Day 117 of 331 - A Further Development?

Hi!

It is 11:10 PM. Jan and I just finished watching the last three hours of 24. I have to say, it was the best TV series since The Fugitive, back when I was in junior high and high school, some 42-46 years ago (1963-1967). This was that good, and ended very dramatically . . . and appropriately. Jack Bauer, played by Keiffer Sutherland, was once again a fugitive from the law - after doing all that was humanly possible . . . and more . . . to save his country, and see that justice was served. Tragic irony at its finest; and a great show. One for the ages.

So, we checked on a house today that sits on 3-4 acres, right next to a nursery, on Ellsworth Road. The owner, a Bob Johnson, died a year or so ago, and it appears to be vacant - although the next-door neighbor said that his "girlfriend" still stayed there occasionally. His son, a Bill Johnson, reportedly lives in the Prescot Valley. I'll try another neighbor tomorrow. It would be a good place to set up shop, and live for the time being.

Today was Memorial Day, so I wasn't able to get prices for Cedar, in order to give Adam a final contract. Will do that tomorrow morning. I did do some sketches of further details, however, and got prices for a better Simpson post anchor. I'll be ready to wrap up the details and start tomorrow. I'll either do that or apply for work. I'm out of time.

Thank you, and good night! Over and out!

Mr. Ballantyne - Historic/Component Architect

Day 116 of 331 - Renewed Determination.

Good Evening!

I didn't work yesterday, and it got late, so I continued a some-time tradition of waiting until Sunday to blog on a more spiritual note.

Interestingly, the answer to what I needed to do came yesterday morning as I was studying. Jan read to me from an article about Clint Eastwood, in which he talked about the counsel of his father to take a job in order to learn all that he could - without worrying about his pay. He told him that the pay would take care of itself once he had demonstrated his worth. I will do the same from here on out. I will learn to design, manufacture, and build arbors and other yard structures. As I do this, and make them the best and most yard structures available anywhere.

Millennium Component Systems (MCS) is born.

Sincerely,

Tom Ballantyne - Historic/Systems Architect

Day 114 of 331 - Further Trials....

Howdy!

It is 11:37 PM. I was able to get some - most - of the prices for Adam's project today in Douglas Fir. I am awaiting prices for Cedar. I will let Adam know if there is a change in price. We'll go from there. So far, so good! Nothing worth while comes easily. If this is truly the start of something big, it is no exception. The important thing is "to get the job." That is what famous architect Phillip Johnson said. I suspect he was right. He probably was. So I'll get the job.

Good night!

Mr. Ballantyne

Day 113 of 331 - Close, But No Cigar!

Howdy!

It is 11:31 PM. I just watched the Suns lose to the Lakers in the last second of Game 5 in LA. Great game!

My son-in-law client said he wants Cedar in lieu of the pressure-treated wood I recommended. It turns out that the p.t. is not the best option after all. I will price Douglas Fir tomorrow. In the end, I will make more profit!

Will put my final proposal in writing in contract form tomorrow.

Good night!

Mr. Wright

Day 112 of 331 - Pay Dirt

Howdy!

At 1:09 (I think!) Adam sent me an email indicating that he wanted to go ahead with Phase I of the arbor project. For the record, this was only the last day of the sixteenth week since I started this effort to pursue the historic architecture (and modeling) that I love. He wanted to know if my price was for Cedar - which it wasn't. The only wood available in most of the sizes we need was "wolmanized" or pressure treated (Pine - I think!). I emailed him to that effect, but told him that the wolmanized was actually more expensive, and would look fine . . . without costing him any more. So we'll finalize our deal tomorrow when I get out of the Temple. This will be my second payed project of any consequence in over a year and a half. I am grateful for the opportunity, and believe it will lead to additional opportunities for growth and prosperity. My heart will be in this project, and that is where it should be - in work that I love and believe in. This, for sure, is all of that! Life is certainly a blessing for which I am very grateful!

Thank you, and Good Night!

Mr. Wright

Day 111 of 331 - Getting Close to a Third of the Way There!

Hi, All!

It is now 12:12 AM - the next day! Anyway, I just sent an email to my son-in-law Adam Seever, saying that I could do the first phase of his project for $5,000. The two phases originally had a budget of $10,000, but that was subsequently reduced to half that amount. So, I proposed that we simply do the first phase now for $5,000, and then do the remaining phase for an additional $2,500 when the funds are available.

