Fetching fiend

On December 27, 2020December 25, 2020 By CarynIn dog

She didn’t start out understanding fetch, but now that she has figured out the game, she is obsessed. This is her favorite ball. She has a larger version that is for outside fetching. She will chase other balls, but this one out ranks all contenders.

We started out with ball chase. I had four or five tennis balls and she would chase one, and as she started to head back, I would throw another, until she was dropping the ball near me before I threw the next one. Then she discovered the blue ball had more use than just a chew toy. We are now working on getting her to place the ball in my hand. She completely understands when I point at the ball and open my hand, which makes it fun!

Wooden tongs

On December 26, 2020December 25, 2020 By CarynIn Craft

And the reveal… wooden tongs! I made wooden tongs as gifts this year. I used mesquite wood for the blades and wedge, but wasn’t confident with glue joints so learned to set brass pins. I posted on that previously, but didn’t show what I was actually making (spoilers).

Mesquite wood tongs shaped and sanded to 400 grit

After shaping and sanding, I did my usual water rinse to raise the grain, and was quite surprised that the mesquite was still quite smooth. I ran over everything with 400 grit again, just to be thorough. I added some embellishments with wood burning, then sealed with butcher block conditioner (which is a food safe mix of oils and wax).

Weaving loom rest

On December 25, 2020 By CarynIn Craft

Yard stick used as a loom rest on an arm chair

Because the cat gets a little perturbed when I rest the loom on her rump, I laid a yard stick across the arms of my chair to prop up my weaving. She is OK having her own shed (that is weaver humor, by the way).

I can neither confirm nor deny that I am doing last minute gift weaving.

Happy Holidays and good luck with last minute projects.

Apple peel

On December 24, 2020 By CarynIn Craft, games

I had to peel an apple for my youngest because she has braces and needs it peeled and sliced. As I applied peeler to skin, I gave a try at getting it all off in one unbroken go. The removed peel makes a nice double spiral with some pleasing shade shifts. Glad all that fine motor practice on other crafts comes in handy.

Eye see what you are doing

On December 23, 2020December 23, 2020 By CarynIn eggs

My hard boiled egg looks like an eye ball

Not my hens’ egg. This is store bought, then hard boiled. The yolk, aside from the “pupil” and “iris”, was a perfect yellow all the way through. It is disconcerting to have your breakfast give you an eye roll.