Will You Wait For Me Forever?

The hookline from a Stratovarius song "Forever"....Only Christ can do that . Only He can offer eternity. I know if I did not have Him to hold me in check I would either explode or implode into self-destruction. I am a builder, creator, not a demolitionist like our recent SCOTUS seems to be. I rely on my hands to feed me in every way and it is through His gifts I have traveled where I have,I cannot play a song but I can make a guitar sound good. I learned from the heart and mind. I can play an acoustic till my fingers bleed and I could not play you the most recognized song. You get the Goat, pure and not so simple.

Two must gotos, www.soldiersangels.com and www.frogfriends.com . Support our folks in harms way, adopt one or a platoon. Support for families of those lost in this noble conflict can be supported and other info can be found at these sights on what we can do as patriot civilians to support our finest.

75 Years, A Bit of Wisdom Learned

One of my favorite writers has reached 75, a black man from the Jim Crow south, Thomas Sowell. He is also a staunch conservative and in no way a sellout to his community. I hope he has at least 25 more to give us. He, Armstrong Williams, Larry Elder, Star Parker etal are some of my favorite conservative writers, all black. And I adore Dr. Rice! I have a major problem with the 'victimhood' disease that is rampaging this glorious nation. I am proud to say I am not a victim of my circumstances instead I chose to fight those lots in life.

Update: A lost sheep has found Christ ! Hallejuhah! And a healthy strong lamb she is!

A Picture

Just hanging out having fun

Tonight's Must Reads

Michelle Malkin , Andrew McCarthy and Peggy Noonan get the nod this evening.

I listened to the President's speech on my way home last night and was flabbergasted at the DNC leadership retoric following, to them it is "69" all over again. I bit off a chunk of that chaw when I was young and stupid and the rancid flavor still lingers. I am glad I grew up. I found it fit its venue and audience well, a military one. Pelosi's rebuttal, give me a break, that woman is a shame to the US as a ranking spokesperson for the DNC. Well the voice of the 'Gay Bay' has spoken and showed the world again how completely ignorant the left truelly is. I am just a lowly redneck contractor, how could I know enough to see through their droppings? BAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!! The difference is conservatives are used to walking uphill, the liberals are used to running away, downhill. We need to learn to just step aside and let them go screaming on past in their suicide run.

Nice End to Long Day

I had to miss the HMH BBQ inorder to meet with a builder client. The route I chose home took me through about 60 miles of California's "gold country" foothills, a stunningly beautiful drive and no camera.(self flogging). The architectural home scheme eludes me on some of these estates, massive stucco tuscan style boxes on ranchland just doesn't fit, think "Big Valley" or "Bonanza" for backdrop. Some of these houses are huge with awesome views and they stick out like Reverend Sharpton at a KKK rally from the arid scrub around them, compared to the shaded old ranchhouse nearby. Colonial , Craftsman or even FLW's Prairie School would be much better, even Tudor would work much bettter. Anyway, a drive along our backroads is always a treat in itself, often a step back in time as you cruise through farmland unchanged for a hundred years. Old mining towns and historic sites dot the way as you wind through ranch studded foothills, it is easy to put yourself on horseback and let the reverie carry you. As it is an up and coming viticulteral region, vineyards are starting to sprout up with some great cabernet francs, syrahs and some unreal blends.I know I greatly prefer the foothill region to napa valley, now sonoma and the russian river valley are outstanding. We make some good wine out here, LOL. Unfortunately all the Dems make too much bad whine as well.

If You Aren't a Recipient

You should be. Wall Street Journal's online free Opinion Journal is a must read for tonight. It is a crying shame that we must rely on an Aussie blogger, Chrenkoff, to provide us with good news in this most vital war.

I am the quintessential American Rebel, my favorite American flags are "Don't Tread On Me" and the Confederate Battle flag, besides Old Glory Herself. I believe in the rights of the States to innact their own laws regardless of a neighboring state's laws. Our Constitution explicitly points this out. American History has been a major passion of mine since I was a running a trapline as a youngin' , me Pop's said I was born two hunnert years to late, I'd say 229 yrs, Oh, to have been a fly on the wall to hear Hamilton, Jefferson,Washington,etal deliver their speeches and rally a new nation born under God's gift of freedom and liberty. I dream of hearing Patrick Henry's mighty plea, " Give me Liberty or give me Death"! Give ground to Islamo- fascism or euro-socialism, never, never, never ! I can forgive a donkey, LGF has more member posters than BOR could dream of, Powerline and Hugh Hewitt get way more webhits than the mighty BOR's site ever does. BOR fears the blogosphere as the spin does start and stop with the blogs now, not his BOR majesty, much less his idotic staff. They do not control their members as they wish to, censoring free speech away from their gated grotto is FLAT OUT WRONG and more than a little bit rude.

Yes, I am a Scots/Irish and a freeman and I am preparing for war! This Sitting Bull warrior will not run for the hills. I intend to stand right here, its real hard to unfoot a mountain goat, grin!

