I love Gardening, some years ago I became a master gardener.  I have fond memories of Francis Shasteen a former school teacher, and closest friend.  We spent hours in her large garden at La Junta, weeding and tending to her thousands of pristine perennials.  These  Winter days cause me to think of her more often, anticipating Spring.  Over the course of ten years we talked about everything... everything.

The seasons and life changes, the plants and bugs, the old days and new days, change like the weather and change in life cycles, each one doing its own thing in the garden and our own thing in life... How to start a rose inside a mostly buried gallon Jar top down over the rose stem,,, you have to rub mud on the glass in the early spring to keep it from getting sun burn.

I miss Francis, mostly her laugh, followed by a flower garden full of response in the spring.  She would tell me of the days when her and Polly her sister went to California, in a model T the pass through the mountains was so rough, with the steep hills came the loss of clutch and brake replacement at the bottom.

It is hard to realize that the plan was to ground me, yet another pupal, a soul to save with knowledge and the three R's.  I would tell her who I had met recently in our little community and she would tell me a story or two about them and there Grand dads.  One time we went to the cemetery to attend to her  family,   She commented that  she new far more people there than in town, we booth just laughed.

She lived for 16 years, a long life for a dog.  What a friend she was to me,  she would always make me happy, she was my sunshine.  They gave me her ashes and the vet at CSU told his assistant to burn the remains separately because anyone who cared enough to bring there pet in person deserved the respect of sole cremation.  He had witnessed the cold separation when I put her on the table and kissed her head in sorrow. My love reduced to ashes, what would I do with them?

I went to the local mortuary where I found a wonderful oak box with one choice, the size. I ordered the large so that all the remains would fit inside and the mortician said that if there was extra space we could ad something and that the box would arrive in a week or so.  As the time passed I started packing her things and found her last tennis ball.  She was so passionate about tennis balls that I could teach her anything.  She could open and close the back door and would ring the sleigh bells if she wanted out when the door was locked.  She would obey my every command as if it were a game and winning was to please me.  If I took the ball she would do anything for it's return.  One time she retrieved for hours on a hot summer day for some young boys, on the way home she cried and her paws were raw from playing, I felt so bad, but honestly, she didn't. 

She had hardly even sniffed that last ball and I thought wouldn't it be nice if there were room in the box, what a great way to fill the void, how was I going to fill the void in my heart.  The next morning came with a phone call and the box was ready.  Into my truck, ashes in a gallon size baggie and the ball... There had been no humor since I lost my friend, somber was all there was.  Suddenly, I thought and a  light went off...  what if the ball wouldn't fit, what would she think, then laughter and tears.  She would not mind at all, if a few ashes were throne out, if that ball could be with her...

Nanny, you showed me unconditional love, you never realized when we were broke, your sympathy was great and your love unmoving.

Fire is a controlled part of everyday life in the kitchen and as my career brings the kitchen to the studio, my curiosity for motion in still life has become a new challenge.   I would like to fill a void in a special niche market.  When I see shots with fire in them,  it's a dead give away when they have been manipulated in Photo Shop, film is even worse.  I think this unique tool that may help.    Before I became a Chef, I studied engineering and have a background in the electromechanical field.  The combination of each puts me in good condition for designing and developing a flame set for studio work.  There will be several options such as ambiance flame with or without logs or above the water, a fire wall Used to enhance flambe technique, a large translucent fire wall and my favorite the Grill with choice of surfaces and burners.  For the  past several months, on top of a move and a major career change, I have been driven to create a flexible solution.  The mechanics are simple and safe.  The flames only go up for a small amount of time, enough for the shot or in film for longer.  From 50 btu to 500,000 btu at the touch of a switch on and off in less than 1 sec.   this rig is it...

Components of the Studio Flame Set...

1) Fuel cell and regulator (completion 2-8-11) (Revised 11-4-2011)

2) State of the art 5 station fuel manifold with explosion proof, quick responding solenoid valves and manually operated adjustment valves with low burner bypass system. PHOTO (completion 2-9-11), (Addition of a Main Valve and Gas Sensor 10- 2011)

3) Electrical control box with the fastest response time in switching technology with quick throw circuit breaker and heavy duty wiring and Cables (2-2011) revised (1-2012)

4) Burner manifold with five separate flex-line umbilical for easy and safe operation on the set. (5-2011)

5) Burner assembly assortment for various shapes and sizes of flame. (3-2011, 5-2011, 11-2011, 1-2012, ONGOING)

6)Safety floor sensor alarm (10-2011)

7) Burner riser assemblies, Grill Grates, and Table (3-2011, 7-2011, 1-2012)