSGBN1OzKeJcxPbDAPWqFt1rWbydVxOdZ4uOOZUfJE7uXu-ZR9V5e-owQ0lJbyh9VJbdhmG2Q7IOy99npI3/s1600/2015-05-21+11.10.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5_Sz2jw42Fyv7wAbuVNhWjSli12MHnhul-BFcM89QBnK54OkvJnkjFG-XqSGBN1OzKeJcxPbDAPWqFt1rWbydVxOdZ4uOOZUfJE7uXu-ZR9V5e-owQ0lJbyh9VJbdhmG2Q7IOy99npI3/s320/2015-05-21+11.10.07.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The shadows of the card soldiers, painting the roses red.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhfBwIPieFyEh6VyvaXekWazMSLF2kyms6YxWCB-MKfvjVWBq056iPD3oZh5ZCpbX6juTx2F1yyKc6M0zyqn3QG1xWD2oHPzZo3qZQDnPAnDgTd8QrLZEoCnEx65vaQ2erbhPhPGRWzo4i/s1600/2015-06-11+18.58.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhfBwIPieFyEh6VyvaXekWazMSLF2kyms6YxWCB-MKfvjVWBq056iPD3oZh5ZCpbX6juTx2F1yyKc6M0zyqn3QG1xWD2oHPzZo3qZQDnPAnDgTd8QrLZEoCnEx65vaQ2erbhPhPGRWzo4i/s320/2015-06-11+18.58.08.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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And the girls playing checkers. Mad hatter VS the Cheshire cat.</div>
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Of course there was more that happened in there as well, birthdays and projects, events and outings. But I think that this pretty much sums up the past few months. </div>
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Until next time.</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4936351235580751560.post-31661037892731391322015-06-16T08:59:00.002-06:002015-06-16T08:59:43.903-06:00Progress on the pond<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wjeHlqYxHhM/VYA5i5VBx3I/AAAAAAAACOA/PBP0n67m87U/s1600/15%2B-%2B1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wjeHlqYxHhM/VYA5i5VBx3I/AAAAAAAACOA/PBP0n67m87U/s320/15%2B-%2B1" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4936351235580751560.post-22367062233012430842014-09-01T18:03:00.002-06:002014-09-01T18:03:42.560-06:00A little lesson on the benefits of hard work<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
After a summer of hard work, finding clients and mowing lots and lots of yards, Nathan found a truck that fit his budget. At age sixteen, he was able to purchase a 2003 Chevy Silverado pickup. It is a nice truck, which has a lot of miles, but it looks like it has been well cared for.</div>
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Saving up over $3000 in a summer is an impressive feat for a teenager and we are very proud of him. </div>
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Now it's time to learn how to maintain it.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eYmc1peU_54/VAUGx52cxPI/AAAAAAAABpw/ARk8HCJW50U/s1600/14%2B-%2B4" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eYmc1peU_54/VAUGx52cxPI/AAAAAAAABpw/ARk8HCJW50U/s1600/14%2B-%2B4" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4936351235580751560.post-19845728145645076452014-05-30T17:39:00.000-06:002014-05-31T13:10:02.129-06:00Shadow boxesWhen we moved in to our current house, the previous owner left two pictures on the brick wall next to the fire place. Turns out that the frames hid two square holes in the wall. Today, after ignoring the holes for a few years, I decided to build shadow boxes to fill the holes and make the wall purtier.<br />
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To compliment the aspen trees painted on the dining room wall, I am going to cut smaller trees out and make a 3D diorama for the two boxes. We will also store the Pacific and Atlantic water in the boxes.<br />
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Before painting. I used old plywood that looked pretty rough. Always hate painting wood, but unless I wanted to shell out for nicer grain, this had to be painted. The photo makes the wood look better than the real thing.</div>
