a friday night film

throwback thursday...

That lion...

Wasn't planning on selling these 2 oz. lion medallions but ended up getting 11 orders so if anyone else is interested...for a limited time there is a buy now button for them on the home page of the blog.  93,98,75,0,B

Aunt Linda...

Ben had a visit from his aunt Linda today - on the sixth anniversary of their first meeting.  Ben may go to live on her ranch in Fredericksburg, TX in the fall.  She has 125 fenced acres of grass and trees and streams...and 3 young longhorn steers.  We are trying to work out the logistics of getting him there.  As much as I would like to keep him, his feed is just too expensive and I think he would have a much better life there with some buddies to hang out with and lots of room to roam.  93,99,69,T,B  

a monday matinee...

tribulation-patience-experience-hope

Romans 5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:  ² By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  ³ And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;  ⁴ And patience, experience; and experience, hope:  ⁵ And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

perfecting the lion...

A busy Saturday.   Baked 2 batches of Field Lab Solar Oven Super Cookies this morning, some local friends stopped by for a visit to pick up 2 skulls they ordered (they got a free super cookie with their skulls), prepped a batch of Chupa Bread to bake tomorrow, and did 3 silver casting tests.  I have a pending order for six of these 2 oz. lion "coins" so I tried out the delft clay with the lion push mold today.  It works much better than the (cheaper) petrobond clay.  The mold holds great detail even after 1800° silver has been poured into it.  95,100,77,0,B

a friday night film

throwback thursday...

Buy a goof...

Another coin casting fail on my sixth try.  Everything went perfectly until I flinched during the pour (the moment of truth).  If anyone is interested, this goof is for sale as is - sprue and all.  36 grams of 999 fine silver fail.  Make me an offer in the comments.  The good news is my delft clay and smaller mold forms arrived today so I will give it another shot tomorrow.  91,97,72,0,B

the persnickety shekel...

I have been wanting to cast one of these biblical coins in silver for years and now that I am finally experimenting with casting sand - I have my chance.  Turns out casting a coin is pretty tricky.  Thanks to a couple of YouTube videos, I almost have the technique nailed down.  I have tried 5 times and getting a little closer each time.  I have been casting in petrobond and just bit the bullet and ordered some (more expensive) delft clay which is a much finer casting media.  This was my last test that was tumbled for two hours then "antiqued" with liver of sulfur.   The pewter copy I am using to cast from is on the left.  The reverse (tails side) came out almost perfectly, but the obverse (heads side) didn't quite make it.  89,95,76,0,B

a monday matinee...

Tyrian shekel...

Matthew 26:14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,  15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. 16  And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

just made it...

Had a bread and cookie order today and was able to just squeak by getting them all done in the solar oven this afternoon.   Every time a cloud comes by, the solar oven loses temperature that is critical to my baking times.  Had a little extra bread dough left over so what did I do?  Cheese muffins...  Cheese always saves the day.  85,96,71,0,B

a friday night film

throwback thursday

New Nest

Got a new nesting dove in the greenhouse.  The last time they tried this nest, the hatchlings ended up falling out after about a week.  Lets hope they beefed up the nest and this round will work out better... 85,96,73,0,B

time for a new torch

My Bernzomatic TS8000 is finally shitting the bed after melting almost 200 ounces of silver over the past 3 years.  First the trigger lock went out and now it can't keep a nice high temperature flow.  Was trying to do a test casting today for some crosses that have been ordered and ended up with an ounce and a half of silver stuck in my ceramic crucible.  A replacement torch is coming tomorrow and the good news is it was 25 bucks cheaper than when I got the first one in 2015.  84,90,68,0,C  

a monday matinee...

fear?

I recently got this in a daily devotional that I subscribe to.  I think this was an odd combination to include together.  I am not a big fan of fear scriptures...

a little water...

It has been almost a year since I got enough rain at once for the arroyo to run'n'pump. My creek tanks are pretty low after all that time. Just bagged 2,900 gallons.  Video coming Monday.  68,74,69, .65",C

a friday night film

throwback thursday...

back to basics...

Took a break from baking silver today for a batch of solar oven croissants for a local customer.  Note: silver skull orders start going out in the mail tomorrow... 92,98,75,0,C

Casting a silver ring...

First try at ring making.  Casting it is the (relatively) easy part.  Finishing and polishing it is quite another story.  Video of the casting coming Friday.  89,96,71,0,B

a monday matinee...

the length of days...

Job 12:9  Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this?  10  In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. 11  Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?  12  With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding. 13  With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.  

fine silver skulls for sale...

91,97,71,0,B

a friday night film

throwback thursday...

the silver bug...

Got a great 2fer deal off ebay.  Ordered a skull mold and got a hobo nickel mold instead.  The seller told me to keep the wrong mold (even though I offered to return it) and he would send out the correct skull mold right away.  The skull mold will cast with one troy ounce of silver.  The hobo nickel will be 2 - 3 ounces.  It is an enlarged replica of a famous design.   As soon as I find out how well these castings work out using 999 fine silver, I will be offering them for sale in limited/numbered editions.  92,97,64,0,B