Heading to a Warmer Place.

The snow seen in the last posting has melted, that's a plus here in North Carolina, snow does not stay on the ground for long. Our destination is Costa Rica, on tour with O.A.T. We'll have about ten days of warmth. My bones can use some warm weather. It's about 85 degrees during the day in Costa Rica, but there seems to be regular shower activity going on. I'm not the traveler my wife is. She loves it. My deer will miss me I'm sure, well maybe not me , but they'll miss the corn I put out each morning and evening. My friend Phil said the birds down there are spectacular, his group counted 350 different species. I'm going to need a bird book. I tried to get a fly rod into my checked bag, but it was 2" too long and too good a rod to bend for fitting. Any how, there will be much to do on this trip.

Snows come to North Carolina

Here we are in sunny North Carolina , it's the 20th of Jan '09. This looks like the North country. We have a new President. The ceremony in Washington was wonderful, President Obama is an inspiration to all.

That Little Red Dress; Too Low, Too Short, and Too Tight

While taking a metal sculpture course with Kevin Eischner I was able to create some small wax female figures and cast them in bronze, using the lost wax process. The whole thing is a labor intense effort. This particular bronze sculpture explores that part of a man's brain where girls with long blond hair zoom around in red convertible sports cars.....and dreams still linger. The dress was modeled of strips of wax warmed just right to be workable and yet cool enough not slump like melting ice cream. This was not an easy task. A sort of balancing act with a hair dryer and some iced water was in play here. After the pouring process was completed the casting was freed from it's sand mold. The straps for the dress were made of flattened bronze brazing wire welded in place as the last step. After cleaning and smoothing the areas that needed some work. The surface was heated and an red oxide dye was brushed on and the color slowly built up. This was the easiest way to apply color without getting into the complex chemistry of patinas. Even the smaller figure studies I did were labor intensive. Each step in the process was an opportunity for a mistake. Although intense, there was tremendous gratification in casting these bronze pieces.

Carving Santa-cicles

Santa-cicles are carved from short sections of basswood. Most of the carving is done with a detail knife, the finer details are done with very small chisels I bought from Bob Muhle, a model ship builder. If you click on any of these photos you really get a close-up view.

Santa Cicles Nearly Finished

These Santa-cicles are getting the finishing touches with acrylic paints. They have fishing line loops so they can be hung on tree.

A Gathering of Santas

This small group of Santas is on a break from the chores they must finish before the 25th. They've been working pretty hard and look a little bewildered. The two with the sacks are in the next to the last phase of their training, "Sack Packing", the last phase is "Navigation and Reindeer Control". By the way they wish a Merry Christmas for all.

Small Bronze Figures

These are some of the small bronze figures I've been working on from time to time. The tallest is close to 10 inches high.

Santas at the Front Door

These Santas are in charge of greeting folks who come to our door.

Trip Up The Oswego River With Phil D.

18 July 90 Phil D. and I paddled up the Oswego River in the Pine Barrens of NJ. I tried to photograph the page so Phil could see it again. It was in the Spring of '90 I started a fishing log, keeping track of what went on during my trips. Funny how much I've forgoten about these excursions..it's really nice to look back in this log and be reminded of so many wonderful times.

Wood Spirits Find Work on Fence Line

Sometimes the wood used in carving a Wood Spirit doesn't respond well to detail. Where there was thought to be firm wood just crumbles under the chisel. These guys found use as fence posts. Today is my daughter's birthday. Happy birthday, Liz !

Hawk and Curlew

A Hawk in black walnut and a Curlew share a spot in the book shelves.

Copper Leafed Rainbow

A twenty-four inch Rainbow Trout, carved from 2 x 8 lumber, leafed in copper, floats above the kitchen cabinets.

Snowy Owl

This Snowy Owl flew off to Harrington Park, NJ. This was the owl that was supposed to be mounted in the North Carolina Botanical Garden on the top of a corner support of an arbor. Then someone mentioned that the only way a snowy owl would get to North Carolina is by being stuffed and brought down. That, of course, is how the a Great Horned Owl was carved to fill the job at the gardens.

Who, Who, Who, The Hell are These Guys?

For a while I was into carving owls. I still do from time to time carve an Owl or two.

Roughing Out a Wood Nymph

While roughing out the carving of a Wood Nymph it became obvious that this piece of cedar was going to be a problem. Early on while working on the face and the hair line the wood split and forced a change in the original plan. I found I couldn't be pounding away with my rubber mallet without splitting the wood so I had to lighten-up and use an angle grinder. The grinder does a good job , but I worry about the saw dust. Sounds funny from a guy who smoked for too many years. The grinding disc I like to use is shaped like a saucer with teeth on the edge which scoop out slivers of wood as it spins. The wood it removes isn't small enough to get airborne.

Wood Nymph Nears Completion

The details have been worked with a variety of chisels. The wood is Cedar, and this particular piece seems drier than most I've worked with, so I've painted it with PEG 6000 in an effort to add some moisture and minimize its tendency to split or check. I'm going to try to locate a cheap source of anti-freeze, some folks use polyethylene glycol anti-freeze to moisten the wood. I'll leave her standing in the garage and try to come up with an idea for the final finish. I can't really refine the features any further. At least it'll make a nice outdoor piece if left the way it is.

They're finally up front for Halloween

Halloween is definitely getting close. These characters love Halloween. They spend most of their time in the back yard. I've been adding a member to this cast of beauties each year. They like to be where they can startle the joggers and terrorize the walking dogs and wish everyone a Happy Halloween!

Chrysanthemums Join The Band

Lavender mums look really striking next to the Swamp Sunflowers.

Trout Fishing in Stone Mtn. State Park

When I go to Stone Mountain I look up at that huge bubble of granite and I'm reminded of a day when I walked to the top. Both of my sons have spent some time here. Mark, here climbing the mountain, Scott, fishing the river.
I took a campsite in the clearing rather than set-up on a wooded site. The weather was predicted as partly sunny with a chance on showers. I thought the open site would speedup any drying of the tent. It seemed too dark under the canopy of the oaks.

The Tent is Good to Go.

The back door to the tent is opened here, it makes for easy access. What I love about this tent is that it has a little screened area at the other end. There I can have a small table with stove and a chair. If it rains I can cook right there and be out of the rain. This is also the first time for me to have a regular pillow to sleep with.

A Beautiful Section of The river

Many places such as this remind me of the Willowemoc in the Catskills. This shot was taken looking down-stream. The day was gray and misty.

The Bridge

A favorite spot of mine. The wind would kick up and leaves would flutter down on to the surface. When there were a lot of leaves it was difficult to cleanly pick up line for the next cast. In a few minutes with only a little wind the leaves would drift to the bank like little sailboats. This pool is usually loaded with fish, since the stocking truck can come very close to the stream. My line is out on the water, the fly is undisturbed by any fish.

The Magical Pool By The Bridge

This pool has always been a wonderful pool for me. Almost every time I get to fish it. I get a fish. Even when I was giving a demonstration of how to catch a trout on a dry-fly. There was talking, shuffling of feet, still with all the commotion a trout still rose to the fly and ultimately into the net. Behind the rock nearer the center of the stream is the holding spot where I usually find a trout.

A Really Nice Rainbow

This 14" Rainbow with the blushing cheeks came out of what I like to think of as the magical pool. I was surprised to find so heavy a fish there so early in the day. The fly, a Lady Heather rests on it's side.