In my proposal I suggested that "if he were serious" we should proceed in the way outlined above. I'm hoping that will appeal to his pride in doing what he says he will do. Meanwhile, I started pricing materials today, as well as equipment. I will continue to do both tomorrow. I will need a miter saw, drill press, and band saw - all of which will cost in the neighborhood of $1,000.

So, I completed Monday's list today. Yesterday I did a complete materials take-off. Today I got prices at Lowe's and Home Depot. I look forward to hearing from Adam tomorrow, so we can proceed. Meanwhile, life is great, and I am grateful!

Good night!

Mr. Wright

Day 110 of 331 - Preliminary Take-Off and Estimate Completed

Hi!

It is 11:05 PM. I spent a good part of the day making corrections to the Rosson Model, and searching for the brackets that I designed for the second floor cornice/frieze. After several hours of looking through discarded drawings, I finally discovered it in the current drawing file. That was a great relief, as I knew I had both designed the very intricate brackets, and located them around the frieze - but hadn't been able to find them when I was inserting the various drawing files into the model. Boy, was I happy to find it - finally!

I spent another three hours or so doing a detailed materials take-off and preliminary cost estimate of the Seever Arbor. I will put that into a written proposal tomorrow. I left out 3-8' 2x4's, which will cost some $18 - bringing the total estimated cost to $1,966 + tax (for a total of some $2,100).

I spent the morning hours - until noon - searching the scriptures for the "conditions" upon which financial blessings and prosperity are based. There ended up being many. I will list a few of them here:

1. Pray in faith for the specific desired blessings - enter into a covenant with the Father.
2. Seek them "for the intent to do good."
3. Keep the Sabbath.
4. Keep the Fast and pay a "generous" Fast Offering ($50).
5. Pay Tithing.
6. Be grateful.
7. Keep the commandments.

Interestingly, I came up with a considerable number of specific commandments - which included sharing my faith, doing family history research, being clean, attending to numerous personal and family duties, etc. The above list is much more concise, and comes from specific scriptural texts. The last one is a bit vague, but the important thing is to try to be worthy and obedient.

If I will covenant to do these things, and be specific about what I desire in the way of financial success, I am confident that the blessing will be realized - as promised to each of us in the scriptures. We must operate on the certainty that the promises of God are true and reliable. He cannot and will not lie; therefore, we can be certain that He will do as He has said, and that "What things soever [we] desire, when [we] pray, believe that [we] receive them, and [we] shall have them." (Mark 11:24); and "All things, whatsoever [we] shall ask in prayer, believing, [we] shall receive." (Matthew 21:22); and "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth" (Mark 9:23).

The Lord has further promised that "I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise" (D&C 82:10). That being the case, it is not possible that we could fail to realize the promised blessings, if we do our part. We must not "take no thought, save it was to ask [Him]," but if we pursue every reasonable avenue, then we can be confident that He will hear our cries. So I will start with prayer, and follow that up with a fast, and covenant to do anything that I feel or believe I need to do on my part. I must be willing to do whatever I am inspired to do, or that seems right, trusting that as I "Search diligently, pray always, and be believing . . . all things shall work together for [my] good, if [I] walk uprightly, and remember the covenant wherewith [I] have covenanted . . . . " (D&C 90:23). The Lord has also admonished that we be "as wise as serpents and yet without sin, and [He] will order all things for [our] good, as fast as [we] are able to receive them" (D&C 111:11).

So I will seek to be "as wise as [a] serpent . . . and yet without sin." As wise as a serpent . . . and [He] will order all things for my good, as fast as [I] am ready to receive them." As fast as I am ready to receive them . . . . That is an amazing promise. Amazing! As fast as I am ready to receive them . . . . Wow! Am I ready . . . ?

I will prayerfully seek an answer to that question. I must begin to pray diligently . . . now!

Good night!

Mr. Ballantyne

Day 106 of 331 - Model Estimate Requested

Hi!

It's Thursday afternoon (1:38 PM). We just got back from the Temple, and from paying a visit to John Penn, the owner of the ZCorp 3d Color Printer(s). I showed John the files that we copied to one of his computers on Monday - the computer of one of his employees there in his office/model shop. (He was not in.) He was aware that I had stopped by, but had not seen the virtual model - until a few hours ago. I basically discussed the likely scale (1/4"=1'-0", or 1:48) and some of the more challenging details. He didn't seem to have any difficulty with any of it.

