It’s Fun To Make Useful Homemade Gizmos

?by: Alan Detwiler

It’s fun and satisfying to design and then make simple items that serve some purpose. I find it very rewarding to conjure up designs out of my imagination and then build them using common tools and cheap or free materials. I’ve made all kinds of things. Most of them performed some function that no readily available, store-bought device offered.

I do a lot of text keying at a computer keyboard. After many hours of keying, day after day, my hands and fingers tell me (as in pain) that they are pushing too hard, too many times. After going from store to store looking for a keyboard with easy to press keys, I realized that I needed something to measure the force needed to press the keys on a particular keyboard. Trying to judge the force by typing a tiny with each keyboard wasn’t separating the Tylenol endorsed keyboards from the more finger friendly keyboards. So I rigged up a plastic tube taped to a vertical wire a few inches long. Pennies could be put in the tube. The lower end of the wire is rested on a key. The number of pennies needed to push a key down is a measure of the key’s required press force.

Then there was the see through, wall hung beehive that I put on my bedroom wall. My dad used to keep bees to harvest honey. One cold day in March, I discovered an abandoned hive that had fallen over exposing the bees to the elements. There was only several hundred bees left out of what was once thousands. I put a sheet of glass, about 2-foot by 2-foot, onto a wooden frame that I attached to my bedroom wall. Then I carefully transported the faltering bee colony to their new home. A tunnel made of metal window screening provided a path for the bees to come and go under a slightly raised window. The colony’s queen had not survived being exposed to the weather, so I knew no new bees would be reared. This colony would only last as long as the lifespans of its currant members. But it was interesting to watch the bees doing what bees do throughout the next several months. And the bragging rights for having a bee colony on ones bedroom wall was something to envy.

Both the keyboard force-o-meter and the wall-mounted beehive were inspired by circumstances. I just saw the possibility of what could be done and wanted to do it. I try to be open to possibilites for other gadgets and gizmos that would be of value. It is well worth the effort: It is fun to make improvised gizmos, and you get a valued item. The item may suit your needs superior than a bought item because you make it the way you want it. And it feels good to prove that your ingenuity and imagination can produce things of value.

Below is a description of a couple of items you might like to make.

Bootjack:

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If you often find it annoying to remove boots as you enter the house, this project is for you. The bootjack makes the task easier especially if the boots are tight fitting or you’re carrying something so that your hands are not free.

Start with a 3/4 inch thick board that’s about 2 feet long and 6 inches wide. Cut a V shaped notch in one end. Use nails to attach a small piece of wood to keep the notched end raised above the floor. Keep the bootjack near the door where you most often enter wearing boots. Put one foot on the jack to hold it in place. Put the heel of the other foot in the notch and pull your foot out of the boot.

Wall display cubby box:

Small cardboard boxes can be fastened together and hung on the wall. Small and valued objects can be placed there to be displayed and admired.

Save boxes from muffin mix, artificial sweetener, rice or other often used food items. When you’ve enough, cut each box to an appropriate size. I started with boxes 4-inches wide, 2-inches deep, and 6-inches tall. I cut each box to half height, so that each box was 3-inches tall. Boxes that are twice as wide as they’re deep can be arranged as shown in the diagrams of this article. If you use boxes with other ratios of width to height, use a different arrangement or use pieces of corrigated cardboard to fill any gaps between boxes.

Lay a piece of plastic sheeting such as a plastic grocery bag on a flat surface. The plastic will keep excess glue from sticking to your work surface. You can use white glue to fasten the boxes together. To help keep the glue from running down the side of the boxes, use a method similar to that used by bricklayers applying mortar to bricks. Before putting a box into position, put glue on each side of that box that will be against a box already in place. That way, while applying glue, you can turn the box in any way that makes it simple to apply the glue. And the glue will swiftly be between two surfaces. That helps keep the glue in place. A good glue pattern is shown by the red lines below.

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As you assemble the boxes together, use a straight edge such as a wall or a big box as a guide to align the boxes in straight rows. Set something heavy against the boxes to hold them together while the glue dries. Bricks or huge books work well. Use the plastic sheeting to keep oozing glue from sticking the boxes to the books or bricks. You can use paper clips to hold the edges of the boxes together where gaps occur.

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When all the boxes are in place, let the glue dry for about 12 hours. Then use a nail to punch holes for a string that’ll go around the group of boxes. Two holes near each corner will keep the string in place. Tie the two ends of the string together. Hang the box display from a small nail.

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Universal Meaning of Celtic Knotwork

?by: Marc Choyt

In the spring of 2003, I spent three weeks in the city of Chennai, formerly known as Madras, located in Southern India. Each morning, walking before the heat of the day, I was amazed to see intricate knot work patterns drawn out free hand with flour in front of the driveways and gates of homes. These artistic scrolls, I was told by an Indian friend, were offerings to local gods, and were part of a tradition that stretched back into the ancient past.

