Hobby Thread - December 20, 2025 [Ornamental Rex]

Welcome hobbyists! Pull up a chair and sit a spell with the Horde in this little corner of the interweb. This is the mighty, mighty officially sanctioned Ace of Spades Hobby Thread. As previewed, the Ace of Spades Wheel of Hobbies (TM) landed on Christmas Ornaments, Part 2.

Last week, the call went out for Horde Christmas ornament submissions. Are you thinking "I'm a grinch that did not submit an ornament, but I am eager to see what others submitted. I can't wait to get into the content!" I knew it. Enjoy.

[Top Photo: The Official Club ONT Restroom token Christmas ornament.]

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What are you hobbying?

As per usual Hobby Thread etiquette, keep this thread limited to hobbying. All (legal) hobbying is welcome. However, politics, current events and religious debates can live in threads elsewhere. Pants are optional but please fully assess the temperature situation if you choose to go without. Puns are welcome and encouraged. No AI was used in the preparation of this post. Commentary on active sporting contests is permitted.

Play nice. Don't be a troll and do not feed the trolls.

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Wrote this last week and still seems to apply, so works for a repeat.

Christmas ornaments are more than plastic, wood, metal or glass. They may have aesthetic value but usually they are important and valued because of their origin story. Could be a special person or relative that gifted it. Could be someone that made it. Could be a treasure from travels or a family tradition. Could be the age and previous owners. Ornaments often have value because of their meaning.

THANK YOU to Morons who submitted treasures for the thread content. Enjoy their stories and share some of your own.

Stories of any holiday crafting is welcome on the thread this week.

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From Piper:

This beautiful angel means so much to me. Every time I look at it, I smile, not just because it's lovely (it truly is), but because it reminds me of the extraordinary way paths cross. Who would have thought that a little corner of the internet - a blog, of all places - would bring together people who would become such genuine, wonderful friends? But that is what happened.
Not only this, but my mom collected angels, which made this even more special - and exactly what I needed. This Angel came with a message that I still read to bring me encouragement during tougher days. I wish everyone a Christmas filled with warmth, peace, and the same kind of unexpected joy this angel has brought to me.

20251220-78795151056__A2BDD40E-5596-4234-964C-08D5282FC8D4.jpg

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From ARiK:

The Rocking Horse Baby's First Christmas was from our first child. A special Christmas in many ways.

The bird is from my parents tree and dates back to at least the 1950's. I hope he doesn't poop on my favorite car below it!

Last is the manger scene showing the possibly apocryphal fourth Magi on the far right. Little is known of him except that he arrived late bearing no gifts because his tiny arms were too weak to carry anything. Some sources say he ate one of the sheep but this cannot be confirmed.

Ha! Outstanding! I'm glad to see that your nativity set contains all the historically accurate pieces. Well done. Mystery click for you.

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From Westside Dano:

Neurosurgeon next door devoted himself to woodcarving after retirement. Every Christmas he gifted us a unique piece. You can see he was active in Kiwanis (with my dad). These occupy a place of honor on our shelves each Christmas.

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From tRusty Christmas:

I've had this wreath since my first truck, a 1985 GMC Jimmy - which tRusty #2 now calls his own. But it looks really good here, on my '52 Hornet.

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From Sinead in AK:

My brother made a dozen reindeer ornaments out of wine corks for my tree before he passed away in 2019. They are precious to me. Merry Christmas to all!

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From Skip:

These and dozens more were hand painted by me, some by my wife decades ago. Not sure where we got them every year. Pottery Barn maybe? Found a few not painted first.

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From Stephen Price Blair:

We had a lot of homemade clothes and homemade ornaments when I was growing up. I still have a few of them. We each had a cloth horse head ornament meant to hold a candy cane, which was ours to take on either on Christmas Eve, or on Christmas morning before everyone was awake - we couldn't open our gifts until everyone was at the tree.
I'm somewhat ashamed to say that as I got older I was often the one who slept in longest. However, on Christmas Eve there was one small gift we were allowed to open and on Christmas morning we could open our stockings. The combination kept us happily busy while waiting for the whole family to appear. I don't remember when the horse head candy canes were fair game, but probably in the morning since they constituted a decoration and I doubt we were allowed to raid the tree itself until Christmas arrived.
I posted this photo to our family chat last week and discovered that the colors on this ornament are the school colors one town over, where my dad grew up. Each ornament had different colors, so now I'm wondering if they all had some significance known only to mom! (More likely they had significance that mom thought was obvious and which I was completely oblivious to.)

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From OrangeEnt:

A couple of pix from handmade Christmas decor for next week. The first one is a nativity scene I made in first grade in 1968. It was intact until 2023 when I broke off the tip of the pine tree and lost one of the sheep. Also, Mary lost her head, which I was able to superglue on. It will never be packed away again.

The second one is a die cut wooden scene the youngest painted a couple of years ago.

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From BarelyScaryMary:

This is my beloved Blow Mold Santa. My grandparents had one like him when I was little and I loved him. This one I scored at a thrift store. He's a little beat up but jolly and reminds me of happy times with family.

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From Sabrina Chase:

The one on the left is one of a set passed down in the family for generations. I think it is German. The other is a very energetic (and heavy) enamel dragon. All supported by my *fully home-grown tree*!

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From Mrs. IS Roth:

These are three of my favorite ornaments from recent years. Many years these end up being some of my less-complicated embroidery because by the time I finish making embroidered Christmas cards, I am all Christmas-embroideried out, but I do always make something different, so that each one can remind us of that particular Christmas.

These are icicle ornaments I make from flat wire. The twist is done with a jig my husband, IS ROTH, made for me. The shepherd's crook at the top is freehand, and helps make it more of a Christmas ornament instead of just a winter ornament. The ones I make for other people are uniform, but mine are varied, ostensibly under the theory that being varied makes them more real-looking as a group, but also because I experimented with different twist-rates before settling on one, and IS ROTH would have been more inquisitive about how much the experiments were adding up to if I had not had a use for them.

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By popular demand...

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Where are handmade wooden Christmas ornaments made in Germany?

Have a close look at this picture from our collection:

Now watch this video. This is in German but worth watching even if you don't know German. Special interest for the woodworkers and whittlers. The pictures speak for themselves.

Yes, it exists and everything is as charming as it looks. Sadly, becoming too expensive to survive.

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Did you miss the Hobby Thread last week? We did an Christmas Ornament theme. The comments may be closed, but you can re-live the content.

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Notable comments from last week:

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Words of wisdom:

"Because despite all our troubles, when things are grim out in that wide round world of ours, that's when it's really important to have a good hobby." Posted by: tankascribe at June 22, 2024 07:41 PM (HWxAD).

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If you have trouble finding something in the content or comments that resonates with you, seek professional help. Send thoughts, suggestions and photos of your hobbying to moronhobbies at protonmail dot com. Do mighty things.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 05:30 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Hey gang! Does everyone have their Mao and Che ornaments on the tree?

Posted by: OrangeEnt at December 20, 2025 05:30 PM (uQesX)

2 Welcome Hobbiests

Posted by: Skip at December 20, 2025 05:30 PM (Ia/+0)

3 1st!

Posted by: Matthew Kant Cipher at December 20, 2025 05:31 PM (kOluj)

4 Nope - wishful thinking. Howdy Horde Hobbyists!

Posted by: Matthew Kant Cipher at December 20, 2025 05:32 PM (kOluj)

5 Been working and settling up a historical miniatures game, making buildings, table. Will have the report next week on it.

Posted by: Skip at December 20, 2025 05:33 PM (Ia/+0)

6 Best holiday tree memory from my childhood was my grandparents had a very high ceiling, yet my grandfather still got a tree too tall. So the top got cut off and went upstairs, decorated and all.

