More Of My Projects

These are photos of some of my recent creations from wood. Some of these items can be found for sale at http://www.etsy.com/your_shop.php look for flamtide and see.

Taking A Break

This guy was taking a break from his fast flying. Caught him resting on Shortie's car antena. Check out his beautiful colors and that huge wing span. WOW!!!!!

Family

This has been bugging me for a long time and still I do not understand things. Yet I am not perfect and have fallen into and am guilty of some of the following....... I am only human.

Why is it that family turns on itself when their members need help ? Why is it that a parent would treat their own children like dirt and toss them away like a piece of trash? Why would a parent or sibling hold onto things that happened in the past instead of looking at the NOW and the FUTURE of the family unit?

This is not what God intended for his greatest creation to be like. He created family to be as one and to grow bigger as one. Family members are suppose to help one another not tear them apart, beat them down or, say hurtful things about them which makes others, in the family, dislike them. I have seen and heard this more times then I can remember. And, I see it on a constant basis now. God gave it to Moses in the Ten Commandment. "LOVE THY NEIGHBOR" but he meant this deeper then the next door neighbor or the person walking down the street. He meant to not only love your neighbor but your family as well.

Miles may separate your family members but, you should always try to help in one way or another, from a simple can of corn to help purchasing a home that they can call their own. As I have said before I am guilty of things from not being their for my family due to transportation, money or from life's stress,

I AM ONLY HUMAN AND MAKE HUMAN MISTAKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anniversary

July 21st was Shortie's and my anniversary we have been together for four wonderful and trying years. In the past four years, we have had our ups and downs, our squabbles and our love with each other. We have grown our relationship with each other and continue to grow as one and as individuals. We spend a lot of time with each other. We share our love, our sadness and our pain. We tackle each day together with guidance from above. No matter what we have to face each day, we face it together as one.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY SHORTIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I LOVE YOU WITH ALL MY HEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LIFE IS A GIFT!!!!

This was sent to Shortie and I, I thought it would be nice to share with those that stop by to read my blog. Hope you have a great day and find some meanning behind these words.
There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind. Shae hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She told her boyfriend, "If I could only see the world, I will marry you." One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages came off, she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend. He asked her, "Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?" The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind. The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn't expected that. the thought of looking at them the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him. Her boyfriend left in tears and days later wrote a note to her saying: "take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before they were yours, they were mine."

This is how the human brain often works when our status changes. Only a very few remember what life was like before, and who was always by their side in the most painful situations.

LIFE IS A GIFT!!!!
Today before you say an unkind word - Think of someone who can't speak.
Before you complain about the taste of your food - Think of someone who has nothing to eat.
Before you complain about your husband or wife - Think of someone who's crying out to GOD
for a companion.
Today before you complain about life - Think of someone who went too early to heaven.
Before you complain about your children - Think of someone who desires children but thay're barren.
Before you argue about your dirty house someone didn't clean or sweep - Think of the people who are
living in the streets.
Before whining about the distance you drive. - Think of someone who walks the same distance with their
feet.
And when you are tired and complain about your job. - Think of the unemployed, the disabled, and those
who wish they had your job.
But before you think of pointing the finger or condeming another. - Remember that not one of us is without
sin.
And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down. - Put a smile on your face and think: you're alive
and still around.

Nature's Finest Planter

Shortie has been asking for some planter for her flowers. I thought long and hard on how to build her some and here is my first creation for a planter. It is simply made form a piece of a limb from our neighbor's tree that was cut down after a breif ice storm that snapped the limbs off. I figure this planter will last as long as the log will. I know that I will have to find more like this for more planters.

Quote From A North Native American

Before our white brothers arrived to make us civilized men,we didn't have any kind of prison. Because of this, we had no delinquents.Without a prison, there can be no delinquents.We had no locks nor keys and therefore among us there were no thieves.When someone was so poor that he couldn't afford a horse, a tent or a blanket,he would, in that case, receive it all as a gift.We were too uncivilized to give great importance to private property.We didn't know any kind of money and consequently, the value of a human beingwas not determined by his wealth.We had no written laws laid down, no lawyers, no politicians,therefore we were not able to cheat and swindle one another.We were really in bad shape before the white men arrived and I don't knowhow to explain how we were able to manage without these fundamental thingsthat (so they tell us) are so necessary for a civilized society.
John (Fire) Lame DeerSioux Lakota - 1903-1976

Are You There, God?

" Are You There, God? was sent to me from Shortie, who in turn received it from a good friend of hers.

