Archive for December 2016

Smokey does not mess around. When he says the danger is extreme, believe him.
I debate with myself about the value of this blog at times. After all, I spend a lot of time thinking, writing, formatting … doing.
When I review the posts I’ve written over the year, though, and have to discard posts that I am really proud of in order to only show 15 posts, I know my effort is not in vain.
Here are my favorite posts from 2016. Please, enjoy!
A Family Heirloom
Auto-Updating & Patience
Book Review: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts 1 and 2
Choosing A President: 1824

Yeah. We voted at this place.
Do All Lives Matter?
I’m Exhausted
Installing Oneida’s V3000 Dust Collection System
Mrs M’s New Booth: # 4
My Left Kneecap
Soap: At Long Last
Soap Drying Rack
The Board Chronicles: California Avocado Festival 2016

Why? You Ask Why?
When Nature Fights Back: A Special Edition of The Board Chronicles
Why? You Ask Why?
You Get Your News Where?
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My Favorite Posts From 2015
My Favorite Posts From 2014
My Favorite Posts From 2013
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These are the most viewed posts on MowryJournal.com in 2016. People from 150 countries visited this blog this year!
Six of these posts were not on this list last year, and 3 of the posts are new posts written this year. All of these posts have gone viral in one way or another, generating much interest beyond those directly in my normal, ever-increasing circle of readers.
There are 2 of Velda’s exceptional recipes here: try them, if you haven’t already. I promise you won’t regret it! It’s worthy of note that her Wild Mushroom Cobbler was this blog’s # 1 most read post for the last 2 years … until it was unseated by this year’s story about my new dust collection system. Apparently, there are more woodworkers wanting cleaner shops than cooks wanting to cook with mushrooms? If so, I very much regret it.
I focus on the recipe, of course, in the hopes that Mrs M will find time in her busy schedule to make that spectacular dish again in the near future. Maybe a little competitive spirit will inspire her.
My final observation is that I have no idea why my articles about the 18th, 36th, 2nd, 40th & 42nd Presidents are among the most read, nor why they are viewed more often than, say, my portrait of the 26th President. If nothing else, I’ve proven this year that I don’t understand politics that well.
But then, after this year, who can say they do?
In 2017, the portrait of the 44th President should be unveiled, which will then give me opportunity to update this series. Good: I already have one blog post planned for 2017!

Installing Oneida’s V3000 Dust Collection System
Installing Oneida’s V3000 Dust Collection System
Wild Mushroom Cobbler
Portraits: Ulysses S Grant
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Petrified Forest National Park
Portraits: Lyndon B Johnson
Soap Drying Rack

Wild Mushroom Cobbler
US Flag: Common Display Mistakes
Tuolumne Meadows Wilderness Center
Mrs M’s New Booth: # 4
Portraits: John Adams
Portraits: Ronald Reagan
The Use and Abuse of Facebook
Velda’s Ahi Wraps
Portraits: Bill Clinton

