Nocuts

Christmas updates

2011-12-23T09:53:00.019-05:00

Here is the cabin that we stayed in during our summer vacation in North Carolina.

Cicadas are on of Mary's favorite insects.

Mug shot for Mullets most wanted.

The mullet is business up front and party in the back, but

this looks more like party all over.

Cutting Zane's hair was his idea.

That's my boy.

Jeremiah with Bonnie

Eggs a plenty

Our first plum

Our first olives, I know you are sooooo jealous.

Sweet potatoes turned out great

Volunteer pumpkin

Luna our latest new born

Luna and Ronnie get a long very well.

An odd couple since donkeys donkeys hate dogs.

I tore down the porch to build a better one.

The out side still needs painting but the inside is finished except for the doors that have not come in yet. Once they are installed, I'll post some pictures of the inside.

Feel free to come by for a visit. This spring we will be getting bees. Call before coming to make sure we are home. Leave a message because we might be in the back forty tending to the animals.

2010-12-23T15:11:00.017-05:00

Here we have Zane in his favorite spot doing his favorite thing.

Here are some pears that we got this last Summer. They were very good and we are looking forward to next years crop.

All our papayas died last year because of the freeze. This year I have started some Solo Papayas and am keeping them pot so as to move them in doors when it gets too cold. Here are two in front of my shop.

I had an old trash can on wheels that was busted at the top. So, since I like to recycle, I cut off the top and made a nice planter on wheels.

This one I move with the help of a hand truck.

This is Lulu, and she is that. If I don't feed her soon enough, she paws at me with her hoof. She is just about one year old.

Shirley here is Lulu's mother. She is not as friendly. We have only had these sheep for about 5 months now. I would like to learn how to spin some wool when we shear them.

Lassie is just as large as ever. It hard for us to keep her weight down. She keeps on telling us that we are not feeding her enough.

This is the rooster Zane showed at the last Florida State Fair. He got 3rd place. Not bad for his first try.

This is one of my doves. Soon they will be moved to a petting cage where they will be able to fly around.

This are the two call ducks we got over the Summer. We are hoping to hatch out a batch of ducklings this spring.

Mary Lou is on the left, Dulcinea is on the right. Dulcinea is B.J.'s mother.

This is B.J. which used to stand for Baby Jack until we decided to keep him. Now it stands for Baby James ( after the song "Sweet Baby James" Mary would sing to the boys when they were young).

2010-10-31T17:32:00.012-04:00

Kitchen Remodeling

Well, the first thing that had to go was this wall to open up the kitchen area. It is not as much fun as those Do-it-yourself T.V. shows would have you believe.

Then there was the door that led into the garage that had to be enclosed to give us more wall space. This was not too hard although, I would have done a better job if I could do it over. Isn't that the case with almost everything?

It did turn out okay in the end.

Tearing out the wall created other problems, such as the ceiling that had to be repaired. "I have an idea" Mary said, "while you're up there, lets have some better lighting". Yes, dear...

I put in new cabinets and built a breakfast bar.

I went with putting the type of tile on the bar top that we will be using for the floor.

It's not too bad.

We (the royal WE meaning me) still have to put in a kitchen ceiling fan, tile the floor, and moulding. I have already put in beadboard on the wall. I add new pictures for those steps as they happen.

Shop

2010-03-15T14:53:00.011-04:00

From the old to the new.

This was the way my old shop looked like.
It leaked a little and the termites were complaining.

So, I torn it down and squared off the foundation and started to raise up a new one with the help of my Nephew-in-law, Trey. With out his help I could not have done this part. Thanks Trey.

This project took a long time to complete. It started in the Summer of 2008 and was mostly finished by the Summer of 2009.

As of right now, I am working on the inside. The electric outlets are in but I am still working on cleaning, straightening, and organizing the insides.

2009-09-23T21:31:00.008-04:00

This year I decided to have my students make cranes and do another school display.

This time an American flag. I saved the white cranes from last year and had the students make red and blue ones.

But since my art lessons have been cut to 30 min. I could only have time to teach the flapping bird and swans. I had more of a positive response to this display.

I should have taken some pictures with some of the students in with the display. Oh, well, next year.

2009-09-23T21:09:00.007-04:00

Last year I had my students make peace cranes and (peace) swans for Peace Day which is on September 21st. I took them and made a display out on the school lawn. Everyone as far as I know liked it. Here are a few pictures.

The 4th and 5th graders made cranes. At this time I had 45 min. art classes.

The 3rd graders learned how to make the flapping bird while the 2nd graders made swans. The 1st graders made a simplier version of the swan.

