Hamonhaus's Blog

*This Blog’s Been Running for Three Years Today!

Bill — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:52:19 +0000

Three + years ago, on New Year’s Eve 2008, I pulled the plug on my three co-running web-sites; some of you may remember one or more of them. They had effectively run for many years. The one with the most visitors was “Bill’s Miata”, with over 100,000 visitors. That one and the “Bill’s U.S.M.C.” had frequent contacts of one kind and another, from many different states and countries. Marines just like to be in touch with one another.

One reason that caused me to become interested in web-sites so long ago, was it provided an organized mode with with to “stow & share” my various memorabelia; photos, facts, events and memories. Some of those old “doors” to the past get rusty and finally do close forever. This may be one way for me to “linger” a while longer. A little over three years ago, I tired a-bit on the web-site maintenance and the costs involved. As I tend to do sometimes, I “knee-jerked” them down, all at one time on a New Year’s Eve.

Well, some good ideas don’t die that easily! On January 20, 2009, I reopened them all in a new and free blog format. Today, is their third anniversary. I think that they still provide the same services as before to me and to others. I’m happy to announce that this one has exceeded a total of 7200 visitors in that time. That’s more than a few every day (nearly 7 per day). These never include my own visits.

Behind it all, is my desire to enhance my own interests in my own eyes; and to linger a while longer.

I enjoy it when you drop by. Why don’t you linger here awhile too.

Happy birding and carving, Bill

Bald Eagle #3

*Time to Evaluate My Hiatus

Bill — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:53:15 +0000

Cedar Waxwing

The weather has been warmer than it normally is at this time of the year. We’ve been occupied with family, holidays and home, house & yard projects mostly. No Florida this year because most of our “Snow-Bird” friends have clipped their own wings as well. Because I’ve re-scheduled our traditional Spring Class to start about a month later than in former years, there’s no rush to prepare for it. It begins Saturday, April 21, 2012. It’s the Cedar Wax-wing songbird, again.

Our “garage-work-shop-class-room” is in pretty good shape now, having moved the seasonal decor boxes back to the detached garage until they again required for seasonal-displays. . The “detached” happens to also be where my Miata Sports-car lives along with my work-benches and wood-working tools. My newest tool-acquisition happens to be a discarded Delta Portable Planer Model 22-560 which was recently gifted-to-me by carving-buddy Jack Kunz. He’s a very accomplished “wood-worker” as well. It was my great luck that he up-graded his planer recently. While picking it up a few days ago, the subject of golf came up and I left there with two of his also upgraded and discarded Ping Fairway Hybrid clubs. Ping is my brand!

Back to re-evaluating my hiatus. We like to be off of the carving-calendar from Thanksgiving until the commencement our Spring Class. The obvious exception to the rule is the Middletown Woodcarver’s Show, the first weekend of March. We pushed-back our Spring Class because the weather seldom is cooperative in March. I’m frugel enough to resist “heating” our premises unnecessarily starting in March.

So, I expect to start working on my wax-wing blanks pretty soon. I also need to get my 2012 Class Schedules to Chip-Chats Magazine anytime now. I have the patterns and other paperwork pretty much ready. So it goes when you decide to teach.

Pretty soon, I hope to reach-out to one or two of you. I expect I need to be carving myself and I enjoy a little company when I’m having this much fun. Hope that all is well. We are now commencing our 25th year of wood-carving.

Happy birding and carving, Bill

Bald Eagle #3

*Eagle Scout Michael Ringle with His Hamonhaus Bald Eagle

Bill — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 13:59:04 +0000

We, along with his family and friends, are very proud of our friend Michael Ringle on becoming an Eagle Scout. How fitting that his parents chose to award him with this gift of a Bald Eagle woodcarving by us to commemorate his fine achievement.

*Golf in My World!

Bill — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 14:03:26 +0000

I have reason to believe that at one time or another, you’ve actually “swung” a golf club! If not yourself, a member of your household. The following is no “big-deal” unless you happen to be me. A carving buddy, Jack Kunz, gifted me a couple of his golf clubs today which happen to have been on my wish-list for several years.

