The day after my last post I ran some errands and stopped by the Hanover Art's and Activities Center to pick up a few chunks of maple trimmed off a tree right next to the road. I was able to load the first piece relatively easy. The second a little larger would not cooperate and kicked me in the lower back causing the disk to swell between the 4th and 5th lumbar in my spine. I some how managed to roll the 2nd log back off the sidewalk. 10 minutes later I'm flat in bed and have been there since. I figured it's been about 138 hours and out of that time I have been on my feet maybe a total of 7 hours. I guess it was 4 years ago I was laid up for 2 full weeks. Today as you see I can sit and type again. I'll never play the violin the same.

Boxelder 14x9x4 $110.
This is some gorgeous wood. The bowl was carved last Monday after picking up a truck load from Richmond. I just could not wait and see what was inside those logs. Went back Tuesday and really wore out the back. Being cut down the Friday before the wood has a lot of moisture in it. Had to let it dry 3 days just to finish sand it. It's very stable at this point, but we'll see how it goes in the next few weeks.
A red stain in the wood of living trees caused by Fusarium reticulatum var. negundinis apparently is specific to boxelder. The stain regularly is associated with Cerambycid beetles and the galleries of other insects, but itself does no damage to the wood (http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/Volume_2/acer/negundo.htm).

Yesterday was the last market. A large sigh of relief and sadness. To much yard work neglected all summer long. To many projects around the house put off. I have all winter to get that stuff done now.
If anyone needs that last minute gift just call or e-mail to stop by here at the house to see what is left in inventory. If it's a small piece that will cure fast like a coffee scoop, spreader, spoon or mini bowls I can have those ready next day. Large bowls take at least 2 weeks to cure. If you don't mind waiting to receive a bowl till after Christmas I can carve you one.
Speaking of yard work my close friend Gary has lent me his Katobata front end loader with back hoe tractor. Definitely need more room for logs behind the shop and get them out of the way in the yard. It will probably take week to cut and move what logs I have.

I just had to do another hammer this time even smaller. It reminds me of how I felt in my teen years when I should have been doing home work but instead I'm goofing off again.

I am actually working in the shop, a lot lately. So to break the hectic pace of the days I like to goof off and make something fun. 15 minuets here and there over a couple of days has added up to about 2 hours or so for this little guy. The handle is hickory and head is from a #20 nail. Using a bench grinder to rough out the head then finish grind with a Dremel and diamond bits. If you look close at the second picture and click on it you'll see the handle passes through an oblong hole that took the life of 2 good 1/16" diamond bits. What a shame cut down so early with more to do.