Christmas 2009

Well we were a little weak on the preparation for Christmas this year. Didn't get as many cookies baked as we wanted. The lights on the outside didn't get finished due to all the rain and work. But we did manage to get up the tree and put some very nice things under it.

I think for Gavin's third Christmas it was really nice. Managed to keep all the kids together for Christmas morning and everybody had a good time.

Gavin greatly enjoys his drum set (see the video on Facebook) and his easel with magnetic letters and chalk board. He is very into letters and numbers and is starting to form small words with them.

Edward always enjoys Christmas, in fact he was a bit upset with us this year for not getting everything done right. We will try harder next year for Edward. He got some train things he wanted and some books he asked

for.

The kids (Amber and Teddy) seemed to enjoy watching Gavin run from toy to toy and of course being still young opening their own gifts. The Bike was Teddy's and for Amber clothes and more clothes.

When it was all done, we all enjoyed a wonderful dinner with the Grandma, Sue and Kate.

Finished Another Project

Well I finished another project but most of you will have no idea what it is. I recently bought a box of sample woods to play with and see what they were like. I decided on a project and my first attempts with it were dreadful. What I learned was that not all hard woods are as hard as others. When making small projects this one is only about 5" x 3" it is really much easier when you work with really hard stuff. On my second attempts, I discovered Curly Maple which was getting the job done but the Cedar that I used was difficult to keep together when I cut it then. That's when I made my third attempt with Walnut. Many of my future small projects will be this combination, the dark against the light wood has gotten many comments from the critics here at the house. Even the teenagers noticed it and said they liked the combination and how well it finished.

So what is it. Its a holder for my Blackberry which fits into the window mount in my car.

Trip to Big Sur

For my birthday Dorothy and I went down to Big Sur to spend the weekend. We stayed at a nice place that rents cabins called Ripplewood. Many of our tennis buddies recommended it. We rented cabin #2 and found it to be located very near the river and with just enough luxury to be comfortable. We went down on Friday in time to get to dinner at the Ventana Inn. This was all about the luxury we had a wonderful meal and shared a bottle of Michaud "The Pinnicles" Estate Syrah 2002 and it was really wonderful. We had appitizer, entree and desert and were amazed at the quality of each course.

The next day we drove down the coast hoping to take a short hike at Limekiln state park. Unfortunately it is one of the state parks closed due to budget cuts. So we decided to go down and check out Treebones, a Yurts hotel. It was amazing and try as I might I don't think Dorothy will every go for it. The place has great ocean views, from the deck of the yurts. On the way back up the coast we stopped at Sand Dollar beach and walked out to Jade Cove. Dorothy was very familiar with this place as her mother has large

Jade bookends that came from this beach. We were easily able to pick up some small pieces that I hope to incorporate into a small box at some point. We stopped at Lucia on the road north out of nostalgia mostly, its been almost unchanged for the entire 38 years that we have been stopping here. Then on to lunch at Nepenthe were else. It was mid 60's and sunny as you can see and there are few places nicer when the weather is outstanding like that.

Dinner that night was a casual event at the Roadhouse restaurant the food was good but not like the night before. The great part is the Roadhouse was just a short

walk from the cabin. While we didn't drink as much that night we could have done so much safer. In the morning we had breakfast in the cafe at Ripplewood, its very nice and while the quality of the food is a little inconsistent the atmosphere is friendly and clean. Always sad to leave such a beautiful place but it has helped to calm and quiet some frayed nerves and lower the frustration level a bit.

A right of passage, Trick or Treat

This is our little Trick or Treater. He was Browby from his favorite TV show Yo Gabba Gabba. The hat was not a big hit thats why we put it on top of a Baseball cap which he does like to wear. Not sure that he got the whole trick or treat thing but he was totally into the candy the next day.

We Walk Rain or Shine

Actually the title should be "We will do anything for a Cookie". As you can see on Tuesday Gavin, Revel and I hiked the 3 miles to Heathers Bakery for one of Gavin's favorite cookies. I say one of since he is also very fond of the M&M cookies at Bittersweet Bistro and the Chocolate chip cookie at Pixie Deli. Revel of course does not care what kind of Cookie it is at the rate he eats his you would not even think he had the ability to taste it. On this particularly Tuesday the rain was coming and going, fortunately gone while we had our cookie, not sure anywhere but Pixies will let Revel eat inside. Nate at Pixie's will let Revel get away with almost anything (except barking at the other doggies). Later on the walk the rain started up but Opa is always prepared caring extra diapers, water for the dog, first aid kit and an umbrella this size of Texas to keep my little passenger dry.