I also offered to pay for the model with my time if need be. He seemed receptive, but John is hard to read. The main thing he will do is give me a rough idea of what it would cost to print the model. John is passionate about models, so he will probably be impressed with this one. We'll see how interested and willing he is to get involved on this one. I am hopeful that as he looks at it closer, he will become excited about the exquisite detail to which I have gone. I believe he will.

Printing this model may be the ticket to whatever I do next. I was very excited about the prospect of building Adam's arbor, but that seems to have been cut back. We'll see what happens there. He said he wanted to now do the project for half of his former budget of $10,000. I could possibly do it for $6-7,000, and make $3-4,000. We'll see! I'm going camping with Adam tonight and tomorrow, so we can discuss it to some degree then.

So, I haven't gotten to work too much on either project today, but I did get to meet with John Penn, so that is very positive. I told John I would love to work with him. He is getting busier, so that could be a possibility. Again, we'll see! Meanwhile, life is good! No, actually, life is great - wonderful, in fact! Yes, wonderful . . .and I am truly, extremely, grateful!

Seacrest over and out!

Mr. Ballantyne

Day 105 of 331 - Detour?

Hey!

It is 10:27 PM. Time for bed! My arbor project was somewhat derailed this afternoon. It's okay! Life is still good! My efforts to help Jeff Smith and his bid for the U.S. House of Representatives seems also to be a bit futile. Jeff is a solid conservative, but does not seem to know how to get himself noticed. He also seems to not know how to lead out. So, I'll be surprised if he picks up my challenge to try to make the new Arizona immigration law a platform for his leadership. We'll see, but it looks like my temporary involvement in politics may have come to naught. That would indicate that I need to succeed in business before trying to have any influence politically.

It may be that my model is what will lead me out of the wilderness. At the moment the path is not clear. I can't give up, however. I must simply remain optimistic . . . and so I am!

Good night! We get up at 4:30 to serve in the temple tomorrow morning. Great privilege!

Mr. Ballantyne

Day 104 of 331 - Politics

Hey!

Had lunch with Jeff Smith today, candidate for US House of Representatives. I think Jeff was convinced to enlist JD Hayworth to stand up for the new AZ immigration law 1070. We'll see where it goes.

If I have one political interest, it is to eliminate the income tax. I want to see a 10% "Caesar Tithe" - which is the total tax for all three levels of government - 3 1/3% for the local, the state, and the nation. I'd be willing to start with 10% for the feds, however, as a flat sales tax.

I'm beginning to work on it. Will start the arbor project tomorrow.

Good night!

Mr. Ballantyne

Day 103 of 331 - The Package is Delivered!

Hey!

It is 12:12 AM - Tuesday, actually. Dropped the files by John Penn's this morning (the owner of the 3d printer). He wasn't in, but his guys copied the files to their computer. I'll call him tomorrow to see what he can or will do.

Finished putting in our garden today. Planted 3 tomato plants, 2 yellow squash, 2 zucchini, 2 cucs, 2 watermelons, 2 honey dew melons, and 2 bell peppers. Great feeling to get it all done after digging in the rocky soil for the past 6 weeks or so.

Had lunch with my son Thomas, and his friend Brian Carr, to discuss the AZ immigration law, and my belief that JD Hayworth should lead the charge in support thereof - along with my friend Jeff Smith, who is running for Congress. Jeff and I are having lunch tomorrow. I want Jeff to set up a meeting with JD Hayworth, so we together can get him to take charge of this issue and bring the overwhelming support to the national stage. So far we have let the Left dominate the coverage, even though 60-70 of the state and nation support it. I also believe this could be JD's opportunity to let himself be seen as a presidential contender in 2020. He is in his mid 50's, so that would make him 65 or thereabouts. This could make him a sure leader, and perhaps the Senate Majority Leader at some point.

I also stopped by Earl Taylor's home/office in Mesa this morning, and will go again tomorrow. He is the president of the National Center for Constitutional Studies, and was a guest on the Glenn Beck show a few weeks back. He is a former Bishop, and I was actually in his ward for a brief period of time some years back when we were considering moving here (before it actually happened). Anyway, I want to get to know him and see what his organization is doing. It is very impressive what they have done in the past.

Good night!

