a monday matinee...

stand fast...

Galatians 5  Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

you get what you pay for...

Giving up on the 3D printer model I ordered.  Too many issues and not enough support. Too many work arounds to get this thing to work properly - I spent all day fighting with it.  I am going to return it for refund on Monday.  Researching slightly more expensive models that have better plug and play options and less bullshit.  These would be much more accessible to the masses if they were more user friendly.  For now - they are just for mad hackers.  34,40,33,0,B

a friday night film

first test...

It actually works!  Did my first test on the 3D printer using the default settings to give me a baseline. I have some tweaking to do, but pleased with the results. It is mesmerizing to watch it work. This little print took 44 minutes.  51,62,44,0,B 

a new coin...

Been working on coin designs with Tinkercad and tweaking settings for my printer in a slicing program called Cura.  A 3D design has to be "sliced" and turned into "g code" so the printer will know where exactly to squirt the plastic.  Two weeks ago, I knew nothing about how this all works - but thanks to YouTube tutorials, I have a pretty good idea now. Keep you fingers crossed - the printer arrives tomorrow.  56,65,41, .02",W

Christmas 2018

a christmas cleanup

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a christmas eve matinee...

the first coming...

my christmas present...

Thanks to this video and a couple days of research, I decided a 3D printer might pay for itself pretty quickly by expanding my silver casting horizons with the ability to print masters in plastic to cast from so I ordered this one to try out.  The printer along with a spool of PLA filament came to $110.59 after I cashed in the balance from my Amazon rewards card.  The custom stamp I ordered for that last coin job of the year cost my client over $200.  Even though this printer is one of the cheapest available, it's had really good reviews and I have just about mastered free 3D design software called Tinkercad.  This could be a real game changer...  62,71,39,0,B

a friday night film

2500 nails...

55,66,44,0,B

deadline...

My last coin order of the year is finished.  The custom stamp that I designed arrived a day late so I had to scramble to get 10 of these stamped and finished this afternoon for shipping tomorrow.  Luckily, the custom stamp from infinitystamps.com was perfect when it arrived.  This is for a client who wanted something special to give to his instructors and fellow students at a Kung Fu school in Austin.  Video of the pouring and finishing process Friday.  60,68,43,0,W

holiday burro

Moley stopped by today for a pre-Christmas carrot.  

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a monday matinee...

evil days...

Ephesians 5:14  Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 15  See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16  Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17  wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 

hammer time...

Sure, I have a nail gun...but nothing like a 25 oz California framing hammer - milled face, straight rip claw, 14" hickory handle.  52,61,29,0,B

a friday night film

so many numbers...

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minty fresh...

Last silver order of the year.  Prepping once ounce fine silver open pour rounds for stamping next week.  56,65,46,0,C

still sloppy...

Made it out today - but just barely.  This stretch is the worst with deep ruts and wet clay.  53,61,45,0,C

a monday matinee...

one mind and one mouth

Romans 15:1  We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. 3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. 4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. 5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

after the rain

Had 1.20" of rain over the past 36 hours.  Checked the new road and job site by drone today and happy to see it didn't all wash away.  47,54,42, .10", C

a friday night film

a little rain?

Hoping this happens...I need to see how the road and job site hold up to some rain.  54,60,42,0,C

The Virtual Builder

Have yet to cut any wood or drive any nails - but I have "virtually" assembled this little house 5 times already - making sure all the measurements are right and all the components fit together. Just about done with the final revision. Going to great lengths with this in order for a fast build and perhaps plans for sale in the future.  49,58,39,0,B

a day of silver...

58,64,37,0,C

a monday matinee...

blessed and humble

Floor Joists

64,70,41,0,W

a friday night film

Tools

It was a very good day.  I found my nail guns - and they are about to come in very handy.  Been 15 years since I cracked open these cases... 67,79,40,0,B

quick fix...