Today was Gavin's first day at Katie Harts day care center. We all decided to find a place for him so that he could start interacting with other children on a regular basis and we could see how he responds to people who actual set rules limitations and boundaries things he doesn't really have at our house. When he and I arrived he was very anxious to show me the slides he had discovered on his evaluation visit. So while he was busy playing I left with no fuss. I understand that did not last when he realized that I was gone. After a short adjustment period he apparently spent the rest of the afternoon amazing people with how quickly he learns and adapts to new things. He of course did not eat lunch (never does) or take a nap another rule we will work on adding to his home routine. He can get very ugly by 6pm

some days without one. Overall his first day was excellent they want him back, he will no doubt want to go back and Opa got in 2 hours work on the Mission style bed I am building.

The quality of the picture at right is a bit weak but its a reflection in a bank window just wanted you to see the setup. Note the happy wet dog who seems to be saying "Enough lets keep walking". At these moments I usually get kicked by Gavin who will start repeating "OK" my cue to move on. Lately I have been developing a great deal of sympathy for horses. We do have fun, and when it gets to be a bit much well theres always the cookie.

Jewelry Box completed

Somehow when I finished this project a month ago I got pictures but never got them to the blog. Someone asked me about it the other day and that when I realized it was missing. So here it is.

The box is made with White Oak, with a Poplar insert in the lid.

I used this project to learn to do many of woodworking techniques that I will need for

further projects. This project took me many months to complete because of all the jigs and techniques that I had to build and practice.

Starting with the base a mall frame similar to a

picture frame is connected with splines and glue and is very strong.

The box itself is put together with box joints

which required me to build a jig for the tablesaw to

be able to do these. Another delay, like I said this project took a long time. The other problem I faced was the dato blade for the saw could not do more than 1/4 inch dato's (need an 8" dato set and only have a 6") the wood is 3/4 inch think. The joint looks simple but it is not at all.

The lid is may first attempt at Marketry( the art of inlaying one wood into another). I

choose a simple box pattern to make it easier for me to do. There was a plan to include a handle for the top but after all the time I had spent on this project I decided enough was

enough and covered it with 6 coats of rub on polyurethane and 1 coat of furniture paste wax and called it quits. I will do more in the next box as I see this as a great learning

process.

This box is now my sister Elda's, I hope that she enjoys it.

A very nice, needed day off.

This was a very nice day off. After working 10 of the last 11 days, I really needed it. Teddy and I worked on a Jig we need for the next step in building his bed. Gavin stopped by and helps occasionally. Around lunch time Edward and I headed out to check out a new Hot Dog stand in Watsonville, and get the Benz cleaned from bumper to bumper. The Hot Dog meet with Edwards approval and we headed home.

At 3pm I had a tennis match, finals of the consolation round of the club singles tournament. I had a very tough match Kelly my opponent was very strong we both had beat two people to get to this point. I was fortunate to win the match in two sets. I really enjoyed the match.

The Boy in the Big Grey Hat

So who is that boy in the big grey hat. Well he is 2 years and 6 months old, eats only when he feels like it which seems like never to the rest of us.

Smiles a great deal, kills you when he laughs and is Opa's very willing morning companion.

He can us a laptop computer in ways that would put a 8-10 years old to shame, draws a mean circle and is the first to point out when we can see the "OCEAN" on our walks.

Thinks nothing of pushing a 100 pound dog, taller then him out of the way by shoving his hand right in Revels face (which he gets away with every time, bless you Revel) yet is terrified of the shower.

Yes thats our boy Gavin and we do love him.

Delivered a project today

Nothing warms my heart more than to complete a project and deliver it to a happy user. Libby's dog bed was delivered today with some help from my buddy Revel. Thankfully Libby gave Revel the thank you kiss. We are really happy that she will get years of good use from it. Elda will probably put a canapy over the top that is part of the original design.

Our little city expanded

This weekend we completed, well almost, a new section of the train layout. We are building it this time on platforms about 15" x 9" so that if we need to move it again each one can be safely moved without dealing with a 4' x 8' city in its entirety. Each section comes complete with road, house, driveway a portion of the street that lines up with the previous section, gardens, and working street lights. We have also arranged for each house to have a light inside.