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Up and I painted (above) and the final, painted and ready to go is below.</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4936351235580751560.post-13289467875571768102014-05-29T15:59:00.001-06:002014-05-29T15:59:46.631-06:00The patio is finished<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The patio is finished. Who hoo! We swept the first coat of sand in on Memorial day and re-purposed the Christmas lights into romantic ambiance lights and phase one of the backyard is complete. Only twenty more phases to go.</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4936351235580751560.post-60363377539297720402014-05-29T15:56:00.003-06:002014-05-29T15:56:35.409-06:00 The calm befor the stormThis weekend, we had quite a hails storm. It was late at night, but earlier in the evening, I snapped the following photos. Below those photos is a sample of the two inch hail. Boy howdy it was loud.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHK5l_rwwio7xhtROQ3I6XKF2UpewqMBuZNdBFHfp_-KFEZjGcI-J6oUzArLewul6E6xGbLc7uiqfHl5IqazrYu25xU9FxLp8Z31lfbko-v5_-5aneuU-41kMkqMB6ifsQjdmoZy7xji2v/s1600/IMG_0490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHK5l_rwwio7xhtROQ3I6XKF2UpewqMBuZNdBFHfp_-KFEZjGcI-J6oUzArLewul6E6xGbLc7uiqfHl5IqazrYu25xU9FxLp8Z31lfbko-v5_-5aneuU-41kMkqMB6ifsQjdmoZy7xji2v/s1600/IMG_0490.JPG" height="133" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4936351235580751560.post-27242761678583901732014-05-29T15:51:00.003-06:002014-05-29T15:51:56.394-06:00Adding a personal touch to our house<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMeDI3-yCXi9yMN1S8D38FgYyLmmLBYoP0TLS2OV-zmwxt8S9niQDoCegUE0dSfqWJlnrRBgh8zTLg94-38iL8TPeCgwSz4a8jRJ5HFKAi44JdZMMDDzQ8D8NyEyWYLnR3o3oyE8zgNP8y/s1600/IMG_0496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMeDI3-yCXi9yMN1S8D38FgYyLmmLBYoP0TLS2OV-zmwxt8S9niQDoCegUE0dSfqWJlnrRBgh8zTLg94-38iL8TPeCgwSz4a8jRJ5HFKAi44JdZMMDDzQ8D8NyEyWYLnR3o3oyE8zgNP8y/s1600/IMG_0496.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
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Before going inside the house, the gas line sticks up a foot in the flower bed out back. I decided to add this postcard sized plaque able the line. Yes, it's unnecessary, but its a neat way to personalize the house.</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4936351235580751560.post-60327644698739291122014-05-20T15:24:00.001-06:002014-05-22T11:32:03.797-06:00Back patio progress<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The hole is dug (too deep, I had to buy more mortar and concrete sand than expected.</div>
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First border bricks laid in. I am using used bricks but wanted the larger (more stable?) bricks around the edge. Had to buy those.</div>
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The outside is 2/3 complete. I am leaving the last side open until I have all the sand screeded.</div>
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This first design looks very nice. but with the cutting of so many bricks it would take too long to made 28 of them. Will make one in each outer corner and call it macaroni.</div>
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Another shot of the square.</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4936351235580751560.post-52957244519420659892014-05-16T14:08:00.003-06:002015-10-30T10:50:34.286-06:00The Great Trans-continental Christensen Family Summer VacationLast summer we loaded up the van and transversely the continental United States from home to Virginia and the D.C. Area, back home and then the the left coast, Disneyland and the annual SigGraph annual conference. We collected water from both oceans, but it has sat in two plastic water bottles until recently. Below is a photo of the water now, transferred into labelled glass jars where it will sit in a shadowbox in the living room. (As soon as I build the boxes)<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4936351235580751560.post-48682170999696457322014-04-19T14:14:00.002-06:002014-04-20T15:10:24.254-06:00Stuart Mouse moves back inA few years back... quite a few years, almost a decade, in the evenings, after the children were tucked in bed, I would sit in the hall between their rooms and read a chapter or two from one of our favorite children's books. We read through: the Wind in the Willows, various Winnie the Pooh books, The Trumpet of the Swan, Dr. Suess, Aesops Fables, Tolstoy's War and Peace (maybe not), Flo the Lying Fly, the Cricket in Times Square, Charlottes Web, Tucker's Countryside, various Shel Silverstein books, and Stuart Little. After reading the later, we painted a little mouse, sitting next to his hole in the living room and another in the hall, down at the baseboard, carrying an alarm clock and dragging his blanket. Eventually, we also painted him in light blue pajamas with lime green polka dots, leaning against a human sized tooth brush at the bathroom the sink. The kids took to saying "hello" and "goodnight" to Stuart as they walked past. I regret not having taken pictures.<br />