Ulysses S Grant, Official White House Portrait
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The Best of MowryJournal 2015
The Best of MowryJournal 2014
The Best of MowryJournal 2013
The Best of MowryJournal 2012
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The rugged & beautiful White Mesa Trail System offers outstanding recreation close to Albuquerque. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 9/29/16.
The Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness is a rolling landscape of badlands in New Mexico, which offers some of the most unusual scenery found in the Southwest. Time, water and wind have etched a fantasy world of strange rock formations made of layered sandstone, shale, mudstone, coal and silt. The weathering of the sandstone forms hoodoos – carved rock in the form of pinnacles, spires, cap rocks and other unusual forms like these “cracked eggs” recently captured by photographer Matt Beckmann under a purple sunset. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 8/15/16.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico is a wonderful place to explore the world below. The unique caverns were formed over 4 million years ago by sulfuric acid dissolving limestone – creating long tunnels and amazing rock formations. Take a self guided tour of the Big Room or embrace adventure and follow a ranger into the deep, dark, tight recesses of this fascinating park. Photo by Aaron Bates. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 12/5/16.
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Pronghorn antelope on Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge. Pronghorn rely on their excellent eyesight to detect danger. They have a field of view that is 320 degrees or more, allowing them to see in front and to the sides, and also behind. The pronghorn doe on the left appears to be looking at us while she is facing completely away. Photo by Tom Koerner/USFWS. Posted on Flickr by the US Department of the Interior, 12/24/16.
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I’m always amazed as I look back to see what I’ve made … and how quickly they are gone!
These are the last few boards I made this month for pre-Christmas delivery. All are now with their new owners. I’ll have another post in the next few days, as well as an update to my other site (Mr M’s Woodshop), to show the personalization that I’ve done on many boards also sold & delivered over the last few days. It’s become a thing!
As the year draws to a close, I am so appreciative of good delivery services! I only hand-delivered one of these, bringing my annual total to 3 boards that had to be delivered by me, or else I would have disappointed some people that deserved better. I’m sometimes slower than I would like, which a few of my customers definitely agree with this time of year!
Today, I only have 3 more boards to finish this year (!), and then I’ll have a nap. And then, see a movie. Eat some popcorn, too.
I think.
Then the new 2017 energy will come into play, and I’m going to make a whole lot of new stuff.
Next year.
Cutting Board 16 – Edge 032. Black Walnut, Cherry, Jatoba, Honey Locust & Goncalo Alves. Edge grain. 14″ x 18″ x 1-1/2″. Commissioned piece.
Medium Surfboard 16 – 19. Purpleheart, Birdseye Maple & Padauk. Chaos Board. 9″ x 20″ x 3/4″. Commissioned Piece.
Cutting Board 16 – End 051. Hard Maple, Black Walnut, Yellowheart, Padauk & Jatoba. End Grain. 16″ x 21″ x 1-1/2″. Purchased out of the shop before it was finished.
Engraved 16 – 30. Recipe Board for Mom’s Potato Salad. 9″ x 14″ x 3/4″. Commissioned Piece.
Cutting Board 16 – End 052. Hard Maple & Jatoba. End Grain. 16″ x 21″ x 1-1/2″. Commissioned Piece.
Domed Cheese & Cracker Server 16 – 13. Black Walnut, Jatoba, Bloodwood, Cherry & Hard Maple. 9″ x 20″ x 3/4″. Commissioned Piece.
Detail of Domed Cheese & Cracker Server 16 – 13a. Groove for the dome is on the opposite side; this side is smooth.
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California’s Yosemite National Park. Photo by Yu Shi. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 12/21/16.
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The year began with an intense need: the dust had to go. As production had ramped up in the garage woodshop, the sawdust was now a real problem. In the air. On me. Importantly, in the house. We either had to embrace a more, uh, rustic lifestyle, or we needed to fix it.
So we did.
The biggest tool upgrade I’ve ever done was the result. We installed a new dust collection system to help corral the by-product of all of the cutting boards that I was creating. That story became the most read blog post of the year … and was, more importantly, a very real upgrade in our living conditions. I was no longer breathing as much dust, and Velda was no longer having to remove as much dust from our home every single day. Thankfully, I had help from the Building Inspector & the Engineer. See the pictures and read the story, here and here.
With the equipment in place, I got busy in the shop. I began to make Magic Bottle Openers in earnest, and they proved to be the runaway best-selling product for me in 2016: I sold over 200 of them! It seems that many people know a beer drinker that needs a little magic in their life.
While I was making magic in the shop, the Lady was busy with her own new idea. This was the year of soap.
Making soap is science. Caustic chemicals are involved, and exothermic reactions result. Velda became obsessed with soap early this year, and started stockpiling. That’s good, as when she makes her cold process soap, it has to sit on the shelf for 4 – 6 weeks to cure before it can be sold. That necessitated a soap drying rack in addition to the 6 molds (and counting) that I have made her.
The results speak for themselves!
All of our machinations in the Mrs M world were just a side show for this year’s main event: the arrival of Camdyn Grace on April 1. Payton got her little sister!

