Thursday I unloaded scaffolding from my truck then it wouldn't go back in gear!  Had it towed to a mechanic and it turns out I need a new transmission :(  This is a very costly repair, and to find a good part for a good price, I had to order one from TX.

However, I managed to get a stone delivery and get back to work on the StoneGarden guesthouse patio today.  I'm following a unique design where I am mixing 4 or 5 types of flagstone to achieve a textured, mosaic appearance.

Other good news is, I received a package Monday containing new chisels!  Its already made a huge difference in my letter carving.  I made this for a friend s birthday.

Tomorrow I meet with the staff at High Country Home magazine to discuss an article they are planning on outdoor living.  I'm hoping they will decide to feature either my business or some of my work.  Wish me luck!

Last week  I felt like I was all over the place, working at 3 different jobsites, as well as 3 nights patrolling at Sugar Mtn.  The projects I did were small, simple repairs, one of which involved synthetic stone.  Synthetic stone is not a product I usually work with because I have serious concerns about its durability, on top of the fact that just flat-out prefer natural stone.  In this case, however, the owners had a fireplace that was built without a raised hearth, even though the firebox was elevated.  So I agreed the build a hearth and ordered a solid stone to top it, which is a significant upgrade.  I also recommended my good friends at http://resourcewood.com/# to install a new mantel to replace the ugly generic one.  Here is the result: