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"Hobbit Holes in MyWorld" --by RusticWoodArt

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Frank
12
An Introduction of Wood Happenings

An Introduction of Wood Happenings

So it's that time again….and if you've spent any amount of time around here at LJ; last spring, summer and fall then you must know by now, some-what as to my occasional excursions into the forests and woods of New England. This year I have decided to re-name and post under a continuation of short story 'series' and so I will be calling these posted blog stories…."Hobbit Holes in MyWorld". J. R. R. Tolkien once started a story; "The Hobbit" with this first sentence line, "In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit." and so finding a fitting name if I may borrow from Tolkien's way of thinking and imagination, is of my journeys around and throughout my landscape here of New England.

As an all time worker of wood, I see into the landscape of my surroundings here….forest, woods, trees, land, mountains, rivers, lakes, gardens, old barns, old homes, wildlife, people and all those other's which are likened as 'rustic wood spirits'. The images that I get, so enliven my imagination into the creation of 'wood art', that I would like to share some of these simulacrum's with you the reader. I would like to welcome all and any to come along with me as you may want and to also feel free to comment and add your own pictures as you may find meaning into your sense of your own world. In reality there is no-separation between your world and my world as we are all workers of wood and therefore the use of wood is the common ground that unites us together. I pass through the terrain that surrounds me here by atv, truck, canoe, kayak and on foot, so this year promises to be a very much traveled walkabout. As you will come to understand, I use the term 'going on a walkabout' much freely as I have come to understand this and, yes I like this word play which also goes along with an-other word I use….'waundering'. Now as one who uses words and loves words, for the most part I try to maintain a correct spelling of those words….and yet, some-times it be-comes me to play with their spellings and meanings in order to get my-self out of the box of common thinking and let my imagination go. So yes, I do play with that word 'waundering' in meaning and spelling….but then just as I am a worker-of-wood, so also am I a worker-of-words….and so I hope that none shall be offended.

What you may expect this spring, summer and fall; is a continuation of life, work and play around here at my place on the farm, the barn, in the woods, in our gardens of flowers, berries and veggies and into the surrounding milieu of New England landscape. There is much to do this year with making furniture, some shows, a cabin renovation still ongoing, cutting trees and milling slabs of wood, landscaping, planting….which was covered in some detail last year. This year I also plan to add hikes and kayaking trips, along with my often well thought out….but, not so 'in the box' thinking out loud….plus, poetry on life in the woods of my-world. Now I understand that some may wonder as to how hiking and kayaking connects to wood and woodworking and so I will be happy to answer those inquiries with this reply. One of my great loves during the winter months is the study of topographical maps and going over notes I have taken during my years of waundering herein and talking to folks who live in out of the way places, as I search the land for 'old growth' trees. This year I have decided to occasionally include some of these treks, along with photos through-out the forests up here. However I might also add that as to exact locations and such, I may often forget, (and that is intentional of course) to mention exact directions, as I do respect the 'old growth' and some of these trees need to remain hidden. So again let me say welcome and if you have a comfortable pair of hiking boots, tape measure, along with pencil and paper for sketching and notes….be sure and bring them along. I might also add that if I have forgotten any-thing in this introduction of sorts….well after a good long hike or kayak trip, I'm sure it will all come out in the wash!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

While out walking some time ago, (and what meaning after all has time in hobbit holes?) I was plodding along at one of the local dams near to me here….


....and in my walking….


....I came upon a hobbit. Taking up his invitation to follow, I hurried along as he disappeared down a hobbit hole and I right behind….


....my baptism of sorts, into his world was only one that started years of ages ago, but felt as if only for a recent near season, as I soon emerged and walked out into the brightness of a new spring day….


What better place to start this years 'walkabout' then where we left off at last fall….and, so bringing up the picture of this apple tree as then,....


....we can now precede to where I was standing on Saturday. This one ancient apple tree, all set against a background of blue sky and satin finish, hand rubbed to a tree hugger's delight of brilliant sheen….


....and so turning my head around,
i found that the ground was drying out with patches of grass still brown,
till the thought kept coming my way of what if i lay my head as down,
to see beyond into the eye's of blue sky where clouds abound….

--walk softly across this your landscape of seemingly desire,
and know for most assuredly that all that entertains the eye of acquire,
often spends their days caught up in the act of feeding fire,
while belly aches are soon mismanaged with the hardness to conspire,

....so having already paid my dues i kept the change,
and cast my cares to wind swept dreams of noble exchange,
since from the eons of beginning i now can give my-self a place of grange,
till comes a next one passing by who calls from past and welcomes me to interchange….


....when my days are done, let me stretch forth my hands as the quaintise of the birches do, likening my self to an awakening of what comes next….


....and so in studying the land, I often am drawn to studying rock walls. These are the beauties of creation that often bring remembrances of next morning sore backs….and yet, works of art they are in all their be-holden strength….


....and so I borrowed a piece of wood that was stuck in the cracks of yonder stone wall and decided to create a piece of 'wood art', where wood and shadow be-come as one….


....so some snow is still hanging on and this tower of wood blesses the eye with what can be….


....looking to the west, I am drawn to remembering the times I have climbed your summit, giving thanks that as a friend, your loftiness is once again in sight Mt. Kearsarge….


Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

[email protected]
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
"....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood…."
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RobS
frank said:
Burl On A Spit

Burl On A Spit


….wood can out-tell tales,
skewered through i ringed my heart,
two sides of my-self….
-by flp

-------------------------------------------------------------

….these are the tales that the ancients brought to me out of wood,
back in the forests of yester-year that lean towards future-year,
i learned to sit in silence and gather from the trees of their wisdom,
but what good is wisdom if there are none to hear the words spoken,
so with that in mind i will speak forth what was spoken to me….

….two tales spoken and yet one wood burl i found in the woods,
as to residence i will let the burls place of rest be un-spoken now,
why should i take away from the trust that was formed when we met,
but in re-turn i shall yet give forth a lyric if any have ears to hear words,
i only sat and gathered the tale while the genius of genus is the wood….
-by flp

---------------------------------------------------------------

These next two stories shall come forth in two installments, but I should warn any who read that I am going on a kayak walk-about in a day or two, so I'm not going to get to the future writings and readings till I come back. One explanation of a kayak walk-about is that I am going off the face of earth here and now into the wilds of other terrain.