I have seen knot patterns in my travels throughout many parts of the world. In Islamic countries where iconography is prohibited, the mosques are heavily decorated with knot-like patterns. Stone-carved knot work motifs can be found on ruins from the Americas to the Hindu iconography of Bali, Indonesia. In Tibet, the eternal knot is a common symbol representing the endless cycles of existence.

The knot work most familiar in the West is from Celtic iconography. Though the Celts, before the Roman Empire, were spread throughout much of Western Europe, were most familiar with their designs remaining this day in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. On the moors, surrounded by winding rock walls and ancient neolithic bridges, this knot work carved in stone transcends time. We know from the writings of the Romans that the Celts believed strongly in the sacredness of place. Similar to the beliefs of many in South India today, the land anchored a particular god or goddess that was meant to be honored, though we do not know whether the knot work designs were made as offerings.

The broad spectrum of knot work designs found in many cultures advocates that the motif is both universal and rooted in ancient mystery. From the most general perspective, knot work iconography can be viewed as a metaphor for our own very special tapestry of experience. On a macrocosmic level, the knots express metaphorically that life on earth is deeply interconnected, as illustrated in the Spider Womens web or the Great Hoop of Life in Native American stories. As one Native woman told me, if you move a pebble on top of a mountain, you can change the course of a mighty river. This is also expressed slightly differently in the Biblical aphorism, We reap what we sow, which is similar to the Eastern understanding of karma. Even physics this day speaks of a unified field.

Yet it is also true that individual elements of knots hold specific meaning from the perspective of sacred geometry. Look around you at different geometric forms. Why is the earth, our eyes, the trunks of trees circular instead of square? How does the circle function in the world verses the triangle and what does that mean in terms of knot work that uses circular patterns? Here are a few hints to help you with these blueprints.

We talk of a circle of friends and live in circular cycles, such as the day and the season. Native cultures throughout the world hold ceremonies in protective circles. A knot work pattern with circles or variations of circles certainly has some important keys to relationships and community.

A square knot motif concerns structure and stability, which is why buildings use the shape of a square foundation. Numerology has always played a part in ancient cultures and there are lots of books on the subject. The number five, for example, represents the four directions and the center point, or the five senses.

We also often see knot work shaped like an oval, which is the shape of an egg. The oval has something to do with generative creativity and birth. Planets circle the sun in an oval. And if you squeeze an oval together you get the lemniscates, the symbol for infinity which is very prevalent in knot work motifs.

Many knot work motifs also deal with vectors that travel in a certain direction. If you look at the shape of an arrow, its simple to comprehend why a triangle might connote movement.

Another common motif is the knot work depicting a trinity. In the Celtic tradition, many deities had three forms. The Mom Goddess was understood to the maiden, mom and crone. The universe was viewed as heaven, earth and otherworld. We’re born, we live and we die. Certainly the trinity knot also illustrates the One being dividing off into the masculine and feminine, or the mother and son– a mystical truth contemplated in many sacred traditions.

The cross is also a symbol rich in meaning. From a simple point of view, two lines crossing symbolizing a connection or meeting which can be a point of creativity. Some mystics speak of the horizontal axis representing the earthly plain, while the vertical axis points toward the heavens.

While the above guide for understanding knot work isn’t necessarily based on any scholarly or anthropological text on the meaning of knots, it does provide a starting point that’s based on a universal perspective. Most knot work designs are going to have some variation of these shapes. Spending time contemplating the motif might yield some insight.

Lastly, theres an essential reason why the knot work is so prevalent, and that’s beauty. I will never forget Jaisalmer, an ancient town in the desert of Rajasthan. This ancient city, where caravans used to cease and trade, is made from sandstone. Many of the buildings are carved with intricate knot work patterns. Strangers walked up to me and stated, How do you like our beautiful city? I could see clearly how art is life-giving and the need for beauty is something fundamental. In the middle of the desert, the beautiful knot work in golden stone brings joy to the heart.

Contributed by:

Marc Choyt

?2005, Marc Choyt

Email: marek@celticjewelry.com.

Website: www.celticjewelry.com

Finding Fun Date Ideas

?by: Alan Detwiler

Need an idea for what to do on a date? Here’s how to go about finding ideas for new and uncommon dates that are enjoyable and memorable.

The three most usual choices for what to do on a date are dinner, a movie, and a public event such as a sports game or concert. Those activities often give the couple several hours of time to enjoy each other’s company. But relying on those same activities too often, leads to a loss of a sense of drama and a loss of a sense of importance of the time spent together.

Human nature craves the out-of-the-ordinary. A new experience raises awareness and pumps up our interest level. If a couple continues to occasionally find new and unusual choices for what to do, their time together will be more enjoyable.