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After we moved, we heard that the new owners kept the mice and that the young kids who moved in would talk to Stuart.<br />
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We have been in the new place for three years this fall, and just this morning Stuart showed up outside his new hole in the front hall. We were surprised that it took three years to make it across town, but then, his legs are rather shorter than ours. To show his excitement to be home, this afternoon, after having just arrived, he donned his chefs hat and apron and showed up in the kitchen ready to help with the Easter dinner preparations! Unfortunately, Stuarts tastes lean towards dairy products and we are having spaghetti. But, it's the thought that counts. For now we are just glad to have him back. You'll have to stop by sometime and give a good ol' New Mexico welcome to Stuart Mouse.<br />
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After church this morning, Stuart got busy settling in. His socks tend to get lost in the dryer, so he set up a small clothes line next to the washer. That light blue tee shirt looks like one of mine from Disneyland! It must have really shrunk.</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4936351235580751560.post-80553903577697696242014-04-09T11:56:00.001-06:002014-04-09T11:56:17.496-06:00First bench is complete<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4936351235580751560.post-61196988290251359192014-04-08T13:16:00.003-06:002014-04-08T13:27:45.558-06:00Like father, like daughter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Roo decided to join in the fun and this morning, we pulled out another few 2x4s and constructed the first of two benches for the back yard. I assisted in the plans, but she did all of the measuring and worked the Miter saw, making all of the cuts. She even learned to use the square, measuring tape and drill. The drill is still a bit heavy, but she stuck to it and so far, we have almost completed two whole benches. Still more wood to be gone through. Maybe a 2x4 adirondack is in the pipeline... That actually sounds kind of redneck doesn't it? An adirondack from reused pallet wood? A palletrondack?</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4936351235580751560.post-39123914117434815972014-04-07T18:39:00.001-06:002014-04-07T18:40:45.142-06:00Spring Fever<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As the weather begins to warm, it becomes more and more difficult to stay indoors. Mornings seem calmer outside. Evenings seem longer outside, sounds seem softer outside. I have even gone so far as to download a sound loop of tweeting birds.</div>
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A few years ago I aquired a huge stack of used 2x4s. My goal this spring is to use them all or toss them out. And so, this weekend, I pulled out the handy dandy miter saw and created two benches around the pecans out back. </div>
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There are still about 20 boards to go through. Any ideas for what to build with the remainder?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLq8vibxfpvXPuvPcenr_5RoW_i3H6dU2TEa54vMh20EvR7qPucDhcg_aeupKou2JMmEGKcrYjuuk3eR9DRSnfFTabqV6RUzxkGvZx8ypTpLHJH1CxAppQlUSqmwrp910sE42VSa-FMfPA/s1600/IMG_0432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLq8vibxfpvXPuvPcenr_5RoW_i3H6dU2TEa54vMh20EvR7qPucDhcg_aeupKou2JMmEGKcrYjuuk3eR9DRSnfFTabqV6RUzxkGvZx8ypTpLHJH1CxAppQlUSqmwrp910sE42VSa-FMfPA/s1600/IMG_0432.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJs4c7BRFZBGgRbiV7XSsViaXAr3KO3Wk2ki-a97CYS5lZw2ASK0nmZH8A5XB_YkMQOubp_v1hGXdQv5TJCn74ypF6AfESnXoicT7Jqe85lxEOiPt_5rou0wlPWDS7cQTOkkFC5k9L2b5H/s1600/IMG_0433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJs4c7BRFZBGgRbiV7XSsViaXAr3KO3Wk2ki-a97CYS5lZw2ASK0nmZH8A5XB_YkMQOubp_v1hGXdQv5TJCn74ypF6AfESnXoicT7Jqe85lxEOiPt_5rou0wlPWDS7cQTOkkFC5k9L2b5H/s1600/IMG_0433.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4936351235580751560.post-8298314698732996442014-03-27T09:15:00.000-06:002014-03-27T09:15:11.319-06:00The Good, the Good, the Good, the Good, the Good, and the BadIn a recent conference, a speaker shared that in marriage, or in relationships in general, that it takes five good interactions to counteract the effects of one bad interaction.<br />
