Travian

Travian is a browser game with a world full of thousands of users who all begin as the leaders of small villages.» To the tutorial (in just 60s)

No download, the game is available immediately.
You play with thousands of real players in a persistent ancient world.
Build up villages, wage wars or trade untroubled with your neighbors.

Of course my user name is txswordmaker, and Theron's is Blue_Shadow. We have formed the Paladins alliance, and we'd love to have more players.

YES! It has been a long time.

Ok,

I know it has been a long time since I last posted, and many of the three people who were reading this sporadically have probably stopped. However, I have just been busy with work and boys' homework and just plain neglecting posting.

Many things have occur ed since the last post, but K has talked about most of them. Even she has gotten behind a little. I'm currently giving my first test to the students. I doubt they like me much anymore. Right? Some of them occasionally look at this. One of the rockets below disappeared after its first launch. A thorough search by me, the boys, mom, and some of the students yielded no results.

It's not too late to get in an order for something for Halloween, but it is getting close.

To answer Susie's question, I've never made a marshmallow gun, but I looked it up and I could probably do that. The ones I saw you had to blow into to make them work. I was trying to come up with a way to make it pump action using some kind of air flow control valve.

Now to see how long it takes to get someone to visit and read this. Maybe I'll get motivated to do this more frequently.

Oh...and one last thing...if you need something else to keep you busy...try Travian. Get on server 2 in the northwest quadrant, and I'll get you hooked into my alliance right away.

It's a Blast

With the boys back from rocket camp, we've started on a new project - rocket building. I got out my old rockets to find that the old shock cords and parachutes have deteriorated. Looks like I need to get some replacement parts. Anyway, we started making some new ones. There are three smaller ones...one for each boy.

Collin's

In paint (but not done yet...)

Shane's

Theron bought his own larger rocket called "The Guardian." It's next to his "small" one. The small one is the replacement for the one that disappeared at camp. It's ready for paint, but "the Guardian" has a ways to go.




I got this multi-stager (my first) for the whole family.

I'm looking forward to getting out there and launching soon.



Now, if someone needs a wooden sword, I'm still available for that. Looking for an order. In fact, I'll tell you what, the next three orders over $20, I'll give $10 off.

The Wolf's Den

As promised, I finally have pictures of the headboard that we made while the grandparents were here. Unfortunately, we were so busy making the headboard, that we forgot to document the process. I need to work on that when K isn't around to do it for us. Any way, here are some pictures of the finished product and the room it is in.


Since it is already installed and up against the wall, I tried to get a picture of the back side. I used 1/2 inch plywood and premium grade pine 1X3s. I cut the legs to extend past the bottom to the floor, so we could drill holes to attach it to the bed frame. The top piece goes all the way across both legs. The bottom cross bar fits between the legs. I know its hard to see.

We then covered the front with several layers of fiberfill batting and wrapped it over the top to provide a little cushion and lessen the chance for head bumping. Then we covered it with the heavy blue fabric Theron picked out, and stapled it around the back side. That pretty much did it.



Here are a couple of shots of the made bed and the room it is in - The Wolf's Den. The current occupant doesn't do pictures.

Happy Birthday to the Cat in the Hat

Please join me in celebrating 50 years of the Cat in the Hat. I know I enjoyed Dr. Seuss' work and chances are, you did too. By sending the Cat in the Hat a birtday card, click here, you help get the book out to children that don't have a book.

Here is an exerpt from the foxnews.com article:

In honor of the 50th anniversary of the book, Random House has teamed up with Dr. Seuss Enterprises and First Book — a nonprofit organization whose mission is to give low-income children the opportunity to read and own their first new books — to create Project 236, a literacy initiative.

Haut said that like the literacy crisis that happened 50 years ago, today there is a crisis of children who do not own a book.

Project 236 works to end this crisis by donating a book to First Book for every birthday card that is sent to "The Cat in the Hat" and for every copy of the book that is bought, committing to donate at least 2 million books.

to read the entire article, click here.

Who is Keenan Wynn?

Ok, I was reading Wendy's blog, and it got me to thinking about Disney movies. As I was looking up The Absent Minded Professor, I noticed the character Alonzo P. Hawk. It stopped me. I had just heard that name over the weekend. So, to answer the title, Keenan Wynn played Alonzo Hawk in The Absentminded Professor. What other Disney movies also have this Character?

For Your Entertainment Pleasure...

