tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21903017822343022332024-03-06T05:16:31.705-05:00Wood Trails - Dave BrockThis site is dedicated to exploring the trails of my life which will include my adventures in woodcarving, woodwork, wilderness travel, and wherever that next trail might take me.Dave Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16074715438584429020noreply@blogger.comBlogger193125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190301782234302233.post-27247501302597177162017-11-27T15:16:00.000-05:002017-11-28T20:33:42.882-05:00Coyote Scat - The Story Inside The PoopRight now, in the western North Carolina backcountry we are in the prime of the
deer rut and the bucks are going crazy. Rubbings and ground scratching
are everywhere you go. This is very exciting to see, but if you look
closely there is also a lot of other wildlife movement going on around
the mountain man area equally as exciting yet much more elusive.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWRvdbd5kb9MuN-KeH_wHV5ubN_RW8pbDDlbksgmX0cFRXFyB5ivk8QK3VryJlTneplGuRGTnZ61uZH7iVT4yBXk0L6qBHj8b2bSabhmFeHFv4lafh4Ygxmjcw46rXgoGN-k4kq2GmLrQ/s1600/davebrock_scat01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="540" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWRvdbd5kb9MuN-KeH_wHV5ubN_RW8pbDDlbksgmX0cFRXFyB5ivk8QK3VryJlTneplGuRGTnZ61uZH7iVT4yBXk0L6qBHj8b2bSabhmFeHFv4lafh4Ygxmjcw46rXgoGN-k4kq2GmLrQ/s320/davebrock_scat01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
On a hike this week in the Raven Knob backcountry, I consider this the
biggest prize of all, and I've been studying the pictures closely<span class="text_exposed_show">
to unravel the mystery. Found this hair-clad scat right in the middle
of a trail, somewhat aged but still not too old and in excellent shape
for dissecting. (see picture on right) Very hard to see unless you
were walking slow and looking carefully. I spent at least 45 minutes
picking it apart, first finding a small bone fragment which I thought
was part of a lower jaw, but no clear tooth. (see picture below)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha5iGc_kWyz9clLa6wseNWVkgDwVX0chTI0D1KtdU0QkCw4pzz-uFi4B-nlQmLODyUq7bSDjZuCt3Pm_80XDtoi6XAFDF03Rj5CgtRBOH37WqTvHTcXqgamOyETzSR8lntQmR0hQ1BTPs/s1600/davebrock_scat02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="540" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha5iGc_kWyz9clLa6wseNWVkgDwVX0chTI0D1KtdU0QkCw4pzz-uFi4B-nlQmLODyUq7bSDjZuCt3Pm_80XDtoi6XAFDF03Rj5CgtRBOH37WqTvHTcXqgamOyETzSR8lntQmR0hQ1BTPs/s320/davebrock_scat02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span class="text_exposed_show"> </span>I proceeded to investigate all of the mostly grey hair dung, finding
several more bone fragments, ...then there it was under the
mummifying-like hair, a very discernible half digested squirrel skull
(see picture directly below) and some perfect rear molar teeth (used for
grinding), and also including orange front teeth (used for cutting-see last picture lower left side) indicating a rodent, with the size indicating a
squirrel. That was an exciting moment!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieljqpISL2blI_o9iRAuPBS3FSMCUs1J2h4Oin4V7lplSz9zIlLh67B8RpoA__m6HKNBEFb6o62TkR8tLQGH8w3w-2LN0Lpb47zi-If2pFrL_K7myxoBM-dHqGr0Kvz6U2AfW7HMRfvi8/s1600/davebrock_scat03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="540" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieljqpISL2blI_o9iRAuPBS3FSMCUs1J2h4Oin4V7lplSz9zIlLh67B8RpoA__m6HKNBEFb6o62TkR8tLQGH8w3w-2LN0Lpb47zi-If2pFrL_K7myxoBM-dHqGr0Kvz6U2AfW7HMRfvi8/s320/davebrock_scat03.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Now, the mystery was
whether this was from a coyote or a bobcat, which were the two best
possibilities for this area, although coyotes are much more present. If
there had been some feathers, then I would start leaning with the cat,
but there were none. A bobcat would also be more likely to cover his
excrement, or at least leave some scratch marks, but no indication of
that either. Therefore, I tend to conclude that it was a coyote who
brought down the squirrel.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZDW9LreQ7XcX7dpcsXqjD586A9LXJfk1KIVlfVvSzQlAMIKs3sp1aAPObXQR3pksi41wRqiRCscDd6PndlHOjThXEljBJg3oZiiPAmeyLRf_Eg0oKfwJkts8-w6eG8l7L-DpwUH15zcg/s1600/davebrock_scat04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="540" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZDW9LreQ7XcX7dpcsXqjD586A9LXJfk1KIVlfVvSzQlAMIKs3sp1aAPObXQR3pksi41wRqiRCscDd6PndlHOjThXEljBJg3oZiiPAmeyLRf_Eg0oKfwJkts8-w6eG8l7L-DpwUH15zcg/s320/davebrock_scat04.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Lots of action in the backcounty and a
lot of fun clues that most people never see because they never look.
The mountain men were professional trackers, trappers, and scouters
because they spent most of their time doing it. Their very lives
depended upon catching all of those little elusive clues in the cycle of
life. While most of us today lead lives that don't allow us to put in
the necessary 'dirt time' to become a professional survivalist and
tracker, we can still learn a lot about what makes the natural world
around us tick. Next time that you're in the woods, walk slow, be quiet,
listen more, and look for the tiny clues that tell the full story, and
you will surely discover action equally as fascinating as the deer rut.</div>
Dave Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16074715438584429020noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190301782234302233.post-4510193384122395162013-04-29T17:52:00.001-04:002013-04-29T18:11:13.202-04:00Every Kid Needs To Master The Bow & Arrow<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKpvV36E1VhABd_c-6OlIEb9UThyphenhyphenfNVGtGg6ASd5ztbM5JGw5wQ2fTVwLFoI8-bir6yZKBMNu9JxbtfLqnN5RKuXEp2inkjVz_Ror6gMV7xAcl5VRP63zfgN_AGPaU1OqalhH0uFSxNA/s1600/db+archery01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKpvV36E1VhABd_c-6OlIEb9UThyphenhyphenfNVGtGg6ASd5ztbM5JGw5wQ2fTVwLFoI8-bir6yZKBMNu9JxbtfLqnN5RKuXEp2inkjVz_Ror6gMV7xAcl5VRP63zfgN_AGPaU1OqalhH0uFSxNA/s400/db+archery01.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Excellent example of how to prop a good shot!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Archery is probably not the best choice possible for very young
kids, but middle schoolers generally have a just-right amount of maturity and
body strength to master the archery range well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Learning to command the bow & arrow with confidence is a great outdoor activity that
every child should learn and for good reason. To be a successful
archer requires a good deal of patience and concentration, plus it is an excellent exercise
in hand-eye coordination and all of these attributes will have a positive
effect upon their time spent back in the classroom. It's also just plain cool knowing how to shoot well.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I had about an hour with each group today at Camp Raven Knob.
Archery is not as simple as it looks and only the very attentive kids will get it
right upon my first instruction and safety talk. But that's OK because with
most of these kids it's their very first encounter with a bow and arrow.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7iZwofxSsOs7PvCmH9NYfgQWE1vcLYl7U2wAWPJUN6DNmJDwOd_9UhkD73DvTLV2kmbo0FF4cTOQlqhByeaHLxKW-q-oPycvGfqFW-pma8F44Z7YiqsLKkXM_wGZSYXgv2-JaNtIUjXw/s1600/db+archery03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7iZwofxSsOs7PvCmH9NYfgQWE1vcLYl7U2wAWPJUN6DNmJDwOd_9UhkD73DvTLV2kmbo0FF4cTOQlqhByeaHLxKW-q-oPycvGfqFW-pma8F44Z7YiqsLKkXM_wGZSYXgv2-JaNtIUjXw/s400/db+archery03.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very proud of his shooting!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">To
shoot straight and to shoot well takes lot's of practice and even more
patience. And of course, a good instructor that can point out mistakes and
suggest improvements makes all the difference with easing that sometimes stressful learning curve. This is one sport where a child can
improve their overall target shooting greatly in a short period of time if the
instructor is on his toes.</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Out of today's 85 students, there were about 5 who were good
(...v-e-r-y good) from the first shot onward. Upon my inquisition, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>most of these skilled shooters came from homes where their
parents had already introduced them to archery because they were deer hunters.
Those kids <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZHWR1EqnIEVUZuZduzMoMFkiYZFYyWvuLQplW3mKOb0S6MDoP6oVW9s5RWgt30puKae9HEBTsJRIkj9KjxCc99SIwpT1QMMqt_lWPSntA_vpLePfebpGO_S4rYgx3hbP-ehKndGL78I/s1600/db+archery02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZHWR1EqnIEVUZuZduzMoMFkiYZFYyWvuLQplW3mKOb0S6MDoP6oVW9s5RWgt30puKae9HEBTsJRIkj9KjxCc99SIwpT1QMMqt_lWPSntA_vpLePfebpGO_S4rYgx3hbP-ehKndGL78I/s320/db+archery02.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another picture for Mom!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
could make these little compound camp bows work in overdrive, hitting
the bulls-eye of the target with a resounding 'thud' and most of the time with
the kind of power that would certainly take down a deer. They had a good stance,
their elbows were always high, and their aim was right-on. They could have
starred in the movie 'Hunger Games' and passed without a flinch. They were just
plain good and their classmates admired their skill.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Standing beside those good shooters was one little fellow named Connor.
He missed the target every time no matter how many pointers that I gave him, no
matter how many times that I placed him in good stance. I was the most
frustrated but Connor had a great attitude, always smiling, and vocalizing that
he was going to hit that target with every next shot. He was one of the smaller kids and his arms
just weren't the strongest but he kept at it with a smile. The struggle didn't <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhatvHKrDckixI3oxZb9XqxlWRH8D3ZRJXyFyxN1oY42CNfwtX88SfVNdOF6Sui3YR2EzMTvWM6fSz4NxoUcJngXGFSm_HoJ5mNERrr5KQlK0bmtBFlmLDdxKKdbTkkPfqMRaANCC1JfjI/s1600/db+archery05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhatvHKrDckixI3oxZb9XqxlWRH8D3ZRJXyFyxN1oY42CNfwtX88SfVNdOF6Sui3YR2EzMTvWM6fSz4NxoUcJngXGFSm_HoJ5mNERrr5KQlK0bmtBFlmLDdxKKdbTkkPfqMRaANCC1JfjI/s400/db+archery05.jpg" width="206" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Excellent shooting stance!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
faze him.
During the last shooting rotation Connor managed to hit the red outlining of
the bull's-eye and his classmates yelled out with a resounding cheer and
clapping. Connor left the archery range feeling great!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitgax4MtaQMKqbqrbvxt8yV3CjdqWgja1ub4im_PybpHLigBIAhl12xUg1UYcqtm1nzIfIixWQatygHLROu4ILcpOQ0_dkPFebJoXj6YIga4aYk-z6ufnYe32XJHSQxYWv8_UZ2ZBwx6g/s1600/db+archery06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitgax4MtaQMKqbqrbvxt8yV3CjdqWgja1ub4im_PybpHLigBIAhl12xUg1UYcqtm1nzIfIixWQatygHLROu4ILcpOQ0_dkPFebJoXj6YIga4aYk-z6ufnYe32XJHSQxYWv8_UZ2ZBwx6g/s400/db+archery06.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Retrieving arrows and safely carrying with two hands.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Today I saw mostly a lot of
rookie kids who had never shot a bow in their lives and had trouble learning
the basics of skill, stance, and technique.
