Rite of Passage

Today our family went through one of those rites that all families must go through from time to time. Our son has been off at summer camp all week and came home today. I'm sure it is true of all kids coming home from camp, HE STUNK. Nearly had to force him to go take a shower once he was home. He is also very tired. Won't admit it at all. We can see it in his eyes. Now that he's out of the shower he smells much better. Looks better too. Still sleepy though. Best thing we could do for him is get him in bed early tonight. Problem is, momma said something to him about going to see Ice Age 3 tonight. Now it is all he can think about. Guess we'll go to the movie. My guess is that he'll either fall asleep during the movie or on the way home. We only live about 3 miles from the cinema. Won't matter though. I'm pretty sure I'll be carrying him from the car to the bed.

Our Heavenly Father is a lot like that too. He will let us burn the candle at both ends and wear our selves out. He'll even let us have our own way and do what we want. Then, when we've worn ourselves out and are not able to go any further, He picks us up and carries us to a place of refuge, where we are safe and can get rest. He wants us to have life that is full, a life abundant with all the good things He created. That life of abundance is only available when we believe in His Son, Jesus. That belief pays the price we owe for the sin in our life. Jesus had no sin in His life, yet He died so that we could have the life that God wants for us. We simply need to accept that gift.

Tonight I will most likely struggle to get my son into his bed. God never has any trouble carrying us to a place of rest and safety. I'll place my trust in Him. Won't you?

I got this piece of wood from Clay at Choice Woods. He was having a sale on some wood that wasn't first rate before he moved to his new location. Wonderful wood, just didn't have the grain that some does. It is now the property of our nephew and his new wife. LOML gave it to them as a wedding present. Anyway, it is right at 12" wide and about 1 3/4" tall. Sanded to 400 dry and then wet sanded between coats of Seal-A-Cell and Arm-R-Seal. One of the few pieces that I had no problems with. It went smoothly from start to finish.


Questions and comments are always welcome. I only get better when I hear what folks think.

Christopher Goes To Camp

It finally happened. The summer of his seventh year he wants to go to summer camp. The flyer had come in on the fax machine. Salvation Army camp and there aren't very many kids wanting to go for some reason. We called hoping that he doesn't qualify. They really don't care as long as there is room. So, it's off to camp we go. Seems like just yesterday he was laying on my arm, sleeping, or cooing. Now he's about to heavy to pick up when he falls asleep in the car.

We've not gotten any calls saying that he is disparate to come home so I guess he's fine. Should have known. He wasn't at the camp more than two minutes when he has made a couple of friends with his cabin mates. They were waiting for the councilor to come and escort them to their cabin. These folks had things under control. There was a large screen with something about alligators being shown on it. All the kids were glued.

Connie goes to pick him up on Saturday. I'm sure we'll hear all about it. Should take weeks. There's one thing that I'm sure about even before he gets home to tell me about it, he'll have had a ton of fun. Christopher doesn't do anything without having fun at it. If momma can just make it to Saturday.


We pray for him daily. We pray for ourselves. Sure makes it easier knowing that God is watching over him. Enjoy yourself my son. I look forward to seeing you on Saturday.

Osage Orange

Osage Orange is a really hard wood that resists bugs and rot really well. It is so resistant that farmers have used it for fence posts for hundreds of years. In some areas it is called bow wood because it is really good for making long bows. The bright yellow color will darken to a beautiful golden brown with time and UV exposure. This bowl is 6 1/2" wide x 3" tall. Finish is 2 coats of Seal-a-Cell followed by 5 coats of Arm-r-Seal. Sanded between coats with 400 grit wet/dry sand paper that was dipped in water. Seems to have worked pretty well. Not flawless, but came out pretty nice for this piece. I don't are much for the shape myself. The intent was something a bit different, but it ended up like this. So it is what it is. Might sell it for something less than the normal. We'll see.

Comments and questions always accepted.

Independence Day

Man that sounds like a good title for a movie. Despite that little attempt at humor, today has been July 4th. It is a day when we spend time with friends and family, celebrating the independence that our country declared for itself in 1776. What a day that was for those brave men, women, and children.

That same independence has been taught to each of us. You know what I mean, that idea that there is no one else that we can depend on. So, we must become independent, not relying on anyone or anything else other than ourselves. Our schools teach it from kindergarten through our graduate schools. Only recently have we begun to teach "team" and working together to get a complicated task completed.

When I think about my faith, I have to think that God does not ask me to be independent, but fully dependent. He asks us to place all our faith in Jesus, God's one and only Son. He asks us to sell out completely so that we have nothing else, relying totally upon Him. The only independence I find in the Scripture is that we are to be so dependent upon God that we are fully independent of the world.

And there's the rub. Society teaches independence because Satan is the temporary ruler of the earth. He does not want us to be dependent on God alone. Rather, he prefers us to feel we are independent, that we don't need anyone else other than ourselves, including He who created us.

I've been speaking with several couples who, at some point, felt like they could make their marriages work all on their own. Fortunately a couple of these couples were married and that institution meant something to both of them. They have returned to the root of marriage and God has restored those relationships. Are they perfect? I doubt it. They are still made up of two human beings who still want to be in control, independent, and in charge of what they do with their lives. But at least they have begun to worship and pray together. They have made God the third member of the marriage. Others were trying to play husband and wife without the blessings of God, without the commitment that comes with the ceremony and the certificate.

Point is, independence is great for a country, even a business. We need that. As a country we don't want or need to be relying upon some other country to keep us above water. But as individuals it is a different story. In order to truly live free and happy lives, we must be fully dependent upon God, fully dependent on what Jesus did for on the cross, and fully dependent on the relationship that Jesus affords us with the Father.

As we remember July 4th, I pray we celebrate the independence of our great country and our dependence upon our Lord and Savior, Jesus.

Ponderosa Pine

Roughly 6 1/2" wide x 3 1/2" tall. 1/8" or less thick from top to bottom. In fact, the center of the bottom will let light through without any problem. This is one of those turnings that if I still had a bunch of DO, I would have done the multiple soak and dry cycle thing ala Ron Kent. Finish is several coats of Seal-A-Cell followed by several coats of Arm-R-Seal. This is another case to show us all that too much under the top coat is detrimental to the finial finish. The buffing wheels pulled the top coat right off. I had to sand it back and start again. No more than one coat of the sealer for me from now on.


Let know what you think about it. I'd also love to answer any questions you might have about it.

Box from March 8

Sorry to be so long to post this picture, but I just don't like the picture part. Truth be told, I don't like the finish process either. They both take me way too long to accomplish.


I bought this piece of wood at the AAW Symposium in Louisville. Just recently decided that it had sat on the shelf more than long enough. Box is 3 1/2" wide x 4 3/4" tall. The design is supposed to be ginger jar inspired. Finish is Seal-A-Cell followed by several coats of Arm-R-Seal. Sanded between coats with 400 w/d using water as a lubricant. Turned and sanded very nicely. My only issue with the whole turning was that I got the bottom edge of the tenon too thin and it broke off. You can see the fix.

I'd love to hear what you think about it.