finished Viking chest...

Yesterday I installed the hand forged hardware on the Viking chest, and applied a coat of boiled linseed oil as a finish. Linseed oil was used as a wood finish on boats and chests in the Viking era as it was a by-product from the growing of flax.  One or more additional coats will be required. It is relatively non-toxic, has a pleasant smell and can be replenished at any time.

My thanks to Bob Patrick for having made the hardware. It is simple, strong and appropriate. I followed his guidance on installing it. First use screws, then one by one, replace the screws with nails. It's better than screwing up.

In the meantime, there is additional information about the effects of smart phones and kids. In fact, the amount of screen time for kids is growing at a rapid pace and our knowledge of the detrimental effects is growing as well.

Parents too often use smart phones to distract and entertain their children, with the goal being that of keeping them quiet. The latest research indicates it does just that... delaying the development of speech. http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/19/health/children-smartphone-tablet-use-report/index.html

It would be best if parents took a cautious approach to technology. But it may be too late for that. Children strive to emulate the behavior they see in adults. When adults are glued to their phones, ignoring what goes on around them, what can we expect from their kids?

Make, fix, create and set an example so others learn lifewise.