But I also saw them greatly improve their confidence in shooting as they
continued practicing and asking good questions. Most of all they needed someone
who could just be aware of their struggle to learn and to help them improve. They needed someone who could remember their
names and cheer for them to everyone when they hit the target. They needed someone
to foster their patient accomplishment of a new skill, then to acknowledge it. Hopefully I was that person for them today. I went home tired so maybe I was.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I'm
sure that even Robin Hood himself would have been very proud of today's archery
classes because I sure was. I imagine
that they'll have something swell to talk about with their teachers and
classmates tomorrow at school and maybe their grades will improve too. After
all that's what looking at the BIG picture in life is all about and <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">mastering</span> the skill of shooting a bow can play a big part in that picture.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggWu1xbpqCuE56Pdqd_J-mjO44MPIgUJtNYw5WBIh68aRHnKQR63IhxGWuQojdxl5by3onhxXL7qIOViGnApW7yFgsoOOoqXV7NTDfP1OmJTYIaK5po_X5Q0Q7S7Rvx9DJJ2WJyiy1Sw/s1600/db+archery04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggWu1xbpqCuE56Pdqd_J-mjO44MPIgUJtNYw5WBIh68aRHnKQR63IhxGWuQojdxl5by3onhxXL7qIOViGnApW7yFgsoOOoqXV7NTDfP1OmJTYIaK5po_X5Q0Q7S7Rvx9DJJ2WJyiy1Sw/s640/db+archery04.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Dave Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16074715438584429020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190301782234302233.post-64313940222345063262013-04-28T11:37:00.000-04:002013-04-29T18:11:13.205-04:00Creek Stomp: Learning To Appreciate Creek Ecology<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<![endif]--><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-JXAVeHRwhSo9ql7UHKe_5NAknsDl56nEQC3N1QxgkrtrS99lQVYqpE7OXu1N-YkdSNnoO5B0ty4tfBrU1ZRFZgmn28tSaf9dI1fjeHYKSrtT14RBHcX_jNIa5vnOHM5BDO0nVpwE0o/s1600/IMG_4982.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-JXAVeHRwhSo9ql7UHKe_5NAknsDl56nEQC3N1QxgkrtrS99lQVYqpE7OXu1N-YkdSNnoO5B0ty4tfBrU1ZRFZgmn28tSaf9dI1fjeHYKSrtT14RBHcX_jNIa5vnOHM5BDO0nVpwE0o/s400/IMG_4982.jpg" width="300" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">One of my favorite 'Learning For Life' classes to teach is
the Creek Stomp, where middle schooler's learn to appreciate the building
blocks of clean water. Spring is a great time to get kids outside into natures
classroom where they can splash in the water, learn to gently uncover rocks
& leaves, then dip their nets for the creepy crawlers that make their
home in this watery world.</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Yes, we call the class a creek stomp but it's important first
to lay the framework for fostering a reverence for the delicate creek life
before setting the kids loose to explore on their own. Therefore, about a 20
minute discussion is integral to forming that relationship with the
creek and I try to use several props to maintain their swaying attention
and for keeping the class interesting.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1OTeVUW17IGlT4ERqy9h3Grg2Sx0XQGyskPQ3Ww1LIfJmBT_O6F11yeQqYHZskrAw_tHtmL38ppx-9vr8fDAZ3vBey8DpWdyZaAzZ3PK88aaBhVHD57L8YU0KP8Da6ZnKUGwKHpyxYvg/s1600/bugs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1OTeVUW17IGlT4ERqy9h3Grg2Sx0XQGyskPQ3Ww1LIfJmBT_O6F11yeQqYHZskrAw_tHtmL38ppx-9vr8fDAZ3vBey8DpWdyZaAzZ3PK88aaBhVHD57L8YU0KP8Da6ZnKUGwKHpyxYvg/s320/bugs.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I
might start out with some trivia questions to see what they already know and to
make the experience participatory and hands-on from the very beginning. During
last week's classes I showed them the skulls of a whitetail deer and a beaver
then asked which of these animals depends on water for their very lives. Sort
of a trick question because even though the beaver spends most of its time in
the water, they both depend on the water for life, but a few of the kids always
got the answer right.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Watersheds
are also important to clean water so I use the 3,200 acre Camp Raven Knob as my
prop. Here we are surrounded by mountains and own the entire watershed so the
life of our lake for swimming, boating, and fishing is safe. I put my hands
together with fists' to demonstrate how a watershed works, with my knuckles
representing the surrounding mountains and my fingers the valleys below. I then
ask them to tell me exactly where they think that the water flows when it rains
in their immediate area and they get it right as they observe the contours of
the wooded terrain.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1FfSh8T7czzZjTu89qTucEYHANNM1T9FYeJO-Et8gWNeI4h383D7D_XBmhn9UASwnU2p4yxXZTOQfq0sHv5Sget2Ss95-_lOLZJS45I8lcS9UR8nk_9c0W-gSy8hKBY3thJurqOi4hsk/s1600/IMG_4985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1FfSh8T7czzZjTu89qTucEYHANNM1T9FYeJO-Et8gWNeI4h383D7D_XBmhn9UASwnU2p4yxXZTOQfq0sHv5Sget2Ss95-_lOLZJS45I8lcS9UR8nk_9c0W-gSy8hKBY3thJurqOi4hsk/s400/IMG_4985.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br />
The discussion continues with the ecology of the area surrounding the
creek and the effects of pollution. We talk about the uses of water
and sometimes the discussion even leads to the Saura Indian tribe, the
first people to live here in our valley many centuries ago which leads
to other great discussions. Sometimes our talk becomes so interesting
that I have to pinch myself to stop so that the kids can get into the
water and practice what they've learned before our precious time is
gone.<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span>The group is paired into teams of two and they're assigned a small
minnow net and a cup for collecting what they find. On shore I have
three trays with a little creek water in them for the 0-1 legs, 2-4
legs, and for 6-8 legs. After a short demonstration about how to gently
lift the rocks and leaves in the stream and how to move around gently
with a reverence for the creatures living there, I then set them off on
their own creek ramble to see what they can find.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGmar-Jqbkp4NvO0NOdvr53yM9ltS1NqZ0WivOeTQHg4zkKBrrUpj-cyfOp8v_4rsRRUPZgLCQSjt08qQTjewAEX7bL_DpPBmtlR77hFmrYd5Mgd1CMWy-sdyqdCauKfxRjdbotk2Myk/s1600/IMG_4984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGmar-Jqbkp4NvO0NOdvr53yM9ltS1NqZ0WivOeTQHg4zkKBrrUpj-cyfOp8v_4rsRRUPZgLCQSjt08qQTjewAEX7bL_DpPBmtlR77hFmrYd5Mgd1CMWy-sdyqdCauKfxRjdbotk2Myk/s400/IMG_4984.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
These kids are smart and not only quickly learn to respect the
environment around them, but also begin to understand the origins of and
the importance for clean water. Now they have a very powerful hands-on
experience that their teachers can expand upon back in the classroom. In
the Great Outdoors learning once again becomes 'real' again.<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><br />Dave Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16074715438584429020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190301782234302233.post-431568924293819952012-01-31T21:19:00.003-05:002012-01-31T22:27:13.081-05:00Foil Pouch Cooking- The Original Cowboy Feast<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrcEfKX2aKg2YWz_ycN7nBDU92jYa0jedvEoUzJLJJrs-z_Z7EW6yh7szNYst6w-4n49qykopPelfxcZEbK6mr_G39gIL_CAHbVSKJw1zl5Br02cK-Im2ozL_uUo5qxfhQaB9PqYyOAfE/s1600/Foil+Pouch05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrcEfKX2aKg2YWz_ycN7nBDU92jYa0jedvEoUzJLJJrs-z_Z7EW6yh7szNYst6w-4n49qykopPelfxcZEbK6mr_G39gIL_CAHbVSKJw1zl5Br02cK-Im2ozL_uUo5qxfhQaB9PqYyOAfE/s400/Foil+Pouch05.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>One of the best things about a weekend camping trip is cooking your food in the hot coals of an outdoor fire. It's been a while since I have enjoyed this more primitive form of 'roughing it easy' but last weekend I re-kindled my love for cooking a foil pouch meal while on a boy scout camping trip.<br />
<br />
Foil pouch cooking in the scouts is one of the most popular forms of outdoor cooking and it's also one of the most efficient methods for preparing a super-delicious meal in the outdoors. While I've always enjoyed having a foil pouch meal around the campfire, I never considered bringing this creative form of cooking indoors... that is until this evening.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQr8Tf2Q6TWXxbbvUZneK9t6tE0NLIei0jrv-dEneuKo7iJvmcBgU6mZILhpct1ttnzVk735s8jRESHp76fO4vT3Wnh_Eb4m9L0SNoumQa92WfurSQeCK4SgwOan8rLEmDUeHzdYt064/s1600/Foil+Pouch01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQr8Tf2Q6TWXxbbvUZneK9t6tE0NLIei0jrv-dEneuKo7iJvmcBgU6mZILhpct1ttnzVk735s8jRESHp76fO4vT3Wnh_Eb4m9L0SNoumQa92WfurSQeCK4SgwOan8rLEmDUeHzdYt064/s400/Foil+Pouch01.jpg" width="400" /></a>When I came back from a day of working on my land, the thoughts of a foil pouch meal dominated my head as I thought about this past weekend. Looking at the wood heater in my kitchen, I opened the door to a huge orange glow of hot embers staring me in the face and thought about just cooking my supper right in the stove. I've cooked a lot on top of the stove but I've never thought about utilizing the chamber of the stove... until now.<br />
<br />
As seen in the pictures to the right I went ahead and prepared my favorite ingredients for a chicken breast and veggie meal. I chopped up a small potato, a stalk of celery, some onion, and a little bit of broccoli.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM9zPmiRFcXBWDGzEsjsIulrmEgtGZIjUrGTuaRRCAL5hJCKDpYtSwJrL66PXgU9ynP8oDcv6hoA9SRmkq2UYhbDrVpr7RYlTKJRczPy4NUW1uWlTUjAibPXNvUQheZreUhHoDEJ7nON4/s1600/Foil+Pouch02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM9zPmiRFcXBWDGzEsjsIulrmEgtGZIjUrGTuaRRCAL5hJCKDpYtSwJrL66PXgU9ynP8oDcv6hoA9SRmkq2UYhbDrVpr7RYlTKJRczPy4NUW1uWlTUjAibPXNvUQheZreUhHoDEJ7nON4/s640/Foil+Pouch02.jpg" width="472" /></a></div>I then put all of those veggies in a screw-lid Nalgene container, then added some Teriyaki sauce, some Balsamic vinegar, and a good shaking of lemon-pepper seasoning. I just pour and shake the seasonings onto the veggies until I think that's enough for me.<br />
<br />
On a camping trip I like to marinate the veggies overnight in a cooler but tonight I just used them right away. I shook up the veggies in my Nalgene container as seen in the picture to the left.<br />
<br />
Next, I placed a completely frozen chicken breast out of the freezer into the first layer of my aluminum foil wrap, then sprinkled the veggies all over and around the chicken as seen to the left.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMkLaZD9z2MQfoZczSJPrHyMpfwCzANK1WsAkIVI7xqqPPGQrW1CCGMtp4RO6ff2bAq6rL4mBE98x2ljuuU7CdrWQ3jz8r1G1IkQT8lMU4PGV-zJpkWoIYF4ui0ei5CW7t5MCFYBZvaEg/s1600/Foil+Pouch03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMkLaZD9z2MQfoZczSJPrHyMpfwCzANK1WsAkIVI7xqqPPGQrW1CCGMtp4RO6ff2bAq6rL4mBE98x2ljuuU7CdrWQ3jz8r1G1IkQT8lMU4PGV-zJpkWoIYF4ui0ei5CW7t5MCFYBZvaEg/s400/Foil+Pouch03.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
With this done I then folded the foil over the top and folded it in an overlapping fashion to lock in all of the marinating juices. I then did the same to each end of the foil pouch on both ends. I like to double wrap my meals to help ensure that everything stays together so I repeated this step one more time.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDrt5QrGzs3ew-y8j0oDmj45A_pjfjLjwuumqTh2bJJKBPqB2cM-dBbvFN9RebK4ClhJc92d-I66P52ncRe7POY5IyFqWocVPo16CiuDaDIY8yh3Yhe0C39kuz1cEzY_rvERsZAdyN5uo/s1600/Foil+Pouch04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDrt5QrGzs3ew-y8j0oDmj45A_pjfjLjwuumqTh2bJJKBPqB2cM-dBbvFN9RebK4ClhJc92d-I66P52ncRe7POY5IyFqWocVPo16CiuDaDIY8yh3Yhe0C39kuz1cEzY_rvERsZAdyN5uo/s400/Foil+Pouch04.jpg" width="377" /></a><br />
Using my metal coal shovel I shifted the coals inside my wood heater and placed the foil pouch meal into a nice spot with an even layer of red hot oak coals on the bottom. I then used the shovel to deposit another even layer of glowing coals on the top of the foil pouch.<br />
<br />
I then closed the stove door, dampered down the air flow to the lowest setting then went on to do other chores. My foil pouch meals usually cook completely in 40-45 minutes but you might need to experiment until you find the best cooking time for your meals.<br />
<br />
Knowing how to cook a meal in a foil pouch can be a life saver during a power outage and an excellent opportunity to show the kids or the neighbors that you don't have to have electricity to live like a king, or better yet like a cowboy on the trail. This is some mighty fine eating, Pardner!Dave Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16074715438584429020noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190301782234302233.post-43883034404162485762010-11-21T11:50:00.001-05:002010-11-21T11:54:47.754-05:00Add Accent to DreamCatcher With Woodcarving<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlbj5LUyej2X_lTP2gU7jdSrpDji6xSvff_pEGVc8b2qRMuts1WJeoHZ-0d72HONdL5-GWf5JHOQLUO1Di14pWTre4CUjdoHe0EVcEaI1mfY5r9xjgPRGFBGuDsdRQnCmrpyD_nucocwc/s1600/db+oaDreamCatcher001.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="19" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlbj5LUyej2X_lTP2gU7jdSrpDji6xSvff_pEGVc8b2qRMuts1WJeoHZ-0d72HONdL5-GWf5JHOQLUO1Di14pWTre4CUjdoHe0EVcEaI1mfY5r9xjgPRGFBGuDsdRQnCmrpyD_nucocwc/s400/db+oaDreamCatcher001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>With Christmas just around the corner I've been spending some time making gifts with a special concentration on dreamcatchers. From my research I learned that dreamcatchers originated in the Ojibwa Indian nation. Kids love making these unique natural crafts that can be hung over their bed to filter bad dreams out, thus opening up a gateway of happy visions.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYujDCNHxX3cqaF9d6IqaBNqW3Qm-8lySYzEsXCgWa7a81uyOeuzG5kUzTPy5AITcw_Aa5FSGicghPuAjDNoE8ruGEAO1XN3vPn0jn5SbgQKJvCWv1kZWeS9BfcQOZdpvAHpbdFYNESo/s1600/db+oaDreamCatcher002.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="20" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYujDCNHxX3cqaF9d6IqaBNqW3Qm-8lySYzEsXCgWa7a81uyOeuzG5kUzTPy5AITcw_Aa5FSGicghPuAjDNoE8ruGEAO1XN3vPn0jn5SbgQKJvCWv1kZWeS9BfcQOZdpvAHpbdFYNESo/s400/db+oaDreamCatcher002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I began weaving Indian dreamcatchers 3 or 4 years ago and I use real animal sinew for weaving the "catcher" inside a small wreath of bitter/sweet vine that I twisted into a circular form. I've found that it's much better to form the vines into shape and dry thoroughly for several months before weaving... otherwise the sinew will become loose as the vine dries.<br />
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When I began making these unique crafts I knew that I had to find a way to add woodcarving to the project for the perfect accent thus making each dreamcatcher truly a "one of a kind".<br />
