My youngest son Nolan completed two projects; you can see them at this link: Get rid of that awful pink.
I’m continually amazed at the luxuries brought by mass production. In the first picture is a new brake drum for a 1987 Toyota truck. The dark grey areas are the original surfaces left by the casting process. The lighter silver areas are where it’s been machined. I got this for 30 something dollars, I don’t recall exactly. But all that work for that price?!?!? Amazing! 
Next is a small plastic spoon, I was going to throw away. But I looked at the lines, and marveled at how nice this simple disposable object looks and works. Notice the two angles indicated by the red lines. Notice how cool the curves and varying thickness is in the blue circle. Notice the slight curve, probably for ergonomics, indicated by the green line. We are surrounded by luxury.
I’m doing the body work on my 1987 Toyota truck. While it’s in the primer stage, I can play around with lighter and darker primer. Here’s an effect I’ve wondered about for years. It’s supposed to look like raised, embossed squares. Inspired by the large space craft of the original Star Wars movie. I should have used a grey for the ‘lower’ edge, instead of black. The stencil is made of magnetic sheet, and is uber-easy to use.
Speaking of body work, how would you like do do this next project? It’s a replacement fender for a huge articulated truck. The metal is about 5/16ths inch thick.
Lastly, a picture of the moon behind clouds.
Of all the things I’ve ever done or shared, this is the most important, save for talking about a new life in Christ. This is the Bible study method I’ve been using for years. I call it Synapse family Bible Study, because I’m not only trying to raise children who know His word, but whose minds cross reference by ideas, and not words only. This first one isn’t edited for length, it starts out a bit slow, but the pace picks up around the 21 minute mark. Skim it to learn our method, watch it to learn about the Bible. Thanks.
Next is what I saw upon awakening from a rest on our leather couch. You can see my two white socks in the picture. See the face? The next picture is closer. Maybe anybody would have seen it, maybe I’m more sensitized by my work with graphic art, maybe I need help…or maybe you’re just in a WEIRD place.
Next is a picture of a Diesel-electric locomotive being scrapped. Actually, the frame will be used in manufacturing a new one. I show this picture so you can see how it works. The cab is still intact, the motor is the large thing in the middle, and the generator is between the cab and the motor. The generator makes electricity to drive large electric motors on each axle. That’s actually what powers a Diesel locomotive; electric motors. Now what do I call the frames after disassembly? Why, Loco Bones of course.
Next is the exhaust manifold of a 1978 Toyota truck, which only gets driven every week or two. A Mud Dauber made a nest here. After a drive, the contents were quite crispy, as seen in the picture after.
Below is how the dust from sanded glazing compound forms into little mounds. Other materials don’t do that.
Next is a ventilation cover of a battery box on a rail passenger car from the 1940’s. The top half has been needlescaled. It’s good to have numerous tools around to tackle different parts of a job.
The first two pictures below are from the July 4th weekend. One is a sunset scene, the next is my daughter Jacqueline’s Toyota truck, which we spent the entire week prepping to paint. I painted it late Sunday afternoon, amid a series of bad setbacks. I’ll make a web posting about the project at my restoration blog. the last picture is of my family, except my oldest son, who was gone at the time. This was taken a couple months ago. Grainy to be sure, but it’s a scan of a printed photo. I’ll try to get a better image.
