Woodworking Plans

Thank-you for stopping by.

I found these plans on building everything from your simple bird house to constructing very elaborate furniture. The plans are very easy to follow. They give you a complete material list and cut list including any joinery that is required.

You don’t need a professional woodworking shop to accomplish building great pieces of furniture, really! A garage or basement with some basic tools is all that is required.

In fact you could just take the plans to a custom shop and have them cut all the pieces for you and then just assemble, finish it yourself and still have a heirloom treasure.

I know the price of  custom made furniture can be fairly high but, with these simple to follow plans, a little know-how, you will be producing your next project with pride…YOU MADE IT!!!

To view the Plans go here!

Happy Saw-Dust…

Roger Gaelens

5 ways to escape the escapist weekend

A Guest Post by Tomas Stonkus of Uncertain Change

It is Thursday. You are already thinking about Friday. It is Friday morning. You are thinking about Friday afternoon. It is Friday afternoon. It is here.

What do you do?

We all look forward to weekends because it is the time for us to relax, become refreshed, and energized. Ironically enough, only a few us manage to do that. The rest of us just use the weekends to escape from our problems, troubles, work, and “reality” all together.

Escaping does give us some time to forget everything else, yet it never solves anything.

I would like for all of us to stop escaping from ourselves and from our lives. I would like for all of us to use the weekends to energize our minds, our bodies and escape the escapist weekend. With that in mind, I would like to share little wisdom that I have and give you a couple of practical ways to make the weekends work for you instead of against you.

5 ways to escape the escapist weekend

1. contemplate

Spend time by yourself. Completely alone. Leave all distractions aside and just spend time in complete silence – away from the world. Just be there and think. Think about your life, about where you are going, what you are doing. More importantly, think about why you are doing certain things in your life. Do not be afraid. Nobody is going to judge you, grade you or scold you. This is the time to be honest and courageous with yourself and gain clarity about your own life. If you find thinking too difficult, then get a journal and jot your thoughts down you will see yourself as you really are.

Spend as much time as you think is necessary. Do not force yourself, let it all just come naturally. Your head will be brimming with thoughts about the past week, work, family, friends and so on. It is perfectly fine. Let it be and just watch it as if you were watching a movie. See what you like or what you do not like and think about how you can change it. I will share a secret with you. You know every answer to every single question you ever wanted to know. Just ask yourself and you will have the answer.

2. rest

Rest your body. You had a tough week. Waking up early and going to sleep late is a recipe for a disaster. You can put a stop to that during the weekend. Instead of staying up late, watching movies and then sleeping until noon the next day, find the time to go bed early and wake up early the next day. You will refreshed and ready to go! You might be tempted to lie in bed just a little bit longer or to go to sleep just a little bit later, but try to resist that temptation. You will reap the rewards not only during the weekend, but during the week as well.

Rest your mind. Your mind was working hard the whole week. It wants to rest. It is tired. Do not put any extra stimulus on it by watching television all day, spending it by a computer or reading news. If you absolutely have to use your mind, then try stimulating in such a way that creates a pleasant experience. You could try listening to some beautiful music, reading an entertaining book or just watching the clouds. When was the last time you looked at the sky looking for dragons, castles, birds, or elephants?Try it and feel like a kid again. You will love it. I guarantee it.

3. engage

Engage in something that you love doing. Do something that you always wanted to do, but never had the time to. Engage your mind and your body in activities that are different from what you do every day during the week. Go meet your good friends for a cup of tea. Call your friends and go see a play, an opera or just listen to some of your favorite music. Just do anything to remind yourself that you are alive and that you can have fun.

Doing something physical might help you relieve some stress from the week. It does not have to be anything competitive. Try going for a hike, a walk around the neighborhood or some yoga. Swimming is very calming as well. Sometimes we all neglect our bodies throughout the week, but if they do not experience any positive stress, then they will not grow. Your body wants to help you and be your friend. Do not forget about it.

4. organize

Organize anything that needs organizing. When things are in order and neat on the outside, it helps you to be calmer on the inside as well. You can organize your computer, your desk, room, house, do your laundry and so on. You can organize your life by preparing for the upcoming week by making sure you know your schedule, have all the tasks completed and not forgetting anything essential. If you feel like it, you could even do a couple of errands in advance for the coming week.

Having free time, does not mean that you have to waste it. You can help yourself tremendously by taking care of the small things. Do not overlook the weekend as the perfect time to get yourself together and be “on the top of your game” when the week starts.

5. learn

Is there something that you always wanted to learn. It might be learning a martial art, playing an instrument, learning how to dance, how to scuba dive, a new language, writing a book or a blog. Life is too short not to try new things every once in a while. By learning new things, you might be opening new opportunities. It is never too late to learn. Today is future’s yesterday. Do not hesitate. If you expose yourself to new experiences, you will automatically expose yourself to new people and ultimately make new friends!

