Off Kilter Designs

It had to be true

2010-09-30T12:20:00.000-07:00

No, the "furnace man" doesn't know what he is doing. He just graduated from school, he was hired by a heating company and he has so screwed up on the job of installing our furnace that only the vents and the pieces of metal that line those holes in the walls and floors are usable. It will cost $3K to remove what he did and replace the furnace and building the main trunk line. The cold air return will simply be from the air in the room down into the furnace and the heat coming from the furnace to the rest of the house will rely totally on thermodynamics from heating the crawl space and rising up through the floor vents.

I wasn't shocked when I got this news. I wasn't the least little bit surprised. More I was supremely disappointed and disgusted.

Then the coup de gras was that the contractor who gave me the bid and explained what needed to happen didn't get that I was trying to hire him!!!!! HEY BOZO, WHEN A PROSPECT SAYS HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT TO START YOU BETTER GO RUN FOR A PURCHASE AGREEMENT!

Now I have to call him back.

That's what comes from trying to tell me rather than listening.

Men, you can't live with 'em and you can't shoot 'em.

Don't have to worry about any one reading this

2010-09-29T12:34:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I just want to scream as if that would release the negative feelings and energy toward thinking those things that don't help me. But it doesn't, I already know that. And I don't really want to scream. But I do cry. I cry a lot. I believe that its myself that is making me feel so bad. The "stinking thinking" as they say. But I don't know, I seem to really think the best of things most of the time but I do have an undercurrent of believing that no one really cares, they're all out for themselves. With Gerald it isn't true, he tries but what can he do?! My kids are out on their own as they should be. And I am here alone and that 's not really so bad. Sure I wish the house were done and no, the furnace still isn't hooked up nor is the stove top. And subsequently neither is the laundry tub. But I dunno that's just a pain its not my angst.

Right now, my back is killing me. I know its because I don't have good posture or the right table height to chair or something, but I'm working on it. I would be using the office chair Gerald got for me but it was stored in the garage and is absolutely filthy. I was going to clean it using the laundry tub, I mean I was going to use the tub as a way to convey soap and water or something toward that chair but... I dunno, do you really wash a chair?!

New house to date

2010-05-19T19:43:00.000-07:00

Okay, okay I know its not of the house, but ya know, a doggie picture is cuter than OSB

Building a house + writing a thesis = Not much time for blogging

2010-05-19T19:37:00.001-07:00

Visio is a great program for VISUALIZING not so great for BUILDING
Trust me :-/

What doesn't make a horse safe to ride

2010-01-05T07:46:00.000-08:00

Things I've learned in the past five years:
1.  A short horse

2.  An introverted horse 
3.  If the horse seems to like you then they won't hurt you 
4.  Hoping you've done the right stuff before now
5.  Being attracted to a horse and imagining a relationship

6.  Acting as if the horse read the same books or watched the same videos as you

6a. Buying another book or video

7.  Using the same techniques as someone else did with another horse

8.  Buying different tack

Hear! Hear!

2010-01-01T15:30:00.001-08:00

Sterner Stuff

by Kim W. Stallwood

October 28, 2009 1:24am

Filed under:

It seems that yesterday's pronouncement by Lord Stern, author of the British government's report "Review on the Economics of Climate Change," recommending a vegetarian diet caused such a fuss that he subsequently released a
clarification.

I think that once people understand the great risks that climate change poses, they will naturally want to choose products and services that cause little or no emissions of greenhouse gases, which means 'low-carbon consumption'. This will apply across the board, including electricity, heating, transport and food. A diet that relies heavily on meat production results in higher emissions than a typical vegetarian diet. Different individuals will make different choices. However, the debate about climate change should not be dumbed down to a single slogan, such as 'give up meat to save the planet'.

The Grumpy Vegan heard him interviewed yesterday morning on BBC Radio 4's "Today" program. Go here to scroll down and listen to the interview. Stern is a most impressive speaker and advocate for global warming who understands the important relevance to animal food production and environmental degradation. It's clear that some in media want to trivialise Stern's message on the environmental impact of animal agriculture while he, Stern, is skillfully raising the issue of vegetarianism in a way which puts the issue before the public in a rational way.

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Go Veg to Save Planet, says Lord Stern

by Kim W. Stallwood

October 27, 2009 1:33am

Filed under:

Eating meat could become as socially unacceptable as drink-driving because of the impact it has on global warming, according to a senior authority on climate change. Lord Stern of Brentford, former adviser to the government on the economics of climate change, said people will have to consider turning vegetarian to help reduce global carbon emissions. "Meat is a wasteful use of water and creates a lot of greenhouse gases. It puts enormous pressure on the world's resources. A vegetarian diet is better," Stern said.

The Grumpy Vegan trying not to feel too smug as he reads People may have to go vegetarian to save planet says Lord Stern but it's good to see someone who represents mainstream thinking catching up with what us vegans and vegetarians have been saying for decades.

Plus!

There's the recent shocking revelation that

A widely cited 2006 report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, Livestock's Long Shadow, estimates that 18 percent of annual worldwide GHG emissions are attributable to cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, camels, pigs, and poultry. But recent analysis by Goodland and Anhang finds that livestock and their byproducts actually account for at least 32.6 billion tons of carbon dioxide per year, or 51 percent of annual worldwide GHG emissions.

So says the prestigious Worldwatch Institute. Just can't seem to wipe that smile off my face. But, seriously, want to save the planet (and, by the way, us humans)? Go vegan! Further, it's clearly more than that but it's a big start. If Singer thought meat should be taxed, perhaps, we'll have to start charging unrepentant and persistent meat- and dairy-eaters with genocide, crimes against humanity and, of course, the animals. Just a thought. Admittedly, a deliciously evil one.

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More on Bovril

by Kim W. Stallwood

October 20, 2009 11:25pm

Filed under:

Living the Grumpy Vegan Life

There's a question as to whether Bovril is vegan or not. Here's a link to a BBC Web site report that talks about Bovril going veg. Here's another link to Wikipedia that says Bovril had to re-include beef ingredients because the European Commission told them they had to. The official Bovril Web site is too stupid for words and totally unhelpful. A fine example of too much money thrown at a Web site to make it clever but fails to include the most basic information.

So, what's a Grumpy Vegan to do?

Buy Marmite instead.