Mr. Ballantyne

PS. I will do a materials take-off and cost estimate for the Seever Arbors tomorrow, and meet with my son-in-law Adam. I'd like to build one here first, and could start it immediately. It would be the dry run, so to speak - a prototype. We need to shade our garden.

Day 100 of 331 - Finished!

Wow!

I can't believe I just wrote that: Finished! So, it took me 100 days. Who would've thought it? It is 6:27, and I finished about a half-hour ago. I started about 9:30, and didn't stop. I still haven't had breakfast or lunch. In fact, I haven't had a bite (bight?) of food all day. I did work in the garden for about a half-hour this morning before starting work, however. I probably had a swallow or two of water, but that's about it.

I've heard it said a number of times that whatever one would do for free is what he or she should be doing. I guess since I'm doing this for free, and without eating, this must be what I should be doing! In truth, while I put in some 600 or more hours, and often until midnight or later, for the most part, doing this is what I love to do. It was hard work - mentally, primarily - and took great effort and endurance (both in the short and the long term), it never really seemed like work.

Having said that, this was probably the most challenging thing I have ever done. I've done a few things that were more physically taxing for a short period of time (hours at a time), but this was a "mental marathon." The last thing that I had to do turned out to only take about 5 hours, I think. I was shocked at how well it came together. (It occurs to me that there may be a slight "hole" between the portico and the porch floor, but it shouldn't even be noticeable.)

I suppose the question now is whether I will take this to the working drawing stage. I believe the answer is yes. I will need to proceed with my component project - that will start Monday - but once that is underway, I will probably begin refining the 2d drawings. These will be what we call "Design Development Drawings."

Monday, I will take the files to John Penn, to discuss his printing them in physical model form. The drawing file is nearly 100 mega-bytes. It is more than I can assemble on my own computer, but I assume that it isn't too big for his computers. I suspect, however, that the processing (printing) time may be significant, given the size of the files. We'll see.

I will be amazed if he can actually print it at 1/4" = 1'-0" (1/48th scale). I'm hoping that he will be excited by the challenge and want to do it. I'm confident that he will. This is clearly the fun part at this point. The real work (figuring-out-wise) is done, and I am excited! It has been a great challenge, and I've been able to meet it. For this I am humbled and grateful! Life is good!

I will put in the garden tomorrow, but will blog on Sunday relative to the spiritual lessons learned thus far in the project. Perhaps the main one is that by deciding on a specific course of action I was able to see my true goals and passions - and the goals were a bit different from the ones I stated at the outset.

Those goals were conceived by my conscious mind, and really mean nothing to me at this point. All I care about is doing what I love to do, and that is not dependent upon anyone or anything else. I need no one's permission to do what I want to do - nor does anyone else. We simply need to set about to do it. The specific projects or opportunities through which our talents and work are expressed do not matter. The only thing that matters is that we use our talents to find our true expression. The rest is immaterial.

I believe, however, that we will attract every opportunity that we need - and probably opportunities far greater than we might have imagined - as we are true to ourselves and our means of expression - our "talents." In this there is joy, in this there is fulfillment and peace.

Life is good . . . and I am grateful - truly grateful!

Good Afternoon!

Mr. Ballantyne - Historic Architect/Master Builder

Day 99 of 331 - Closer and Closer!

Hello!

It is 12:13 AM. I stopped working about an hour ago. My computer won't start, so I'm on my wife's computer making my daily post. Today was quite tricky adjusting all of the various heights for the second floor porch on the front, rear, and side of the house. I believe I got it all done.

I spent 7-8 hours doing this today, after spending the morning in the Mesa Temple, fulfilling our new assignment. It was wonderful. Meanwhile, I hope to go and see John Penn tomorrow, about "printing" the model. The only real thing I have left is to create the entry portico, which I will tackle first thing in the morning.

This was the first day of my 15th week. Tomorrow will be day 100. That is a fair bit of consistency . . . and I am confident that it is paying off. One cannot work and focus his efforts diligently without creating an effect. I am creating my future by my present daily work over the past 14 weeks . . . and I am not finished!

Good night!

Mr. Ballantyne

Day 98 of 331 - Getting Closer...Almost There!

Howdy!

It is now 10:47 PM, and I just finished checking the heights on the side porch roof and the Inglenook. The latter had to be adjusted slightly. I will also have to subtract the elements of those two assemblies from the quoins and the brick trim band above the first floor. Those two things won't take long - maybe a half hour or thereabouts.