Probably the ideal way to find new ideas for what to do for a date is to make a point of being on the lookout for possibilities. You might see something in the newspaper or in a magazine. Someone you know could share an idea they have had. You never know when an idea will present itself.

You should also actively search for new and unusual things to do. A great place to look for ideas is web sites about things you’re interested in. Use Google or your favorite search engine. Key in words or phrases that describe the activities and events that you find interesting and enjoyable. Look through the list of web sites found with the search. Look at the sites that seem most promising. The local visitors’ bureau is a possible source of ideas. They’ll likely have many brochures about local attractions. Look in the community events section of your newspaper. Check out the listings with you county, city or community center. Look through the brochures at the Chamber of Commerce. Look in the yellow pages under headings such as canoeing, rafting, kayaking, hiking, photography classes, and art museums. Check the bulletin board at the library. Use your imagination to adapt what you see at those places to suit your own interests and tastes. Once you’ve identified a particular interest, go to shops that sell equipment for that activity. Ask about events and programs in your locality.

Keep a list of possible activities. Have a place to keep information such as brochures, maps, and visitors’ guides. Set up folders in your personal for storing information you’ve found on the internet. Use Notepad to duplicate and paste just what’s of interest to you. The File menu of most web browsers has a Save As command that can be used to save an entire web page.

Be open to any recommendations and preferences your partner has to offer. Try to be sensitive to his/her tastes and interests. Give almost as much importance to his/her enjoyment of the date as your own enjoyment. After all, you probably will not enjoy the date if your partner doesn’t.

Try to choose activities that give enough opportunities for communication. Conversation and comments you and your date make to each other are often the most important part of the date. Couples need to find out each other’s values and interests. Couples need reassurance and the stimulation of each other’s ideas.

Pursue your own interests. Being passionate about something makes you more interesting. An old dream might be lurking in your memory. Or pursue a recent fantasy. What you do and where you go on a date isn’t so critical if the person you’re spending time with is interesting and caring. Finally, stay informed to stay interesting. Keep up with current events and issues. Listen to the news and news commentary programs. One good source I like is the internet sites of National Public Radio.

Need a Place to Stay While in Maine? Try the Ever Popular Bed & Breakfast

?by: Allow Segall

Have a Perfect Bed & Breakfast Getaway in Maine

Situated on the shores of the Atlantic, the state of Maine is like a fairytale with colorful, sun-soaked atmosphere, beautiful views of shorelines and wonderful mountain vistas. Thoughts of coastal regions with small town allure and taste of exquisite cuisines, seaside resorts, charming villages, glacier-carved peninsulas, romantic getaways and covered bridges bring to mind only one name - Maine.

Maine is truly a paradise for travelers and nature enthusiasts with its numerous bed & breakfast inns located all over the state and around its neighborhoods that provide excellent getaway opportunities. Maines Bed and Breakfasts are matchless and exclusive in each way; either its the matter of structural design, decor, or ample space for convenient staying, or its about their exceptional amenities and the reliable generosity of the innkeeper.

Enjoy the Elegance of Years Gone By at Maine’s B & B

Various regions like Maine highlands, the South Maine Coast, Mid-Coast, Greater Portland, Down east and around the lakes and mountains offer excellent homey B&B. Some Visitors prefer relaxing stay close to the nature, and outdoor enthusiasts like adventurous stay while lovebirds look for romantic getaways providing perfect seclusion.

Whatever the option you choose, Maine is sure to serve you enjoyable and comfortable leisure the ideal holidaying experience with its stylish Bed & Breakfasts constructed out of historical mansions and colonial houses. Each inn offers astonishing view of sloping hills, perfectly manicured lawns with huge maple trees, and antique and historic backdrops of 17th century. Thus, whatever is the idea behind holiday its fulfilled in this picturesque, gracious and elegant place.

Experience a never before welcoming ambience in Maine’s Bed & Breakfasts.

Most of the bed & breakfasts in Maine are known for its superb tourist welcome and outstanding comfort offered. All travelers can enjoy this wonderful stay with price range starting from as low as $40 and going up to $700 per night, providing the ideal invitingly warm live with meticulously perfect service and exceptional hospitality.

These B&B create romance in the air for lovers by offering relaxation by the fireplace, large bath tubs or even marble Jacuzzi (some offer in-room whirlpools or out-door hot tubs) for a love filled soak, various outdoor activities like swimming, tennis, biking, golfing, canoeing are offered for outdoor activists, and beautiful gardens, lawns and meadows for nature lovers.

Room amenities like telephones with data ports, hair dryers, ironing boards, mini refrigerator, cable television etc combine to make visitors stay the most memorable and enjoyable. Maine’s B&B are also world wide known for their wonderful mouthwatering recipes, freshly brewed coffee, granola, fresh fruit, pastries and flavored yogurt.