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Vegan Bovril!

by Kim W. Stallwood

October 15, 2009 5:52am

Filed under:

Living the Grumpy Vegan Life

A survey in August found that two percent of British holidaymakers refused to leave without a jar of Bovril - although seven percent felt the same about Marmite.

Even more importantly, Bovril goes vegan! So, we can no longer disparagingly call Bovril, "Bullocks bollocks."

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Idle Thoughts About Vegetarianism at the ASI Diary

by Kim W. Stallwood

October 14, 2009 6:39am

Filed under:

Living the Grumpy Vegan Life

In an idle moment (admittedly not as a rare as I would like to think they are but still rare nonetheless) I found myself deducting the number 1974 from 2009 and thinking about the result: 35. This is the number of years I've been a vegetarian; 33 of which as vegan. Frankly, it surprised me. Of course, I know I've been a vegetarian for a long time but it seems so much longer now having done the maths. So, it's true: as you get older time appears to pass more quickly than how it does when you're younger.

Idle Thoughts About Vegetarianism

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Hastings Film Challenge--Anebriate

by Kim W. Stallwood

September 22, 2009 8:34am

Filed under:

Living the Grumpy Vegan Life

"Anebriate" is the name of the film a group of Hastings ne'er-do-wells, including the Grumpy Vegan, made and submitted as part of this year's Hastings Film Challenge. The film is now available to watch at the Hastings Film Challenge; however, it's a bit of a tortuous process to get to it:

1) Click on the above link
2) Click on the 2009 Winners Movies
3) Scroll down on the right-hand side bar to No. 11 Best Use of Prop and click on it.
4) Enjoy the film!

The Hastings Obscurer said we were "unlucky not to walk away with major awards."

Our film had to be a romantic comedy, called "Anebriate" and feature a table.

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The Grumpy Vegan in the Top 50!

by Kim W. Stallwood

September 17, 2009 2:31am

Filed under:

Living the Grumpy Vegan Life

Online Vet Technician Degree ranks the Grumpy Vegan among the Top 50 Blogs for Animal Lovers.

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Rye Harbour Earlier this Week

by Kim W. Stallwood

September 17, 2009 2:27am

Filed under:

Living the Grumpy Vegan Life

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Hunting for Newcomers Week

by Kim W. Stallwood

September 14, 2009 5:16am

Filed under:

Living the Grumpy Vegan Life

Hunts will open their gates to newcomers in October for “Hunting Newcomers Week” (10-17th October). Newcomers to hunting will get a taste of hunting, entirely free of charge, when hunts nationwide will open their doors to those with an interest in finding out more. Packs of all descriptions are giving people the opportunity to try exempt hunting, to learn more about the way hunts work and the role they play in the British countryside. Hunting Newcomers’ week has been very well supported countrywide by hunts, with packs in all areas taking part. Hunts will give both people who ride — and those who don’t — the opportunity to hunt and see what it’s all about.

Try hunting for free!

The Grumpy Vegan looks forward to lessons in raping for free, pillaging for free, war for free, imperialism for free, racism for free and other goodies.

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Coastal Currents and Hastings Film Challenge

by Kim W. Stallwood

September 5, 2009 9:23am

Filed under:

Living the Grumpy Vegan Life

Often, the best ideas are the simplest and most creative.

The Grumpy Vegan likes living in Hastings, East Sussex, England. It is for no other reason that it heaves with creative and innovative people, including artists, film makers, writers, painters. Throw in a healthy number of misfits, bohemians and what-have-you's and, well, you get the picture. In short, the Grumpy Vegan fits in. Anyway, two arts festivals are currently underway in a crowded annual calendar of many events of different types.

The first is the Hastings Film Challenge.

Now in its 4th year, The Hastings Film Challenge is an exciting opportunity for everyone (of any age or background) to make a short 3minute film against the clock in an atmosphere of fun, creativity and good-hearted competition. You have 5 days to script, film, edit, and master onto Mini DV or DVD a completed film.

Participants are arbitrarily given a title, a genre and a prop which has to be part of the film you make. There were about 24 entrants this year. The Grumpy Vegan was part of Tim and Georgia’s team. Our designated title was “The Inebriate.” The obligatory prop was a table. It had to be a romantic comedy. Our efforts started late Saturday afternoon in our local, The Jenny Lind. After much throwing around (and away) ideas we settled on the concept of a woman who speed dates in a pub. She meets a series of awful men and gets drunk in the process. She eventually collapses on the pub table (aka the obligatory prop). She starts the film by listing the qualities she looks for in men: dependable, reliable, sturdy and so on. The film concludes with her in bed, with a glass of wine and looking very happy. The camera pans across to reveal she’s in bed with the pub table! Yes, we knew it’s stupid. But you try making a 3-minute romantic comedy in less than five days featuring a table!

Last night the Grumpy Vegan watched more the 20 submissions at the Hastings Film Challenge awards ceremony. The range and creativity were amazing. Our team won "Best Prop" prize. Other prize winners were deserving. Above all, we had tremendous fun and hadn't laughed so much in ages doing it.

The other festival is Coastal Currents which takes place in Hastings, Rye and Bexhill.

This year’s festival focuses on contemporary visual arts with the theme ‘hidden Hastings’, revealing new and exciting work by local artists, in unusual locations all over the town. There are a wide range of events and activities to appeal to all – from families, community groups, and visitors to the area; to arts enthusiasts and specialists. These include exhibitions; film screenings; open-air theatre productions; art trails; sonic art and live music; storytelling and spoken word evenings; an art car boot sale; book art bibliotherapy and even guerrilla gardening. Many of these are free of charge. In addition, Coastal Currents provides an opportunity for local artists to create bold and innovative new work, visible to a large audience; and the chance to critically engage with other artists and organisations through a carefully coordinated series of free talks and events. It is through the commitment of artists that this festival has become the popular and successful event it is today.

The diversity and number of events taking place is incredible. One taking place near the Grumpy Vegan’s seat is “Bread Bird Houses” by Nathan Burr.

Burr’s intervention among the trees in Hastings Memorial Garden is “a desire to overcome alienation in an ecstatic embracing of nature and community”. The bird houses are literally fabricated from loaves of bread and bread sticks. Bread Birdhouses can be used by the bird population as a home or a food source. The latter choice suggests a Hansel and Gretel like scenario with the birds eating themselves out of house and home. Members of the public who discover Burr’s project are transformed into amateur twitchers and will walk away with a heightened awareness of the local feathered wildlife.