I found the wood burl last week while gathering in the forests around here, but the tale did not un-fold till I took the time to listen, what I heard was an amazing story, spoken from the mouth of one such as this burl. What else can I say but thanks to all who read, and will yet yearn to read and sit in silence to hear 'an others' words spoken, far out of the mainstream of hominal soma speak-easies.

Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

[email protected]
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
''....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood....''
Click to expand...
That's a pearl of a burl.

Best of luck with your palindrome boat trip. Stay safe.
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RobS
frank said:
Burl On A Spit

Burl On A Spit


….wood can out-tell tales,
skewered through i ringed my heart,
two sides of my-self….
-by flp

-------------------------------------------------------------

….these are the tales that the ancients brought to me out of wood,
back in the forests of yester-year that lean towards future-year,
i learned to sit in silence and gather from the trees of their wisdom,
but what good is wisdom if there are none to hear the words spoken,
so with that in mind i will speak forth what was spoken to me….

….two tales spoken and yet one wood burl i found in the woods,
as to residence i will let the burls place of rest be un-spoken now,
why should i take away from the trust that was formed when we met,
but in re-turn i shall yet give forth a lyric if any have ears to hear words,
i only sat and gathered the tale while the genius of genus is the wood….
-by flp

---------------------------------------------------------------

These next two stories shall come forth in two installments, but I should warn any who read that I am going on a kayak walk-about in a day or two, so I'm not going to get to the future writings and readings till I come back. One explanation of a kayak walk-about is that I am going off the face of earth here and now into the wilds of other terrain.

I found the wood burl last week while gathering in the forests around here, but the tale did not un-fold till I took the time to listen, what I heard was an amazing story, spoken from the mouth of one such as this burl. What else can I say but thanks to all who read, and will yet yearn to read and sit in silence to hear 'an others' words spoken, far out of the mainstream of hominal soma speak-easies.

Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

[email protected]
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
''....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood....''
Click to expand...
burl on a spit, tips a no l rub ( well I tried)
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jockmike2
frank said:
Burl On A Spit

Burl On A Spit


….wood can out-tell tales,
skewered through i ringed my heart,
two sides of my-self….
-by flp

-------------------------------------------------------------

….these are the tales that the ancients brought to me out of wood,
back in the forests of yester-year that lean towards future-year,
i learned to sit in silence and gather from the trees of their wisdom,
but what good is wisdom if there are none to hear the words spoken,
so with that in mind i will speak forth what was spoken to me….

….two tales spoken and yet one wood burl i found in the woods,
as to residence i will let the burls place of rest be un-spoken now,
why should i take away from the trust that was formed when we met,
but in re-turn i shall yet give forth a lyric if any have ears to hear words,
i only sat and gathered the tale while the genius of genus is the wood….
-by flp

---------------------------------------------------------------

These next two stories shall come forth in two installments, but I should warn any who read that I am going on a kayak walk-about in a day or two, so I'm not going to get to the future writings and readings till I come back. One explanation of a kayak walk-about is that I am going off the face of earth here and now into the wilds of other terrain.

I found the wood burl last week while gathering in the forests around here, but the tale did not un-fold till I took the time to listen, what I heard was an amazing story, spoken from the mouth of one such as this burl. What else can I say but thanks to all who read, and will yet yearn to read and sit in silence to hear 'an others' words spoken, far out of the mainstream of hominal soma speak-easies.

Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

[email protected]
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
''....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood....''
Click to expand...
Take great care out there on your walk a bout Frank, you're not as strong as you used to be. If you are on meds they can also play tricks on the mind. You, I'm sure, know that by now. What a great burl, that says many things to me also. I envy your knowledge. God Bless my friend, mike
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lew
frank said:
Burl On A Spit

Burl On A Spit


….wood can out-tell tales,
skewered through i ringed my heart,
two sides of my-self….
-by flp

-------------------------------------------------------------

….these are the tales that the ancients brought to me out of wood,
back in the forests of yester-year that lean towards future-year,
i learned to sit in silence and gather from the trees of their wisdom,
but what good is wisdom if there are none to hear the words spoken,
so with that in mind i will speak forth what was spoken to me….

….two tales spoken and yet one wood burl i found in the woods,
as to residence i will let the burls place of rest be un-spoken now,
why should i take away from the trust that was formed when we met,
but in re-turn i shall yet give forth a lyric if any have ears to hear words,
i only sat and gathered the tale while the genius of genus is the wood….
-by flp

---------------------------------------------------------------

These next two stories shall come forth in two installments, but I should warn any who read that I am going on a kayak walk-about in a day or two, so I'm not going to get to the future writings and readings till I come back. One explanation of a kayak walk-about is that I am going off the face of earth here and now into the wilds of other terrain.

I found the wood burl last week while gathering in the forests around here, but the tale did not un-fold till I took the time to listen, what I heard was an amazing story, spoken from the mouth of one such as this burl. What else can I say but thanks to all who read, and will yet yearn to read and sit in silence to hear 'an others' words spoken, far out of the mainstream of hominal soma speak-easies.

Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

[email protected]
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
''....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood....''
Click to expand...
Using your words, Frank- "GODSPEED" on your journey. Take care my friend.
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HokieMojo
frank said:
Burl On A Spit

Burl On A Spit


….wood can out-tell tales,
skewered through i ringed my heart,
two sides of my-self….
-by flp

-------------------------------------------------------------

….these are the tales that the ancients brought to me out of wood,
back in the forests of yester-year that lean towards future-year,
i learned to sit in silence and gather from the trees of their wisdom,
but what good is wisdom if there are none to hear the words spoken,
so with that in mind i will speak forth what was spoken to me….

….two tales spoken and yet one wood burl i found in the woods,
as to residence i will let the burls place of rest be un-spoken now,
why should i take away from the trust that was formed when we met,
but in re-turn i shall yet give forth a lyric if any have ears to hear words,
i only sat and gathered the tale while the genius of genus is the wood….
-by flp

---------------------------------------------------------------

These next two stories shall come forth in two installments, but I should warn any who read that I am going on a kayak walk-about in a day or two, so I'm not going to get to the future writings and readings till I come back. One explanation of a kayak walk-about is that I am going off the face of earth here and now into the wilds of other terrain.

