Fun

Talking How-to Video

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So, I’ve worked up this little video to talk about “why” it is important to have video on your website.  For example, did you know that having a video-like a how-to video- on your website can increase your Google ranking?  It’s true.  Scroll down, to the bottom of my website and see a couple more examples of videos I have created.  I also recently pulled together this little animation video describing why you need a how-to video. So, think about one of your products or services that might become even more popular, with your customers, and let’s talk video.

 

DIY: Out of a Frying Pan and into a Bird Feeder

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About a year ago I had found this funky square frying pan out on the street. The odd shape attracted me, yet the aluminum metal made it not the greatest frying pan. Fast forward to this year; I wanted a bird feeder and thought about the old frying pan.

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A trip to the hardware store [one of my favorite places to shop] gave me the bits and pieces I needed.

$1.19  1 -5/16″ threaded rod
$ .99  3- 2″ diameter washers @.33/ea
$ .57  3 -5/16″ nuts @.09/ea
$ .14  1-5/16″ cap nut
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$3.17  Total Cost

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Step 1: Removing the old lid knob
This actually proved to be the most difficult step of the whole project.  However, after some strong wiggling with the pliers, it popped off and left a small hole in the lid, from which I began.

Step 2: Enlarge the hole on the lid
I used a simple drill-bit holder [not professionally recommended, but it worked] to enlarge the hole left by the old lid knob.

Step 3: Prepare lid
As I wanted the lid to remain as a roof, I put the threaded rod into the hole and capped the outside top of the lid with the cap nut.  Then, I added the washer up into the inside of the lid and secured that with another nut.

Step 4: Preparing the bottom of the pan
I measured to find the exact center of the bottom pan, marked it and pounded the drill-bit holder to create a small hole.  This was easy, as aluminum is lightweight. I then used a series of drill bits [from my tool box] to further enlarge the hole until it would allow the 5/16″ threaded rod to pass through the bottom of the pan.

Step 5: Drainage
I pounded a few small holes into the bottom of the pan, to allow for any rain/snow drainage-again using the drill-bit holder.

Step 6: Screen lining
To keep the birdseed from falling through the drainage holes, I cut a small square of lightweight screen to line the bottom of the pan. Again, I poking a hole into the screen lining to allow the rod to pass.

Step 7: Attaching the bottom pan
I put a nut onto the threaded rod, then a washer, [just as I had done for the lid in Step 3] positioned the bird feeder onto the slotted perch [the old air conditioner shelf] and -from the bottom- threaded on the washer and the last nut.  I tightened the nuts-to fit snug and straightened out the bird feeder.

Step 8: Fill the feeder and wait.

I often see cardinals flying up and down our street, so I’ve added extra black sunflower seeds in hopes of attracting them to the feeder. I also hope the old air conditioner shelf will serve as a landing pad and dream the hungry birds will soon be perched up onto the edges of the frying pan and have a nice meal.

Shade Parade

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In the ‘Just for Fun’ department; this innovative video.

Jawbone’s UP Release

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I follow Fast Company and this is one of those things that is just so fabulous, I wished I had thought of it.  UP by Jawbone is a really revolutionary invention. You put on the wristband and then check in with your smartphone to check on: eating patterns, sleep cycles and exercise.  It costs $100 and will be available at Apple, Target, AT&T stores, and Best Buy.

Travis Bogard, Jawbone’s VP of product development sums it up perfectly, “Health isn’t about going to the gym three times a week. It’s about the thousands of little decisions that you make during the day. It’s about what you do in between those ‘healthy times.'”

Vintage PinUp Cothing Holiday Wish List 2011

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Looking around for some vintage pinup clothing I started to pull together some ideas for the upcoming holidays and then created this Wish List. I hope you enjoy turning the pages and exploring some fashionable ideas as much as I did creating this magazine.

 

Getz and Gilberto Perform ‘The Girl from Impanema’

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The arrangement is from the classic album, Getz/Gilberto, which launched the bossa nova craze of the early 60′s. The album was primarily a collaboration between Getz and Astrud’s husband, the guitarist and vocalist João Gilberto, but when someone got the idea of including an English translation of Antonio Carlos Jobim’s “The Girl from Ipanema,” Astrud was recruited. She had never sung professionally before. The recordings launched her as an international sensation.