Corrina's treasure.

My studio is full of many things that constantly remind me of wonderful adventures, people, places and projects from my past. Today, I'll be adding to that collection. I'll put three small stones with hearts painted onto them in a special place.

It is a very sad day for our family. We laid to rest a tiny member, a daughter of my nephew and his wife, still born. Although we will not get to know her, Corrina was much loved and long awaited. Many tears were shed and hugs shared as we gathered. Mere words could not convey our feelings.

As we entered the church we were invited to take a small stone with a heart painted on it. The stone is to remind us to remember little Corrina and do something nice for someone we come across in her memory. We are to imagine the joy this little girl might have brought into this world and then create some of that in her name. Corrina's memory will live on if we each do our part and in the process the world will become a better place. 

I know so well the joy little girls, daughters and grand daughters can bring to each of us. Corrina's legacy is a very tall order. A single stone was not enough for me. 

-grampa dan

Log car fabrication

As with the Shay geared locomotive, the log car requires LOTS of steel fabrication. Today we welded up the sub structure, similar to the locomotive. The heavy angle iron along the bottom will be bolted to the top of the trestle to keep the train up there - no matter what!

Once everything was secure and in it's place we could better visualize how it will look when it is done. And it passed muster - no problem. Before we continued with the log car I needed to determine the final height of the locomotive cab. Welding some arched steel tubing to the top of the uprights determined our measurements in a hurry.

Then it was back to the log car once more using the train height as a reference point. The log will be framed out with structural steel, getting lighter as we work our way to the surface. Hard to see in the pictures is the pencil rod final framework that we will attach lath to for our sculpted fiberglass-reinforced-concrete that will form the ends and bark of the giant log. The face of the log with the sign on it will be routed Precision Board. There is at least another day of welding on the log car strucutre alone.

I'm having fun - as always, while we build this our sixth logomotive.

-grampa dan

Momma's got mail

Phoebe is at that magical age where she has total confidence in her abilities and an imagination that takes her everywhere imaginable. Imagine sitting down each day and lacking no shortage ideas of things to draw or build and also knowing immediately how you might go about it. This is where Phoebe lives each day. It is something I strive for in my own work and certainly encourage in hers. She has it - with bells on. All she needs is an endless supply of paper, some felts, a pair of scissors and plenty of Scotch Tape. She got plenty of each for Christmas. And since then she has been very busy!

Yesterday's project was a mailbox for her Mom's door. It has MOM on the side - so the mail man knows who this belongs to. The working flag is neatly fastened on the center of the 'O'. Design and funtion merge seamelssly. The flap works too of course and is complete with a paper catch. The mail box is neatly taped to Bec's bedroom door along with a whole lot of previous creations.

This mailbox isn't just for show for I've noticed the flag is often up and mail is stashed inside. Well done Phoebe!

-grampa dan