Are You There, God?

Are You There, God?====================There once was an older, destitute man. He had lost hisfamily, his dignity, his work and all his worldlypossessions. The only thing he had left was his faith in God.One day, he walked along the city sidewalks; homeless as hewas. Peering around the city buildings, the passing cars, andsidewalk shoppers - he remembered a time when he had the loveof his wife, the comfort of home, and the camaraderie of hismany friends and successful business partners. Just for onemoment, he could feel the love and passion he once used toenjoy. But then he looked up into the sky, and he could seethe graying clouds rolling overhead; and the wind began to flypast his ragged shirt sleeves.Realizing that he was who he was, he knew he had to findshelter before the rains began to fall. Across the street, hesaw the old city park that he used to visit when he was just achild. In the far end of the park, he spotted the old gazebohe'd frequented with his high school sweetheart. Suddenly, therain began to fall. These weren't just ordinary raindrops -they were hard, heavy, and oversized droplets of water thatpelted his head and neck like small stones. His walk turnedinto a fast run as he struggled to get under the shelter ofthe gazebo. Shaking off his shirt and wiping the wetness fromhis cheeks and forehead, the man sat back on the two-seaterswing beneath the gazebo. Then he shook his head in disbelief."Is this what life is all about?" he asked, shaking his fistand peering up toward the gray skies, "What more do you wantfrom me?"Just then, the sky began to clear and above the skyscrapershe could faintly see some bright hues of red, purple, pink,and even blue. It was a rainbow; and the sun's rays began toshine through the break in the clouds. Now sobbing, the manlooked back up into the sky, and he asked,"Are You there, God?"But there was no audible reply.A few moments passed when a park ranger made his way up to theold gazebo. "Top of the day to you, sir," he said to the man.The man glanced at the ranger as the voice sounded vaguelyfamiliar. Sure enough, the man remembered the park ranger as afriend he once knew many, many years in his past."I think I know you," the man replied to the ranger, "aren'tyou Ed from the country store?"The ranger was slightly taken aback as he too recognized theman. But the ranger's name was not Ed; that was his father'sname. "My name is Paul," he said, stretching out his hand tothe man on the swing, "Ed was my father.""Oh," replied the man, "I'm Mark Baker," he paused to shakePaul's hand.The similarities were uncanny, but Mark certainly rememberedEd, and this ranger was the spitting image of him."How'd you know my dad?" asked Paul."Oh, it was so long ago...you wouldn't want to hear how wemet," replied Mark.Taking a couple steps beneath the shelter, Paul said, "Humorme."Mark explained that he and Ed had met each other in the localhospital. Mark had gone there to pick up his lab tests wherehe and Ed had struck up a conversation while they sat in thewaiting room. By the time all was said and done, he discoveredthat he was the perfect match for Ed - the perfect kidneymatch. "Needless to say," said Mark, "one thing led to anotherand we were kidney partners for life.""What happened to you?" asked Paul."Wall Street called me, greed took me, and I played my lastbit of luck," he replied. Sighing aloud, Mark blinked to clearthe water from his eyes, "and then I lost it all.""I remember you," said Paul, then he pulled out a photographfrom his wallet, and pointed to two men standing side-by-sideby the old country store, "that's you, and that's my dad."Peering at the old black and white photograph, he couldfaintly make out the faces of the worn picture, "Sure doeslook like me, doesn't it?" asked Mark.Paul began smiling and he replied, "It is you," then he took adeep breath, "do you know how long I have been looking for you?"Mark simply shook his head, "Well, you found me...I wish underbetter circumstances."Just then, Paul placed his hand upon Mark's shoulder, "I wishmy dad would've been able to see you again. He talked aboutyou all the time...and especially right before he died," Paulsighed, "because of you, he was able to watch me graduate andget my high school diploma, and later, he got to hold hisnewborn grandson -- my son.""Wow," Mark replied, "I didn't realize that one kidney coulddo all that.""You don't understand, Mark," said Paul, "when he died, heleft you the old country store and the house. It's beenwaiting for your return but you never came...until now."And suddenly, Mark had received his answer...and his solutionto his homelessness. It had been there the whole time but ittook him losing everything before he would rediscover therainbow of hope once again.Even in your darkest hour, when you ask - God shows up in themost unlikely places.