In the dreamcatcher pictured here I decided to carve the Boy Scout "Order of the Arrow" into a thin piece of basswood. I then drilled two tiny holes into the wood so that I could weave it securely to the sinew webbing. I applied a tiny amount of hot glue to the tied ends of the sinew to prevent any chance of unraveling. I found the three black crow feathers from my summer walks into the woods. Have fun and be safe!Dave Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16074715438584429020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190301782234302233.post-44287977829354055202010-08-30T18:38:00.000-04:002010-08-30T18:38:44.586-04:00WIP: Forked Branch Carving: Meet "Da Wiz" (Part 2 of 2)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FQ4xOKpscCnQ9GjRiYBAIv29K_IQEVXO9Qr9ogJwLssX-xXoqgv-zRkD8jHjHItJ_1tNbhzDl8pIkRmiAnvncMJauIodvHmZX6CaYKD7NsdUwWWO9OI5NCfl0ehtWWAlSYAVofbOiZo/s1600/db+ForkBranchWiz007.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="83" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FQ4xOKpscCnQ9GjRiYBAIv29K_IQEVXO9Qr9ogJwLssX-xXoqgv-zRkD8jHjHItJ_1tNbhzDl8pIkRmiAnvncMJauIodvHmZX6CaYKD7NsdUwWWO9OI5NCfl0ehtWWAlSYAVofbOiZo/s400/db+ForkBranchWiz007.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The 'wiz' is now carved, painted, finished, and now standing its ground on the nik-nak shelf. I liked carving this project because I had only limited control over how I would shape the body since that was already pre-determined by the forked-branch limb itself. A block of basswood can be shaped pretty much into any shape preferred but not so for this kind of branch carving. It adds a neat new challenge to carving that I like to tackle on occasion.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggX92IWB72KZaXbQ7cOWQ7FDwJW4FbMsCWztQqKEud1Ea0mzs8MAF7w1Ctz2kmeT7ABWQli4V7JH4HJ-9R4PmoF8eimltJ91Too0Ir7uEfGI0XHI5AHbmHMyZR__tkFznYlhyphenhyphennhHqDfcY/s1600/db+ForkBranchWiz008.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="84" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggX92IWB72KZaXbQ7cOWQ7FDwJW4FbMsCWztQqKEud1Ea0mzs8MAF7w1Ctz2kmeT7ABWQli4V7JH4HJ-9R4PmoF8eimltJ91Too0Ir7uEfGI0XHI5AHbmHMyZR__tkFznYlhyphenhyphennhHqDfcY/s400/db+ForkBranchWiz008.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>As seen in the pictures I decided to use a watered down variety of acrylic paint to the point where it was applied more like stain rather than paint. I did apply the yellow stars in full strength color which was necessary to get the right contrasting against the light purple clothing. Looking back, I suppose that it wouldn't have taken much alteration in design and finishing colors to make this a Santa then perhaps the woodspirit staff could have been his reindeer whip... Just a little brainstorming :-)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl7tXvqIJIlydqQdKfftepWbVe9ANZ_VxXyWzxCpYPiUltvfS3xNz4q-JdAZxFygNUbjhAl9aG2ATT49mgfOuvU_3COU2x4h7-M5-MYcX1KQyx8le3QPYmP_exqldXaj_aZxH-wcsu93U/s1600/db+ForkBranchWiz006.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="85" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl7tXvqIJIlydqQdKfftepWbVe9ANZ_VxXyWzxCpYPiUltvfS3xNz4q-JdAZxFygNUbjhAl9aG2ATT49mgfOuvU_3COU2x4h7-M5-MYcX1KQyx8le3QPYmP_exqldXaj_aZxH-wcsu93U/s640/db+ForkBranchWiz006.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>As for attaching the wizards staff I first drilled a 1/8" hole straight through his right hand as seen in the picture above. This is something that needs to be planned before carving the hand which will grasp the staff because the necessary room must be allowed for the addition. I then went on to use a 1/8" piece of dowel rod for the staff then I drilled a small hole into another 'slightly larger' piece of dowel rod and glued them together as seen above.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuc6XQGPcIEMNuS45qngFOZHGjYZlOjN8PSi7mJ_scyX8UM9fDNz9PbtIRX6hmxHb-rjZRvlmh1XzTR-BG97xjIyMf_CASE5yco9UTYS4HECjs9s00RdXyAMh6Z1sQ4FiliilnDLrtRyY/s1600/db+ForkBranchWiz009.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="86" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuc6XQGPcIEMNuS45qngFOZHGjYZlOjN8PSi7mJ_scyX8UM9fDNz9PbtIRX6hmxHb-rjZRvlmh1XzTR-BG97xjIyMf_CASE5yco9UTYS4HECjs9s00RdXyAMh6Z1sQ4FiliilnDLrtRyY/s640/db+ForkBranchWiz009.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>As seen above I then carved a simple woodspirit face into the upper part of the inflated staff which compliments the wizard and makes the carving much more interesting. I glued the staff permanently into the hand and then drilled a super small hole for a small nylon wrist strap dangling from the staff.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggb7I98RaNA8d0FQY9FI6n7jumVtdWxf-Eiy8lOgNS42dTLfnryDKJrG3UjFlFwnMLy26GyVf1piSPThG5eww0ywYCgyQqGa6VM7qyUwJ3F6PLOHZ5xUEyB7gdsikxxHvJ4ryuJVnArWA/s1600/db+ForkBranchWiz010.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="87" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggb7I98RaNA8d0FQY9FI6n7jumVtdWxf-Eiy8lOgNS42dTLfnryDKJrG3UjFlFwnMLy26GyVf1piSPThG5eww0ywYCgyQqGa6VM7qyUwJ3F6PLOHZ5xUEyB7gdsikxxHvJ4ryuJVnArWA/s400/db+ForkBranchWiz010.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
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This has been a super fun carving project and I'm sure that forked-branch carving will continue to have a place in my yearly carving endeavors.<br />
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If you would like to see 28 higher quality pictures of this project from beginning to end then just click <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=5855&id=100001480808277&l=b448a95577" linkindex="88">here</a> for my Facebook album on the 'Wiz'.Dave Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16074715438584429020noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190301782234302233.post-31518228642620873762010-08-26T20:29:00.000-04:002010-08-26T20:29:08.654-04:00My 2010 Chainsaw Black Bear<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMyuD76WK9TFutiCfjPg0aRErg59Wx77sw4rRfm2HEocKbKuZ_am7UiVQpslqaphoZ_l_6ypEn3XTg3sbyagrrRdrXkCm6Dbp8G0ElRjtdfEpV6IoBYkCZuYj_v8Xi_AoBiRfuPNdOlAo/s1600/db+2010blackbear001.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="365" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMyuD76WK9TFutiCfjPg0aRErg59Wx77sw4rRfm2HEocKbKuZ_am7UiVQpslqaphoZ_l_6ypEn3XTg3sbyagrrRdrXkCm6Dbp8G0ElRjtdfEpV6IoBYkCZuYj_v8Xi_AoBiRfuPNdOlAo/s400/db+2010blackbear001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I usually only chainsaw carve one <a href="http://woodtrails.blogspot.com/2009/08/wip-part-1-chainsaw-carved-bear.html" linkindex="366">bear</a> every year as part of our camp fundraiser effort. Here's this years bear that I just completed yesterday that was cut from a yellow pine log measuring about 40" tall and 12" diameter. The 'actual' bear is about 29" tall.<br />
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Like last year's bear I used Rustoleum oil based paint for the main color which I mixed with about 40 percent paint thinner. I love these oil based paints which penetrate the wood like nothing else can. If you'd like to see more of the entire carving process I have uploaded 40 quality pictures <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=3803&id=100001480808277&l=2bfa525310" linkindex="367">here</a> which is a public address that anyone can access.Dave Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16074715438584429020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190301782234302233.post-27619742771361601942010-08-24T21:12:00.004-04:002010-08-26T19:41:15.907-04:00Showcase Of Kids Projects On Facebook Album<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzg2OTzxaaHf-MRzQ5BOt5p8QXTKb7LNpqyt1suan3RqpiFwuPcm4bDUJ-tsDOW1mQU5T7-CmgAG5lfhG45oxxDL3rhCb-JUopuDF26GC0hklxGucH39-PUL52wDhRShQLjTmtXXgKCQ/s1600/db+WoodshopKids001.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="17" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzg2OTzxaaHf-MRzQ5BOt5p8QXTKb7LNpqyt1suan3RqpiFwuPcm4bDUJ-tsDOW1mQU5T7-CmgAG5lfhG45oxxDL3rhCb-JUopuDF26GC0hklxGucH39-PUL52wDhRShQLjTmtXXgKCQ/s400/db+WoodshopKids001.jpg" width="280" /></a></div>I just created a new album on my Facebook page where I'll be posting daily pictures of the kids projects in woodshop class. Just click <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=3307&id=100001480808277&l=fc076ae5ad" linkindex="18">here</a> and you can access the pictures whether you have a Facebook account or not. The pictures are much better quality than I'm posting here so I'll be creating many new albums in the future.<br />
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The picture to the left is also included with the first 6 pictures from today's woodshop class. Dylan has been working on his mouse trap for about 3 woodshop periods and he got the mechanisms adjusted and working today so now the door slams shut when triggered. Now all that he needs to do is come up with a creative finishing for it. He did a great job on making it and had lots of patience.Dave Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16074715438584429020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190301782234302233.post-88164031671027209622010-08-18T21:55:00.000-04:002010-08-18T21:55:52.369-04:00WIP: Forked Branch Carving: Meet "Da Wiz" (Part 1 of 2)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxHjWcgcfH3LEfJrjtFaXLHr9-APJMgj3W3AxYtSfRwoSyeiTLlFwzAVtOOUtNllFBXQK85BSHcQ3yav_xCw6EZkk-w4yLT0JiOalLjbMxMaiVFwxbvfoI4-hLAmeXAiGAVWhWIKsmLi4/s1600/db+ForkBranchWiz001.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="243" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxHjWcgcfH3LEfJrjtFaXLHr9-APJMgj3W3AxYtSfRwoSyeiTLlFwzAVtOOUtNllFBXQK85BSHcQ3yav_xCw6EZkk-w4yLT0JiOalLjbMxMaiVFwxbvfoI4-hLAmeXAiGAVWhWIKsmLi4/s400/db+ForkBranchWiz001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span><span style="background-color: #ffd966;">WIP= "Work in Progress"</span></span></span><br />
Just a few days ago I posted a short series about my experiences with "<a href="http://woodtrails.blogspot.com/2010/08/wip-forked-branch-carving-meet-herbert_11.html" linkindex="244">forked branch carving</a>" and it was so enjoyable I thought that I'd share my most recent endeavors into this unique kind of carving. The best part is that you don't need an expensive piece of basswood to get started. Instead, this kind of carving provides you with the perfect excuse to get out of the house and into the woods to find a good forked branch suitable for your project.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAGMa_yRqrm5x1sE2vSV6C7oAiqlWOgb-6ucJ-j7WTiUaotT3RFX_ewScYsUK_Jox6pWtqts07VJfdZKw0-6jixMWvMQSX7zTijHslygYwt1hlfG5V7k1i8sfrWh0xZfN0b7kRG0fHRrk/s1600/db+ForkBranchWiz003.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="245" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAGMa_yRqrm5x1sE2vSV6C7oAiqlWOgb-6ucJ-j7WTiUaotT3RFX_ewScYsUK_Jox6pWtqts07VJfdZKw0-6jixMWvMQSX7zTijHslygYwt1hlfG5V7k1i8sfrWh0xZfN0b7kRG0fHRrk/s400/db+ForkBranchWiz003.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
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Of course the first thing that you'll need is a forked-branch. As seen in the picture to the left I found a small red maple tree that had fallen in a recent wind storm. I'd been watching it along the trail for several months until the leaves had browned and the wood had become relatively dry. I cut off the portion of the branch that suited me and sat it inside the woodshop for a couple more weeks just to see if it was going to start cracking. Finally I was confident that it would be a good piece of wood for carving.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjnB9q4dnlK6W-XA-vtCZadt9YlNKAxtSLPvaS4_vuSWwSl-YBATNrRYuwvoLivTJ4fcwLCefaJhEmHy-z9MMo_fvxgNzbSAG41gw8XC1U_DDGwJg7_Tjq05ERmPKQzP2L3O4ktv30dM/s1600/db+ForkBranchWiz004.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="246" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjnB9q4dnlK6W-XA-vtCZadt9YlNKAxtSLPvaS4_vuSWwSl-YBATNrRYuwvoLivTJ4fcwLCefaJhEmHy-z9MMo_fvxgNzbSAG41gw8XC1U_DDGwJg7_Tjq05ERmPKQzP2L3O4ktv30dM/s640/db+ForkBranchWiz004.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>As seen above I first prepped the stick using the bandsaw to put a little curve into the top part where I wanted to carve the wizards tall, pointed hat. I then went on to begin shaping the face.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-g4mi_NzX05JzncmdtoFy1oUIThhn1ZQU_FR4A-RRRCxQM35Vh7DkasUrMQ1rTZBu7439v0VRM3HzCi4I_v4hbHOBQnbK8N92ak6TUh7w4ej_fnpWM6RRL8bvVPIaWblEhd_vqrDZZU/s1600/db+ForkBranchWiz005.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="247" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-g4mi_NzX05JzncmdtoFy1oUIThhn1ZQU_FR4A-RRRCxQM35Vh7DkasUrMQ1rTZBu7439v0VRM3HzCi4I_v4hbHOBQnbK8N92ak6TUh7w4ej_fnpWM6RRL8bvVPIaWblEhd_vqrDZZU/s640/db+ForkBranchWiz005.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />
With the face and hat finished I then went on to carve the old mans beard and hands. I found a nice piece of river birch under the table counter that was left over from an earlier lathe project that I used for the base as seen in the picture to the right. I just carved the end of the wizard stick to fit nice and tight into the stand, applied some wood glue, then secured a tight fit.<br />
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Ahhhhh, all done... except for the light sanding and paint job which I'll post soon. I'll also show some pictures about how I carved and attached the little tiny woodspirit walking stick into his right hand.Dave Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16074715438584429020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190301782234302233.post-6562381931318698962010-08-14T12:18:00.000-04:002010-08-14T12:18:46.918-04:00Ilsa: The Wicked She-Witch (Cypress Knee Carving)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFBCptv-KGDUl9u-eJWFCAwi0g8Tq5qMZanM5KwNs0hrJOPtl5LZ2d1iPGc-mQkh1BI37u2ykVDNxSMdcX6kyd3sfpqd_S_KMeHeKJ0bzFHuT7cfJGKZCJTbZ2npEUahKAoq7pjXgM9Aw/s1600/db+CypressWitch001.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="276" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFBCptv-KGDUl9u-eJWFCAwi0g8Tq5qMZanM5KwNs0hrJOPtl5LZ2d1iPGc-mQkh1BI37u2ykVDNxSMdcX6kyd3sfpqd_S_KMeHeKJ0bzFHuT7cfJGKZCJTbZ2npEUahKAoq7pjXgM9Aw/s400/db+CypressWitch001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
It's been a while since I've driven my knives into a cypress knee but lately I've had the urge to pick up a couple of them. The first project "Swamp Man Sam" can be found a couple of postings back <a href="http://woodtrails.blogspot.com/2010/07/meet-swamp-man-sam-cypress-knee-project.html" linkindex="277">here</a>. <br />
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As seen in the pictures to the left you can now meet Ilsa, the wicked she-witch which is from a small 11" tall cypress knee. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Dem7z5Nc0BAP4NGJQLs9fbZ5EpkP68QvKEukZBqR_dw81II0x9PWSHMMxxL7Khx9KCz5gwJ4TQAkRxx2gfA9sCzYX_tREW33bJ0xRJ2C1_zbDEgRQZTKKwFUlSz590V1b52RWPXjEjw/s1600/db+CypressWitch002.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="278" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Dem7z5Nc0BAP4NGJQLs9fbZ5EpkP68QvKEukZBqR_dw81II0x9PWSHMMxxL7Khx9KCz5gwJ4TQAkRxx2gfA9sCzYX_tREW33bJ0xRJ2C1_zbDEgRQZTKKwFUlSz590V1b52RWPXjEjw/s400/db+CypressWitch002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>In the beginning I had no idea that it would become a green faced witch because it started out as a woodspirit face. Not only was it intended to be a woodspirit but this particular cypress knee was given to me a year ago by another carver who thought that he'd messed it up and I tended to agree. He was hoping that I could somehow save it but I didn't have time to work with it at the moment.<br />
