Archive for September 2016
With pinkish clouds over serene blue waters and stately trees, there’s beauty everywhere you look at Crater Lake National Park in Oregon! Photographer Jeff C. Bryant waited until just the right moment to capture this striking sunset shot: “As someone who photographs sunsets quite often, you win some and lose some. One thing I’ve learned is not to leave early!” Photo by Jeff C. Bryant, Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 9/10/16.
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Crater Lake National Park
A Blanket Of Snow
Crater Lake Sunrise
Spectacular
The Blue Lake
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Sunrise from the Tidal Basin with the Washington Monument in the background as the cherry blossoms reach their peak. Photo by Jeff Norman. From the Department of the Interior blog.
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Swirling star trails grace the night sky at Pinnacles National Park in California, the nation’s 59th and newest national park. 23 million years ago, volcanoes erupted, flowed and slid to form the park’s towering rock spires and rare talus caves that you can hike through today. Photographer Aron Cooperman journeyed 45 minutes through a cave to reach Bear Gulch Reservoir in time to capture this spellbinding scene. Photo by Aron Cooperman. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 9/9/16.
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Stunning picture of the Milky Way above Idaho’s Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 8/16/16.
Jim McClure-Jerry Peak Wilderness in Idaho was established in August, 2015, following unanimous passage into law by Congress. This 23,916 acre wilderness features hiking, fishing and equestrian use, as well as opportunities to just “get away” and enjoy some solitude. The view from Jerry Peak alone is worth the visit. Photo by Matt Leidecker. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 9/8/16.
Schwabacher’s Landing at Grand Teton National Park. Photo by Josh Packer. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 8/4/16.
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Stretching from the Rio Grande to the Chisos Mountains, Big Bend National Park in Texas includes massive canyons, vast desert expanses, forested mountains and an ever-changing river. Photo by Kirsten Thompson. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 8/21/16.
Why doesn’t sunrise make a sound? A vision so beautiful seems to deserve a musical overture. But maybe, overwhelming your sense of sight is enough for dawn at Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. Photo by N. Lewis, National Park Service. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 9/1/16.
The first eastern national park, Acadia’s rugged coast has beckoned visitors for ages. Today people from all over the world come to Acadia National Park in Maine to hike granite peaks, bike historic carriage roads, or relax and enjoy the scenery. Photo of the Bubbles from Jordan Pond by Kristi Rugg, National Park Service. Posted on Tumblr by the U Department of the Interior, 9/6/16.
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Black-footed ferrets — agile creatures with masked faces and droopy whiskers — once roamed the prairies in 12 western states, stretching from Canada to Mexico. A pair of young black-footed ferrets in the wild. Photo by Ryan Moehring, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. From the US Department of the Interior Blog.
Find nature only miles from New York City at Jamaica Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Thanks to the millions of acres set aside just for wildlife, wild animals can stay just that: wild. Photo by Micael Fano. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 8/19/16.
Photo of Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska by Saurin Munshaw. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 9/5/16.
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A good story is always worth re-telling. After all, many people missed the story before, so they have the benefit of catching up. For the people that heard the story before … a good story is always a good story.
Food turntables have been around for centuries, we know, but why do we call them Lazy Susans?
No one knows.
The legends point to Monticello, to England and even to the Far East … but no one really knows. There’s a great summation of this story that ran in the LA Times a few years ago; link is at the bottom.
What we do know is that the first published instance of the term “Lazy Susan” was in a 1917 edition of Vanity Fair, where “Ovington’s $8.50 Mahogany ‘Revolving Server or Lazy Susan'” is advertised. The term is probably a 20th century invention, it appears … and they were really, really big in the ’50s & ’60s.
The trends have turned again, naturally, and Lazy Susans are a consistent seller from the Woodshop. Here are the latest … and I doubt I will make any more Lazy Susans much before Thanksgiving. Let me know if any catch your eye!
Lazy Susan 16 – 023. Jatoba, Mahogany & Cherry. 17″ diameter.
Lazy Susan 16 – 029. Hard Maple, Black Walnut, Padauk & Cherry. 17″ diameter.
Lazy Susan 16 – 025. Black Walnut, Canarywood & Hard Maple. 17″ diameter.