Letter To Me

I heard a song on a country station, I believe the name of the song was " A Letter To Myself". Don't know the artist but, it was a good song. The person was writing to himself when he was 17. So I thought of giving it a try. It would go like this:

Dear Joe,
How are you doing at the age of 17? Thought I should write you and tell you that your life is going to be filled with a lot of up and downs. Where to begin is hard to say since I have lived it out. Guess I should tell you that you will make some good and some bad decisions. Like right now reading this letter. I will tell you that your heart will be broken several times until you meet the one you will call your soulmate. I would tell you her name but, then you would not live your life out and you will loose everything you will have in our future. You will get married and will be miserable and have things you hold dear taken, broken and sold right in front of you. You will have a son that you will and still do love very much plus, you will gain two step-daughters. I would tell you to change things but, the things we did in my past will definately change our future and life would not be worth living because what we have now is great for us. So just keep living in your present to keep our future the way it is for us.
Here is a saying for you to always remember "Live To Ride and ide To Live".

From Yourself, Joe

Whittle While You Work!

After I had posted the "Old Man", I thought it would be nice to show you the some other things I have whittled. I made a letter opener for Shortie and so far a couple of crochet hooks (sizes L and M ). Have other whittling project in mind and as I get better at whittling there will be many more.

One Month And 200 Band-Aids Later

Well, One Month And 200 Band-Aids Later, I finally finished my first whitling project. I have named this " Old Man". It took a lot of patience and I created this peice of work with my two hands and my creative mind. To whomever comes here to view my blog, please, let me know what you think.

All Alone In A Crowd Of People

Ever feel "All Alone In A Crowd Of People" well, I am. I went to have bloodwork done today and found out that the State of Indiana cancelled my medical. "What the f*#@!" is all that went thruogh my head. How am I suppose to support my family? How am I suppose to see Doctors to keep myself healthy to make sure my family will be okay? All I keep thinking about is "Why do I even bother speaking out since my words fall onto deft ears!" "Why do I even bother to exsist?" I find no reason to stay on this earth and be somewhere but nowhere at the same time. I feel that the rest of my family has given up on me and my family. it seems that they haven't let go of the past and keep rehashing it up. Why can't anyone just bury the past? My mind is on a rampage and is going out of control. I can't think straight oh Hell, I can't think at all. I feel that I have trapped my family into my downward spiral with my hands and feet tied. I have asked for help but, have received nothing. I am the Black Sheep; the gum scraped off the bottom of your shoe. Why does society make it so f*#@ing hard for people to survive. HAVE YOU EVER TRUELY FELT ALL ALONE IN A CROWD OF PEOPLE?

Moon Worm

Here's a photo I took during a lunar eclipse. I was shaking from the cold and this is what my digital camera caught. This a really cool FX and all I did was freeze my but off while getting this photo.

Semi-Finalist

My photo of the "Church Steeple" has made it's way to semi-finals in the contest I entered. Wow this is a first for me.

FIRE IN THE SKY

This is another one of my photos I took two years ago, over Lake Erie at Freeport Beach Erie, PA. I named this photo " FIRE IN THE SKY".

The Big Move

We are moving again this will be the sixth move made in the past two and a half years, though we have been moving around the country ALL OF OUR LIVES. Hoping this is the last but, there probably will be more. This move is only acoss town and puts us in a different neighborhood. The kids don't have to worry about changing schools. Just wish they would be more helpful with the move. They are more concerned with their own things then with the entire household stuff. It would make the move a lot easier if they would help even after they were done with their things instead of leaving the adults to do everything else. on't get me wrong they have done things but after we hae had to yell or take things away to get them to move and help out. Can't wait until we are done.

Church Steeple

I metioned in my profile that I like to do digital photography. Here is a photo I did of a church steeple in the city I live in. It is also posted in Picture.com.

Granny Gone Bad!

A Woodworkers Workshop

When asked "What is in your workshop?", most Woodworkers would say their tool of the trade. This is true but we will never metion one crucial items in our workshop ...... the FIRST AID KIT...... this item contains only two items at most- antiseptic cream and a TON OF BAND-AIDS.

Here is "Suzie". My other special lady in my life. She is a Suzuki vs800 Intruder. You might be saying she small but I will tell you she can and will hold her own with the big bikes.

You should hear her purrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!

Profile photo

The photo you see in my profile on the right is Shortie and me. She is the love of my life. She's my soulmate and the only one I want to be with for the rest of my existance. We are business partners also. She has an amazing ability to create things from all types of yarn and material. I do the woodworking, she also has made things from wood and they were (I say were because they were lost in all the moving we have done in the past two years) great pieces she did. I could never put into words how much I love Shortie. All I can say to her is Forever and Eternity!