Needless to say Edward is very excited about being able to turn on and off the lights of the city as it

becomes dark. The other new features in the new layout, the one on the grey roof, is a swimming pool. That's the "almost" in the first sentence. We got some of the grass stuck to the stuff we used for water in the pool. So we plan to remove it and repair the pool water then cover it with

something that will make it not so sticky. Edward and I are having a great deal of fun with this and trying to figure out what will be on the right and left of these houses. May be greenbelt due to space.

Huntington Lake 2009

This was our 21st year at the lake, and as with previous years its was very much the same and yet things were different. The pictures this year seem to be better than past years, but each of us came away with a new agenda of what we wanted to do next year.

Edward who has always loved the lake, recognized that he has grown to value different things and that many of the wonderful things the lake had to offer no longer are important to him. Swimming has always been a large part of the trip for him, but this year he complained the water was to cold and he was not interested. He also complained that it was too dirty a place. I wonder if our recent trips to Worldmark sites (out timeshare club) have not soured him. All the Worldmark sites are set up the same way with the many of the same brands of things in them. This provides him with some comfort away from home perhaps he is a bit spoiled this year.

Dorothy too was voicing mixed feelings about the lake. She loves the place for its quiet, beauty, and perfect weather. It was just hard to believe that we agreed to do the trip without Teddy, Gavin or even Revel. Nothing much has changed over the 21 years there is one less restaurant (they actually tore the building down foundation and all) and all three of the major resorts are under new managements which seem to be making small careful changes some good, some not so good.

For me, I will not return without Gavin and Revel. Being in the woods and on the trail is all about being with them for me. We spend so much time walking together, Gavin, Revel and I that I miss them both while I was there. For the longest time I had hoped that we would have a second home at the lake someday and I think this year I finally realized that this is no longer practical and will not happen. It was a quiet week at the lake, which was a beautiful as ever and shall remain a place with wonderful memories.

My latest completed project

What is it? With a great deal of help from Teddy we took a pair of computer speakers gutted them and I build the box to house them. We can now connect our phone's or MP3 players to them and they produce wonderful sound that can fill a room. I will definitely be building more of these to put around the house. This one went to work so that I can listen to my MP3 player at night after most of the regular staff goes home.

Fourth of July 2009

Gavin and Edward enjoyed the Worlds Shortest Fourth of July Parade. All two hours of it. Aunt Sue came to join us and we all had a great time.

Gavin Update

While we were away in New Mexico the kids agreed to get Gavin's haircut. The little boy is doing great. His vocabulary is growing very rapidly due to the daily walks we take and the time spent discussing if a car is a car or SUV or a truck. Then we get to the shade is it blue, green or black. We have worked out many games for counting he can get to 15 on a good day with no errors.

Taos, New Mexico

On July 19th Dorothy, Edward and I headed out to Taos, N.M on United Airlines. We flew through Denver to Albuquerque. Then rented a Pontiac Vibe and headed 2 hours north to Taos in the mountains. The temperatures for the week were in the 70's and 80's most of the time due to frequency thunderstorms and short periods of rain. We stayed at our time share Worldmark where Barbara joined us from Canon City. She was happy to provide us with tour guide services as she has visited Taos many times and loves the place. We visited many shops and restaurants during our stay, we saw the Taos Pueblo, the little town of Arroyo Seco, and the Earthship demonstration project just outside of Taos.

One day we did the Scenic byway an 84 mile drive through national forests, with several small ski towns and artist shops along the way. It actually took us most of the day due to a tour up a ski lift at Red River where we checked out the Worldmark there and decided we need to make plans for our next trip to be there. The views from the top of the mountain were spectacular.

On our last day Barbara went home (not a train enthusiast) and Edward, Dorothy and I went to see the Cumbres and Toltec scenic railway at Antonito, CO. They bused us to Chama, New Mexico for the start of the ride as it takes all day to return by train to Antonito. The bus takes 1 hour then the train takes 6. The countryside is amazing, so lush and green I was completely in wonder that it was New Mexico. The train travels through the Cumbres Pass at 10,300 feet and the station home at the pass sees 25 feet of snow by mid-winter.

The guide told me that autumn (mid October) is spectacular on the trip. The fall colors mixed with the green grasses are outstanding according to the staff. Edward will definitely want a return trip and won't have to twist my arm to much to join him.

After five days we returned home through Salt Lake City. A fabulous trip that I for one would be happy to repeat.