bunch of blogs: Hobbies

Know the lumbers in your furniture
Any household wouldn’t be complete without furniture and decorations. A majority of these items are made of wood that came from trees. Even some parts of the house wouldn’t be complete if not for these woods.
Amidst the importance of woods in our daily lives, we barely know the general facts about the trees from which they came from. Thus, it is about time to give credit where credit is due by discussing different tree species and the woods they produce.
Here are some of the tree species classified into hardwoods and softwoods, together with the description of the wood they produce.
1. Hardwoods
Hardwood lumber comes from deciduous trees, which have characteristics like broad sets of leaves, capability to bear fruits or nuts, and dormancy during winter. These trees can be seen growing in regions with a temperate climate. Since not all species are strong enough, most lumbers produced are seldom used for flooring and structural purposes.
Hardwood lumber includes:
-Walnut
Walnut refers to a small family of flowering plants that is well known for the nuts and the lumber it produces. They belong to the order Juglandacaea family of the Juglandales order.
The walnut tree produces a fine-textured and strong lumber. It is capable of resisting warping and shrinking. That is why the lumber is used for making wall paneling, cabinets, gunstocks, as well as veneered and solid furniture.
-Cherry
This tree species is closely related to fruit bearing trees like plums, peaches, apricots and almonds. They belong to the Rocacea family.
Aside from the edible fruit that cherry trees produce, it is also known for the fine-textured, shrink and warp-resistant lumber that reddens when exposed to sunlight.
Because of the lumber’s capacity to age well, it is commonly used in making cabinets, furniture handles, novelties and boat trims.
-Maple
This tree species can be commonly seen near streets and is used as an ornament because of its autumn color and leaf shape. It belongs to the family Aceraceae. The tree is native to Northern America and Europe.
It also produces quality timber which is finely textured but is hard and strong. The lumber shrinks moderately, and the fact that it is durable is ideal for flooring, especially in bowling alleys.
2. Softwoods
Softwood lumber, on the other hand, is produced from coniferous trees with needle-like leaves. These trees are evergreen, and bear cones. They are used more as structures than decorations.
Some known softwood lumbers include:
- Pines
Pines are evergreen trees that have 210 species, all of which produces cones, timber and pulpwood. They belong to the Pinaceae family.
The lumber it produces doesn’t shrink, warp or swell. It also has a good finishing. it can be worked on easily because of its uniform texture.
Because of those characteristics, pines are used widely in building houses, panels, boxes, molds and furniture.
- Redwood
Redwoods, also called sequoia trees, are huge evergreen trees that are known for their reddish brown trunks that can grow up too 100 ft. It has a buttressed base to support the conical tree. All of the sequoia species belong to the Taxodiaceae family.
Redwood lumbers are known to be durable, and naturally decay-resistant.
That is why it is preferred to be used in building outdoor furniture as well as fencing and house sidings. It can also be used indoors for your indoor finishing, paneling and veneering.
- Spruce
Spruce grows in the farther north, where it converges with the Arctic forest. It belongs to the Pinaceae family, together with cider, pine and fir. It has woody leaf bases and pendulous cones, its distinct characteristics.
The spruce lumber is resistant to decaying. It shrinks moderately too and has a nice finish. More so, it is lightweight.
That is why it is ideal in spars and masts in boats and wooden parts in aircrafts, boxes/crates, and ladders.
- Cedar
Cedar is closely related to the tree mentioned previously. However, there are unique features that draw the line between cedar and spruce.
The wood produced from this tree species is naturally sweet in odor and reddish in color. It can easily be worked on.
It is the ideal wood in chest-making, Venetian blinds, dock planks, shingles, linings in closet, and novelties.
Now that you know the trees behind the furniture you use, not only did you gain knowledge about them, you also know the basics if ever you will be making your own work-of-art furniture.