Pictures from 2007

2007-12-15T15:34:00.000-05:00

Here is Mary and Zane at E.G. Simmons Park in Apollo Beach in November. The morning started out cool (that is why Zane has a jacket) but it turned out to be very warm. Hey, where is the winter?

Here are Buddy and April.

Zane loves to use Buddy as a pillow, and he doesn't seem to mind.

This is one of my favorite pictures of Zane. We were at Medard Park playing on the hills. They have great climbing trees there

Well,..maybe this is my favorite one.

Here is Zane with his pet stuffed leech. He wanted one so Mary made him one. Which is weirder, a boy asking for such a thing or parents that get it for him

Yes, he wanted a fox hole. He dug and filled it back in when he was done with.

This is "Riverview Gothic" by Frank, Grant woods lesser know brother.

Here is a picture of me and my donkeys. I'm the one in the middle.

This is Kringle. He will be one years old this coming Christmas day.

This Hector who very thankful that a certain holiday which shall remain nameless, has passed. His two Henchmen are following, Smoothie and Punt.

Camping April 2007

2007-08-05T22:44:00.001-04:00

Here are a few of some origami boats that I made while camping

Then they set sail
There was not much of a wind, but enough to take them out of sight.

Here is the gang having fun with the seine net.

And my son is enjoying one of the pleasures of camping....hammocking.

Here Billy is teaching how to throw a cast net

I don't think I got it. Could you show me one more time?

Is letting go of the rope a special technique?

More netting fun.

Are you able to see the blue eyes?

One of the best things that I like about camping is the excitement of the kids and their discoveries.

2006-11-02T19:45:00.000-05:00

I feel that I must let you know that dyslexic I am . So math has always been a problem with me and some times with origami.
This is done with a half square, (1:2). You fold one of the short sides in ( this is an arbitrary fold, depending on the size it can be about a ¼ inch, it does not matter very much). Then you divide the remaining rectangle into 6ths. Be sure follow the valley and mountain folds.

2006-11-02T19:43:00.000-05:00

Now you take one corner of the short side of raw paper and fold it to the closest valley fold with the pivot being the closest mountain fold.

2006-11-02T19:41:00.000-05:00

Using this new triangle as a guide, fold the other corner of the short side of raw paper over the newly made triangle.
This makes two fold lines that cross or bisect each other. This is a land mark that will help show where the long narrow side folds are to be.

2006-11-02T19:40:00.000-05:00

Fold the long edge of raw paper that is closest to the new land mark to the land mark and unfold.

2006-11-02T19:38:00.000-05:00

Now fold the model in half and unfold. Match the long side of raw paper with the other side that you just folded so that it looks symmetrical.

2006-11-02T19:36:00.000-05:00

From this point, you follow your instructions on how to fold the Star of David. I have found that this is a simple way for me to fold the Star with any paper, anywhere, without the use of a ruler.

2006-10-21T10:56:00.000-04:00

Here are a few things we first found when we move in to our home. This was all due to the work of another, thanks Kellen, who planted them. And thanks to God who made them grow.

2006-10-21T10:53:00.000-04:00

Red seems to be the color that sticks out most against this sea of greenery.

2006-10-21T10:46:00.000-04:00

Here is one that the color was just so intense that I just had to take a couple of shots.

2006-10-21T10:43:00.000-04:00

This one was tucked away and just seemed to appear out of nowhere.

Star of David Money Fold

2006-10-14T20:34:00.000-04:00

I bought the book "Making More With Money" published by Origami USA about four years ago. I wanted this book mainly for the Star of David fold designed by Fred Rohm. However, I was disappointed to learn that to make it , you had to use landmarks on the dollar bill. It has been in the back of my head all this time. There must be a way to figure out how to make this model from any size rectangle of the same proportions without using the landmarks from the dollar bill, and without using major math skills of which I have none. While in church a few weeks ago, not thinking about this in any way, WHAM! it hit me. It was so simple. I had to try it out right then during the sermon before I forgot. The following are some examples. I am awe struck at the wonder of God's creation of the human mind and how it works.

Brown paper stars

2006-10-14T20:30:00.000-04:00

Here are two that I made out of the paper that is used to hold the paper towels together before they are put in the towel dispenser at school. We art teachers save and use everything.

Frog on a leaf

2006-10-12T21:53:00.000-04:00

It always amazes me to turn around in my yard and see such wonders sitting and starring at me, almost as if were waiting for me to notice them..... or not.

Say hello to my little friend

2006-10-11T21:06:00.000-04:00