plan for the next decade...

Resolution for the 2020's...spend an hour a day cleaning out the greenhouse until it is done.  Hopefully it won't take 10 years.  44,60,27,0,B
'

a monday matinee...

a nice proverb...

Proverbs 16:1 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord. 2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits. 3 Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established. 4 The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. 5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished. 6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil. 7 When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. 8 Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.9 A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.

year end purchase...

Did my annual desk cleaning today and ordered new "Human Interface Devices" for my computer.  Good thing a keyboard and mouse is so cheap.  51,62,45,0,B

a friday night film

the casita shower stall...

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Christmas 2019

not a weather balloon

So last week the Brewster County Sheriff's office posted some pictures of what they called a crashed weather balloon that they assisted in the recovery of north of Marathon.  When I saw the pictures, I knew right away it was not just a weather balloon.  Took me all of 5 minutes of Googling to figure out what it was...a Worldview Stratollite (similar to the Google Loon project).  I reached out to the company and their Media Relations Dept. responded the next day. The craft that performed a controlled landing (not a crash) was a Stratollite test mission designated Gryphon 13.  Launched from Arizona in November, it was a record flight for the company - maintaining navigational control in the stratosphere for 45 days...surpassing an October flight of 32 days.  Funny thing is, although it tipped over upon landing, Worldview posted a photo of it on their Facebook page with the craft standing upright.  Their current mission is Gryphon 16 which launched December 16th.  You can track that flight here.  58,73,56,0,B

a monday matinee...

God and Science

For the past year I have been studying astronomy and have been following what we have been learning about the vastness of the universe with the recent advancements in technology.  Being that there is yet to be even a hint of any other intelligent life in the universe, it only reinforces my faith.  

JKA

Joe Kyle, astrophotographer from Colorado camped out at The Little Burro.  Joe is here in our dark skies shooting the Horsehead Nebula...also known as Barnard 33 - a small dark nebula in the constellation Orion.  The nebula is located just to the south of Alnitak (1500 light years from Earth), the easternmost star of Orion's belt, and part of the much larger Orion Molecular Cloud Complex.  Video Monday...  46,65,27,0,B

a friday night film

cutting tin...

...for the Casita bathroom walls and shower stall.  

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Camera Obscura

Planning on some experiments with this lens I bought from Finland.  First I am going to see if I can bring the western view of Agua Fria Mountain inside the Casita.  38,55,22,0,B

Interior design...

Found the perfect shower curtain for the Casita shower stall...

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a monday matinee...

saw an illegal today...

Romans 13:1–7 makes it abundantly clear that God expects us to obey the laws of the government. The only exception to this is when a law of the government forces us to disobey a command of God (Acts 5:29). Illegal immigration is the breaking of a government’s law. There is nothing in Scripture that contradicts the idea of a sovereign nation having immigration laws. Therefore, it is rebellion against God to unlawfully enter another country. Illegal immigration is a sin.

Illegal immigration is definitely a controversial issue in the United States (and some other countries) today. Some argue that the immigration laws are unfair, unjust, and even discriminatory—thus giving individuals justification to immigrate illegally. However, Romans 13:1–7 does not give any permission to violate a law just because it is perceived as unjust. Again, the issue is not the fairness of a law. The only biblical reason to violate a government’s law is if that law violates God's Word. When Paul wrote the book of Romans, he was under the authority of the Roman Empire, led by Emperor Nero. Under that reign, there were many laws that were unfair, unjust, and/or blatantly evil. Still, Paul instructed Christians to submit to the government.

Are the immigration laws of the United States unfair or unjust? Some think so, but that is not the issue. All developed countries in the world have immigration laws, some more strict than the USA’s, and some less strict, and all have to deal with illegal immigration. There is nothing in the Bible to prohibit a country from having completely open borders or to have completely closed borders. Romans 13:1–7 also gives the government the authority to punish lawbreakers. Whether the punishment is imprisonment, deportation, or even something more severe, it is within the rights of the government to determine.

First portrait...

...with the new camera of my neighbor and client Joe Blumentritt.  This is a still from some 4K video I shot today.  66,78,38,0,B

a friday night film

waiting...

...on the last full moon of the year.

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The goal...

Organize one area /fill one garbage bag per day until it's all done.

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Contemplating...

...a winter cleaning binge...

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a monday matinee...

who can know it?

Jeremiah 17:5 Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. 6 For he shall be like the heat in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. 7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. 8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. 9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 10 I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.  

bathroom platform...

Built this to make it easier to run the drain from the shower and kitchen sink outside since we hadn't finalized the plumbing design while main construction was going on.  In other news:  Today is my 12 year anniversary in the desert... 62,74,38,0,B

a friday night film

wired up and working....

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A shower for the Casita...

Talked the client out of buying one of those cheap plastic showers.  My landlord put one in my studio in Brooklyn and the first thing I did was rip it out and build one I was happy with.  Just got the new 36" square shower pan and I am going to build a custom stall for the Casita that is much nicer for the same price as those crappy ones.  67,79,36,0,B

something different...