Simplicity is not the best policy when it comes to coin collecting. Oftentimes it is the rareness, the history, or the mother country of the coins that collectors value most.
Here is a wide array of the variety of coins that “coinophiles” are obsessed with:
National Coins: Patriotism in Coins
Usually, national coin collectors are interested in collecting their own country’s coins. It is common practice for collectors of national coins to get a representative coin from each date and mint marks for each coin series. Various national coin collectors combine a unique variation of series, date and mint marks.
Error Coins: It’s OK to be Not-So-OK
One of the modern types of coin collecting is known as error coin collecting. Errors became possible when the production of coins was automated during the nineteenth century. Collectors of historic coins are fine with error coins because they like the uniqueness or error coins. Even modern day coin collector falls in love with error coins because they are assured that the modern processes promise that they are unique. The characteristics or coin errors include the following:
- dies that are doubled
- mint marks that are repunched
- over-dated
- double strikes
- coins that are “off” metal
- coins that are displaced or off center
- coins that are clipped
- one coin with different nominations on two sides a.k.a. mules
World Coins: Hobby of Kings…. of the World
Collecting world coins is about gathering those modern coins from all the countries of the world. Geographically-challenged individuals will have a hard time participating in this kind of coin collecting. If you would like to be a collector of world coins, you must be prepared to spend a considerable amount of money if you would want to have an extensive collection - being a “jetsetter” might be required. World coin collectors often acquire representative coins from each country or from authorities that issue coins. There are also world coin collectors that collect by subject such as those coins that feature animals.
Historical Coins: The Value of the Past
Collectors of historic coins find value in mints that are from medieval or ancient times. The most popular of these historic coins include the following:
- Byzantine
- Celtic
- Greek
- Indian
- Israelite
- Merovingian
- Ostrogothic
There are other ancient coin specialties but it really depends on the preferences of the collectors. The popular way is to collect the coins that were minted during the reign of a certain emperor or king.

If you are aiming to become an astronomer in your own right, then the star guide is the best reference material for you. Astronomy, basically, involves the study of the heavenly bodies in outer space. So, the sky is the domain of this field of science.
There are millions of stars in the indefinite universe. The sun is also considered an average-sized star. Have you ever wondered what it would be like in the other stars? There might be planets similar to the earth, so there might be other living creatures in outer space.
Did you know that man is considered a child of the stars? Astronomers believe that the overall composition of stars is also the basic composition of the human body. The matter that constituted stars during the Big Bang, which is a popular theory of creation among scientists, are also believed to be the exact matter that constitutes the human body up to this moment.
Another interesting fact is that you can look at the past by simply looking at stars in the evening sky. That is because the light from the stars that reaches the earth are millions of light years away.
You know that light travels at fast speeds. So imagine how distant the stars are and how much time it would need for the stars’ lights to reach the earth. The current state of such stars can’t be visible yet, so what you look at right now are the stars’ state millions of years ago.
Amazing, isn’t it? Well, these and more facts and trivia about the stars could be yours if you want to invest in star guides. You could also learn more about stars, like their names, myths and legends, the discovery and so much more.
Star guides
Star guides are books that are specifically written to serve as guide to aspiring astronomers. It wouldn’t be easy being an accredited astronomer, so you could get on with your profession and pursue astronomy somehow as a hobby.
Star guides would be the reference material for you. There would be no need for technical schooling. Star guides touch on the subjects about all the 88 identified constellations observable in the evening sky.
Did you know that out of the millions of stars in the evening sky, only 70 are considered major and are given their specific names? Among these stars are Altair, Betelgeuse and Schedar. These stars have their own specific characteristics that set them different from each other.
Aside from the names, the stars’ particular and permanent positions in the sky are also established. Through regularly consulting with a star guide, you can easily tell which star is which and even boast of the knowledge about known facts and discoverers of the stars.
Every star guide comes with graphics that will illustrate the usual star arrangements so you could easily pinpoint locations of stars. Through this map, you could also identify the constellations or groups of stars that mimic a picture usually of man or animals.
Calculations
Aside from knowing the names and positions of stars, star guides also teach you how to predict when stars will rise. There are simplified calculations that are taught to you so you could easily predict the exact time when a star will rise from the horizon.
You know that the earth is rotating and is revolving around the sun. Logically, the position of stars at night could also vary. Know which stars are visible in any given season and which aren’t using the star guide.
Star guides and astrology
Aside from astronomy, star guides also make the Bible for astrology, or the art of predicting the future based on the positions of the stars. Astrologers may not be as scientific as you, or the astronomers, would be in treating data about the stars, but they share the same interest in stars.
There are 12 zodiac signs in modern astrology. These signs aren’t exclusively used in astrology because they are also used to identify groups of stars for astronomy.
Thus, some people assert that astronomy and astrology are estranged bed fellows. They only differ in purposes. Astronomy is more in identifying the scientific aspect of heavenly movements and locations, while astrology deals with the perceived significance of such data on lives of people.
Moreover, astronomy would be easy if you would have a star guide at hand. Invest on the reference material and know more about stars.

