Category Archives: nature

Bright Bowl

Saw a king fisher on a tree over the water. Does not its arrival mark some new movement in its finny prey? He the bright buoy that betrays it! Henry David Thoreau, Journal Entry, April 11, 1856 As I was … Continue reading

Posted in bird bowls, bowls, nature, paint, quotes and excerpts, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 11 Comments

Windfalls and Wheelbarrows

High winds blew over a lot of trees in our area in two separate episodes recently. The tall maple in the photo stood strong in round one but was toppled in the second. Fortunately, it missed the shed — just. … Continue reading

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Marvels in the Mud

Other than a few days of really cold temperatures, things have been mild around here this winter, with more rain than snow. You’d better have your galoshes on for a tromp across open ground. Saturday, temperatures dropped down to about … Continue reading

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Thanksgiving Time

One thing about late Autumn, it displays the stubborn simplicities of the earth. Man may contrive himself into all kinds of human complications, but this earth which bore him and will be his home until the end of his days … Continue reading

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Walnut Bowls and Hosta Flowers

Earlier this week, I was preparing to take some photos in the shop of two recently-finished walnut bowls, but the light filtering into the shop wasn’t really bringing out the color variations in the wood. I looked into the back … Continue reading

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Tulip Tree Flowers

Hardly too much attention can be bestowed on flowers…Flowers were made to be seen, not overlooked. Henry David Thoreau, Journal, 15 June 1852 My son, Noah, and I got out to the river together for a couple hours of trout … Continue reading

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Esherick Exhibition

Over the last several years, I’ve enjoyed a deeper exploration into the work and life of Wharton Esherick. There is much to admire and contemplate. Esherick believed he had been overtrained as a painter and discovered his most creative expression … Continue reading

Posted in events, finding wood, green woodworking, Lettering, nature, publications, quotes and excerpts, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Goose-Inspired Sugar Maple Bowl

What a dull world if we knew all about geese! Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac (1949) Geese still hold plenty of mystery for me. In this part of the world, they are Canada geese. Their abundance makes them easy … Continue reading

Posted in bird bowls, figure, finding wood, nature, quotes and excerpts, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 28 Comments

Explorations in the Deep Snow

A lot of snow has fallen around here over the past couple weeks, and, after doing the necessary digging out, we’ve been enjoying it. Noah and Chip made a dog igloo in the back yard. Chip loves the snow, but … Continue reading

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Winter Whittled Bird

On a “cold, cold, wet day” this past weekend, I sat warm and dry in the shop by the window and whittled a little bird from a pine branch. Winter birds bring a special joy. It’s magical to be in … Continue reading

Posted in bird bowls, carving, finding wood, nature, patterns, sketch, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 26 Comments