Star gaze

Star ornament original ready for casting

Casting grouch

Sun ornament ready for casting

Elves

The holiday season is coming on so you'll be seeing a lot of ornaments posted this month and next.

If this old chair could talk

There's nothing really special about this old rocking chair except that it's been in my family for generations. My parents, grandparents and great-grandparents have rocked in it, as have my own daughters and grandchildren. It now sits in the Folly, where I probably spend more time in it than anyone else these days -- carving, talking or dozing off -- but I always offer it to whoever comes by to visit.

Live at the Folly

This is our friend Bob Tobin, singer/songwriter from Charleston, S.C. Bob's working on a new album and we're designing the cover for the album (or do you say CD?). He was here for a few days last week to get his picture taken and give our friends and neighbors a preview of some of his latest songs. We'll let you know more about the album when it's finished!

You say "puh-cahn", I say "pee-can"

This is a small serving bowl made from pecan wood. It only took about four hours from start to finish, not bad. The finish is just canola oil.

Trees Company

A few years ago, our son Allen decided he wanted to build a tree house with a couple of pulley systems for the conveyance of snacks.  Of course, once it was built, he moved on to other things, like getting his driver's license and hanging out with friends. But now that he's in college, we've rediscovered it as a lovely retreat for an afternoon glass of wine. Last year, I built my Folly next to it, so now Allen and I both have Follies in the garden!

The pollen count was great today

The honeybees in the garden did really well considering I got them very late in the season.

Cane rattler or a pain in the asp

Just about finished with this cane, made of maple (see below). I'm still adding scales (one-by-one) and will add a lacquer finish.

Raising cane

I started working with this piece of maple wood about two weeks ago. It's going to be a cane.