August 22, 2003

RunnerDuck Home

WELCOME BACK:   Once again we spent the weekend up at Sandy Point having fun working our butts off. If you remember we got our dock done but don't have any way to get to it except by dingy. Our project for last weekend was to install a new ramp. Last Friday we dug a large hole in the rock laden sand, built a form and tied rebar inside the form.

Saturday we started mixing cement at 9:30 in the morning and didn't finish pouring until 7:00 at night. We hand mixed (60) 60 pound bags of premix. For you non math types that's 1 1/2 tons of cement! My friend Tom loaned us a neat little cement mixer that rolls on the ground. You pour in the cement, add water, put the lid on, tip it over and roll it for about a minute. You twist the lid off and pour out the mixed cement, cool. While this was a slick thing to use it was still an awfully lot of work and after nine and a half hours it really got old.

Sunday our new 40 foot ramp arrived and we rolled it down to the dock, floated it out on a rubber raft and set it on the dock. The cement was still too green to take a chance of hooking it up to the cement block so we stopped there.

The ramp will be covered with 2" X 6" decking and one 12" strip of expanded metal down the middle for traction on those frosty or wet mornings. We went to the lumber store and got the decking to be installed this weekend. We stacked it very loosely because it is very wet from the pressure treatment. We're hoping that it will be dried out a little and easier to handle.
We also plan to run the electrical down to the dock so we can keep our batteries charged and a heater going during the winter. That should be one of the easier parts of this project but only time will tell. So there you have it, another fun filled weekend planned at Sandy Point.

We are currently in discussions with several crafters to sell their art pieces on our web site. Stay tuned for further updates as we finalize things. If you are a crafter who would like to sell their creations through our web site please drop us a line and we'll see what we can do. We currently only have one persons crafts on display, Ron Godin, but would love to add more. Check it out at www.runnerduck.com/craft.htm.
     You are logged on to this newsletter as [[-Email-]] and receiving it because you are a friend of mine or a friend of theirs.
     If you would like to be removed from receiving this newsletter just send an email to unsubscribe@runnerduck.com leaving the Subject and Body blank.

Thank you,
Ken and Marilyn

Check out our time saving QuickLinks.
Quick Links
(CLICK)

VISIT OUR HOME PAGE AT www.runnerduck.com

Check Out Archive Newsletters Here
Please visit our affiliate
sites listed below. Your
purchases help us keep
this newsletter going.
Thank you!

VirusAlert_125x125

Click here for thousands of old-time goods!
Search Now:
In Association with Amazon.com
Please vote for our newsletter at
120_60_2
Click Here Discount125x125
Launch your
web site for
only $9.95 per
month with your
special Duck Discount at

What's New This Week? For my birthday last Tuesday I (Ken) got a Villain IV twin motor off-shore racing boat manufactured by Traxxas. No, not a real off-shore racer but a 31" radio controlled speed boat. I've been wanting an RC boat for a long time and this year Marilyn surprised me with this really slick one. It came fully assembled with a transmitter and everything except the batteries and battery charger. She got me some high powered batteries and a dual charger so I can charge both batteries at the same time.
It will be a real learning experience to get control of it, especially at high speeds. They advertise that it will do around 20 MPH right out of the box. I've just finished putting all the decals on and should be giving it a shakedown cruse this weekend. Hopefully I'll have some neat pictures for you next week, with the deck side up!
My brother Ron has just gotten into flying RC planes in the past month. He is still learning to fly but has not tackled the landings or take-offs yet. He did land his plane in a tall tree a week or so ago so I guess he still has a way to go. The nice thing about the boat is I should not have that problem, no trees ;-)

DigiTalk

      I'm (Ken) one of those terrible geeks that takes all his digital stuff with him when I go camping or just about anywhere. While wireless technology keeps getting better there are still a lot of cables that I need. For the computer there is the power supply, the mouse, and modem cable to my cell phone. For my GPS there is the interface cable to my laptop and the power cord from the 12V power port to my lap top. Trying to keep all of these cables organized in my geek bag can be a real challenge. One thing that I've found that works pretty good for tying up cables when not in use is hair ties. They are those little elastic things with two plastic balls on them. Just coil your cable and tie it up with a couple of wraps using one of these ties. They work good and are reusable many times. They come in many different sizes so you can use them for big or small cables.

