Free Dog Treats!

Click here to enter Becky and Cricket's giveaway! Enter to win the most delectable looking dog treats I've ever seen, made by Star Spangled Pet Treats. Plus, they are made from all natural ingredients in the U.S.A.

The winner can also choose from a selection of dog soaps--the lavender soap sounds heavenly!


At the writing of this post, I am the SOLE entrant, guaranteeing me the grand prize. But unselfish blogger that I am, I encourage other dog lovers to enter. The deadline is Wednesday, January 6, so don't delay!

While you're at the Star Spangled site, don't miss Becky's beautiful tribute to her 1st guide dog, Pantera.

Vote Cabana the Cutest Dog of the Season!

I just entered Cabana in Hallmark's Cutest Dog of the Season Contest. Click here to vote for her!

Here's the photo I entered:
You can also enter your own dog photos. Just so you know, you can vote for multiple dogs, so you can vote for Cabana AND vote for your own dog. I doubt I'll win, but it's fun anyway!

I'm looking forward to watching this Hallmark movie, A Dog Named Christmas, airing on November 29. It's got a yellow lab in it--what better reason to watch!!

Gnarlybone Contest - You Know You Want to Win!

Those Nylabones start out so smooth and pretty...but they get ugly in a matter of minutes! So let's have a Gnarlybone Contest. On your blog, post a photo of your rattiest, grossest, dirtiest Nylabone, then leave me a comment on this post so I know you are participating. I will send a prize to the winner. Entries must be posted by June 13, 2009 (that's next Saturday).

The PRIZE will be a 100% upcycled wool pocket treat pouch with belt clip, handmade by me. It's a great way to carry around a small handful of kibble. I have them in a rainbow of colors, so you can choose. I'll try to post a photo of one this week.

If you don't have an ugly Nylabone, here's a coupon to go out and buy one. Like I said, it only takes a short while for it to become a dangerously rough and disgusting thing, so everyone can participate!

P.S. I've never run a contest before, so please forgive me if I'm forgetting to do or say something. But please only use photos you have taken yourself, i.e. don't steal them from someone else off the internet (that's not nice). And of course, it's best if the photo is as clear and in focus as possible, so I can tell it's a Nylabone and not your mother-in-law or something like that. For simplicity, the toy must be a Nylabone, not some other brand of toy--but it can be any kind of non-edible Nylabone toy product.

Raygun: We have a winner!

We have a winner! Congratulations to Lauren who guessed (http://tombanwell.blogspot.com/2009/02/rayguns-raughnold-model-81.html):

Hey Tom, here's my guess:Particle Accelerator- air nozzel

Pulse Detineator- body of a lamp

Leather Grip/Handle- sink faucet

Exahst Port- trophy base and a chess piece/rook

The object that no one had guessed was the trophy part. My clue "The one found object that no one has yet identified will be recognized by winners." referred to winners of competitions would recognize a trophy part.

Thank you to all who entered. It's been fun for me, and I hope for you. Congratulations to Lauren for the correct guess!

Above are the found objects in context. Faucet, trophy part, rook, lamp part, and air nozzle.

Raygun Contest: One more clue

Fourth Clue

The one found object that no one has yet identified will be recognized by winners. Above is a photo of the original parts after molding. Careful study could yield a lightbulb moment. Earlier clues (and guesses by readers) and the original contest listing with rules should be read by anyone venturing a guess. Good luck! I expect a winner soon.

Win a Raygun: More Clues

There have been some good guesses, but no one has nailed all five found objects yet. Today I will post three clues, which should make it considerably easier. My first contest was won almost immediately, so I wanted this one to be a little more difficult.

First Clue

When I first announced the raygun contest (refer to it for more photos), I wrote "In the model 81 there are five objects that I can identify." As many of you have noticed, there are actually six found objects, but one of them I cannot identify, so it is not included as something to name. It is the silver colored power generator shown above. It has been guessed as a part of a flashlight, a television knob, a dial from a stove, etc. Please ignore it in your guesses. It is a collar of some sort as it had a large bolt sticking out of it, but exactly what it is I do not know.

So the parts you are guessing are the particle accelerator, pulse delineator, grip, and two pieces making up the exhaust port.

Second Clue

None of the objects is made of wood.

Third Clue

Many of the objects have been guessed correctly, but there is one item that no one has guessed. Think of something other than any of the previous guesses. Good luck!

Raygun Contest!

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Every boy dreams of owning a raygun, and as a soon-to-be grandfather, I have tapped back into my boyhood fantasies. I decided I had to build my own rayguns after being inspired by the works of Tinkerbots and Greg Broadmore of WETA Workshop. The Raughnold Model 81 is my first gun.


Following Tinkerbots example, I have created the raygun by assembling found objects, along with some parts I’ve fabricated. It is a marvelously challenging art form: Bringing together disparate objects into something new—a process through which the individual parts disappear into the whole. Part of making it all work together for me is adding bits and pieces to help disguise the original parts so that there is no distraction.

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The Contest



I have intentionally not shown the gun in progress as I wanted to hold a contest in which you, the viewers, attempt to guess which found objects I used. In the model 81 there are five objects that I can identify. All were acquired at either a yard sale or a thrift shop. The first person who can correctly identify all five objects will win one of the rayguns, which I am selling on Etsy for $95.



Anyone can participate. Submit the list of your five objects as a comment. If after one week no one has correctly identified all five objects, then I will give out a clue. Each week that passes without a winner will lead to another clue. Please submit only one guess per week. After I have given a clue you are welcome to guess again. The contest will continue until someone correctly guesses the five objects.

Clue #1: None of the objects are gears, nuts, bolts etc.

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The Story

We have here an extremely rare raygun manufactured in the late 19th century by the Swedish manufacturer Raughnold. This is their model 81, famous for its sleek lines and fine balance, coupled with its extremely effective vaporizing ray. The functioning of the raygun is not well understood, but we do know that the power generator in the center of the gun sends a ray through the pulse delineator which is amplified by the particle accelerator.

Measuring over 14” long, this beauty is solidly built, yet light enough to be handled even by those of the feminine persuasion. From the particle accelerator nozzle all the way to the rear exhaust port, this raygun exudes quality. The gun is cast in resin, with a hand-stitched leather grip. A custom wet-formed leather holster will be available soon.