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That time finally came last week when I picked it up again. The eye-wells were deeper that I would have preferred and the mouth was offset a bit. From the pictures to the right you can see where I began to enclose the face thus defining some shape into it.<br />
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Yes, it was well on it's way to being a woodspirit face but while having lunch one afternoon with one of my woodshop groups, one particular kid said that he saw the makings of a witch more so than a woodspirit so that caused me to study the shape and lumps of the wood a little closer as I began to agree. I then began transforming the mouth area into an uglier and toothless witch-friendly look and chip by chip the idea took hold. I cut in a lot of wrinkles on the forehead and lower face then completed "Ilsa" with a fine bulging mold on her chin. I then shaped up her tall pointed witch hat by using the natural shape of the cypress knee. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh97kIglHDpKCttNzLPkidSmVxQXNvyROM-Mpj28jFmNbLEsWX8zbmsshphAwk5FWb_hyphenhyphenXHoZuZTW3L5zV8oJukkVgjK14XM2cXzK9XcJYTVq-xYKsuIQ7uamzsgmls7psqnSgAPGP2ODA/s1600/db+CypressWitch003.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="279" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh97kIglHDpKCttNzLPkidSmVxQXNvyROM-Mpj28jFmNbLEsWX8zbmsshphAwk5FWb_hyphenhyphenXHoZuZTW3L5zV8oJukkVgjK14XM2cXzK9XcJYTVq-xYKsuIQ7uamzsgmls7psqnSgAPGP2ODA/s640/db+CypressWitch003.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAqiQzsVOcvDQZiAOOv_x5DW4Fw6EJs-ac82_42yV47c82MejZBzs5BDXB-FAfpjZYAr9dt2dm6xV0oT-kjJrFnRHIGmnF5TiVV5JdXWx5zJQHoKVJpMN4Wowmsx6Sl7z3XiEmtxDSvsE/s1600/db+CypressWitch004.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="280" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAqiQzsVOcvDQZiAOOv_x5DW4Fw6EJs-ac82_42yV47c82MejZBzs5BDXB-FAfpjZYAr9dt2dm6xV0oT-kjJrFnRHIGmnF5TiVV5JdXWx5zJQHoKVJpMN4Wowmsx6Sl7z3XiEmtxDSvsE/s400/db+CypressWitch004.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Ilsa has been another fun woodcarving project. Not only fun but this has been one of those carvings that sort-of found itself. It began with an effort to save another carvers failed attempt, then it was enhanced by one of my students ideas. The lesson here is to never look at any carving as "lost" but instead as an opportunity to see what you can still find in it. Open up you senses, your mind, and ask those around you for ideas. It's amazing what you'll come up with sometimes.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMw2FqPlK1a9ltgPbmOqRfwbAtZXDnTQh6ZnIHuGsUqtxXlhQnAm3PY1e3gbNsC7TNLtbc8jdNmt-rICCZRqDivXlzNivsv03SLZy88e3v3hJKEW5DrXWfv_fyq4RZC7XTwDXiM4AftKo/s1600/db+CypressWitch005.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="281" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMw2FqPlK1a9ltgPbmOqRfwbAtZXDnTQh6ZnIHuGsUqtxXlhQnAm3PY1e3gbNsC7TNLtbc8jdNmt-rICCZRqDivXlzNivsv03SLZy88e3v3hJKEW5DrXWfv_fyq4RZC7XTwDXiM4AftKo/s640/db+CypressWitch005.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Dave Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16074715438584429020noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190301782234302233.post-86565460519993966182010-08-11T19:03:00.000-04:002010-08-11T19:03:23.903-04:00WIP: Forked Branch Carving: Meet "Herbert Sherbert" (Part 2 of 2)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1ISqDQuQSibuSwR99NtnTugzfF9ZyArMtHtXoYXgTts2VMhdNfSae0RRSXMLoEhIkzL23lYIqCeoY64ul4Q67qWYZSmKcxZ64NH56dP1zIoNJ05pRy_tor1GKJ1xLwT0l232-aZZ9hk/s1600/db+StickMan009.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="300" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1ISqDQuQSibuSwR99NtnTugzfF9ZyArMtHtXoYXgTts2VMhdNfSae0RRSXMLoEhIkzL23lYIqCeoY64ul4Q67qWYZSmKcxZ64NH56dP1zIoNJ05pRy_tor1GKJ1xLwT0l232-aZZ9hk/s320/db+StickMan009.jpg" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3FHE9ubw0wosq485T5Pnlz_gYpER_5mZ_WScwahCepK4JO_fFBJnkQQK-erMcRyjHy059peNU6nqVqp2bhJvGQGxUyH1KlF8mmUHakuUZDVedQu6y6E7rWL40Uaw7PL7PcWIAYNjFf4/s1600/db+StickMan010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3FHE9ubw0wosq485T5Pnlz_gYpER_5mZ_WScwahCepK4JO_fFBJnkQQK-erMcRyjHy059peNU6nqVqp2bhJvGQGxUyH1KlF8mmUHakuUZDVedQu6y6E7rWL40Uaw7PL7PcWIAYNjFf4/s320/db+StickMan010.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span><span style="background-color: #ffd966;">WIP= "Work in Progress"</span></span></span><br />
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Herbert is now finished and standing his ground proudly wherever I decide that he will stand. As previously mentioned in <a href="http://woodtrails.blogspot.com/2010/08/wip-forked-branch-carving-meet-herbert.html" linkindex="301">part 1</a> of this carving, it was one of my funnest projects ever. In the past I have dabbled with forked-branch carving but this particular project has taken my curiosity to the next level, which as a carver, has always been an ongoing goal.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQbEGBwRUKvyWoVpYbfgl2VxB27J5KfMNzuJ_VIruGIBvGeHwS939q7tgZ3eAFzLZwDbP0CvYxZXcKkGZDY5fFehjUJZx4fWXMDDuR2wDNKjzGuI3q2RSnLZjoq_Iaol32N5PlQiQa9is/s1600/db+StickMan006.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="302" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQbEGBwRUKvyWoVpYbfgl2VxB27J5KfMNzuJ_VIruGIBvGeHwS939q7tgZ3eAFzLZwDbP0CvYxZXcKkGZDY5fFehjUJZx4fWXMDDuR2wDNKjzGuI3q2RSnLZjoq_Iaol32N5PlQiQa9is/s400/db+StickMan006.jpg" width="400" /></a>Note in the pictures above the "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popeye" linkindex="303">Popeye</a>" forearms of Herbert. That is just one of the wonderful effects that I was able to achieve by using the mortise and tenon joinery. The bulging eyes, nose, and ears also benefited from this method of carving by attaching various parts of the carving with joinery. I thought about adding a ball cap on Herbert's head which would have added additional joinery but decided that I'd rather have all of his bright green hair showing. After all that's why he was named "Herbert Sherbert".<br />
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In the pictures directly above I give you an idea about how I carved the hands for Herbert. I used a small limb of rhododendron, carving one hand on each end of the stick. Keeping the hands on one single long stick made the carving much easier with the natural "handle" then I cut them to size when done. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdEnZdQrxPi05F2XcFHk54S0P5FCqJlIdCw7RxpLiphob0p9YH5BCG62RjZ5Z1i9vhP0x5_Ki8Ewxwn-p0jM7UPthisUz1Smy3S4Y2TX_DlGN70N7yBN9orntfs53KzaucWMRNfrPS58/s1600/db+StickMan007.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="304" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdEnZdQrxPi05F2XcFHk54S0P5FCqJlIdCw7RxpLiphob0p9YH5BCG62RjZ5Z1i9vhP0x5_Ki8Ewxwn-p0jM7UPthisUz1Smy3S4Y2TX_DlGN70N7yBN9orntfs53KzaucWMRNfrPS58/s640/db+StickMan007.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio2Z26nO5Ugjl1iruzyu4Iremehvqux0xvRh-0YZlJMd3xHj8vqewZ4q6mYP_irN-_u9XHiaRh-GUdjbJCbp5xehDOI6K4L9N3EaMrPWYSvCgpPlIWctEajjCdJoHAC4j8F11AaGpaAFw/s1600/db+StickMan008.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="305" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio2Z26nO5Ugjl1iruzyu4Iremehvqux0xvRh-0YZlJMd3xHj8vqewZ4q6mYP_irN-_u9XHiaRh-GUdjbJCbp5xehDOI6K4L9N3EaMrPWYSvCgpPlIWctEajjCdJoHAC4j8F11AaGpaAFw/s400/db+StickMan008.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>Since the body of Herbert didn't come with forked limbs for the legs I had to attach them separately as seen in the picture to the right. Once again I drilled a mortise into his body then a tenon on the "legs" section. I also decided not to apply wood glue to this joint since it fitted so squeaky tight and most of all I discovered a nice surprise. I found that putting the mortise hole close to my lips and blowing air at an angle across the surface I had a very loud whistle. That was just too cool for hiding in a permanent joint so Herbert's legs can now be removed at will to amuse folks with the bonus whistle. Sweet!<br />
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I finished up Herbert with watered down acrylic paints (including an American flag belt buckle) then applied a rub-on polyurethane. Forked branch carving has now become a regular part of my daily carvings and more interesting creations will follow in the days ahead so stay tuned.Dave Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16074715438584429020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190301782234302233.post-52167215752960200862010-08-08T13:30:00.001-04:002010-08-08T13:40:42.518-04:00Bernard Queneau: 98 Year Old Eagle ScoutIt's not every day that you get to meet a man who was working on his Eagle Scout rank way back in 1928 but here's a video that will open up that window for us. Mr. Queneau talks about winning a contest as an Eagle Scout and being selected to travel 7,000 miles across America at a time when there weren't any Interstate Highways. He was part of a 4-boy team leading exhibitions on safety, first-aid, making fire by friction, and other Boy Scout related topics.<br />
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Mr. Queneau later became a Commander in the United States Navy, earned a PHd in engineering, and was in charge of quality control at U.S. Steel Corp. He says that he owes a lot of his success to his early Boy Scouting experiences, especially when it comes to being "truthful" and "working hard" for what you have. Today we live in a much different culture where more and more people depend on anything other than their own hard work to succeed. It's nice to be reminded about some of the values that led America to producing the largest middle class in the history of the world. I sure hope that we can hold on to these indispensable values in an ever-changing world that appears to be headed into the opposite direction.<br />
<object height="505" width="853"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/QghcZZGn_YI&hl=en_US&fs=1?color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QghcZZGn_YI&hl=en_US&fs=1?color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="853" height="505"></embed></object>Dave Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16074715438584429020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190301782234302233.post-30221488265382951442010-08-07T13:04:00.002-04:002010-08-10T20:47:35.414-04:00WIP: Forked Branch Carving: Meet "Herbert Sherbert" (Part 1 of 2)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4vP6fs78m8YLuPkElhCrLQBJDlDCwtG5o0_687QnOinCEJiIKg0h9bS68K8euPPrF7ku8_iaMQ1QPzUQLVNN0PlDitj49wgMld8k_kuKWx9Bn1DXUCYmdhUwer7BPF8Pxo3yUUq5w9uM/s1600/db+StickMan001.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="23" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4vP6fs78m8YLuPkElhCrLQBJDlDCwtG5o0_687QnOinCEJiIKg0h9bS68K8euPPrF7ku8_iaMQ1QPzUQLVNN0PlDitj49wgMld8k_kuKWx9Bn1DXUCYmdhUwer7BPF8Pxo3yUUq5w9uM/s400/db+StickMan001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: #ffd966;">WIP= "Work in Progress"</span></span><br />
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Here's one of the funnest little projects that I've worked on this year and it's been "ongoing" for a full month now. Thank goodness it's almost finished and the picture to the left shows exactly where I am with it right now.<br />
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What is it you ask? Good question because I've completely made it up as I went and this little fellow has evolved into quite the character. For beginners his name is "Herbert Sherbert" because I was looking for something to rhyme with Herbert when one of the kids suggested "Sherbet" and to paint his hair a bright and crazy color. I wanted Herbert to be a bright, happy, and cheerful fellow so that name sounded good to me.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeg9dwc76obJNr3fP4WubSB0kxYAOIvP0uIYOZBqXKNTE_xb5oohoSpf2uiWd8x9hGBbihrD76XJSLhbrrARiFtqn5FamvRKD-8pvrva99jLwhTofRmoVU8Cr3HPbg0Hf_IlxQZrZrL-I/s1600/db+StickMan002.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="24" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeg9dwc76obJNr3fP4WubSB0kxYAOIvP0uIYOZBqXKNTE_xb5oohoSpf2uiWd8x9hGBbihrD76XJSLhbrrARiFtqn5FamvRKD-8pvrva99jLwhTofRmoVU8Cr3HPbg0Hf_IlxQZrZrL-I/s400/db+StickMan002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I began this little mortise & tenon carving project by first cutting a nice three-prong rhododendron branch that was well seasoned. As seen in the pictures to the right those two outer branches looked like outstretched arms to me and that's all that my mind needed to get going. The center branch was a bit too narrow to make a good head so I decided to strip the outer bark away then made the stem perfectly round. I was thinking that I could use it as a tenon to hold an enlarged head securely in place.<br />
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As the pictures just below show, I then used a 1" diameter maple branch for the head by first drilling a 3/8" mortise which would tightly fit my tenon. With a little wood glue I then placed it onto the body for a snug fit.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiapJG35YHkD9EFkJTe_MGNoAPYeW1xU-a1SIG-08_QIE7mgmlAYLjzqlCRPng_O2UuRWnS5SwtSV2kRZ9cwEX-k2d_XFMVZD8IV3ExAKFEgQlUhOVg8zDY84L29FSh2C-5ZmFZPJJ0nXM/s1600/db+StickMan003.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="25" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiapJG35YHkD9EFkJTe_MGNoAPYeW1xU-a1SIG-08_QIE7mgmlAYLjzqlCRPng_O2UuRWnS5SwtSV2kRZ9cwEX-k2d_XFMVZD8IV3ExAKFEgQlUhOVg8zDY84L29FSh2C-5ZmFZPJJ0nXM/s640/db+StickMan003.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrkZd8rnOoQWyQsjk_HmomNZUptxvyggX29QwP_GfRI70cK5MuPEyheQoqjS8ll_FR70xWg7Y29fjtawECv-ElNfQKIgtmEp34EduYPETsxeyxFXUcB7uTNCOPnR3uBRDs_uRJYYCL8J0/s1600/db+StickMan004.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="26" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrkZd8rnOoQWyQsjk_HmomNZUptxvyggX29QwP_GfRI70cK5MuPEyheQoqjS8ll_FR70xWg7Y29fjtawECv-ElNfQKIgtmEp34EduYPETsxeyxFXUcB7uTNCOPnR3uBRDs_uRJYYCL8J0/s320/db+StickMan004.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeg871u_t6Z-TmpIMrGuQAwo085a5cLc_OT09pVCIWHpcWcYYNqjj3WK-MNGmwRqgXJbcVEpwYx4yC7WVbv3CsVhihGrNqUj-xX7uteiKhAkLKWgv7NHxXjYvbYBKcE8lYJXTXtDWxqKM/s1600/db+StickMan005.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="27" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeg871u_t6Z-TmpIMrGuQAwo085a5cLc_OT09pVCIWHpcWcYYNqjj3WK-MNGmwRqgXJbcVEpwYx4yC7WVbv3CsVhihGrNqUj-xX7uteiKhAkLKWgv7NHxXjYvbYBKcE8lYJXTXtDWxqKM/s320/db+StickMan005.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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After the head was securely attached I then went on to drill the holes for the eyes, nose, and ears. I'll post the remaining photos and the finished "Herbert Sherbert" just as soon as I can finish him.Dave Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16074715438584429020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190301782234302233.post-46611260247726109652010-08-04T21:56:00.001-04:002010-08-04T21:57:16.449-04:00WIP: Indian From Core Of Red Cedar (part 2 of 2)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjJ9XWhhITpLd2pnv_CyHvwrv1DTfSV0Qwt6-0g2O9Y63NLKS_Wi_OtlZCjOXe4ijaWamrKoDhrIsI_dVqZ1EU0Yzd-ioIeRANTXbSW3LiKR6VJ48LmE92ImdMnoNYfBS08cwqG0IW-Wg/s1600/db+CedarIndian007.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="23" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjJ9XWhhITpLd2pnv_CyHvwrv1DTfSV0Qwt6-0g2O9Y63NLKS_Wi_OtlZCjOXe4ijaWamrKoDhrIsI_dVqZ1EU0Yzd-ioIeRANTXbSW3LiKR6VJ48LmE92ImdMnoNYfBS08cwqG0IW-Wg/s400/db+CedarIndian007.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">WIP="Work in Progress"</span></b></span><br />
