Ball Python Cage (Empire Strikes Back, Dagobah theme)

After ten years living in an aquarium, my ball python "Irwin" is getting a new cage.  The cage is being designed with a Dagobah theme.  The foam blob in the pic below will be his Yoda's hut hide box.

See update #1 here.

See update # 2 here.

See update # 3 here.
See update # 4 here.

Cephallotus follicularis (Albany or Australian pitcher plant)

Several years ago, I started to become interested in exotic plants.  One of my favorites was  Cephalotus follicularis.  At the time a plant cost more than I was willing to spend, so I bought some seeds from the UK and did my best to germinate them, with no luck.  In August 2010 I decided to buy a freshly divided plant from a seller on Ebay (see pic below).  For me the best place to keep the plant was in my office at work, because the temperature is in the low 70's year round.  Also my wife couldn't complain about my buying another plant, if it lived at work.  When I recieved the plant, it was in a plastic pot with a cover , which resulted in high humidity.  Once I repoted the plant, I covered it with plastic wrap.  Over a several week period I made  holes in the plastic wrap, then made them bigger to gradually acclimate the plant to lower humidity.  I eventually removed the plastic wrap and have been able to leave the plant uncovered ever since.    I have no windows in my office, so I hung a compact fluorescent bulb about eight inches above the plant on a timer so it recieves 12hrs of light a day (shown in the second pic).  I water twice a week with RO (reverse osmosis) water by placing the entire pot inside a plastic container that is filled with water, until it is thouroughly soaked, or until I remember to take it out.  The last pic I took this week, after being off on paternity leave for four weeks, I had a co-worker do the watering while I was gone.  The large pitcher has finally died, which I've been expecting to happen as a result of my repotting the plant when I got it.  My Cephalotus is doing quite well, and I can't wait to get some big pitchers on it.

Aug 2010

The cardboard in the above picture is there to block the light from shining in my eyes while at my computer.

Jan 2011

Bearded Dragon Cage

While off on paternity leave, I moved my bearded dragon cage to the basement.  My family is growing, and we needed the room upstairs.  Because of the move, I needed to add sturdier doors, that could withstand kids and cats.  I also did a thorough cleaning and fixed a few cracks in the rock work. 

 One of the larger cracks.

 After the fix.

The newly cleaned and repaired cage.  This cage was built in 2004, and is holding up quite well.

Vacuum forming table progress

Over the weekend, I built the box for my vacuum forming table.  The frame is left over 2x4s, and the bottom is 1/4in MDF.  All of the seems were caulked to prevent leakage.  The top is a heavy duty cookie sheet with holes drilled every inch.  I used a 1-1/2 inch threaded pvc fitting screwed into the MDF, and then caulked all around it.  I still have to add some legs, build a frame for the plastic sheets, and add some guide boards to ensure that things are lined up correctly during use.  The vacuum table will be powered by a Rigid 2.5hp shop vac.  I tested the system today, and it appears to work well.

Router table, Vacuum table

My wife and I had our second daughter born a few weeks ago, so I've been home on paternity leave.  Mostly I've just been helping out with the kids, but I have worked on several things around the house, as well as a few new projects of my own.   Here are a few pics.

Above is a DIY Dremel (not really a Dremel, but a Black and Decker) router table that I built.  I use a piece of pine and two clamps as my fence.

This is the top portion of what is to be my new vacuum forming table.  Note the baby monitor in the upper left.