Wrapping up 2009

With 2009 drawing to a close, it has been a hectic year to say the least. From the birth of my twin boys to family health issues to being a stay at home dad and the resurgence of doing woodworking classes again. Hectic is definitely the word to have described 2009. This year has brought different values to my life with family and health being at the top of the list because without those not much else matters. So good-bye 2009 and welcome 2010.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Family time can now begin

It is Tuesday night and the house is quiet, the boys and my wife are fast asleep. Tomorrow the first day of a week of family time as Debbi is off work and the plans are all made. We must clean the house, do some final groceries and begin preparing for the big dinner. I always look forward to Christmas but this year more so. The Chargers play on Christmas day at 8:00pm ..... maybe that's why I am excited......probably a little but being able to spend time with family and friends is what I look forward to most and with Debbi done work for the holidays.... family time can now begin. Merry Christmas everyone!

Well this week has been different to say the least. I have yet to see the shop this week as I have been been dealing with somethings I do not wish upon anyone. I do not wish to get into details out of respect but my mind is definitely elsewhere. On a brighter note Nate is getting closer to rolling onto his belly yet just spins on his butt and of course Jake is rolling all over the place and is getting to be a handful. For christmas Debbi and I do not exchange gifts but merely buy a gift for the house or family. This year with the arrival of the twins we needed to upgrade our digital camera as the old one was acting up. After much investigating I picked up the new camera today and was able to set it up and take a few practice pics. I like the new camera! On a football note this is the first week of saturday football as the NFL will be on thursday, saturday, sunday and monday. Phewwww I hope I can make it through it all .... (that was a joke)!

Snow is here

Well the snow and the cold have finally arrived. I will take snow over rain as I find snow to be uplifting as opposed to the rain. I did the presentation of how to shape wood with hand tools at the Niagara Woodworking Club this past Tuesday. I roughed out a cabriole leg in my shop with the bandsaw so as to show how to smooth the form out with a spokeshave and I also brought a oak riving to show how to use a drawknife, spoke shave and scrapers to create a windsor chair spindle. I thought the demonstration went well and club members asked questions so hopefully I may have turned a few to the hand tool side of woodworking. I said I would finish the cabriole leg and bring it for the next meeting so I must remeber to do that and I think I may even put some finish on it to show it off a bit too.

The boys are doing great and the holiday plans are falling into place. I am really looking forward to Christmas this year. The woodshop is in need of some cleaning so I should get at it.

Demonstrating at the NWWC this Tuesday

This Tuesday Dec 8th I will be demonstrating how to shape wood with hand tools at the Niagara Woodworking Club's December meeting. Using drawknives, spokeshaves, rasps, files and scrapers is something many woodworkers are either intimidated by or have just never been introduced to. You can check out the pictures from the event at the club's website http://www.niagarawoodworkingclub.blogspot.com/ on Wednesday.



This week the boys had some breakthroughs.... Jake can already roll on to his belly but just the other day was able to roll back on to his back. I am sure going to have my hands full soon. Nathan on the other hand wants nothing to do with rolling (thatta boy) yet has continued his streak of refusing to wear a sock on his right foot. I must put that right sock on 20-30 times a day.



I need to go through the links on this page as I am told that some are no longer active. I will try and make time this week. I went with my wife on a Buffalo woodworking tour and hit the Buffalo Rockler and Woodcraft stores. That was my first time at the Buffalo Woodcraft but thought the store was in stock and welcoming, Woodcraft just opened the Buffalo store a few months ago. I need to get going on the box for the woodworking club contest. I should be able to make some headway around the holidays.