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My thoughts on the matter amount to the following. In marriage, for most of us, that translates to one of two things: either we alter our behavior to reduce the number of bad interactions or we drastically increase the number of good interactions. For me, I am an introvert with a tendency to stick my foot in my mouth even when I intend to convey a compliment. So the chances that every one of the five potentially good interactions ending well is not high.<br />
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For me, the best bet is to reduce the number of intentionally bad interactions. The funny thing that I have noticed is that my annoyance with my family has more to do with the behaviors of my students and coworkers than it does with what the members of the family actually do... or don't do.<br />
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For example, I find myself getting really annoyed at my kids for playing video games when I have had to listen to excuses from students about the reasons they missed class and the midnight release of "Call of Halo's Duty 4". The same goes for my wife, who had no control over a verbose coworker who extended a Friday afternoon meeting beyond the allotted time.<br />
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I guess my point is that there are really four people in the world who are the closest to me emotionally and physically (and another 20 or so family and friends). They rarely actually do things that annoy me, but because I am not free to show my annoyance towards the other 7.5 billion people in the world, I often let fly on them, because they will forgive me. They have to... they are family.<br />
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And so, I would like to apologize to them. They so often feel the brunt of my frustration and I am grateful for their willingness to forgive. But I know that it does take a toll and I resolve to reduce the times that I allow them to feel my frustration towards others.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4936351235580751560.post-64264182590536227122014-03-07T17:37:00.001-07:002014-03-07T17:39:09.944-07:00A poem about Arguments<div>
Should an argument</div>
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arise between</div>
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sound logic,</div>
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and the inane?</div>
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Side with inanity,</div>
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should you have the opportunity.</div>
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Logic and reason</div>
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stand no chance,</div>
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when arguing against</div>
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One who chooses,</div>
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incoherence as</div>
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a battle strategy.</div>
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___________________________</div>
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It may not be cummings or Hemmingway</div>
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But this just about sums up my week.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4936351235580751560.post-55631003551710998592014-01-28T13:55:00.002-07:002014-01-28T13:55:47.327-07:00Patio Begins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The 24'x6' patio project began this Sunday. About half way done with the digging... Unless we find more bricks... which could make it a 24'x9' patio. Then we take the truck to pickup sand from the desert, level it with a slope and we will lay the bricks. Pretty excited, but lots of medical stuff on the horizon, so it may be slow going. Fun work though.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zOSEMmW2zCk/UugGJi1Ea7I/AAAAAAAAA8E/TX0E-7nTF8A/s1600/14+-+1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zOSEMmW2zCk/UugGJi1Ea7I/AAAAAAAAA8E/TX0E-7nTF8A/s1600/14+-+1" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4936351235580751560.post-23723030893091773572014-01-20T17:08:00.001-07:002014-01-23T06:13:52.543-07:00Gutters and the beginning of a waterfall<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This row of rocks is the beginning of a three tier waterfall, on the far wall and a fireplace on the left wall. If we can find more bricks, the area in front will be a patio with chairs and small tables. Park benches will sit on either side of the little pond at the bottom of the falls. We are in stage one and this is phase four, five and six of the backyard plan. We are looking at a few years here, but it will be fun getting there.</div>
