Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Bike Rack from Lowes Newsletter - I want one


















Bike Rack
A desire for a more eco-friendly and healthier lifestyle, along with ever-fluctuating gas prices, make bike-riding more popular than ever. Follow our step-by-step instructions to build this classic rack.
Rolling Toy Box



Instructions:

General: Cut and label the parts as needed, using the Cut List and Cutting Diagram as guides and adjusting for fit.



1 Assemble the frame and pipe.

a. Align the ends of the (01) rails with the 1 1/2-inch sides facing upward, and clamp the two pieces together.

b. Cut eight 31 1/2-inch-long pieces of pipe, or have a Lowe’s employee cut them for you. Apply a coat of gloss black paint to each pipe piece, and let dry.

c. Following the frame and pipe layout in Figure 1, scribe the location for the pipe holes on the 1 1/2-inch faces of the (01) rails.

d. On the 1 1/2-inch face of each (01) rail, mark the centerline from end to end. This will help provide a centerpoint for the marked holes.

e. Unclamp the (01) rails, and drill 7/8-inch-diameter holes 7/8 inch deep at the marked locations.

f. Predrill two 3/8-inch-diameter pilot holes on the opposite side of each (01) rail 1 1/2 inches deep within the first 3 1/2 inches from each end as shown in Figure 1. Attach the two (02) stiles to the lower (01) rail using glue and screws.

g. Insert the pipe into the drilled holes.

h. Apply glue to the ends of the (02) stiles, insert the pipes into the holes of the upper (01) rail, and attach with screws.



2 Add the triangle assemblies and stops.

a. Following the (03) brace layout in Figure 2, cut out four (03) braces.

b. Using glue and screws, attach two (03) braces to each (04) base and to each other to create two triangle assemblies as shown in Figure 2.

c. Note: The (05) feet are ripped from a 2 x 4. Using glue and screws, attach the (05) feet to the triangle assemblies as shown in Figure 2.

d. Position a triangle assembly centered and flush with the bottom of each end of the frame assembly as shown in Figure 2. Attach using glue and screws.

e. Position the (06) stops 8 inches from the faces of the frame assembly, and attach using glue and screws.



3 Add the finishing touches.

a. Fill all holes, sand, and apply stain.

b. Apply a small bead of clear silicone sealant around the base of each pipe piece where it’s attached to the lower (01) rail.

c. Attach a robe hook using the included hardware centered at each end of the bike rack.

Good To Know: Leaving your car at home just two days a week will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 1,600 pounds per year. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Excerpt from Bead News

5 Ways to Wear a Brooch

Ay . . . Me wee lass and I attended a Celtic festival over the weekend. It was a sunny celebration that included toe-dancing girls with bouncing curls, haunting bagpipe tunes, monstrous yet noble hounds, and muscular legs protruding from woolen plaid skirts. Other than the point at which I unwittingly headed a speeding rugby ball (ouch!), it was a pretty mellow time. In another life, I may have headed to the Jameson’s booth to soothe such a head injury, but that’s not quite my thing anymore (especially with preteen daughter in tow), so we headed to the shopping tents instead. We encountered the expected piles of tams, namesake key chains, and St. Patrick’s Prayer throws. But you know what struck me most? The many vendors selling brooches: ornate gem-encrusted ones, stamped ones, and simple wire ones.

I have to be honest, I couldn’t help but think, “Brooches? Who really wears them unless needed for pinning up a tartan cape to keep out the moorland damp?” It’s not that I don’t like to make brooches; they work up quickly and are a great platform for creativity since they don’t necessarily need to be comfortable like a bracelet or necklace. I truly have dozens of brooches in my jewelry locker. But I don’t think to wear them that often.

So when I got home I pulled out all my brooches and decided the reason I don’t wear them is because I haven’t experimented quite fully with how to wear them. I think, like many people, I automatically pin them where a lapel would go. That just evokes nightmarish imagery of Office Space’s Jennifer Aniston’s 37 pieces of flair. So I did a little experimentation and came up with these alternatives wearing my “Paulette’s Brooch” from my book Beaded Weddings:

1. At the neck
Jean Campbell wearing brooch at the neck
2. In the hair
Jean Campbell wearing brooch in the hair

3. On a necklace
Jean Campbell wearing brooch on a necklace

4. On the hip
Jean Campbell wearing brooch at the hip
5. On a purse
Jean Campbell wearing brooch on a purse

Hey—this little experiment has made me excited to wear my brooches again! I think the next part of this little study will be to check out some pins and brooches in the Beading Daily store. I’ve got my eye on Linda Jones’s Shell Brooch, which might be just the right thing to pin up my beach sarong.