Posted by: Skip at December 20, 2025 05:35 PM (Ia/+0)

7 Spouse finished setting up the decorations on our "Towel rack" tree . Aside from family ones of decades ago, my favorite ornament is some craft toy made in son's church related pre school . It is a yellow circular thing made from fabric with little fabric cutouts of trees and snowmen with a picture they took of son at the top. He looks like he was either sad or they woke him up from a nap, but it's very endearing.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 20, 2025 05:40 PM (Nx5jP)

8 That 1944 wheat penny could be worth a hundred thousand dollars $$$.

Or about 25 cents.
Got one for change at a drive through a few weeks back.
Had to look it up. They had some weird pennies in 1944. Some. Like a few dozen.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at December 20, 2025 05:40 PM (/lPRQ)

9 I bought some mini Bluetooth speakers and placed them behind some of my paintings. I found that you can find almost any sound effect on the intertubes you want that matches up with the painting .

I don't know if I'm the first to do it but I find it to be pretty neat adding another of the senses when viewing a painting.

Posted by: Opinion fact at December 20, 2025 05:41 PM (KDPiq)

10 Bought some oil paints, brushes and sponges today to try some weathering techniques for my models I've been seeing on YT.

Posted by: PA Dutchman at December 20, 2025 05:41 PM (31p00)

11 One token over the line.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at December 20, 2025 05:42 PM (pkeXY)

12 Ahoy, landlubbers!

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at December 20, 2025 05:42 PM (+HNx/)

13 However, politics, current events and religious debates can live in threads elsewhere.

--------

Damn. I really wanted to lay into those damned heretics who aren't toeing the line on the filioque controversy.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at December 20, 2025 05:46 PM (+HNx/)

14 Got one for change at a drive through a few weeks back.

I love finding old coins in change. Amazing that this bit of metal has been going from hand to hand for sixty, seventy, even eighty years. Mind you, I do collect them when I find them, but I have a dream that they’ll suddenly go back into circulation when I die for someone else to discover.

I am easily amused and prone to fantasy.

Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at December 20, 2025 05:47 PM (EXyHK)

15 Lots of good how to on model building on YouTube

Posted by: Skip at December 20, 2025 05:47 PM (Ia/+0)

16 13 I really wanted to lay into those damned heretics who aren't toeing the line on the filioque controversy.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at December 20, 2025 05:46 PM
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I'll allow it if you can express your sentiments in the form of a Christmas tree ornament.

Posted by: TRex - theological dino at December 20, 2025 05:48 PM (IQ6Gq)

17 The girl on the bubble lights box looks hypnotized.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at December 20, 2025 05:52 PM (pkeXY)

18 Dino!! Good idea to do Ornament Shots, Part Deux!

Love seeing the offerings from the Horde. Thank you all for sharing these little pieces of your Christmas magic.

Posted by: Doof at December 20, 2025 05:53 PM (QMAsf)

19 This is so fun! I love looking at the ornaments and nativities. I am elbows deep in glitter and icing for our annual gingerbread house build extravaganza!

Posted by: Piper at December 20, 2025 05:54 PM (ZdaMQ)

20
Grandma had a ceramic Santa Claus-head punch bowl with Santa Claus-head mugs set.

Posted by: Soothsayer at December 20, 2025 05:55 PM (4gq9k)

21 19 I am elbows deep in glitter and icing for our annual gingerbread house build extravaganza!

Posted by: Piper at December 20, 2025 05:54 PM
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Send photos!

Posted by: TRex - gingerbread architect dino at December 20, 2025 05:56 PM (IQ6Gq)

22
My other gramma made a little ceramic Christmas tree that would light up.

Posted by: Soothsayer at December 20, 2025 05:57 PM (4gq9k)

23 I attached my angel to my stocking on the mantle. I love her there.

Posted by: Piper at December 20, 2025 05:57 PM (ZdaMQ)

24 In Catalonia (Northeast Spain, around Barcelona), traditional Nativity scenes are like a whole village, not just the area of the manger. Off at the corner of the village, a little guy is squatting over and pooping. He is called “El Caganer” and you can order one on line. My wife is appalled by the concept, but I put him near my Walmart Nativity Scene on the shelf of the man cave.

Posted by: Fenderbender at December 20, 2025 05:58 PM (1FEc1)

25 14 ... I collected pennies as a kid in the 1950s and early 60s. Finding pennies from before WW I in pocket change was possible. I found a few Indian Head pennies now and then. Still have the collection booklets somewhere.

Posted by: JTB at December 20, 2025 05:58 PM (yTvNw)

26 Long ago wanted to one year build a real gingerbread house, never did.
Thought it should be 100% edible

Posted by: Skip at December 20, 2025 05:59 PM (Ia/+0)

27 Long ago wanted to one year build a real gingerbread house, never did.
Thought it should be 100% edible
Posted by: Skip at December 20, 2025 05:59 PM (Ia/+0)

The ones you find in kit form are too hard to eat.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at December 20, 2025 06:02 PM (uQesX)

28 I just love all the ornaments and stories that go with them, thanks to all who contributed....Merry Christmas to all!

Posted by: The Grateful - Acta Non Verba at December 20, 2025 06:03 PM (IQ6Gq)

29 Thanks for the special holiday edition of the Hobby Thread, T-Rex!

So great to see the Horde's ornaments. Treasures, one and all!

Posted by: Legally Sufficient at December 20, 2025 06:04 PM (kB9dk)

30 I like the tip for gingerbread houses that if you mess it up, just add a Godzilla figure and you have an awesome diorama.

Posted by: PA Dutchman at December 20, 2025 06:04 PM (31p00)

31 JTB, the oldest I’ve found are a 1939 nickel and a 1939 penny. The penny I found just last year while traveling for my dad’s birthday. It’s the year he was born!

Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at December 20, 2025 06:04 PM (EXyHK)

32 Skip- mine are technically edible. The glitter is edible, the glue is really thick royal icing. I wouldn’t eat it, because it will be old after staying out. And while edible, those little candies aren’t super delicious.

Posted by: Piper at December 20, 2025 06:05 PM (ZdaMQ)

33 Ya non nooding nabobs!

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at December 20, 2025 06:12 PM (Kt19C)

34 My mother had ornaments from late 1800’s Germany. When she passed, one of my brothers decided to trash most of her belongings unbeknownst to myself or my other brother. Needless to say that he had problems.
I still think about those ornaments and what they meant to my mother.

Posted by: RetSgtRN at December 20, 2025 06:12 PM (9vymN)

35
Bookmark this for later:

1974 KMART Store Christmas soundtrack:

https://is.gd/ngPQVh

Posted by: Soothsayer at December 20, 2025 06:12 PM (4gq9k)

36 I mentioned last week I would be doing some simple whittling projects like ball in a cage and the 5 minute owl or wizard. Trying to get some strength back in my hands after tendonitis (and a bit of aging). Therapy and fun. I found out my hands were weaker than expected so it will take some time. No matter. It can be pleasant just making wood chips. On a side note, as my hands get stronger this should help trigger control when target shooting.

Posted by: JTB at December 20, 2025 06:13 PM (yTvNw)

37 JTB exercise is all the world difference

Posted by: Skip at December 20, 2025 06:16 PM (Ia/+0)

38

Firestone Christmas albums

https://t.ly/1kUOv

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at December 20, 2025 06:17 PM (pkeXY)

39 JTB, I have something that will help your hand strength . I will get it to you after the mailing rush is over.

Posted by: Ben Had at December 20, 2025 06:19 PM (sDNVV)

40 I love the bird & car. The car looks like a 1950s Buick roadster -- that chrome "sweepspear" along the side is diagnostic. I'm not sure if all Buicks of that time had the chrome portholes on the fender, but that's a niggle. Nice car.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 20, 2025 06:20 PM (wzUl9)

41 34 My mother had ornaments from late 1800’s Germany.

Posted by: RetSgtRN at December 20, 2025 06:12 PM
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Sad trombone.

Posted by: TRex - vintage dino at December 20, 2025 06:21 PM (IQ6Gq)

42 Love the ornament photos people sent in and the stories behind them. That video of the shop in Germany was neat. The dioramas were creative and amazing. I really enjoyed watching the man making those curly Christmas trees using only a chisel. What a combination of touch and experience. Popular whittling teacher Chris Lubkemann does something similar on a small scale using a pocket knife. (Note to self. Get out one of his instruction books.)

