Home Again, Home Again Jiggidy Jig

This was the view we saw each morning as we walked from the ocean to the dining room for the last week.  One week in the sun and surf with the grand children and their Mom.  One of the best holidays I have been on, great resort and super company.

The Know It All

   A couple of birthdays ago my kids gave me a copy of "The Year of Living Biblically" by A.J. Jacobs. It was a very interesting read and raised a variety of questions and spurred discussions among the family.
   "The Know It All" was actually written before "A Year of Living Biblically" but I only recently encountered it at Chapters/Indigo on the discount shelves and so I bought it.  "The Know it All" is a semi autobiographical story featuring  his insights  and commentary while he tries to read the entire Encyclopaedia Britannica.   Jacobs is a writer with an easy to read style and a dry wit that makes the book quite entertaining in places. For me the author's enquiry into the knowledge vs. wisdom, information vs. knowledge dichotomy in of much greater interest than the stories about his friends and family....but that I guess is what keeps the content from becoming too dense.

   The central thread of the book is Jacob's reading the entire Encyclopaedia  Britannica, all entries, every page.  He takes over a year and has many interesting comments and experiences related to his quest.  
   I think it is a book that I will keep around and dip into again when I have a little time  to kill.  I am also thinking that I need to get a set of Encyclopedias to browse when there is nothing pressing on my time.


http://ajjacobs.com/books/kia.asp   This is his site and what he says he was doing.

The Latest Photos of Up and Coming Woodworkers.

What can I say...they are my two favourite little people. Kieran already knows that Opa's workshop fixes things and pretty soon his baby sister Clara will come to know the same thing.  I have to think there is a doll house in the future.

Sherlock Holmes "The House of Silk"

     I have read all the Sherlock Holmes stories, all the stories, those written by Conan Doyle and all those written by all the folks that have tried to sound like Doyle, many times.  Many long years ago I was a  "boot maker" and still own all the stories in e-books and paper format. (actually I have two paper versions).

   We "Boot Makers" have to admit that Conan Doyle was not a great author but he did create two enduring characters and he wrote with  a distinct and recognizable voice.  Anthony Horowitz has captured that voice better than anyone before him and I feel that he has recreated it to virtual perfection.  

   I recommend this book to all Holmes fans.

  

Christmas Season Comment and Wrap Up.

   Traditionally one waits for the the New Year to do a wrap up and retrospective of their year.  Lets face it next week is a holiday week filled with friends and family so the real work of the year is done.
   I sat down and made a casual list of the past year's projects in my wood shop.


-two book cases for the kids house in Toronto.  A very good learning experience,
-a flat bed trailer to go with Kieran's wooden trucks.  Toys for kids are a way to become a hero.
-wooden building blocks too.
-cutting boards, many many cutting boards.  They are getting more interesting and I am using more interesting woods, I still like the roasted maple.
-several sets of wheels for shop tools.  Everything is the shop is on wheels.
-box joint jig.  That was a cool little project that gets dragged out now and then to make a sturdy little box.
-Eva's wooden gear clock.  I know it was a kit but...it was still a work shop project and very educational
-many pate knives, and I expect to make many more in the coming year.
-several scroll saw dino puzzles.
-an assortment of boxes, large and small.
-various gates to make stair cases safe for little people.
-a number of pieces of wooden jewellery
-finished the basement, made and installed the trim
-band saw boxes.
-raised panel doors, as I write this the paint in drying on doors for our basement sink's cabinet.


And various and many repairs as well as shelves and storage in the basement and the shop.  All together a very good year.


I hope and trust that your year was as good and that like mine your next year will be better.


 Thank you to my wonderful wife for her patience, ideas and  encouragement.  
 Thank you to my friends and family for their cheerful acceptance of prototypes and first tries. 


 Merry Christmas to One and All.