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Kintsugi: Giving New Life to a Broken Bowl

Kintsugi: What a Broken Bowl Can Teach Us https://youtu.be/OUlcDThfhUU Make do and mend. Sometimes it takes imagination to see potential. A little goes a long way. A little goes a long way. Useful fragments. Perfectly imperfect. An imperfect perfection created by time. Worn objects have a story to tell. Stripping something back to its natural state let’s you see the materials for what they are. Keeping it simple. Metal that has been clouded by time is sublime. Wabi-Sabi appreciates the natural world. There is joy in the art of making. The handmade can often be thrifty and ingenious. Small pleasures, rethinking the ordinary. Put to good use. Flexible living. Simplicity as an aesthetic ideal. Soulful simplicity. Tune into nature. Things change, that’s life. Rich is the person that is content with what they have. Hypocrisy is preached by the world’s biggest hypocrites. Find beauty in every day life. Create small rituals to bring us to the present. I don’t know. When everyone dies, then we will see. The remaining is adapted from an article by ALIA HOYT Video from http://www.lakesidepottery.com/Pages/Pottery-tips/ceramic-repair-and-restoration-questions-and-answers.htm The 15th-century art of kintsugi, which translated means "golden joinery," reclaims the beauty of a damaged object. It all began when the Japanese tea ceremony, Chanoyu, became popular. Legend holds that a Japanese shogun so wanted his broken Chinese tea bowl repaired that he sent it to China to be fixed. He was dismayed at the metal stitches used to piece it back together and asked local craftsmen to mend it. The result was a stunning new piece that emerged from the fragments, with golden seams tracing the places where the bowl had cracked. The art form uses lacquer, mixed with a precious metal like

By |January 13th, 2020|Categories: Uncategorized|Comments Off on Kintsugi: Giving New Life to a Broken Bowl

Churchill Best Guns

Interesting article entitled, "The Guns Of Royals" over at Sporting Classics, Featuring the Churchill Side by Sides by Doug Tate | Dec 6, 2019 | FIREARMS, RARE & UNIQUE GUNS, Slider Safari was once a rite of passage for Royals. In 1921, the Prince of Wales shot sandgrouse, jungle fowl, pea hens and parrots with a pair of 16-bore Purdeys while touring the sub-continent. But the day before he met Wallace Simpson in 1931, he ordered a pair of Churchill best Premier Quality sidelock ejectors with signature XXV barrels and shortly thereafter sold his Purdeys. The XXV had been favorably received and Churchill strenuously promoted it as a “revolutionary development . . . better balanced, far less tiring to use and carry, more comfortable to handle and quicker to shoot.” He cunningly pioneered his short guns as ideal for “average or poor shots with higher aspirations.” Robert Churchill combined his short barrels with a special high tapered rib that gave the shooter an optical impression of length. These E.J. Churchill guns were built for the Prince of Wales who went on to become King Edward VIII. The newspaper story covers his abdication from the throne so he could marry an American. PHOTO COURTESY MORPHY AUCTIONS. Despite controversy, XXVs were a hit. Both boxlocks and sidelocks in every quality were offered, and more celebrated gunmakers paid Churchill the ultimate compliment by offering short-barreled, lightweight guns of their own. Neither Robert Churchill nor The Prince of Wales were tall, and part of the appeal of stubby, lightweight guns may have been the ease with which they could be handled by men of smaller stature. They can still be ordered today, as an alternative to the two other London best gun makers, Purdey or Holland

By |December 9th, 2019|Categories: Uncategorized, Wingshooting|Comments Off on Churchill Best Guns

Nothing Wrong with Getting Lost

My father was an expert woodsman, spending a lot of time, hunting, fishing, cutting wood, and exploring. He frequently took me out and tried to get me lost in the woods. When he was thoroughly sure I was lost, he'd say close your eyes, and he'd spin me around 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 times just to be sure I wasn't pointed in the same direction when I opened my eyes. Then he'd say, great, find your way back to the car or the house. It was a game for him, as he knew how to navigate by stars and the sun in the sky, also using other way points, looking for tracks, all without a compass and long before GPS. I learned and, truth be told, I got pretty damn good at it. Then I got schooled on "situational awareness," which then was also taught to me by military servicemen and professional officials in various camps. They had you memorize everything in a classroom, what the teacher was wearing, whether he had jewelry on, what brands, what was in the bathroom including how many stalls or sinks, what the billboards on the drive in to the class, what vehicles you saw, everything. I got pretty damned good at that too. I think that in my life I’ve also overestimated the value of not getting lost. A person can be too cautious, can play it too safe, can put too much pressure on himself to avoid taking risks. And thus you lose part of yourself---that is the belief and trust in one’s own problem-solving ability. I have tried to impart that into my daughter using many of the same methods my father used, while we

By |November 14th, 2019|Categories: Uncategorized|Comments Off on Nothing Wrong with Getting Lost