Lazy Susan 16 – 026. Chaos board. Black Walnut, Hard Maple, Purpleheart, Cherry, Yellowheart & Jatoba. 17″ diameter.
Lazy Susan 16 – 027. Cherry, Padauk, Hard Maple & Yellowheart. 17″ diameter.
Lazy Susan 16 – 028. Black Walnut, Mahogany & Jatoba. 17″ diameter.
Lazy Susan 16 – 024. Black Walnut, Purpleheart, Cherry & Bloodwood. 17″ diameter.
Lazy Susan 16 – 030. Black Walnut, Cherry & Mahogany. 17″ diameter.
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LA Times: Back Story: Who Was Susan, And Was She Truly Lazy?
Wikipedia: Lazy Susan
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The Board Chronicles is an ongoing series of articles about the adventures of Mrs M’s Handmade as a vendor at community festivals & craft fairs. Mrs M’s subsidiary, Mr M’s Woodshop, has been approved to create this chronicle for the good of vendorkind.
Break’s over. Summer’s over.
Time to start our fall events … which will quickly blend into our holiday events. This event was the first of 11 planned over the next 14 weeks. So, it’s time to get busy.
We did the Spring Boutique at St Charles, which was connected to their annual carnival, so there was a lot going on. This event, though, is simply a vendor event for the congregation to shop at following their Sunday service. With holidays in the wind, this 1-day event was hoped to be stronger than the spring’s 2-day event.
New Ideas
- The booths were not a true 10×20 this time; more of a found space that was about 15′ wide and 30′ deep. We made it work, though the display tables were in a sort of Z pattern. See the pix, below. And, for the record, I’m superstitious about being next to the door (don’t like that!), but other booth space locations don’t bother me.
Observations
- Mrs M claimed she had to work at her “job.” Little Girl pitched in, of course … but, in the end, she was most helpful for load out. Other than that … we had some nice conversations.
- In the spring, sales were $1,926. This fall … nope. Lots of crickets were heard during this event. People? Booth traffic? Not so much.
- Requests were for a cribbage board (wait a week or three, please!) and a round chopping block (where were you last year?).
- I no longer like one day events.
- I no longer like small events.
- Tenth worst event ever. Nothing else needs to be said.
The Food
Sunday Breakfast: McDonald’s # 4. Hello, old friend.
Sunday Lunch: A burrito from Ernie’s, from across the street. Tasty.
Sunday Snack: Nope.
Sunday Dinner: Mrs M made chicken fingers & tater tots. Comfort food.
The Facts
- Total miles driven: 120
- Booth cost: $125
- # of people we met during the event from the producer: 2
- Visits in our booth by a promoter’s representative: many
- Total sales: $269
- # containers of product taken: far too many from every perspective
- # boards available: 150+
- Sunday alarm: 5a
- # transactions: 14
- # soap & lotion vendors: Just us
- # woodworking vendors: Just us
- Edge grain vs. end grain: 2:0
- Returning next year? Nope.
Boards sold: 2
1x Small Sous Chef Board
1x Magic Bottle Opener
Sous Chef 16 – 021. Quilted Black Walnut, Hard Maple & Padauk. Sold in its first showing.
Magic Bottle Opener 16 – 11. Double Magic. Padauk, Hard Maple, Yellowheart & Purpleheart. 5″ x 11″ x 3/4″.
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Cutting Board 16 – Edge 019. Purpleheart, Jatoba, Bloodwood, Bubinga, Padauk, Cherry & Hard Maple. 12″ x 16″ x 1-1/8″.
Sous Chef 16 – 021. Quilted Black Walnut, Hard Maple & Padauk. Sold in its first showing.
Bread Saw 16 – 01. Black Walnut & Hard Maple. Stainless Steel blade.
Bear 16 – 01. Black Walnut. 12″ x 20″ x 3/4″.
Small Board 16 – 030. Black Walnut, Hard Maple & Jatoba. 8″ x 12″ x 1-1/8″.
Small Board 16 – 031. Purpleheart, Jatoba, Bloodwood, Bubinga, Padauk, Cherry & Hard Maple. 12″ x 7″ x 1-1/8″.
Small Surfboard 16 – 10. Hard Maple, Padauk & Yellowheart. 6″ x 16″ x 3/4″.
