Farewell to Steve Jobs, life without you would have been very different.

How to get a hummingbird to sit on your finger, a video how to.

Weeding, how to weed a garden

Before

After

No easy way around it, just bend over and pull.

have a great weekend.

Rob Barrett

How to hammer out a copper bowl

This is one of my favorite things to do. Try it, you'll be surprised how easy and beautiful it is.

How to Get a Humming Bird to Sit in Your Hand

I was a patient boy, my brother and sister might question that statement, but I could sit for hours, silently, without moving a muscle until a hummingbird would come and sit in my hand.
And you can do it too. Here's how:
Buy a nice Hummingbird feeder, one with hopefully a well to keep out the ants.

Make some Hummingbird water, mixing 4 parts water to 1 part sugar.

 Bring to a boil, then let cool. Pour into the feeder.

Make a Hummingbird Holder (optional)

Rob Barrett with a Hummingbird

Let a couple days go by until the birds find it. What's amazing is you'll notice they aren't afraid of humans. Once they start feeding at it, start to sit nearer and nearer to it eventually until you are right next to it.  Hold your finger under the spot where the birds feed.  Once one is feeding right above your finger you can actually push it up under the bird until it sits on it. They have no fear.


Try it, there's nothing like it.
Live well,
Rob Barrett, Jr.

Who you looking at?

Winter Fail

And lo, life bursts forth from lingering naught

escaping the winter's long draining draught.

For blight and white can not for long withhold

the force that slips from the creative fold.

From both the thin places and dry places

it seeps with yellowy smiling faces

shaking off the drips of vernal slumber

to replicate without heed to number

and sow the seed, thrusts of generations,

the oft coughing cause from seminations.

It cannot be denied its inspiring

the fruit and figs of our youth's deriving.

Spring forth and shout in utter glee

for winter has lost another fight with thee.

©2011 Rob Barrett, Jr.

How to make ice globe luminaries

Here's an updated video on tips and tricks.

Here's how to make these cool candle lit ice globes.

1. Live in MN or somewhere unreasonably cold.

2. Get some 12" balloons and fill them with water. Put them out on the deck to freeze.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="usually takes 2 nights to freeze completely"][/caption]

I had better luck putting them on a hard surface than in the snow.  The snow gives it a little rounder shape but also insulates the bottom part, making the freeing uneven.

3. Peel off the balloon. Take a drill and a 1" bit and drill one hole straight down the middle. Then place the edge of the bit on the edge of the whole and mover around the edges widening the hole. (See video)

[caption id="attachment_90" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="Drill out the hole"][/caption]

4. Use a propane torch to melt away the scratches or other scuff marks on the outside and in the hole.

[caption id="attachment_91" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="use a propane torch to smooth the surface"][/caption]

5. Lite a candle and put it in the globe for guaranteed winter fun. Use small candles without a metal base rather than tea lights.  The metal tends to melt the globe and make the hole longer or completely through.

[caption id="attachment_78" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="be a light in the darkness"][/caption]

Here's a rough vlog on how to do it.



Take pictures of your globes and send them to PR@cookingfordads.net.

Have a great winter.  In 4 more days the nights get shorter and the days longer!!

Rob Barrett, Jr.

[caption id="attachment_85" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="tower mounting"]

remember, more is more

[/caption]

mounting idea number 1 - pyramid