A few weeks ago I began carving an Indian warrior inside a very nice piece of eastern red cedar where part one can be found <a href="http://woodtrails.blogspot.com/2010/07/indian-from-core-of-red-cedar-part-1-of.html" linkindex="24">here</a>. I carried it around everywhere I went for several days and continued carving on it whenever I could.<br />
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As you can see from the picture to the right as it sits on the steps of my house this warrior is now finished. Standing 9" tall with a 2" diameter it isn't too overwhelming and will draw just the right amount of attention from its place on the showcase shelf where it will remain, unless... someone pulls out a hundred dollar bill. (Ha) Don't laugh too hard because that's exactly what happened about ten years ago when I finished a very similarly carved Indian in a piece of red cedar. I told the kind lady that it wasn't for sale because I really liked it and wanted to hang on to it. She then proceeded to pull out a one hundred dollar bill when I then told her that I could "learn" to live without it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cwVnoIxxrOVey8MWtobF8llgw64IJznJbAHUrJp68-R1TbvMsYCBxM0bh_ERylxX4RqGj8-C-HNNvT3dGCJ0_8_3v9KkAbsNeRlrszvTKF15eSltd-FWC14j_sNdyHnGoOs9-g2Zpgs/s1600/db+CedarIndian006.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="25" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cwVnoIxxrOVey8MWtobF8llgw64IJznJbAHUrJp68-R1TbvMsYCBxM0bh_ERylxX4RqGj8-C-HNNvT3dGCJ0_8_3v9KkAbsNeRlrszvTKF15eSltd-FWC14j_sNdyHnGoOs9-g2Zpgs/s400/db+CedarIndian006.jpg" width="342" /></a></div><br />
The carving went very well as red cedar is mostly a pleasure to carve. I used my Flexcut Carvin' Jack the most but I resorted to my macro tools for some of the finer detailing and hard to reach areas.<br />
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When the Indian was finished I then decided to add a Thunderbird just above his head as seen in the pictures to the left. This was a simple and very shallow low-relief carving because I wanted only the creamy white "surface" wood to show. I then went on to burn in some outlining of the design then added some very watered down acrylic paints for a touch of color.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxaQsNuIO6pDil5kGSpSdkEJic2vGNo9VamD-W2ziRjC40cO9klGGImdXF5A2yKjbnr4BfqVj9vBBxVhfSShgHnA4b78pUbAkC-P2OHMlcELD9SBvT13U7P3oDXM6dweE_RdQkve2yps/s1600/db+CedarIndian005.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="26" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxaQsNuIO6pDil5kGSpSdkEJic2vGNo9VamD-W2ziRjC40cO9klGGImdXF5A2yKjbnr4BfqVj9vBBxVhfSShgHnA4b78pUbAkC-P2OHMlcELD9SBvT13U7P3oDXM6dweE_RdQkve2yps/s640/db+CedarIndian005.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYjr814SOCXSzW4N3Xwf4rXru5dm-SnoRc7QYXLq_U6e1J3MAv18YLr2IFsmh7-qYmtaomLJI5vR8LBSe8_Sb_AV5IGTk1XWzRO5TNT9dT999UUOh5IKM7Sec_12r99S1Dmxx2HpVl1ls/s1600/db+CedarIndian004.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="27" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="357" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYjr814SOCXSzW4N3Xwf4rXru5dm-SnoRc7QYXLq_U6e1J3MAv18YLr2IFsmh7-qYmtaomLJI5vR8LBSe8_Sb_AV5IGTk1XWzRO5TNT9dT999UUOh5IKM7Sec_12r99S1Dmxx2HpVl1ls/s400/db+CedarIndian004.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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The final finish consisted of a light sanding then a couple coats of gloss polyurethane. Only the face of the Indian, the Thunderbird, and the very top of the wood received the high gloss. I only hand rubbed a dull polyurethane finish into the surrounding wood for a "complete" seal and a nice contrast. <br />
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This one's not for sale at any price!<br />
Well.......maybe I'll think about it if some kind soul just happens to pull out a hundred dollar bill. :)Dave Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16074715438584429020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190301782234302233.post-77583275351015554972010-08-02T18:05:00.002-04:002010-08-02T20:27:16.758-04:00Learning To Carve: My Story<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bjornb/5898373/" id="aptureLink_5bRx4ojtSA" linkindex="20" style="float: left; padding: 0px 6px;"><img height="300" src="http://static.flickr.com/5/5898373_eae6787e94.jpg" style="border: 0px none;" title="carving" width="400" /></a> Learning to carve takes me back several decades when I was in elementary school. Remember those kid's in 4th, 5th, and 6th grade who were "revered" for their ability to draw great pictures during art class? Besides producing great pictures they always got special recognition from the teacher and everyone in the class. Even more than producing great art I believe that I envied their positive attention which became a motivator. Kids are no different today where positive attention for excellent work is a very strong motivation to succeed.<br />
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I noticed that the kid's (usually only one in the class) who produced that great art were the one's who were always drawing. I'm talking all the time. One kid named Dan Roper especially comes to mind. They had the best decorated 3-ring binder notebooks, they doodled during class... they were always drawing on request for everyone and it seemed like the pencil was glued to their hand at every opportune moment.<br />
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I believe that this early experience taught me that the only way to get better at something was to<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samcatchesides/3285289559/" id="aptureLink_tHmWt9KmhP" linkindex="21" style="float: right; padding: 0px 6px;"><img height="266" src="http://static.flickr.com/3292/3285289559_b56788e94c.jpg" style="border: 0px none;" title="Carved Wood 2" width="400" /></a> do it all the time. To get better I know that I have to carve something every single day. That's the reason I wear pants with cargo pockets so that I can have a small project with me 24/7... OK, I do take my pants off for bedtime, but they're only 3 feet away at any given moment. My Carvin' Jack (by FlexCut) is also always on my belt loop so I’m always on “go”.<br />
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Back in the early 1990's I wanted to stretch my ability to the next level so I became obsessed with learning to carve face's... mainly woodspirit faces. I literally studied the people around me with a laser beam focus (and I continue to do so today). Whenever I'm talking to someone my brain is also absorbing a lot of information about how their nose is shaped and its relation to their eyes and forehead, the unique form in their lips, their eyes in relation to their nose, etc. I am truly obsessed with learning and EVERYONE is my teacher. I've actually become pretty good at carrying on a conversation while simultaneously absorbing a lot of facial structural information then tucking it away somewhere in my brain for future reference. That's really how I've gotten better at what I do because there's a lot more to it than just reading how-to carving books. You must engage your brain in real life.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/anniemole/2462967915/" id="aptureLink_p9an6pSldh" linkindex="22" style="float: left; padding: 0px 6px;"><img height="377" src="http://static.flickr.com/3009/2462967915_5b744c230e.jpg" style="border: 0px none;" title="Green Man Wood Carving at Kew Gardens" width="400" /></a>As for woodspirit walking sticks, I recall having to carve over 30 of them before I was finally satisfied with trying to sell them. They weren't bad sticks and I loved them but I still needed to improve. I gave them all away and remember jokingly telling the happy recipient that it was only a "B" stick. But the day came when I was finally satisfied and knew that I deserved to be financially compensated. I continue to refine my own unique brand of carving but I never want to feel like I have "arrived". I continue to be obsessed with learning more and being obsessed has a lot to do with it for me.<br />
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When I successfully hiked 2,565 miles in 2001, Mexico to Canada, on the <a href="http://www.pcta.org/" linkindex="23">Pacific Crest Trail</a> I became obsessed with ultra-light camping methods and pack weight reduction. The base weight of my pack was only 9.2 pounds and that's the main reason that I made it all the way in only 109 days. Same goes for learning to carve because you WILL learn how to carve if you become obsessed with learning how and never quit looking for your own answers. If you want something bad enough then you WILL find a way to get there. Several decades ago I wanted to be a good wood carver more than anything so I kept at it almost every single day for years.<br />
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Looking back to those early experiences in elementary school I know that I learned a lot about how to obsess myself with learning something new. Then I was motivated by all the positive recognition from teacher's and peer's, but today I am doubly rewarded with extra dollars in sales and even my career has been centered around teaching kid's to carve and work with wood every day in woodshop and Scouting classes.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mariarogal/4800391179/" id="aptureLink_ALSVyDbkZQ" linkindex="24" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; padding: 0px 6px;"><img height="300" src="http://static.flickr.com/4134/4800391179_98fd7ee905.jpg" style="border: 0px none;" title="carrying leña, wood carving detail" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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So how long did it take me to get what I consider good? All in all I'd have to say that it's been a lifetime experience and that I've always found ways to push myself from one level to the next... AND I always carve something, no matter how simple, every single day! If you do that then you will greatly improve your ability to carve great things tenfold.Dave Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16074715438584429020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190301782234302233.post-82152118581001917962010-07-31T13:41:00.002-04:002010-07-31T15:53:33.857-04:00Hands-On Pictures Of Rural America from 1939-1943<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Fd6z3DmOOcG7i3_jHypgIYXpsHGA0uhIjQvjT-PFEAg6dmuS7ZD4y2uMTGTMz9NrGJdZPfW8YnuIOHLnwRE4dHfsGBVQtlADaEqcL1addfmhTA29UbSG5Atxef7K8nBy8qoLnnWMlhs/s1600/color029.sJPG_950_2000_0_75_0_50_50.sJPG.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="21" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Fd6z3DmOOcG7i3_jHypgIYXpsHGA0uhIjQvjT-PFEAg6dmuS7ZD4y2uMTGTMz9NrGJdZPfW8YnuIOHLnwRE4dHfsGBVQtlADaEqcL1addfmhTA29UbSG5Atxef7K8nBy8qoLnnWMlhs/s400/color029.sJPG_950_2000_0_75_0_50_50.sJPG.jpg" width="400" /></a> I just came across an amazing collection of color photography from an era in American history when life was tougher, but in a lot of ways life was much better than today:<br />
<a href="http://blogs.denverpost.com/captured/2010/07/26/captured-america-in-color-from-1939-1943/2363/" linkindex="22">Captured: America in Color from 1939-1943 – Plog Photo Blog</a><br />
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The pictures found at the link above are special because they are some of the only color photographs taken of the effects of the Depression on America’s rural and small town populations. I didn't even realize that color photography was around during this period in time but after a little research I was amazed to discover that the first color photograph was taken in 1861. Apparently it never took off on a massive scale since the color process was not as "convenient" as our digital photography today and certainly not as affordable. Thank goodness that someone was able to capture at least a few glimpses into the past that help us understand a time gone by.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQMAngt-8Em1Wd5fgI5UyUCiagq7DT9fV0WwO8F-ZAktpKQBPEVAMckvlJ0cjjzBsHbnWW9_TpUaOHp_jiYslNw0LxmqcxPpe1D7zZupk_XntBQSH-VWVmwK2U4eXcv4ok3bZebvI6Ko/s1600/color042.sJPG_950_2000_0_75_0_50_50.sJPG.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="23" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQMAngt-8Em1Wd5fgI5UyUCiagq7DT9fV0WwO8F-ZAktpKQBPEVAMckvlJ0cjjzBsHbnWW9_TpUaOHp_jiYslNw0LxmqcxPpe1D7zZupk_XntBQSH-VWVmwK2U4eXcv4ok3bZebvI6Ko/s400/color042.sJPG_950_2000_0_75_0_50_50.sJPG.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodachrome" linkindex="24">Kodachrome</a> color transparencies first came onto the scene during the mid 1930's from which most of these pictures were taken. Kodachrome offered the most highly developed process for recording our world for about 74 years but unfortunately it has not been produced since 2009 with the advent of the digital age taking hold. Kodachrome 64 was my choice for recording the events in my own life for over 27 of those years and I still have thousands of these quality color transparencies today. Digital is hard to beat these days in both value and quality so a great warrior known as Kodachrome is now gone. Kodachrome was the "digital" quality of the day and viewing these pictures can easily fool your eye into believing that they are digital... they are that clear.<br />
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Of course my favorite pictures from this rare and magnificent collection are those where the kids are making things with their hands. I have posted two lower quality prints here from that collection but you need to see them at the link provided for their full glory and vivid detail. The first picture posted above (on top) is number 29 in the collection and shows a boy building a model airplane as a girl watches in Robstown, Texas, January 1942. The other picture just above is number 42 which shows children aiming sticks as guns, lined up against a brick building. Washington, D.C.(?), between 1941 and 1942.<br />