Here’s a link to Nathan’s Web site to learn more.

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When the Grumpy Vegan Won't Recognize Racism and Sexism

by Kim W. Stallwood

August 26, 2009 4:58am

Filed under:

Living the Grumpy Vegan Life

It's good to see vegan prisoners in the UK are now permitted to buy non-animal products from two recognized sources. The Grumpy Vegan wonders whether they will have more choice than the rest of us who live on the outside. Yes, there are more vegan products and services than there were when I went vegan more than 30 years ago. But don't you think we should have made more progress by now? Yes, it's easier than ever being vegan. There's really no excuse not to be. This is why I get so irritated with folks who should know better. Next time I'm with someone who orders meat in a restaurant or pours milk in their coffee I think I will lament the fact that women have made so much progress toward equality. Don’t you think we've gone too far in multi-culturalism? Did we have to give so much of the Empire back to the natives? Why can't children work eight-hour days in factories? What's so wrong with conscription for the poor? Not sure if the Grumpy Vegan's subtlety will work. But I sure get mad when people did stupid things exploiting animals in my presence when they know my life is dedicated toward their liberation. I'm mad as hell when they won't recognize speciesism. So, I won't recognize their precious sexism and racism.

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Hastings Veggie Dining Club

by Kim W. Stallwood

August 25, 2009 11:40pm

Filed under:

Living the Grumpy Vegan Life

Nut roasts never photograph well and this is no exception. Nonetheless, it was delicious! Photo credit: Karan Mantri

The Hastings Veggie Dining Club recently made a return visit to the excellent Land of Green Ginger for what could be almost described as a Christmas in July three-course dinner except that it was non non-denominational and in August but was three-courses. We started with a delicious chilled tomato soup garnished with olive oil and roasted seeds. The entree was a traditional nut roast with Chef Andrew Thornton's unique flavourful twist. This was followed up by pears poached in red wine. "Yummy!" declared the 15-strong Hastings Veggie Dining Club members.

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The Professional Curmudgeon

by Kim W. Stallwood

August 25, 2009 11:23pm

Filed under:

Living the Grumpy Vegan Life

In a world that values sunshine over the saturnine and hope over harrumphing, it's hard to be a professional curmudgeon. In the animal rights community (where the competition for Chief Grouch is fierce), that vital role was ably handled by the late Cleveland Amory, whose dyspepsia was a key component of the barbs he so effectively aimed at hunters and other animal exploiters. The banner of bile is now waved by Kim Stallwood, a.k.a. the grumpy vegan, who first refined discontent and dysphoria into an art form in his editing of The Animals' Agenda magazine, and then in two books he edited for Lantern: Speaking Out for Animals and The Primer on Animal Rights.

Actually, I'm kidding. Those two books are inspiring and thoughtful examinations of how one can help animals in distress and through policy changes rather than belly-aching about how awful everything is. Plus, Kim is distressingly sweet-tempered when you get to know him (which, of course, you are thoroughly discouraged from doing), and now that he is back in his native England after doing time in the U.S. for many years, he's distressed to find unwelcome shafts of sunlight brightening the winter of his discontent.

Fortunately, this being the world we live in and our exploitation of other animals showing no sign of stopping any time soon, Kim retains a measure of grouchy glory, blogging and helping to run the excellent Animals and Society Institute. In all these and other endeavors, of course, Lantern wishes him luck, and hope that we don't see him around.

The Professional Curmudgeon by Martin Rowe, co-founder of Lantern Books, which hosts the Grumpy Vegan Web site.

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previous 20 posts »

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T11:30:00.001-08:00

Hope you stay safe and sound all year :-)

???

2009-12-31T10:37:00.000-08:00

Once again I got turned down for a Soil Conservationist job
The note said that my self reporting my qualifications showed that I was not among the most qualified
Let me tell you something
I think they are looking only for folks who know the programs
Has nothing to do with scientific knowledge skills or deductive reasoning
NOT that those things aren't important
But you tell me how a recently graduated undergrad who worked summers for the NRCS during school gets hired and I don't? That's what's missing. I mean, I get it, but good grief, how do I get my foot in the door?
God is trying to get me on the right road and gosh, I'm trying Lord, I'm really trying

Amen, sister

2009-12-29T10:46:00.001-08:00

http://www.cafepress.com/crazybastard.410346013

A Must See

2009-12-29T07:00:00.001-08:00

http://www.bendecho.com/3435ecda06-ode-to-meep

2009-12-28T11:20:00.000-08:00

I could tell you so much, but is it appropriate? Appropriate even if I know no one is reading this? But once its posted its out there, public record.
*sigh*
Well, here is what I an share... Leon, the crackerjack carpenter who is going to help Gerald build the wood foundation for our house stopped by and we share the plans with him. We have the floor trusses but need to pickup the wood for building the foundation. Our garage is mostly enclosed and so is a good place for putting together the foundation out of the weather before installing it on the gravel base. The gravel base is a 3 ft wide, 5 ft deep trench filled with gravel. Its the footing necessary to avoid frost heaving and allow drainage. I'm hoping that once that starts the house goes up quickly - or at least quicker

2009-12-23T09:24:00.001-08:00

Happy Hannukah and New Year
Keep yourself safe from the other idiots who don't have enough sense to stay away from you
*Hugs*

2009-12-18T13:07:00.000-08:00

Our floor trusses were delivered yesterday and today our well was dug. Gerald is almost done putting up the outside sheathing (OSB) on the garage. He has steel sheet siding for the outside and Fibreglas insulation for the walls and ceiling. The siding color is a nice soft creme, can't remember the roof color. I picked it out but gosh, I don't remember. Taupe maybe? Dark green? Guess it'll be a surprise! He's been working on this garage with the help of able armed folks since he can't use his arm due to the torn rotator cuff, so its slow going. But once that garage is insulated and the inside boards are on it can be heated and the wood foundations can be built inside there rather than out in the cold. Good idea, huh?

