Eggplant

Homemade Pens

Sat, 8 Nov 2008 08:35:05 +0000

I made these pens the other day in my workshop (from top to bottom: Red Oak, Rosewood, Maple). Here's all you need to make your own pens: Mini Jet Lathe - $400 Drill Press - $250 Drill Bit - $17 Band Saw - $300 Wood Blank - $2 Pen Kit - $7 Sandpaper - $5 Glue - $10 Polish - $9 For just a thousand-buck investment you can make your very own pen. You can also go buy one of these hand-crafted, wooden pens in a store for about $50 (or you could buy a plastic Bic pen made in Mexico for around 25 cents). Of course, if you buy all that stuff, well...first of all you have all that stuff now, and having stuff is a good thing. Also, you can make thousands of pens after that for about $10 each. And then, for every birthday, Christmas, anniversary, christening, and any other suitable holiday, everyone in your family and surounding neighborhood will get a handmade pen. They will think you are quite clever and crafty, and they will love you even more than they did before you made them a pen. That part's for sure worth it. The best part is spending an hour or two in your workshop, kicking up plenty of wholesome sawdust, listening to your pen-making playlist on iTunes, and just enjoying the productive-but-relaxing afternoon. I highly recommend the experience.

Mums on Blue Tarp

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 08:35:05 +0000

For a faded rose Will I be the one that you save I love when it showers But no one puts flowers On a flower's grave -"Flower's Grave" Alice, Tom Waits This weekend we had to clear off all the stuff on our decks and patios because the HOA is having all the wood painted. As it turned out, this was good because Fall has arrived, and it's time to batten down the hatches. But it was sad to uproot these Mums, which bloom so beautifully in bad weather.

Cab Ride

Fri, 15 June 2007 08:35:05 +0000

Wow...it's been a long time (three months and 11 days to be exact). Why? � I'm lazy. � I keep forgetting to take my camera with me when I go out. � My way of web posting (no automation) takes too long. I'm thinking of switching to a service. � I think photoblogging, in general, has slowed down considerably. � Most of my on-line photo time is spent at Weekly Shot and Vazaar (if you want an invitation to either, just let me know). � I've been spending most of my "hobby time" in the workshop with my new lathe. In any case, I'm going to try and post more often. This shot was taken from the back seat of a cab in Philadelphia.

Thaw

Sun, 4 March 2007 08:35:05 +0000

Finally the creeks are starting to get soupy. Something's cooking, and I'm hoping it's spring. -I said that. Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting Little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear Here comes the sun, here comes the sun, and I say it's all right It's all right -George Harrison said that. March 3, 2007

My Father's Face

Sat, 3 February 2007 08:35:05 +0000

If you look in the mirror it's your father's face
And the thin grin, the thin grin, the thin grin
It's Santa Claus pulling up snow peas
Everyday in the morning when you get up and you crawl out of bed

And there's tears in the bank and the credit card
In the back yard, in the back yard, in the back yard
If you look in the mirror it's your father's face
Everyday in the morning when you get up and you crawl out of bed

-Leo Kottke ("Jack Gets Up" from My Father's Face)

February 3, 2007

Quiet Snow

Tues, 9 January 2007 08:35:05 +0000

I think my favorite aspect of a large snowfall is the dampening effect it has on the world. When I used to fly fish I loved walking out along a stream after a fresh snow. Every snapped twig, gurgling brook, even the infinitesimal auditory disturbance caused by the touchdown of my fly on the still pool of a beaver pond and the subsequent slow click-clack of my reel taking in the line sounded like the product of a state-of-the-art recording studio. I don't much miss fumbling with my fishing gear, but I do miss those quiet walks. I seemed more eager to get out there as a fisherman than I do as a photographer...I'll have to change my way of thinking in that regard. But it reinforced for me how important the ambient soundtrack is to a movie, and the silent, snowy walk reminded me particularly of the sound in the movie "McCabe & Mrs. Miller" (Altman, 1971). It's a great film to listen to...I hope this is a good photo to listen to. January 9, 2007

Winter Willow

Sat, 6 January 2007 08:35:05 +0000

Wispy willow tendrils stand out black against a gray midwinter sky as things warm up just a bit, for a short thaw. We've had three feet of snow over the past three weeks...more on the way. I finally got the camera out of the closet and took a walk around today with my wife. I'll be posting some snow pics here shortly. January 6, 2007

Fresh Towels

Sun, 26 November 2006 08:35:05 +0000

There is something about white hotel towels.
I don't know what it is.
I want to use them.
I want to steal them.
I want to leave them balled up on the floor in a damp mess after I shower and shave,
and have the maid replace them with clean ones, without an inquisition at all.
A new day, fresh towels, white hope. November 26, 2006

Handlebars

Sat, 30 September 2006 08:35:05 +0000

It's been a while. Well, we moved, school started, summer vacation ended, and the camera stayed in the closet (it's still there right now, yelling for some fresh air). Also, other hobbies are vying for my attention (more on that later). Anyway, here are some handlebars that were parked outside a little café in a mountain town we visited, drinking in the early morning light while its owner opted for a caffeinated brew indoors. It was an older bike, joyful of the new appeal for retro-cycles which saved it from an unnecessary burial at the junk yard. Isn't it great when you discover something that you've had for years is coveted by others? September 30, 2006

Hummingbird

Mon, 28 Aug 2006 08:35:05 +0000

This beautiful hummingbird stopped by our front yard a while back to visit our zinnias. He was kind enough to shop around a bit as I slipped into the house for my camera. I added a diffuse glow with some grain, did some burning and dodging, and punched up the saturation. I may have gone just a bit over the top with the Photoshop enhancements, but for me it just adds to the mythical quality of this hovering, winged creature. August 28, 2006