Bernard Walter

Blog

  • January 14, 2025

    For whatever reason, I want to 3D print planters. I imagine the idea is an extension of an idea I had for a cross-curricular project for my class in which they’d research, design, and build a vertical garden. It should be an interesting project but it’s going to take a fair bit of work to plan and implement properly.

    Since conjuring up the idea for my class back in November sometime, I’ve been wanting to design, print, and sell planters, especially self-watering ones, for myself. I started working out ideas during the winter break, setting a goal to have one good idea ready to go by the end of January. I think I’m getting close.

    Today, I felt ready to print out the idea I’ve been working on. It’s not entirely ready – the cups for the plants aren’t designed – but I want to work with something material. I’m hoping that all the pieces will fit together.

    One of the interesting challenges that I didn’t anticipate was designing the parts to optimize the printing. I also need to print it such that I can wire in the lights. One thing I forgot to include is a water level indicator.

    I’m looking forward to seeing how this turns out and what challenges will present themselves next.

  • January 13, 2025

    I am constantly amazed at what people are able to design and create when it comes to 3D printing.

    Back in December, I got myself a Bambu A1 3D printer to upgrade from my Creality Ender 3 Neo, which was just giving me trouble. The Bambu A1 is a huge step up, impressing me in every way a 3D printer can. The quality of the output it produces is at a professional level.

    One of the files it ships with is a print-in-place articulating panda. That toy is so much fun. I printed a pen holder to ship my pens in. Today, I printed a crayon-shaped crayon container. It’s incredible. The precision of the threads blows me away.

    What impresses me most is that someone conjured up that idea and designed it. That is the brilliance of the human mind. I’ve been messing around with making a self-watering planter, something that I recently saw a three-year-old video on. I’m kind of getting it right. I’m not sure that I have a mind, or eye, for design, but boy do I want to figure it out.

  • January 12, 2025

    It was an unusual Sunday only because I woke up rather early. At about 6:15, the cats had had enough of waiting and started whining for their breakfast. Hannah woke up to feed them. When she came back, I thanked her and fell asleep for maybe half an hour. Then, I found myself shopping for tools on Amazon for another hour while “watching” The New Yankee Workshop.

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  • January 11, 2025

    I made a coffee grinder today.

  • January 10, 2025

    This week felt like a month. It was a long one.

    I’ve got to figure out a way to track my ideas for these posts. Throughout the day, something will happen that I think will make for a good reflection but I soon forget it or find myself too tired to write about it.

    I’m too tired now to think much more about it, but I’ve got to figure something out soon.

  • January 9, 2025

    I told my students the truth about my not leaving today. Of course, they already knew it was a joke after they found out.

    When I got home, I crawled into bed for a nap. I couldn’t keep my eyes open. I woke up with a cold.

    Karma.

  • January 8, 2025

    I may have taken the joke too far by letting my class leave school today thinking that this is my last week with them. The hallway monitor – a diminutive designation – visited my classroom after lunch to check in with the students. They were taking a while to settle down so he took the opportunity to use the story of my leaving to encourage them to show some respect. That simple untruth led us into an interesting afternoon.

    Many of my students forget as quickly as goldfish. Others carry their emotions like male seahorses do their offspring. The response to my leaving varied in kind.

    It reminded me of stories of people who host their own funerals, just to see how other people will respond. This was different because I didn’t die and didn’t plan to. Still, some of my students opened up in ways I wasn’t expecting.

    Of those who said anything, they kept asking why I was leaving, what the reason was. I told them that circumstances change so we have to adapt. They’d ask if it was them, their behaviour, or the distance of the school from my house. I told them that it was just the way things are playing themselves out. When they asked what school I was going to next, I told them it was one in the west end, which satisfied their curiosity.

    One student told me that I’m the first teacher of hers that her mom likes. Another said that I’m a great teacher so I should stay. Another’s face dropped, disheartened by the news. Most, however, seemed to just accept the news and moved on.

    I’ll probably set things straight tomorrow but we’ll see. It might be fun to play this out a little longer, feeding my ego for a few more hours. A few students were away and I’m curious to find out if they will have gotten the news over night.

