Sharon, Thank You for this wonderful article!

Vic & Hank, Thank You both for your love of wood and for sharing the interesting craft of woodworking with us! I've always loved trees and I appreciate those who preserve our forests by replacing more than they take. I also appreciate the talent of those like you and your husband who can turn a piece of wood into a beautiful piece of furniture ... or floors, cabinets and doors!

I have a piece of wood furniture that means a lot to me, a little rocking chair built by a family friend. He's retired from a career in law enforcement and the military, and stays busy nowadays with a little handyman business doing home remodels etc. ... and he is really good with wood! His wife has been my best friend for 37 years and I always admired her little sewing rocker that had been in her mom's family for quite some time. Whenever I was at their house I'd call first dibs on that rocker ... and when their children were young I loved rocking them in it too. They knew how much I loved that chair, and one Christmas back in the late 1970's they presented me with a replica! He built it out of (I think) Mahogany, using his wife's rocking chair for a pattern and she upholstered the finished piece. I love my little rocking chair ... it's stored in a closet for the time being, waiting to be re-upholstered! I recently moved and I bought the fabric and trim for re-covering it but haven't gotten farther than removing the old fabric! When I get it done I will have to share a photo!

What a treasure you have, Lin. That little rocker has a heart of its own!

Excellent write-up!

Sharon, I've really been looking forward to this one (and NOT because you quoted me, you sneak! *grin)

What a nice journey to read about, Vic and Hank! From a tree in the woods standing tall and giving, sharing itself with you, and the babies planted multifold in its place, to visiting the sawmill and back home again. Back "home"...well, everyone knows that's where and what sets the foundation for our best growth in life, eh? What's really cool is how Hank and Vic, and others like them, take a tree that could've turned into death and decay and preserves it for future generations to come in so many other forms. What a talent. What a treat! Good going!

Hugs to the trees, the tree huggers, and to those who write about them!

Shoe

Heh, Shoe.
But your words spoke the truth, my friend.
Thank you!

Horseshoe said:Hugs to the trees, the tree huggers, and to those who write about them!

(((((((Hugs )))))) (((((((Hugs))))))) (((((((Hugs))))))) and more

Sweet, Vic, way to go.

Lin, thank you for your kind words. I love the story about your sewing rocker and I'm so glad you have one.

Hey Shoe, thank you - HUGS back!

Sharon - so beautifully written - thank you so much!

I want to make very clear that "I" am not the carpenter here - just the carpenter's assistant Hank has always said when he puts two pieces of wood together for a mitre, he wants them to look like they grew together. If I did that - HAH! it wouldn't stand up straight That said, I do understand every phase from tree to finish and I know Hank is very thankful for all my help. We do have FUN!

We crossed Tee - thank you!

Sitting here with tears in my eyes....

Oh Mary, I hope they're happy tears!

Me too!

vic said:Oh Mary, I hope they're happy tears!

they were. Didn't have time to say more just then, was supposed to be on my way to the daylily club already when I was posting it.

I know that I read all or most of your words in the comments to Sharon's other article, but the pictures with it... it was like I hadn't read your words at all before -- the pictures really brought them to life. And I love trees, and love wood, and creations from wood...it all came together perfectly and made my heart overflow through my eyes.

It's actually kind of cool when that happens.

Vic, I don't know who enjoyed your story of the life of a tree, from trunk to cabinets, more...me or DH. He had a full woodworking shop before we moved to Hawaii. Rather than store it, he sold it. He planned to replace them when we returned to the Mainland. He has replaced some, but he's also sold some. Years of smoking have taken a toll, and his cranky wife fussing at him for breathing sawdust probably also keeps his woodworking to a minimum now.

We both loved looking at your workshop and all the neat machinery. It's amazing to see the actual process of converting a log to a board.
(P.S., our garage shop never looked that neat!)

Sharon, I love the heirloom pieces. I have a few treasures of my grandmother's, but nothing of my parents. My mother loved to buy new things and give away the "old stuff."

Oh Mary - such kind words - happy tears from me too

Thank you Sandi - I just knew we were sawdust sisters at heart

Hehehe, I like that expression, Vic. "Sawdust sisters"!

Perfect!

Shoe

But it reminds me of those old rag dolls that used to be stuffed with sawdust. One little hole and the sawdust started leaking out like a deflating balloon.

I really did have one of those dolls Sharon. Her name was Judy. She came to us with her name. Her skin was pure rubber and she was about 3 feet tall. Like having a playmate I remember sister and I changing the color of her mouth with nail polish

And you could push on any part of her skin and leave an indented finger print. Took it forever to fill back in.

You are 100% correct Did we get that doll from you?

Actually not. I had that doll till just a few years ago when I lost my mind and put it in the attic for a long hot summer. The rubber melted and sort of fused into the sawdust and it looked much like one of those scary dried apples when I found it again. I think that one was my Sparkle Plenty doll. Remember Sparkle?

But I still have my DyDee baby.
She doesn't live in the attic.
But then she isn't filled with sawdust either.