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Post by kk on Sept 8, 2017 10:22:44 GMT -5
"Chatoyant or flashy materials where light in a direction shows color-play"
Right up my wheelhouse, but then remembered that Fire Agate does not count.......
So, will have to look around what kind of Spectrolite I still got laying around somewhere, As I pretty much have exhausted my remains of Pietersite.....
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Post by kk on Sept 8, 2017 10:03:09 GMT -5
How can Rockoonz be the winner of Aug if we haven't even voted yet? OR did I miss something? Its the month ahead rockjunquie. The vote this time will decide the theme for next month.
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Post by kk on Sept 5, 2017 17:14:54 GMT -5
Looks just exactly like the slag glass from the smelters in Pennsyvlania, so that would be my guess. Tony By any chance, do you know what process creates this kind of slag? What did they smelter in Pennsylvania?
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Post by kk on Sept 4, 2017 19:40:10 GMT -5
Confirming my original impression. I never worked or even held rough obsidian or slag, but somehow despite of absence of visible bubbles within it felt like it would be slag.
Now it would be great to find out what kind of process produces this type of slag.
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Post by kk on Sept 4, 2017 17:23:57 GMT -5
Will ave to go through it in a while. Sadly all the reference pictures are gone. But on page one, I already saw several names dearly missed from that time.
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Post by kk on Sept 4, 2017 16:50:58 GMT -5
Or is it possible that it is a mixture of things? Kelan originally was looking for flint as he came across this piece.....
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Post by kk on Sept 4, 2017 0:59:59 GMT -5
Most likely slag, but from a very interesting location in England (Bumble Hole), kindly lugged all the way over here by Kelan, a friend of my daughter. Very interesting material. Could be from some smelting foundry in England as the area was an industrial hub for iron and other metal productions from the 1700's onward (Foundries there supplied the chains and ankers for the Titanic). Definitely behaves like glass, breaks and flakes like it, ant is just as annoying to ones fingers. Had several splinters stuck in my hand by the time I had cut the first face. There is also the distant possibility of it being natural and hence obsidian, as the area has been known as a source of minerals usually bordering obsidian. And presence of volcanic activity in the past makes that a possibility too. ppkelan2 by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr Glassy braking surfaces, and a golden sheen coming from under the skin (likely internal fractures). ppKelan1 by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr Tried to get a cut-off to test material, but cant make up my mind which side to use, so turns into a pendant. ppkelan3 by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr Any info on possibilities, will be highly appreciated, Kurt
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Post by kk on Sept 1, 2017 20:10:24 GMT -5
It has occurred to me to ask.... Do you find your "camp" to be artistically inspiring. I think I would. Not yet, there are too many things to think about on how to improve things on location. But, overall definitely, with all the things going on, weather, geology, fauna and flora........, there is lots of inspiration around, just have not yet made the connections.....
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Post by kk on Sept 1, 2017 9:27:06 GMT -5
Lots of great colours, but for me the Stefoinite's stand out....
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Post by kk on Aug 31, 2017 17:17:03 GMT -5
Fantastic pictures kk ! I live on a plateau in Tennessee and on my daily drive to work, I especially love the mornings when I just look down on clouds. Like you, it doesn't happen all that often, but it sure is beautiful when it does. I had been used to those conditions back home in Austria. As I grew up at the eastern end of the Alps, conditions like that are rather common. But around here, thats a rarity.