I found the wood burl last week while gathering in the forests around here, but the tale did not un-fold till I took the time to listen, what I heard was an amazing story, spoken from the mouth of one such as this burl. What else can I say but thanks to all who read, and will yet yearn to read and sit in silence to hear 'an others' words spoken, far out of the mainstream of hominal soma speak-easies.

Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

[email protected]
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
''....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood....''
Click to expand...
unreal! Have a good trip and we'll be here when you return.
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Bearpie
frank said:
Burl On A Spit

Burl On A Spit


….wood can out-tell tales,
skewered through i ringed my heart,
two sides of my-self….
-by flp

-------------------------------------------------------------

….these are the tales that the ancients brought to me out of wood,
back in the forests of yester-year that lean towards future-year,
i learned to sit in silence and gather from the trees of their wisdom,
but what good is wisdom if there are none to hear the words spoken,
so with that in mind i will speak forth what was spoken to me….

….two tales spoken and yet one wood burl i found in the woods,
as to residence i will let the burls place of rest be un-spoken now,
why should i take away from the trust that was formed when we met,
but in re-turn i shall yet give forth a lyric if any have ears to hear words,
i only sat and gathered the tale while the genius of genus is the wood….
-by flp

---------------------------------------------------------------

These next two stories shall come forth in two installments, but I should warn any who read that I am going on a kayak walk-about in a day or two, so I'm not going to get to the future writings and readings till I come back. One explanation of a kayak walk-about is that I am going off the face of earth here and now into the wilds of other terrain.

I found the wood burl last week while gathering in the forests around here, but the tale did not un-fold till I took the time to listen, what I heard was an amazing story, spoken from the mouth of one such as this burl. What else can I say but thanks to all who read, and will yet yearn to read and sit in silence to hear 'an others' words spoken, far out of the mainstream of hominal soma speak-easies.

Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

[email protected]
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
''....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood....''
Click to expand...
Keep safe on your paddle about, wear that life jacket, above all enjoy your solitude as you glide quietly through the still waters in contemplations, take pictures through your tube and come back refreshed and renewed. Vaya con Dios!

Erwin, Jacksonville, FL
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Kindlingmaker
frank said:
Burl On A Spit

Burl On A Spit


….wood can out-tell tales,
skewered through i ringed my heart,
two sides of my-self….
-by flp

-------------------------------------------------------------

….these are the tales that the ancients brought to me out of wood,
back in the forests of yester-year that lean towards future-year,
i learned to sit in silence and gather from the trees of their wisdom,
but what good is wisdom if there are none to hear the words spoken,
so with that in mind i will speak forth what was spoken to me….

….two tales spoken and yet one wood burl i found in the woods,
as to residence i will let the burls place of rest be un-spoken now,
why should i take away from the trust that was formed when we met,
but in re-turn i shall yet give forth a lyric if any have ears to hear words,
i only sat and gathered the tale while the genius of genus is the wood….
-by flp

---------------------------------------------------------------

These next two stories shall come forth in two installments, but I should warn any who read that I am going on a kayak walk-about in a day or two, so I'm not going to get to the future writings and readings till I come back. One explanation of a kayak walk-about is that I am going off the face of earth here and now into the wilds of other terrain.

I found the wood burl last week while gathering in the forests around here, but the tale did not un-fold till I took the time to listen, what I heard was an amazing story, spoken from the mouth of one such as this burl. What else can I say but thanks to all who read, and will yet yearn to read and sit in silence to hear 'an others' words spoken, far out of the mainstream of hominal soma speak-easies.

Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

[email protected]
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
''....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood....''
Click to expand...
...and the water is life to the trees and each dip of your paddle is a stiring of life that can be felt through the wood, the hand, arm and to the heart. I will smile as I think of you gliding through this part of your journey.
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Frank
2
frank said:
Burl On A Spit

Burl On A Spit


….wood can out-tell tales,
skewered through i ringed my heart,
two sides of my-self….
-by flp

-------------------------------------------------------------

….these are the tales that the ancients brought to me out of wood,
back in the forests of yester-year that lean towards future-year,
i learned to sit in silence and gather from the trees of their wisdom,
but what good is wisdom if there are none to hear the words spoken,
so with that in mind i will speak forth what was spoken to me….

….two tales spoken and yet one wood burl i found in the woods,
as to residence i will let the burls place of rest be un-spoken now,
why should i take away from the trust that was formed when we met,
but in re-turn i shall yet give forth a lyric if any have ears to hear words,
i only sat and gathered the tale while the genius of genus is the wood….
-by flp

---------------------------------------------------------------

These next two stories shall come forth in two installments, but I should warn any who read that I am going on a kayak walk-about in a day or two, so I'm not going to get to the future writings and readings till I come back. One explanation of a kayak walk-about is that I am going off the face of earth here and now into the wilds of other terrain.

I found the wood burl last week while gathering in the forests around here, but the tale did not un-fold till I took the time to listen, what I heard was an amazing story, spoken from the mouth of one such as this burl. What else can I say but thanks to all who read, and will yet yearn to read and sit in silence to hear 'an others' words spoken, far out of the mainstream of hominal soma speak-easies.

Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

[email protected]
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
''....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood....''
Click to expand...
....well thanks to all;

....so if i take a kayak,
add water by volume,
what remains is ataraxis,
the silence is beyond time….

....a man's home is where his heart is,
my heart was formed in the forest lands,
this is where i shall re-turn to for a while,
hammocks support my body so i can dream….
--by flp

------------------------------------------------------------
All-ways prepared to go, I have learned lately to keep short accounts. The kayak is great for getting away, the hammock allows me to hang between heaven and earth. Yes, I am not using the rain fly in this picture.

GODSPEED,
Frank
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Frank
Wood and I....Sculpture

Wood and I….Sculpture


….while walking down the isles of life's design,
i was roiled enough to loose my way on a walk-about,
the forest and trees no-longer fed this hunger within,
and for days becoming years my dreams died as inaesthetic….

….that was in-deed the hole i dug until i had no-strength dig deeper,
what came next was confronting my dragon and refusing his lies any-more,
so i went back to the woods fearing to hope and believe what i might find,
what i found was that whether i failed or succeeded that choice was not mine,

….life and i plus wood cannot ever truly be taken away unless i let my dreams go,
so i set my eyes on some wood and started hearing the wood as it told a story,
the story took me back too times past when men sculptured the wood by hand,
next i took a piece of maple burl and cut off a log sitting out in my log station….

