While I had a nice drop saw to use for my Bat House Building Workshop, I cut plenty of standardized lengths of wood at 6"- 12" to knock out a couple bird houses and other small projects that might come along this winter.  I had started one bird house before the snow began to fall based on a design I found online with a car license plate as the metal roof.  There are only two license plates in my stock though so I will be adapting my own design after completing two with cute Colorado roofs.

  Last year, I adapted a design of a small seedling heat box from an older gentleman who gardens and had a much larger DIY-design for his greenhouse.  My design has one incandescent light bulb directed up from the center of the floor of the box, which I knew would create a hot spot in the center and (much too) cold zones at the corner, but I foolishly did it anyway.  This winter, I need to purchase another ceramic lighting fixture, detach the existing central fixture, and place them at opposite ends of the box, directed toward each other.  This will create a much more even heat through the box and hope not burn the seedlings sitting directly above the bulbs.

   Last winter, my roommate and I made gifts for family and friends using the discs of pine and fir I cut from Christmas trees at the seasonal plant and gift shop I work part-time.  They were throwing out these remarkable-smelling discs if the customers didn't want them and I knew there was something fun I could do with them.  These snowmen are what we designed, and other than color scheme I plan to continue on with the same design this year.

   Other than researching and practicing permaculture, I have two rather serious hobbies I view as extra forms of income once I am well enough practiced.  In the past, I have earned small amounts of money or goods playing music and I write my own music.  Playing solo is OK I suppose, but I really enjoy getting into it on stage with a group so I've taken a step back from playing out in recent to try and find some band members.  If you're interested, some of my music can be found here @ Jaylee's Tangible Obscurity.

   My other future form of income is selling crystals and is much less likely to become fruitful unless I can find minerals on properties I am working for permaculture, which is about the only way I could imagine it being sustainable for me until I find upon a lode while out for my short and random digging excursions.  Crystals, chemicals, and cleaning gun are in the garage waiting my time and perhaps a little more equipment to make proper use of them.  If you've never been mining (or cleaned your product), it is serious work and not something to which most people would choose to subject themselves, but I love it.  For a glimpse of my findings and cleaning work, check out my Facebook page John Lee Natural Gems and Minerals.

   So I don't know about y'all but I have work to do!  :)