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Post by kk on Aug 31, 2017 5:25:11 GMT -5
With all the bad news out of Texas right now, I'm a little unsure if I should post this now,...... Just know, that our prayers are with you! For us here, we recovered from our couple of storms just as quickly as they came and went. The day after the last one, I wanted to do some work at the cabin, and as it turned out hit a sweet spot weather wise. Just a few hours after the rain stopped it cleared up, and the race was on for the last sunrise of the season. By chance, got the best picture (IMHO) ever, since going up there. Chance because, I run out of breath, had to sit down, and turned off the flashlight. Chance, because the two Typhoons ripped off a lot of foliage. And then I suddenly was faced with the camera picking up those colours Namshan Sunrise Aug 29, Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr Then on I went to the usual spot to try getting a sunrise between our two tallest buildings in Hong Kong. Maybe two days too late to have it actually centered, but weather allowing a clear sight without low level clouds. Aug 29 Sunrise, Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr And facing it directly City of Hong Kong, Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr As a bonus that day, still got a reasonable image of sunset too. All alone that night, just coming back from a cold outdoor shower, no walkers and no campers, yet 800 meters below you can see the HK international Airport. Sunset, Yi Tung Shan, Aug 29, Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr That day was a good one, finished the patio into a reasonable useful state. Aug 29, Patio ready, Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr B&B anyone? Literally in the picture, because the weather was nice, so I had slept outside on the homemade reclining-chair. Aug 29, B&B anyone?, Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr And advanced next months project ahead of time too. A raised flowerbed. Hiding a lot of construction material that I took out of the house over the months, lined with big rocks, and thickly covered with good topsoil that I dug up during the creation of the Patio. Now the concrete has to set, and then we should have another possibility to sit outside, or simply a platform for food from and too the BBQ. Aug 29, Flower bed underway, Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr As said before, I slept outside under a wonderful star filled night. As I awoke (had the alarm set), I took a few pictures, and for the first time got my phone actually properly capturing some stars. Early morning sky, Aug 30, Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr On the way to my spot for sunrise, somehow the light seemed to be different, a soft glow to it, and not the usual harsh contrast First Light Aug 30, Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr Like the angle of this one (both taken about 10 minutes before sunrise) Aug 30, Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr The cabin at the bottom is where I'm spending my time. The 4th cabin from top lost a door to the Typhoon last week, cleanly ripped out of its hinges. A few others lost roof-mounted Solar-panels. But the door and loss of foliage are a sure sign that last Wednesday, there where actual Hurricane winds up here. The night was unusually cool (woke before midnight and had to wear a jacked), plus the recent rains and typhoon somehow created some form of rather rare occasion for us here. At the top of the mountain it was a wonderful clear morning, yet looking down..... Aug 30, optical trickery, Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr Nice illusion, one could as well face up the hill. But this picture is downhill taken from about 2500feet and the clouds/fog hoovering at about half that. New phones have a feature they call "PANTO", where you take pictures lined up and the cameras program combines it into a single image. Its nice to create surround pictures. But to me, while you can move around in the picture , they only show you a fraction of the whole picture at any time. I like to take Panto pics, and then turn them into single pictures allowing you to see everything at once (like a super fish-eye lens without the bends/curvatures). Here a rare sight over here, the whole province of Hong Kong blanketed, while its a superb day on top. Picture represents approximately 190 degrees East to West. Province of Hong Kong blanketed, Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr Now back to school, and return up there just to carry new supplies for the winter project. With best regards, Kurt
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Post by kk on Aug 27, 2017 21:59:36 GMT -5
Prayers going out to everyone in the path of this calamity. Your hurricane brought thus far water-levels that we fear over here. We get them in a a day or less at times, and as our terrain is mountainous with very little topsoil, avalanches are a common consequence. That's the reason (for those of you who have visited us in the past), that we got so much concrete along every road.
But unlike your hurricane, it is extremely rare that a weather-system stays in place for longer periods of time. It usually comes and goes in a matter of hours. And our weather is most of the time very localized; its not rare that the city is swamped, yet barely 16 miles away, we go to the beach in excellent weather, awaiting for the system to change direction.
I don't watch news/TV, so while I'm aware that the situation in Texas is really bad, and more to come, I do not know the extend of the situation. Just keep praying that everyone and everything can cope somehow, and that there are enough resources to help the afflicted in the aftermath.
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Post by kk on Aug 26, 2017 11:47:32 GMT -5
3 wonderful cabs in the running. Tella; all I can say is "Sexy".