….now again i have started getting my passion for wood back after two years plus,
this silence of my being is one i don't call bad or good as it has just been where 'i am',
my working the wood and sculpture is firmly set in my mind till my body brings closure,
wood sculpture will resurrect my mind-my body will resurrect by liver transplant or death,
--this is the story that the wood told me--
-by flp
--------------------------------------------------

So what 'pray tell' has all these words been speaking about up until this point, while gleaning some wisdom for now and any now's to come. Lets take a fresh look at the cut burl, refusing to be led amiss by time and; ''well it's just a piece of wood''. How many times have I said this, only to miss out on the beauty that has all-ready been written within the wood.

Beauty only gives her-self to one who willing to take all she is! What about the times we take beauty for what is be-holden on the out-side, and never probing beneath her surface….till we are often disappointed with what we have received? This burl was hand cut with a chain saw and then just sat waiting her time which brings out an-other side of beauty, she is patient never demanding her way or feeling the need to be right. I can remember how I dealt with 'situation control', before liver disease showed me who was really in control. She knows that her life has now been placed in my hands and soon will come the knife, chisel, gouge too sculpture a new image. In all of this we shall yet also learn some of what beauty can teach us as I sculpture a 'wooden beauty'.

Next on my blog story in this series, I will turn the wood around and we shall see if there be any beauty in-side….? As I start getting more involved in this sculpture, the pictures will start showing more of the tools I am using and their purpose for this work of art. We shall also be viewing how the wood takes on a new life of it's own….which I can only hope also be-comes my story, when one day I get a second chance at life!

Shalom
GODSPEED
freeman
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MsDebbieP
frank said:
Wood and I....Sculpture

Wood and I….Sculpture


….while walking down the isles of life's design,
i was roiled enough to loose my way on a walk-about,
the forest and trees no-longer fed this hunger within,
and for days becoming years my dreams died as inaesthetic….

….that was in-deed the hole i dug until i had no-strength dig deeper,
what came next was confronting my dragon and refusing his lies any-more,
so i went back to the woods fearing to hope and believe what i might find,
what i found was that whether i failed or succeeded that choice was not mine,

….life and i plus wood cannot ever truly be taken away unless i let my dreams go,
so i set my eyes on some wood and started hearing the wood as it told a story,
the story took me back too times past when men sculptured the wood by hand,
next i took a piece of maple burl and cut off a log sitting out in my log station….

….now again i have started getting my passion for wood back after two years plus,
this silence of my being is one i don't call bad or good as it has just been where 'i am',
my working the wood and sculpture is firmly set in my mind till my body brings closure,
wood sculpture will resurrect my mind-my body will resurrect by liver transplant or death,
--this is the story that the wood told me--
-by flp
--------------------------------------------------

So what 'pray tell' has all these words been speaking about up until this point, while gleaning some wisdom for now and any now's to come. Lets take a fresh look at the cut burl, refusing to be led amiss by time and; ''well it's just a piece of wood''. How many times have I said this, only to miss out on the beauty that has all-ready been written within the wood.

Beauty only gives her-self to one who willing to take all she is! What about the times we take beauty for what is be-holden on the out-side, and never probing beneath her surface….till we are often disappointed with what we have received? This burl was hand cut with a chain saw and then just sat waiting her time which brings out an-other side of beauty, she is patient never demanding her way or feeling the need to be right. I can remember how I dealt with 'situation control', before liver disease showed me who was really in control. She knows that her life has now been placed in my hands and soon will come the knife, chisel, gouge too sculpture a new image. In all of this we shall yet also learn some of what beauty can teach us as I sculpture a 'wooden beauty'.

Next on my blog story in this series, I will turn the wood around and we shall see if there be any beauty in-side….? As I start getting more involved in this sculpture, the pictures will start showing more of the tools I am using and their purpose for this work of art. We shall also be viewing how the wood takes on a new life of it's own….which I can only hope also be-comes my story, when one day I get a second chance at life!

Shalom
GODSPEED
freeman
Click to expand...
that is the most powerful posting you have made, (to me anyway…. )
it is so beautiful - it made me cry, it made my Spirit soar, it made we long to go walk in my gardens..
beautiful Frank. Beautiful
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reggiek
frank said:
Wood and I....Sculpture

Wood and I….Sculpture


….while walking down the isles of life's design,
i was roiled enough to loose my way on a walk-about,
the forest and trees no-longer fed this hunger within,
and for days becoming years my dreams died as inaesthetic….

….that was in-deed the hole i dug until i had no-strength dig deeper,
what came next was confronting my dragon and refusing his lies any-more,
so i went back to the woods fearing to hope and believe what i might find,
what i found was that whether i failed or succeeded that choice was not mine,

….life and i plus wood cannot ever truly be taken away unless i let my dreams go,
so i set my eyes on some wood and started hearing the wood as it told a story,
the story took me back too times past when men sculptured the wood by hand,
next i took a piece of maple burl and cut off a log sitting out in my log station….

….now again i have started getting my passion for wood back after two years plus,
this silence of my being is one i don't call bad or good as it has just been where 'i am',
my working the wood and sculpture is firmly set in my mind till my body brings closure,
wood sculpture will resurrect my mind-my body will resurrect by liver transplant or death,
--this is the story that the wood told me--
-by flp
--------------------------------------------------

So what 'pray tell' has all these words been speaking about up until this point, while gleaning some wisdom for now and any now's to come. Lets take a fresh look at the cut burl, refusing to be led amiss by time and; ''well it's just a piece of wood''. How many times have I said this, only to miss out on the beauty that has all-ready been written within the wood.

Beauty only gives her-self to one who willing to take all she is! What about the times we take beauty for what is be-holden on the out-side, and never probing beneath her surface….till we are often disappointed with what we have received? This burl was hand cut with a chain saw and then just sat waiting her time which brings out an-other side of beauty, she is patient never demanding her way or feeling the need to be right. I can remember how I dealt with 'situation control', before liver disease showed me who was really in control. She knows that her life has now been placed in my hands and soon will come the knife, chisel, gouge too sculpture a new image. In all of this we shall yet also learn some of what beauty can teach us as I sculpture a 'wooden beauty'.

Next on my blog story in this series, I will turn the wood around and we shall see if there be any beauty in-side….? As I start getting more involved in this sculpture, the pictures will start showing more of the tools I am using and their purpose for this work of art. We shall also be viewing how the wood takes on a new life of it's own….which I can only hope also be-comes my story, when one day I get a second chance at life!

