It was a rainy and gloomy day outdoors.. the perfect kind of day to work indoors.
I spent a good part of the day working on the shotgun rail that I’m making for Gabe. I love trying to figure out how to get the shape in my mind to come together for me in metal. It’s like the ultimate ‘making’ material because anything you can imagine, you can make quickly.

Here I am dressed up for metal mayhem.. I still can’t get the smell of burning steel out of my skin and clothes,

I had some MIG metal bending parts to make.. luckily the wood stove was hot enough to work the steel. Someday I’d like a bigger torch so that I could control the heating better.. For now, this will have to do.

 I had a couple of those dope-slap moments today.. first I couldn’t figure out why my metal drop saw wasn’t cutting anything very well.. I looked in and saw that the blade was worn down to a tiny fraction of it’s original size. here’s the old blade and a new blade side by side.

Then … all of a sudden my welds started spattering really badly.. I tried adjusting current and the feeds.. then realize..Doh !… I’m outta gas again. I hope that one of the welding shops is open tomorrow morning so I can get some more.. Id’; like to get this rail finished tomorrow

Gabe and Trevor finally surface about mid day an made themselves a feast.. They went up to the mountain despite todays rain..

In the early afternoon,  our friend Heather from Dragonfly gifts came over to deliver a special gift from Aunt Shaun (thanks Shaun !!!!). We had a great conversation with Heather. She’s a connected spirit for sure. ..

Chai bore the brunt of today’s bad weather. she just had to hang out inside.. Awwww poor Chai !….

THis evening we went to the Hester’s Christmas party.. on the way there I happene to notice the outside temperature.. it was 50 degrees !!!About 30 degrees warmer than normal for this time of year.. Luckily.. the snow cover seems to be holding.. we’ll have to see what tomorrow brings in terms of weather before we can clain that we’ll have a white Christmas.

It was great going to the Hester’s.. There were so many people there that I hadn’t seen in a long while.. I spent a bunch of time talking to my old IBM boss Les and his wife Mimi.. I love those guys and had sort of fallen out of touch. it was great catching up.  

George, Hannah D’s Ob/Gyn was there.. right after I talked to him. My phone rang. It was Hannah !.. She is in the hospital and dilating !  She’s going to have that baby tonight !!!!   Good luck Hannah and Dave.. talk to you in the morning !
 
There was a great sing along at the party.. many voices and some beautiful songs..

One of the songs they sung was Shalom Chavarim ..   the old Hebrew standard, sung as a round.

Peace out everyone.. Peace out my Sam..
-me