Thanks Bobby.

I didn't take a doggone picture one today.

But there were fourteen, count'em, fourteen different digital cameras on sight. And that didn't count the video ones either.

We know it was fourteen because Fishman's daughter took the same pose forever. One camera after another, she looked at a bushel basket of characters and clicked.

Here's what she left on my camera.

Good girl.

We had a great day. At times we had four different groups doing things at the same time.

If I hadn't taken the crew over to the gate to see we might have finished on time. But we'll finish it off tomorrow in a couple of hours. No big thing.

I've been to more than one rodeo. I participated in a goat roping. Been part of and enjoyed more than one blacksmithing get together. Enjoyed some and not other family get togethers.

This one was a great one. Everyone got in and got after it. I think the women had as much fun as the guys. We got real lucky in the project worked out better than any of us planned and I had hoped for.

The good byes were long. The promises for another get together was a common theme. I think everyone took home a smile and an appreciation for virtually everything.
Don thought this a cute and required accessory for the state map.

Miss Glenda pointed out it looked like graffiti.

It's gone.

Alan here's where the longhorns found a home.
another
3rd try
2nd shot
This morning we got the sun behind the state of Texas to see the names better. This took about four shots to get the sun just right. Another interesting phenomenon is the prism effect of the sunlight coming through.

Check it out. photo 1
another view
For those wondering what it's all about, take a look.
All of us welders look alike under the hood.
Anyone who's been around me much knows that I have sayings. Probably the most personal favorite is "I'd rather be lucky than good. Anyone can be good. That only takes effort."

Let me give you some examples on this project. Let's start with the wagon wheels in the hand rail.

I showed Bobby (the alleged didn't do nothing but take photos to die for Bobby) and Mike (infamous Mike of a beer in one hand and bar b que tongs in the other and not hitting a lick of work Mike) how to roll the rings for the wheels Friday. Two members who have lamented not doing their fair share on these very forums.

They rolled two rings. Just two. They didn't roll an extra so we could match at least two out of three. First time outers mind you.

I laid out the first wheel and welded it up. The crew did the second one with the first one as a pattern. Something you need to know to understand this luck thing. All the spokes, both wheels, were between sixteen and five eighths and sixteen and three quarters of an inch in length. Not bad. Not bad at all. There was at least three people laying out the spokes, two different welders, and I'd guess six or so involved in the spoke cutting process.

And we ended up in the end with what you see in the above attachment. It doesn't surprise me because I believe in luck. But it will you if you don't.

I didn't notice it until Don pointed it out today and insisted on this picture.

You can't get much luckier than this.
Don drove his wife home last night. Then he got up this morning and drove back here. Just to work.

Then Bobby called and wanted to know if we needed some help.

Anyone who knows me knows I like to teach. So today Bobby learned a lesson. If you don't bring your tools you have to use the ones handed to you.

We had a great day. At times we had four different groups doing things at the same time.

If I hadn't taken the crew over to the gate to see we might have finished on time. But we'll finish it off tomorrow in a couple of hours. No big thing.

I've been to more than one rodeo. I participated in a goat roping. Been part of and enjoyed more than one blacksmithing get together. Enjoyed some and not other family get togethers.

This one was a great one. Everyone got in and got after it. I think the women had as much fun as the guys. We got real lucky in the project worked out better than any of us planned and I had hoped for.

The good byes were long. The promises for another get together was a common theme. I think everyone took home a smile and an appreciation for virtually everything.
Thanks Bobby.

I didn't take a doggone picture one today.

But there were fourteen, count'em, fourteen different digital cameras on sight. And that didn't count the video ones either.

We know it was fourteen because Fishman's daughter took the same pose forever. One camera after another, she looked at a bushel basket of characters and clicked.

Here's what she left on my camera.

Good girl.

 Next 4 photos courtesy txdon -- Welding the railing
txdon, Harvey & Bird
tillerkiller
Harvey's Oak Gate Post