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The bricks we gathered from our neighbor will become the back patio, but in order to make sure that those 5,600 lbs of bricks stay where they are put, we splurged and today, I installed gutters over the front and back doors of the house. I still need to finish the down spouts, but it should divert water as it stands.</div>
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Now we just need a good downpour to test if it works. I am not holding my breath.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyPBn2i9-GinyVToOwcZ3eeDMJGc2LPA3n5zEPELeD1UqYARpM2n2-OSIwXP_HkD8T3fam77H4XQz0adP-74Rc4gf7PeJWgXhzp0nPoHQK-oUzgR5ixjOuOzOgr0ojJDlOr4hqHS36NR0j/s1600/IMG_0348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyPBn2i9-GinyVToOwcZ3eeDMJGc2LPA3n5zEPELeD1UqYARpM2n2-OSIwXP_HkD8T3fam77H4XQz0adP-74Rc4gf7PeJWgXhzp0nPoHQK-oUzgR5ixjOuOzOgr0ojJDlOr4hqHS36NR0j/s1600/IMG_0348.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4936351235580751560.post-50687600167160497562014-01-20T16:03:00.002-07:002014-01-23T06:13:15.923-07:00Free bricks will become a new patio. <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Passing a neighbors house, I noticed a large stack of bricks. My neighbor was more than happy to have them removed from his property, and we are going to save a ton of money on the 24' by 7' patio we were planning on building out back. The little Ranger can only hold a quarter ton or about 120 bricks at a time, so it took quite a few trips, but we now have around 1,400 bricks in two stacks in the back yard.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Now the back breaking work begins. I am very glad that I don't have to hunch over laying bricks for a living.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizyH0X5UAha-95NSI4TeBQOLh-idP2_fkPi_fzZbH7Ed7oF30bvE0BswiIa602AgnOBgkSL2RRZ8oCMrB7nsAObokSvuvVldlDR605XB7iLE2SKDpVIEj7JNpjbYkhfRri2pv8Ls3asZHO/s1600/IMG_0344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizyH0X5UAha-95NSI4TeBQOLh-idP2_fkPi_fzZbH7Ed7oF30bvE0BswiIa602AgnOBgkSL2RRZ8oCMrB7nsAObokSvuvVldlDR605XB7iLE2SKDpVIEj7JNpjbYkhfRri2pv8Ls3asZHO/s1600/IMG_0344.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
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The first load. Too many bricks, the truck did not like it. At 4.5 lbs each, a quarter ton is not a lot of bricks.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GMZ9RxqOyD0/Ut2_KwqL09I/AAAAAAAAA4I/dMRRh2u_o3k/s1600/14+-+2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GMZ9RxqOyD0/Ut2_KwqL09I/AAAAAAAAA4I/dMRRh2u_o3k/s1600/14+-+2" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is a few rows less than half of them.</div>
<span id="goog_558298956"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4936351235580751560.post-3839206832360405582014-01-20T15:45:00.002-07:002014-01-20T20:14:01.580-07:00Sulley and Mike in the kids bathroom hallway.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
For Christmas my wife wanted to personalize the house. We started by painting aspen trees in the dining room. Then more trees in our room. Finally the kids hallway was outfitted with characters from Monsters University. The next step is to paint Randell the disappearing monster in glow in the dark outlines in the bathroom. Personally, I think the kids will be too scared to use their bathroom and will invade ours. We are still in negotiations regarding Randell.</div>
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Mike and Sulley waiting their turn for the bathroom</div>
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Sulley, before I fixed his chin.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AreSuchjhwY/Ut2_K8bRhfI/AAAAAAAAA38/pAgtbKG2TdI/s1600/14+-+1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AreSuchjhwY/Ut2_K8bRhfI/AAAAAAAAA38/pAgtbKG2TdI/s1600/14+-+1" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