2009-12-18T08:58:00.000-08:00

Deciding to change my eating habits is difficult. I have a martyr voice in my head that wants me to eat the driest, least savory cardboard at the cheapest possible price AND exercise and generally live the life of some acetic. Then there's the voice of the tongue, even if I know in my heart of hearts that what it wants me to eat isn't really all that tasty because its a cheap version of what I really find tasty, but eating more somehow makes up for it.
.
And then there's that eating more. Eating as a sedative, it isn't even really eating for comfort because I'll eat past full to where all I want to do is crawl into bed, close my eyes and be alone. It is eating to escape. At least if I was a heroin addict my bladder wouldn't get squished by these new fangled low cut jeans and I could tuck in my wool shirts.
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I saw the movie "Julie and Julia" last night. I highly recommend it. If for no other reason than Meryl Streep is again masterful, beyond good. As is the chemistry between her and Stanley (?) Tucci. He's a great actor too and those two oddly enough were also in the movie, "The Devil Wears Prada" which I also downloaded but haven't seen (again) yet. Maybe its not so coincidental as an exhibit of my taste in movies? At least ones I'm willing to spend $9.99 to own? Could be worse. Gerald has all 2900 "Police Academy" movies *rolls eyes*, yeah he's got a sophisticated sense of humor *belch* LOL

2009-12-15T08:15:00.000-08:00

Yay me! Last night I completed the last paragraph for the results.
I wanted to know if N2O production, a gas product of several N processes both biotically and abiotically mediated was different by upland hillslope position; summit, shoulder, backslope, footslope and toeslope and by landscape type; upland, lagg, alder and bog and by depth in the soil profile and by during the growing season versus after the growing season.
.
So I made all of those comparisons in N2O production and soil physical and chemical properties that control and influence the production of N2O gas; pH, bulk density, SOC, soil total N, soil NH4+ and soil NO3-.
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The lab DEA treatments that I'm referring to are solutions added to soil samples and then incubated in the absence of oxygen to support denitrification. The solutions are a control solution of only a very pure kind of water called "Type II" and then a mix of type II water with glucose (to simulate SOC) and then type II water and nitrate (NO3-, the stuff that gets turned into N2O gas) and then type II water + glucose+nitrate.
.
1. Soil chemistry A horizon upland hillslope positions

2. N2O production A horizon upland hillslope positions
a. Comparison of N2O production by hillslope positions for each lab DEA treatment
b. Comparison of N2O production by lab DEA treatment for each hillslope position
c. Comparison of N2O production by hillslope position for each sampling date; June and September 2008
3. Soil chemistry 10 cm below A horizon upland hillslope positions
4 N2O production 10 cm below A horizon upland hillslope positions
a. Comparison of N2O production by hillslope positions for each lab DEA treatment
b. Comparison of N2O production by lab DEA treatment for each hillslope position
c. Comparison of N2O production by soil depth for each hillslope position for each lab DEA treatment
5. Soil chemistry A horizon upland, 0-25 cm lagg, 0-25 cm bog landscape types
6. N2O production A horizon upland, 0-25 cm lagg, 0-25 cm bog landscape tyoes
a. Comparison of N2O production by landscape type for each lab DEA treatment
b. Comparison of N2O production by lab DEA treatment for each landscape type
c. Comparison of N2O production by landscape type for each sampling date; June and September 2008
7. Soil chemistry 10 cm below A horizon upland, 25-50 cm lagg, 25-50 cm bog landscape types
6. N2O production 10 cm below A horizon upland, 25-50 cm lagg, 25-50 cm bog landscape types
a. Comparison of N2O production by landscape type for each lab DEA treatment
b. Comparison of N2O production by lab DEA treatment for each landscape type
c. Comparison of N2O by soil depth for each landscape type for each lab DEA treatment
8. Soil chemistry 0-25 cm lagg, 0-25 cm alder, 0-25 cm bog landscape types
9. N2O production by 0-25 cm lagg, 0-25 cm alder, 0-25 cm bog landscape types
a. Comparison of N2O production by landscape type for each lab DEA treatment
b. Comparison of N2O production by lab DEA treatment for each landscape type
c. Comparison of N2O production by hillslope position for each sampling date; June and September 2008
10. Soil chemistry 25-50 cm lagg, 25-50 cm alder, 25-50 cm bog
11. N2O production by 25-50 cm lagg, 25-50 cm alder, 25-50 cm bog
a. Comparison of N2O production by landscape type for each lab DEA treatment
b. Comparison of N2O production by lab DEA treatment for each landscape type
c. Comparison of N2O production by depth for each landcape type for each lab DEA treatment
.
Now I have to write the Discussion section where I explain why the results are what they are
There is another chapter where I sampled weekly N2O production out in the field for two years in each of those places and then the last sampling was after I amended the soil with a glucose+nitrate solution.

2009-12-14T13:44:00.000-08:00

It's been said that the lessons we don't learn we're doomed to repeat. But gosh darn it, self righteousness is such a bear! And as weary as I am for feeling this way, I'm even more determined to be right. I am so tired of being me I could just scream!

2009-12-14T11:27:00.000-08:00

Can we talk? LOL
.
I dunno, I guess I'm just getting so burnt out by this thesis. Its never-ending and not like a DQ Peanut Buster Parfait kind of goes on and on either. Gosh, sure its below zero but all of a sudden I sure could go for one of those... not like I'm not already carrying around several of them in the rolls and jowls and flappies...
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I'm back...
.
*sigh* Shoot, I feel... stuck and puny and fat and lazy and anxious and...
Oh never mind

2009-12-13T12:07:00.000-08:00

Horses aren't music critics, thank goodness. I like to sing and lately I've got a Cat Stevens song going on in my head. And of course I don't know the words, but I know a bit of the tune. All I really need really. The chickens don't mind either.
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Hey, speaking of chickens. Wanna hear about how smart I am? :-) We feed our chickie-chickies oyster shells, laying mash and cracked corn. Give 'em fresh water three times a day. All good. But the shells are waaay too delicate. And we're talking Road Island Reds, big brown eggs, this shouldn't be!
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But it is and I think I know why!
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Remember hearing about how doctors "discovered" rickets? Children in England during the Industrial Revolution were living under pretty dark conditions, literally. The coal smoke obliterated the sun and the kids were also inside working factory type jobs subsequently they weren't getting sufficient vitamin D. And vitamin D is necessary for metabolizing calcium. The symptom was children suffering bone loss in their legs, weakness and bowleggedness without the horse.
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I think the same thing is happening with our chicken eggs. We have them inside a shelter with one little window to keep them warm and toasty, which it does fairly well but there isn't enough light, not enough vitamin D and therefore, insufficient shell density. I can't say as they're bowlegged, but mineral and vitamin deficiencies can make their toes bend oddly. But then these are full grown hens (and one rooster).
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We'll look for a way to build an igloo like foyer for them to protect the warmth of their coop and then put up the dog kennel. Don't want to make it too easy for the hawks and eagles to swoop in. Couple years ago a hawk was dive bombing my banties and nearly took the top of my head off! Kinda got me excited.