Posted by: JTB at December 20, 2025 06:22 PM (yTvNw)

43 24 He is called “El Caganer” and you can order one on line. My wife is appalled by the concept, but I put him near my Walmart Nativity Scene on the shelf of the man cave.

Posted by: Fenderbender at December 20, 2025 05:58 PM
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I wish I could think of a more clever response, but I'll just applaud commitment to the cause.

Posted by: TRex - private pooping dino at December 20, 2025 06:22 PM (IQ6Gq)

44 Sort of a hobby, though not Christmas related: Miss Linda is working on a jigsaw puzzle. You can get those from the library now, it turns out. This 500-piece one has a slew of "rain forest animals" in various colors. I haven't done a puzzle in years and years, so I don't know how to go about putting one together -- aside from the obvious opening move of finding the edge and assembling that.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 20, 2025 06:22 PM (wzUl9)

45 39 ... "I have something that will help your hand strength . I will get it to you after the mailing rush is over."

Hi Ben Had,
Many thanks and no hurry. Rebuilding hand strength will take a while or I'll injure the damn thing again.

Posted by: JTB at December 20, 2025 06:26 PM (yTvNw)

46 I love that bird, because we inherited 3 just like it from my dear departed mother in law, who always had a fabulous Christmas at her house.

Posted by: Tom Servo at December 20, 2025 06:26 PM (0anTZ)

47 42 curly Christmas trees using only a chisel.

Posted by: JTB at December 20, 2025 06:22 PM
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The curly tree pictured above in the content (we call them "shaving trees") was made by his daughter - the woman in the video. She made it while we watched and we took it home with us. Mesmerizing to watch.

Posted by: TRex - crafty dino at December 20, 2025 06:27 PM (IQ6Gq)

48 I don't know how to go about putting one together -- aside from the obvious opening move of finding the edge and assembling that.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 20, 2025 06:22 PM (wzUl9)

Then there's that missing piece at the end.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at December 20, 2025 06:27 PM (uQesX)

49 OE, in your second pic, the white house looks like it's screaming -- sort of Nightmare Before Christmas-like.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 20, 2025 06:27 PM (wzUl9)

50 Sort by colors Wolfus.
My sister gav rd one to my mom abd dad but my mom doid most of it in the summer. Oddest puzzle I ever saw the pieces duplicated like every 4th one. So the piece would fit in a wrong spot yet color wasn't right.

Posted by: Skip at December 20, 2025 06:28 PM (Ia/+0)

51
Firestone Christmas albums

https://t.ly/1kUOv
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr.

I read "Flintstone" and said oh nice!

Posted by: Soothsayer at December 20, 2025 06:31 PM (4gq9k)

52 Sort by colors Wolfus.
My sister gav rd one to my mom abd dad but my mom doid most of it in the summer. Oddest puzzle I ever saw the pieces duplicated like every 4th one. So the piece would fit in a wrong spot yet color wasn't right.
Posted by: Skip at December 20, 2025

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I think that's what Linda is doing, sorting by the colors.

My view from plastic model-building days would be to put together each animal and set each aside, then put them (piece by piece) into place according to the box picture. This would require more room than she has. Fortunately she has no cats to mess things up.

Speaking of models: I've seen the Lego Enterprise 1701-D kit at my local store. The warp nacelles look a little short, and the saucer is much more of an ellipse than a disc, but it looks very impressive overall.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 20, 2025 06:35 PM (wzUl9)

53 My father absolutely hated his parents, one from Germany and one Yugoslavia. I am certain there were amazing recipes and prayers and customs passed down. I was never allowed to experience them. Our Christmas was always spent away from family. Just me and my brother and mom and dad.

It is so amazing some of y’all have hundred year old ornaments! How fun!

Posted by: nurse ratched at December 20, 2025 06:36 PM (uns/F)

54 Excuses, excuses excuses. Due to my computer incompetence the picture I wished to send of the rustic church would not go through.

The Horde came through in magnificent style. Thank you.

Posted by: Ben Had at December 20, 2025 06:36 PM (sDNVV)

55 Question for the folks who do cross stitch. Can you suggest any sites or vendors that cater to ABSOLUTE beginners as well as the more advanced? In addition to strengthening my hands I'm trying to get some flexibility in them and cross stitch seemed like a way to do that and learn something new at the same time. Mrs. JTB did some long before we met (which puts it in the rawhide and bone needle era). I've been reading on it a bit and figure the kits that have the pattern printed on the cloth would be easier to start.

Thanks for any help.

Posted by: JTB at December 20, 2025 06:37 PM (yTvNw)

56 OE, in your second pic, the white house looks like it's screaming -- sort of Nightmare Before Christmas-like.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 20, 2025 06:27 PM (wzUl9)

I never looked at it that way. Just a die cut piece of wood for the kid to paint.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at December 20, 2025 06:37 PM (uQesX)

57 54 Excuses, excuses excuses. Due to my computer incompetence the picture I wished to send of the rustic church would not go through.

Posted by: Ben Had at December 20, 2025 06:36 PM
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Persist. I know the guy that assembles content each week for the Hobby Thread, so space will be available when the technology cooperates.

Posted by: TRex - rustic church enthusiast dino at December 20, 2025 06:39 PM (IQ6Gq)

58 TRex. Thank you. I will persist.

Posted by: Ben Had at December 20, 2025 06:43 PM (sDNVV)

59 Afternoon, TRex and Hobby folks! Well, I put a hot iron to it. Really.
I had to thread a 3-wire harness through the firewall on #3 Suburban in order to wire up my trailer brake controller. Surrounding the steering column where it passes through the firewall is a corrugated rubber boot. So I heated the end of a long steel rod red hot, and forced in through the boot from the engine bay side. Made a nice clean hole, and I was able to fish the cable through, and hook everything up. And the cable is a nice tight fit in the hole, so cold drafts cannot come in there. Sure beats trying to drill a new hole in an awkward place to reach.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 20, 2025 06:46 PM (npFr7)

60 The Horde lore of pictures or it didn't happen came to mind. One of the things I have done that I had pictures of.

Posted by: Ben Had at December 20, 2025 06:47 PM (sDNVV)

61 Sure beats trying to drill a new hole in an awkward place to reach.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 20, 2025 06:46 PM (npFr7)

-----------

The Paolo, the endorses this principle, how do you say, with the whole of his heart.

Posted by: The Paolo at December 20, 2025 06:49 PM (lCxV1)

62 Our first Christmas service of the night went well. We have a professional singer blessing us with her awesome voice. We’re mixing things up a bit for second service. Then I can go home and hang out with you guys for the ONT.

Posted by: Perfessor Sqiurrel at December 20, 2025 06:50 PM (YZJEf)

63 62 Our first Christmas service of the night went well. We have a professional singer blessing us with her awesome voice. We’re mixing things up a bit for second service. Then I can go home and hang out with you guys for the ONT.

Posted by: Perfessor Sqiurrel at December 20, 2025 06:50 PM
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Excellent. Enjoy your evening and see you later.

Posted by: TRex - professional singer(ish) dino at December 20, 2025 06:52 PM (IQ6Gq)

64 So basically AOP, you slapped hot iron to it?

Posted by: fd at December 20, 2025 06:56 PM (vFG9F)

65 I've been making benches out of pallets to go at the farm. They won't last forever but they're cheap. I'm going to make a shooting bench out of pallets too.

Posted by: fd at December 20, 2025 06:59 PM (vFG9F)

66 Wolfus and the other pipe smokers,

If you like aged Virginia blends check out the GL Pease Silver Anniversary release. It combines 25 year old red Virginia tobacco with dark fired Kentucky. Very pleasant if smoked slowly. The subtle sweetness really comes through.

Posted by: JTB at December 20, 2025 06:59 PM (yTvNw)

67 Watching that Brit guy repair the bubble light, I was waiting for him to make a slip with the razor blade, and cut his finger open. I could think of safer ways to do it.