Alley holding Camdyn, Christopher & Payton
Velda got to spend some quality time as Grandmother with both granddaughters before returning to our out-of-control hobby, AKA Mrs M’s Handmade. Mrs M # 2 got a pass for this year, as she needed to attend to Camdyn. Velda & I hit the spring events with gusto, using her new purpose-built display to incorporate the introduction of soap. The business bought a trailer to haul the goods, and we ended up doing 10 events in the second quarter. Results far exceeded our expectations. And, as much as we enjoy doing Mrs M’s, it was great to relax a bit through the summer.
And by relaxing, I mean we made more product.
We finally got to keep an important appointment in July, and got photographs made of Payton sitting in our family’s little rocking chair – a chair first purchased by Payton’s Great Great Great Grandmother Boring as a Christmas present 121 years ago today. That story was told here, A Family Heirloom.
There were no big work changes in the family this year. Christopher continues helping to manage Castaic Lake & Pyramid Lake for the LA County Parks & Rec department. He supervises cashiers, boat inspectors, and a vast recreation area. Following Camdyn’s birth, Alley returned to her job with the city of Palmdale processing building permits & such.
Brianna is in her 3rd year of teaching at Sierra Vista Junior High. She now has 2 choir classes (!) as well as English classes. She eagerly anticipates completing her Masters in Education in 2017, and being done with life as a student … at least for a while! Michael continues with Crane Aerospace & Electronics and continues to marvel at how truly large bureaucracies function.
Lauren is now the assistant manager at Sunshine Daycare, and continues to work closely with the kindergartners there. She loves the kids … here’s a story she shared just a few days ago:
Today I was asked if Santa was real by a first grade boy. In response, I asked him if he believed. He said yes, but that another boy doesn’t. I told him that some people believe and some people don’t and just because some people don’t, that doesn’t mean Santa isn’t real. If he believes, that’s all that matters. Then, I asked the boy who I was told doesn’t believe why he doesn’t believe. He looked at me stumped and explained that he just has no idea how Santa could possibly get to all the kids in one night. Before I could even speak, another boy butted in with “THATS WHAT CHRISTMAS MAGIC IS, ITS REAL!!”
I love working with kids.
Indeed!
Eric continues to manage the family business and decorate his house with Lauren’s help. Their latest addition is a new kitten, named Pivo – which means beer in Slovak – that they brought home just yesterday.
Velda has now been with Kaiser for 15 years, but has transitioned away from her nursing home responsibilities into more of a community-based primary care role. She runs clinics at several area assisted living facilities, and has more than 150 patients that she provides care for in their homes. Is she busy? You bet. She often explains to Mrs. M’s customers the reason she makes soap and lotions: “I have yet to give someone lotion and make them cry!” Not so in her “real job,” where many need to be led through their aging or end of life crisis, and tears are common.
I continue with Smarts Broadcast Systems as Director of Marketing; I’ve now been there 5 years. One of my favorite things to do with them is interview broadcasters; those interviews publish in the Small Market Radio Newsletter as well as on our website. You can read those interviews, here.
Today, we are blessed to be with all of our kids at Christopher & Alley’s house. It just doesn’t get much better than that.
Merry Christmas to you and your family. May the holiday spirit stay with you throughout a wonderful 2017!
More
2015: It’s A Wonderful Year
2014: It’s A Wonderful Year
2013: It’s A Wonderful Year
2012: It’s A Wonderful Year
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Snow decorates the desert under a dreamy night sky at California’s Joshua Tree National Park. To survive, Joshua trees depend on perfect conditions, including a crisp winter freeze – researchers believe that freezing temperatures may first damage the growing end of a branch and then stimulate flowering, followed by branching. Photo by Craig Schoenbaum. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 12/20/16.
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Joshua Tree National Park
The Fire In The Sky
The Milky Way And The Joshua Tree
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Winter has come to Lake Clark National Park & Preserve in Alaska and left it wrapped in white and blue. Besides water and sky, every feature is coated with snow and frost – obscured by a wispy fog and lingering clouds. It’s peaceful, beautiful and cold enough to make your teeth chatter. Photo by J. Mills, National Park Service. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 12/2/16.
Sunrise breaks the winter chill at Acadia National Park in Maine. As you admire the snow reflecting the morning light and listen to the waves lap at the stony shoreline, feel the warmth of another day welcome you to this beautiful place. Park Loop Road has closed for the season, but Ocean Drive remains open as conditions allow. Happy exploring! Photo by Rebecca Wilks. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 12/19/16.
Alaska’s Glacier Bay National Park. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 12/18/16.
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Right place, right time: Stormy skies over Horseshoe Bend at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Photo by Jeremy Stevens. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 12/2/16.
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