Kinda chilly

2009-12-11T13:37:00.000-08:00

I haven't had much luck getting out in time to collect eggs. I have six frozen eggs. Not good. Great for Schoen, not so great for us. So we piled straw all around and on top of their little coop, not to mention we filled their coop with straw. I put a styrofoam sheet in front of their door and then pushed straw over that. They don't have much light at all in there, but its toastier... well, warmer and no more frozen eggs. They're very well behaved birds. I crawled in there with them and they didn't seem to mind at all. They have a large feeder with cracked corn, a pan of laying mash, a pan of oyster shells and a pan of water. The pan of water stays liquid longer than in the chicken waterer, which is basically a bottle turned upside down over a plate. The exposed water on the plate just isn't deep enough and it freezes too fast. So I change their water three times a day. So obviously I check on them three times a day. Probably in part why they don't mind me going in there. Not to mention, where the heck are they gonna run to?!

Visit to a Flooring Store (other than Home Depot)

2009-12-09T17:39:00.000-08:00

Very nice gentleman gave us a good education and then show me again how your laminate of the same specifications are better than Home Depot? Certainly this flooring store had a better selection, no doubt about that. But I don't really need better selection, I mean, there's enough and then some to chose from. But I can see that folks with money to spend would want more choices and that's fine. Especially those folks who hire installers and get kinda fancy. But for us? Naw, Home Depot is just fine. I guess what we'll do is make our selections and then see who gives us the best price ~ per usual. Gerald's good for that, he's a grand negotiator. I'm so proud of him :-)

2009-12-09T12:36:00.000-08:00

We have Bar Keepers Helper and its great on flat surfaces as you say, Alley-gator. This is a gas cooktop and so my whining is about the curliques and corners of the burner grates - ingrates... or is that ingreats? :-)

2009-12-09T08:16:00.000-08:00

Gosh, I'm looking at these pictures and thinking how lucky I am to be able to have such nice cabinets and countertops. They're so pretty. Of course Jo's house is pretty, you can see the sunlight coming into her kitchen, well there is a little sunroom alcove that is absolutely lovely. I can't wait!

YAY! Pictures of the cabinets

2009-12-09T07:51:00.000-08:00

Maple with Corian

It wasn't my first choice to have a white counterop, in fact, I'm a green kinda gal, but shoot, I'm not going to argue with Corian, for pete's sake. The sink is a single basin sink, again, not my first choice and in fact I had already bought a Kohler cast iron sink (sheesh was that thing heavy! nearly tipped over the cart) BUT what I really like is that there is no lip over the edge of the counter where crummies like to hide and that keeps ripping out pieces of my sponge when I clean it, although that is another place where toothbrushes rule! LOL. But Corian won't stain like laminate counterops and its pure clean through so it can be sanded unlike laminate, so I think I'll be happy because I'll be able to keep it white.

This U-shaped piece did challenge me in how I was going to design the kitchen-dining room but I think I have a good solution. We'll see if I can't get that file in the proper format to upload.

If you look at the row of uppers and lowers at the back of this picture you'll see a "thing" in the middle of the lower cabinets. That's a warming oven. It can be high or low and humid or dry. Huh! I bet that'll be really nice once I get the hang of it. Maybe a person could make yogurt or tempeh in it, ya think?

We didn't get the dishwasher (silver thing in the middle of the "U") but that's no big deal, I haven't lived with one before so I won't miss it. My mom thought that was odd that I didn't care for a dishwasher, but *shrugs* I dunno, its no biggie, not even for Thanksgiving. I simply wash dishes as they get dirty and in no time at all the kitchen is as clean as before... *cough* :-)

This row of cabinets holds built in ovens which we were able to buy. Gerald's excited about those. He likes the look of built in stove ("U") and ovens. Again, never lived with 'em. I do remember when I was young that we had this fantastic cookstove, SIX burners and two large ovens with windows. Gosh I wish I had something like that, but here I'll have a cook top with four burners in the "U" and two ovens, so that's pretty darn close to the same thing. The cook top has closed burners, just like my current stovetop, which is the only way to go as far as I'm concerned BUT the burner tops and the guards are grey. Again, not what I would of chosen if I bought new. I've been struggling with that now for the past several years and ugh, its impossible to keep them grey. You can say, "Oh just don't let anything burn on them", well! Like that's possible? I may clean up as I cook but that's simply impossible! Oh well, maybe I'll figure out a better way of scrubbing them clean. Or maybe someday I can replace them with black ones. I like the look of grey, but I don't like the look of black burnt on grey! Patooie :-(

Kitchen Cabinets

2009-12-08T10:30:00.000-08:00

I found them on Craigslist posted by the nicest people who are remodeling the loveliest home in Kenwood. Their parking is an cobblestone-esque courtyard. I felt totally outclassed driving up there in my filthy Tacoma. Then when Jo opened the door to their home and I was greeted by a gently curving open stairway in a brightly lit foyer with a sunroom behind... it was all I could do not to drool on the floor LOL

I just went to load up the pictures and OH NO WHERE'D THEY GOOOO!

*wimper*wimper*

Picture light maple plywood boxes, Frank Lloyd Wright/Shaker-like panel doors and foot upon linear foot of white Corian counterop. Holy moly, I don't know if its a counter or a roller rink, but I think I'll like rolling out cookies and making meals. We have them stored in a ministorage in Shevlin.

Gosh darn it :-(

Cold and Humble Start

2009-12-08T10:07:00.000-08:00

Here's the first thing we built out on the site, the electrical hookup. Beltrami Electric charges $8 a foot between the transformer and your house lpp and the house has to be within 250 ft of the loop to avoid voltage drop, which is worse than bad breath according to Beltrami. So the loop and transformer are in the middle of the hay field as is the house. The original site of the house was on the back forty which would of cost us close to $10K so now we're in the front 40 with all of the machinery and junked tires LOL Oh well, they'll get moved... someday

Here's the loop, you can tell me how lovely it is in the front yard if you like, facing south

This is a picture of the 32 ft rafters. two foot on center for 48 ft.

