A Few of My Favorite Things…

Hi all. It’s been a while since my last post. I’m no blogger, I suppose, since I so infrequently create new entries, yet, I continue to make attempts.

Anyway, I’d like to take a moment to point out a few of my favorite sites, those I frequent, those you should frequent, at least if you are interested in the same things I am.

I like the fine art of traditional wetshaving. Here’s a few of my favorites:

http://badgerandblade.com/

http://www.theshaveden.com/

http://mantic59.blogspot.com/

If you enjoy archery, especially primitive archery, I visit:

http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/forums/18/t/Archery-Primitive-Bows.html

http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/archer.html

www.primitivearcher.com

Occasionally, I get in the mood for some Warhammer 40,000 action:

http://www.heresy-online.net/forums/index.php

And finally, if you just like primitive things, I enjoy:

www.primitiveways.com

and

www.paleotube.com

You might find something in this collection that suits your fancy. And no one likes an unsuited fancy.

Wickiup Tour

Recently, my friend Micah and I got together to rebuild a large wickiup. Native Americans built them out of the materials they had available, and, although our materials are different than theirs, it is nonetheless built in a similar fashion. Here’s the grand tour.

Warhammer 40k

Recently, a few former students got me interested in a different type of strategy game – one that combines the fantasy/scifi genre that I enjoy, the crafty hobbies of model work and painting that I find therapeutic, and the mental competition I crave. Warhammer 40K. My favorite related site is Heresy-Online.

Here are some pics of my army thus far:

First Long Bow Completed!

Yeah, me! Finally, after months of work (well, off and on, not continuous), I’ve completed my first bow.

Handle

Strung bow

Cedar Lodge, Est. 2009

My dad and I spent all week in 100 degree heat building a shed off the back of my storage building. Why, you ask?

Well, ever since I’ve moved into my home (almost 10 years ago) I’ve wanted a ‘man cave.’ You know, that place where the man of the house can get away for a few hours and build something.

Hence, the Cedar Lodge is born. Pics are forthcoming.

Too Long A Season

My last blog entry was …November? My, how time and pigs fly. The last few months have been rather unnerving. Work has been Underworldly, family activities have multiplied, and my personal motivation to overachieve has been lacking.

I need a life-revival. Maybe I’ll get one soon.

On a happier note, my latest hobby has been fun when I get a chance to partake in it. The time-honored tradition of bowmaking, while certainly challenging, gives me an outdoors distraction that is also fruitful. So far, my largest obstacles have been weather, time, and resources. One of those I’ve made progress on correcting and I have only a couple more tools to add to my collection to make real pilgrim’s progress.

Next up, I’m looking forward to this summer when, not only will I have more time for projects, no real work, but I will also begin another class - my favorite. I have World Civ I first summer session. It’s a night class, three times a week, so it isn’t exactly a regular work schedule.

Enough ramblings for now…

Salmon in the choir

My wife and I joined the First United Methodist Church this summer. Our idea was to take it easy, not rush into anything and start participating and leading and joining everything the church had to offer at once. So, we’ve been pretty good about it. But a couple of months ago, I joined the choir. I had been asked many times over the course of about a month by various members of the congregation about joining the choir ever since the first time I opened my mouth to speak.

They gave me the usual look of shock as most men my size do not have a voice like mine. Well, I’d dare say almost NO man my size has a booming bass voice like mine. Anyway…

And so, I caved (I really wanted to try my hand, uh, er, voice at choir anyway) and joined.  I thought the purpose of singing God’s praises was to glorify God. Duh. But my choir experience has been different. This is why: I find that I leave choir practice every Wednesday night feeling a sense of freshness, of renewal, of enlightenment. God seems to be blessing me through the experience as much as I am trying to praise him.

Forget therapy or a counselor. If you can sing and have the opportunity, join a choir. It matters not if you are a trout, salmon, or big mouth bass like me, go for it. God blesses us in many ways.

Welcome, profsaffel, to the B&B!

I’ve joined a great site – Badger and Blade. It is about wet-shaving, sure, but it is definitely much more. Coffee, tea, pictures, cologne, general manliness all around. Also, some great people frequent the place. If you shave, you should at least visit this place. And by my calculations, that pretty much covers most of the United States.

The B&B is fun, informative, and a well run internet hang out. Don’t believe me? Well, try it for yourself. Your face (or where ever else you shave) will thank you for it.

My Latest Craze

I remain in a perputual state of hobby changing. At this rate, I figure by the time I am 70, I will have tried around 200 hobbies, professions, or otherwise labeled distractions. Anyway, my latest interest is …woodcutting.

Eh?

Yes, woodcutting. The timeless chore of putting sharp, heavy metal to tree and tree related accessories. I have had a total of seven neighbors, friends, and relatives come by or call and say, “Hey, you know I have a chainsaw you can borrow?” I kindly reply, “Yes, but that would defeat the purpose.” They only shake their heads and go back to whatever they do and leave me with my axe, by drawknife, my hatchet, and now, a bright shiny new maul.

My favorite new instrument is that beforementioned hatchet. I have yet to find a used broadaxe (used for hewing fell timbers) but a well sharpened hatchet works very well. I’ve recently hewed two sides into a holly tree in preparation for curing over the winter. I will be looking for several more similar trees soon, all with the intent of being hand-crafted into pieces of building material.

From what I’ve read, log hand-axe hewing is nearly a lost art. Perhaps I’m helping to save it. Or maybe, because I’m now doing it, it should go away quickly before someone gets hurt.

Get Ready…

A couple of weekends ago, my pirate movie friend, his wife, and I ventured to the Raven’s Loft Faire. To tell the truth, the experience wasn’t what we were expecting. We’ve both been to other Faires… with the usual booths of chainmaillers, jerkin sellers, craftspeople and acts of all sorts, and of course, the jousting tournament. Well, pretty much none of that was in Emory, TX this particular weekend. We had a great time though, as they had belly dancers, a very fun archery range put on by Sherwood Archery, and the last thing of the night, the Fyre show, was A – W – E – some. It made the eight dollar cover charge by itself. It is a shame, however, that they had so few patrons. From their website, I conclude that the other nights were shy of activity as well, and they seemed to have cancelled the next weekend.

I wish Raven and his crew best of luck in their efforts because I know they couldn’t have raked in any shillings. Great showmanship, but they certainly lacked organization, business sense, and cooperation with faire goers and vendors alike. But did I mention how awesome the Fyre show was? Hizzah!

I’ll have pictures available when I can get them.