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Pictures from my own family's past have been know to capture my attention for many hours at a time as I scan every detail. I especially enjoy studying the pictures of my own great-grandparents as they were during a time that I never knew, but sadly there aren't many of them. Every detail of that person and their surroundings seems to release a new clue to understanding my own past every time that I zoom into their hidden stories. All of these pictures are "black & white" which have their own charm but to see a quality color picture shows us the world more "as it was" and that's what makes the pictures in this rare 1939-1943 collection so special.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhESpX6OUu1IosPSkf281vP4o_R4smXkrXF4l1YqlllcENbDpXx2kBa2hSBwlN-nSWNhTn4Bsyz2UdhH0Yl2EF1jaZ4KidsmFH3CDuIgoC0171eBN7dJbv4hYM08LKjCC-AZl-0v3Skvno/s1600/db+snake3.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="25" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhESpX6OUu1IosPSkf281vP4o_R4smXkrXF4l1YqlllcENbDpXx2kBa2hSBwlN-nSWNhTn4Bsyz2UdhH0Yl2EF1jaZ4KidsmFH3CDuIgoC0171eBN7dJbv4hYM08LKjCC-AZl-0v3Skvno/s400/db+snake3.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
The b&w picture to the left (still no color) shows my two best friends, Scott and Van, (me in the center/9 years old) stretching out a snake for the camera. I like this picture because even in the mid-1960's when this picture was taken, most of the kids spent their days outdoors and/or in the woods and we were barefooted 99% of the time (as in the picture) during our 3-month summer vacation between grades. We'd never heard of "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Jordans" linkindex="26">Air Jordans</a>" and would have laughed at the prospect of our parents foolishly forking over $200 for a pair of shoes when we had our own feet to use. In the background can be seen laundry hanging out to dry in the sun... folks don't have time for that today because our societal priorities have been rearranged. Seems most parents now believe that it's more important for their kids to have Air Jordans on their feet while they play their video games indoors than it is to have a parent home hanging out the laundry. <br />
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All of the pictures in this collection are striking and I was amazed at how lean and tough that these people looked. Obviously they were from an era where more people lived on farms, grew or raised their own food, and had neighbors that they depended upon for their very survival. Notice that so many of the children were barefooted in the pictures and I bet they didn't feel the least bit deprived without a $200 pair of designer shoes. This was a time of mostly no running water, one room school houses, and no free meals at school. This was a proud, tough America where people provided for their own. Yes they were poor but most children from that era today would tell you that they never knew they were poor. It was a time where nearly every kid, both black and white, came home every day to a mother and a father and that has become the exception in today's world. As one commenter so perfectly said, "It was a Real America. Not a hypocrisy, as now."<br />
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It's great to know (and to see in living detailed color) that kids were busy using their hands to make things so many years ago. Technology is a great thing but I often wonder where you could find a group of kids like in the second picture above out playing with their sticks and play guns today? Some folks say that there is more "hope" to be found in the future but the future means nothing if we forget the past.Dave Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16074715438584429020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190301782234302233.post-44065782764456863332010-07-30T21:41:00.000-04:002010-07-30T21:41:13.709-04:00And Even More "Hillbilly Pencils"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPiDuRk6CJxWkw5yxbNDoe2n1c1gHDYilBYJn5tYUhAdQEjV722DsLvxoGgD1YaiYBspTJGLhfbuxqQ2RdTQt9omxhIzNRWKQwjp8Udh8bEPn6DcFqgy938ajxDZnOOltBFTxHDz-70jE/s1600/db+HillbillyPencil005.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="149" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPiDuRk6CJxWkw5yxbNDoe2n1c1gHDYilBYJn5tYUhAdQEjV722DsLvxoGgD1YaiYBspTJGLhfbuxqQ2RdTQt9omxhIzNRWKQwjp8Udh8bEPn6DcFqgy938ajxDZnOOltBFTxHDz-70jE/s400/db+HillbillyPencil005.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Sometimes I just can't too much of a good thing and this is one of those moments when it comes to carving hillbilly pencils. Several days ago I posted all the details of how I make them<a href="http://woodtrails.blogspot.com/2010/07/easy-to-carve-hillbilly-pencils.html" linkindex="150"> here</a>, but since then I've pumped out a few more that I thought I'd share.<br />
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From left to right in the picture to the right is what I consider to be a worm going into the wood on one side then coming out on the other side. Although it's hard to see in the picture I did wood burn a tiny face on him. The next one is the lips and tongue design for the Rolling Stones. That one has become quite popular since it's so bizarre. Oh, and there's that darn roadrunner again. Lastly is a little wizard man with his tall blue hat with a red ball on top.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixDnnC55WZbnG1KEKtj3H3H8E-Lx_MatjyuHG4TAmcCApeSl2W8Z80NixUeOVxyAo8T1Eoefo-sbvjK57cTf_wh34XC8sNRd_7yAphYoxP2jggPqlJdyofG6Kzuqgdrnlu0Z-FhQpKNko/s1600/db+HillbillyPencil006.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="151" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixDnnC55WZbnG1KEKtj3H3H8E-Lx_MatjyuHG4TAmcCApeSl2W8Z80NixUeOVxyAo8T1Eoefo-sbvjK57cTf_wh34XC8sNRd_7yAphYoxP2jggPqlJdyofG6Kzuqgdrnlu0Z-FhQpKNko/s400/db+HillbillyPencil006.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
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In the picture to the left are a few of the unpainted pencils from above AND a few more that I'm still working on. One is a rooster and another one is my version of a coo-coo bird.<br />
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These easy little pencil carving projects make great gifts or collectibles. Right now I'm already thinking about making a simple display stand to show them off. Perhaps a foot long piece of 2 X 2 would work just fine but I'll probably go with using a straight piece of seasoned tree branch with the bottom planed flat. The natural design would go much better with this rustic wood-themed carving project.Dave Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16074715438584429020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190301782234302233.post-88277933654919576542010-07-27T17:15:00.000-04:002010-07-27T17:15:55.519-04:00Meet "Swamp Man Sam" (A Cypress Knee Project)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2n5lshaYHDD53oSuUro5fiNZh62H9h62Jpj8HT7-Zqdp_wd1O6kketkCjwm0Q5wSNnXIwuQIvy9sGk_JZBv9MBDLEypVsE_Emr75JUUMf5nrNASZ0gVJkL2Ws2tl5H4s68Wrk__U4kc/s1600/db+CypressSam001.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="211" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2n5lshaYHDD53oSuUro5fiNZh62H9h62Jpj8HT7-Zqdp_wd1O6kketkCjwm0Q5wSNnXIwuQIvy9sGk_JZBv9MBDLEypVsE_Emr75JUUMf5nrNASZ0gVJkL2Ws2tl5H4s68Wrk__U4kc/s400/db+CypressSam001.jpg" width="253" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDiT6ZHPpRP7wKd6AVWnS1wYeTv99FZU9OH-0F75h_wMGsuXoqnQZd1cR5d7syMNMMf75D8Ieb2dMk09viZpaBoMquuJJmjDSa8S7bk9Odk33GrkBTc0L7ypdaHGjxKsVD3lk4ZfK-ivk/s1600/db+CypressSam004.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="212" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDiT6ZHPpRP7wKd6AVWnS1wYeTv99FZU9OH-0F75h_wMGsuXoqnQZd1cR5d7syMNMMf75D8Ieb2dMk09viZpaBoMquuJJmjDSa8S7bk9Odk33GrkBTc0L7ypdaHGjxKsVD3lk4ZfK-ivk/s320/db+CypressSam004.jpg" width="212" /></a>Here's a neat little cypress knee that I picked up last week then finished painting it this weekend. It's about 10" tall and these smaller knees are the ones that I like best for carving. It's a convenient size for tucking inside a cargo pocket then pulling it out whenever a moment to carve can be found. Like this one, cypress knees bring birth to some of my most hilarious carvings because you have to go with the wood which is quite a difference from your average "squared" basswood block.<br />
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If you look closely there is a little story being told by the carving. Ole Swamp Sam down below has got his swishy tongue ready and his beady eyes fixed on the little purple dotted lizard that is perched just above. It's quite a comical piece which has already brought many smiles. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglQ25Ma5Hs9dR6EGXwzRaem1IKVuc0oXnL_XE57L-v-_EL0tiwYYJBB3BW4Y-NsFj9haBjDeI-TwwCuQLbrYDHDbeshYwDNpDoatfCNC7Y5vM5P9AJdvOwbmBTVxsJxMSKPpUENeOH0IA/s1600/db+CypressSam002.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="213" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglQ25Ma5Hs9dR6EGXwzRaem1IKVuc0oXnL_XE57L-v-_EL0tiwYYJBB3BW4Y-NsFj9haBjDeI-TwwCuQLbrYDHDbeshYwDNpDoatfCNC7Y5vM5P9AJdvOwbmBTVxsJxMSKPpUENeOH0IA/s640/db+CypressSam002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Be8FGRIE329P7KfLEuY_xTCQufku9SxM4GEvhtnnctYJIzQpZD1A8JEzJvoylpRvr2tbVK7XuWZVaHuCFkVJ37260r-8EVBUR4mUq-lFKYbx1blHRsy3uAklQhg9OompNc_-AsvQdJ8/s1600/db+CypressSam003.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="214" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Be8FGRIE329P7KfLEuY_xTCQufku9SxM4GEvhtnnctYJIzQpZD1A8JEzJvoylpRvr2tbVK7XuWZVaHuCFkVJ37260r-8EVBUR4mUq-lFKYbx1blHRsy3uAklQhg9OompNc_-AsvQdJ8/s640/db+CypressSam003.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>As you can see from the pictures above I first tried to take advantage of the knots, bumps, and free-form twists found naturally in the cypress knee. There was nothing planned out with this carving in the beginning and I just let the wood gradually find it's own story. I first began with the mouth where I made use of one "bump" of wood for shaping the tip of the tongue. After adding teeth and lips I then moved up the wood using a twisted section for its funky nose and then of course, those beady eyes. With a bit more thought I got the idea for the lizard and then the complete story came full-circle.<br />
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This was a fun carving project and if you haven't yet discovered the joys of carving cypress knees then you're in for a treat.Dave Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16074715438584429020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190301782234302233.post-25516589318227640872010-07-24T10:16:00.001-04:002010-07-24T10:50:12.727-04:00WIP: Indian From Core Of Red Cedar (part 1 of 2)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpMmwhogmF9lH6tn7Up0GtmBjq03A6mRh1qLwM64KFWEUAxZc5JEICdhsrR4mkG0vuh_7eEdYqQmgNFzvgHkbkEoAfsE2FalCWu62nYDswkUscqEHsaC2CWb2kgMkhoq3vp1fcJ-Nh1s/s1600/db+CedarIndian001.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="21" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpMmwhogmF9lH6tn7Up0GtmBjq03A6mRh1qLwM64KFWEUAxZc5JEICdhsrR4mkG0vuh_7eEdYqQmgNFzvgHkbkEoAfsE2FalCWu62nYDswkUscqEHsaC2CWb2kgMkhoq3vp1fcJ-Nh1s/s400/db+CedarIndian001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b><span style="color: #990000;"> WIP="Work in Progress"</span></b></span><br />
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_red_cedar" linkindex="22">Eastern red cedar</a> has always been one of my favorite "found" woods for carving. Because of it's sharp contrast in colors between red and white, this is a very appealing wood for making everything from simple carved nameplates to making a jewelry chest. When I was a counselor the kids in my group valued its carving properties so much that they created their own monetary system using the wood as a valued trading item. Needless to say that we had to put a stop to that but it goes to show that eastern red cedar has always been a valued wood for carving.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMupZ2-63-UtiudCH066RQ0nSqlookJ61gYc7yrMe-VnexvqQLuJVqsCsWaUPB-DF0nmj8fuIMnW4udsrbv4sSUT5Z35B8khSEW_XExUkG6ASGJRjkZ7E75dFpp0LT7A-X9DiufUBY8HE/s1600/db+CedarIndian002.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="23" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMupZ2-63-UtiudCH066RQ0nSqlookJ61gYc7yrMe-VnexvqQLuJVqsCsWaUPB-DF0nmj8fuIMnW4udsrbv4sSUT5Z35B8khSEW_XExUkG6ASGJRjkZ7E75dFpp0LT7A-X9DiufUBY8HE/s400/db+CedarIndian002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I just recently re-found the piece of wood used for this project from where it had remained hidden for many years under a woodshop table. During a cleaning mission it was a great find so I decided that I'd put an Indian into it. Looking at the first pictures above you can see what a fantastic center of core red wood that this cedar had... just at the right proportion to white surface wood to make it ideal for an Indian warrior carving. This carving will only require a clear finish when completed because painting it would bring ruin.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXrRRkJbeKPoJ7LPO4pKnamjZieAhF-Wm0UVihrplr1nFIKTpuRUhyhD7OwtL8MpS9DtZWGgHXg1xYYzi4juXsiNHepE4UHQWaCxPWNtrZP3A7XGELFUC6KAXziqDKzK_-yauMQlk7JZ8/s1600/db+CedarIndian003.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="24" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXrRRkJbeKPoJ7LPO4pKnamjZieAhF-Wm0UVihrplr1nFIKTpuRUhyhD7OwtL8MpS9DtZWGgHXg1xYYzi4juXsiNHepE4UHQWaCxPWNtrZP3A7XGELFUC6KAXziqDKzK_-yauMQlk7JZ8/s400/db+CedarIndian003.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
For the most part I am very pleased with the results so far. With the Indian finished I then decided to add some supplemental surface carvings around the main carving and the Thunderbird is the first. I was careful not to go too deep because I will later lightly add some hints of color to this one and I only wanted the upper layer of white wood to show. Not sure what I'll do next but I'll let you know when I get there.Dave Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16074715438584429020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190301782234302233.post-67757716137877227402010-07-20T19:32:00.002-04:002010-07-20T19:43:17.005-04:00Woodspirit in Black Locust<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-PRzmFeM3V2XKZP3cvM7AAKIiQJC5j4kkvA6FcbnbpERByQQ4XCkQnNK3dNUrJwXCjoNt5C6Y6LPm-nIqirikz6MQuy7ERIumaqcZxiu2TEgJ9BSCCUDctIS3KYh6WWLAVXF0D7kSdzA/s1600/db+locustSpirit001.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="213" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-PRzmFeM3V2XKZP3cvM7AAKIiQJC5j4kkvA6FcbnbpERByQQ4XCkQnNK3dNUrJwXCjoNt5C6Y6LPm-nIqirikz6MQuy7ERIumaqcZxiu2TEgJ9BSCCUDctIS3KYh6WWLAVXF0D7kSdzA/s400/db+locustSpirit001.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
During the last couple of days I've had the opportunity to teach a quick woodcarving class on woodspirits. The complete carving took us just a bit over an hour yesterday afternoon then today we put the final stain and finish on it.<br />
