Great Spirit Prayer

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"Oh, Great Spirit, whose voice I hear in the wind,

Whose breath gives life to all the world.

Hear me; I need your strength and wisdom.

Let me walk in beauty, and make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset.

Make my hands respect the things you have made and my ears sharp to hear your voice

Make me wise so that I may understand the things you have taught my people.

Help me to remain calm and strong in the face of all that comes towards me.

Let me learn the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock.

Help me seek pure thoughts and act with the intention of helping others.

Help me find compassion without empathy overwhelming me.

I seek strength, not to be greater than my brother, but to fight my greatest enemy

Myself.

Make me always ready to come to you with clean hands and straight eyes.

So when life fades, as the fading sunset, my spirit may come to you without shame.

- Lakota Sioux Chief Yellow Lark

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What is this detail?

Does anyone know a name for a roof that steps like this?

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Empty box, fill again.

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Thinking outside of the box is something we must do every day of our life as we are constantly creating new boxes for ourselves. Even the ones we feel comfortable in are best served by our examining them for restrictive qualities. Stimulus is our best asset in helping us to get out of our own way. It can come in millions of forms limited only by our antennae and willingness to receive. 

Several weeks back I published a blog post about twitter being best looked at as a tool. I said my favorite people on the site were those who were sharing articles and information. I downplayed the social aspect of social networking and not for the first time. I put twitter and everyone on it in a box and then this week watched as they all came busting through the top flaps and tantalized me to rethink my position.

Thanks to everyone I have met who has spurred my growth and challenged me to trust my aesthetics.

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BBBoB Resources

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I follow my nose to many of the conclusions I draw on the Big Blog of Building. It would be difficult to list every source I use but these I return to time and again:

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Book: American Shelter by Lester Walker

Book: Dictionary of Architecture and Construction by Cyril M. Harris

Book: A field Guide to American Houses by Virginia and Lee McAlester

Book: A visual Dictionary of American Domestic Architecture by Rachel Corley

Book: A Visual Dictionary Of Architecture by Francis D. K. Ching

Individual: Don Fountain - Sales at Dukes Lumber 

Website: Google: Search Engine

Website: Twitter and the entire Twitter building Community

Website: RitchieWiki - Equipment Specifications, Information, and Photos

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Building Business

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I have been spending all of my free time lately taking photographs, studying and creating entries for Barry’s Big Blog of Building. I am pleased with the progress on the blog. I have learned a lot in the past week and there is much dust settling as I speak. It really amazes me when I think of all of the things I saw and recognized but did not know a formal name for. It is very cool to have a gauge for new knowledge.

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Flying Dutchman

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The reality of the situation

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My Friend, Concord Carpenter, has a post this morning about the oft hidden hitches of home renovation. 

You really do not know what you will find when you open up a wall or floor.

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