Playing in Sawdust

There are many things I like about living in The Plantation (Leesburg, Florida).    This place keeps me busy (and that is the secret to my happiness).  So many things to do...golf, Mah Jongg, yoga, walking trails, swimming pool, hot tub, fitness center...so little time.  My latest discovery is the Plantation Woodworkers.

I joined this group a few months ago so that I can have access to some great power tools.  Every once in a while I need a power tool to complete a project.   My workspace is limited to a corner in the garage that I share with a golf car, car, motorcycles and an ATV.  The Woodworkers Shop had everything I need and more.

During my orientation, I saw a pattern for an oven tool.  It was the perfect project to start with and learn a few new tools.  Scrap wood is available at the shop (for a small fee).  This project involved a band saw and sander.  It is a nice little kitchen gadget.

Another project involved adding a wood top to a side table I found at a local thrift store.  Back to the scrap wood at the shop.  I used the planer to smooth it, the router to round the edges, added some brace pieces on the bottom, stained and sealed it.  A great little table...and a few more power tools under my belt.

Those projects were just warm ups for a bigger project I have thinking about for a while.  A long time ago I bought a frame for a mosaic craft.  It was one of my first shard art mosaic pieces.  Since then I have done flower pots, mirrors, trivets and even a bowling ball!

My Mom has a mirror (top left in picture) that I made and I wanted to build the wood frame that I purchased.  Another shop member, Tom Winn, volunteered to help me.  This project involved a miter saw, planer...and the TABLE SAW!  I used a dado blade to cut out the inside of the 2 x 4 (where the mosaic pieces sit).   Tom not only showed me how to use the table saw, but he helped me all the way through.  Can you guess which is the original and which is the reproduction?

One of the safety rules of the shop is that you cannot be there alone.   Frequently, I enlist Brian to be my shop buddy.  We both worked on making a guide for cutting our homemade soap.

My favorite project is a wood modern cube planter.  I found it on Pinterest from Vintage Revivals.   I made mine to fit a planter I made in a pottery class nearly 30 years ago.  I didn't use any new tools.  However, instead of using 1" square dowels, I used scrap wood, cut it down on the table saw and routed all the edges.

I inherited my creativity from both of my parents.  But my woodworking inspiration comes from my Dad.  He was very handy...he built the home I grew up in in Ohio and did many projects in his workshop.  He passed away ten years ago, but several times when I was in the shop, smelling the sawdust, I could feel him standing next to me and my first thought was to turn and show him what I had done.  His wood reindeer are my favorite.  Maybe one day I will try to make them.

2014 -- The Year of Groupon Adventures

Groupon gift cards were one of the items on my 2013 Christmas list.  Probably one of the more exciting things on my list.  So I shouldn't have been surprised when I got two nice gift cards from my stepsons, Matt and Dan, and Dan's fiancée, Kelly. (Matt is front left, Dan and Kelly are front right).

For me, a gift card is an adventure.  I enjoy browsing all the possibilites.  My local Groupon market includes Ocala and Orlando...a pretty big area.  Plus, Groupon sells "goods".  So many choices, so much time spent online.  I ended up doing a mix of Groupon Goods, small adventures and BIG ADVENTURES.

I bought Night Sports Light Up golf balls.  These golf balls light up on impact and stay lit for 8 minutes.  They weren't noticeable during the day.  So I invited my neighbor, Phyllis, to try them out at night.  We enjoyed watching them light up and fly down the course (we both live on hole 12 of The Plantation Cranes Roost Golf Course).  The adventure was walking around in the dark retrieving the balls.

I bought a 6-month subscription to MindSparke.  Kinda like Luminosity, but the games and graphics aren't as good.  I liked it, but I kept forgetting to practice.  So now I know I need the brain training to remember to do the brain training.

Another small adventure involved a Hookah for 4 at the Middle Eastern cafe with Mallory, Mike and Michelle (during a trip back home in March).  It sounded exotic, but since none of us are smokers, it wasn't much fun.

I was happy when I found a local Groupon in Downtown Leesburg.  It was for a facial, nice by very basic.  To be honest, I would take a pedicure over a facial.  I love getting a pedicure in Leesburg at TT Nails and Spa.

I also did a couple BIG ADVENTURES.  I bought a deprivation tank session at Total Zen Float in Casselberry, Florida.   You lay in a warm Epsom salt solution, in a large tank that closes to complete darkness, wearing earplugs to cut off all sound.  I like the experience so much that I upgraded to a 4 session bundle.  Floating was  mentally and physically relaxing.  My body felt like I had gotten a massage, mentally I felt like I do after yoga shavasana...with all the benefits of Epsom salts.  I would do it more often, but Total Zen Float is over an hour away.

My last BIG ADVENTURE was a Discovery Flight, a 30-minute small plane ride at First Landings Aviation.    My pilot was Etlan Contreras.  I was a little taken aback by how small and light the airplane was.  Etlan walked the plane out of the hanger.  Oh my, you can't do that with a car!  The take off was smooth.  I started to get nervous when Etlan was describing how to climb and turn.  That was when I realized he was going to turn the controls over to me.  I listened carefully and can say that I am very good at flying straight.  I wasn't about to try to turn or climb...SERIOUSLY!  After a record-breaking 10 seconds, I returned the controls to Etlan.  Then I started to enjoy the flight.  The airport is an hour from my home, but I was able to see some familiar sights.  Lots of fun, but I don't think I will be signing up for a flight lessons.

Thank you Matt, Dan and Kelly.  It has been an adventurous year for this REAL RETIRED HOUSEWIFE OF FLORIDA.  I thought of you guys with each adventure.