Okay, let's see, it's Tuesday we must be in Belgium.
You're correct it has been a while since we updated this Blog and I apologize. It doesn't seem that long ago that we returned home from our summer adventure and yet here it is January of a new year. So, since we have been home we have attended another Alfa Rally, this one in Burleson, TX, gone to Louisiana to have some stuff done to the coach, had the kids and grand kids here for Thanksgiving, done a little fishing, played one round of golf while our friends Walt & Geri were here, did lots of wood working, watched lots of TV, ate even more, had some cocktails, and played with Alex every day.
When you lump it all together it makes sense that the time flies by. We had a good time at the rally in Burleson, spent Wednesday to Sunday there and was able to play golf on Thursday. We cam home on Sunday and then left on Monday to head for our friend Dick's place in Louisiana. Dick installed a roof air conditioner/heater to assist our basement units, two new tail light half way up the back of the coach to improve visibility, and he repositioned our travel information center so it was easier to see while driving. We stopped at a new park in Kilgore, TX on the way home to check it out for a future rally site, and spent a couple of days in Tyler doing some shopping.
When we got home we started to prepare for Thanksgiving and the influx of people. Tippy did a great job preparing the turkey, dressing, and all of the other fixings. We all ate heartily, then ate left overs. The weather cooperated somewhat and we got to take a boat ride one afternoon and the kids were able to play outside and do a lot of fishing. Cole is becoming very independent but loves to hang out with his dad. Maryn and Florence are in the Princess stage and both wore princess dresses all of the time they were here. They also put on a couple of plays complete with singing and dancing. They even "allowed" Cole to participate in one.
We decided to stay home and have a Christmas tree this year instead of traveling. As I sit here and write this it is 26 degrees outside and we are wondering if we made the correct decision. As you can see from the pictures below the dock and boathouse are all iced up from the waves splashing and freezing.
I have begun to turn some pens since we returned home. I ordered some materials and equipment that I needed, before we got home, and it was here waiting for me when we returned. I buy kits to make the pens that include all of the pen parts and the tubes that go inside of the wood. I buy the wood blanks, cut them to the proper size for the tubes, drill them so the tubes will fit inside, and then glue the tubes inside of the blanks. Then the blanks are put on a mandrel and the mandrel is put on the lathe. I then turn the wood into shape, sand it, and apply a finish before completing the assembly of the pen. That is the short explanation and doesn't take into account any operator error.
I have also turned a salad bowl set, several other bowls, a couple of potpourri bowls, coffee scoops, kaleidoscopes, and some peppermills. My skills continue to improve but I still have lots to learn. I spend lots of time on the Internet visiting wood turning forums and watching wood turning videos. I have also purchased some videos on bowl turning, pen making, and general wood turning fundamentals. I am considering starting a small business to sell some of the things I have been making but haven't made a final decision yet. I do know that I have to get some pictures of my recent work to post on a website and to keep a record of my projects before they are sold or given away.
We leave next week for a three week trip to southern Texas where it is hopefully warmer than here. We will spend a week at Lake Conroe visiting our friends Jay & Mary Jane, that we met in Montana two years ago, then off to Stonewall, TX for an Alfa Rally and then to Port Aransas for a week before heading home with a two day stop in Spring Texas to break up the trip home. We also have an Alfa Rally scheduled for March at the Choctaw Hotel, Casino, and RV Resort in Durant, OK. After that we will be home, pretty much, until we leave for our summer trip in early June.
Happy New Year to you all. I will have another post as we travel later this month and hopefully some good pictures. Be safe.
When you lump it all together it makes sense that the time flies by. We had a good time at the rally in Burleson, spent Wednesday to Sunday there and was able to play golf on Thursday. We cam home on Sunday and then left on Monday to head for our friend Dick's place in Louisiana. Dick installed a roof air conditioner/heater to assist our basement units, two new tail light half way up the back of the coach to improve visibility, and he repositioned our travel information center so it was easier to see while driving. We stopped at a new park in Kilgore, TX on the way home to check it out for a future rally site, and spent a couple of days in Tyler doing some shopping.
When we got home we started to prepare for Thanksgiving and the influx of people. Tippy did a great job preparing the turkey, dressing, and all of the other fixings. We all ate heartily, then ate left overs. The weather cooperated somewhat and we got to take a boat ride one afternoon and the kids were able to play outside and do a lot of fishing. Cole is becoming very independent but loves to hang out with his dad. Maryn and Florence are in the Princess stage and both wore princess dresses all of the time they were here. They also put on a couple of plays complete with singing and dancing. They even "allowed" Cole to participate in one.
We decided to stay home and have a Christmas tree this year instead of traveling. As I sit here and write this it is 26 degrees outside and we are wondering if we made the correct decision. As you can see from the pictures below the dock and boathouse are all iced up from the waves splashing and freezing.
I have begun to turn some pens since we returned home. I ordered some materials and equipment that I needed, before we got home, and it was here waiting for me when we returned. I buy kits to make the pens that include all of the pen parts and the tubes that go inside of the wood. I buy the wood blanks, cut them to the proper size for the tubes, drill them so the tubes will fit inside, and then glue the tubes inside of the blanks. Then the blanks are put on a mandrel and the mandrel is put on the lathe. I then turn the wood into shape, sand it, and apply a finish before completing the assembly of the pen. That is the short explanation and doesn't take into account any operator error.
I have also turned a salad bowl set, several other bowls, a couple of potpourri bowls, coffee scoops, kaleidoscopes, and some peppermills. My skills continue to improve but I still have lots to learn. I spend lots of time on the Internet visiting wood turning forums and watching wood turning videos. I have also purchased some videos on bowl turning, pen making, and general wood turning fundamentals. I am considering starting a small business to sell some of the things I have been making but haven't made a final decision yet. I do know that I have to get some pictures of my recent work to post on a website and to keep a record of my projects before they are sold or given away.
We leave next week for a three week trip to southern Texas where it is hopefully warmer than here. We will spend a week at Lake Conroe visiting our friends Jay & Mary Jane, that we met in Montana two years ago, then off to Stonewall, TX for an Alfa Rally and then to Port Aransas for a week before heading home with a two day stop in Spring Texas to break up the trip home. We also have an Alfa Rally scheduled for March at the Choctaw Hotel, Casino, and RV Resort in Durant, OK. After that we will be home, pretty much, until we leave for our summer trip in early June.
Happy New Year to you all. I will have another post as we travel later this month and hopefully some good pictures. Be safe.
posted by Stu & Tippy On the Road | 1:01 PM
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