Besides that, I think I am finished except for the front porch entry gable. I redid all of the windows (about 30) on the first and second floor this morning. I had failed to put the casing or frame around the windows, but took care of that today. I also took a look at the trim on the second floor cornice, and decided that it was sufficient as is. So, we are just about there - again?

I continued to write my favorite scriptures on index cards this morning. I will start memorizing them tomorrow, and reciting them daily. These particular ones are on prosperity, and that is an area that I will focus on for now. I will not worry or concern myself with it, however. I simply need to have my mind in harmony with the abundance that I believe is always available to everyone who can receive it.

Good night!

Mr. Ballantyne

PS. I am happy and completely confident about both my professional and financial future. Both are already here for the taking. I also believe that all of this has come about as a result of my making the decision to focus on my passion - historic architecture - and doing the Rosson project. I have now been on it for 14 weeks (98 days - check the title of today's blog!). The opportunity which I believe is going to be my future - or ultimately lead to it - actually came to me several weeks ago, after being on this consistently for about 12 weeks. I made a decision, and I have stuck with it unflinchingly.

Day 97 of 331 - The Next Day....

Hi!

It is now actually Wednesday night at 9:54, but I am blogging for yesterday, Tuesday. I finished drawing last night at midnight, but couldn't get on-line to post. I can hardly remember what I did yesterday, but I remember that I got a lot done. Mainly, I now recall, I got the back porch balustrade, brackets, and gingerbread done. I didn't think that any of this existed, but in checking the photos I saw that it did . . . and now it's done!

Got to draw a bit more (it's 10:02 already), and then blog again for today. All in all, I kept my thoughts - and, as a result, my feelings - level or positive. I started the day by writing down some of my favorite scriptures on index cards. I have memorized some - and all of them in part - but will soon memorize them all . . . completely.

Good night . . . for now!

Mr. Wright

Day 96 of 331 - Pressing On....

Howdy!

I was able to make many adjustments to the model today. I think I may "be there," with the exception of the entry portico. I will verify this tomorrow. Once again, a good day. There were some very tricky issues, and I will deal with them again when I revise the design drawings, turning them into Design Development Documents - actually the finished plans and elevations. This will soon be a set of working drawings, but first we will make the physical model and glass display case. This will indeed be a work of art, and we are almost there!

Great day! Great progress! Great joy in my success!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Tom Ballantyne - Historic Architect/Master Builder (That is who I am! Good night!)

Day 95 of 331 - Mothers' Day

Hi!

It is 8:50 PM, Sunday. I didn't draw today, and didn't get much, if any, time to ponder. I did have an insight relative to my upcoming component arbor project, however. I have decided to do my own ornamental ironwork - welding and all. I even discovered that my son-in-law, Matt (Olsen) has both a welding rig, and steel saw. Bart Seever, Adam's father also has a welding rig, and knows how to weld. So, I won't have any trouble getting set up to do this. I also sat next to Brian Reed in Priesthood Meeting this morning. Brian is a "blacksmith," or ornamental iron worker. I'm sure I can get some pointers from him. I'll probably do that tomorrow at some point. I'll also go to Home Depot to get prices on the lumber I will need.

We also decided that it is time for us to get our own place. We have been living with our daughter Jodee, and three of our grandchildren for some 9+ months now, since the first week of July, last year. I have a vision in my mind of where I want to live, and the kind of place I want to find. It is in the country, not far East of here, and will have a barn or shop, and enough land to build what I need to build. It would be nice to find a lease-purchase opportunity, but just something to rent to begin with. I plan to start looking tomorrow, although I may go on-line in a minute or two.

So, great day, and life is good. It is wonderful to see the difference that deciding on a path can make. I will be doing something I love, rather than just working to survive. I am truly grateful for that principle, and look forward to continuing to learn new principles every day - powerful, life-changing principles that I can share and teach through both writing and speaking. I am grateful for all of the challenges I have faced, that have given me a firsthand knowledge of the spiritual/mental suffering that one can face when not thinking correctly.

I reread today the passage in Matthew where the Savior taught that man could not gather "grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles" - that after pointing out that "by their fruits ye shall know them." In other words, if the fruits of our thoughts are bitter, then the thoughts themselves must be so. Thus, when we experience bitter fruit - suffering and anguish of any kind - it is because the thought seeds are likewise bitter or wrong. It is therefore meet that we should be constantly aware of our feelings, and that when they are less than peaceful and joyful, we seek to identify the initial thoughts that triggered the negative response. There must always be a cause, and it is always good to be able to link cause and effect. That way we can ultimately reap the fruit that we want to reap by seeing which of our thoughts bear which fruit.