" If you listen to fools the mob Rules"

A little clearer shot. I have some on my camera without the scaffolding and better lighting. Bill Cummings the owner of the studio that did the restoration work estimated the value of this entire center lancet at around 1.5 mil and close to irreplacable. We did the removal and reinstallation. The removal was nerve wracking as they were in a sad state of repair and literally ready to fold up. 20 yrs in custom glasswork and glazing and this job topped all, including Hollywood celebrities and 20 mil mansions. BBQ on, HMH, the gen. con. of the job, this tuesday. Harbison,MaHoney and Higgins. It was the best run sight I have been on, Goat's hattip to them!

New Toy

I guess I will be offering my friends and readers a dose of Goat's photo-journalism in addition to my usual religio-socio-politico soapbox brouhaha. I consider myself an amateur naturalist and avid outdoorsman. I would rather tote a well stocked pack into the high sierra over gratuitous sex anyday. My next photo essay will be just that, my last summit trip into the Palisades of our High Sierra.I think I found my niche, LOL, think I'll put a chock in it and climb higher over solid protection, a couple of "butterfly jams" and tough crimps and I will haul this climber over the lip.
My friends and readers ,you are my rope, my "protection", without you it is not possible. I aim to run a first class blog and if the FBZ staff doesn't like it, their loss, not mine, my friends will find me.
Please! do not be afraid to comment , they can only use it against you if you direct copy and paste from there or use Bill O'Reilly's name in your comments, besides, there are many threads that have zero to do with the FBZ and carry on the Barnyard tradition of information and discussion. Without that they have nothing. In fact, it is nolonger even called the FBZ anymore so a pox on them (alert: I need an appropriate jpeg face to post here), LOL. I will not be surprised if BOR shuts down the FBZ for good, it has become a cancer to his site. It is not what I joined three years ago, a mere shadow. I tried to help and they rejected it outright, BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!. I climbed over their rat maze walls and found freedom and they intimidate those that visit here , can you say Stalin?Thought Police? Totalitarianism? Are they studying you/us like rats in some labratory, reading and analyzing our posts for its level of threat and then removing or threatening those that don't tow the line or gathering info for sick pollsters. Does Bill test the pulse of america by the FBZ? He would be stupid if he didn't and he is far from stupid. I have my Barnyard, and those that post here have full rights to do so under the 1st Ammendment, the use of your words here against you there is unconstitutional.
Better yet, let me tip off the Daily Kos or other liberal blogs to this repressive front by the staff, they will love it , a chink in BOR's armor, he and his site are repressive dictocrats bent on suppressing free speech.

The entire center lancet of the Last Supper, Christ in the center. And part of the 'junglegym'

To the right of and behind the altar. This panel is about 4ft x 4ft and part of a lancet 22 ft tall. the bottom of which is 80 ft off the floor.

Considering I am 100ft up this angle of view is not likely again, this is behind and to the left of the alter. This is painted and fired glass, observe the detail and depth.

Some Detail

This a close up of the center lancet directly above and behind the alter

Oh Boy a New Toy

First lancet in . This a choir side window. This is part of the restoration work done for The Cathedral of the Holy Sacrament in downtown Sacramento , a block from the State House. This is one beautiful building. They are dated to the late 1800s. The floor is 80 feet down.

Ah, Pics!

Work begins first, panel of the cathedral job

A Good Sunday to All

Lilecs was on a roll on his blog and Hugh has a score of great links up. As always Mr. Hanson is right on the money and more can be found here , here and here.

Went for a sunday leg stretcher along a nice creek that has a very photogenic set of falls and mini canyon. There are lots of really neat rock formations and plenty of inviting swimming holes to cool off. Cool, dripping, hidden grottos with ferns and mosses not found just a few yards away. My favorite spot has a rock promontory that a short set of falls breaks over in many fascinating ways and places into a nice large pool. I saw what I believe to be my first freshwater otters moving across some open rock about fifty yards away, it would be an ideal canyon for a pair. I see plenty of fish and crawdads and it is in a wildlife refuge with a large lake a few miles down stream . A great place to cool off and meditate on the beauty of His creation.

Update: If you have never read or heard James Lilecs on Hugh's show take the opportunity. Here is a sample:

"Orchestrated? You really have to believe in all sorts of deep dark conspiratorial drivel to think that there was a coordinated effort. Apparently they believe that there’s a vast, well-oiled propaganda distribution machine with a big red handle in Karl Rove’s office; he throws the switch, and the information courses out to the talk shows and the blogs. You can think this if you wish, but you look foolish before anyone who has any experience in, oh, talk radio and blogs. It doesn’t have to be coordinated, because – and here’s the key point the editorial writer might want to consider in a calm moment – some people are actually honestly irritated by Durbin’s comments, and came to the conclusion on their own, without having their puppet strings yanked. True. And those people, thus irked, set about to communicated their irkedness to others, sometimes by the use of a voice-amplifying device called “a microphone,” or by the keyboard-input devices attached to their personal computers. Often time one would refer to the other – not because the tickertape in the corner clattered out a command to add another link to the right-wing daisy-chain noise-machine, but because a new point had been made, a telling quote unearthed, a common suspicion eloquently phrased."