I remember my folks having had several strings of Noma bubble lights just like that. They were series string lights, and if one burned out, the whole string went dark. The regular series string bulbs could be substituted to keep the string lit. I think eventually we just strung empty sockets on the tree, and screwed in regular bulbs or bubble lights as seemed appropriate for the location.

I think if it fell to me to rehab a set of those, I would use some sort of 12 volt automotive bulb, like the ones used in side marker lamps, for instance, and rewire the string as a parallel string using speaker wire, and power it off a 12 volt wall wart. A lot safer, and if one went dead, the balance of the string would stay lit.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 20, 2025 07:03 PM (npFr7)

68 I should have sent some pics of the various odd Christmas ornaments I have. My favorite is Bob, the wonder Llama. Ok, probably not named Bob, but it came without a name, so Bob it is. My parents have known missionary's through out there lives. A couple of them spent time in South America. Peru, I think. Anyway, Bob the Wonder Llama came from there. It's even made of llama hair. I like it. It's perched on top one of my small Christmas trees.

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at December 20, 2025 07:03 PM (AdHga)

69 fd, a guy down the road built a perimeter fence out of pallets and it is still holding up.

Fun one. I made a 4x12 four inches thick pad out of Portland cement and ground paper. Still hiding up 10 years later.

Posted by: Ben Had at December 20, 2025 07:04 PM (sDNVV)

70 "fd, a guy down the road built a perimeter fence out of pallets and it is still holding up."

I figured out a way to make a nice little bench without pulling any nails. Except the one in the way of the saw.

Posted by: fd at December 20, 2025 07:06 PM (vFG9F)

71 65 I've been making benches out of pallets to go at the farm. They won't last forever but they're cheap. I'm going to make a shooting bench out of pallets too.

Posted by: fd at December 20, 2025 06:59 PM
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Pallets are legos for adults.

Posted by: TRex - builder dino at December 20, 2025 07:07 PM (IQ6Gq)

72 fd, I would really like to see that.

Posted by: Ben Had at December 20, 2025 07:08 PM (sDNVV)

73 I've been making benches out of pallets to go at the farm. They won't last forever but they're cheap. I'm going to make a shooting bench out of pallets too.

Posted by: fd at December 20, 2025 06:59 PM (vFG9F)

You need to see that dude on you tube, Epic Upcycling. The dude is a madman. He builds everything you can imagine from pallets, and its amazing stuff. The only thing that kills me is the vast amount of time he spends making seriously epic things...from crap. I couldn't bring myself to spend that kind of time on shit that wasn't made from maple, mahogany, cherry, or maple. I guess thats part of the charm, free wood.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at December 20, 2025 07:08 PM (snZF9)

74 So basically AOP, you slapped hot iron to it?
Posted by: fd at December 20, 2025 06:56 PM (vFG9F)

I sure did. It's 4 below zero outside here right now. The hot iron was quick and easy. Drilling a hole and installing a grommet would have been a lot of work. I think the trailer brake controller will work OK. The decimal point on the display lights up when I apply the brakes. Have yet to install the trailer connector at the rear, but it looks like all the wires are accounted for. GM built the truck with provision for trailer towing, and a harness with a blue wire for trailer brakes, and an orange wire, for 12 volt accessory trailer power, was hanging there right below the brake booster. The other end of the orange and blue wires should be in a taped-up cluster at the rear of the frame.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 20, 2025 07:08 PM (npFr7)

75 "ONES in the way of the saw". Anyway, the trick is to have enough pallets to mix and match parts. I'm not going to spend any time pulling nails for a quick and dirty bench.

Posted by: fd at December 20, 2025 07:10 PM (vFG9F)

76 I have seen some nice stuff made out of pallets. I would call my benches "serviceable". Or maybe "rustic".

Posted by: fd at December 20, 2025 07:12 PM (vFG9F)

77 68 My favorite is Bob, the wonder Llama. Ok, probably not named Bob, but it came without a name, so Bob it is.

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at December 20, 2025 07:03 PM
***
Great story!

Posted by: TRex - bob the dino at December 20, 2025 07:13 PM (IQ6Gq)

78 Papercrete is a process, the uses I saw were for slab walls and form work like that. It was one of those "whole earth" building techniques. Like cob or using old tires for alternative construction.

Is must be sturdy enough for regular foot traffic too if it works as a pad. What is is used for Ben Had?

Posted by: Kindltot at December 20, 2025 07:13 PM (rbvCR)

79 I have some friends that built a straw bale house but I bet pallets would be much more serviceable.

Posted by: Ben Had at December 20, 2025 07:14 PM (sDNVV)

80 uestion for the folks who do cross stitch. Can you suggest any sites or vendors that cater to ABSOLUTE beginners as well as the more advanced? In addition to strengthening my hands I'm trying to get some flexibility in them and cross stitch seemed like a way to do that and learn something new at the same time. Mrs. JTB did some long before we met (which puts it in the rawhide and bone needle era). I've been reading on it a bit and figure the kits that have the pattern printed on the cloth would be easier to start.

Thanks for any help.
Posted by: JTB
*********
You are absolutely correct, printed ones are the way to start. Once your confidence grows, if you want, you can move to counted cross stitch. I know that Hobby Lobby has the printed pattern ones complete with the threads. After Christmas I'll be happy to look thru my stash to see if I have any you can have. Otherwise, if you buy online, make sure to look for kits where the pattern is printed.

Posted by: The Grateful - Acta Non Verba at December 20, 2025 07:15 PM (IQ6Gq)

81 Kindltot the floor in my feed room that gets heavy traffic and tons of feed on it.

Posted by: Ben Had at December 20, 2025 07:15 PM (sDNVV)

82 You need to see that dude on you tube, Epic Upcycling. The dude is a madman. He builds everything you can imagine from pallets, and its amazing stuff. The only thing that kills me is the vast amount of time he spends making seriously epic things...from crap. I couldn't bring myself to spend that kind of time on shit that wasn't made from maple, mahogany, cherry, or maple. I guess thats part of the charm, free wood.
Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at December 20, 2025 07:08 PM (snZF9)

Some of that pallet wood is real tough stuff. And some is crap. If I were into saving pallet boards, and I'm not, I would invest in a good 3/8" hole saw, and make a guide to fit the O.D. of the saw. Center the hole in the guide over a nail head, drill right through the board with the hole saw, repeat for all the other nails. The glue in plugs made from 3/8 hardwood dowels, and sand smooth.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 20, 2025 07:17 PM (npFr7)

83 74 "It's 4 below zero ...."

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 20, 2025 07:08 PM (npFr7)

C or F?

Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK) at December 20, 2025 07:18 PM (b8EuQ)

84 I have seen some nice stuff made out of pallets. I would call my benches "serviceable". Or maybe "rustic".

Posted by: fd at December 20, 2025 07:12 PM (vFG9F)

When I had the roof and siding done on the house this past spring everything was delivered on a 10ft long pallet. I thought oooh I can make another bench top for the wood shop. I spent hours pulling that sucker apart. They used screw nails to build it. It was a bitch getting it apart. I ended up scraping it all anyway. I wasn't sure if anything was living in it.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at December 20, 2025 07:19 PM (snZF9)

85 You are overthinking it AOP. Cut away everything you don't need and burn the rest. Those end are going to be split anyway.

Posted by: fd at December 20, 2025 07:20 PM (vFG9F)

86 79 I have some friends that built a straw bale house but I bet pallets would be much more serviceable.
Posted by: Ben Had at December 20, 2025 07:14 PM (sDNVV)

I had a brother that did that, and another one who tried the pallets. Trust me - stick to brick.

Posted by: The 3rd Little Pig at December 20, 2025 07:20 PM (0anTZ)

87 68 My favorite is Bob, the wonder Llama. Ok, probably not named Bob, but it came without a name, so Bob it is.

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at December 20, 2025 07:03 PM
***
Great story!
Posted by: TRex - bob the dino
***********
Of course you think that, you do the exact same thing. Even with people!