Here's a view from the house to the septic tank looking west to the drain field

Here's a picture of the end of the well line to the house, looking east. Its now below zero so the well driller isn't coming out until more reasonable weather, we'll be covering the area where the well will be with straw. Usually in January there's a thaw of sorts, or at least moderating weather for a couple, three days, hopefully this year is no exception. Doesn't look like much, the blue thing in the middle of the picture is the line and the pile of soil (yes, soil, its only dirt when its tracked in the house) is next to the trench

And here is a picture of the site superintendent looking very official

2009-11-11T18:00:00.000-08:00

Well, we're building a house. It won't be as far back on the property as we'd like because the cost of bringing electricity back that far is prohibitive aka $10K and to generate our own electricity via a wind turbine is $34K or PV is $50K, so I guess closer is to the road and our existing home is where its gonna be.
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I have concerns about so many things... oh dear, I guess I have so little faith in God that He will keep me 'safe'. I'm sorry God, I do keep trying. And by trying I mean that moment by moment I make the best decisions I can from a positive perspective rather than a reactionary point of view.
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I'm getting closer to completion of my MS degree. That means closer to getting hired by an agency or organization. That means... who knows what that means!? That job could be anywhere in the US. I prefer to stay west of MI but and north of KS but heck, if push comes to shove, I guess I'm open to anywhere. Gotta get one's foot in the door ya know.

2009-11-06T10:18:00.000-08:00

Whew, its been a while since I was here. Worked really hard and finally had the drafts for two chapters of my thesis in to my adviser. I was pretty happy with them. Got one of them back with edits yesterday. Guess I shouldn't of been so happy.
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Discouraged. I don't know... does it mean anything that this is so laborious rather than challenging? I wish I knew.

BUT on another note... I bought a Tom Dorrance DVD from MikMar and all of the proceeds go to Margaret, his widow. There was a place to add a note so I said if Margaret was interested she might want to check out this blog and then cc a few folks who've gotten jewelry from me and see if she's interested in a little happy. I haven't heard back, hope I do. I've made a few pieces in the meantime I'll need to post.

Later...

2009-09-21T15:27:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine who is going to have a "Happies Party" and just received the package of bracelets, necklaces and earrings. I'm so glad she liked everything as much as she did. Said that the jewelry looked even better in person. Guess I should figure out a way to take nicer pictures, huh? Gosh, but that makes me happy.

2009-09-14T13:54:00.001-07:00

Anyone else interested in necklaces? I have leather laces and waxed cotton.
Anyone interested in decorative lanyards?

2009-09-11T09:25:00.000-07:00

I've got a few new looks to display in the next couple days. One of the happies that is the most popular is the memory wire bracelet. I'm glad because they're fun to make too. Although more of my brain cells are invested in my thesis than anything else, a tiny part is trying to do new things with wire and new beads in new combinations. Christmas beads, not something I would of bought before but I was very attracted to all of the bright colors and mix of shapes and sizes. In contrast I've collected a number of chunkier, heavier beads, large discs of snake skin jasper, multi colored agates and heavy brass beads. The yang to that yin are crystals, from 4mm to 8mm

Well... more later, see ya

2009-09-08T18:35:00.000-07:00

2009-09-07T15:05:00.000-07:00

For those of you who wanted more wire earrings?
Here ya go!

From right to left

Far right: Amazonite square and aquamarine hexagon

Picture jasper and chalk turquoise

Amazonite square

Picture jasper and chalk turquoise

Amazonite and magnesite

Picture jasper, magnesite and citrine

Chalk turquoise and glass

All surgical steel ear wires 100% hypoallergenic

2009-09-05T16:50:00.000-07:00

This design is what I call a "sampler"

Its a four strand 2.25 inch diameter memory bracelet made of several series of separate bead patterns

The earrings coordinate with the bracelet without matching exactly

Magnesite, freshwater pearls, citrine, brass, sterling silver, Swarovski crystals and glass

The exception that proves the rule

The same bead pattern expressed on two bracelets

However...

The difference is color of the small glass spacer beads

Silver

Gold

I didn't think I would like gold, but ya know what? Its kinda pretty :-)

Freshwater pearls, Swarovski crystal, sterling silver and glass

Displaying four bead patterns

First set of descriptions are of the three bracelets that are more or less positioned horizontally across

Starting from the third row back and moving forward

Magnesite, malachite, citrine, sterling silver

Malachite and freshwater pearls

Adventurine and rose quartz

The single bracelet positioned perpendicular to your field of vision

Chalk turquoise, citrine, picture jasper and glass

Left to right

Aquamarine, citrine and picture jasper

Amythest and glass

2009-09-05T12:59:00.001-07:00

Any one out there know how to repair an autosaved word docx that doens't want to be opened?

2009-09-04T22:08:00.001-07:00

I'm introducing a contest to win jewelry on twitter... version1955

Rural Iowa Animal Rescue

2009-09-04T10:00:00.000-07:00

http://www.ruraliowaanimalrescue.com/

I want to encourage you to read about these fine folks and see what it is you have of value that you can donate to help them care for rescued animals. This shelter promises to care for the animals that they rescue for forever. I'm going to repeat that. Any animal rescued by this shelter has a forever home.
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That means they need good folks like you and me to help them out; goods, services and yes of course money. It doens't have to be a lot. In fact, you can buy my jewelry from them. I'm happy to report that at their last sale a few pieces of mine were sold and helped raise money for them. I couldn't be happier. In the meantime, check out their website and see what there is to see.
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Buying jewelry from them benefits them directly. Buying jewelry from this website benefits them indirectly as well as a number of other groups of folks doing good works:
*St Judes
*Minnesota Hooved Animal Rescue
*Beltrami County Humane Society
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I do not take a profit off the sall of any of my jewelry, all of the proceeds go for donations to charities. I'm hoping someday to have enough sales to pay for supplies, but only through you buying the jewelry is that possible.

2009-09-03T09:23:00.000-07:00

Single strand bracelet that could also be made as a necklace

The chain is sterling silver plated as are the paddle pins that attach the semiprecious stones as charms all along the length of the chain. The pattern starts with 6mm round rose quartz, 6mm diameter amythest rondelle, 6mm long citrine oval, 8mm round magnesite, 4mm square rose quartz and a 4mm tree jasper. The pattern repeats three times.