Small Surfboard 16 – 11. Hard Maple & Canarywood. 6″ x 16″ x 3/4″.
Small Surfboard 16 – 12. Hard Maple, Birds Eye Maple, Jatoba & Purpleheart. 6″ x 16″ x 3/4″.
Small Surfboard 16 – 13. Purpleheart, Hard Maple, Yellowheart & Canarywood. 6″ x 16″ x 3/4″.
Small Surfboard 16 – 14. Hard Maple, Purpleheart & Bloodwood. 6″ x 16″ x 3/4″.
Small Surfboard 16 – 15. Hard Maple & Padauk. 6″ x 16″ x 3/4″.
Small Surfboard 16 – 16. Hard Maple, Black Walnut, Yellowheart, Padauk & Purpleheart. 6″ x 16″ x 3/4″.
Small Surfboard 16 – 17. Goncalo Alves & Black Walnut. 6″ x 16″ x 3/4″.
Clipboard 16 – 020. Hard Maple, Canarywood, Purpleheart & Jatoba. Note pad size. 1/2″ clip.
Clipboard 16 – 021. Jatoba, Yellowheart, Black Walnut & Bubinga. Note pad size. 1/2″ clip.
Clipboard 16 – 022. Black Walnut, Purpleheart, Yellowheart, Cherry & Hard Maple. Note pad size. 1/2″ clip.
Clipboard 16 – 023. Black Walnut, Hard Maple, Bubinga & Canarywood. Note pad size. 1/2″ clip.
Clipboard 16 – 024. Hard Maple, Black Walnut & Purpleheart. Letter size. 1″ clip.
Clipboard 16 – 025. Black Walnut, Hard Maple, Bubinga & Canarywood. Letter size. 1″ clip.
Clipboard 16 – 026. Hard Maple, Canarywood, Purpleheart & Jatoba. Legal size. 1″ clip.
Clipboard 16 – 027. Black Walnut. Legal size. 1″ clip.
Clipboard 16 – 028. Black Walnut, Purpleheart, Yellowheart, Cherry & Hard Maple. Legal size. 1″ clip.
Clipboard 16 – 029. Jatoba, Yellowheart, Black Walnut & Bubinga. Legal size. 1″ clip.
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Yes, Ladies & Gentlemen, I’m back in the pig business.
I’ve been out of the business for some time … but perhaps not nearly long enough. It all depends on your perspective.
And I believe that my perspective on pigs is hard-fought.
I began making pigs as cutting boards – robust ones, actually. And if you’ve every faced off with a pig in a feedlot, then you know that pigs are nothing if not robust.
However, I know some people buy these boards not for use, but for display. I make them to be of use, but for some, that use is beauty.
Go figure. Pigs. Beauty. Must be that art thing I keep thinking about.
In any event, the beauty requirement has resulted in a couple of these boards being made a bit thinner & lighter.
Every litter has a runt or two, after all.
Pig 16 – 04. Hickory, Yellowheart, Hard Maple & Goncalo Alves. 12″ x 19″ x 1-1/8″.
Pig 16 – 05. Hard Maple, Canarywood, Black Walnut & Purpleheart. 12″ x 19″ x 1-1/8″.
Pig 16 – 06. Hard Maple, Hickory, Black Walnut, Yellowheart, Canarywood & Cherry. 12″ x 19″ x 7/8″.
Pig 16 – 07. Hard Maple, Black Walnut, Canarywood, Jatoba & Padauk, . 12″ x 19″ x 1-1/8″.
Pig 16 – 08. Hard Maple, Goncalo Alves, Cherry & Black Walnut. 12″ x 19″ x 1-1/8″.
Pig 16 – 09. Padauk & Hard Maple. 12″ x 19″ x 1-1/8″.
Pig 16 – 10. Hard Maple, Black Walnut, Jatoba & Yellowheart.. 12″ x 19″ x 1-1/8″.
Pig 16 – 11. Cherry, Red Oak, Yellowheart, Black Walnut, Goncalo Alves & Padauk, Hard Maple. 12″ x 19″ x 3/4″.
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A good story is always worth re-telling. After all, many people missed the story before, so they have the benefit of catching up. For the people that heard the story before … a good story is always a good story.