Shalom
GODSPEED
freeman
Click to expand...
Great to see you back Frank….excellent words for all and as thought provoking as ever…..I am looking forward to seeing the other side.

How is your barn doing? My hope is it is fairing well and that you will be able to continue your reconstruction journey.
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Frank
frank said:
Wood and I....Sculpture

Wood and I….Sculpture


….while walking down the isles of life's design,
i was roiled enough to loose my way on a walk-about,
the forest and trees no-longer fed this hunger within,
and for days becoming years my dreams died as inaesthetic….

….that was in-deed the hole i dug until i had no-strength dig deeper,
what came next was confronting my dragon and refusing his lies any-more,
so i went back to the woods fearing to hope and believe what i might find,
what i found was that whether i failed or succeeded that choice was not mine,

….life and i plus wood cannot ever truly be taken away unless i let my dreams go,
so i set my eyes on some wood and started hearing the wood as it told a story,
the story took me back too times past when men sculptured the wood by hand,
next i took a piece of maple burl and cut off a log sitting out in my log station….

….now again i have started getting my passion for wood back after two years plus,
this silence of my being is one i don't call bad or good as it has just been where 'i am',
my working the wood and sculpture is firmly set in my mind till my body brings closure,
wood sculpture will resurrect my mind-my body will resurrect by liver transplant or death,
--this is the story that the wood told me--
-by flp
--------------------------------------------------

So what 'pray tell' has all these words been speaking about up until this point, while gleaning some wisdom for now and any now's to come. Lets take a fresh look at the cut burl, refusing to be led amiss by time and; ''well it's just a piece of wood''. How many times have I said this, only to miss out on the beauty that has all-ready been written within the wood.

Beauty only gives her-self to one who willing to take all she is! What about the times we take beauty for what is be-holden on the out-side, and never probing beneath her surface….till we are often disappointed with what we have received? This burl was hand cut with a chain saw and then just sat waiting her time which brings out an-other side of beauty, she is patient never demanding her way or feeling the need to be right. I can remember how I dealt with 'situation control', before liver disease showed me who was really in control. She knows that her life has now been placed in my hands and soon will come the knife, chisel, gouge too sculpture a new image. In all of this we shall yet also learn some of what beauty can teach us as I sculpture a 'wooden beauty'.

Next on my blog story in this series, I will turn the wood around and we shall see if there be any beauty in-side….? As I start getting more involved in this sculpture, the pictures will start showing more of the tools I am using and their purpose for this work of art. We shall also be viewing how the wood takes on a new life of it's own….which I can only hope also be-comes my story, when one day I get a second chance at life!

Shalom
GODSPEED
freeman
Click to expand...
Hi Debbie;
You caught me just as I was going to turn the laptop off, after that I can view by my smart phone. I tend to shut down on Sundays and sleep a lot.

To say this is the 'most power-full' posting to you, is in-deed an honor of words you have placed at my feet. This is what I have been trying to say and write….''Beauty can do that….!''

Thank you.
GODSPEED
freeman
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lew
frank said:
Wood and I....Sculpture

Wood and I….Sculpture


….while walking down the isles of life's design,
i was roiled enough to loose my way on a walk-about,
the forest and trees no-longer fed this hunger within,
and for days becoming years my dreams died as inaesthetic….

….that was in-deed the hole i dug until i had no-strength dig deeper,
what came next was confronting my dragon and refusing his lies any-more,
so i went back to the woods fearing to hope and believe what i might find,
what i found was that whether i failed or succeeded that choice was not mine,

….life and i plus wood cannot ever truly be taken away unless i let my dreams go,
so i set my eyes on some wood and started hearing the wood as it told a story,
the story took me back too times past when men sculptured the wood by hand,
next i took a piece of maple burl and cut off a log sitting out in my log station….

….now again i have started getting my passion for wood back after two years plus,
this silence of my being is one i don't call bad or good as it has just been where 'i am',
my working the wood and sculpture is firmly set in my mind till my body brings closure,
wood sculpture will resurrect my mind-my body will resurrect by liver transplant or death,
--this is the story that the wood told me--
-by flp
--------------------------------------------------

So what 'pray tell' has all these words been speaking about up until this point, while gleaning some wisdom for now and any now's to come. Lets take a fresh look at the cut burl, refusing to be led amiss by time and; ''well it's just a piece of wood''. How many times have I said this, only to miss out on the beauty that has all-ready been written within the wood.

Beauty only gives her-self to one who willing to take all she is! What about the times we take beauty for what is be-holden on the out-side, and never probing beneath her surface….till we are often disappointed with what we have received? This burl was hand cut with a chain saw and then just sat waiting her time which brings out an-other side of beauty, she is patient never demanding her way or feeling the need to be right. I can remember how I dealt with 'situation control', before liver disease showed me who was really in control. She knows that her life has now been placed in my hands and soon will come the knife, chisel, gouge too sculpture a new image. In all of this we shall yet also learn some of what beauty can teach us as I sculpture a 'wooden beauty'.

Next on my blog story in this series, I will turn the wood around and we shall see if there be any beauty in-side….? As I start getting more involved in this sculpture, the pictures will start showing more of the tools I am using and their purpose for this work of art. We shall also be viewing how the wood takes on a new life of it's own….which I can only hope also be-comes my story, when one day I get a second chance at life!

Shalom
GODSPEED
freeman
Click to expand...
Thank you for these words, Frank.
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Chipncut
frank said:
Wood and I....Sculpture

Wood and I….Sculpture


….while walking down the isles of life's design,
i was roiled enough to loose my way on a walk-about,
the forest and trees no-longer fed this hunger within,
and for days becoming years my dreams died as inaesthetic….

….that was in-deed the hole i dug until i had no-strength dig deeper,
what came next was confronting my dragon and refusing his lies any-more,
so i went back to the woods fearing to hope and believe what i might find,
what i found was that whether i failed or succeeded that choice was not mine,

….life and i plus wood cannot ever truly be taken away unless i let my dreams go,
so i set my eyes on some wood and started hearing the wood as it told a story,
the story took me back too times past when men sculptured the wood by hand,
next i took a piece of maple burl and cut off a log sitting out in my log station….