This bracelet is a much more labor intensive than the memory wire bracelets or the single strand bracelets, because each charm is made with a sterling silver plated paddle pin attached to the chain by a sterling silver plated jump ring.

IMPORTANT NOTE: I chose to use sterling silver plated jump rings and paddle pins where strength is very important. Sterling silver is soft and often comes in a wire gauge that is too thin to hold the weight of the beads or the tugging that can happen on a bracelet or earrings. I've had unhappy results when I've gone that route. Its also important for me to keep my costs down so I can sell these at a reasonable price, not to mention that I give a good share of my jewelry away. That being said, I keep experimenting and trying new things. If I find a good, solid holding solid sterling silver jumpring, then I'll use it.

Crystal and glass necklace with a 3 piece focal point

I've had requests for more necklaces as well as crystals, so here ya go! This necklace reaches the middle of the bust. It is made of a pattern of:

Clear glass

Dark purple glass

Clear glass

Dark purple crystal

Three times and then

Sterling silver plated dragon fly

and then repeating the crystal and glass pattern until the middle of the necklace where three dangles are placed on specially swirled sterling silver plated headpins.

This one has a light of shine and sparkle.

2009-09-03T06:44:00.000-07:00

Figure 3.

Left of center: Blue kiwi beads (jasper), freshwater pearls, glass & Swarovski crystals *special order*

2009-09-03T06:41:00.000-07:00

Figure 2.

Center: Turquoise colored jasper with green dyed chalk turquoise and sterling silver beads, $35.00

2009-09-03T06:37:00.000-07:00

Figure 1.

Left: jewel neckline (collar bone) necklace of rose quartz, rhodochrosite and sterling silver, $50.00

Right: single strand bracelet of adventurine with an amazonite centerstone, $25.00

2009-09-03T06:33:00.000-07:00

I want you to take a look at the pictures that follow (above this post) and tell me which ones you think are the best and why. The person that gives me the most useful suggestions will win a pair of earrings or single strand bracelet of their choice of stone or bead from all of the stones and beads I have. And I have a LOT!

2009-09-02T19:20:00.003-07:00

Have you had your tweet today?

2009-09-02T17:10:00.000-07:00

Hey, HorseLVR! Your message about prices got to me today, so here's how that goes:
There is a retail price and that includes shipping.
Then there is a discount applied if you promise to tell folks about me and what I'm trying to do with my jewelry
Then there is another discount if you are going to use it for fundraising for a charity or other worthy cause, maybe it's St. Judes, maybe an animal shelter or maybe someone in your community is going through some really hard times and could use a little pickme up.
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RETAIL PRICES
Semiprecious gemstones, Wooden beads and Freshwater Pearls
Memory wire bracelets $35.00
Single strand bracelets $25.00
Small earrings $10.00
Dangle earrings $15.00
Hoop earrings $25.00
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Glass beads
Memory wire bracelets $25.00
Single strand bracelets $15.00
Small earrings $5.00
Dangle earrings $10.00
Hoop earrings $20.00
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DEDUCTIONS
If you promise to tell folks about me $5.00 per piece for all pieces $10.00 or more, no limit

FUNDRAISING ~ decisions are made on an individual basis and they are totally subjective
1) 100% donation
2) Organization pays for shipping (if it fits in one of those priority boxes I can ship anywhere in the US for $4.95!)
3) Pay cost of materials + shipping
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I reserve the right to give any number of pieces away to any one I want at any time.
Remember, your jewelry probably isn't made yet! So make sure you tell me what you like :-)

2009-09-02T14:06:00.000-07:00

I just placed an order with a new supplier, Metalliferous. I'm getting some 16 and 18 ga half hard round sterling silver wire. That isn't anything new but I'm also getting a tool for twisting the wire so I can create a different design... well, at least one design. We'll see where I can go with that.
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They also have sheets of silver and all of the tools to play around, but again, I gotta get this thesis done before I distract myself too much... or more than I am already.
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On a more personal note, please wish Sarah a peaceful heart as she morns for the loss of her absolutely stunning dressage partner, GreyDot. They were inseparable for nearly 20 years. God bless you both.

2009-09-02T10:24:00.000-07:00

Check out Adina Plastalina on: http://www.canaan-online.com/

2009-09-01T13:14:00.000-07:00

You asked for single strand bracelets and now you got 'em!

Top left: This light weight green bracelet is made of chalk turquoise (dolomitic limestone dyed green), jasper tubes and Bali silver beads.

Top right: This blue goes with so many outfits and styles, its lapis lazuli chips with sodalite and glass beads. You don't have to worry about the bracelet being too small or too big with the extra silver loops added for a custom fit from tight to loose.

Bottom: Freshwater pearls, sweet and simple

Remember, these are custom pieces. If you need a special size or would like coordinating earrings or necklace, simply send me an email and let me know what you want!

version1955@hotmail.com

2009-09-01T10:47:00.000-07:00

The first day of September! Can you believe it already?? Oh dear, you know what that means, don't you? Winter and Christmas, Hannukah, and Kwanza. Maybe you could consider giving a bracelet or a pair of earrings for a gift? If you decide to purchase any of my jewelry, I promise to donate 100% of the profits (sale price - materials cost = profit) to charity. Please email me for the list and contact information.

Have a Happy :-)

2009-08-30T07:36:00.000-07:00

2009-08-29T09:46:00.000-07:00

And yet another pair of sterling silver hoop earrings! Hey, I'm on a roll folks. I made these with the last bit of square cross section wire and made the top part out of round cross section. Then this time I put sterling silver ear wires on the hanger. Now this hanger is pretty unique, its sterling silver plated and its got a really neet scroll. I clipped off most of the pin part and used it to attach the ear wire. The beads are solid brass and sterling silver with a stone fish in the center. Now I gotta admit, I totally forgot what stone that fish is made of *smacks head*. I remember they cost $1 a piece haha but what kind? Shoot! Oh well, I can find out next week, I bought them from Terra Reflections in Grand Rapids, MN, that's where my doctor is and my thesis adviser.

Anyway, here they are!

2009-08-29T06:14:00.000-07:00

Taa Daaah! I finally figured out how I was going to make hoop earrings and keep the hoop! They're 18 and 16 gauge sterling silver wire, deadsoft. That means that they are easily bendable. Good for me but you'll need to make sure you don't smash 'em around or they'll bend.