I just wanted to call your attention to my video links down the right hand side. I've found some funny ones and posted them there. Sorry, if you were thinking something else. I've been spending time with my folks and haven't been able to get much done to put on here. I will be making a headboard for Theron today. While its not a sword or a cake (if you haven't already, you can stop by K's blog to see pics of the one I made yesterday), its still something I'm making. I'll get a picture up for you, Wendy. I can already see the comment asking where the pics are.

A Busy Sword Making Day

It's been a busy day of sword making here. I made one today for my six-year old's birthday using my latest production improvement.
You'll see the crossguard is thicker.
This technique keeps the blade stronger and provides better hand protection.
While I was at it, I made him a dagger and replaced the crossguard on Theron's sword. It was done it with the old technique, because there's no way for me to change it now.
Then we went into repainting mode. Shane got his whole set repainted in black and red, but used a metallic black on his sword.
Collin liked the look of the black and yellow contrast on this "kite" shield with his new sword and dagger.
Here is another shield in the standard "Heater" shape. I haven't repainted this one yet, because I wanted you to be able to see all the battle scars. They take a beating and keep on going.
Here is how I make the back. There is an adjustable strap that uses two rings and a web strap, and a sturdy handle for a solid grip. They are both bolted on so there's no worry about losing your shield in the heat of the battle.


Hopefully this gives you some new ideas on what is available. I look forward to hearing from you.

It's New, It's Cool, It's a Title!

Hmmmm...not sure why, but it won't let me add a title. (obviously, I got that fixed)

Interesting!

It's been a week since the last post, so I needed to refresh things. I'm working on a standardized price guide for the swords. I'll try to post it down the side like I did with the design features. Obviously, if you want something not on the basic list, I'm open to it, just let me know, and I'll work it up for you.

If something looks different on the chart from what I had posted previously, go with the chart. It's still a work in progress.

I just realized I can tag someone for the 8 intersting facts meme. Angie - TAG! I can't leave a comment though telling you you're tagged until you post at least a howdy. So, just make your first post the 8 interesting things.

Scars

Continued from Wendy's comments.

One of the three is from my sister. She claims she warned me to move out of the way of the swing. I remember it more of a threat..."If you don't move, I'll hit you." Another one is from diving over the toy box and getting caught on a hinge. I don't remember the third. I have one just like my son, Collin, in the corner of my eye. He got his last Thanksgiving Day, while I was home on my mid-tour. I got mine in third grade. I finally got called on to pass out the chapel program and tripped over my chair and whacked the desk behind and to the right. I got up and started going to the front to get the papers and the teacher said we needed to go to the Principal's office and I had no idea what I was in trouble for doing...tripping? Needless to say, it was to call my dad to go get stitches.

Then there's the scar on my foot from my previous post. And the one above my knee from sticking a knife into myself accidentally while on the way to a concert...and...and...

8 (hopefully) Interesting Things About Me

Well, I was tagged by my wife K to do the 8 Random Facts Meme.

Here are the rules:
- I have to post these rules before I give you the facts. got it
- Each participant (victim) posts eight random facts about themselves. that would be below
- At the end of the post, eight more bloggers are tagged (named and shamed). can't do it...unless I randomly picked victims, everyone I know has already done it.
- Go to their blog, leave a comment telling them they're tagged (cut and run). see above

I'll start with an answer to one of Wendy's questions left on a previous post.

1. I don't know what got me interested in swords and such, but I remember watching The Hobbiton TV around then. I've always loved the fantasy genre...even before it was a recognized genre.

2. Speaking of The Hobbit, I've read it 13 times completely through. The first time was in 7th grade. It took me about 2 days as I raced my sister who had to read it and was taking forever. I've also read The Lord of the Ringsat least 9 times, The Silmarilliontwice, and The Tolkien Companioncover to cover once.

3. I started making swords out of election sign stakes. I would use my pocket knife to put an edge on them and carve a handle. Obviously, they've evolved and improved over time. I would organize neighborhood battles and everyone had their stuff painted to identify them. My items were always solid gold. I preferred a long sword and shield, while my brother preferred a quarter staff painted gold, black, gold, black, gold.

4. One time I was running with a "knife" shoved down my sock and hit it on the car bumper and thrust it into my foot. I went to the Schlitterbahn the next day. Not a good idea. It got infected while I was there and swelled up huge, and I started running a fever and got all sick. Kinda sucked.

5. I really enjoy going to the Renaissance Festival. I really get a kick out of dressing up. My mom says I used to dress in costume for high school, too. Guess I did have a couple.