Posted by: The Grateful - Acta Non Verba at December 20, 2025 07:21 PM (IQ6Gq)

88 Time to say thank you and good night before the next act takes the Ace of Spades stage. Thanks to all who made submissions. New theme next week but not idea what it will be. Up to the Wheel of Hobbies (TM)...

See y'all in Club ONT later!

Posted by: TRex - replay referee dino at December 20, 2025 07:23 PM (IQ6Gq)

89 When my kids were little we built a fort out of pallets. It lasted maybe four years before it rotted and fell apart. It made a nice bonfire.

Posted by: fd at December 20, 2025 07:23 PM (vFG9F)

90 "ONES in the way of the saw". Anyway, the trick is to have enough pallets to mix and match parts. I'm not going to spend any time pulling nails for a quick and dirty bench.
Posted by: fd at December 20, 2025 07:10 PM (vFG9F)

Ah, you don't pull the nails to get the pallet apart. you support the top slats that make the deck of the pallet on some scrap wood and then give the 2x4 runner a smart blow with a hammer to drive it off the nails tying it and the upper slats together

the main trick is to make sure that your support is not sitting on the bottom slats of the pallet because that makes it harder.

Does this make sense?

Posted by: Kindltot at December 20, 2025 07:24 PM (rbvCR)

91 built a straw bale house

Old motorcycle campground owner built a house like structure.
Never saw inside. New Cuyama?

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at December 20, 2025 07:25 PM (Kt19C)

92 The 3rd, I have dealt with enough straw to know how it disintegrates. The rubber tire method was pretty viable.

Building I would do concrete walls 4 inces apart and the space filled with ground plastic for insulation.

Posted by: Ben Had at December 20, 2025 07:25 PM (sDNVV)

93 I wanted to make a bale house, and then all my friends started telling me about the dangers of wolves.

All my friends are bastards.

Posted by: Kindltot at December 20, 2025 07:26 PM (rbvCR)

94 When my kids were little we built a fort out of pallets. It lasted maybe four years before it rotted and fell apart. It made a nice bonfire.
Posted by: fd
***********
Back when we attended a 24hour car race in the German Eiffel mountains, 250,000 Germans camped in the area around the track. They brought tons of pallets, and used them to build scaffolding and furniture. The last evening/day, everything was taken apart and burned. Glorious bonfires!

Posted by: The Grateful - Acta Non Verba at December 20, 2025 07:26 PM (IQ6Gq)

95 I forgot all about the ornament submissions. Too much shit going on.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at December 20, 2025 07:27 PM (snZF9)

96 "give the 2x4 runner a smart blow with a hammer to drive it off the nails tying it and the upper slats together"

Nope. Not doing that either. Life is too short to spend disassembling pallets.

Posted by: fd at December 20, 2025 07:27 PM (vFG9F)

97 I have some friends that built a straw bale house but I bet pallets would be much more serviceable.
Posted by: Ben Had at December 20, 2025 07:14 PM (sDNVV)

"Recycling" idea I would like to try:

Have you ever seen a "chopper gun" used for fast build-up of fiberglass/resin products? It has a feed off a roll of fiberglass untwisted yarn. And an air feed. and a feed for resin and catalyst. The gun contains a knife that chops off short strands of glass fiber, and the air flow carries fiber, resin, and catalyst, and deposits it onto the mold. I think usually the mold will have the gelcoat and a layer or two of mat, or cloth placed in it first, and the chop mix is used to to bulk out the thickness.

Well I would like to try the same principle, with a gun that shoots chopped-up straw, with the binding resin made by melting down scrap polyethylene bottles. Melted poly plastic is basically hot glue. So take something like an old parachute, or a purpose-made cloth tent, inflate with air, and blow a foot or two of the straw/resin mix all over it. Should be self supporting, good insulator, and nearly rodent proof. Exterior could be stuccoed.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 20, 2025 07:28 PM (npFr7)

98 The straw bale house was beautiful because I love stucco interior and a the walls were 4 inches thick so insulation made heating/ cooling cost negligible.

Posted by: Ben Had at December 20, 2025 07:29 PM (sDNVV)

99 What a blast, TG! I would love to do that except for having to fly there.

Posted by: fd at December 20, 2025 07:29 PM (vFG9F)

100 C or F?
Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK) at December 20, 2025 07:18 PM (b8EuQ)

F, unfortunately. Bitterly cold. No wind to speak of, or I would not have been out in it at all. As it was, I could work out there for may be 5 minutes, then come inside the heated shop, and warm my hands. I was wearing an old, but very warm parka.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 20, 2025 07:32 PM (npFr7)

101 Shipping containers and pallets and you could build a cool mansion. Windows would be the most expensive items.

Posted by: Opinion fact at December 20, 2025 07:33 PM (KDPiq)

102 Nope. Not doing that either. Life is too short to spend disassembling pallets.
Posted by: fd at December 20, 2025 07:27 PM (vFG9F)

Pretty sure there is a dedicated pallet-breaker tool on the market.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 20, 2025 07:33 PM (npFr7)

103
*AoS PSA*

Do Not Buy or Eat Those "Danish Butter Cookies" that come in the round blue metal tin. They are made in India in filthy conditions by filthy people.

It's a viral video.

Posted by: Soothsayer at December 20, 2025 07:34 PM (4gq9k)

104 "Should be self supporting, good insulator, and nearly rodent proof. Exterior could be stuccoed.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon "

I'm not liking the sound of that.

Posted by: The Big Bad Wolf at December 20, 2025 07:34 PM (vFG9F)

105 Favorite ornament is a clear bulb with a lock of fur from my long gone Rusty dog inside

Posted by: Javems at December 20, 2025 07:36 PM (8I4hW)

106 With bale houses the suggested process is to plaster the inside and outside to keep it more or less waterproof. Some designs also suggest wrapping the structure with plastic sheeting. And of course, wide overhangs to keep the rain off the walls so the plaster won't wash away.
I have seen a few hay barns with collapses because the bales were stacked wrong, so I would be a bit concerned about that as well.

In Sardinia there are these ancient drystone towers that have lasted for thousands of years, they are called Nuragic towers, and there was just recently a study published on them. The conclusion is that the interior "corbelled dome" is stabilized by the infill of rubble between the dome and the exterior wall, made of cyclopean blocks for weight.
I don't think this is something that can be transferred to building a bale house though

https://tinyurl.com/nuragic

Posted by: Kindltot at December 20, 2025 07:36 PM (rbvCR)

107 80 ...
The Grateful,
Thanks for the perspective and advice. I'll be going by a Hobby Lobby on Monday. I have one kit coming from Amazon, printed on the fabric. Michaels carries some but they are almost all online only and I would like to see the kit first. (This is something Michaels is doing more and more and it's annoying.) We have a set of hoops and needles. The 'fun' aspect will be trying to separate the floss/thread into individual strands with my gorilla fingers. I suspect hilarity, and inventive language, may ensue.

Posted by: JTB at December 20, 2025 07:37 PM (yTvNw)

108 Favorite ornament is a clear bulb with a lock of fur from my long gone Rusty dog inside
Posted by: Javems
*****
Wow..the doggos are the best, aren't they?

Posted by: The Grateful - Acta Non Verba at December 20, 2025 07:37 PM (IQ6Gq)

109 Papercrete is rodent proof.

Posted by: Ben Had at December 20, 2025 07:37 PM (sDNVV)

110 The Grateful,
Thanks for the perspective and advice. I'll be going by a Hobby Lobby on Monday. I have one kit coming from Amazon, printed on the fabric. Michaels carries some but they are almost all online only and I would like to see the kit first. (This is something Michaels is doing more and more and it's annoying.) We have a set of hoops and needles. The 'fun' aspect will be trying to separate the floss/thread into individual strands with my gorilla fingers. I suspect hilarity, and inventive language, may ensue.
Posted by: JTB
*************
Not only is Michaels doing that more, their items are twice the price of the same items at HL. Good luck with the printed pattern, you know where to find me if you have any questions...