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The dining room. Two of eight trees</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3CZfGkA6Vtc/Ut3ljScjzeI/AAAAAAAAA44/yvjqwF05710/s1600/14+-+1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3CZfGkA6Vtc/Ut3ljScjzeI/AAAAAAAAA44/yvjqwF05710/s1600/14+-+1" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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The full dining room wall</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bdZz8HUU9fk/Ut2-RDavFvI/AAAAAAAAA3o/UR3IMuhmMLw/s1600/14+-+1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bdZz8HUU9fk/Ut2-RDavFvI/AAAAAAAAA3o/UR3IMuhmMLw/s1600/14+-+1" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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Our room. I made the fireplace last year.</div>
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One of six red cardinals that perch on the trees. No cardinals baseball fans here, we just like the red bird for the color and memories of summers in Illinois.</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4936351235580751560.post-1744869366804415792013-11-10T20:02:00.002-07:002013-11-11T20:36:39.928-07:00Castle in the Grounds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjdGpLJPaWUTYYrZ0Uf7HN5mdWbotvMxKHt5VwOMxdxGkKVsrTnRwWkq0d5R0tThTDZQYOBo-XH61AD6nb6g52PPzGd9xKsxZx5Nwg70guQT63S-dVZet8ea3uTRvKRtOW33WdDHu0wGE4/s1600/IMG_0177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjdGpLJPaWUTYYrZ0Uf7HN5mdWbotvMxKHt5VwOMxdxGkKVsrTnRwWkq0d5R0tThTDZQYOBo-XH61AD6nb6g52PPzGd9xKsxZx5Nwg70guQT63S-dVZet8ea3uTRvKRtOW33WdDHu0wGE4/s320/IMG_0177.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Saturday morning as I was staring absent mindlessly into the middle distance, I noticed an amorphous semblance of an image in the bottom of the coffee cup.<br />
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Though trial and error, I found that I was able to create more amorphous semblances of images. The photo above looks a lot like Disney's Cinderella castle.<br />
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It's not as awe inspiring as the Virgin de Guadalupe on toast and the only miracle was that I was coherent enough on one cup of coffee to snap the photo. But it was pretty cool and I might have sold it on eBay if I hadn't needed a second cup of coffee. Oh well, maybe on the next cup.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4936351235580751560.post-89858288341562882312013-09-21T16:59:00.000-06:002013-09-21T17:00:03.610-06:00The Sewage Canal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Since moving into our current home, it has become apparent that the plumbing is in need of some assistance. The drain from the tub and sink the the sewage line was built with something called a kettle drain, when clogged, the solution is to jackhammer a three foot square in the floor and remove it. We have opted to let that one simmer for a bit. The main sewage line however seems to be infested with roots and the house does not sport one of those handy clean out drains everyone is talking about. So this weekend, after hosting 130 of my New Mexico community college colleagues, I decided to "keep up with the Joneses" and install a clean out drain. It was a lot less work than I had imagined it would be and with the average temperature a good fifty degrees above freezing, I have decided to keep the hole open for a few days to ensure that everything is sealed up properly. </div>
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Anyway, lots of dirt, and a few shots of the hole. Nothing special, but satisfying not to have to call some in to do the work for me.</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4936351235580751560.post-36525808201108399262013-09-14T16:40:00.001-06:002013-09-14T16:48:18.128-06:00The Almost Done Door.Today was a yard cleanup day and the yard really needed it. I am always hesitant to throw away good wood, even small scraps which might be useful for firewood, or just the right size for this or that project. But today was a day to toss it all! Weeds came up and odds and ends were ended in the mad dash towards fall cleaning. With the exception of a small pile of old sticks, leaves and rocks, the back yard is in much better shape than it was.<br />
