It's been a while since my last post, so let's get started.

In the autumn of 2018 I got out my sassafras boards and began making a bookcase.  They were really nice boards with lovely grain and few knots.  My challenge was to make the shelf unit I wanted with only the lumber I had.  As I said, they were lovely boards, but they did have some warps and twists that had to be considered in every component.  I like to make bookcases and shelving with sliding dovetail carcass construction.  I have also long ago put aside plywood backs for real-wood framed paneled construction, maybe except for units with the most utilitarian of purposes.  I wanted this unit to be in-the-round, so the extra work of bookmatching panels and mortice-and-tenon framing was worth the effort.  I was thankful to have enough sassafras for everything, even though I cut a shelf short and had to piece another one together, and I only have small scraps left over.  The doors are very attractive and nice to look at every day.  I guess it is Craftsman style.

I had about everything completed on the bookcase when I was contacted for a blue violin.  If you read the recent projects page you can learn all about that.  I put off finishing the bookcase until the blue violin was done, paying customers and all.  I like to think I have a good enough imagination, but up to then I hadn't been willing to make blue, or purple, or green instruments.  I did make a pinkish mandolin, a custom order, and you can see a yellow violin on the Violin Page, but the wood on that one was naturally yellow.  But after "Chandraneel" and time permitting, I think I will try an emerald green or grape purple violin some day.

After Chandraneel, I went back to finish the bookcase and moved it into the house.  Then I started my next project, a Mook Jong.  Ever since I took my son to a Kung Fu teacher, I thought a Mook would be a really interesting thing to build, and it is.  First, you have to get a log that will finish out to five feet long and nine inches in diameter.  Then you have to figure out a way to turn it to the preceeding dimensions.  By the way, logs this big like to crack open.  Once the log is dimensioned, then you lay out the mortices for the arms and leg and begin cutting them with long drill bits and chisels.  When all that is done, you make three arms and one leg.  After they're fitted, then you gotta figure out how it will be mounted for use, which can vary depending on how much space you have and if it will be permanently mounted or not.  I haven't done this yet, but one can fill the big cracks (mentioned earlier) with an expensive epoxy, which can add color as well as integrity to the log.  Once everything is done and mounted, you can punch and kick and practice your bad moves, and only one of you gets tired or hurt.  Guess who.

I had a bit of kind providence fall down on my neighbor's property, in the form of a large maple tree.  Where the tree was split open I could see that there was a lot of curly grain suitable for instruments.  With permission from my CFO (wife) I was authorized to purchase a chain saw and cut what I could into managable pieces, and now I'm waiting for it to cure.  At my current rate of production, there may be enough wood to last the rest of my life, for fiddle making anyway.

In November I was asked about making a Great Wheel spinning wheel.  Sure, why not.  Guess what, there are no plans available for a great wheel, at least that I could find.  I did find a wheel dimension, but that was it.  Thankfully I was able to get some measurements from a wheel that is housed at a local living history site, as well as insights on construction details.  There are lots of cool things to do in making a spinning wheel.  There are the turnings for legs, posts, handles, spokes and all.  A wheel hub which can hopefully be made from a single solid four inch blank and not from a lamenated one.  Most of the mortices are tapered, and naturally you can't just go down to your local home improvement or even fine woodworking store to buy tapering tools, no, you gotta make them yourself.  You get to cobble together a steam chamber so you can bend the wheel treads...oh yeah, you gotta make the forms for the wheel treads.  And you get to use your metal working skills to make a spindle.  Anyway, lots of skills necessary and a lot of fun.  I spun some pitiful looking yarn, but didn't get the chance to get good at spinning as my customer was anxious to take possession.  She lent me a copy of "The Alden Amos Big Book of Handspinning" which will make your head explode with all of the history and guidance for fiber production and preparation.  A second wheel is in the "thinking about" stage.

I apologize for the long wait between posts.  Though I'm not always writing, I am not idle, as there is plenty to do.

Hi everyone.  Thank you for checking in again with all of the latest goings-on here in SW Virginia.  Let's get started.