More importantly, if you are stuck doing what you do not enjoy, then this is the perfect opportunity to learn a new skill, explore alternative options and set yourself up for a life that you really want.

Two days is a lot of time, if you use it wisely. Don’t pass up this opportunity to change your life for the better.

For My Wife…

“I have lost my way
I have made mistakes
And you still find the strength to believe
Oh there’s comfort there
Knowing you still care
And you’re still in love with me

When the night turns cold
When the dream grows old
When the world brings this woman To her knees
When my hope is gone
Your faith still stands strong
And you’re still in love with me

I don’t know how I could make it without you
Your love’s like the air that I breath
You must be an angel sent down here from heaven
the way that you watch over me

And after all these years
I can’t believe we’re here
And your still in love with me

Tonight I’ll thank my lucky star
You are who you are
And you’re still in love with me
You’re still in love with me” ~ Song by Larry Stewart

Freeware outdoes Windows’ built-in system tools

Most standard Windows maintenance tasks can be accomplished using the utilities included with the OS itself — but that doesn’t mean those tools are your best option.

If you’re looking for an easier way to browse the image files in a folder, there’s a (free) app for that.

PC users have no shortage of things to complain about. But we can thank our lucky stars for one thing: free software that’s constantly being created, revised, and improved. I unearthed one that make your computing life a whole lot easier without costing you a red cent.

Skim through graphics and PDF files in a jiffy

If you can get past the program’s clumsy name, the Scientific and Technical Documentation Utility (STDU) Explorer is a file manager that beats Windows Explorer by providing superior preview and thumbnail options. The program is designed especially for previewing and managing such image-file formats as .psd, .bmp, .png, .gif, .jpg, and .wmf. You can also use STDU Explorer to view Acrobat PDF files and DjVu books.

The file manager lets you skim quickly through folders chock-full of image and PDF files. Finding the one you need is facilitated by STDU Explorer’s thumbnail previews, which you can enlarge, shrink, or otherwise customize on the fly.

Use STDU Explorer’s slider control to resize file thumbnails on the fly.

The program’s preview pane is great for flipping through multipage files, and its familiar folder tree and Office-like toolbar simplify navigation and basic file-management tasks. One useful feature missing from the utility is an address bar for entering folder paths, but otherwise, STDU Explorer is a winner that works with all Windows versions.

You’ll find more information about the program and a download link on the product’s page.

Stillness is a Powerful Action

Find stillness in chaos.

“Activity conquers cold, but stillness conquers heat.” ~ Lao Tzu

It’s a bias of our culture that stillness is regarded as lazy, as being stuck in inaction, as a negative.
It’s not. It’s an action, and a powerful one.
What’s more, it can change your day, and in doing so change your life.
You’re in the middle of a frazzled day, swamped by work and meetings and emails and interruptions, or hassled by kids and phone calls and errands and chores.
You pause. Stay still for a minute, and breathe. You close your eyes, and find a stillness within yourself. This stillness spreads to the rest of your body, and to your mind. It calms you, centers you, focuses you on what you’re doing right now, not on all you have to do and all that has happened.
The stillness becomes a transformative action.
Stillness can be a powerful answer to the noise of others. It can be a way to push back against the buzz of the world, to take control. It can remind you of what’s important.
How to Practice
Stillness, oddly, doesn’t come naturally to many people. So practice.
1. Start your day in stillness. Whether it’s sitting with a cup of coffee as the world awakes, or sitting on a pillow and focusing on your breath, stillness is a powerful way to start your day. It sets the tone for things to come. Even 5-10 minutes is great.
2. Take regular stillness breaks. Every hour, set an alarm on your computer or phone to go off. Think of it as a bell that rings, reminding you to be still for a minute. During this minute, focus first on your breathing, to bring yourself into the present. Let the worries of the world around you melt away — all that is left is your breath. And then let your focus expand beyond your breath to your other senses, one at a time.
3. When chaos roars, pause. In the middle of a crisis or a noisy day, stop. Be still. Take a deep breath, and focus on that breath coming in, and going out. Find your inner stillness and then let your next action come from that stillness. Focus on that next action only.
Let stillness become your most powerful action. It could change your life.
“Through return to simple living Comes control of desires. In control of desires Stillness is attained. In stillness the world is restored.” ~ Lao Tzu

Detachment from STUFF

A Guest Post by Tony Teegarden of

Consider for a moment, what it means to live a life of detachment and what comes to your mind first? Ask yourself what do you feel at first thought?

Do you interpret detachment to mean you are disconnected from:

• people
• relationships
• your emotions
• society
• physical stuff

It’s important to measure and understand what your current belief around the idea of detachment is before you move forward with this post. Your attachment or belief around a particular definition is what ties your emotions to that particular event. Thus causing an experience whether good or bad.

So what is S.T.U.F.F.? I define stuff as, Scarcity That Undermines Freedom & Family.

I find it’s not so much the stuff that we accumulate that binds us, but the mental and emotional attachmentsurrounding the stuff that can cause us suffering such as our lack of emotional freedom and deeper connections with people.