Running wire for a 240 VAC hot water heater in good old fashioned galvanized conduit for an "on the grid" client.  A little more dangerous than 12 VDC... 61,74,36,0,B

a monday matinee...

watch...

Mark 13:21 And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: 22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. 23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things. 24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, 25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. 26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven. 28 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near: 29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors. 30 Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done. 31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. 32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. 33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. 34 For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. 35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: 36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.  

Saturday morning project...

(someone's watching you)

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a friday night film

Thanksgiving Dinner

Broke TFL tradition and cooked real food instead of a TV dinner.  

52,70,42,0,B

Closed due to inclimate weather...

Ben and a fog bow from last week...

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Old wood...

Some reclaimed weathered lumber from the scrap pile for a rustic Casita bathroom door... 69,80,65,0,W

a monday matinee...

stuff happens...

RIP Ruth...my "Texas mom" 

living room window trim...

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a friday night film

electron magic...

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fuse and breakers...

75,87,59, .03",B

New Battery Bank

New batteries and busbars hooked up and charging.  Put down one section of the final bathroom floor first.  I don't ever want to have to move those batteries again...they weigh 100 lbs. each.  70,82,41,0,B

a monday matinee...

Christ In You

Colossians 1:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; 26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

The Utilities Wall

Finally got the Casita batteries and I will be installing them next week...the ones we had were loaners from TFL so we could get phone and internet.  Went in this morning and disconnected everything from the solar panels and pulled out my batteries.  Installed a firm backing of OSB for the electronics and future plumbing (water pump, expansion tank, and water heater).  63,74,37,0,B

a friday night film

Coming soon to Alpine...

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The Evil Out Here...Part II

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a winter day

35,38,31, .07",B

a monday matinee...

but don't ask for a pony...

1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

interior trim

Started the interior trim today and had to figure out a way to wire the light switch for the living room.  All the other wiring I can hide with trim...but not this run.  Ended up having to remove one section of ceiling tin to have just enough room to drill a hole through the double top plate so I could snake the wire behind the wall.  It's all in the details...  65,78,50,0,B

a friday night film

The Evil Out Here

Had a rather large FBI raid at the compound near Camels Hump on the ranch today.  Seems they finally found just cause to take Tom Arthur into custody.  Many of the locals have known about his history for years but apparently he was very careful about avoiding prosecution by only trading "fictional" stories about raping children.  He rarely left the compound and I only saw him once in the 12 years I have lived here.  His wife Sandra Parks was active on Facebook years ago as part of a donkey rescue operation.  I sent her a friend request and told her I would like to meet her.  At the time she told me she and her husband are rather reclusive and prefer not to have visitors.  Their compound is surrounded by locked gates and surveillance cameras.  Once I figured out where she lived, I called her out on her husband's pedophile website that I had learned about from the above link that another local passed on to me.  She unfriended me right away and soon disappeared from Facebook altogether.  Nice to know the law has finally caught up with these deviants.  Will share more news on the raid as soon as it becomes available in the press.  55,64,58,0,B

tank tucked in...

Pre storm drill at the Casita ahead of the chance of rain tomorrow.  Everything powered down and unplugged in case of lightning / downspouts secured / tank tucked in.  If we don't get any rain, I have made arrangements for a delivery of 300 gallons of water to make sure the tank won't budge.  79,88,63,0,B

gutters and tank...

Chance of rain coming later in the week.  

The Casita is ready to catch it.

Video of the install Friday.  

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a monday matinee...

Religion...

Am I religious?...No.  I hate that term.  Too many people make the mistake of thinking that those who are "religious" have made a choice based on some mystical belief system.  Have I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and welcomed the very real influence of The Holy Spirit in my daily life?...Yes.

John 14:16 

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 

Big Boy

Took a little overnighter in Alpine to shoot the Big Boy as it rolled in last night and left this morning.  Video Monday.  Took a real shower and pooped in a real toilet for the first time in years at the Highland Inn.  (sorry - no video of that)  57,65,36,0,B

a friday night film

a pad...

Leveled a pad for the water tank...only a few rocks in the way.

52,63,34,0,B

Heat and Refrigeration...

50,78,48,0,W

Something for rainwater...

Catchment tank arrived this morning.  It will take about 5" of rain off the roof to fill this with 1,750 gallons.  Final placement along with gutters and plumbing coming next week so we will be ready for the next rain...  75,83,48,0,B

a monday matinee...

Something to consider...

Haggai 1:7 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.

Steve

65,70,34,0,B

a friday night film

the client is coming...

Installing some interior lighting...

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some interior walls...

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working the inside...

78,86,42,0,C

a monday matinee...

Fellowship

the view from below...

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a friday night film

more batteries...

Had to add 2 more batteries to the Casita solar to fulfill Big Bend Telephone's requirements (minimum of 800 Ah).  They are coming tomorrow morning to hook up the equipment.  Video tomorrow night.  79,86,47,0,B

a new friend...

video monday

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LED

Some of the low wattage lighting for the Casita just arrived...  77,87,67,0,B