Gifts: Part 4

Make a leaf drawing.

Turn it into an eCard.

Step 1:

Step 2:

Happy New Year!

Gifts: Part 3

Mancala: the oldest board game on earth. The ancient pharaohs played it. It is the game of kings and queens.

You may have seen it in I Heart Huckabees. Mancala hour.

Enjoy your own Mancala hour, or set up a friend.

Go on, sow some seeds...

Gifts for body...

Or, gifted body.

Don't let your yoga practice be obsolete. You can do this one day.

Making Gifts for the Holidays: Part 2

Snail Gardens:

Step 1: Find a shell.

Step 2: Find a wall with lots of interesting plants growing on it.

Step 3: Remove a piece of the plant matter.

Step 4: Stuff the plant matter into the shell! (add some soil first)

Making Gifts for the Holidays: Part 1

Shopping is out, making is in.

STILTS: not just for clowns.

This video shows a quick and easy way to get up on stilts, fast.

Here is a recipe for extra fancy stilts with shoes attached. Probably for a more advanced "stilter". Via the Internet Juggling Database, high grade stilts.
Try this video if you are a more visual learner. Make Stilts.

Anniversary Post- Tech-Fasting

It has been a little over a year now...


My Tech-Fast has concluded.

It was a good run.

Since I work on a computer, I decided to NOT spend my free time doing computer related things.
The blog suffered.
I did not.

Try fasting.

There has been a raising of awareness on how important it is to get time away from the screen.

Check this out:




Tech Fasting

For those of you who may need treatment:

Net Addiction Recovery

First U.S. rehab for Internet and online video game addicts opens in Washington state

According to reStart's Web site, current research suggests anywhere from 6% to 10% of the online population is dependent upon one or more aspects of cyber technology and the Internet - with multi-user gamers like World of Warcraft among the most addictive platforms.

Compulsive gamers, texters and Web browsers trade instant messaging and conquering fictional galaxies for bottle-feeding baby goats and building chicken coops on the five-acre Heavensfield Retreat Center.

"It is about helping people addicted to technology get through the withdrawal and help their brains get wired back to normal and connected to the world in a positive way," said Cash.

The live-in retreat is not cheap. The 45-day digital detox costs $14,500, plus cash for daily expenses like renting camping gear for wilderness adventures.

ReStart subscribes to a 12-step program, similar to drug and alcohol abuse and schools residents with a series of social skills workshops to reenter the real world.

"The typical gamer is somebody who has fallen way behind in social skills and lacks confidence," Cash explained.

Besides teaching conversation skills and how to read body language, reStart says that videogame addicts also typically need to be reprogrammed to be conscientious about everyday habits such as bathing, cooking and household chores - not to mention dating.

But the program's first patient seems to be doing well. He's discovered a love for animals while caring for a puppy, baby goats and chickens.

"He is thriving and his social skills are improving by leaps and bounds," said Cash. "He is finding himself very successful with the young women he encounters."

And you say you DIY...

On May 21, 1968, Proenneke arrived at his new place of retirement at Twin Lakes (a different cabin than shown below). He remained at Twin Lakes for the next 16 months, when he left to go home for a spell to visit relatives and secure more supplies. He returned to the lakes in the following spring and remained there for most of the next 30 years, coming to the lower 48 only occasionally to be with his family.

The actual location on the Upper Twin Lake, Alaska is at coordinates: 
60° 38′ 59″ N, 153° 48′ 38″ W                         


Please take a moment to see the beginning of Dick Proenneke's video "Alone in the Wilderness". His ability to flourish and build his cabin in the wilderness is astounding. He only uses hand tools! This is a true gem for anyone interested in preserving a simple life. You can see more episodes on YouTube, or buy the complete set at www.dickproenneke.com.