End of Winter

As the North East returned to more like winter weather, the old time residents are still excited about the mild winter.  As we jump into Spring  and Easter Sunday coming up, I always think of renewal with the flowers coming  back up, trees budding and flowering, song birds singing in the mornings and the sound of the geese flying over.  On the farm, potatoes were already in the ground, lettuce was up, new chicks in the brooder house and plans being made as when to plant the corn or beans.  Dad always walked with a little more spring in his step and one of the jobs was to "re-stack" the wood pile, and check all the implements that would be needed for spring.

I try to take stock of what is going on with carving and projects.  Speaking of projects, mom sent out some of her quilts to be "quilted" to a local woman who does machine quilting-takes way too long to hand quilt as mom has produced way too many projects this winter.  One of the quilts that she sent out was one that one of her grandmothers made some time around late 1800's or early 1900's-I have a hard time that material would still be good but the quilter said that it would be no problem.  Makes me think about the legacy that we leave for our generations to come-mom has numerous quilts that still are used by all the grand daughters and great grandkids.  Some of the quilts contain pieces that were left overs from PJ's, shorts or shirts that mom made for them-memory quilt?

Pat's 9 Patch

Mom's Flower Garden on the Diagonal 

I found the first decoy that I made, produced in the mid 1980's.  I hope that I am better now than I as then, but Pat has kept it  because it was #1 in my line of decoys!  Where will it be in 100 years?

Decoy #1 Pintail Drake

I also look at the leaves and feathers that I carved.  All the leaves are copies of leaves that have long returned to the soil but the wooden leaf will be here for a while.  I wish that I had kept a better record of the exact location of these leaves-the ones from hence forth will have this description.  The shoveler decoys seems to have hit a block-there are times when I just can't seem to match or make the colors that I want or expect and rather than screw it up, I just wait.  Glad it is not a commission.

A maple leaf from New Hampshire

Feathers and Leave

Shoveler Decoy

The Santa is carved from a piece of basswood from the Canaan Valley in the Ossippe Mountains; the tree was harvested by a Master Carver in the valley that I met at camp last summer.  He saw me carving in pine and brought me back this piece of wood-easy to carve and even more special I know where the wood came from.  A local house built by the Colony family in the 1700's is being torn down; these folks were part of the Keene history as they were connected to the Textile Mills that were important in Keene's history.  What I would give to get a piece of wood from that building to preserve a little Keene history.

Unfinished Santa

I wish that I had a "how to do" something in this writing but sometimes just too philosophical. Did go to the local library for their annual book sale with one of the grandsons today.  For $5 got a grocery bag plus a plastic bonus bag to fill with books-he hit the history, Star Wars and sports for his books, me I went for some sports books and some books that I can use for patterns to "make stuff".  Also picked up some books on dancing, horses and girl stuff for his history.  So much better than one of those electronic reader things, especially the smell, turning the pages and opening and closing the cover.  Life does get good.

Make sure that you measure twice and cut once; if you happen to be waist deep in some trout or bass water, keep a tight line.  Peace

St. Patrick's Day Plus

The following was written before St. Patrick's day, I got busy and didn't finish so now, will finish.  Today cleaned up a rocking chair that belonged to my aunt because Molly needed an exhibit for school.  I have included some pictures but I really don't know much about it, as we found it in her basement after she died.  It is in pretty good shape considering I assume it was built in the early 1900's-she was born in 1907.  It shows use on the arms, so I again have to assume that she used it rather than it being a doll's chair.  (Yes I know what happens when we assume stuff!)  It has a tag with a number on it but no company name or date.  Some of the wood appears to have some irregularities in it and I think it was turned by a lath but not a modern one.  The caning is original and does show some wear, there are also some small nails that look like they were put in later to hold the cane weaving.

A Number for nothing else  

I use a wax that I used on the old steamer trunk to both clean and preserve.  I also have a picture of the drawers in the antique dresser that belonged to my folks, just to show the workmanship that exists in handmade furniture.  I know we have craftsmen today that do this kind of work but when we compare tools of then and today, I find it amazing just how good there were.  Getting some much improved weather so able to get back outside and back to work-cut some small limbs into garden posts as I planted two rows of peas this past week.   Spring always makes me miss the farm as the smell of fresh turned earth behind the tractor plow was always cool, but today most of the farming is no till, so this smell is limited to the garden.  Still miss those days-but not the July heat and humidity!!