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I am avoiding a sewage issue that is not going to be fun, and so, I threw my efforts into something totally unrelated and completed the shop door this afternoon. Well, I almost finished it. I still have to put in the moulding to hold in the lower two window panes, but they are essentially attached and barring any strong storm, will stay put until I cut the strips.<br />
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It is not top quality and I will need to improve my technique before I start on the doors that will turn our bathroom and bedroom into a master suite. But I am happy with the outcome. Below are a few photos. Total cost - $7.67 for the polycarbonate light cover that serves as the panes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ZmKxUIIkXOcG02mWBzWAndPSYAd4388guMtv2of_00H-lhX3AnPvQ5Em8jEsiA3C19jugyOWVZPtFPaoEgjRfx0YtoJHFtcvNEJc2Wt_RRiwpsJ2LgBrInn2aEI0JluycckPhuzsM6vK/s1600/IMG_0035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ZmKxUIIkXOcG02mWBzWAndPSYAd4388guMtv2of_00H-lhX3AnPvQ5Em8jEsiA3C19jugyOWVZPtFPaoEgjRfx0YtoJHFtcvNEJc2Wt_RRiwpsJ2LgBrInn2aEI0JluycckPhuzsM6vK/s320/IMG_0035.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4936351235580751560.post-74010575743331103412013-09-07T18:31:00.000-06:002014-01-20T20:20:07.097-07:00Ponderings: A Door and Motivation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For some reason, the beginning of the fall semester is always a stressful time. It's hard to wake up, hard to get moving and hard to stay moving. It is not an unpleasant time, but it does sap the ol' motivator a bit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This last weekend, I was pretty wiped as I headed home from work. As I pulled onto the highway, I noticed the smell of burning grass. With the windows down, I started looking for a fire in the fields and Mesa. It is fire season in New Mexico... It it always fire season. I didn't see anything, but the smell intensified and I found myself humming, "the Ballad of little Joe the Wrangler" as I wondered where this growing fire could be. Suddenly, as I passed the hospital, smoke started billowing from the vents in the truck, I realized that I was the fire. I careened to the side of the road, killed the engine and jumped, tucked and rolled clear of the impending explosion! Nothing happened and realizing that nothing was going to happen, I called my wife to come and get me. It turns out that there were leaves in the blower motor that caught fire. It wasn't as big a job as I originally imagined, but on Friday afternoon, it took the last bit of positivity I could muster and smushed it flatter than runny pancake batter.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Saturday began our annual "decorating for fall" day, which seems to move earlier and earlier each year. Pumpkin pie and homemade stew, amidst lots of fall garland helped improve my mood , and on Monday (labor day), I started building a door for the shop. It has been on my list for two years, but I have been afraid to start because doors seem complicated.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It turns out that doors are not that terribly difficult, hanging them took a bit of work and I am still working on creating some sort of a lock to secure my stuff, but all in all, I think it turned out pretty well. the upside is that I built the entire thing out of scraps and materials I had on hand. Today, a week later, I added the paneling (made from strips ripped from scrap 2x10s) and tomorrow I will pick up two sheets of plexiglass for the windows.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The ol'motivator was at record highs... Until 4:00 o'clock This morning, when I woke early to drive my son to the high school for a science trip. The house was hot, really warm and it seems that we are going to need to schedule a visit from the HVAC folks. Grrrr.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In the midst of all of this, I am struck by how easily my attitude rises and falls. We are (or at least I am) a temperamental being. Keeping things in perspective is a task that I always seem to struggle with. In two weeks, the worries of today will look insignificant to the worries that I have then. In two years, I will struggle to remember when the AC went out. In a decade, it may not even be my air conditioner any more.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This fall, I am going to solve to work on perspective. Major on what's major, minor in what's minor and try to remember which is which.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0