That's about all I have to say about that! Tomorrow I will resume the final corrections to the model. Hopefully I'll be done by Thursday. Can't wait!

Good night!

Mr. Ballantyne

Day 93 of 331 - Almost There...Really!

Good Evening!

Well, it is 11:34 PM on a Friday night. I just stopped "drawing" (model building). I finished the final details of the steps, and they are beautiful! Everything is great. I discovered a mistake (two nearly identical, actually), this afternoon, and spent an hour or so correcting it (them). The main thing remaining is the height (elevation) adjustments, and the main entry portico or gable - but I've said that before - maybe a dozen times or more! Just going over my "To Do List."

So, I'm almost there. This has been a large undertaking, but I am very glad that I've done it, and very thankful as well. I believe my life is about to change. Deciding on a course of action and sticking with it is a good thing - one which will lead to much success and happiness. Learning to work is also a key aid to felicity. I was fortunate to be able to put in some 10 hours today.

It is now 11:42, and I'm about to call it quits for the day. I have to arise at 6:00 in the morning to go work on the Temple grounds. I am happy to be able to do it. It is a privilege to have a Temple nearby, and such a beautiful one!

I wish I had some words of wisdom to offer, but I do not. I will say, however, that I am very much at peace at this point in the day. I am also very grateful for all that I have been given - very grateful...very grateful!

Good night!

Mr. Ballantyne

Day 92 of 331 - Still Awake!

Howdy!

It is now 11:55 PM. I arose about 4:40 this morning, so it's been a long day! I just finished the stairway to the side porch. I am fairly certain that it is the most difficult of the three exterior stairs or steps - two remaining now. Should finish the two of them tomorrow. The only thing remaining tomorrow will be the adjusting of the heights (elevations) of various components, and the saving of all of the drawings to a thumb drive.

Thereafter, the one final thing will be to rebuild the entry gable or portico. That will be tricky, but it is the final task, and I should be up to it at this point. As of yesterday, I have had exactly three months to "practice." I failed to mention that I had fixed the intersections between the tower mansard and the main roof.

This has been a monumental undertaking, and I am grateful for the experience and the success. I am quite happy with the task I have completed.

Sincerely,

Mr. Ballantyne - Historic Architect/Master Builder

Day 91 of 331 - Late Night!

Howdy!

It's actually Thursday evening (8:45 PM) but I'm just now writing for yesterday! I stopped working on the model at 11:00 last night, and had to pick up my wife, so we didn't get home until midnight or thereabouts. We were going to have to arise at 4:30 this morning to fulfill our new assignment at the Mesa Temple, so I needed to "hit the sack!"

I can hear my mother saying that as I write, but I'm not sure where the saying originated. I just grew up hearing it! I love both of my parents very much, and consider myself to have had an idyllic childhood, without a doubt! Both of my parents loved me, and, perhaps more importantly, liked me, and for that I am eternally grateful. I really am!

I finished creating what turned out to be 32 vents on three different levels, and feel really good about my progress. As I've been saying for some time now (weeks, I'm sure!), I'm closing in on finishing!

I spent from about noon to 5:00 working on a model of the Seever Arbors. The model looks great. I showed it to Adam, and he loved it. He said that as long as we kept the project under $10,000, we were okay. I am sure I can do that, and still do quite well . . . an income at last!

So things are moving right along, and I feel very blessed and grateful! Life is good!

Over and out!

Mr. Wright

Day 90 of 331 - More of the Same!

Good Evening!

It is 10:30. I stopped drawing about an hour and a half ago . . . I think! Anyway, another good day of model building. I finished the last of the doors and windows - the main front window, actually. I also created the vent grilles, and installed seven or more in the fascia above the second floor. There may be four times that many yet to be installed.

So, all that is left is those vents, the steps on three elevations, the adjustment of the elevation of a number of elements, and the entry gable. We're almost there!

I will finish the vents first thing tomorrow, and then get on my arbor component system model for my son-in-law Adam Seever.

All in all, this was a great day. I completed reading the Old Testament - all 1,184 pages - on Friday, after about a year doing so, so I can now enjoy the New Testament - a text I dearly love, and with which I resonate. That will be a great relief, I must admit.

So, I am thrilled with the work I am doing, and will continue to do it, and see it become profitable. This is who I am, and now that I am being true to myself, I expect to see wonderful results. As soon as I get the model of the two arbors done tomorrow, I will get back on the Rosson model, and attack the steps. They should be fun and easy. I will finish those by the end of the day on Thursday. That would leave Friday and Saturday to complete all of the elevation corrections and refinements. That would allow me to pay John Penn a visit next Monday, to start the process of getting it printed. Now that is truly exciting!

I could not be more grateful and excited! Life is a blessing, and I will continue to pursue my vision with passion . . . every hour of every day! It's all good!

Good night!

Mr. Ballantyne - Historic Architect/Master Builder/Author

Day 89 of 331 - I'm Still Here!

Good Evening!

Well, I have 2 days left in the first quarter of this project. I finished all of the details of the main arched entryway. Tomorrow I will create the main front window, and then do the vents on three levels. After that I will create the front, side, and rear steps.

So, I solved some very tricky problems today, and came closer to finishing. There is still work to be done, but I will continue to do it until it is finished. Before the week is up I will hopefully take my files to John Penn to see about having him "print" them in physical form.

I need to put all of the files on a memory stick so the files can be taken to him. I must also "subtract" the lower tower mansard (roof) from the third floor roof where the two intersect, and reconstruct the front porch entry gable. The only remaining work will be to adjust the elevations of all remaining vertical elements. Almost there!

Life is good, and I continue to be thankful. It is 1:05 AM (Tuesday morning!).

Good night!

Mr. Ballantyne

Day 88 of 331 - Day of Rest

Howdy!

It is 8:47 PM, Sunday. I did not work on the project today, but also didn't get much of a chance to contemplate my progress. I worked on the model until 12:30 last night (this morning, actually!), and got up at 6:30 or so. (Which is why I didn't blog yesterday - leaving that for today, as has become my custom of late.) As a result I ended up taking a two-hour nap this afternoon. We went to one of our daughters' homes for dinner, and just got back, so between that and church (Stake Conference) this morning, and choir rehearsal starting at 8:00 AM, there wasn't too much "down time."

As for the goals I stated at the outset of this project - as well as this blog - I must candidly say that they don't mean anything to me at this point. I am enjoying doing the model - loving it, in fact - although it is the most challenging project I've ever undertaken. I don't know where it will lead me, but I believe I will finish it this week. I will then undertake to have it "printed" in physical form. It should be a true work of art.

I will admit, however, that I don't know where any of this will go from here. I don't wish to be evasive or fickle, but I don't really know where I'm going with respect to The Pecans or any of the other stated goals relative to a "parade of model homes," etc. I suppose it all came down to me realizing that I have no interest whatsoever in diluting what I am doing to make it palatable to the developers of The Pecans. In meeting with Lonnie McCleave several weeks ago, I found myself trying to align myself with his goals, and somehow sell him on mine, and I just realized that I had no interest whatsoever in being what he or anyone else might want me to be. I'm not an "architect" in the traditional sense of being someone trying to land a project or a job.

I just won't play that game anymore. I am not doing what I am doing in order to be accepted by anyone. I'm doing it because I love what I do (create or recreate historic architecture), and I know that it has great merit and worth to a civilized culture. Most people have no concept of that value, or make it a priority. That is fine. I will not mince words in trying to sell my ideas. I will simply do what I do, and know that the opportunity to do more and more of it will come as I continue to pursue my passion. I don't need to look for opportunities, or worry about them in any way. I just need to follow my heart, and do what I am expert in doing. I don't need anyone else's help or permission to do what I want to do.

I just need to do it . . . and that is exactly what I am doing! Between the virtual - then physical - model of the historic Rosson House, and the component (arbor) systems I will develop for Adam Seever and others, I am well on my way. I will simply continue to work on them daily, and do the other things I am called upon to do - including putting in a garden, and helping save our country - and all of my professional desires will come to pass. I am confident of that, and need not apologize to anyone for anything that I think or feel. Life is good, and I couldn't be happier with where I am going.

The key is that: to be happy with who we are, and with what we're doing. The only way to truly be so is to "just do it!" Life is good, and I am truly grateful and happy! I know who I am, and where I'm going!

Good night, all!

Tom Ballantyne - Architect/Master Builder