Let me go back about three golf-seasons, to the year I was asked by two separate individuals, to show them how to “hit-a-golf-ball”. If you do actually know me, you are already laughing; I’m the last one to show anyone how to hit a golf-ball. One of these individuals was my grand-daughter, Michelle Marie. In the process of teaching her to hit with her “borrowed” clubs, she mentioned how much she would like to have a “hybrid” fairway club. It so happened that I had just acquired such a club at a charity-golf-outing and was quite taken with it. I gave it to her and have planned ever since to replace it. Footnote: She did make her high-school golf team that year. She soon gave up golf to be in the school’s chorus. She returned the borrowed clubs to the school, but she still retains Grandpa’s Hybrid.

Back to friend Jack at his manse earlier today. He had recently called to offer a gift to me of his Delta Planer which he is replacing with an up-graded one. I quickly accepted his generous offer and waited for his call to pick it up. The call came yesterday and I drove to his home to get it. The planer is a welcomed addition to my work-shop. While standing in his shop, the subject of golf came up, as well as his brand new set of Calloway Golf Clubs. His new set includes two Hybrids. I mentioned how that I hope to get around to getting a hybrid myself. All of a sudden Jack handed me from a nearby shelf, his Ping (my brand) two hybrids that were just replaced by his nifty Calloways; they are 18 & 24 degree fairway-clubs.

Well, they’re in my bag now until spring. I found and downloaded the attached Hybrid-Iron Conversion Chart to help me select the clubs to replace in my bag. You can see it below if this is of interest to you:

Consult the relevant chart
below to determine what the
proper
hybrid angle to look for
when
replacing a standard club.
Mens Hybrid Loft Conversion
Guide Hybrid Angle
Club Replaced
14° – 16° 3 wood or 1 iron
17° – 19° 5 wood or 2 iron
20° – 22° 7 wood or 3 iron
23° – 25° 9 wood or 4 iron
26° – 28° 5 iron

Apparently, I have a pre-mature case of cabin-fever and winter’s barely here. You “Snow-Birds” can rub-it-in if you wish.

Happy New Year and Play it as it lies!

Bill

*My 1991 Mazda Miata MX-5 is Still For Sale!

Bill — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:30:47 +0000

*My 1991 Mazda Miata MX-5 is Still For Sale on Craigslist! Check out the huge price reduction and ad now:

http://dayton.craigslist.org/cto/2784433298.html

ZOOM, Zoom, zoom….Bill

*Yuletide Greetings from Das Hamonhaus

Bill — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:00:23 +0000

The Hamonhaus Artmeisters

Merry Christmas to all from June and I, your “sometimes” humble Carving-Meister. No snow is in sight and, I’m “good” with that. Since we all were, more or less, together fairly regularly, I want you to know that I’ve not been very productive, “carving-wise” lately! By the time we manage to commence our “Winter-Hiatus” each fall, I’m far more ready for it than I can ever realize. June has taught a painting-session or two. My cluttered work-area remains even more “cluttered” with the piled-on boxes that stored our decorations from season to season. It’s clear that January will signal our time to “dig-out” and get the bug to erase all signs of the past-holidays. I will get the ball-rolling on my Spring Class, the Cedar Wax-wing. The “hand-outs” are all prepared and now, to get the tupeo and do your blanks.

I’ve changed a few of my normal-activities recently, to a view of “loosening-up” my schedule for the growing “priorities“ and tightening it against the dimenishing priorities. No, I’m not getting rid of my Miata Sportscar; only of one of them if I can find a buyer. Relax; I prefer to sell to a stranger (and, you’re no stranger!). However, I’ve lost interest in the direction the Miami Valley Miata Club is going but still have a few friends there. My membership will expire in about 9 days and, remain expired. Although I remain a “Lifetime Member of the Marine Corps League, I’ve little interest in attending future meetings. My “Marine-ness” will not suffer for it!

We spend much time in the company of family, close friends and the fellow-ship of our church. Get it?; I mean about the “priorities.” You’re probably in more than one of those groups. I’m happy to see these continue to develop and flourish in the future. So, don’t give-up on us as we will continue for the present, to share our art with those who wish to participate. We sure hope that includes yourself. I should become available as soon as the dust settles around here in another week or two. Let’s try to get together soon.