I finally completed my bedroom furniture project.  In fact, I completed several projects this past summer, but I'll start with the furniture.  I was able to get the headboards and night stands lacquered and assembled.  If you recall from a previous blahg, I have just a few short scraps of white oak remaining from a rather large stack of oak lumber I purchased 20 years ago.  My wife and I are most pleased with the pieces, and we hope for years of use from them.

We also replaced our old carpet with carpet tiles.  It was worst-case-scenario as far as the prep work concerned, but again the finished result was worth the effort. 

I finished edging my workshop and a section of the yard.  I started that project last year.  It looks good, and I would recommend to use concrete (cinder) edging as opposed to wood landscape timbers for bordering your yard, as they won't warp and twist out of place, and if set in the ground well, they won't move much when the the ground freezes during winter.  They won't rot or get eaten up by bugs either.

In the shop, I made a new stand for my joiner, then refit my buffer and grinder to some existing stands, making all three easier to use.  And I did some improvements to the dust collection system that have noticeably improved efficiency.

"Bullisimo" has been completed, but is actually now called "Bull-Dacious".   It's a really nice instrument, and I will get pictures and a Youtube link posted soon.  I happened to find a small gold hoop on my school bus that may make an exceptional nose ring for the bull, so keep checking in.

Lastly, in addition to our custodial duties I was assigned to a bus route in our area.  There is a bus load of kids that ride it, and I'm proud to say I've learned all of their names already.  The kids love it when I sing to them.  They like songs by the Carpenter's, The Lion Sleeps Tonight, The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round, Broadway Musical favorites...it's just like riding with Dad in the station wagon back in the day, only this ride is daily and might last for years.

That's all for now.  Thank you for visiting.

I can't believe how fast time goes, and I've been putting off any blahg entries because of all the other things I have keep up with, and I thank everyone (anyone?) who has been checking for updates.

I completed construction on my bedroom project, but had to put up a carport last summer, so the furniture is still in the shop waiting for lacquer.  Maybe this summer.

I started a fiddle last fall, and construction is almost finished.  I told my friend Jim B. in California that I ruined two neck blanks trying to carve a bull head.  I'm happy to inform everyone (anyone?) that the third attempt was successful, and "Bullisimo" is mooving forward to completion.  See the photos below.

Meanwhile, I'm driving a school bus everyday and having a blast doing it.  Custodial work is keeping us busy as well, and our son's baseball activities are in full swing.  HA

​Thank you for looking in on things.!

      The year was 1993, when woodworking was still just a hobby for me, and my day job was an auto technician at a local service station in Tucson, AZ.  I was really into Period Furniture at the time, and had just finished a cherry wood Queene Anne Highboy.  The design incorporated beading strips around the drawer fronts for accent, and everything looked grand, a beautiful design well done.  Mostly.  In case you are not familiar with atmospheric conditions of different regions across the U.S.A., Virginia has a much higher humidity level than the desert southwest, which leads to wood expansion and consequently swollen drawers that won't fully shut on beautiful well made period reprductions.  But we lived with it...and lived with it...everyday...for over two decades...not being able to fully close the drawers...and too busy to take the time to correct them...until two months ago.  I had actually milled the replacement beading strips a year or two ago, but got busy until just after school started this year, and finally re-fit the drawers.  Now at least twice a week I will say aloud that it is nice to be able to fully close the drawers.
     Now that redo got me obsessing about some other projects completed over the years that need some retro work, like my first mandolin that needs some thinning and weight reduction, and a guitar back that maybe should be replaced because for some reason the outward dome shape became inverted, and though it sounds good, it looks not so good.  And after finishing a violin reconstruction for a customer, I am needing to do a similar job on another violin my neighbor gave me that she would like to pass on to someone wanting to learn to play.  Which brings me to the twenty year old boards.
      When I first moved to Virginia, I purchased a stack of 10 to 12 foot white oak lumber and thought, "Oh Boy, the stuff I'll make with this!"  And over the years I have made some stuff, but they lost their excitement, and so I still have some of these boards, and have decided to make new headboard/shelf units for us and our son. Refer to the Recent Project page coming soon.  But I'll still have some left I bet.
     Between bus driving and custodial work, which pays regularly, and luthery and woodwork, which is much more interesting but doesn't pay regularly, it becomes more difficult to convince the CFO (wife) that we should purchase a $2,500.00 spiral cutter planer, and when a woodworker must even bring into question whether or not to buy great new equipment, it's like staring into your vocational mortality.  Will I continue doing this work?  You can help by sending a check or cash to "Save the Woodworker". My address is on each page.

