the beast...

I have found the AA desire chip to be a real beast to cast consistently well.  Only 12 good ones so far.  I have lost count of how many duds I've had.  Unless you have had a lot of experience casting precious metals - please don't offer any suggestions.  I have gotten good casts and duds using the exact same methods.  This is a very complex issue that I have yet to figure out - and I have already tried countless numbers of variations.  62,78,59,T,W

 

a selfie with chupa kind of day...

79,86,53,0,C

a monday matinee...

Now that my road is dry, all cross orders will ship by Wednesday.  A couple of people have ordered some AA coins.  They won't ship till next week.

self sufficiency?

2 Corinthians 3: Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? 2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: 3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. 4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; 6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

Rattler Rascal...

First rattlesnake I have seen in over a year at TFL...and the biggest at almost 4' long (he is a lot shorter without his body).  76,82,49,0,C

a friday night film

took a walk...

My road is officially a mess.  Had a time sensitive package today for USPS and had to walk almost all the way out to meet him (was able to get my truck about a mile from TFL).  A friend met me at the mailboxes and took me to the store to stock up on a few things.  Another friend powered out through the mud in her 4WD truck to get me back to mine.  Lots of sunny days coming up and I should be able to get my truck all the way out by Sunday.  Life off the beaten path... 70,79,55,0,C

and then there was SUN!

70,75,53, .65",C

that stupid hurricane

Hurricane Willa off the Pacific coast of southern Mexico has been swirling clouds and moisture over TFL long enough.  Looks like I am in for one more good rain event tonight before the skies start to clear out.  The bad news is...I won't be able to start shipping out cross orders until probably Friday.  The good news is...I have plenty of food for me and my critters.

In other news...I reached a breakthrough today trying to cast an AA desire chip.  After 9 tries tweaking the pouring method without much success, I decided to give some sterling silver casting grain a stab at it instead of 999 fine silver.  I was pleasantly surprised to find out sterling silver is a champ when it comes to capturing fine detail.  This beefy chip comes in at one troy ounce and is twice the thickness of the aluminum chips they give out.  55,62,55, .10", B  

a monday matinee...

A project guided by The Holy Spirit

Cross #100

Romans 8: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. ² For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. ³ For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: ⁴ That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. ⁵ For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. ⁶ For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. ⁷ Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. ⁸ So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. ⁹ But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. ¹⁰ And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. ¹¹ But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. ¹² Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. ¹³ For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. ¹⁴ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

castaway...

Last batch of 50 more silver crosses ready for finishing and immediate shipping (weather permitting).  Due to high demand, I suggest you order soon.  I won't be making any more this year.  54,63,59, .55",B

a friday night film

throwback thursday...

Heating Season

Broke out the Mr. Heater a couple of days ago. Discovered right away that it had some issues. The pilot light flame was too small to heat the sensor enough to fire up much less keep it running. A couple of YouTube videos later and the problem was fixed. Had to crack it open (there are a lot of screws to find) and disconnect this line to the pilot light and blow it out with compressed air. Ordered a back up heater just in case...I really don't like the cold. 52,55,47, .08",C 

AA

Super crappy weather this week so I have my rainy days project to work on.  Doing some tests for a possible commission for some AA "desire chips" cast in fine silver.  Had 3 failed attempts but I am getting there.  Just need to tweak the pour so I can get a little more detail and everything is legible.  40,48,38, .15", C

a monday matinee...

striving together

Philippians 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel

The Friendly Skies...

My Mavic found a friend today... 80,89,59,0,B

a friday night film

throwback thursday...

the story of the cross: update

So I finally tracked down my nurse (found her on Facebook) and sending a cross to her tomorrow.  I think she remembered me because I gave all my nurses this postcard of me and Ben.  She left this comment on my story of the cross post after I sent her the link.

John. Thank you! I feel that God put me as a nurse for a reason and He crosses our paths for a reason. I pray pretty much everday that God will make me holey (full of holes) so that His light shines through those holes. Thank you for reaching out and sharing!

Nurse Jodi

New Silver

Working on some new rounds.  Crosses will be available to purchase again by the end of the week.  72,78,53,0,B

a monday matinee...

strangers...

Hebrews 13:2  Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.  3  Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

3 oz crucifix....

Crucifix pour by my new friend MrZeke.  He is one of the YouTubers that helped me figure out how to cast the shekel coin.  75,84,67, .08",B

a friday night film

throwback thursday...

zapped...

Everything was going so well today until I headed out to the store to buy some milk for a batch of croissants.  Just before I got to the highway, my truck died and a puff of smoke came out from under the hood.  (Puffs of smoke are never good because it means some of the magic has been released.) Luckily I found a friend at the mailboxes who was willing to drive me home to get some tools.  The problem was just as I suspected - some of the wiring for my winch decided to weld itself to the chassis, shorting out my battery and completely frying the ground wire.  Removed the offending wiring and patched in a new ground wire and I was good to go.  Just glad it was what I thought it was because I am pretty clueless otherwise when it come to internal combustion engines... 87,92,65,0,B  

back in production...

Stocking up on silver crosses for the holiday season.  

80,93,66,0,B

a monday matinee...