So, check-in when you feel like it. Our wishes are that you and your’s remember the reason for the season, be merry, well and prosperous. Also, keep those bird-feeders filled.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, Bill and June

Bald Eagle #3

*It’s That Time of the Year

Bill — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 20:18:13 +0000

Thanksgiving with our family is a happy memory. Saw this year’s first “smack” of over-night snow this morning. Last evening, we cozied in front of our first log-fire of the season. The decorations are complete and the “Poodle-Prince”, Davidson is sporting his new clip. Today, I’m sitting by the fire, listening to my classical music softly in the background whilst I read my Nook. I’m reading my first e-book-on-loan from our Public Library. I have 13 more days to read the e-book and then it will automatically disappear from my Nook. I’m a fan of the Library and am long accustomed to selecting and putting holds on my selections, “on-line”.

It’s already too cold in my garage to carve on my bird-projects. I must eventually brace myself, heat the garage, and perservere. I plan to wrestle again with the life-sized Red-tailed Hawk. It only needs a few hours attention to get past the carving stage and on to the detailing stage. I’ll then bring it inside for a month or two of wood-burning the feather quills and barbs. Hopefully, this bird will be ready for our first woodcarving show of 2012 in Middletown, OH. June will probably have a few more sessions with her paint-students. Otherwise, we’re on our Winter Hiatus from Wildfowl Art & Teaching.

Our family traditions include several that are coming-up very soon. June & daughter Michelle’s annual “Cookie Baking Day” at Michelle’s house, and Michelle and me off for a dinner (often Skyline) and shopping for her mom until we “ace” the list! Happily (for me) Michelle takes the gifts home with her, wraps and labels them for me, to June and brings them here to Das Hamonhaus on Christmas Day. Then, the clan gathers once again for food, gifts and merriment.

Eating Out (should become an Olympic Event) with friends fills in whatever gaps may appear on our calendar. We’re very blessed to have these family and these friends enscounced so warmly in our lives; woodcarvers included. So, when the cheeriness appears to be fading, around January and February, think about revving it all back up again for the Spring. That’s what we do, to prepare for our Spring Class; and so on and on goes, I hope, for a very long time.

So, from the two of us to you, dig in and enjoy. We’re in this together. Keep those bird-feeders filled!

Happy birding and carving, Bill and June

Bald Eagle #3

*Happy Thanksgiving from Das Hamonhaus

Bill — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 14:21:54 +0000

Happy Thanksgiving from Das Hamonhaus. We and our family have been gathering for this day since our births. June and I have done so together for more than half-a-century. We’ve been blessed to have you and all of our woodcarving friends with us for nearly a quarter of a century. Today, we’ll gather with family and extended family for the traditional gathering and feasting. Our “Winter Hiatus” is now “Official” and we’re focused more on each other, family and friends. Remember to thank God for his everlasting goodness towards us.

Happy birding and carving, Bill & June

Bald Eagle #3

* Notes from June’s Painting Seminar March 11, 2011

Bill — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 15:20:28 +0000

June Hamon, Wildfowl Artist

Click Here to View: PAINTING SEMINAR

*Dawn Hauter’s Killdeer

Bill — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 16:59:16 +0000

Dawn Hauter's Killdeer

Well, we recently participated in the Sauder Village Woodcarving Show in Archbold, OH. In several previous posts, we have lauded the wonderful time that we consistently have at this annual gathering of carvers and friends.

A primary reason for our satisfaction is how well the show is run. The one individual who sees to that is the Marketing & Special Events Coordinator for Sauder, Dawn Hauter. This year, we gave her a token of our esteem and affection in the form of a stick decoy. She e-mailed this photo of the Killdeer decoy ensconced in her office-area. If you are a carver who has never visited or exhibited in this great show, contact Dawn at her office (below) she will fill-you-in. Maybe, we’ll see you there next year.

Dawn Hauter

Marketing & Special Events Coordinator

Sauder Village

22611 St. Rt. 2, PO Box 235

Archbold, OH 43502

419-446-2541 / 800-590-9755 ext. 3076

www.saudervillage.org

Happy birding and carving, Bill

Bald Eagle #3