We are celebrating St. Patrick's Day, wearing of the green, drinking beverages that are green, green eggs and ham and have spent the morning helping Molly and Harry design and build a leprechaun trap.

This trap has rock attached amid the sparkles to attract the little fellow into climbing to the top to get the gold coins.  The ribbons have jewels attached with a gold coin at the bottom-all to get the leprechaun to take notice then climb to the top.  Here the tricky part is that there is no top, the felt collapses and BAM, a leprechaun bites the dust.  For those of you worried about the little guy getting hurt when he falls into the trap, the Thomas children put soft balls in the bottom to cushion the fall!  Just how cool is that.

The 5 leaves left for their trip to India this afternoon-actually they won't leave until next Thursday but they left me today.  My wife wrote a piece about when someone touches the curves of the leaves or looks at the detail they think of the green hills and mountains of New Hampshire.  Hope the folks in India know about the trees of New Hampshire.  Totally off wood stuff, I went back to the Monadnock Trout Unlimited meeting last night, listened to guys tell stories while they tied flies, spoke of past fishing trips and trips yet to come.  If the sun ever shines again, next week, would like to get into the water.

Going to spend some time finishing some leaves that need to be sanded and finished; could use the space for other stuff.  I have as much extra wood as mom has knitting supplies.  The leaf on the left I am going to try to add an orange oil wash to highlight the wood grain with some color-more pictures will follow.  And with the warming temperatures should be able to get back to getting more projects done.

So not to confuse anyone, the leaves left for India last Thursday and have not heard anything so have to figure that they made it ok.  Getting back to work tomorrow!  Much peace to all, thank you for reading by blog and remember to measure twice and cut once!  and if you are fishing, always keep a tight line!

Thanks.

March in New Hampshire

Today the temperatures reached 68 degrees, snow disappearing, people in shorts but in New Hampshire just like Missouri, tomorrow will be something else.  But as the weather improves so will I be able to get back to carving; it is a shame that there is not someplace in town where carvers and woodworkers can get together to do their work.  But I imagine the insurance for liability would be huge, so tomorrow back to the deck and since the folks under neath us have moved maybe I won't get flack from some wood chips hitting their deck.  The flu has jumped up and got all of us, I was first, then mom and now Pat, each time the recovery period is longer-it sucks to get older!

Do have 5 leaves that will travel from New Hampshire to India.  They will travel with a friend that works for IBM and will spend a month providing and working service with the people in India.  He travels extensively in the far east and India for his job, but this is about helping people.  The leaves will go to 5 people who provide leadership for the group.  The leaves are wooden copies of actual leaves from the mountains that surround Camp Merrowvista, so they travel with love.  I know that some of the hearts and leaves from the apple trees in Missouri are in the middle east, now in possession of the Kids 4 Peace that were here last summer!  Perhaps they can be the leaders that will make the world safer.  Now if we could just get some kids to take the place of many of our politicians!

If you get a chance check out the Ward Museum in Maryland; it's 9 hours away but I hope to travel there some time.  They have a world championship show in late April that attracts carvers from all over the world, conduct work shops and seminars, plus competition for all levels.  During the year they work with local schools and groups to conduct exploration of the wetlands and the animals that live in the area.  Would be so much fun.      www.wardmuseum.org


Working on two leaves right now, finish with Tung Oil and so far I really like the  rich, finished look, thin coat, rub like "wax on, wax off", drying time is 10 hours before next coat so not real time efficient.  I guess when you are retired that time efficient thing does not make much difference!   I am excited to get back to carving and getting outside-temps for this week are in the 50's and  60's so could be a productive week. Also going to get the mountain bike out, trails still  have too much snow and ice but the streets are clear and the local grandson needs some "outside time".

The leaf on the right is red cedar wood from Missouri; it is a soft wood that doesn't take kindly to rough treatment but has great colors.  Can be used to line chests and closets with a bug resistant smell but this one will have no smell.  The leaf on the left is from a piece of wood I picked from a burn pile some place, think it might be poplar, a much harder wood.  No matter what the wood is, extensive sanding reducing the grit to a fine level plus the type of finish (varnish, oil, acrylic) makes all the difference.  This is one process that can't be rushed.

The outdoors is calling so need to stop the rambling.  Thank you for reading this and I hope that your days, and weeks are good. Daylight Savings time starts today, so we have more daylight hours-use it wisely because once it is gone, it is gone forever.  Much peace to you.  And remember to "measure twice and cut once"!