Loons

My first attempt at carving a loon decoy is done (pictures are attached).  It seems like starting a new carving scares the heck out of me and I just go so slowly that I don't ever seem to get it done, but-it is done.  It is 1/2 size-I think that my next one will be a full size with more detail in the feathers but for now I will be proud of this one.  It is that time of year when the Santa's seem to start popping up again-had a decent summer with carving, now the painting begins (pictures will follow).

The weather in New Hampshire has been off the chart, ranges from hurricanes to early snow storms so who knows what to expect this winter to be.  Guess will get a lot of carving done, but back to the loon.

Did you know that loons are large birds weighting in at 9 pounds with wingspan up to 4 feet.  In the water they have a low profile with a curved neck, summer their neck and head are a glossy black with a green sheen.  They range from Canada and the Northern States n the summer and in the fall they migrate  along the coasts of North America and the Gulf of Mexico.    Loons preferred diet is fish and  occasional crustaceans such as crayfish.  Loons locate fish by sight, underwater diving as deep as 60 feet to chase down their prey.  The female lays two brown eggs, the first one larger than the second and are incubated for 30 days by either the male or the female depending upon the time of day.  Once they hatch the chicks leave the nest almost at once to avoid predators.


 One of the biggest threats to the loon populations is man as we drive our boats too close to nesting sites and continue to use lead in our fishing equipment.  The first eliminates the nest while the second takes the life of the loon from lead poisoning.  I have fished in my float tube while these birds swam within 10 feet plus I have laid in bed and listened to their mournful calls at night. In short all water fowl is pretty cool but loons may be the coolest of all.


Remember to keep those lines tight and to measure twice and cut once.  Much peace

Wood burned feathers head and neck

Base coats-trying to get sheen on head

Starting to Add Details

Side view finished product

Top View finished product

Nelson (papa)

Wood, Words and Hurricanes

As the summer comes to a close, camp has been over for a couple of weeks, it takes me a while to get back on top of things at home.  This week we had an earthquake and now this weekend have a big storm coming at us-we went to the store and bought batteries and water-plan to fill the bath tub tomorrow so that we can still flush.  Could be worse in that we could be closer to the coast or in New York City!  I know that many people refuse to look at valid research on Climate Change; what will happen to the planet if we continue to ignore science-makes me wonder just how much we have failed a generation in providing a quality education.

One of the high points(and there were many) of the summer was working with Sam, the oldest (13) grandson.  He originally took the job because he could earn some money and he had been a camper and wood worker for many summers.  But once he got started, he gravitated to the camper who needed some extra help; he knew how to offer his help just at the right moment, encouraged the effort and celebrated the completion of the project.  Few adults have such talents in working with other people but Sam nailed it every time.  I know I sound like a grand parent but I saw Sam through the eyes of an educator; and what I saw was truly outstanding.  He made the summer very special.

Below, a bird house constructed entirely with by the camper, designed, constructed and painted.  Just how neat is this.

Had a good summer with wood working-actually had a good summer with several hundred projects completed and sent home with happy campers-now if I just had a good feeling about the parent's views.  But had one girl make a chair for her sister, another boy made a bench for his sister's American Girl Doll.  The painting was an experience in its self-many projects had enough paint that they probably are still not dry!!  It is amazing what young people  can think of as they build a shelf, a box or a bench.  I did provide some patterns and kits but what happened to these when an imagination took over was really cool.
Check out the striped bird house, the bench with the stars and, yes, a basketball goal!!!!  And check out the box beside goal.

Carved some Santas and roughed out some shorebirds but time was so tight that didn't even get any fishing in. (Pictures come later)  Will get back on a schedule of carving every day.  Met some interesting people at several "Artisan" Events, several excellent carvers, goggle Brian Stockman and look at some of his work.  I met a log furniture maker from Maine-he makes some great lamps with home made shades of bear, moose and fly fishermen.  He asked me to come up with a bear pattern for his lamps; hard to find a log that can be carved and look like his lamps but will come up with something.  I promise to be a more consistent writer and keep everyone updated.

Just remember two things: 1.  Measure twice, cut once and 2. If it doesn't fit, get a bigger hammer!

Peace to all.

Nelson

July at Merrowvista

The first 2 weeks of camp is done but still have a bunch of campers riding bikes, canoeing and hiking all over New England.  I will post some pictures of the woodworking projects just completed later but today need to talk some about camp.  I started coming out here 20 years ago and have been amazed at the changes that occur in the young people that pass over "honk horn "hill and are never the same.  At the present time there are hikers on the last 100 miles of the AT finishing at Mt. Katadin in Maine; there is another group of bikers riding in Nova Scotia while other are making the same kind of shorter trips.

Merrowvista asks that each individual recognize the unique qualities of all those who come into camp;  tolerance, patience and kindness and respect for all are the foundation for all programs.  Sam said that camp is a safe place to sing, shout and dance in the rain but the coolest part was that the adults who are here don't just shake their heads and say "oh those young people" but instead the sing, shout and dance in the rain with you!


I would invite you to visit the American Youth Foundation web site and read about Merrowvista in New Hampshire and Minniwanca in Michigan.  Challenges are given, risks are taken the people are never the same.


Much peace.

Not really summer

Summer is officially here according to the calendar-yes!  School is out for most everyone in New Hampshire, the swimming pools are open (but really cold), baseball is into the playoffs, and the highways are busy with families heading into the White Mountains.  Me, I am at Camp Merrowvista-check out the web site-getting the wood shop ready, preparing some projects and ready for 300 young people to arrive on Sunday!