     These past months have been busy for me and the family.  My son graduated from kindergarden, we've gone to the town pool a little, went to the beach for a week, which we've never done before and was a lot of fun, went to Kentucky to visit family, Vacation Bible School, and we try to go to the park when it's not too hot.  
     I haven't started any new projects and probably won't until school starts.  Check out "All That Sass" on my Mandolin page.  I finished this one around the end of April or beginning of May, and it's pretty sweet.
     I've only taken three bus driving trips this summer, mostly because I need to spend time with the boy, but the school year begins two weeks from today for us and I'm getting mentally prepared.
     Otherwise, there aren't a whole lot of things in the works to prattle on and bore you to death about, so check back maybe after we're a month or so in the new school year, and enjoy the remainder of you summer.

     I'm sorry to have kept all of my dedicated and oh-so-lonely readers waiting for a new post.  I don't know if it's worth the wait, but here goes.
     I will post photos of "Carpe Didelphis" soon.  I lost my camera memory card and only recently replaced it.  I took pictures today, and on this post you can see the mandolin I have been working on and should finish before the end of April.  The mandolin is of sassafras and walnut with persimmon accessory wood.  "Carpe Didelphis" is a GREAT fiddle and if you're after something extraordinary, this is it.
     The  great American novel is going slow because of my other activities taking the time.  I think I will try more writing after the mandolin is completed, as I still have a good inventory of instruments, and there is no speculative work I desire to engage in at the time.
     Bus driving is picking up a little after all the snow-day cancellations and schedule changes due to winter.  I enjoy driving mostly, and the trips can be lots of fun.  I encourage anyone but especially the parents of school kids to go the games, plays, and concerts, because the kids sure have remarkable talents and skills.
     Check out the Criddle page.  Thanks for visiting.
     

     I know, it's been over two months since my last post.  I hope there aren't any really lonely people suffering much anxiety waiting for me to write something.  Sure, I'm cute and clever, but there's a whole community of people and activities to be involved with that are equally or even more exciting than, yes, me.
     I've begun varnishing my latest fiddle, "Possum Up A 'Simmon Tree".  I started this one back in June, but decided to complete the 1/4 size one first, then there was bus training and my son's school and driving...and now it's mid-December and here we are. I am so far pleased with my workmanship, and for all those of you possum fiddle enthusiasts out there, you will be really excited when you see the latest feature on my new Criddles...soft ears.  Yes, that's right!  Instead of carving the ears and that process, I am now using leather which I cut into shape and insert in holes.  The big advantage of this method is that the ears won't break if bumped, dropped, or caressed too enthusiastically.  I will post photos soon.
     Driving the school bus has been going well.  I'm not driving as much as when I started, but I've been told that the busiest time is during softball season.  Usually I'm driving students to some scholastic or athletic event or other, and then wait for the event to conclude, then drive'm back.  During the in-between time I nap, read, play the fiddle, or write.  I can watch the event, of course, and do sometimes, and the kids can often be impressive.
     The novel has stalled, but because I have not been using my time as well as I could, not because I've given up or have a block.  I am usually devoting regularly some thought to the story and characters though, so when I start writing again I should have some material.  It is ambitious of one to write stories, history, and other volumes of this and that, and though not everything one reads is a classic or even written well, my opinion of books in general is similar to my opinion of recorded music in general, when I must acknowledge the fact of what has been printed or recorded has been to date not of my origin, and that somebody smarter than me thought something worthy of investment for the literary and listening public, who in turn gets the final say by voting with their money.