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I had about 5 students help me with this project and they were fired up and proud to be helping. As you can see in the picture to the right they chose a barkless slit about 2' long and 5" wide in a black locust tree. At first I cringed in serious doubt because locust is one of the hardest woods around our parts and only hickory is probably harder. My head immediately had visions of broken carving knife blades that could cost me as much as $75 each to replace. It's happened to me before so I approached this tree with caution.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xmjlapqHRUEqw5p3MdaAyAJfQEb5IsCtStLw4-IY2KRDDw5exPx46rnSn2WhCfAaDA3obLrNowZbqElTMQankpqSaad9gJm7UhEfjXDub2Rn13UbK4toI21HWvQGIHKkywC1Buqt6OQ/s1600/db+locustSpirit002.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="214" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xmjlapqHRUEqw5p3MdaAyAJfQEb5IsCtStLw4-IY2KRDDw5exPx46rnSn2WhCfAaDA3obLrNowZbqElTMQankpqSaad9gJm7UhEfjXDub2Rn13UbK4toI21HWvQGIHKkywC1Buqt6OQ/s400/db+locustSpirit002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>As everyone watched in anticipation I made the first few cuts outlining the nose and eye-wells with my v-parting tool. I was very careful and made my cuts very shallow until I could get a feel for this particular tree. As you see by the red circles in the pictures to the left a multitude of creepy crawlers, ants, and bugs were in full military patrol with all the hammering going on upon their tree.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKpKfgzrlARUt0NAh_qlfs6Bic9ZHZtJdktSP43uEqMk0vnLPMNVJ5m7lDKVMjR0GH7yDl2LGmreYUqFQhvbykRKGiiDPylJE3NmbhWYSvIycOH_v94xW8yNr2Vo1ETiT-7p2UF4OfxlY/s1600/db+locustSpirit003.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="215" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKpKfgzrlARUt0NAh_qlfs6Bic9ZHZtJdktSP43uEqMk0vnLPMNVJ5m7lDKVMjR0GH7yDl2LGmreYUqFQhvbykRKGiiDPylJE3NmbhWYSvIycOH_v94xW8yNr2Vo1ETiT-7p2UF4OfxlY/s400/db+locustSpirit003.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJrVfdzDRaBojA_0DHUxskq_sbNehjCct0lZV6-tAdGb1hxDffY2k1ANFLLsCP_Zsfe0lGYHz9twnrOb6cZeoje3hzp5Zfntq05Yaif0xAy73-ZukOsl-ZjNRbZIbfsQ8zbM-rUqz5P8/s1600/db+locustSpirit004.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="216" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJrVfdzDRaBojA_0DHUxskq_sbNehjCct0lZV6-tAdGb1hxDffY2k1ANFLLsCP_Zsfe0lGYHz9twnrOb6cZeoje3hzp5Zfntq05Yaif0xAy73-ZukOsl-ZjNRbZIbfsQ8zbM-rUqz5P8/s640/db+locustSpirit004.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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The carving went better than expected and with small calculated cuts I decided that the locust was doable. As several of the surrounding pictures indicate, I allowed the kids an opportunity to do some of the carving with specific instructions as they enjoyed making the cuts. Carving the beard is not too difficult and a good place for kids to get a feel for the carving. Basically they just tapped the large v-parting tool with the wooden mallet trying to keep a smooth flow of the cuts with no crisscrossing.They did an amazingly good job!<br />
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With the carving finished we all initiated the new woodspirit as an official member of the group with a pinky kiss. One by one, we each kissed the tip of our little finger then quickly gave the spirit a fast tapping. It was now there to serve, please, and protect us from all that roamed the wooded forest around us.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYSc3xsu0d2nXDlYpBdTw6-JfaxEFwl78Ki2oVySrMUU3V0sG3Btid57i9PGKuQjkdQzIEX2ItsAfEBQ7osD7m8nBVYQNsgIjPh4E9TnH1uPl4HsnAEo8ZeyOyQpaws1paoeN_w4mBbto/s1600/db+locustSpirit005.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="217" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYSc3xsu0d2nXDlYpBdTw6-JfaxEFwl78Ki2oVySrMUU3V0sG3Btid57i9PGKuQjkdQzIEX2ItsAfEBQ7osD7m8nBVYQNsgIjPh4E9TnH1uPl4HsnAEo8ZeyOyQpaws1paoeN_w4mBbto/s400/db+locustSpirit005.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The boy seen in the picture to the right was one of my most loyal students and he volunteered to haul the gallon can of finishing stain about a half mile to the carving so I allowed him the high honor of applying the final finish. After this "honey-brown" stain was on he couldn't hardly keep his eyes off the new woodspirit and like the others, he would repeatedly walk past it in admiration. These students did a great job and couldn't be prouder of the new woodspirit friend that has found a new home guarding the entrance to their campsite.Dave Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16074715438584429020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190301782234302233.post-1235014107402667452010-07-18T14:09:00.000-04:002010-07-18T14:09:34.288-04:00Easy To Carve Hillbilly Pencils<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGvU94twYKAoCg8JWdnFTHdvtq0QAMqzPlNs03_uUbJTPCpNAiTmBVQLDVmxW5-qB_22X7pq_bsRXU_M4yqz6dt7XIqSC-EAFCMPYYPbkh5SBXZM7pnfuejWzKQeWsY_Chw0HaHW-HF24/s1600/db+HillbillyPencil001.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="35" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGvU94twYKAoCg8JWdnFTHdvtq0QAMqzPlNs03_uUbJTPCpNAiTmBVQLDVmxW5-qB_22X7pq_bsRXU_M4yqz6dt7XIqSC-EAFCMPYYPbkh5SBXZM7pnfuejWzKQeWsY_Chw0HaHW-HF24/s400/db+HillbillyPencil001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Here's an easy carving project that I've recently re-discovered: carving hillbilly pencils. For the most part they are pretty easy to make and carve because even if your carving doesn't make it to the level of a Picasso, then you've still got a pencil.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRLWsHl_L09SRj48tHKHVLMXUarjqenh1tQUyvVgGJ5i_RRnsfFRs39mbM_yJFix7syujodwSJPqCfPg4VvRAsWR0NtRokaX3758w69UtwGIxnEtJ8YSETcmZz75s4ScfQpl18f4P3Gk/s1600/db+HillbillyPencil002.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="36" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRLWsHl_L09SRj48tHKHVLMXUarjqenh1tQUyvVgGJ5i_RRnsfFRs39mbM_yJFix7syujodwSJPqCfPg4VvRAsWR0NtRokaX3758w69UtwGIxnEtJ8YSETcmZz75s4ScfQpl18f4P3Gk/s400/db+HillbillyPencil002.jpg" width="400" /></a> Lately I've been using hillbilly pencils as a project in my carving classes with the kids and they're really enjoying them. As you can see from the pictures my first pencil ended up having a funny little hairy-legged roadrunner on the top. I used a stick that had a forked top and carved out some shavings for feathers on one end. It's hard to see but I also cleaned out the wood between the birds long legs thus giving it a little more perspective and eye catching charm for the observer. All in all it took about an hour to prep the stick, place the lead tip, paint, and finish it up completely but times will vary depending on skill level and complexity of your design.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9eCt2201kDCI6IDniq92ExGLvIvkn_p6a6I0wCWd6oDGWn9gjuKdjUbYZBc0OOCMOxGiwvwP5jZujnP3hLzbjJYFzmOKkzMC0pLVluYo1OWpMjl8JDemWCiQt8Mh8rqAhQOsVM4GoBiQ/s1600/db+HillbillyPencil003.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="37" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9eCt2201kDCI6IDniq92ExGLvIvkn_p6a6I0wCWd6oDGWn9gjuKdjUbYZBc0OOCMOxGiwvwP5jZujnP3hLzbjJYFzmOKkzMC0pLVluYo1OWpMjl8JDemWCiQt8Mh8rqAhQOsVM4GoBiQ/s400/db+HillbillyPencil003.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Although I used a well seasoned twig of sweet birch for my roadrunner, I later discovered that rhododendron twigs worked great. Most of these east coast bushes have tons of dry twigs on their lower ends making them perfect for my purpose of pencil making. The wood is amazingly strong and they have very interesting twists and bends to tickle the imagination.<br />
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As seen in the pictures to the left I first trim the twigs to the desired length and try to leave a "fork" on top that I can use for an interesting design. Next I use a very small drill bit (same size as lead "graphite" being inserted) to drill out the hole where the writing lead will go. I only make this hole about an inch deep, plus or minus.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijI0dl4XloG9ilXK85OZ9KGYVBOjb5WDt3SDqikv9BG2oFnwPWcxdlpYK3iIOIqDzkGUGUg8Eyz6R-QqYkoHA1djHNMgSm8Bm2gACZn6Wz-Tq-_89LNkHoc46xJxqRRE1mgm5YikYCdvE/s1600/db+HillbillyPencil004.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="38" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijI0dl4XloG9ilXK85OZ9KGYVBOjb5WDt3SDqikv9BG2oFnwPWcxdlpYK3iIOIqDzkGUGUg8Eyz6R-QqYkoHA1djHNMgSm8Bm2gACZn6Wz-Tq-_89LNkHoc46xJxqRRE1mgm5YikYCdvE/s1600/db+HillbillyPencil004.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="39" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijI0dl4XloG9ilXK85OZ9KGYVBOjb5WDt3SDqikv9BG2oFnwPWcxdlpYK3iIOIqDzkGUGUg8Eyz6R-QqYkoHA1djHNMgSm8Bm2gACZn6Wz-Tq-_89LNkHoc46xJxqRRE1mgm5YikYCdvE/s400/db+HillbillyPencil004.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
Next I saw up a bunch of old woodshop pencils and strip them for their graphite "lead". You can use a nice thick lead purchased in a box but I have so many old used up pencils in the woodshop this is what works best for me. Plus, it's a great challenge to see how good that you can get stripping the lead without breaking it. I then roll the tip of the lead in some wood glue then insert it in the drilled hole and allow to dry. Before long I'm writing right along with the great admiration of all my hillbilly (and non-hillbilly) friends.<br />
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The picture to the right shows about 30 pencil "blanks" ready for carving with the lead tips already in place. I suppose that it took me about two hours to gather them out of the woods, to cut and prep. This is a great way to prepare for success during a woodcarving class with kids and I'm amazed at some of the designs they come up with. I'll post more pictures as they develop. Have fun and keep on carving... and hopefully writing with your new funky-fine hillbilly pencil!Dave Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16074715438584429020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190301782234302233.post-35789670581340985032010-07-16T19:41:00.006-04:002010-07-16T21:57:03.076-04:00An "End Of The Trail Mystery" on a Creek Ramble<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHtPgth2J0GtZaTS65f4gjVAx1V77wozZAjRduP1dpTzNATItcMFzp9xlcOADYjMhfWvf9vLYPTePCXS2FgaYtRWNCBiO-ta9EjdlMa9O4nhpNQSUKYkJtYy15IvHu4AgtH9IvFjVYXsk/s1600/db+CreekRamble003.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="25" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHtPgth2J0GtZaTS65f4gjVAx1V77wozZAjRduP1dpTzNATItcMFzp9xlcOADYjMhfWvf9vLYPTePCXS2FgaYtRWNCBiO-ta9EjdlMa9O4nhpNQSUKYkJtYy15IvHu4AgtH9IvFjVYXsk/s320/db+CreekRamble003.jpg" /></a></div>Hands-on learning comes in many shapes and forms. Woodshop class and woodcarving are most certainly a powerful catalyst for extending a child's eduction to a higher level but they aren't an exclusive end to a well balanced curriculum. These pictures are from a creek ramble that I joined on a wet, moist morning a couple of days ago with one of our more adventurous groups.<br />
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This mountainside forest was prime for discovery after the previous days warm rain. As seen in the picture to the right, the mist was heavy as we walked up the small stream to it's source. Our 900 acre campus is a true mountainside ecosystem that is a very fragile environment as it is the upper limits of the watershed source that feeds life to the land for hundreds of miles from the mountains to the sea.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgmHrM1XR7DuUuOxNCqzzQfq7s8dvttqGc3lZzJkEYLRzRuhX9O0P28BjOPI7DLDOekXIRyRSMsg1dvqaawMZkZs9a1uQ63rrISJnlcnYHYTNC58jyKSRCzz6xU-0VvyrGAHbmZ41RH1E/s1600/db+CreekRamble001.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="26" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgmHrM1XR7DuUuOxNCqzzQfq7s8dvttqGc3lZzJkEYLRzRuhX9O0P28BjOPI7DLDOekXIRyRSMsg1dvqaawMZkZs9a1uQ63rrISJnlcnYHYTNC58jyKSRCzz6xU-0VvyrGAHbmZ41RH1E/s640/db+CreekRamble001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyfdSx1cy4SnY2n-uqS9HQIzRVJVlLELHDltFDhbMdN9XWVl6c6jV3t6UBLLSRG5EvH8IYIGbQKtTMoTm565XPsR9FhWemlMyhjlI9I8LzTvGrj_u-u2MCIJDKsTKgGgbmQgba0l1utcc/s1600/db+CreekRamble004.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="27" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyfdSx1cy4SnY2n-uqS9HQIzRVJVlLELHDltFDhbMdN9XWVl6c6jV3t6UBLLSRG5EvH8IYIGbQKtTMoTm565XPsR9FhWemlMyhjlI9I8LzTvGrj_u-u2MCIJDKsTKgGgbmQgba0l1utcc/s320/db+CreekRamble004.jpg" /></a>This is a special place hidden in a deep Blue Ridge mountain hide-away deep in the forest which is full with life... and the kids know it. All of our creeks follow the steep mountainous terrain upwards and end with the discovery of a cold trickling spring where underground cracks and shifting rocks determine the changing course of our streams over time. This is prime environment for the birthplace of deep woods life and these creeks have it all. Everyone loves to ramble in the water where a new discovery awaits with every step. Just look at the salamander cuddling an acorn in the picture to the right.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0hDRrS5HLepQR3qW8AQ2o8X8X80ZzH2vvb4yzMlGfiwFXbzI6dDWuPTkn6FH9FkGqngkw9g9pXfriLnpn_Nm8tgMS-G_Q8mSxtnZuQkgG3CiA3QakTgb3BEC5KT6tXAJnds4UmmPJSc/s1600/db+CreekRamble005.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="28" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0hDRrS5HLepQR3qW8AQ2o8X8X80ZzH2vvb4yzMlGfiwFXbzI6dDWuPTkn6FH9FkGqngkw9g9pXfriLnpn_Nm8tgMS-G_Q8mSxtnZuQkgG3CiA3QakTgb3BEC5KT6tXAJnds4UmmPJSc/s400/db+CreekRamble005.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>During this creek ramble we found crawdads, frogs, spiders in their webs ridden with early morning dew drops, red newts, lizards, salamanders, a garter snake,thick cushy mosses, plus the lichens and fungus which clinged to the outcrops of exposed rocks gradually breaking them down into new soil over thousands of years. Such discoveries are a teachers mecca where potential lessons can be found in abundance and where a kid can learn answers that he won't forget.<br />
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The greatest discovery this morning was found in the pictures shown below. On a gravel bar beside the creek one of the boys discovered a pile of animal bones which was complete with skull, jaws, ribs, and legs. Although the bodily tissue had decayed, this was a relatively recent "end of the trail" for one particular animal. This was definitely a raccoon and looking at the evidence which also included bits of fur, this woodland bandit had most likely expired approximately 2 to 4 months ago while also considering that spring floods hadn't dispersed the evidence left behind. <br />
<table style="width: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/BkhEmQazfgNv6Zpjerp-REgMAyWrw6VAiS3v3_DRSMQ?feat=embedwebsite" linkindex="29"><img height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJ4KJqOXpViBWUCMiTskuvFKLibqcTTLZ8oSX4fMDmnLjbNBOMQ2o-SGv8Jm-48WUthmogaW6cFcbt12qlUycz1AtqplpI_iHAdmxmSXHhcyWkHQYDnpNZ5a8qQ6gjBXIfWDnCxz66R8/s640/db%20CreekRamble002.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/woodtrails1/WoodTrailsDaveBrock?authkey=Gv1sRgCPTnjsPT4uGKCg&feat=embedwebsite" linkindex="30">Wood Trails - Dave Brock</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Finding the final spot where an animals life has ended is a rare and special event that has always been one of my greatest anticipations whenever I enter the forest. Such finds usually don't last long since Mother Nature has a very quick way of cleaning herself up. Field mice gnaw away bones and antlers quickly just as a creek side track is washed away with the first rain. Most hikes into the woods will reveal the "parts and pieces" to the puzzle of an animals mysterious life trail, such as tracks, feathers, disturbed vegetation, or a freshly dug hole but none of these compare to the thrill of finding a place like in the picture above.<br />
