Ryan's 3-D printing, Alex's special fireside, and other news, indexing, etc.

Ryan has done a few small jobs for family on his 3-D printer (like replacing a broken piece to Jacob's futon bed/couch), but he was just given his first "commercial" job--it's to 3-D print cup holders for the old Fallon Theatre. Pretty cool. It's not a large order, but after the first batch of 20, they might order more. Each one takes about 10.5 hours to print. The theatre (which will turn 100 in December) has never had cup holders, and so we're pretty excited about it. The ones Ryan designed and made just slip over the end of the chair arms.

Ryan displaying his creation

they say "Fallon Theatre" on the side

Besides cup holders, Ryan 3-D printed a humane mouse trap recently as we have been having trouble with mice (country living at its finest). He has actually caught two mice! He then releases them far enough away from our house so that we don't think they'll make it back to us.

The trap looks like 2 diving boards, one on top of the other. The top one holds steady, but when the mouse leaves the top board trying to get to the peanut butter and steps on the bottom board, the hinged bottom board can't support the weight of the mouse and the mouse drops into the 5 gallon bucket below. The design came from a site that posts free 3-D patterns (thing-a-verse). I'm just in awe of 3-D printers... and what people are willing to share.

the dark spot on the left is the little mouse

In other Ryan and Angeles news, on Wednesday, Angeles had a job interview at Lattin Farms (where Alex used to work) and got the job and started on Friday. She will be doing lots of different things like running the cash register and helping in the kitchen.

Tonight on facebook there was a live event with Brother John Bytheway, who is an author and lecturer in our church and is currently Alex's ward mission leader (he helps Alex and his companion, Elder May, with missionary work, of course).

It's a 20 minute event with Brother Bytheway talking about God's Plan for us. It really is an excellent talk. At the end, he introduces Alex and his companion--but they are wearing face masks, so you can't really get a good look at Alex. But it was awesome. Brother Bytheway is really an excellent speaker.

https://www.facebook.com/ChurchofJesusChristinMurray/videos/640098943273680

Glen has 3 small gardening plots going and (along with Kaellen and occasionally Ryan and Angeles) is still helping with building the new corrals. We have been harvesting a lot of zucchini this week. The tomato plants and eggplants have flowers, but no produce yet. The kale is ready to pick (kale isn't our favorite, but it goes good in soups). The winter squashes and peppers are coming along.

they finished pouring the pads and are now adding the manger walls

kale and tomatoes--in the back yard

struggling a bit are the eggplants, peppers, and squashes--in our traditional garden spot

various squashes--up by the highway next to the driveway

And speaking of the driveway, with 7 adults and 6 cars living here, our driveway always looks like we are breaking the rules for gatherings.

And I have been riding a bike in the mornings for exercise (since my foot hurts when I walk long distances). Gorgeous. I'm so loving it. Country living at its finest.

view from Mission road looking north

from Mission Rd looking south towards the dairy (see the gray barn in front of trees?)

Our Stake Young Women's President put out a challenge this week to do some indexing of family history records. I have been meaning to start that up again, so this week was the perfect opportunity. Glen started indexing again, too. It feels good to do something really productive. Right now we have both been indexing marriage records in Indiana. Good project.