Scarcity is a powerful human emotion that can hold us prisoner if we’re not aware of it. Our attachment to stuffis a form of scarcity that can effect our relationship with not only others but ourselves.

So what happens when you and I release any attachment to stuff and allow ourselves to live in the here and now, without scarcity on our minds? I call it emotional freedom and the opportunity to find or live our purpose. Remember the movie Pursuit of Happiness? It wasn’t called the pursuit of stuff was it? This is a form of detachment I’m going to cover.

Practicing Detachment

Now I’m the first to admit I like nice stuff. I admit I have a bit of a man crush on a Bentley GT Coupé, however I don’t have an emotional attachment to the car. I simply have an appreciation for the car as I would an amazing sunset. I have the exact same appreciation of those sunsets. It’s crazy to think I’d ever actually own a sunset isn’t it? Imagine if I had an emotional attachment to the sunset? Every time the sun went down I’d be a basket case. That would be pretty nuts of me, right?

Consider your same appreciation with physical stuff in your life and imagine not being so attached to it.

You can practice detachment through meditation where you find your connection within to all that is through out. For me this anchors me in my emotional freedom. It grounds me and I realize I don’t need stuff, I just like the experiences the stuff can provide. There are other ways you can practice detachment in your life. Some small and some may seem big.

“It’s not what I’m willing to learn or gain that will move me where I want to be, but what I’m willing to let go of that will allow me the freedom to be what I am.”

I got rid of traditional TV & cable going on 2 years ago now. I was willing to let go of my emotional connection to it and release it. Many people couldn’t imagine living without their TV shows however I can’t imagine wasting that much time watching them anymore. The mental clutter that it seemed to cause was only apparent after I stopped the steady diet of it.

For example: The attachment to be in front of the TV set at a particular time and night of the week was a small freedom unto itself. When I realized I didn’t require the distraction anymore I felt an emotional freedom which felt much better than the comfort of sitting in a chair and vegging out. I still enjoy a good movie night by all means. I’m not saying entertainment isn’t important however the steady diet of TV, like food or drugs, can be and usually is abused.

When you find yourself using something like TV as a distraction it’s time to detach yourself from it. Be aware of the scarcity that comes up, be mindful of it and gently send it on it’s way.

The 7 Benefits of Practicing Detachment from S.T.U.F.F.

1. Loving-Can there but a better result of detachment? Can you imagine the families that have argued over the stuff of loved ones who have passed away? Can you imagine the deeper connections and love that could be replaced if everyone practiced detachment of stuff? Or what about the father who spends too much time at the office away from his family because he’s attempting to create more stuff in their lives? I remember hearing you can always get more money but you can’t more time. Love while you can.
2. Laughing-Imagine if you were to play more games together with your spouse or family, or play in home karaoke, or charades? Go for more walks after work or play in the park with the family? Could laughter ensue? Of course it could! If you give it the space to flourish, your bound to have fun. The emotional freedom allows for so much more laughter.
3. Connection-Consider the ability to connect with more people and create deeper friendships. I can’t tell you how many times when I’ve broken out of my routine I’ve ended up meeting someone or a group of people that I’ve had an awesome connection with. New can be scary to some personalities but connection is something everyone wants. Give yourself the room to experience it.
4. New Experiences-I’m not saying you have to go out and bungee jump or go skydiving (Which I’ve done and it totally rocks) but think about this for a moment. You don’t want the stuff really. You want the new experiences that stuff provides you. That’s ok, when detaching from the pursuit of stuff you’re able to enjoy the ride along the way and yes you’ll probably end up with stuff anyway but without the attachment to it. Identify the experience you want to have and realize the stuff is just a means to the new experience.
5. Emotional Freedom-This is a place of zero state for me. It’s where some of my best creativity comes. Because I continue poor out I have more room to receive in. It has taken much work to be here but the work is worth it. This is really the result I believe more people desire, not the stuff in their life but the freedom.
6. Harmonious Living-Have you had one of those days where everything just seemed to go right? Where your relationships just seem to be in a great place? This very well can be a result of detachment of expectation and just being.
7. Healthy Body & Mind-It may go without being said that with the emotional baggage many carry around this has a huge effect on peoples health. What happens to the mind has an effect on the body. When you release this energy and release the attachment to stuff you experience the emotional freedom you really want. That’s the experience you really desire. This is the place where you start to nurture your body because your mind is released from stuff.

So ask yourself what you’d be willing to detach yourself from, even if for a short while, to test the emotional freedom waters. If you have family share with them what you’re desired outcomes are, like the 7 outcomes above, and I’ll bet you can get their buy in. Image how cool that would be.

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Success!

You have a whole universe from which to draw energy and resources. You have a deep and compelling purpose in which you can find endless motivation.
Visualize your ideal destination and align your life in the direction of success. Define precisely what success means to you, and then state your specific intention to achieve that very success.

 

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