SITE OF THE WEEK

     The fair season is upon us. Yesterday the Evergreen State Fair started in Monroe, Washington and the third largest fair in the country, The Western Washington Fair, starts in Puyallup, Washington. These are great events to go to whether you have never been or have been going all your life. There are lots to see and do. We especially like to try and time our visit to coincide with the displaying of Runner Ducks. If you are going to be in the Washington State area over the next few weeks we'd highly recommend going to one of these fairs.
You can get the entire agenda at their web sites including all the fantastic entertainment that will be performing. For the Evergreen State Fair go to www.evergreenfair.org and if you want to "Do The Puyallup" go to www.thefair.com/page.asp?view=23. If you aren't going to be in our fair state then check out the fairs close to your home. No matter where they are you'll have a blast!


MARILYN'S CORNER

Card Note Pads

     There are about a bazillion things that you can make out of greeting cards and we think that this use is particularly cool. They'll be great to make with school coming up soon. Make several and give them to your friends.


Here's what you'll need:
  • Greeting Cards
  • Yarn
  • Hole Punch
  • 3" X 5" Note Pads
Cut the cards down to about 4" X 6". Be sure to get the design or picture you want centered in the cut out.
Cut out the back of the card to the same size.
Cut out one more blank piece of card 2" X 4".
Put all three pieces together and round the corners so they all line up. The short card will only line up with the one end.
With a hole punch poke holes all around the edges about 3/8" in.
Crochet all around the cover with the picture.
Align the two pack pieces, one full size and one half size, and crochet all around their edges.
Now crochet the front and back together at the top.
Slip the cardboard of a 3" X 5" note pad into the pocket on the inside back and you are ready to start taking notes.

     We hope you enjoy Marilyn's Corner and look forward to all the fun things she brings you each week. If you have a fun project that would be suitable for our newsletter we'd love to share it with our readers. Just contact marilyn@runnerduck.com and we'll do the rest.

Remember we have all of our past projects archived on our web site at www.runnerduck.com. Just click on the Projects or Kids Only Eggs.


Back to School Boutique



      We have some great bargains on back to school items plus free shipping on orders over $75. Take a couple of minutes and check them out, you won't be disappointed.
Just click on the link below.

Back To School Bargains
Click Here

The Tempos
News and CD of the Week

The Tempos have taken a little vacation but are ramping back up for the fall and winter season. If you have an event that requires the music of a really great big band be sure and check out The Tempos. This sixteen piece band will make any event something really special to remember.


     Don't forget that The Tempos big swing band is available for hire. If you have a special event that could use the wonderful music of a classic big band be sure to contact thetempos@runnerduck.com.

      As many of you know by now we love all types of music. We often feature big band swing because that's the music that I play as a drummer but classical has always been a favorite. Yo-Yo Ma is today's premier musician performing with many of the worlds great orchestras. This CD, "Silk Road Journeys: When Strangers Meet", really caught our attention and we believe you'll love it too.
Jean Vignes, from Santa Barbara wrote this about Silk Road Journeys, "One of the most exquisite, haunting, creative and sumptuous works of musical art to be produced in my lifetime. I cannot play this CD as 'background' music; it captures 100 percent of my heart and mind each time I play it. It is breathtaking and disturbing and almost heartbreakingly beautiful."


(CLICK)

Remember, we have a link on our web site, www.runnerduck.com, to our ever popular Grammy® Shopper site. If you haven't been there yet just click HERE to see all the 2003 Grammy® winners complete with links to purchase any one of them.


CONSERVATION TIP

      We got a good response to our request for conservation tips. We'd like to get more so if you have one please send it to conservation@runnerduck.com.