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Post by kk on Aug 25, 2017 20:04:42 GMT -5
Wow Half a world away and we see the storm that is pounding a friend and member's home and city. Interesting part of your week and you made it a part of ours too. Thank You !! CLiff Down here,at sea level, we where still lucky. We had damage mostly from wave-action, but the "Hurricane" force winds where a rarity. Yesterday, I went up to the cabin for a supply-run, and noted decreasing damage to the trees, the higher I went. The trees are "wild" not planted like down here, and while there where lots of small branches and leaves on the floor, the trees had withstood the storm much better. As they are slow growth, they are much tougher and bend with the winds without breaking. But sustained Hurricane winds was evident everywhere. The tall grass (some up to 5 feet tall)tough and cutting your skin when you move through, has been stripped right off to its stems and thinned out by a good third. At times, I saw it ripped out by its roots. So I can only imagine the force those wind must have had. Its a wish of mine, to be up at the cabin during extreme weather, but now question the attraction, as it is pretty obvious, that there is nothing one can do, except hiding behind securely closed doors and shutters.
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Post by kk on Aug 24, 2017 7:35:32 GMT -5
Yeah, most damage is along shorelines and open areas. As there where no heavy rains at the same time, damage was not that bad.
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Post by kk on Aug 23, 2017 18:56:38 GMT -5
Been a few years since I seen the skyline of Hong Kong. Remember so many people in that city. Suspect there are many more now. That small slice of paradise you are working on inspires me to get motivated and put up a thread of my local area in Colorado, Loving those great fire agates. Is one of those fine looking dogs a Shepard? Cliff We are one of the smaller cities around here with a bit over 8 million people. Guangzhou just a 60 miles north is recording 23 million right now.... Looking forward to see your part of paradise! Yes, somewhere, a shepherd must have been in the mix. Sprinkles is just as loyal too. Mom came as a stray to us nearly 14 years ago, and those two are from her last litter. Could not be more different, in character and look. Thank you all. Yes its very quiet up there and have stayed overnight quite a few times on my own. Just last weekend, got finally the chance to try out my homemade reclining-chair to sleep outside for the night. I'm not the camping-type and while I do it, don't like sleeping on the floor, so the chair is ideal for me, and was nice falling asleep while counting shooting-stars (we had bad weather during the meteor-showers). But it can get depressing, a few weeks ago, being in the clouds, not seeing anything beyond 20 yards for the whole day and night, makes it for a very lonely place if you got nothing to do. And last but not least: Just put up another post on the Cyclone yesterday. Yes flooding happened throughout the territory, yes things fell off from just about anywhere, yes cars and some shoddy backyard offices where blown over, but overall, the storm was nothing that was not expected. Its just that we had not seen a proper storm in ages. For anyone (99.99%) around in the 90's, this was just a "stay at home paid holiday"........
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Post by kk on Aug 23, 2017 18:28:37 GMT -5
We are save. Hong Kong is well prepared when it comes to natural occurrences like Tropical Cyclones. Houses are build to withstand earthquakes and storms, plus we usually know that something is coming well ahead so we can get ready. By law, every company/employer must follow the rules. So once signal number 8 is hoisted everything shuts down, and we got two hours to get home to safety. No public transport after that. Usually, when there are victims during those storms, they are related to falling objects as people are stupid enough to wander the city during the worst of it just to see whats going on. Heart attacks during flooding in low-laying areas are common too. And when there are landslips then all bets are off regardless where you are (we do sometimes get 3 foot of rainfall in a couple of hours, but yesterday there was hardly any rain). Any tree not in the best of health will succumb to the winds, so roads and pathways are blocked everywhere. On village level, everyone pitches in, and before number 8 came down, we had a clean village. Today its up to government-workers to remove the rest and clear it out of the area. HATO usual damadge by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr This time, there was little rain, flooding came mostly because the storm coincided wit high tides. So any low-laying area was easily flooded. Like the field here HATO Flooded fields by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr Just left of where the dog stands is a Seawall nearly/up to 10 feet tall, usually preventing flooding. This time, that was little use and the wall is underwater. Street? What street? Closer to the beach, things naturally look a bit less serene. HATO Street, what street by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr I waited more than an hour past the High Tide Mark to go down there. Wind, Fire are hazardous enough, but I do have tremendous respect for water. That thing can do bigger damage than the former two combined and there is nothing that one can do at all. Yet I saw several stupid people going to the beach in swimsuits and with surfboards. Hears several screaming people as they where swamped after getting to close to retreating waves only to be overcome by the succession of bigger waves following. I do not envy rescuers who have to put their own lives at risk for stupid behavior like that. At high tide, the water would have come in at least 3 foot deeper. HATO remnant of street by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr Knowing that this bench is approximately 16 feet above high tide mark, and that high tide was at that moment already on the retreat, the storm-surge must have been as much as 20 feet above normal. HATO Bench 16 feet above High Tide Mark by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr So, when things like this go on, don't venture out, stay home and ride it out in a safe place. In the neighboring city of Macau we lost three lives (according to last nights report), things can still happen, but any presumed danger is minimal.