Posted by: The Grateful - Acta Non Verba at December 20, 2025 07:39 PM (IQ6Gq)

111 There's an amateur radio event going on called "RandomGram" where people exchange five-letter groups in Morse code that mimic secret transmissions (but they're not really encrypted). I will try to jump on later tonight if I have the chance.

Posted by: PabloD at December 20, 2025 07:39 PM (Epuwl)

112 Shipping containers and pallets and you could build a cool mansion. Windows would be the most expensive items.
Posted by: Opinion fact at December 20, 2025 07:33 PM (KDPiq)

Pour a slab. Say the length of a container, and width of 4. Put your sewer/drain pipes in the slab. Spot a container on each side of the slab, and bolt them down to J-bolts cast into the slab. Steel trusses to span both containers, and provide eaves. Weld the trusses to the container roof. Maybe bolts, too. Steel purlins on trusses, then standing-rib steel roofing.

Do it right, should be fireproof, vermin-proof, and hurricane proof. Might not withstand a tornado, though.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 20, 2025 07:42 PM (npFr7)

113 We are sitting here in the dark debating whether to go over to our rich lib cousin's house. They have power. Of course.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 20, 2025 07:44 PM (ZxYC6)

114 One should always have candles around
Especially if one lives if Brown outs might occur

Posted by: Skip at December 20, 2025 07:48 PM (Ia/+0)

115
We are sitting here in the dark debating whether to go over to our rich lib cousin's house. They have power. Of course.
Posted by: San Franpsycho

What's the ETA until power comes back?

Posted by: Soothsayer at December 20, 2025 07:50 PM (4gq9k)

116 We have plenty of candles and also a log in the fireplace. It is great I am loving it. But Boy. F. is very upset with the disruption to his routine. He was in the middle of doing laundry and just won't let it go.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 20, 2025 07:51 PM (ZxYC6)

117 We have stayed in a cottage made out of straw bales in Illinois. With the plater / stucco, you couldn’t really tell. It was cool.

Posted by: Piper at December 20, 2025 07:52 PM (OoFl2)

118 One should always have candles around
Especially if one lives if Brown outs might occur
Posted by: Skip at December 20, 2025 07:48 PM (Ia/+0)

You can have cats. Or you can have candles.

You can't have both.

Posted by: BurtTC at December 20, 2025 07:52 PM (lH8E4)

119 First report was to restore an hour ago now hopefully it will be within another hour.

But these are the people that blow up entire neighborhoods and go "oopsie"

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 20, 2025 07:53 PM (ZxYC6)

120 I once heard an analysis of the Little Drummer Boy, breaking it down by percentages of rum, pum, and Pa.

Posted by: blaster - Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat at December 20, 2025 07:53 PM (RoO7G)

121
I guess thats part of the charm, free wood.
Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division

FREE WOOD!

Posted by: Skinny Leonard at December 20, 2025 07:54 PM (pkeXY)

122 I once heard an analysis of the Little Drummer Boy, breaking it down by percentages of rum, pum, and Pa.
Posted by: blaster - Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat at December 20, 2025 07:53 PM (RoO7G)

There's a fair bit of rump in it, too.

Posted by: Pete Bootygag at December 20, 2025 07:55 PM (npFr7)

123
put.the.candle.BACK.

Posted by: Soothsayer at December 20, 2025 07:55 PM (4gq9k)

124 I once heard an analysis of the Little Drummer Boy, breaking it down by percentages of rum, pum, and Pa.
Posted by: blaster - Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat at December 20, 2025 07:53 PM (RoO7G)

Rum is vile and disgusting.

Posted by: BurtTC at December 20, 2025 07:55 PM (2bgLI)

125 This is most of this area of San Francisco. If you are trying to go across the Golden Gate Bridge right now maybe trying to get to a party give up all hope.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 20, 2025 07:57 PM (ZxYC6)

126 One should always have candles around
Especially if one lives if Brown outs might occur
Posted by: Skip at December 20, 2025 07:48 PM (Ia/+0)

You can have cats. Or you can have candles.

You can't have both.
Posted by: BurtTC

Get some cheap azz solar yard lights from Wally.
After last hurricane virtually all flashlights and batteries were sold out.
Got a dozen for like ten bucks.
Did not assemble. Just used the 'pucks' to give a little light in each room. Recharged outside during the day.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at December 20, 2025 07:58 PM (/lPRQ)

127 iirc they just blew up a house in Hayward the other week.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 20, 2025 07:58 PM (ZxYC6)

128
Massive deluge in Washington and it wasn't a big story becasue Fake News was too busy pretending to be outraged about a tweet about a meathead.

Really. Most of Us on the East Coast didn't know the extent of the flooding until we saw video on podcasts.

Posted by: Soothsayer at December 20, 2025 07:58 PM (4gq9k)

129 Pour a slab. Say the length of a container, and width of 4. Put your sewer/drain pipes in the slab. Spot a container on each side of the slab, and bolt them down to J-bolts cast into the slab. Steel trusses to span both containers, and provide eaves. Weld the trusses to the container roof. Maybe bolts, too. Steel purlins on trusses, then standing-rib steel roofing.

Do it right, should be fireproof, vermin-proof, and hurricane proof. Might not withstand a tornado, though.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon
------

Saw that, only mounted on pipe columns.
Covered parking below.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 20, 2025 07:58 PM (BaQcj)

130 Rum is vile and disgusting.
Posted by: BurtTC at December 20, 2025 07:55 PM (2bgLI)

Well. I never!

Posted by: blaster - Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat at December 20, 2025 07:58 PM (RoO7G)

131 Get some cheap azz solar yard lights from Wally.
After last hurricane virtually all flashlights and batteries were sold out.
Got a dozen for like ten bucks.
Did not assemble. Just used the 'pucks' to give a little light in each room. Recharged outside during the day.
Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at December 20, 2025 07:58 PM (/lPRQ)

Most of those solar yard lights run off a rechargeable AA battery. So you can also use them to recharge AA batteries as well

Posted by: Kindltot at December 20, 2025 07:59 PM (rbvCR)

132 This is most of this area of San Francisco. If you are trying to go across the Golden Gate Bridge right now maybe trying to get to a party give up all hope.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 20, 2025 07:57 PM (ZxYC6)

The high-speed rail will be down, too, then. As a former Secretary of Transport, I have inside knowledge of such things.

Posted by: Pete Bootygag at December 20, 2025 07:59 PM (npFr7)

133 Flisko powah no glot clum fliday

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at December 20, 2025 08:00 PM (Kt19C)

134 The high-speed rail will be down, too, then. As a former Secretary of Transport, I have inside knowledge of such things.
====
Please to assure the high speed rail will not be up. Not now not ever.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 20, 2025 08:02 PM (ZxYC6)

135 AOP, in Cuba the government is trying to alleviate the housing shortage by using shipping containers. They cut doors and windows in them, and according to one picture I saw they stacked them two high.
The locals who live in them call them "micro-ondas" or "microwave ovens" because they get really hot in the tropic sun.

Posted by: Kindltot at December 20, 2025 08:02 PM (rbvCR)

136 I am enjoying a rum and cola right now.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 20, 2025 08:04 PM (npFr7)

137 Flisko powah no glot clum fliday
Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at December 20, 2025 08:00 PM (Kt19C)

Do you also speak jive?

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 20, 2025 08:04 PM (ZxYC6)

138 Rum is vile and disgusting.
Posted by: BurtTC at December 20, 2025 07:55 PM (2bgLI)

Well. I never!
Posted by: blaster - Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat at December 20, 2025 07:58 PM (RoO7G)

I was an army guy, we never went in for all that rum, sodomy, and the lash business.