  • January 7, 2025

    It was 9:30 pm before I finally put work away today. That’s too late.

    One goal I have for myself this year is to establish and maintain a better work-life balance, which includes building SANA Stationery & Gifts, my side hustle. I was supposed to do that work last year but I never got around to it.

    The problem with working too much is that I don’t then get enough room to gain enough perspective on the work I’m doing. Without that distant vantage point, I become entangled in the centre of a spiral. My worldview becomes less of a kaleidoscope and more of a paper towel tube.

  • January 6, 2025

    After falling asleep early last night, I found myself tossing and turning throughout most of the night. For two weeks, I slept well, waking up rested. In one night, it was undone.

    My students didn’t seem to sleep any better than I had. Eyes were bloodshot, half-closed, and fully-closed. Feet were dragging across floors and heads were resting on desks.

    The most common response to any question I ask is, “I don’t know.” Today, it was said with an indifference that intimated a complete lack of awareness or concern. Nothing could have roused them from the latent slumber of a winter break spent playing videos games, staying up late, and eating junk food.

    Of course, my break included much the same. I didn’t fair too well, either. My only goal for today was to get to the other end of it and I did. Tomorrow, I’ll introduce a little bit more work, as I will on Wednesday and the day after that, ad infinitum.

    Even still, I must remain steadfast in my commitment to ensure that I have the time and energy to do the things for myself that I enjoy.

  • January 5, 2025

    I just want to stay home and make things. If I could wake up tomorrow and then get to making something, I would be very happy. As it happens, the winter break is over and I have to go back to work.

    This break has been relaxing, even with everything that we did. All we really had to do was go to a couple of Christmas dinners. Hannah is more popular than I am so she had other social engagements. I loved having the time to do as I pleased for most of my days.

    I’m not ready to go back to school tomorrow. I’m really not ready. Outside of a few ideas, I don’t have much planned for tomorrow. I didn’t even get around to ironing my shirts. It’ll be okay, though, because things have a way of working themselves out.

    Going forward, I don’t want to lose this feeling that I’ve had over this winter break. I felt free to explore different ideas and try various things. I didn’t need to do much but whatever I did was enough. I was able to enjoy my time and I wasn’t worried about what was coming next. It’d be wonderful to hold on to that approach, leaving work at school and thinking nothing more of it.

    You know, I slept rather well during the break, too. I woke up feeling rested. That was eye-opening.

    As I lay here in bed, writing this, I can’t help but think of how my shoulders feel a little tighter as I prepare to call it a night. It’ll be good to get back to work, but my approach will need to change.

  • January 4, 2025

    Late again with this. This time, it’s the result of motivation. I’m really not sure what to write about. Then, too, part of the purpose of this exercise is to practice writing, even – especially – when I can’t think of what to write about.

    In my attempt to create more content for Instagram Reels and TikTok, I’ve been recorded short, off-handed videos at the shop. I tend to do them as I’m about to leave because I’m too excited about getting to work when I first get there. On the way out, a few of my ideas have been dealt with so I can think about other things.

    With those videos, too, one of the objectives is just to do it, to put something out there. Eventually, I hope to fall into a good rhythm with these things.

  • January 3, 2025

    Three houses ago, my dad bought me a TV because the one I had was too small for him. Today, we replaced it. The right side stopped lighting up, slowly spreading the darkness across the rest of the screen.

    I know that I watch too much TV. I should be staring at the 6-inch screen of my Kobo instead of the 55-inches of the TV. This isn’t about the size, it’s about the quality.

    During the course of this Winter Break, one very important thing happened: I relaxed a fair bit. Even though I was busying myself with things, I was relaxed. I slept better than I have done in a long time. My mind was able to percolate and spill ideas out. It was nice to get an idea and then pull the thread.

    My dad’s had a greater influence on me than just enjoying TV. He was always tinkering when I was a kid. We moved house and he just stopped, much like our old TV. He didn’t ever seem to find a replacement, I don’t think.