Boating has become a famous activity not only for singles but also for families who want to spend time together after working so hard. American families are so busy with their individual aspirations that they need to get together and bond again as a family. This can be done through boating using a yacht.
The first thing that comes to mind when a yacht is mentioned is luxury. Understandingly so, because yachts used to be and still are portrayed as luxurious vessels. However, the modern concept of a yacht has changed from a mere luxurious vessel to any vessel used in water whether motorized or not.
Yachts now come in all shapes and sizes, from small fifteen feet yachts to the bigger five hundred foot yachts. The larger the yacht and the more amenities inside, the more expensive. Yachts can be used by hobbyists for pleasure boating or by sportsmen for racing.
If you are planning to purchase a yacht you can choose from the purely motorized yachts that operate on fuel or electric or yachts that are operated by sails. Other people prefer sloop yachts or those that can sail travel upwind. Select yachts that are multi-hulled for more stability and balance.
Modern yachts are made of fiberglass, titanium and aluminum as these are lighter than wooden materials. A family that can afford a luxurious yacht can have all the comfort while sailing. Modern and luxurious yachts have more amenities as well as more spacious and wider spaces for both cargo and passengers. Some very expensive yachts used by rich people for entertaining look like five star hotels.
Owning a yacht is definitely a good way to treat yourself and your family but take note that is a very expensive toy to maintain. Yachts consume liters of fuel and the more mileage you put on your yacht, the more expensive your fuel expenses get.
A person who wants to purchase his very first yacht should do some research first and settle for a smaller one depending on his budget. Larger yachts can cost millions of dollars but the expenses don’t stop there. The owner also has to contend with fuel, maintenance fees, license and rental fees as well as storage for the yacht.
Also ask other people who already have their own yachts since they can give you good advice on purchasing and maintaining your own yacht.

Are you tired of spending too much on labor just to finish one workable woodworking project? Or are you tired of waiting for your husband to do your woodworking projects at home?
Now you can save time and money! Better yet, impress your husband with these woodworking tips! Create your own tables, chairs, chest box, frames, cabinets and more. You could even jazz up those old ones and undesirable wooden pieces you’ve got at home.
All you need to know are the proper tools that will help you in measuring the correct dimensions of your woodworking projects. Be creative and create your own masterpiece!
Here’s how:
1. Know the Correct Measuring tools
There are many tools to help you get all those important measurements right. Choosing the correct measuring tool for a particular dimension would never be that easy. It is important that you have some handy manuals or guidebooks that will give you the exact definitions and functions of each type of measuring tool.
2. Study the kind of wood you will be using
The type of wood you will be using will determine its texture, color, and depth. Every type has its own unique qualities that set it apart from the other wood types. It is important to consider the kind of wood to be used when building a piece of furniture.
Some may be flexible and are appropriate for bending but, some are very hard and durable. The sturdiness of a wood is described from very soft to very hard.
Once the type of wood is identified, the next thing you have to consider is the kind of measuring tool that you will need in order to get the precise dimension for your woodworking project. There are certain types of wood that have the tendency to expand even before you set them in your project. That is why there are some special tools built to identify such dilemmas.
3 Measurements
Learn and evaluate first the proper measurement for your woodworking project. You may create a sketch of the item you are making so that you can get a visual image of the result. This will render you some room for adjustments and make those changes where it is needed. This will prevent you from buying too many materials and cutting the wrong sizes.
The idea is to properly measure woodworks and make unique items! The ideas are endless as long as you are creative and use the right woodwork measurement tips.