     It's been a little over a month since I began my new REAL job, driving the school bus.  So far I've mostly enjoyed the work, and I get to do that really cool bus driver wave to my fellow drivers, and I've had my first almost emergency situation when a couple of students on a hiking trip didn't come back with the pack, and it was stormy and rainy and windy and the daylight was running out and we were way out in the country and the kids didn't have food or water or adequate clothing for long outdoor exposure...but the "Chuck Norris" of school teachers went out (after two energetic students had also gone out, not come back yet, but smartly made a loop from one trail out and another one back in about 45 minutes...well done!) and found the two missing students on a side trail by blowing a whistle, which was about all you could hear because of the wind, all the while I was able to speak with the dispatcher by radio and communicate the situation to which forces were being contacted for search and rescue, when after about an hour after the teacher went looking, here they come around the bend, everyone's okay and they simply took a wrong trail but weren't injured or in need of medical care, and all the people were greatly relieved, including myself, my supervisor, the principal, and the district superintendent.  Anyway, so far, so good.
     Fiddle lessons for my son are slow in getting started.  I'm trying to keep it fun by playing Star Wars music and other things he recognizes, but it's uncomfortable learning to hold the thing, so I will limit the lessons to five minutes at a time for now.  I hope he will learn to like playing, but I think it will be a long term process.
     The great American novel is coming along well.  I am not a full-time anything, let alone author, but my progress has become more steady due to the waiting time I have on the bus trips I drive.  Since the games or tours usually take at least 3 hours, that gives me time to advance the story a little each week, so as long as I stick to the task, I think I can finish the book, and you will be updated on this subject as the months roll on.
     Someone is really checking out my Criddle page this month, so if it's you and you're reading this, I've got another Opossum in the works, and I'm currently working on the neck.  It will be outfitted with persimmon, and I'm going to call it "Carpe Didelphis".
     So long for now.

     There was a disturbance on the porch, and I opened the door to find that Semper Didelphis had found a 1/4 sized companion to screech with.  The little guy is for my son, and features persimmon wood for the accessories.  I think I might call it "Possimmon", but I'm not sure yet.  What do you think?
     I am currently Washington County Virginia's newest, shiniest, and least experienced, school bus driver, as of last week.  To start with it looks like I'll be doing a lot of activity trips like sporting events and day field trips.  I've already driven some, and so far the kids and coaches have been great, and the folks at the Transportation Center are very helpful and professional, with a noticeable spirit of cooperation that, sadly I've already heard from drivers from other counties, doesn't exist everywhere.
So far, so good.
     I've gone back to working on a 4/4 possum Criddle that I started back in May.  I think I will keep Semper Didelphis for myself because I'm writing the next great American novel, and when it's all done I'll need a possum Criddle for the big publicity events that will be required of famous authors, and all the people who want me to sign there copy of my book will naturally want to see one.
     That's all for now.  Be sure to check out the BBTS SALE page if you're interested in a traditional violin. 

     July is winding down fast, and the best way to describe the last few weeks is that events and projects have been scattered, and likely will continue to be until school starts.
     We took two trips in June, one to Kentucky, and one to Oregon.  I wanted to meet up with Jim B. while in OR, but the birth of his grand daughter was later than the doctors predicted, so our schedules didn't work out.  I wanted to play some music with Jim at Lithia Park in Ashland, OR, something on my bucket list.  Jim bought "Possum In A Pear Tree", and it would have been fun to have a two possum jam together.  My son and I got to play in the Pacific Ocean, and we all went on jet boat trip on the Rogue River.  I was mostly really glad to see some of my family.
     My real job training for school bus driving is going well, and I may have my CDL by next week.  Then I will get to drive for reals after school starts.
     I am working on the 1/4 size possum fiddle for my son, and I am on the neck as of this writing.  I do so hope he will want to learn to play, but you can't always force these things.  It will be a fun thing to have around regardless. 
     The way things are going, I don't know if there will be enough time for me to help Jed build a guitar and a mandolin by this spring, so he will need to choose which one he wants to do most, and if there's time for the other, okay.
     I might be having a "Back to School Sale" for August and September.  Contact me if any of you have an interest in violin, and we'll parlez.