Had to leave early this morning for a day in Alpine so I showered last night.  Was all ready to clean off 3 weeks of stink and discovered my on demand hot water heater was spraying water everywhere but on me.  Seems I forgot to drain it and it sat out over a couple of nights of below freezing temperatures...and one of the coils burst.  The leak was easy to find once I took the cover off.  Jumped into "fix it quick" mode and soldered the crack.  Took all of 15 minutes to do the repair and get back to my much needed shower.  62,76,42,0,C

It's all in the details...

59,70,33,0,B

a monday matinee...

The Holy Spirit

It never ceases to amaze me how I continually evolve with the help of The Holy Spirit...The Holy Spirit is God’s power in action, his active force.  God sends out his spirit by projecting his energy to any place to accomplish his will.  Micah 3:8 Luke 1:35  Psalms 139:7  Psalms 104:30

record crowd...

62,75,44,0,C

a friday night film

Happy Thanksgiving!

I have 2 this year so I can go back for seconds on everything...

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framing...

Working on the framing diagrams for the build.  This is the west wall.  48,62,35,0,B

The Little House Job

Road and site clearing done.

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a monday matinee...

Ignorance of the law is no excuse...

Matthew 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.  

dove love

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a friday night film

the building site...

57,65,30,0,B

last chips

Celebrate your sobriety.  I have a limited quantity of freshly cast one troy ounce sterling silver AA desire chips ready if anyone is interested (this batch about to get polished and tumbled).  Contact me via email if you want one and I will send you purchasing details.  lifeoffthegrid@yahoo.com.  54,62,25,0,B

Upcoming Project

Getting back into the construction game it seems.  Going to build a small house I designed for a friend of mine in the coming months.  Used the free version of Sketchup to do these renderings.  Overall footprint (roof area) is 572 sq ft.  Enclosed space is 304 sq ft.  45,59,28,0,B

a monday matinee...

Treasure...

Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.    

Tiny Yellow Flower Season

55,63,43,0,B

a friday night film

Let the bidding begin...

For Sale:  Western Diamondback Rattlesnake skin.  40" long.  64,72,55,0,B

cast venting...

Cast a few more AA desire chips today (video Friday).  If there is enough interest, I will put them up for sale on the blog - they will be $65.  They are cast in sterling silver, are twice the thickness of a standard chip, and come in at about one troy ounce.  (It should be noted that a skinny half ounce machine made silver AA chip available from internet retailers costs $55)   81,87,48,0,C

the super cookie...

Baked a batch of Field Lab Solar Oven Super Cookies for my friend Terry Burger who is in town for a couple of days.  She was the one that sent me butt medicine for Ben's "condition" six months ago (Ben's butt is fine now).  As long as I was at it - I decided to calculate how many calories are in a Super Cookie.  Each one weighs just over 1/3 of a pound and has approximately 700 yummy calories!  80,87,47,0,C

a monday matinee...

granted...

Back in early September, I got an email from a blog follower asking if I could possibly cast an AA desire chip in silver and that he would like to order 10.  I told him that I doubted I could get good detail with the casting process and that minted silver chips were available online.  He replied that he had seen them, but...

"...if you didn't produce a super detailed and sharp coin, I think I and others might like it more, since the more rustic casting after polishing might just look like a coin long carried.  Also, I'd like to know the coin was handcrafted from mold to cast.

And, I'd rather have a solo man long in the desert, who I have witnessed have a spiritual awakening by following his blog, cast my desire chip.  I'm guessing others like me would appreciate the provenance as well.  I'd like to give them to old timers and others to carry.  It would mean a lot to me and I think to them.  I owe them a debt.  I've been sober since 4.13.14 and it saved and revolutionized my life.  I'm not in a hurry to get it done.  Let me know if you have any interest."

I told him I would give it a shot and now here we are almost 2 months (and a lot of trial and error) later and God granted me the serenity, courage, and wisdom to accomplish the task.

Rainwater Inventory

Looks like we are heading into the dry season.  Checked my tanks and out of a total capacity of 20,100 gallons - I have 17,150 gallons on tap.  69,77,47,0,B

a friday night film

taming the beast...

Got my new mold frame today and gave vertical casting a try.  Success!  Video tomorrow.  65,70,43,0,B

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...

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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