Astronomy, as stated in Wikipedia, is the science of celestial objects and phenomena that originates outside the Earth s atmosphere. Simply put, it studies the moon, the other planets and stars, and the universe we live in.
Since time immemorial, people have been intro Astronomy long before they gave it a name. Early studies of astronomy comprised of simple observation (through the naked eye) of visible heavenly bodies and predictions of its probable movements.
With the development of the ancient civilizations such as that of China, Greece, Egypt and India, various observatories where dedicated and used for the advancement of astronomical studies. Even before the telescope had been invented, various discoveries had already been made, such as the cycle of eclipses (by the Chaldeans), and the size of the Moon and its distance from the Earth (by Hipparchus).
Modern times brought in the invention of other equipment which had profound effects of uncovering other discoveries about the universe. The telescope enabled people to study and determine the other planets and had predicted and calculated the entry or passing through of various comets or meteorites.
Some of the most famous astronomers are the following:
1. Edmund Halley. He was the British astronomer who was the first to be able to calculate the orbit of a comet.
2. Galileo Galilei. Am Italian who is well known for his contributions to physics and astronomy, most notably of which is his invention of the telescope.
3. Claudius Ptolemy. He is the author of Almagest, which contained various geometric theories that mathematically explained the position and motion of the sun and planets and its moon. He was one of the first people to create the horoscopes, and although most of his theories had later been proved wrong, still, it had formed the foundation for future studies of certain matters.
4. Johannes Kepler. He was the German astronomer who founded the Kepler s Law which verifies the three laws of the planetary motion.
5. Tycho Brahe. He was one of the astronomers who first calculated the astronomical measurement of our solar system and more than 700 other stars. When King Frederick II of Norway and the King of Denmark had offered him funds to be able to build an observatory, he gradually accepted and built one in 1576, the castel of Uranienborg, which literally means the fortress of heavens.

Scrapbooking has been long introduced to bring out the artistic skills of most people. It was formally introduced in 1826 through the publication of the first how-to create a scrapbook in Germany. Since then, it has become part of history that eventually brought people together who share the same hobby.
Scrapbooking clubs started with friends and family members who enjoy creating these mini-albums. However, as scrapbooking became more popular, several organizations and clubs were introduced worldwide. Scrappers can join these clubs by simply locating their websites and register. Once registration has been completed, a scrapper will have access to forums, projects, and other scrappers’ profiles.
In choosing the best scrapbooking club, it is recommended to pick the one closest to the scrapper’s residence. These clubs are usually organizing get-togethers to meet the other members personally. It would be convenient for any scrapper to join the club nearest them.
These clubs organize social events to keep the people interested in scrapbooking. With these clubs, scrappers stay together and form friendship that starts with the love for scrapbooks. They also make sure that activities are filled with fun by engaging members to competition against each other that aims to encourage scrappers to create fine looking and quality scrapbooks.
The best part of joining these clubs is the opportunity in getting fresh ideas and meeting people that share the same passion.
Below are some of the benefits in joining a scrapbooking club:
1. Scrapbooking clubs let its members share their resources and knowledge for free.
2. Members find new friends they can talk to, not just about scrapbooks, but anything under the sun. There are life-long friendships that were built because of this hobby and they continue to increase.
3. Members, especially moms and teenage girls are excited because these clubs provide a girls night out. They see this as a break in their daily routine, letting them unwind and enjoy what they love doing with people who share the same passion for scrapbooks.
4. Most clubs hire professional scrapbookers as guest speakers to their workshops to teach members the latest and proven techniques. Speakers often provide materials that members have to pay for a small amount of money.
5. There are also scrapbooking clubs that are established to help non-government agencies in raising funds to help other people who are in need worldwide through selling hand made scrap books online or through garage sales.
Scrapbooking clubs bring people together not just to improve their skills and learn new techniques but more importantly form friendships and help others who are in need.

“Beauty is essential to the naked eye.” This is a popular line from Antoine de Saint Exupery’s classic “The Little Prince.” Now “the naked eye” is figure of speech pertaining to human perception unaided by any equipment like binoculars or the telescope.
Now if you say naked eye astronomy, that seems impossible because we all know that we need binoculars or telescopes to see those cosmic objects and celestial bodies high up in the night sky.
But this isn’t the definition of naked eye astronomy. The term refers to events that can be seen by the public. These are commets, meteor showers and astronomical conjunctions. There are so many phenomena out there that can’t be observed by the unaided eye.
Normally, our visin has a magnitude of +6m, which is the anular resolution. But there are some people who have keener eyesight. There has been evidences that these people see Uranus and the moons of Jupiter.
The average eye can see 2500 stars up in the night sky but because of the dust and other atmospheric elements, their numbers are reduced to 1500 and 2000. A naked eye can also detect star clusters or what we call constellations. These are the Pleiades, Persei. Hercules, Andromeda and Orion.
In fact, five planets are visible with the naked eye. These are Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. Then there’s the sun and the moon - which is also part of the solar system – therefore earning the nickname the sixth and seven “planets.”
Naked eye astronomy has been evident throughout history. The ancient Egyptians, Mayans and Babylonians all measure time with their naked eye. The occultations of the moon are also observed.
When observing a small object without a miscroscope or a magnifying glass, the general distance is 20 to 25 centimeters. But when held at close range, 0.05 mm can already be seen clearly. This accuracy depends on the experience of the measurement.
If let’s say the Milky Way is visible, then it shows that the atmosphere is clean. If we look high up in the sky and locate zenith, the “blue-ness” degrades because of dust and pollution.
For astronomers, light pollution is a problem because it makes it harder for them to see the celestial objects and cosmic bodies at night. The seasons also affect what the naked eye can see. It is so hard to see high up in the sky during winter.