….now again i have started getting my passion for wood back after two years plus,
this silence of my being is one i don't call bad or good as it has just been where 'i am',
my working the wood and sculpture is firmly set in my mind till my body brings closure,
wood sculpture will resurrect my mind-my body will resurrect by liver transplant or death,
--this is the story that the wood told me--
-by flp
--------------------------------------------------

So what 'pray tell' has all these words been speaking about up until this point, while gleaning some wisdom for now and any now's to come. Lets take a fresh look at the cut burl, refusing to be led amiss by time and; ''well it's just a piece of wood''. How many times have I said this, only to miss out on the beauty that has all-ready been written within the wood.

Beauty only gives her-self to one who willing to take all she is! What about the times we take beauty for what is be-holden on the out-side, and never probing beneath her surface….till we are often disappointed with what we have received? This burl was hand cut with a chain saw and then just sat waiting her time which brings out an-other side of beauty, she is patient never demanding her way or feeling the need to be right. I can remember how I dealt with 'situation control', before liver disease showed me who was really in control. She knows that her life has now been placed in my hands and soon will come the knife, chisel, gouge too sculpture a new image. In all of this we shall yet also learn some of what beauty can teach us as I sculpture a 'wooden beauty'.

Next on my blog story in this series, I will turn the wood around and we shall see if there be any beauty in-side….? As I start getting more involved in this sculpture, the pictures will start showing more of the tools I am using and their purpose for this work of art. We shall also be viewing how the wood takes on a new life of it's own….which I can only hope also be-comes my story, when one day I get a second chance at life!

Shalom
GODSPEED
freeman
Click to expand...
Beautiful words, that's for sure.

Now i'll be anxiously waiting to see the other side of it.

PS: I think Martin should appoint you as poet laureate of LJs.
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jockmike2
frank said:
Wood and I....Sculpture

Wood and I….Sculpture


….while walking down the isles of life's design,
i was roiled enough to loose my way on a walk-about,
the forest and trees no-longer fed this hunger within,
and for days becoming years my dreams died as inaesthetic….

….that was in-deed the hole i dug until i had no-strength dig deeper,
what came next was confronting my dragon and refusing his lies any-more,
so i went back to the woods fearing to hope and believe what i might find,
what i found was that whether i failed or succeeded that choice was not mine,

….life and i plus wood cannot ever truly be taken away unless i let my dreams go,
so i set my eyes on some wood and started hearing the wood as it told a story,
the story took me back too times past when men sculptured the wood by hand,
next i took a piece of maple burl and cut off a log sitting out in my log station….

….now again i have started getting my passion for wood back after two years plus,
this silence of my being is one i don't call bad or good as it has just been where 'i am',
my working the wood and sculpture is firmly set in my mind till my body brings closure,
wood sculpture will resurrect my mind-my body will resurrect by liver transplant or death,
--this is the story that the wood told me--
-by flp
--------------------------------------------------

So what 'pray tell' has all these words been speaking about up until this point, while gleaning some wisdom for now and any now's to come. Lets take a fresh look at the cut burl, refusing to be led amiss by time and; ''well it's just a piece of wood''. How many times have I said this, only to miss out on the beauty that has all-ready been written within the wood.

Beauty only gives her-self to one who willing to take all she is! What about the times we take beauty for what is be-holden on the out-side, and never probing beneath her surface….till we are often disappointed with what we have received? This burl was hand cut with a chain saw and then just sat waiting her time which brings out an-other side of beauty, she is patient never demanding her way or feeling the need to be right. I can remember how I dealt with 'situation control', before liver disease showed me who was really in control. She knows that her life has now been placed in my hands and soon will come the knife, chisel, gouge too sculpture a new image. In all of this we shall yet also learn some of what beauty can teach us as I sculpture a 'wooden beauty'.

Next on my blog story in this series, I will turn the wood around and we shall see if there be any beauty in-side….? As I start getting more involved in this sculpture, the pictures will start showing more of the tools I am using and their purpose for this work of art. We shall also be viewing how the wood takes on a new life of it's own….which I can only hope also be-comes my story, when one day I get a second chance at life!

Shalom
GODSPEED
freeman
Click to expand...
Hello, old friend. I can only repeat Ms. Deb, and Dick's well put idea. You are an inspiration, to that there is no doubt. You leave us lost in the middle of a huge forest, with ferns, moss and tall beautiful trees, flowing streams and beautiful craggy, snow capped mountains, reflected in a sky blue lake.
Again, as others, I await your next visual, verbal message and pray for that life giving gift, you so eagerly await. All my best Frank, God Bless, mike
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Karson
frank said:
Wood and I....Sculpture

Wood and I….Sculpture


….while walking down the isles of life's design,
i was roiled enough to loose my way on a walk-about,
the forest and trees no-longer fed this hunger within,
and for days becoming years my dreams died as inaesthetic….

….that was in-deed the hole i dug until i had no-strength dig deeper,
what came next was confronting my dragon and refusing his lies any-more,
so i went back to the woods fearing to hope and believe what i might find,
what i found was that whether i failed or succeeded that choice was not mine,

….life and i plus wood cannot ever truly be taken away unless i let my dreams go,
so i set my eyes on some wood and started hearing the wood as it told a story,
the story took me back too times past when men sculptured the wood by hand,
next i took a piece of maple burl and cut off a log sitting out in my log station….

….now again i have started getting my passion for wood back after two years plus,
this silence of my being is one i don't call bad or good as it has just been where 'i am',
my working the wood and sculpture is firmly set in my mind till my body brings closure,
wood sculpture will resurrect my mind-my body will resurrect by liver transplant or death,
--this is the story that the wood told me--
-by flp
--------------------------------------------------

So what 'pray tell' has all these words been speaking about up until this point, while gleaning some wisdom for now and any now's to come. Lets take a fresh look at the cut burl, refusing to be led amiss by time and; ''well it's just a piece of wood''. How many times have I said this, only to miss out on the beauty that has all-ready been written within the wood.

Beauty only gives her-self to one who willing to take all she is! What about the times we take beauty for what is be-holden on the out-side, and never probing beneath her surface….till we are often disappointed with what we have received? This burl was hand cut with a chain saw and then just sat waiting her time which brings out an-other side of beauty, she is patient never demanding her way or feeling the need to be right. I can remember how I dealt with 'situation control', before liver disease showed me who was really in control. She knows that her life has now been placed in my hands and soon will come the knife, chisel, gouge too sculpture a new image. In all of this we shall yet also learn some of what beauty can teach us as I sculpture a 'wooden beauty'.

