Pandemic Saturday

 

It aint over till it's over and it's getting worse again.

The more people deny and resist - the longer it will last.

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Made to order...

 

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Infographic

Placed along with bronze sugar skulls for sale at the Terlingua Trading Company in the Ghost Town.  Do you ever scan QR codes?  76,82,72,T,B

coming soon...

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replacement

My 14 year old Ryobi cordless drill finally bit the dust.  It served me well.  Just got this combo for $99 that includes two lithium batteries and a charger to replace it.  I've been wanting an impact driver for a few years ever since I discovered how efficient they are at driving screws.  The king is dead.  Long live the king.  95,101,81,0,B

Art Auction

The final Benita marker is finished.  If anyone is interested, I am auctioning off the test cast to go towards Ben's monthly feed bill.  The marker is 4 1/8" x 6" x 1/4" thick and weighs 1 pound 3 ounces.  Bidding starts at $75.00.  Make me an offer...  95,102 80,0,B

tit for tat

Proverbs 29:27  An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked. 

Pandemic Saturday

The pandemic grew to epic proportions thanks to Covid deniers and it very well could get worse or at the very least, drag on much longer than it should thanks to anti-vaxxers.  In the United States, this pandemic could've been over by now, and certainly would've been by Labor Day.  If the pace of vaccination through the summer had been anything like the pace in April and May, the country would be nearing herd immunity.  With most adults immunized, new and more infectious coronavirus variants would have nowhere to spread.  Life could return nearly to normal.  But unfortunately that is not the case.  Experts list many reasons for the vaccine slump, but one big reason stands out: vaccine resistance among conservative, evangelical, and rural Americans.  Pro-Trump America has decided that vaccine refusal is a statement of identity and a test of loyalty.  In the end, these unvaccinated idiots are inflicting a preventable and unjustifiable harm upon family, friends, neighbors, community, country, and planet. 

A week of casting...

From the video description: Had a bit of trouble getting a cast I was happy with. Five pours over five days. It is difficult to see in the videos but I was losing detail in some of the letters in the first 4 castings. Mostly it was an issue of not enough pressure to give me the detail I was looking for in the letters. The final pour worked because I had a good runner and gates, just the right amount of metal, and I screwed the mold halves together so the pressure couldn't push them apart. Did a finishing, acid etch, and patina test on one of the duds - and it looks very promising. 92,98,78,0,B

Fifth time's a charm...

Finally got a cast I'm happy with.  Just as well that I had some duds.  I will be using the flawed ones to test final finishing methods.  Video of all 5 castings tomorrow.  89,95,76,0,B  

Forth dud...

So...so...close.  The problem with this one was I didn't account for the extra metal I poured by adding extra weight on top and the additional pressure actually separated the two halves of the mold a little causing the flashing around the edges from metal seeping out, which in turn caused some loss of detail again (and some fire).  Pour number five tomorrow - with extra weight to keep the mold tightly pressed together.  (Note:  The casting looks silver because this is right after the pour before quenching it.  It magically turns gold once it is dipped in water to cool.)   88,97,74,0,B 

Third dud...

Very close.  Runner and gates are good - just need a little more molten metal for pressure to get to all the letters (lost some detail in the bottom right corner).  Cast number four tomorrow.  I may sell the test casts if anyone is interested.  How much would you pay for one of them...?  91.94,74.0.B 

2 duds...

I've cast the Benita marker twice now and both are close, but not quite enough detail in all the lettering to suit me.  So I am going to try a third casting tomorrow.  88,97,79,0,B

the foolish and weak...

1 Corinthians 1:26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: 'Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.'

Paul shows that God was pleased to save those who believed the "weak and foolish" gospel of Christ crucified. In fact, God intentionally chose those who were weak and foolish in the world's eyes to believe the "weak and foolish" gospel of Jesus. In this way, God will shame the supposed wisdom and strength of all those high-status people who have rejected faith in Christ (1 Corinthians 1:26–31). 

Ready for a test casting...

 

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running water...

Doing a little plumbing job in a house on a hill.

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a grave project...

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another rooted cutting...

 

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Which one of these is not like the others...

Looks like someone's burro ran away or was turned out.  I posted a picture on Facebook and no one has stepped up to claim this critter.  This odd one out was very tame and allowed me to get close enough to hand feed it.  Some people out here are really bad about being responsible for their livestock.  Occasionally someone decides they want a burro only to discover how much trouble and expense they can be and simply turn them loose.  87,91,71,0,B

Sometimes a cactus is just a cactus...

12 years ago I potted this rainbow cactus after it got kicked out of the ground by a longhorn.  At the time, it was about 3" tall.  It is 22" tall now.  79,87,76, .04",B

Escape the corruption...

2 Peter 1: 1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  

Pandemic Saturday

 

no...there is not a microchip in the vaccine

burros from above...

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Grave

Went to check Benita's final resting place yesterday.  Rocks I placed on her grave look to be undisturbed after all this time.  Hard to believe she died 9 years ago.  Working on a proper bronze marker for the spot.  96,88,72,0,B

Making more bronze...

 

2440 grams of aluminum bronze - enough for 16 more skulls.

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Cast another...

 

Sold a second Freemason paperweight.  

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client request...

 

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pieta test for casting

 

Retail Outlet

For sale at the Big Bend Motor Inn gift shop.

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Nap time...

I always have to check under my truck before driving off. Never know who might be napping under there in the shade. 92,98,72,0,B

Nine years old...