Part of the Kiley family flies to France on Saturday for an early start on the vacation to Italy that happens in a week.  The oldest grandson has more miles on his passport than we do!  They are excited although trying to get in as many days as possible with life long camp friends, who will be gone when they return.  It is amazing how much the whole "family thing" has changed since I started doing this summer job!  Used to fish every evening some place, go to town and hang out or just sit on the farm house porch and watch the world go by-now, there are base ball games to watch, video games to play with the grandkids or just throwing a ball around..fishing-not yet!

Will get some pictures up of projects we have going in the shop plus some pictures just of the shop-wish it was across the street from where I live!  But all is good.

Remember, if you are on the water to keep a tight line or if you are in the shop to measure twice and cut once!  peace to all.

 

Summer

The heat seems to have come earlier this year than I remember, or at least for New Hampshire, usually this is Missouri heat and humidity.  We try to tell ourselves that the humidity is different but the AC runs just the same!  I have completed my first school year of retirement-on a scale of 1-10 probably a 6 but with new hip closer to 9!  I have two shore birds for sale on Etsy, many lookers but so far no takers.  Have already been in the local swimming pool, been on a bike ride and walking 2-3 miles per day with the wife, plus rehab so am losing some weight.  Been doing some carving under the daughter's apple tree-much fun as every 15 minutes have to throw the ball for the dog!

But this all got interrupted by  mom getting pneumonia and winding up in the hospital for 4 days; but as she usually does is making a rapid recovery and getting back to finishing up some quilts.  Since she has come back home, I have started work at Camp Merrowvista for the Wolfeboro daughter; getting the shop ready for campers making benches, bird houses and boxes.  Part of my "duties" include transporting the boys to various games and events-of course Sam the oldest, seems to be needing my services less and less!!  The whole environment at camp is so different than the "real" world, no bullying, no cliches, no posturing, honest communication-when I think of creating an educational system that values young people, this should be the model to follow. OK no more soap boxes!

Don't have pictures to post as not on the home computer but I promise will get some up soon showing where I spend some of my summer.  So until next time, measure twice, cut once and also remember to keep at tight line!
Peace

Time to Remake Me

Sorry have been gone so long but have been busy working in the carving business, doing rehab and....thinking about how I am going to remake myself after retirement.  I started thinking about the "remaking" thing when I read that as the economy and business industry changes, people need to think about how they are going to remake themselves.  I have completed the first year of not being in schools since 1948-does that make one seem old or what-my dad always said that teachers never joined the real world because since we were 6 we had been doing the same thing every year...August school starts, Christmas vacation, then out of school in May!  So perhaps he was right because this has been a year of wandering around some times, glad that don't have to fight some battles but missing the contact with educators and discussing current issues in education.  So now I have to think about the remaking part.

The carving goes well, I think that I get better with each piece; I am learning that not all pieces can be done totally by hand as way too time consuming.  Having a hobby that needs to become more business like is also difficult especially when it comes to developing an inventory then trying to find a market or a venue from which my carvings can be sold.  Am going to try to put some of the carvings into a venue called "Etsy" and see how the general public feels about my work.  I have also posted some pictures of antique decoys that have become work a lot of money; you never know, if you have something of mine,  even if you are tired of it, put it in a box, might be worth something to the next generation!  Found a decoy "Yellowlegs Shorebird, carved by George Boyd, carved in the late 1800's to early 1900's in Seabrook, New Hampshire that just sold for $13,000!  Wouldn't it be nice to find one of these in an old barn!

This decoy went for over $8000!

Guess I will continue to look for how I am going to "remake me" and will try to keep you posted.  Check out Etsy for my new products and I promise that I will be more prompt in my thoughts-perhaps that is the "new" me.  Keep measuring twice but for all those fishermen out there, keep your lines tight too.  Much peace to all.

Nelson (pappa)

It's Snowing

It's Saturday, had thought that streams would be at a fishable level and that I might forgo the wood work to do some fishing on this Easter weekend-but the green spring grass is covered in snow, temp in the 30's and the forecast is for rain, rain, rain.  Perhaps when I was younger I would "gear up" and go out anyway, but age and a wife who is supervising my recovery and rehab from the hip is discouraging this type of activity in this type of weather.  Besides we have to go watch the grand kids do the "dye the egg" thing!  Good friend of mine is fishing at a place called Rockwell Springs Trout Club in Ohio-check it out on the web, very interesting post.  I changed my Facebook profile picture to opening day at Bennett Springs in Missouri, where fisherman stand shoulder to shoulder to catch 5 trout; say what you want, but it was at Bennett Springs where I spent a week doing nothing but fly fishing that I learned how to do this stuff.

The bears are out of hibernation and feeding at the bird feeders for those people who either want to keep feeding the birds or just want to see bears tear up their feeders.  I read an article that some bears out west are not hibernating but are feeding on kills from wolves over the winter months.  Another change in behaviors.  Listening to a person speak about the preservation of forests, restoring forests and the Easter celebration of rebirth.  They spoke of the importance of maintaining a healthy woodlands by intelligent plan of harvesting.

Found a new pattern for a bench that includes a vise that I plan to build this summer.  Not one that can set in the living room but one that I can use the tools with and not take up much space.  Something to build once good weather gets here.  Pictures to follow (I hope).  I plan to build a bench similar to the ones in the picture except tall enough for me to sit, then attach the vise sold by Woodcraft.  Creating a stable base for using the plane and draw knife will speed the process.

Looking forward to spring, getting outside to carve and getting knee deep in some trout water.  Thanks for reading and remember to measure twice and cut once.  Peace this Easter season.