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This is the "end of the trail" for one animals life and this final place (sort-of) brings full circle the mystery found in a pile of bones. The complete mystery of that animals life still can't be completely solved but it causes one to pause and to consider that animal and its part in the web of life. The woods are full with lessons about both life and death but you have to get your hands dirty and your feet wet to discover them. <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Note: All of the pictures above were taken during the course of the one-hour creek ramble described above. </b></i></span>Dave Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16074715438584429020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190301782234302233.post-19956546528533507882010-07-12T21:33:00.000-04:002010-07-12T21:33:31.191-04:00Frisky Froggy and Carving on the Porch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO42uK13OwxAXS-ZrOsVqQDUa7gq9172l1SiBRtfStcNQG0LxwOVqfIqL_FdXBDV_DSshCeqvyaVt_xBOW_fHx3s6p3ln5bY2rUrV5kFfP6he0KHf1gDkzkbUTiF4EjiQdEE2YXZnNlmE/s1600/db+FriskyFroggy003.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="119" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO42uK13OwxAXS-ZrOsVqQDUa7gq9172l1SiBRtfStcNQG0LxwOVqfIqL_FdXBDV_DSshCeqvyaVt_xBOW_fHx3s6p3ln5bY2rUrV5kFfP6he0KHf1gDkzkbUTiF4EjiQdEE2YXZnNlmE/s400/db+FriskyFroggy003.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><br />
Even in the cool Blue Ridge Mountains the July heat has been somewhat brutal this summer. Hard to believe that there was a couple feet of snow on the ground about six months ago. Fortunately for us, today was a cooling off period and the killer humidity died down a bit. Being a wilderness camp we live and work in the Great Outdoors so keeping an eye on the weather becomes the forefront of our daily planning as teachers, students, or staff.<br />
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After lunch this afternoon I held a great woodcarving class out on the porch with about six students who participated in making a variety of woodcarved crafts which included woodspirit faces, hillbilly pencils, and other neat little projects as seen in the pictures to the right. Something about cool weather in the woods that mixes well with woodcarving as the kids were anxious to be using their hands.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfpSqFyz2IQMWglS05WHJRmT2n_nWXOAt7Jp0WgJ60hkOm2MGbPtYKjNDVQ_XN8AK2SIfIir_SoB4E-9fBX1H3TxVfhLysuxXXKzRUL97g9xlXRiTgIZPxJ1VHuG3GrhmvWZ73588cpXk/s1600/db+FriskyFroggy001.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="120" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfpSqFyz2IQMWglS05WHJRmT2n_nWXOAt7Jp0WgJ60hkOm2MGbPtYKjNDVQ_XN8AK2SIfIir_SoB4E-9fBX1H3TxVfhLysuxXXKzRUL97g9xlXRiTgIZPxJ1VHuG3GrhmvWZ73588cpXk/s400/db+FriskyFroggy001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>For any successful carving class it's first important to "prime" the kids prior to bringing out the knives. This morning I began that when I picked up a random sycamore limb off the ground and saw two distinct knots lined up just perfectly for the eyes of a little frog as you can see in the pictures to the left and below. As the kids were finishing up chores or waiting on their logs for breakfast I kept their curiosity on high alert as the little frog came to life. I continued working on it wherever I could muster up a few minutes and in-between the groups scheduled classes.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVRiyHLB8RZaVUqEXUDtV1S6BWvSFHyOBb47SiTWeGXPZvl3tV15uNZJK7evHCFFbfqTdiYVdA0GcBguV8hgRq9zSoW7gwE3Wuhk6Wrinv9J-Ee_2JFChuksW06jx1UaWCpuSELi1ZdI/s1600/db+FriskyFroggy002.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="121" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVRiyHLB8RZaVUqEXUDtV1S6BWvSFHyOBb47SiTWeGXPZvl3tV15uNZJK7evHCFFbfqTdiYVdA0GcBguV8hgRq9zSoW7gwE3Wuhk6Wrinv9J-Ee_2JFChuksW06jx1UaWCpuSELi1ZdI/s400/db+FriskyFroggy002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>This was a relatively easy carving as I first sketched the outline of the frog using the natural shape of the knotty eyes to center my drawing. From there I made a series of stop cuts along the outline then began removing the wood around the frog until I reached a depth that felt right. I then shaped up the body a bit then used my small U-gouge to create a somewhat "worty" frog skin. Before lunch I had named him "Frisky Froggy" which was a name that brought out a nice smile from the group. Now the kids were primed for a successful carving period where everyone had a great afternoon just relaxing, laughing, practicing their cuts, and everything else that makes up an afternoon of carving on the porch.Dave Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16074715438584429020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190301782234302233.post-88797989395218671662010-07-11T20:47:00.000-04:002010-07-11T20:47:37.523-04:00Pioneer Lashing Sparks The Imagination<a href="http://www.troop373.org/activities/Pioneering_Catapults_Aug2006/catapult%20pix%20011.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="213" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://www.troop373.org/activities/Pioneering_Catapults_Aug2006/catapult%20pix%20011.jpg" style="border: 0px none;" title="Troop 373 - Boy Scouts of ... " width="400" /></a>I very rarely meet a kid who doesn't like to be part of building something from the natural materials in the woods. Using only freshly cut poles or bamboo I've seen (or helped to construct) everything from 30 foot towers, sleeping shelters, Indian tepees, bridges, tables, or like in the picture to the right a catapult. <br />
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Pioneer lashing is one of the funnest classes that I teach in Scouts where if a kid can imagine it then he can build it. For those industrious kids who really develop a knack for the craft, they can proceed to learn a very high level of mastering the lashing skill, including how to make their own twine and rope, by pursuing the Pioneering merit badge.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLlaROl3R8Zm-1HFHgz3BgehNVEUdlJLRNfokoQLikZ_UB9DtB1QiuBs4_urF5CjoGmqYk0CgXMZ5UhqJYiTcg4C7meIfXAra7GafSDwQ90_EikbhQx2xJhjHuw1ulBmdGzaPy8chlf44/s1600/db+LashingClass001.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="214" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLlaROl3R8Zm-1HFHgz3BgehNVEUdlJLRNfokoQLikZ_UB9DtB1QiuBs4_urF5CjoGmqYk0CgXMZ5UhqJYiTcg4C7meIfXAra7GafSDwQ90_EikbhQx2xJhjHuw1ulBmdGzaPy8chlf44/s320/db+LashingClass001.jpg" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiirnxBVyMtjuG3yJCUMx2v00NTGQQbfm4jYG4vOnHuVSc1OFst1ewY7oKWGQtUPQoNJmW2GL-YqkElxdAiftki7p_uhNQcE40LVDROrghK-o3CI8ips8KPp14F3D-xCAsyw0okT2zabcY/s1600/db+LashingClass003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiirnxBVyMtjuG3yJCUMx2v00NTGQQbfm4jYG4vOnHuVSc1OFst1ewY7oKWGQtUPQoNJmW2GL-YqkElxdAiftki7p_uhNQcE40LVDROrghK-o3CI8ips8KPp14F3D-xCAsyw0okT2zabcY/s320/db+LashingClass003.jpg" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVVmhshMrpuY_R7BGLDiJDwmjA17c6NIBPqV3vPs4XU2fqqdt6TSs5z550_WvUzsXQI-OJFh31yW-bowuh-JEMGFqqjl9kLiRbSANidtf83e1BNrISyPk3ER599uulrbpz7LAUQqdonUQ/s1600/db+LashingClass002.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="215" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVVmhshMrpuY_R7BGLDiJDwmjA17c6NIBPqV3vPs4XU2fqqdt6TSs5z550_WvUzsXQI-OJFh31yW-bowuh-JEMGFqqjl9kLiRbSANidtf83e1BNrISyPk3ER599uulrbpz7LAUQqdonUQ/s400/db+LashingClass002.jpg" width="400" /></a>As seen in the picture to the left all lashings start with either the clovehitch or the timberhitch knot so this is the first thing that my lashing classes learn. Also, I've found that during those first classes it greatly helps to have a lot of visual aids handy such as those seen in the pictures to either side. Pioneer lashing at <a href="http://www.ravenknob.com/" linkindex="216">Scout summer camp</a> is always a popular activity and there you'll find tons of neat projects to spark the imagination. However, I teach this skill year-round as part of our educational program so it helps to have some props. As you can see I first made several scaled down examples of how to tie a square lashing, a diagonal lashing, a shear lashing, and all the other lashing including my favorite the tripod.<br />
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If a kid can see it, small or large-scale, then they can learn to build it is a fact that has proven true almost 100% of the time over the years so if you can't build the real thing, then come up with several scaled down models to tickle their brains into action.<br />
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<a href="http://www.bsa205shrewsburypa.org/Troop/2006/t2006031708.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="217" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://www.bsa205shrewsburypa.org/Troop/2006/t2006031708.jpg" style="border: 0px none;" title="Boy Scouts of America Troop 205 2006 Activities" width="400" /></a> If you're looking for a fantastic activity that beats the daylights out of TV, video games, or ipods, then I would strongly suggest trying your hand at teaching kids some pioneer lashing. Learning how to maneuver rope and poles into something fun, useful, or just plain interesting is another great way to spend quality time with kids. These are the kind of experiences that will develop meaningful memories and they will be very grateful for your leadership as the years in their lives transition them into the kind of adults that will find great pleasure in passing on the skill to the next generation.Dave Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16074715438584429020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2190301782234302233.post-75075329379469989712010-07-09T22:15:00.002-04:002010-07-09T22:33:25.001-04:00Outdoor Education: Drama At Its Best<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3EA5TfK1QSnh3hi2Bks5WY99Exd2nzq4NVfMIC4aT_j_Az7k6WAKUgNl5tiNkjOZ1PKIw6F4EU5sQolFXD7YuMI_HCGPMyPC4qBkZYLAyBLaQd0dLOSdcOVxzrH5rQBvqa3wTZOs858/s1600/db+OutsideEd001.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="20" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3EA5TfK1QSnh3hi2Bks5WY99Exd2nzq4NVfMIC4aT_j_Az7k6WAKUgNl5tiNkjOZ1PKIw6F4EU5sQolFXD7YuMI_HCGPMyPC4qBkZYLAyBLaQd0dLOSdcOVxzrH5rQBvqa3wTZOs858/s400/db+OutsideEd001.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>Today I had the opportunity to work with a group of kids in the woods who were experiencing some behavioral issues and they couldn't make it to class. Normally I like to use woodcarving in these situations to get the hands busy and the mind engaged in producing some positive results. That's not always possible when the kids aren't at an acceptable level of "calm, cool, and collect" that is essential for safety during such activity with carving tools.<br />
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Sometimes I have to switch gears and look for other ways to make sure that our precious time isn't squandered and another opportunity to learn isn't lost. This is when the digital camera comes in handy and I'm able to save an otherwise lost day. This hot July weather has brought out an amazing movement of wildlife and I've found wonderful opportunities to capture some amazing wildlife shots using the micro lens of my camera. I immediately got the kids busy to see how much wildlife activity that they could identify and I told them to think "small" because on just one of our mountain trees there were probably a thousand scenes of natural drama if only they could find it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgasf1BpNDEOEm4_hzqTZQ7OukijWdM3ZczaYArMBLGdUzqmKGN9nu8eij1_MJ79kAWLGppIYrQlH4BVUndzRBdc3fjZzpd8VIyRAfHDZ5uR1P_uyG9b3tAiVyvsoWYljCQ9bX6HGysjo/s1600/db+OutsideEd002.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="21" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgasf1BpNDEOEm4_hzqTZQ7OukijWdM3ZczaYArMBLGdUzqmKGN9nu8eij1_MJ79kAWLGppIYrQlH4BVUndzRBdc3fjZzpd8VIyRAfHDZ5uR1P_uyG9b3tAiVyvsoWYljCQ9bX6HGysjo/s320/db+OutsideEd002.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Within minutes a couple of the boys brought me a nice slimy salamander from the nearby creek but most of the sightings were close at hand right where we sat. An army of termites were busy all over the logs where we sat, moving in and out of their holes with their wings buzzing in activity. This was a great opportunity to talk about natures cycle of life and how all this activity going on all about us kept the forest alive and well.<br />
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The grand jewel of the morning was when one of the boys yelled for me to come see a spider in his web as it devoured another spider. These kids were ecstatic over their find and so was I as I pounced over a log while flicking the on-button of my camera. This time it's the drama produced in the trap of a spiders web as one vibrant and determined predator spider captures a Daddy Long-Leg spider, spins it into the trap of its web, then injects a paralyzing poison and proceeds to suck out it's nourishing body juices. Just don't get much better than this! Here's the video of that amazing event:<br />
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On a nearby rocky hillside we spotted a groundhog but he quickly vanished into his hole... no ordinary "human" hole but a special hole that only an animal can make which aerates the soil in the forest helping it to breathe, drain, and continue the cycle of life. To some this was only a groundhog but the story goes a lot further for those observers who ask questions and wonder about the complete story which is usually beyond what the eye can see.<br />
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On a few occasions the kids aren't able to make it to their regular classes but that's when new opportunities must be found to learn because time is precious and our kids are just too important to observe from the side lines. If you're a teacher, a parent, or a youth leader always be looking for ways to engage the kids in your charge because the most powerful classrooms in the world are those found in the Great Outdoors. Get your kids hands dirty, their feet wet, and with a little direction their own curiosity will lead to some of the best lessons in their lives.<br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="color: black;">Note</span>:</b> All of the pictures used in this article were taken on location during the last couple of days in our outdoor classroom with the kids. These were only a very few of the creatures that we found. </span>Dave Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16074715438584429020noreply@blogger.com1