Sheilajeanne

Having harvested native black walnuts for eating, I've had a bit of experience with them. You need to let them sit until the husks are rotting off the nuts, as peeling each individual nut is very time-consuming when the husk is still tight to the nut. Walnuts contain a toxin name juglone, so you will want to protect your skin from it. It will also dye your skin a beautiful shade of brown...ask me how I know! As for the eating part, you need to wait until Christmas before eating them, as they are mildly toxic before then. Cracking them open is extremely difficult - we wound up putting them in the vice on the workbench and turning the handle until they cracked under the pressure, and bits went flying all over the room. It really wasn't worth the effort for the small amount of meat you got from the nuts. We did find a use for the uncracked nuts, though. They made absolutely indestructible cat toys!

Lovely! That's some pretty complicated stitching - tight corners. Curious to know jow much of it is machine stitching vs. hand?

Last winter was really mild in S. Ontario, with very little snow. This winter is making up for it. We've been down below 0 F a couple of times (-18 C) and there's been no shortage of snow, either. We've been luckier than some areas which have been blasted with unbelievable amounts of lake-effect snow. Bracebridge and Gravenhurst have been particularly hard hit. This picture was taken a few weeks ago in Gravenhurst. The man is 6' 3" tall, and they picked him to go out and look after the animals in the barn, because he was the tallest person! Power was out in many areas for several days, and many people were trapped in their homes without heat or light. Those who had snowmobiles went around checking on their neighbours, and some had to be evacuated to warming centers. Muskoka paramedics were prepared:

Sup, it was Fred, not me. I use a thick piece of belly leather to punch into after a plastic cutting board damaged my stitching irons. When stitching, the only thing I use wax for is beeswax to keep fake sinew thread from separating.

We appreciate all your hard work, Johanna! Will let you know if I spot any problems.

Your work is AMAZING!!

Ma was in the kitchen fiddling around when she hollers out, "Pa! You need to go out and fix the outhouse!" Pa replies, "There ain't nuthin wrong with the outhouse." Ma yells back, "Yes there is, now git out there and fix it." So Pa mosies out to the outhouse, looks around and yells back, "Ma! There ain't nuthin wrong with the outhouse!" "Ma replies, "Stick yur head in the hole!" Pa yells back, "I ain't stickin my head in that hole! "Ma says, "Ya have to stick yur head in the hole to see what to fix." So with that, Pa sticks his head in the hole, looks around and yells back, "Ma! There ain't nuthin wrong with this outhouse!" Ma hollers back, "Now take your head out of the hole!" Pa proceeds to pull his head out of the hole, then starts yelling, "Ma! Help! My beard is stuck in the cracks in the toilet seat!" To which Ma replies, "Hurts, don't it?!"

A man goes to his doctor and says Doctor, I think I'm losing my hearing." The Doctor says, "Can you describe the symptoms for me?" The man replies, "Sure. Homer is fat and bald, Marge has tall blue hair..."

Yup, I'll bet! According to him, Trudeau IS the governor of Canada, not the Prime Minister!

Take care, Chuck! I'll bet you're glad you're not in Colorado! Did you get much snow, or just ice?

Gezzer, your parcel still ain't got NOTHING on this one!

LOL. I heard that when people were homeschooling during COVID, some used the package tracking app for geography lessons! And although I'm sure the USPS is worse, Canada ain't anything to brag about, either. When one of my nieces sent a Christmas parcel to her sister in Manitoba, first province west of Ontario, it was first sent to New Brunswick, which is on the east coast..

One thing to be aware of - rabbit fur sheds - a lot! It is not very durable, so using it as a liner may be your best bet.

Prayers for you, and everyone else in its path!

Screengrab of a finished comb: The craftsman started out with a log of wood, which he sawed into sections to make the comb. He then decorated it with pieces of abalone shell and gold paint.

This is why! A very different craft than leatherwork, but equisetly beautiful! https://www.facebook.com/watch?v=3848821205352487

I think you need to be more specific about what sort of harness you are looking for. Are they for horses, dogs or human cosplay or sex play?

c. those blades are wicked sharp, and the risk of bleeding all over your workbench is fairly high! Utility knives are much easier to sharpen, but rotary blades I'd just replace, and I don't use them nearly as often as my utility knife.

Sooo true!

This is why I'm so disappointed that the local Tandy's (a 30 minute drive away) closed down recently. There's no substitute for being able to pick a piece of leather in person. Even then, I found when Tandy had their sales, you had to get there early if you wanted a really nice piece!

At first I thought the son was going to be a trainer for the Miami Dolphins football team! But yeah. Navy Seals is even better...

I'm guessing he's a teenager?

Al Stohlman's first leather stamps were made from nails and scrap metal. Whatever works...just be careful when using saws and other sharp instruments! This hobby has a tendency to make people bleed, and it's very hard to get the blood off the leather!

Thanks, Sam!