Biocube 32 Marine Reef Aquarium

There is so much misinformation about how to setup a reef tank biocube on the internet, some of intentional, some of it guided to sell you stuff. Here’s what we did after visiting with several local aquatic dealers and after countless hours of research. PROGRAMING LIGHTS Set clock to 12 hr vs hr and program time. Set clock to current time, paying attention to an vs pm settingPhase 1, Daylight timer: 9:30am – 8:00pm (10.5 Hours for full lighting) Phase 2, Sunrise/Sunset timer: 9:00am – 8:30pm. (White lights begin to come on gradually at 9:00am and will shut off completely by 8:30pm) Phase 3, Moonlights. These lights are the Deep blue night LED’s. I set mine to turn on from 7:00am-10pm.  RUN PARAMETERS TEST TUBES WEEKLY TO TEST WATER IN TANK Running weekly water parameters testing is critical for tank safety. Test Your Parameters Weekly FEEDING Every other day feed about a dime sized amount of frozen mysis shrimp or frozen shrimp brine (it's good to alternate food sources), by holding in water with your fingers until it melts apart. Frozen sheets of Mysis Shrimp Once a week feed BeneReef to corals with a turkey baster tube. Mix 1/4 tsp of BeneReef reef food with 1/2 tsp of tank water or RODI water, stir, and wait 3-5 minutes before placing into tank. Feed 3 times per week the first and second weeks, and 2 times per week thereafter based on your systems needs. 1/4 tsp treats 25 gallons of water. BeneReef Food, mix 1/4 t. with 1/2 t. tank water and feed in turkey baster WATER CHANGES AND FILTER CHANGES HOW TO DO WEEKLY 4 GALLON WATER CHANGES ON BIOCUBE 32 There are two blue

By |November 11th, 2019|Categories: Aquarium Reef Tank, Uncategorized|Comments Off on Biocube 32 Marine Reef Aquarium

Rock Climbing

We train, we nourish ourselves, we track and refine. We chase moments of joy and genuine connection. Not just to extend our years, but to fully feel them—because each of us is living a story that only we can tell. It's not about reaching the top, it's about continuing the climb.   Life is an Adventure---But Why Climb? You’re in nature, you’re pushing your limits, you’re bettering your physical state, you’re getting in a workout, and you're seeking adventure while puzzling your way trying to learn to solve curiosities through some controlled danger---what's not to love about climbing? The setting, the exposure, a steep wall, and a degree of the unknown. Perhaps, it is the ability to keep it together and stay focused where others would freak out. Maybe it is just because the mountain is there and it’s fun. I've always challenged my daughter to climb a little higher and faster than I have in life. And along the way with this training for something higher with grit, I've developed a deep appreciation for the minimalist ethos of the hardcore dirtbag — the affectionate name die-hard climbers use for themselves. Eat, sleep, climb, repeat. All they need is a t-shirt, shorts, a light jacket, and a 55L pack to throw it all in. Add a pair of La Sportiva climbing shoes, some Cruzer approach shoes, a rope, a rack, an apple, some foraged greens, a melted Clif Bar or the trendy new Send Bar, a little protein powder in a ziplock that's indistinguishable from chalk, and a handful of butter packets and saltines from the gas station — and they can sleep in their car working a project for weeks. Who doesn't admire that

By |October 25th, 2019|Categories: Rock climbing, Uncategorized|Comments Off on Rock Climbing

Evelyn Woods Reading Dynamics-Speed Reading

This changed my life, I got it during law school and did all of the exercises, which requires listening to the material, timed tests, writing out things in a workbook, etc.   It took about a week.  Then I felt like I was slowing down, so I did it about 5 years later.  I have it on cassette tape.  It’s $199 online MP3 download, but they have it on CDs on ebay, which is better, assuming you have a way to play CDs for like $30.  Libraries should also have it.  It was very famous in the 1970-80’s with business executives, even Presidents of the United States. It quadrupled my reading speed and increased my comprehension.  I can read a book a night, in 1-3 hours, with 90-95% comprehension, which is fine for the non-fiction type books that I enjoy.  Here is my copy of the workbook below, but you really need the tapes, CDs, or MP3 downloads to go along with it. This will change your life and make you a much faster reader than you were before taking the course. Evelyn-Woods-Reading-DynamicsDownload

By |October 8th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews, Uncategorized|Comments Off on Evelyn Woods Reading Dynamics-Speed Reading