How about you? Are you a brooch wearer or avoider? Have any other ideas about how to wear them?

Jean Campbell

Crystal Radiance Brooch

Springtime Butterfly

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Saturday, August 15, 2009

Here is an interesting and lovely way to look at the beauty of mathematics, and of God, the sum of all wonders.

The Beauty of Mathematics

(1 x 8) + 1 = 9
(12 x 8) + 2 =
98
(123 x 8) + 3 =
987
(1234 x 8) + 4 =
9876
(12345 x 8) + 5 =
987 65
(123456 x 8) + 6 =
987654
(1234567 x 8) + 7 =
9876543
(12345678 x 8) + 8 =
98765432
(123456789 x 8) + 9 =
987654321


(1 x 9) + 2 =
11
(12 x 9) + 3 =
111
(123 x 9) + 4 =
1111
(1234 x 9) + 5 =
11111
(12345 x 9) + 6 =
111111
(123456 x 9) + 7 =
1111111
(1234567 x 9) + 8 =
11111111
(12345678 x 9) + 9 =
111111111
(123456789 x 9) +10=
1111111111


(9 x 9) + 7 = 88
(98 x 9) + 6 =
888
(987 x 9) + 5 =
8888
(9876 x 9) + 4 =
88888
(98765 x 9) + 3 =
888888
(987654 x 9) + 2 =
8888888
(9876543 x 9) + 1 =
88888888
(98765432 x 9) + 0 =
888888888

Brilliant, isn’t it?

(1 x 1) = 1
(11 x 11) =
121
(111 x 111) =
12321
(1111 x 1111) =
1234321
(11111 x 11111) =
123454321
(111111 x 111111) =
12345654321
(1111111 x 1111111) =
1234567654321
(11111111 x 11111111) = 123456787654321
(111111111 x 111111111) = 12345678987654321

And, look at this symmetry:

101%!

From a strictly mathematical viewpoint,

What Equals 100%?

And, what could it mean to give MORE than 100%?

Ever wonder about those people who say they
are giving more than 100%?

We have all been in situations where
someone wants you to

GIVE OVER 100%!

How about ACHIEVING 101%?

And, what equals 100% in life?

Now, let’s take a look at this…

Here’s a little mathematical formula that might help you

answer these questions:

If:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M
N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Is represented as:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26,

Then:

K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E

(11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5) = 96%

Plus:

H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K

(8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11) = 98%

Now:

A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E

(1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5) = 100%

But, look how far the love of

God will take you:

L-O-V-E-O-F-G-O-D

(12+15+22+5+15+6+7+15+4) = 101%

Therefore, one can conclude with absolute mathematical
certainty that:

While Knowledge and Hard Work will get you close, plus Attitude will actually get you to 100%,
it’s the Love of God that will definitely put you over the top!

Have a wonderful day…

and may God bless you!

Friday, August 14, 2009

From BAD RAP Blog:



Woe is Philly

Something has been going seriously wrong for animals and their advocates in Philadelphia, PA. Since Vick's jail sentence was announced in December 2007, over two dozen crimes committed against companion animals were reported in this city. (Source: Pet-abuse.com) Some say the trend of animal abuse is on the rise. George Bengal, the Philly SPCA director of law enforcement, was quoted to say, “I've been doing this job for 18 years and I’ve never seen the amount of starved to death dogs or fighting dogs that have been killed in various locations around the city.”

To read the Full Article: Please Click

Thursday, August 13, 2009



fresh Michigan blueberries & milk for breakfast. . . oh, so much better than cereal!

Monday, August 10, 2009

Did You Know?

Animal Facts
* The pig is rated the fourth most intelligent animal but is mentioned only twice in the Bible.

* Sheep are mentioned 45 times and goats 88 time in the Bible. Dogs are mentioned 4 times and lions 89 times, but domestic cats are not mentioned.

* Pork is the world's most widely eaten meat.

* In Denmark there are twice as many pigs as people.

* There are more than 150 million sheep in Australia, a nation of 17 million people.

* New Zealand is home to 4 million people and 70 million sheep.