Next on my blog story in this series, I will turn the wood around and we shall see if there be any beauty in-side….? As I start getting more involved in this sculpture, the pictures will start showing more of the tools I am using and their purpose for this work of art. We shall also be viewing how the wood takes on a new life of it's own….which I can only hope also be-comes my story, when one day I get a second chance at life!

Shalom
GODSPEED
freeman
Click to expand...
Frank: My prayers go out to you and the peace that comes from picking up the tools of man, and using them on the creation of God. May your insight bring out the inherent beauty of the wood and show it all to the world.
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jackass
frank said:
Wood and I....Sculpture

Wood and I….Sculpture


….while walking down the isles of life's design,
i was roiled enough to loose my way on a walk-about,
the forest and trees no-longer fed this hunger within,
and for days becoming years my dreams died as inaesthetic….

….that was in-deed the hole i dug until i had no-strength dig deeper,
what came next was confronting my dragon and refusing his lies any-more,
so i went back to the woods fearing to hope and believe what i might find,
what i found was that whether i failed or succeeded that choice was not mine,

….life and i plus wood cannot ever truly be taken away unless i let my dreams go,
so i set my eyes on some wood and started hearing the wood as it told a story,
the story took me back too times past when men sculptured the wood by hand,
next i took a piece of maple burl and cut off a log sitting out in my log station….

….now again i have started getting my passion for wood back after two years plus,
this silence of my being is one i don't call bad or good as it has just been where 'i am',
my working the wood and sculpture is firmly set in my mind till my body brings closure,
wood sculpture will resurrect my mind-my body will resurrect by liver transplant or death,
--this is the story that the wood told me--
-by flp
--------------------------------------------------

So what 'pray tell' has all these words been speaking about up until this point, while gleaning some wisdom for now and any now's to come. Lets take a fresh look at the cut burl, refusing to be led amiss by time and; ''well it's just a piece of wood''. How many times have I said this, only to miss out on the beauty that has all-ready been written within the wood.

Beauty only gives her-self to one who willing to take all she is! What about the times we take beauty for what is be-holden on the out-side, and never probing beneath her surface….till we are often disappointed with what we have received? This burl was hand cut with a chain saw and then just sat waiting her time which brings out an-other side of beauty, she is patient never demanding her way or feeling the need to be right. I can remember how I dealt with 'situation control', before liver disease showed me who was really in control. She knows that her life has now been placed in my hands and soon will come the knife, chisel, gouge too sculpture a new image. In all of this we shall yet also learn some of what beauty can teach us as I sculpture a 'wooden beauty'.

Next on my blog story in this series, I will turn the wood around and we shall see if there be any beauty in-side….? As I start getting more involved in this sculpture, the pictures will start showing more of the tools I am using and their purpose for this work of art. We shall also be viewing how the wood takes on a new life of it's own….which I can only hope also be-comes my story, when one day I get a second chance at life!

Shalom
GODSPEED
freeman
Click to expand...
Honest, I was sitting on my couch watching TV and said to myself, I wonder whatever became of Frank in NH. Began doing a search and wow, unrecognizable picture' mabey it is him. I only had to read one sentence to be able to say to myself "FRANK"S BACK". Where ya been? Now I can look forward to eloquent prose and writing only exceeded by the most well known authors in the world. Welcome back Frank, and don't leave again.
Jack
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Bearpie
frank said:
Wood and I....Sculpture

Wood and I….Sculpture


….while walking down the isles of life's design,
i was roiled enough to loose my way on a walk-about,
the forest and trees no-longer fed this hunger within,
and for days becoming years my dreams died as inaesthetic….

….that was in-deed the hole i dug until i had no-strength dig deeper,
what came next was confronting my dragon and refusing his lies any-more,
so i went back to the woods fearing to hope and believe what i might find,
what i found was that whether i failed or succeeded that choice was not mine,

….life and i plus wood cannot ever truly be taken away unless i let my dreams go,
so i set my eyes on some wood and started hearing the wood as it told a story,
the story took me back too times past when men sculptured the wood by hand,
next i took a piece of maple burl and cut off a log sitting out in my log station….

….now again i have started getting my passion for wood back after two years plus,
this silence of my being is one i don't call bad or good as it has just been where 'i am',
my working the wood and sculpture is firmly set in my mind till my body brings closure,
wood sculpture will resurrect my mind-my body will resurrect by liver transplant or death,
--this is the story that the wood told me--
-by flp
--------------------------------------------------

So what 'pray tell' has all these words been speaking about up until this point, while gleaning some wisdom for now and any now's to come. Lets take a fresh look at the cut burl, refusing to be led amiss by time and; ''well it's just a piece of wood''. How many times have I said this, only to miss out on the beauty that has all-ready been written within the wood.

Beauty only gives her-self to one who willing to take all she is! What about the times we take beauty for what is be-holden on the out-side, and never probing beneath her surface….till we are often disappointed with what we have received? This burl was hand cut with a chain saw and then just sat waiting her time which brings out an-other side of beauty, she is patient never demanding her way or feeling the need to be right. I can remember how I dealt with 'situation control', before liver disease showed me who was really in control. She knows that her life has now been placed in my hands and soon will come the knife, chisel, gouge too sculpture a new image. In all of this we shall yet also learn some of what beauty can teach us as I sculpture a 'wooden beauty'.

Next on my blog story in this series, I will turn the wood around and we shall see if there be any beauty in-side….? As I start getting more involved in this sculpture, the pictures will start showing more of the tools I am using and their purpose for this work of art. We shall also be viewing how the wood takes on a new life of it's own….which I can only hope also be-comes my story, when one day I get a second chance at life!

Shalom
GODSPEED
freeman
Click to expand...
Welcome back my friend, I have missed your postings. I turned my laptop around to see if I could see the other side of the piece of wood, sigh! No such luck! Guess I'll have to wait. Good to have you back.

Erwin, Jacksonville, FL
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Frank
frank said:
Wood and I....Sculpture

Wood and I….Sculpture


….while walking down the isles of life's design,
i was roiled enough to loose my way on a walk-about,
the forest and trees no-longer fed this hunger within,
and for days becoming years my dreams died as inaesthetic….