My Favorite Quote

To end a fine day:

"It is in vain, sir, to extentuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace--but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"--Patrick Henry

A Favor

If you have been warned or booted lately mail me the date and ticket number and trust the Goat.

What's on The Grill?

I had steak on the Grill, stirfried snowpeas from the garden and rice and a dose of good music. I am in a good mood, no reason to waste it on railing at the world, tilting at windmills, as the saying goes. I am going begonia crazy, I love these plants, abstract foliage and showy blooms. I have also become a fan of all things lily and iris. I am fortunate to live in a no lift zone for bulbs. I miss my wildcat and fox buddies posts. Get the word to Blondie, she was a Songbird regular. Free comment night.

Two comments from two favorite artists: " Peace Sells, but who is buying?" and "If you listen to fools, the mob Rules !"

I honor of an old FBZ friend. The Tiki bar is open for business. What is your poison? or would a nice Pinot be your flavor? I'll pour myself an IPA. This is in honor of the one and only opened by the incomparable, Cathy R. The success of which was oft mimiced and never matched! Cheers!(B)(B)(B)

Update: The Tiki Bar is still open for comment.

A Quote to Contemplate

The Federalist Patriot Founders' Quote Daily

"As parents, we can have no joy, knowing that this government is not sufficiently lasting to ensure any thing which we may bequeath to posterity: And by a plain method of argument, as weare running the next generation into debt, we ought to do the work of it, otherwise we use them meanly and pitifully. In order to discover the line of our duty rightly, we should take our children in our hand, and fix our station a few years farther into life;that eminence will present a prospect, which a few present fears and prejudices conceal from our sight." --Thomas Paine

Early 08 Discussion, GOP Possibilities ?!?

I have heard Romney, Bill Owens, Senator's Allen, Frist and McCain and others on various radio hosts programs and all are very impressive. I believe The GOP has the deepest well of talented and driven conservative leaders it has had in a very long time. The primaries are going to very interesting and alot of great ideas are going to be presented to the american people while the Dems rail and bloviate about Pres. Bush . While supporting him we alse need to be formulating and activating discussion groups at the grassroots level about 06 and 08. We cannot relax as the latest horrendous ruling from the SCOTUS shows. We have no property rights if your local developer wants it and can bribe your city council enough to condemn it. There are a couple of Rinos and red state dems up next cycle. That last ruling is a wake up and call to true public expression. Our right to vote.
Fellow conservatives, we cannot sit down, fire up that keyboard, quit being politically shy and correct, even the nicest dogs become vicious when you seek to cage them and take the hard earned bone away. Over my dead body and cold hand will the government remove me of my property without just compensation and a cut of the millions to be supposedly made.
The blogs I have linked on the side bar offer much better analysis than I can. Hugh Hewitt is a constitutional law prof. The guys at powerline are all attys. they will probabley have direct links to the various opinions of the judges. I'll post the link to the opinions of the judges when I find it as update.

Update: hattip: Religious Freedom Coalition

PLEDGE PROTECTION
Congressman Todd Akin (R-MO) was one of the elected officials who attended the Religious Freedom Coalition reception on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, June 21st. While there he talked briefly about the reintroduced Pledge Protection Act. The bill protects "under God" in the current Pledge of Allegiance from the purview of federal courts. His bill was passed by the previous session of the House. Senator Brownback, who was also present at our reception Tuesday night, will support the bill in the Senate. The chief Senate sponsor is

Update: From The Opinion Journal.

Leviathan
After celebrating the Supreme Court's decision yesterday to effectively give local governments carte blanche to seize land for private development, some local officials began quickly moving to use their new unlimited authority. Officials in the beachfront town of Freeport, Texas, announced they would move forward with plans to commandeer property owned by two seafood companies in order to allow the construction of a 900-slip private marina. Freeport will even be loaning the developers $6 million to finance the project, and if it fails the town won't be getting its money back. What is certain is that the displacement of the two seafood companies will cost scores of jobs.
The Supreme Court's decision, by a narrow majority with Justice Anthony Kennedy as swing vote, has prompted state Rep. Frank Corte, a Republican from San Antonio, to propose a state constitutional amendment limiting the power to condemn private land for use by other private entities. He says the amendment is now necessary in order to "limit a local governmental entity's power of eminent domain, preventing them from bulldozing residences in favor of private developers." No doubt there will be similar moves in other states as voters wake up to the realization that the Supreme Court has granted revenue-hungry local governments more or less unlimited authority to seize homes and businesses in order to achieve a "higher use" of the property.
-- John Fund