Tilley Hats

Tilley Hats I’ve owned just about every Tilley hat made over the past 30 years—from the original bucket and duck styles to today’s hemp and microfiber versions. Rim Chung’s longtime fishing favorite has always been the T3, in white with a green underbrim. I started with that model as well, but I never liked the white color—it stood out too much while fishing or shooting. Rim, however, says “it made him blend in with the clouds.” My personal favorite was the LT6 in khaki with a green underbrim. It was ideal for both fishing and shooting, but it’s no longer made, and even used ones are hard to find—like this one on eBay: Tilley Endurables LT6 Hat Khaki Tan w/ Green 7-3/8 Outback Straps Wide Brim. I’ve gone through phases with other hats too—fedoras, safari hats, cowboy hats for hunting—but I always come back to Tilley. They work year-round, except on the coldest winter days. The T4 duck hat, with its brass ventilation holes, was more attractive than the current LTM6 with its mesh crown. I’ve also tried both larger and smaller brim versions. In practice, they don’t change sun protection much—the longer brims tend to be floppier in the wind, while the shorter ones are more stable and easier to keep positioned for shade. Still, none of the newer models match the look of the original T4. If I had to choose from current models, the T5 or LTM6 is better than the long-brimmed LTM2, which is very floppy when you’re moving around. The original duck canvas also looked better than today’s microfiber versions, though it did show dirt more easily. I’ve owned them all—my daughters often “borrow” them—but they clean up well

By |October 7th, 2019|Categories: Fishing, Uncategorized, Wingshooting|Comments Off on Tilley Hats

Dealing with Sensitive Dogs and/or Gun Shyness

In 20 plus years of having field trial bred Brittanys, I currently Had a number of dogs and bitches. I currently have a Brittany bitch which came to us to us as a little shy or as Gary Ruppel says, she is sensitive. She was the daughter of a famously hard charging field trial dog. Her brood mom, not so much hard charging, more a family hunting dog. So part of it may be genetic. She was kept as the pick of the litter. She liked to bounce up and down in the kennel and was very friendly, enthusiastic and gentle. She was 6 months old when we got her. She had lived in a small field trial kennel her whole life, but one where the dogs are well treated and get out daily for roading or work with birds. They just don't get a whole lot of other contact with people or other dogs until they get a little older and start going to field trials and the local is rural so when they get out, they go a country mile to find birds for 30 minutes and then the next dog goes out. Bounce loved this life, as do I at many times. But, at this point, she was a little timid around people, particularly strangers as she hadn’t been to field trials yet, where they get this socializing with members outside their own pack. She didn't bark and wasn’t neurotic, but she was just a little timid looking at Petsmart, the dog park, or with even the mailman, and you could tell new situations made her uncomfortable. She would frequently roll over on her back, showing submission. She also did this if

By |September 25th, 2019|Categories: Dog Training, Uncategorized, Wingshooting|Comments Off on Dealing with Sensitive Dogs and/or Gun Shyness

How to Use an Axe

Before enlightenment: chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment: chop wood, carry water. -Zen proverb In a certain way, we are living back at the time before the entry of the booming forest industry. There are no axe-using forest workers any longer. The millions of cubic feet of pulpwood and timber that arrive today at forest industries have never been grazed by an axe. Chain saws, harvesters and logging machines have taken over completely. Today most axes are used in small scale activities by people like home owners, firewood cutters, campers, hunters, joiners, woodworkers, log builders. This manual that from the legendary Small Forest Axe maker Gransfors Bruk tells you everything you need to know on how to use an axe. Our axe was made by Martin Forslund. We use the axe for everything from camping to firewood, to trimming trees around the house and getting to and from hunting spots with downed trees on two track roads.  We don't use this one as a throwing axe, but we have thrown it before.   Here's how to throw an axe.   https://www.gransforsbruk.com/app/uploads/2013/02/Yxboken-Engelsk.pdf

By |September 18th, 2019|Categories: Uncategorized|Comments Off on How to Use an Axe

Air Force Workout

What am I capable of?  This is my favorite new workout and I call it the Air Force Workout, as it is the basic physical fitness test for all ages. Taking Souls is a phrase meaning it's about to get better, to be better, to overcome adversity, as David Goggins says in his bestselling book, Can’t Hurt Me, follow, so this is just a launching point for me as a daily regime to get back in better conditioning at over 50, or any age for that matter.  For Marines: PULL UPS / PUSH UPS Male: 3 pull-ups or 34 push-ups (2:00 time limit) Female: 1 pull-up or 15 push-ups (2:00 time limit) RUN Male: 1.5 mile run in 13:30 Female: 1.5 mile run in 15:00 PLANK  40 second plank (1:03 minimum) For Air Force, over 50 males, it's: 50 and above 14 push up 29 sit ups 1.5 mile run in under 15:57 https://www.armyprt.com/air-force-pt-test-standards/air-force-pt-test-scoring-chart/ Looking for a greater challenge, try the Army Special Forces, Green Beret fitness recommendations:   I have long been a fan of interval training.  In track or swimming sessions, these are referred to as intervals, but they also are used in hockey and other sports and can be easily adapted to running as well—a brief period of increased pace followed by a return to regular speed. Recent research suggests that incorporating short, intense bursts of physical activity lasting one or two minutes, like brisk walking, into daily life is linked to a significantly reduced risk of mortality.  For running, that translates to run a block, walk a block, sprint a block, walk a block, or however you wish to mix it up.   According to the findings, engaging in three one-minute bouts of

By |September 17th, 2019|Categories: Running, Uncategorized|Comments Off on Air Force Workout