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Post by kk on Aug 22, 2017 21:09:18 GMT -5
As Orum remarked recently, its gotten quiet over here with hardly any updates...... Yes, Summer; 3 months of basically holidays with some freelance job interruptions. Lots of time, yet no time to do anything really. I do love myself the structure of a "normal" working-week. With all that free time on hand and nothing really getting done, I think I should fear "retirement". Summer was not the best time for being at the cabin, the humidity ensued that I gave up painting anything already 3 months ago. So it was a little here and there everywhere. Nothing really to see in pictures. Then a bit over a month ago I decided to do something about the bald patches in front of the house, causing lots of dirt being carried into the cabin at all times. So I started to carry cement again, and instead of carrying sand, collected sand from the surrounding area (mostly accumulated sand and gravel along the path). Not the best solution, but as it is only for the floor, creating a patio, it should be good enough. SummerProject by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr And then, thus far, spend 3 days mixing and pouring a good 1000kg/2000pound of material by hand. Who needs a gym, when you have workouts like that? Summer project Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr Now still needs a fine top layer, to even everything out and regulate waterflow away from the house. The best thing on doing the trips up there? Besides exercise? Surely must be the sunrises. None of the following pics where taken on the same days. August 2017 Goetterdemerung, Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr August 2017 What do you see in those clouds Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr August Sunrise, Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr August Sunrise, Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr August 2017 Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr And 3 days ago, nearly centering the sun between our two tallest buildings in Hong Kong Sunrise Aug 20 Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr Rocks came a bit short this summer, I spend more time refining things than actually create new ones. When there is no time for sitting at the machine, its usually Fire Agates that get the attention for improvement. This one is awaiting carving at the back. Im thinking of a challenge and try a face again Summer Project Fire Agate, Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr Like the one above; nice for agates, but nothing special when it comes to fireagate Summer Project Fire Agate, Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr One more in progress August 2017 one more Fire Agate, Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr Long overdue, and delayed because of my reluctance to do faces for a friend in Austria Sodalight Project, Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr And the best for last. The best piece I will ever get on my limited budget. Best Fire Agate for my Budget ever, Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr Remain herewith, with best regards, Kurt
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Post by kk on Aug 22, 2017 5:11:22 GMT -5
Ok, reloaded most of the pics save one. I'm not sure what was there on quite a few posts, so the pictures might be entirely new in a few posts. Now to continue the post here; lets start with a combo: Chinese Nephrite with FA Chinese Nephrite, Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr And a better look at the bug Fire Agate bug for Jade, Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr Not sure if I ever posted that one before Kainzer Kurt Fire Agate by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr And the newest addition, now 98% finished and promises to be the best ever possible on my budget Fire Agate Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr Best regards, Kurt
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Post by kk on Aug 22, 2017 4:14:37 GMT -5
I did what I could with this thread but ALL of the images by kk, @jemfeller, etc have been completely PB-d. I did strip off the PB intros to the images to get rid of their . . . Thanks for the remainder, Will reload the pictures over the next few days.......
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