Have Coffee, Will Travel

The SM HomeRoasters list is a dangerous list to rad, especially when you are one of them. It's a group of some of the most ingenious and inventive folks out there with respect to coffee. So, I must admit, I am one of them, but not so inventive. Over the past year or so, I've had to do a lot of travelling. I would throw my Bodum Chambourd in the van, some beans in the box, and my trusty Zass 169D. I received that from my co-workers when I left St Louis - it's very dear to me now.

Well, some time ago, I got tired of the fragility of the Chambourd and purchased a Bodum Colombia. Stainless Steel - good for work, good for travel. Just needed hot water. My inlaws gave me a water kettle, a Rival Hot Pot Express. Now, I am waiting for Tom to get a Zass Knee Mill back in stock, and my travel kit will be complete, save for the case.

Case, you say?? Yes, case. Here's a rough sketch I've worked out.

The dimensions of this configuration are 8"H x 12"D x 18"W. Not too bad for my first plan. I'll need to get hard numbers first to verify it works. And then, to building. I'm thinking the final product will be made of 3/4" Oak stock, mostly 12" wide. Probably will have to join the bottom and top. I'm also thinking of a top and front opening, maybe old-fashioned straps and a leather handle. Antique brass hardware. Thoughts???

Solo Deo Gloria,
Jason

read on...

Preaching Postmortem

Yesterday, I preached. It's frequently a surreal experience, to stand before a crowd of people, to concentrate on the Word, and to see the reaction to you and the Word. Yawning, smiling, nods of acknowledgement, nods of sleepiness, and the stone face. Sleepy heads are a bit unnerving, a bit shaking. There's nothing quite like seeing someone, setting in an uncomfortable pew, nod off while you, you of all people, are talking. But then, to see someone without reaction, without expression, that is the penultimate of the unnverving. It's what I would imagine it to be to see a firing squad from the business end - cold, indifferent. But, I am not assigning indifference to those with that expression. In fact, I know one person who usually looks like that, who is very caring and devoted to God. It's his way of paying close attention, carefully weighing the word. Knowing that, that is a good, but scary thing as well. That reminds me that, when I am up there, a vessel broken and needy, I am communicating the goodness of God to them, life to some, but the aroma of death to others. Then I am totally dependent on the Spirit like no other time.

Solo Deo Gloria,
Jason

read on...

Pets...

A long time since my last post. Life has gotten a little busier. I spent most of March, it seems, in class for work. I'm not sure what February was. Late January, however, brought us two puppies, brothers, Samson and Charles (Sam and Charlie). They have been the joyful and energetic pups we expected. Today, however, and this is no April Fools, tragedy struck.

Dogs are dogs, and for that I rejoice. They do what dogs do. Charlie, in his fun-loving, energetic inquisitiveness, wandered into a neighbor's fenced in yard. I don't know what happened with any precision for recounting, but in the end, Charlie was dead. The neighbor has two large dogs, and they were either playing roughly or were protecting the home, just as dogs are designed to do.

But, even though you graced us for only a short while, Charlie will always be in our hearts.

Charles 21 Dec 2004 - 1 April 2005

Solo Deo Gloria,

brookswv

read on...