WOODTURNING and UPDATE on our Tony...
Above, my very first attempt at wood turning, and trying out my new "captured ring" tool. This began as a 12 inch long piece of Sassafrass Wood, or "Sassy-frass", as the locals call it. I'm trying to perfect the art of creating these captured rings, so I can make an interesting walking stick with them. (Sassafrass grows here in the wild, and is a lovely smelling wood. Did you know you can make tea from the roots of a sassafrass tree?)
The above is either Yellow wood or Canary Wood... I can't recall. sighAnyway, this was my second attempt at turning wood. I had a 12 inch long piece of this lovely yellow wood, and sectioned it off to make what will be three handles for rug hooking hooks. Isn't this wood gorgious!??
I'm thoroughly enjoying working with the lathe. It's almost as exciting as the first time I threw a functional pot (pottery). I miss making pottery, but don't miss the back breaking labor involved. Maybe some day I'll have the opportunity (and income) to afford making pots again. Thanks to a dear friend, Daniel, we now have a kiln.... unfortunately, we don't have time to begin working with it. Tony's looking forward to making some of his "claytoons".
FR. TONY UPDATE:
Tony continues to do well, and I've yet to bump him off by flusing his PICC line. grin
Yesterday we had a follow up appt. with the surgeon, (a complete waste of 2+ hours) who said Tony's wound was healing nicely, except for a 1/2 inch opening! ewwww The vampires flushed his PICC line and changed his PICC line dressing. The Home Health Nurse folks are supposed to come see us today, to go over all the things we're to do at home. Our next appt. with the oncologist is on Monday of next week.
WINTER AND MORGANTOWN
Well, thanks to a couple of days of windy, rainy weather... the lovely leaves are falling swiftly. Soon the trees will be stripped of their color, and we'll have months of gloomy looking trees, till spring arrives again. Next week the 100+ foot tall Sycamore tree in our front yard will be taken down. This should be a sight to see! But, the thought of all the wood I can get from it, for turning, is quite exciting!
This morning we let Harry out, and he made a bee line to the back fence. A small herd of deer had been sleeping in the woods behind the house. Of course, dear Harry decided the deer must go, and off in a mad dash they went! It won't be long before hunting season begins... ugh... fortunately, if our little herd of deer stick close by, they're safe from the wretched hunters and their guns! Last night at woodworking class, my instructor couldn't seem to talk enough about the "10 pointer" he'd been baiting for months... and how he was anxiously awaiting the opening of hunting season! ugh
Ah, well... back to cleaning. Must get/keep house as disinfected as possible. NOT an easy task for a clutterbug!
Our love to you all, PitterPat
PS: Tony's been blogging again: http://wvparson.blogspot.com/
