Kowalski Heat Treating Blog - Kowalski Heat Treating

Colorful Crayons

August 22, 2025/0 Comments/in Friday Afternoon /by Steve Kowalski

Yep, it’s that time of year when the little munchkin’s head off to another exciting school year – some have started already, and some do not go back until after Labor Day. I can remember the excitement I had, seeing old friends, going to a new classroom, finding my seat, and getting to use all of those “new’ back-to-school supplies. One, of course, was a new box of crayons. I’ll bet you can agree – especially the 64 pack with the built-in sharpener!! (never went for the 96 or 120 pack – anyone who has seen my coloring skills would understand!!) There’s something magical about opening a brand-new box of crayons – the waxy scent, the pristine tips, the rainbow of possibility – it’s a small ritual that signals the start of a new school year, full of hope and creativity. I have to admit, using the crayon sharpener was always a bunch of fun, my friends and I would have contests to see who could have the sharpest crayon or biggest pile of shavings (unfortunately for my parents/teachers – the shavings ended up everywhere!) Here’s some fun trivia on crayons in the US, and a cool “how they’re made video. Enjoy, and thanks to Google, Wikipedia, and Smithsonian.com for the info.

Wedding Rice & Rituals

August 15, 2025/0 Comments/in Friday Afternoon /by Steve Kowalski

If you’ve been to a few weddings lately, you probably know the flow hasn’t changed much: the march down the aisle, the vows, the rings, the kiss, the grand exit, and then the party, with a few time-honored traditions woven in. One of the most iconic rituals is showering the newlyweds with rice as they make their way down the aisle or into the awaiting vehicle. It’s a festive moment and makes for a great photo. But have you ever stopped to wonder where this tradition comes from? What may seem like a simple gesture is actually rooted in centuries of symbolism. That tiny grain of rice carries big meaning as the practice shows up in different forms across cultures and eras. Here’s some info on how rice-throwing became a wedding classic, and why grain-tossing rituals have endured through the centuries, and some other traditions around the ceremony. Enjoy, and thanks to Google, YouTube, whitehousehistory.org, brides.com for the info. Enjoy!

Let’s Stay Curious

August 8, 2025/0 Comments/in Friday Afternoon /by Steve Kowalski

Curiosity is a great word. For me (and for the gang here at KHT), it’s our never-ending pursuit of wonder, knowledge, exploring, testing, and problem-solving. There are so many people throughout history who were driven by curiosity, from the mundane to the amazing discoverers. I love reading about remarkable adventures – those who “headed West” with a wagon and bunch of horses, or the folks grinding away in the lab. Over the past few weeks, I’ve really enjoyed some clear skies at night, causing me to “look up” and ponder the stars – it’s fun to find the satellites circling the earth. Today, August 8th, marks a historic achievement in the amazing discovery life of Galileo Galilei, known as just Galileo (think Tiger, Oprah, and Lebron, Michelangelo). When Galileo Galilei pointed his rudimentary telescope at the night sky on this day in 1609, there is no way he could have imagined that centuries later, humanity would be observing the universe from spacecraft and mountaintops with instruments so powerful they can see galaxies billions of light-years away. Here’s a little history about Galileo, along with a list of milestone astronomy achievements, as gradual technology improvements and good old “know-how” bring us to today’s far-seeing telescopes. (Be sure to watch the YouTube video below on the newest billion-dollar telescope in Chile – it’s truly amazing!!) The “know-how” and engineering that went into it is mind-boggling. Enjoy! And, feel free to dig deeper on each one with the links – amazing!!) Read more