….that was in-deed the hole i dug until i had no-strength dig deeper,
what came next was confronting my dragon and refusing his lies any-more,
so i went back to the woods fearing to hope and believe what i might find,
what i found was that whether i failed or succeeded that choice was not mine,

….life and i plus wood cannot ever truly be taken away unless i let my dreams go,
so i set my eyes on some wood and started hearing the wood as it told a story,
the story took me back too times past when men sculptured the wood by hand,
next i took a piece of maple burl and cut off a log sitting out in my log station….

….now again i have started getting my passion for wood back after two years plus,
this silence of my being is one i don't call bad or good as it has just been where 'i am',
my working the wood and sculpture is firmly set in my mind till my body brings closure,
wood sculpture will resurrect my mind-my body will resurrect by liver transplant or death,
--this is the story that the wood told me--
-by flp
--------------------------------------------------

So what 'pray tell' has all these words been speaking about up until this point, while gleaning some wisdom for now and any now's to come. Lets take a fresh look at the cut burl, refusing to be led amiss by time and; ''well it's just a piece of wood''. How many times have I said this, only to miss out on the beauty that has all-ready been written within the wood.

Beauty only gives her-self to one who willing to take all she is! What about the times we take beauty for what is be-holden on the out-side, and never probing beneath her surface….till we are often disappointed with what we have received? This burl was hand cut with a chain saw and then just sat waiting her time which brings out an-other side of beauty, she is patient never demanding her way or feeling the need to be right. I can remember how I dealt with 'situation control', before liver disease showed me who was really in control. She knows that her life has now been placed in my hands and soon will come the knife, chisel, gouge too sculpture a new image. In all of this we shall yet also learn some of what beauty can teach us as I sculpture a 'wooden beauty'.

Next on my blog story in this series, I will turn the wood around and we shall see if there be any beauty in-side….? As I start getting more involved in this sculpture, the pictures will start showing more of the tools I am using and their purpose for this work of art. We shall also be viewing how the wood takes on a new life of it's own….which I can only hope also be-comes my story, when one day I get a second chance at life!

Shalom
GODSPEED
freeman
Click to expand...
....again I will add to all these comments by saying:

Thanks To All of You;
--whom have answered with such comments!

Next is to answer two questions put forth here;
1.) reggiek asked; "How is your barn doing?" The barn has been finished up some 95% and well….I've pretty much shut her down for a little over one year now. Time will tell what comes next, although if I get my transplant I will not be able to do woodworking in there for about one year….or when-ever.

2.) jackass asked; "Where ya been?" Bless you my friend jackass since I guess you never read my earlier blog stories. These told of my liver disease and the uncertainty of all that now was given to me on my plate. To tell you the truth I still live in a 'land of limbo', at least that's what my doctors and surgeons call it.

Thank you all.
GODSPEED
freeman
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Frank
2
Sculptured Wood Beauty

Sculptured Wood Beauty

''....a time to turn the page! He who lives in the woods and forest, will at getimians break forth into the many places of solitude, where he sits with the wood spirits as they offer forth words of wisdom and truth…."


….as i walk out the stories that have been written within my-self,
mine eyes have be-come more conductive to light and darkness,
which has be-come a most use-full tool in my tool wrap called life,
for what individual can dream and then see their dreams bear fruit….

….in my earliest blog stories here i talked of the connection that feeds,
that connection was of what will each of us do with imagination and dreams,
one can take the approach that all this is an abstract of deny reality in seeing,
or one can choose to be-lieve for the betterment that comes from excogitation….

….so once again i started be-lieving in my-self and decided to conduct from life,
which in turn took me back to my tree roots where i embarked to be-come intertwined,
with wood once again and then a lumberjock friend sent me a beauti-full wooden box,
that wooden box be-came a tease to me as i watched it day to day from a spot of envy….

….that was when I remembered this piece of a wooden burl in the barn be-coming enamored,
enamored with beauty of a maple burl from where I sat was the passion that be-came fire,
now that one has beauty and the passion of wood brings us to a point of action and decision,
by which we will all be known of men as a talker or doer before the doors of truth and love….
-by flp
---------------------------------------------------

Once upon a time about three years ago I cut a maple, in order to relieve the stress being put upon that part of our land of too many trees that were beginning to clutter. My wife was with me clearing the clutter of fallen branches while I also de-limbed. We were breaking new ground and creating a new road into a part of the forest we had never taken the atv into, except by walking. When I'm working out here with my wife….there's not much stopping since she's the opposite of me….no-silence, no-meditation out here, but we also know each other very good in the forest which makes for good, safe work together out here.

As with all log gathering, very often you will come upon a tree that for some reason of design just draws you. So it was with this tree, and even though this one had a burl on the side of the tree, that alone is not the purpose of why I cut this tree. So I took the chain saw and brought this one down and the next step in this logging process would be my burn pile. Can I count the times that a piece of the tree is saved from the firewood pile not to face into the belly of the beast….our wood-stove?

"….if one could walk into the mind of a wood burl, what would the understanding be. Greater and larger trees than this one have all met face to face with the wood cutter, who ply's his trade so that other's might have wood. It's not the wood that one takes, but the wood that is found that produces sculptured wood beauties such as I have loved. Together, tree and I conduct an agreement that passes the rights of one into the hands of an-other. By this covenant we will live-die and abide…."


"….did you take the time today to really stare into the face of this cut maple burl? On the face of it there appears the saw marks that re-moved the burl from from the tree and this is all bathed in light. Next I look deeply into the inner face, where the soul of this burl draws forth her strength and beauty. Here I find darkness so that just like a lady she might enshroud her-self till the time of more exposure…."

This log sat in the deep woods some years, far removed from other's eyes till I could finish the atv road. And then my strength gave out, excessive anemic condition, along with all else that comes with liver dis-ease….the whole package and more. Next came the settling in of what the doctors and surgeons told me, so I put away all my logging and woodworking tools….this be-came my hell on earth. Over a year ago a friend of mine dragged the log in to be cut up that day for firewood, this is when we noticed the burl and cut her off. The covent we made (tree and I) back then is still in effect today, plus I realize this one piece of 'wood art' might be my last. These decisions are not in my control any longer and so I live the moment of now in each and every day.

There is a lot more yet to come as I transform this 'in the ruff and buff ' burl into what I hope can be worthy of our covenant (between tree and I) and that this burl will have some-thing to say beyond words.

Thank you.
GODSPEED
freeman

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''....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood….''
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