Far left ~ African wooden beads, 18g round sterling silver wire, two free-moving sterling silver plated paddle pins with jasper barrel beads hanging on either side of the wooden beads and gold glass seed beads and surgical steel ear wires. Very light weight for their size which is 3 cm in diameter (yes, I'm going to take you kicking and screaming into metric)

What I really like about these is the movement of the dangles, creates interest in a subtle and creative way and not simply through a lot of sparkle. Not saying I don't like sparkle, check out all of the crystal and glass on some of my bracelets, but its nice to be more sophisticated now and again.

Middle ~ Here we have the sparkle with one 6mm Swarovski crystal (did I spell that right? I know I can't pronounce it) and two Bali silver spacer beads. These beads are able to slide on the 18g square sterling silver wire formed into a tear drop shape hoop. The hoop is 3.5mm wide at its widest part and 4mm long. I can't really tell you what color the crystal is because depending upon how the light hits it, it looks purple, red or a golden-brassy black. Again I used surgical steel for the ear wire to promise that its hypoallergenic

Far right ~ My favorites... so far. 16g round sterling silver wire 4.3cm in diameter with one freely moving sterling silver plated paddle pin holding two 3 mm sterling silver beads on either side of one 6mm adventurine beauty. Again, very light weight for their size, cool and soft to the touch and elegant to wear. These will go with any outfit, jeans and a tshirt or an evening gown. Simply, understated quality. Hmmm... now how does that suit me?! I don't know, but I do know I like 'em!

2009-08-28T17:57:00.000-07:00

Hoop Earrings?! I think I can, I think I can ; - )

2009-08-28T12:10:00.000-07:00

I made these for myself

The earrings are sterling silver filigre with little loops for attaching the blue glass beads strung on sterling silver plated headpins where the head part is a flat paddle shape. I love those things LOL

The bracelet is made of jaspers dyed blue and called kiwi beads. Then the pink and light turquoise along with the silvery beads are glass.

If you'd like me to make a custom piece for you, its not a problem at all. Simply sketch it or describe it and send me an email at version1955@hotmail.com and I'll give you a quote. And if you promise to tell folks about this website or have a nonprofit that's looking for a fundraising opportunity, I'll give you a discount on your purchase. The more folks you talk to, the larger the discount. Can't beat that, huh?

2009-08-28T10:27:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of my new creations.

The bottom row show six bracelets. From the far left and the two on the far right are made of glass beads and leaded crystal (this lead isn't hazardous) memory wire bracelets. The middle three are single strand bracelets with sterling silver plated lobster clasps. The beads are fresh water cultured pearls (rice shape) and citrines. The earrings are hung on surgical steel ear wires to be 100% hypoallergenic. The single beaded earrings on the left are magnesite, the matrix is turquoise with strands of gold and a bit of white. The middle pair are blueish colored turquoise and the pair on the far right are freshwater cultured pearls (potato shape) and citrines.

2009-08-27T16:25:00.000-07:00

After showing my jewelry to some friends of mine, telling 'em my idea about using it for fundraising, I asked for ideas for names for the business. What can I say? They know me, Sonya suggested "Off Kilter Designs". Its a fit. And now you know the resssst of the story :-)

2009-08-27T09:04:00.000-07:00

Thursday, August 27th and I'm still pluggin' away on my thesis. And while I do I'm listening to Kerri Miller on MPR who is talking to a paleontology professor who'd I'd guess is in her 30s, married with a daugher and whose husband is also a paleontologist or archeologist.

*sigh*

I'm struck again how my mind doesn't work in the same way as hers. And I wonder again if I'm just too stubborn to learn that way of thinking or if I'm simply barking up the wrong tree. I know that having a doctorate isn't the romance that I thought it was. In fact, the kinds of work that they do is quite unappealing. But to me the esteem of it is alluring and means to anyone, "Intelligent" or at the very least, "Well educated".

Maybe I should simply talk to a doctorate... in psychology :-(

2009-08-26T06:29:00.001-07:00

Howdy! Another beautiful morning and another day sitting on my bottom at the computer typing my thesis. LSD versus a Tukey, decisions, decisions. Talk atcha later!

2009-08-24T20:35:00.001-07:00

Hellol! It's me :-) Of Kilter Designs is open for business

2009-08-24T19:53:00.000-07:00

Hi, how ya doin'?

I make jewelry and horse tack and there's so much interest in it that I figured, what the hey, let's get it on the web. Hopefully you're interested in making jewelry and we can chat about which materials we like working with, what good deals we've found and even what stuff we've tried that well... probably won't try again. Or at least not in that application.

My favorite stuff are semiprecious gem stones and I'm gonna put cultured freshwater pearls in that category even though they aren't stones, but so what its my blog :-) I don't use coral as coral beds have enough problems with bleaching they don't need an increased demand for more pillaging. I also don't use ivory, but then I don't think they sell that above board anyway. I do have an ivory bracelet from my grandmother but that's a keepsake and we'll leave it at that.

CHARITABLE FUNDRAISING

One of the things that I love to do with my jewelry is to donate it to folks who then turn around and sell it for fundraising. I've helped folks raise money to buy personal care items for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and no kill animal shelters in IA. I also know of folks who all by themselves put on trail rides or fun runs to raise money for St. Jude's and they use the jewelry as incentives for their fundraisers.

Now obviously there is one little catch to all of this, having a tax deduction on my part doesn't help pay for the materials. So now what? Well, I did leave some of my jewelry on consignment at Cinderella's Closet in Deer River. The owner seemed to think that they'd sell, sure hope so. Another idea I had was to give it to my friends to wear and "spread the word". Thankfully my friends love it and have gotten some really nice compliments. Not to mention a new favorite pair of earrings. Earrings are my favorite thing to make... well, those and memory wire bracelets

Val and Pat Gann at G Bar Ranch in Tennessee, http://home.earthlink.net/~vpgann/index.html

and Chris Tornow, custom saddle maker

http://horseandmulegear.com/index.php

are two happy campers sporting turquoise and silver when they're out and about.

I'm going to get them to send me pictures to show you how good you'll look wearing my jewelry. And if you promise to be a spokesmodel, maybe I'll cut ya a good deal on the price?! Ya never know, its happened before ;-)