The first suggestion we got was from Otto. He writes, "Have you ever had a perfectly good umbrella, especially the larger golf sized ones, ruined because the tips on the end of the rods break leaving you with a partially deployed bumber chute? The fabric is fine but you end up trashing an otherwise perfectly good umbrella.
The solution that I've come up with cost pennies and works fine. Go to the sporting goods department of your favorite store and ask for arrow knocks. These are the little plastic (or composite) tips that are on the 'non-pointy' end of the arrow that the line from the bow fits in. Remove the broken fabric holder from the end of the umbrella rod and EPOXY the arrow knock in place. I use 5-minute epoxy as is sets up fairly quick and is not a brittle. You may have to shave one of the tines on the arrow knock to the correct size to have the loop of thread from the umbrella skirt fit over it. Ta Da permanent fix, bumber chute back in service.
You may want to try and match the color of your existing tips (black probably). My first repair job was with florescent green and I still take some ribbing about it.

Thanks Otto for the great tip.

If you have a conservation tip please send it to conservation@runnerduck.com and we'll post it in our newsletter.


JOKE OF THE WEEK

Jesus and "The Redneck" from Roger H. An Irishman in a wheel chair entered a restaurant one afternoon and asked the waitress for a cup of coffee. The Irishman looked across the restaurant and asked, "Is that Jesus sitting over there?" The waitress nodded "yes," so the Irishman told her to give Jesus a cup of coffee on him.

The next patron to come in was an Englishman with a hunched back. He shuffled over to a booth, painfully sat down, and asked the waitress for a cup of hot tea. He also glanced across the restaurant and asked, "Is that Jesus over there?" The waitress nodded, so the Englishman said to give Jesus a cup of hot tea, my treat.

The third patron to come into the restaurant was a Redneck on crutches. He hobbled over to a booth, sat down and hollered, "Hey there, sweet thang, how's about gettin' me a cold glass of Coke!" He, too, looked across the restaurant and asked, "Is that God's boy over there?" The waitress nodded, so the Redneck said to give Jesus a cold glass of coke, on my bill.

As Jesus got up to leave, he passed by the Irishman, touched him and said, "For your kindness, you are healed." The Irishman felt the strength come back into his legs, got up, and danced a jig out the door.

Jesus also passed by the Englishman, touched him and said, "For your kindness, you are healed." The Englishman felt his back straightening up, and he raised up his hands, praised the Lord and did a series of back flips out the door. Then Jesus walked towards the Redneck. The Redneck jumped up and yelled, don't touch me......I'm drawin' disability!!!!!"

   THIS WEEK'S FREE RECIPE

Raw Carrot Cake
      We are continuing to try and find recipes that will take advantage of the vegetables you harvest from your garden. This week's recipe comes from Jessie Valentine and we think you'll find it very delicious.
  • 3/4 Cups Oil
  • 1 Cup Sugar
  • 2 Cups Flour
  • 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt
  • 1 Cup Raw Carrots, ground
  • 2 Eggs beaten
  • 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla
  • Nuts to suit
Mix all ingredients and put in a greased loaf pan.
Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees F.
Let cool for 30 minutes then take from pan.
It's best baked a day ahead of time.

Thanks Jessie for this great recipe.

Remember, if you have a recipe you'd like to share please send it to marilyn@runnerduck.com.

     Every month we post a new recipe on our web page. Be sure and check out the August recipe at the RunnerDuck Kitchen Store.
We'd be happy to post your favorite recipe there or in our newsletter and give you credit. Just drop a line to marilyn@runnerduck.com.


COOKBOOK
SUGGESTION OF THE WEEK

"The Bread Baker's Apprentice: Mastering the Art of Extraordinary Bread" by Peter Reinhart

Have you ever wanted to get serious about bread making? This is the most extraordinary bread making book you'll find anywhere. A reader from Fenton, MI. wrote; I have six or seven bread books I've collected over the past ten years. The authors of these books have played an integral part in my development as a home baker (Marilyn M. Moore, Beth Hensperger, Bernard Clayton, Jr.) and I have tested and tasted breads from my own kitchen with much satisfaction. I'd reached a point where I thought my baking was as good as it was going to get without having very expensive commercial equipment but was pleased to learn, after ordering The Bread Baker's Apprentice, that there is indeed a new level of excellence using everyday tools and ingredients. Mr. Reinhart's stories, photos, techniques, and recipes yield better results than you could ever imagine. The bagels have spoiled me. The artisan breads have spoiled my entire family. This is a fine book to own and work with.


