Perpetual Virgin

Mary is our Mother!

           https://youtu.be/Nh94JLj4kyA         

Slippery

The method to our Lord's madness. 

           https://youtu.be/c48x0eMYN4w         

Dichotomy

 Here's how we rejoice.

           https://youtu.be/zYDv_5v0baI         

Cowboy Nachos

Cowboy Nachos can serve a good purpose while you're waiting for your steak to grill or for a light meal in a pinch. They are easy and tasty, and can bring back happy memories as a kid.

I remember Grandpa having these Cowboy Nachos when I was growing up. They were good then and just as good now. 

To spice it up, I'll use these lime flavored tortilla chips.

Simply scatter a handful or two on a plate. 

Grab a couple pieces of cheddar cheese. 

And divide them on the chips. I cases like this, I like to put the cheese throughout the layers of chips. 

About 20-25 seconds in the micro. 

And giddy up! 

Simple and good. Add a Black Tooth IPA to wash them down, and you're ranchin! Cowboy Nachos get the job done. Certainly on the light side. But if your day is done and you just need something to hold you over, Cowboy Nachos might just be the meal for you. 

Signage

The one draw back of having the office attached to the rectory and away from the church, is that people often don't know where to go. One step towards rectifying this situation is a sign out front. 

Communication is key in life, and it's no different in parish life. 

Of course, I wasn't going to buy new metal. So I asked around and Dick Bradshaw thought he could help us out. 

Sure enough. Special thanks to Dick and his son-in-law John for this 2'x4'x1/4" plate. 

First step was to stencil in the letters. It is important that you make sure and spell the words right before you get to cutting.

Should work. 

Plasma cutter was my tool of choice. Old timers still prefer a cutting torch, but plasma cutters are quick and easy. 

Good stuff. I was trying to put a lot of letters on a smaller surface. By doing so, it is easy to not put enough space in between words. Such a case makes it tougher to read what you're saying. I probably could have made the letters smaller and avoided this scenario. She'll still do the trick, though. 

One of the beauties of plasma cutters is that the slag on the back chips off easily with a chisel and hammer. Dick said that if you buff the rust off the back before you cut, you'll end up with less slag. Makes sense, though I'll have to try it next time. 

A good buff with a wire wheel does clean things up in the end. 

A sanding disc on the front really sharpens up the letters. 

Next was the pipe legs to hold the sign. 2 7/8" was our joint size of choice. 

One way of capping pipe is what they call orange peel. Simply cut wedges out of the pipe about the same distance down as the width of the pipe. 

Pipe is stiff and takes heat to do about anything out of character with. 

Heat and hammer. With a mig welder this won't be hard to fill. Out in the field and with bigger pipe, you'd have to be more accurate. 

Should work. 

Then weld it up. 

In cases like this, it is worth measuring and putting equal welds down the side. 

Then paint. Primer and gloss top coat. 

That'll do. 

Then the ground work. Cleared the rocks and cut through the weed blocking fabric. 

With rock, it is work putting the dirt on a tarp to keep it clean. We went about 2' deep. 

Looks level to Darin. 

Simply tamped it in with the butt of the shovel. 

Fold the fabric up and kick the rocks back on. 

Should do the trick. 

Simple addition that can solve a lot of confusion. We stuck a mailbox on it to clean operations up as well. Time will tell. As long as I don't back in to it with White Horse, life should be good. On to the next one. 

Am I Not Here

Mary is our Mother. 

           https://youtu.be/ZzUEi3u2FW4         

Invitation

The Good Shepherd invites, not breaks our legs.

           https://youtu.be/fBLQn9JBKec         

Immaculate Conception

 Round two.

             https://youtu.be/jlfdWj6qMB4           

Good Shepherd

Jesus comes to save us. 

           https://youtu.be/F3P8e4hT2u4         

Hail, Immaculate Conception

Mary is the Immaculate Conception.

           https://youtu.be/zNRw0BilSNE         

Catholic Canyon

God communicates Himself to us in many and varied ways. The Sacraments, Sacred Scripture, each other... The list goes on. Creation speaks to us of God in a natural way, but also in a supernatural way. If we pay attention along the road of life, God not only reveals Himself to us, but also draws us deeper into the Christian mysteries. 

One of my favorite examples of this is in Tensleep Canyon. I've been up and down this road a hundred times, more so in recent years. It never gets old. Over the years, people have pointed out to me a couple mysterious outcroppings. With eyes open in faith, God has spoken to me through this Catholic Canyon. 

The first point for pondering is just a mile or two as you start up the canyon. The best place to stop and see this site is at the Point of Interest. 

Hidden up in the cleft of the rock is a hole. The first time it was pointed out to me they said it looks like an angel. 

But when I saw it, God immediately revealed to me Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane.

This statue belongs to my Aunt Rhonda. To this day, when I look at that rock outcropping high on the canyon wall I pray to the Father, Not my will, but Thy will be done. (Luke 22:42)

The next site comes just after the second switchback on the way up the mountain. 

Once on top, stop at the big pullout. 

High on the wall is a standalone spire. I've been told it looks like a monk.

I can see that. But to me, I see our Blessed Mother with baby Jesus in her arms. 

This is the statue of our Lady in a little grotto behind the church back home. When I look at that mysterious outcropping I hear Jesus say, Woman, behold your son. (John 19:26)

Good stuff. Above my right hat brim rests the image of our Lord. 

I've showed these things to many guys over the years. Some get it and others don't. I don't doubt that to be the case. Sightings like this are not universal, but personal. God's voice resonates on our hearts individually. He is capable of speaking to us through creation. And not just that He exists and is the Creator of all things. But that He loves us, and comes to save us through the Life, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. A most fitting way to live out of this mystery is in the arms of Mary, the Mother of God. We would do well to take Jesus' final commandment seriously and, Behold our Mother. (John 19:27) In her arms we stay peaceful as children as we strive to fulfill the Father's will. Let's ranch. 

Repent

The Sacrament of Confession/Reconciliation is the formal way to repent.

           https://youtu.be/moJ0qn9Ie2M