Posted by: BurtTC at December 20, 2025 08:04 PM (04220)

139 AOP, Cheers.

Posted by: Ben Had at December 20, 2025 08:04 PM (sDNVV)

140 If we don't have another thread soon I will miss it

Posted by: Skip at December 20, 2025 08:04 PM (Ia/+0)

141 I am enjoying a rum and cola right now.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 20, 2025 08:04 PM (npFr7)

Squeeze some lime into it and have a Cuba Libre

Posted by: Kindltot at December 20, 2025 08:04 PM (rbvCR)

142 AOP, in Cuba the government is trying to alleviate the housing shortage by using shipping containers. They cut doors and windows in them, and according to one picture I saw they stacked them two high.
The locals who live in them call them "micro-ondas" or "microwave ovens" because they get really hot in the tropic sun.
Posted by: Kindltot

Just stack some haybales around the outside... Plaster... Nevermind

Just dig a hole in a hillside.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at December 20, 2025 08:05 PM (/lPRQ)

143 First report was to restore an hour ago now hopefully it will be within another hour.

You be in dahk foah houa!!

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at December 20, 2025 08:05 PM (Kt19C)

144 When we take over Cuba all the people will have A/C.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 20, 2025 08:06 PM (BaQcj)

145 I have not yet read, but understand this book is worth a read: "The Box: How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger"

US military shipping needs to Vietnam spurred standardization of container specs and sizes. Lots more to the story though.

Posted by: TRex - historical dino at December 20, 2025 08:06 PM (IQ6Gq)

146 When we take over Cuba all the people will have A/C.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 20, 2025 08:06 PM (BaQcj)

I don't want to take over Coooba. I'd rather give them Puerto Rico.

Posted by: BurtTC at December 20, 2025 08:07 PM (04220)

147 Just stack some haybales around the outside... Plaster... Nevermind

Just dig a hole in a hillside.
Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at December 20, 2025 08:05 PM (/lPRQ)

It is Cuba, dude. "En cada barrio, disastre"

Posted by: Kindltot at December 20, 2025 08:07 PM (rbvCR)

148 Basically a shipping container are used here on construction sites, they can get 100 degrees on a 80 degrees day

Posted by: Skip at December 20, 2025 08:08 PM (Ia/+0)

149 I don't want to take over Coooba. I'd rather give them Puerto Rico.
Posted by: BurtTC

You must really hate Cuba.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at December 20, 2025 08:09 PM (/lPRQ)

150 AOP, in Cuba the government is trying to alleviate the housing shortage by using shipping containers. They cut doors and windows in them, and according to one picture I saw they stacked them two high.
The locals who live in them call them "micro-ondas" or "microwave ovens" because they get really hot in the tropic sun.
Posted by: Kindltot at December 20, 2025 08:02 PM (rbvCR)

I once saw a house similar to what I described at a beach in Nicaragua. It had a pitched roof. The roof keeps the Sun off the tops of the seacans. Glue some styrofoam panels to the exterior walls, and stucco or metal siding over that, and the exterior walls are protected from direct Sun, too.

A bare container pierced for doors and windows does not a house make. But it can be a fine sturdy structural element to make a space into a house.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 20, 2025 08:09 PM (npFr7)

151 I have not yet read, but understand this book is worth a read: "The Box: How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger"

US military shipping needs to Vietnam spurred standardization of container specs and sizes. Lots more to the story though.
====
Fascinating

There is a beer garden park in downtown Vegas we like that is made of them also stacked two high.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 20, 2025 08:09 PM (ZxYC6)

152 I don't want to take over Coooba. I'd rather give them Puerto Rico.
Posted by: BurtTC
---

You're not with the hemispherical dominance program, I see.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 20, 2025 08:11 PM (BaQcj)

153 I was an army guy, we never went in for all that rum, sodomy, and the lash business.
Posted by: BurtTC at December 20, 2025 08:04 PM (04220)

If you can't drink rum without worrying that you are going to do some sodomy, best you go with another beverage.

Also Army.

Posted by: blaster - Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat at December 20, 2025 08:12 PM (RoO7G)

154 Given how much fentanyl comes into the country through those containers, if we were serious about ending the drug "crisis" in this country, we'd be blowing up shipping containers, not Venezuelan fishing boats.
Posted by: BurtTC at December 20, 2025 08:09 PM (xH7XB)

Dude, I want to go "fishing" with you. Your bass boat must have 8 150 HP Mercury outboards on its ass end, because the VZ "fishing" boats have 4 of them, and surely your boat would be faster, right?

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 20, 2025 08:13 PM (npFr7)

155 I suspect Cuban state housing leaves a lot to be desired, even over the state benefits found in Nicaragua.

I did like the idea of a shipping container for a shed / camping cabin. They do lock up nice, and they do keep the rain off. The ones the shop I worked at that were the secure parts storage would get like ovens in the summer.
The cool thing about one was that it had forklift damage and a hole in the side so that when the door shut it would act as a giant camera obscura

Posted by: Kindltot at December 20, 2025 08:14 PM (rbvCR)

156 152 You're not with the hemispherical dominance program, I see.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 20, 2025 08:11 PM
***
Does the water swirl clockwise or counterclockwise in Cuba? Not sure if they're in the western or eastern hemisphere.

Posted by: TRex - scientific dino at December 20, 2025 08:14 PM (IQ6Gq)

157 Nit seeing a new thread so going to call it a night
Have a good night everyone

Posted by: Skip at December 20, 2025 08:16 PM (Ia/+0)

158 I am sorry, I don't have much to say about Christmas ornaments. My wife volunteers with the YMCA for afterschool care most days, and she has been doing a lot of craft projects for Christmas.
Unfortunately, they are mostly things with toilet paper rolls and construction paper. So I don't get too excited about doing them

Posted by: Kindltot at December 20, 2025 08:18 PM (rbvCR)

159 Looks like my most recent hash was banned.

Either that, or someone really really hates McDonalds filet-o-fish sammiches.

Posted by: BurtTC at December 20, 2025 08:19 PM (mNhIh)

160 Fentanyl gets to the US lots of ways. Venezuela doesn't move a lot of fentanyl to the US but it DOES move a lot of precursors. Because the precursors come from China, and Venezuela does a lot of business with China.

Venezuela trans-ships the precursors to Mexico and other places where precursors become cursors.

Posted by: blaster - Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat at December 20, 2025 08:21 PM (RoO7G)

161 Hello all. Every year up until the year she passed and I was in my late forties my mom would buy me an ornament. I have a set of the characters from Rudolph, including Rudolph, Hermie , Yukon etc . Mom being mom

Posted by: Smell the Glove at December 20, 2025 08:21 PM (MoRvC)

162 I am sorry, I don't have much to say about Christmas ornaments. My wife volunteers with the YMCA for afterschool care most days, and she has been doing a lot of craft projects for Christmas.
Unfortunately, they are mostly things with toilet paper rolls and construction paper. So I don't get too excited about doing them
Posted by: Kindltot at December 20, 2025 08:18 PM (rbvCR)

My love-hate relationship with the Christmas season started with my first wife's death. Over 20 years ago.

My daughter HATES Christmas music.

I just keep my head down, and get through it. Mostly.

Posted by: BurtTC at December 20, 2025 08:22 PM (mNhIh)

163 In exciting pet-oriented happenings, the two kittens have found a yellow jacket that was hibernating in a chunk of stove-wood that I brought in for the fire, and are chasing it around the house.

Posted by: Kindltot at December 20, 2025 08:22 PM (rbvCR)

164 I just keep my head down, and get through it. Mostly.
Posted by: BurtTC at December 20, 2025 08:22 PM (mNhIh)

My mom died on my birthday about 20 years ago. I am sorry to hear about your wife. It really makes that "special" day everyone celebrates a sad day too.

Posted by: Kindltot at December 20, 2025 08:24 PM (rbvCR)

165
Anyone watching the AM-FEST convention thing?

America First, put on by Toilet Paper the USA.

It's half shit-show, and half good, from what I can tell.

Posted by: Soothsayer at December 20, 2025 08:25 PM (4gq9k)

166 There is a beer garden park in downtown Vegas we like that is made of them also stacked two high.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 20, 2025 08:09 PM (ZxYC6)

This something that the Trump administration could facilitate. Add some wording to the National Building Code to the effect that non-traditional or experimental construction techniques will be permitted as long as it seems reasonably assured that the proposed construction method will accomplish the goals of the National Building Code (like not having the roof fall on your head, etc.) And pressure States and counties to allow the construction of such experimental structures in some designated areas.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 20, 2025 08:26 PM (npFr7)

167 My mom died on my birthday about 20 years ago. I am sorry to hear about your wife. It really makes that "special" day everyone celebrates a sad day too.
Posted by: Kindltot at December 20, 2025 08:24 PM (rbvCR)

I've had a couple decades (and one failed marriage) since we lost her, but this year, for those who are aware, was especially harsh, with the loss of my son, and then my mother.