6. Speaking of high school, this year is my 20th reunion. Don't know if I'm going to be able to make it. We have a lot going on, but I missed the 10th and I would really like to go.

7. See that shield/crest by my name? I drew that while sitting at a conference about 10 years ago. I just started doodling and then refining my dragon. Next thing I know, I had put the crest together. I've been using it on everything since. I even sneak into work papers and presentations. Before the conference was over, I had drawn crests for over half the people there.

8. In keeping with K's number 8, when she met me I had long hair and an earring. Her hair was long then, too, and she had crimped it for the party. I liked it.

I could probably keep going, but chances are that this will come around again, or I'll need to post something new to keep my wife interested in stopping by my page. Hopefully that rambling didn't scare too many people and you'll be intrigued enough to stop by again and see how I've embarrassed myself, or maybe even decide you need a sword or five. I recommend arming the whole neighborhood for a birthday party. The kids love it and they keep playing with them for a long time. I could make some kind of volume party package. Let me know if you're interested.

Look K...completely clean...no talk about length of swords or how best to use them to achieve desired results.

Trying to Fix the Confusion

OK. Its getting late and we've been out and about all day. So, this won't be a really long post. I'm sure K will get pics of the day's outing up sometime soon. I did some work this evening to create pictures of the various components that can be put together for your sword (should that be what you're here for). Scroll down the right hand side and peruse the "menu" choices. That should make choosing a sword much easier, but scale and wood choice still need to be decided upon. I'll try to get some example/suggested lengths up soon.

First Attempt to Answer the Burning Questions

Howdy! I know it has been a while since the last post. It is nice to see that a few folks have stopped by and expressed an interest in my swords. I know it seems like it should be an easy question to answer - "How much is a sword?" - but since I customize my swords it is not quite that easy. In order to answer that question, I need to ask a few questions. If you want to send an email to me, (it is on my profile) with the answers, I will put it all together and send you a sketch and a quote.

1. Whom is the sword for? This is to estimate the correct size (scale) of the sword style desired.
2. What do you want to do with it? If you just want to display it (like the crossed swords I have in our basement), then I use lighter wood and add more details. If you want to be able to do combat with it, then I use hard woods and make a sturdier variety. This will also make it heavier. For younger children, I recommend using pine instead of oak. It is easier to lift and hurts less if you are hit by it, but they do take damage and will not last forever.
3. What style do you want? Cutlass, straight blade, leaf blade, one-edge, two-edge, dagger, Roman, etc.
4. What shape/style of hilt? I have several different options for grip shape, pommel, and cross guard. I will post pictures of different options when I am not at work.
5. Do you want it painted or unpainted? We can discuss color choices via email.

Those are really the basics. Seems like a lot, but I want to make sure you have a sword that fits your needs and styles and will be enjoyed for a long time.

I also make shields and will post some pictures of those soon. In addition, I am working on some other types of weapons, like axes and maces. Someday, I hope to get adventurous enough to try bows. If you have a special request, fire away!

Now with all that in mind, a painted oak sword like “mine” with the blue handle would be $75.

A painted pine cutlass like the one shown would be $25, $35 in oak.

The straight sword under mine would be $15 in pine or $25 in oak (Recommended sword for children who are going to use them in combat against each other).

Short swords like the two with the ball and claw pommels would be $50 in pine/redwood or $75 in oak.

Long Awaited Pictures

Ok, it may not be loooooong awaited, since this blog has only been in existence for a couple of days, but pictures do seem to be in demand by those that have visited. So here is a picture of some of what I call "dress" swords. The red and blue pommels mark which son they were made for. I still have to make one for the youngest. I have the sword blank made, I just need to finish it.

These are made from red cedar and as such are way too soft to be used in combat. I found this out through experience. I then switched to pine, which is a nice inexpensive way to go, but also, not the longest lasting in heavy combat. Here is one made of pine around 1986, but not used in combat.

One day I was looking through some wood I had laying around, and this piece just cried out to be a cutlass.

These next two have seen extensive use in combat. They are both made from red oak. I recommend this as a wood choice, but it does double the cost. The blue-handled one is "mine" for those that wanted a picture of "my" sword.

I liked the way the flash bounced off this one. I'll put some close-up detail shots below.

Getting Started

Ok, someone special told me I should try out making my own blog to see if anyone has an interest in the wooden swords I make. So here it is. I'll get some pictures soon and start seeing if I get any response.