My Fall (or fall...) of 2009

There comes a time when one has to finish ripping one's roots out of a place and finally commit to NOT calling a place home. And while I am happier than ever to be where I am now there are times when looking back I remember the best of times. One of those very special times is (was) the Fall in North Lake Tahoe. Here are some photos that when put together will make an overlapping 360 degree view just click on the picture to get the full size and cut/paste/copy/save or whatever; but mostly just enjoy!

  

Getting what you want

I have seached for years for a certain beach chair, all to no avail. This is how it started-


    One day at a flea market/highschool benefit my parents bought a beach chair for me. For $15 I got a sling back chair that had navy blue cotton fabric. It was made of beech and stood around 4 1/2 feet tall when folded. I loved that chair, camped in that chair, slept in that chair, got sunburned in that chair, etc, you get the picture. Finally the sunbleached fabric gave out and ripped.  The chair frame became buried in snow and never recovered and tossed out in a moment of apathy or confusion. I have looked high and low for close to 10 years for a replacment and for what- NOTHING! I found a few companys bringing them in from France and other points European but finding them instock was hit or miss and the prices were anywhere from $125 to $300! Uh no thanks for a days work and some spare materials I'll make my own. So here it is!

       Made out of Poplar (I did two and the other is Red Oak), strung with natural untreated cotton, sealed with raw linseed oil, painted with four black stripes- it's DONE! Some spare wood and a bit o' canvas laying around and POOF! two new slingback chairs. Now if I can only get my price point under a hundred bucks I'll start selling these things state side!

Looking FAR into the future!! or Christmas Starts Farly!

Hello!
   So dilly dallying around today waiting for glue to dry (turns out its worse that watching paint!) on the kayaks. And I became possesed, and now determined, by the idea that next Christmas I'm going to be putting some toys in thoses donation bin next year.
     Why this? why now?  Well you see I teach a beginning wood working class at UC Davis and one of my students had finished their project early (cutting board) and was asking, "sooo, what else can I do that wil be quick but some what satisfing??"
    Hmmm- good question.
Coat rack?.....
         Boring....
Key holder?
          Worse than a coat rack?
How 'bout a toy?
          That would be OK......

     So as one class ended and another began I set about seeing how long and involved it would be to make a toy. Turns out the longest part was waiting for the glue to dry!!
   After the glue dried, it took about 30-45 min and presto! one complete toy with wheels!

Jake modeling the 4x4 capabilities of the toy truck with the SUV ready to follow!

     So there it is an easy wood project to do that is educational to the woodworker and easy to part with.

That said- this exercise was so simple that come next Xmas I think I'll be putting together a few friends and making a sack full to donate- after all it is the best I can do!!