Posted by: BurtTC at December 20, 2025 08:27 PM (mNhIh)

168 The people in Cuba before Columbus discovered it lived better than the people there now do.

Posted by: Tom Servo at December 20, 2025 08:29 PM (0anTZ)

169 167 this year, for those who are aware, was especially harsh, with the loss of my son, and then my mother.

Posted by: BurtTC at December 20, 2025 08:27 PM
***
Tough year indeed.

Posted by: TRex - prayerful dino at December 20, 2025 08:30 PM (IQ6Gq)

170 167
'but this year, for those who are aware, was especially harsh, with the loss of my son, and then my mother.'

Sorry, man. One day at a time.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at December 20, 2025 08:30 PM (fd80v)

171 If I see The Nutcracker twice every year, does that count as a hobby?

Waiting for the show to begin. Daughter is rehearsal director, whipping the cast of a hundred to hit their marks. Quite a production.

Nice big crowd this year for a small city.

Whoa, lights down. Time to turn off the cell.
🐁

Posted by: mindful webworker at the theatre at December 20, 2025 08:32 PM (x5C7l)

172 Sorry, man. One day at a time.
Posted by: Dr. Claw at December 20, 2025 08:30 PM (fd80v)

Always. For those who suffer such deep losses, the only suggestion I can offer is to face it. Don't try to deflect or defer it, just walk into it. And experience it as fully as you can, when you're in it.

Life is precious, and I intend to have more of it, for as long as I'm allowed, but I'm not going to put on a mask and do all the holly jolly season stuff. Or resent those who do.

Posted by: BurtTC at December 20, 2025 08:34 PM (mNhIh)

173 Always. For those who suffer such deep losses, the only suggestion I can offer is to face it. Don't try to deflect or defer it, just walk into it. And experience it as fully as you can, when you're in it.

Life is precious, and I intend to have more of it, for as long as I'm allowed, but I'm not going to put on a mask and do all the holly jolly season stuff. Or resent those who do.
Posted by: BurtTC
***********
Amen. Face the pain (and I have done far too many times), embrace their legacy, and vow to live to honor their memory. If that means skipping one or more holiday seasons, so be it.

Posted by: The Grateful - Acta Non Verba at December 20, 2025 08:37 PM (IQ6Gq)

174 Amen. Face the pain (and I have done far too many times), embrace their legacy, and vow to live to honor their memory. If that means skipping one or more holiday seasons, so be it.
Posted by: The Grateful - Acta Non Verba at December 20, 2025 08:37 PM (IQ6Gq)

Gratitude is a tool. A sword we can take out and wield when needed. It's also nearly unbreakable.

Posted by: BurtTC at December 20, 2025 08:39 PM (mNhIh)

175 'Life is precious, and I intend to have more of it, for as long as I'm allowed, but I'm not going to put on a mask and do all the holly jolly season stuff. Or resent those who do.'

I think that is the best possible attitude for you to have.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at December 20, 2025 08:44 PM (fd80v)

176 If you want bubble lights the place to go is the Bubble Room Restaurant on Captiva Island in SW FL. It's a memorabilia paradise with plenty of bubble lights that give it its name. Good food too!

Posted by: Dirk Manley at December 20, 2025 08:45 PM (9nZO5)

177 The best Christmas decorations belong to other people.
You don't have to put them up.
You don't have to take them down.
You don't have to maintain them.
You don't have to store them.

You just have to drive or walk by and enjoy them.

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at December 20, 2025 08:45 PM (2Ez/1)

178 176 If you want bubble lights the place to go is the Bubble Room Restaurant on Captiva Island in SW FL.

Posted by: Dirk Manley at December 20, 2025 08:45 PM
***
We love Captiva. Stop by the Mucky Duck too!

Posted by: TRex - ducky dino at December 20, 2025 08:47 PM (IQ6Gq)

179 Good food too!
Posted by: Dirk Manley at December 20, 2025 08:45 PM (9nZO5)

You know how, when you were a kid, there were all those restaurants that would advertise the fun stuff, games and lights and characters dressed up like animals or burgers or whatever?

Generally, the food sucked.

Posted by: BurtTC at December 20, 2025 08:47 PM (mNhIh)

180 Heh. Over at GP there's a report about an AI vid in France which is on X. The vid shows a fictional reporter talking about a coup de etat which has overthrown Macron. He is not amused

Posted by: Smell the Glove at December 20, 2025 08:48 PM (MoRvC)

181 You just have to drive or walk by and enjoy them.
Posted by: Quarter Twenty at December 20, 2025 08:45 PM (2Ez/1)

Same thing with strippers.

Posted by: BurtTC at December 20, 2025 08:48 PM (mNhIh)

182 AOP, was your 1944 wheat penny made of steel?

Posted by: Eromero at December 20, 2025 08:48 PM (LHPAg)

183 The best Christmas decorations belong to other people.
You don't have to put them up.
You don't have to take them down.
You don't have to maintain them.
You don't have to store them.

You just have to drive or walk by and enjoy them.

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at December 20, 2025 08:45 PM (2Ez/1)

Yeah, some of these places are done up on a level I have no desire, time, or money to replicate. I'll just enjoys theirs.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at December 20, 2025 08:49 PM (snZF9)

184 when you were a kid, there were all those restaurants that would advertise the fun

Don't remember name but Alan Hale Jr had a seafood restaurant. He came over to greet the table and was plastered. Good times little buddy. My folks never returned.

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at December 20, 2025 08:51 PM (Kt19C)

185 Steel pennies were 1943

Posted by: Skinny Leonard at December 20, 2025 08:52 PM (pkeXY)

186 I have been teaching my dog to fetch tools from my workshop.

He’s not perfect, but he knows the drill.

Posted by: TRex - dad joke dino at December 20, 2025 08:54 PM (IQ6Gq)

187 184
'Don't remember name but Alan Hale Jr had a seafood restaurant. He came over to greet the table and was plastered.'

Hell. No wonder he wrecked the ship.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at December 20, 2025 08:58 PM (fd80v)

188 For fun I just looked up Alan Hale’s Lobster Bar and wow! There’s a lot on the net about it, seems like it was a really popular place.

I remember a place in Phoenix called Green Gables that, while it wasn’t like Medieval Times it still had this medieval theme to it. When you came up the front drive a man in shiny armor on a pure white horse would ride out to greet you.

Posted by: Tom Servo at December 20, 2025 09:01 PM (0anTZ)

189
"Same thing with strippers."

This place.

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at December 20, 2025 09:04 PM (2Ez/1)

190 130,000 customers without power
BART and Muni stations downtown closed
Started at substation fire in SOMA
PG&E workers were on site just as I suspected

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 20, 2025 09:07 PM (ZxYC6)

191 Wife is making Haluschki. She is Slovak.

Posted by: Ronster at December 20, 2025 09:13 PM (4GQNV)

192 190 130,000 customers without power
BART and Muni stations downtown closed
Started at substation fire in SOMA
PG&E workers were on site just as I suspected
Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 20, 2025 09:07 PM (ZxYC6)

That post should have a Mystery Click that leads to “We gotta get out of this place, if it’s the last thing we ever do!”

Posted by: Tom Servo at December 20, 2025 09:23 PM (0anTZ)

193 My Dad died on Thanksgiving day. It was always a special day to me before that. Still is, only for different reasons now

Posted by: Javems at December 20, 2025 09:47 PM (8I4hW)

194 Steel pennies were 1943
Posted by: Skinny Leonard

1944 had some odd-balls get through somehow - steel, bronce, double struck, and two different mints.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at December 20, 2025 09:49 PM (/lPRQ)

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