(CLICK)

Be sure and visit the RunnerDuck Cookbook Store for other great savings on cookbooks and cooking supplies.


GREAT DEALS FOR RunnerDuck SUBSCRIBERS

New Cooking.com Exclusive! From the popular Calphalon Commercial Hard-Anodized line comes this specially priced 3.5-qt. Windsor Sauce Pan.
This unusual pan, with its flared sides, makes all the difference when cooking a sauce that needs reducing. The shape makes it easier to stir the sauce with a spoon or whisk. A flat, well-fitted lid prevents heat from escaping.
Quantities are limited so get yours right away! Only $39.99.
Just Click Here to take advantage of this great offer.

PROJECTS

Recipe Box Bookends


     A couple of weeks ago we made a really nice little recipe box. Well this week we are making two and turning them into bookends.

Here's what you'll need:

  • 2' X 2' X 1/4" plywood
  • 12" X 6" X 1/2" Poplar
  • (4) 1/2" hinges
  • Small Brads
  • Glue
  • 2 metal bookends
This project uses 15 degrees for a lot of the cuts. The measurements are to the longer side so you will cut back 15 degrees.
Cut (4) side pieces of 1/4" plywood 6" X 5".
Cut 15 degrees from the top corner to the other side.
From where that cut meets the other side cut 90 degrees down to the bottom. See Picture.

Cut (2) backs 5 1/8" X 6". The cut across the top should be beveled 15 degrees.
Cut (2) fronts 4 13/16" X 5 1/8". The cut across the bottom should be beveled 15 degrees.
Cut (2) bottoms 3 7/16" X 5 1/8". The cut across the front should be beveled 15 degrees.
Cut the top from 1/2" wood, 6" X 5 7/8". The cut across the back should be beveled 15 degrees.
Nail the boxes together using glue and small brads. I found it easier to hold one piece in my vice while I aligned and nailed the other.

Screw the hinges into the back and lid. The bevel of the lid should be flush to the back of the box.
Now the creative part. Paint the boxes to look like little houses or bird houses.
Attach metal bookends to the back of the box.

That's it! Now organize your cookbooks and recipes into these neat bookends.

We hope you've enjoyed this project and have good success with it. Remember, if you ever have any problems with our projects just drop us a line and we'll try to help. Since we build every one of these projects we have a pretty good idea of how to get through them. We also make lots of mistakes so we can help avoid them. If you have a project that you would like to share please drop us a line and we'll help get it published in the RunnerDuck review. We are looking for woodworking, gardening, crafts and kids projects so send us your thoughts at projects@runnerduck.com .


The RunnerDuck web site is hosted by

If you are looking for a great hosting service at a terrific price check them out at www.fastwirenetwork.com. If you mention that you heard about them from RunnerDuck you will get a $5.00 per month "Duck Discount" for as long as you have your account.

     If you want to talk about something just drop us a line at duckmaster@runnerduck.com any time, we like to talk about most anything. We are always looking for content for our newsletter so if you have something to add we'd love to publish it. Assuming it meets our strict family oriented requirements!

     If you forward these newsletters to your friends just drop us a line and we'll do it for you. Just send us their email address and we'll do the rest. Remember, we never share our email list with anyone, period! Just drop me a line or go to our registration page and sign up your friend.

If you enjoyed this newsletter please tell a friend, if you didn't please tell us but in a nice way, we're very sensitive.

To unsubscribe just click HERE. or send an email to unsubscribe@runnerduck.com.

duckmaster@runnerduck.com

Please tell a friend about RunnerDuck Review

It only takes a second and you can
use the simple little form at
www.runnerduck.com/
register_a_friend.htm
.

All rights reserved, RunnerDuck Productions, 2000, 2001, 2002.
RunnerDuck and its logos are property of
RunnerDuck Productions.
All other logos are property of the individual companies.
We can be contacted at duckmaster@runnerduck.com.

Past RunnerDuck Review Newsletters