If you are a budding collector of antiques, you must know the basic steps in antique-hunting. Experience is one factor when looking for a genuine antique item because it helps you become more familiar and more critical of each piece you are looking for.
Antique pieces such as lamps add style and class to ones home. Authentic antique lamps are hard to find especially if you live in a city that sells reproduction antiques. You may find it hard to determine which piece is the real deal from the fake especially if you aren’t well-versed with finding antiques.
Below are some useful tips to help you in finding authentic antique lamps:
1. Know where to look. If your area has many antique stores, chances are they may be selling both authentic and reproduction antique pieces. If possible, antique shops around your area should be your last resort when looking for antique lamps.
Try looking for antique items in your friends’ and family’s storage or attics because you never know what they might have. Try looking for real deal antique lamps at garage sales and flea markets. You may also ask other antique collectors if they have particular pieces for sale, and if you are lucky you might find the antique lamp you’ve been looking for.
2. Know the difference between antique and vintage. An antique item’s age should be 100 years or older, while a vintage item is from 50 years to less than 100 years. If you’ve found an old lamp, make sure to ask for the age of the lamp or look for the manufacturing date. If it is from the 1800’s, then you have hit the jackpot.
3. Look for marks, stamped details and dates. When you are looking for an authentic antique lamp, it is important to know when and where it was made. You can’t always trust the seller, and don’t always take their word for it. If you can check the item for any marking, scribbling or any info that will tell you the background of the item, then look for it if you can. Remember that you are paying for the antique lamp you are looking for, so you should be the first to judge if it is worth every dollar.
4. Ask for an expert’s assistance. If you aren’t sure of where to look for authentic antique lamps, it is advisable to ask someone with experience to help you in your search. Make sure your expert companion has the reputation and know-how so you’ll get value for your money once you find the antique lamp of your choice.

When a teenager has reached the age of 16 or 17, the government may allow the child to get a learner’s permit. After taking the written and practical exam at the DMV, the individual may finally be allowed to drive.
People who are interested in boating also have to pass certain exams in order to get a license. This will make those sailing the boat responsible enough to respect the rules and other ships at sea.
There was a time that boating enthusiasts had to go to a marine school to learn everything. Nowadays, these same lessons can be administered online with some still recommending a little time in the classroom.
One of the schools that offers this course is the Boat US Foundation which has been offering online courses since 1997. Those who pass can set sail since they has been approved by the National Association of Boating Law Administrators and the United States Coast Guard.
Some people think that enrolling in an online course is expensive but this is being offered for free. The course will deal with safety, planning a trip, the environment, the law and the use of the emergency equipment.
There are no time limits as to when this should be completed. It will depend on the pace of the student and when ready, the person will simply answer a 60 to 75 question exam. After passing, one can obtain and print the certificate.
Not all states accept people in an online boating course. The individual can find out if this is sufficient by getting into contact with the state’s boating office if these will fulfill the mandatory education requirements.
The states that don’t accept online boating courses are Kentucky, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Richmond.
Some other sites that offer courses on online boating are BoatingBasicsOnline.com, Americasboatingcourse.com and boaterexam.com. Aside from online lectures, these sites will also give you some hands on material such as a manual and a CD.
Those who want to enroll should be ready to pay $30 or less for the entire package but will soon find this worthwhile after getting the certification. Some won’t even ask for payment until the individual passes the exam.
Online boating courses are designed to teach beginners and give a refresher to experienced boaters. All you need is a computer so that the material can be reviewed and properly practiced on the water.