Wednesday, June 20, 2012

The most wonderful (solid) substance on earth




I've been thinking a lot about wood.  Heck, hardly a day goes by that I don't.  Anyway, as I'm thinning some trees today around the shop where I work, I can't help but laugh at how hopelessly infatuated I am with the stuff.

It bends.
It burns.
It builds.
It stacks.
It floats (with few exceptions).
It is at once remarkably simple and wonderfully complex.
It is used by every culture on every continent throughout all time, world without end.

Some have found some very unusual ways to employ it:


And here's an aspect of wood that continually blows my mind:

It was "invented" in all it's complexity, by the God of the Universe (YHWH), which He preordinately provided for the atoning crucifixion of His One and Only Son — ineffable.



Not much more to say, except:

"Thank God Almighty for wood."


On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,

The emblem of suff’ring and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.


     Refrain:
     So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
     Till my trophies at last I lay down;
     I will cling to the old rugged cross,
     And exchange it some day for a crown.

Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.

In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.


(George Bennard 1913 — Public Domain)

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Crowded Cabin



Lately, I've been checking out every possible library book about owner-built dwellings.  You know: log cabins, "pole-buildings", even off-beat stuff like cordwood cabins and yurts.  In nearly every case, these manuals are written by people who have successfully built their own home... for a family of three or less.

What the heck?

Is there some unwritten rule that says: "In order to be able to build your own home from scratch, from sustainable resources, without paying an arm-and-a-leg, your birthrate must be less than the average for say, Russia."???  Come on, authors, aren't you aware of the Demographic Winter we're having?

Well anyway, My wife and I are the proud and vibrant (albeit often-harried) parents of five (5!) incredible children.  And yes! --  we fully intend to build our own home, on a strict budget, big enough to accommodate our family and the occasional visitors.  This is a major part of the vision that the Good Lord has planted in our hearts, decades ago, and we believe that He will see it through.  We have a goal of accomplishing this task without debt; for debt, in the economy-to-come, will become the enslaver of hundreds of millions of people.  (Look what it's done to our nation's well-being, thus far!)

So, if you are wandering through your local book retail store (if they even continue to exist apart from Amazon :-), and you happen to spot a title that looks something like "How To Build A Sustainable Cabin for a Large Family Without Completely Losing Your Sanity or Family Unity", buy it on the spot!

After all, it'll probably be mine.

Have a blessed day, friends.

Friday, June 15, 2012

Let's Do Some Reading!


Howdy friends!

Here are two articles I just printed, and plan to read with the Mrs. in the next day or two:


Will you read them with me, and add your comments, below?  Thanks!

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Frenetic Blogging Fricassee

 
Here's a new recipe: I like to call it...

"Frenetic Blogging Fricassee"
  • 1 lb. of scattered thoughts
  • 3 hours of uninterrupted sleep (maximum)
  • 1 Allergy Pill
  • 102 Pictures of my current Dream
  • 2,376 Projects that need starting... or finishing
  • 1 anticipation of pizza and ice cream on Fathers' Day
Mix well and sit in bed with a computer in your lap.  Serve promptly.


Anyway, I'd love to be coherent and concise, but I can't, so I hope I don't scare anyone off.  Here goes...

——————

We have been spending lots of weekends working hard (probably harder than some of our kids would like) to gather all three acres'-worth of "firewood" that's been laying all around the property.  One of our favorite meals in the Airstream that has become our "base camp" is Macaroni and Cheese and Wienies (or "MacWienies", as I've heard it referred to).

 Since a picture is worth a thousand words, here are a few...

At the entrance


Showing off their walking sticks


Studying the local flora


We love Montana in the Spring!


Hoping to build a "starter garden" just to the right (South) of the shed, using its roof to catch rainwater for irrigation.








(Unfortunately, my dear Bride was behind the camera for these shots.  Oh well.)

————

Looking forward to doing some boating this weekend, with Grandpa and Grandma, maybe out to Whitefish Lake.


I miss the presence of some dear family and friends back in SoCal.  I so wish they could be here, to see all of this breathtaking beauty.


Both my PC's battery and my body's "battery" are running low.  Please leave a comment if you're so inclined.  Looking forward to hearing from you!

--Ric

Friday, June 8, 2012

Guest Post

A sister in the Lord ("Enola Gay" of the Paratus Familia blog, whom I've actually never met :-) writes today's post.  I pray it admonished and encourages you as much as it did me:

Unintended Consequences