Turn, Turn, Turn

When I was young, one of my favorite songs was, "Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season)". This song was written and composed by Pete Seeger in the 50's but he waited until 1962 to record it. The lyrics come directly from the King James Version of the Bible, Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8. While Seeger wrote the music, the only words he wrote was the closing line, "a time for peace, I swear it's not too late."

There are many times. There is a time to be happy, a time to be sad, a time for beginnings, and a time for ends. All times turn, and the cycle begins anew.

Merriam Webster's On-line Dictionary list 21 meanings of the verb turn, and it is derived from many sources leading back to the Greek "tornos" which means lathe. This is the exact meaning I was looking for, "to turn on a lathe."

This is the subject of this post, turning on a lathe. I met Bill Crone at a local car dealership years ago, but did not know he was a 'turner' until fairly recently. He brought some of his turnings, really works of art, to Little Shop. They are absolutly incredible. But more than the actual objects is the view of the artist. Here is what Bill wrote in his bio:

“I am fortunate to live in the beautiful village of Freedom, NH. It’s a small, close knit community nestled in between the Mount Washington Valley and the Lakes Region.

“My skills as a woodworker are all self-taught, except for a basic wood turning course I took when I purchased my first lathe and an occasional clinic. All of the furniture I make is made from rough lumber. I perform all of the mill work, which allows me to create custom pieces in any desired size. Every one of my creations has its own unique features, which are designed by me or the client. My pieces are made from domestic and exotic woods, and reclaimed lumber.

“My wood turnings are made from both domestic and exotic woods. Some are created using local found wood. Wood turnings are always unique, one-of-a-kind pieces. Sometimes I am able to design and create the wood turnings from start to finish. Oftentimes, however, the wood itself dictates what the final design will be.

“I started woodworking as a hobby, a way to pass a few pleasant hours on my own. I gave many of my first attempts away as gifts. As I grew more skilled with my tools, I started getting more and more requests for special orders and custom pieces. I now create unique gifts and fine furniture, and do restorative repairs on older pieces.

“I have been called a craftsman and an artisan by people who viewed and purchased my work. I’m very proud of my accomplishments as a wood crafter. I appreciate the essence of the wood, and I find that I genuinely enjoy sharing that appreciation with others through my work. I create unique pieces that become heirlooms to be passed on to future generations.”

The pictures are all of Bill's works. They all have a feel of solemnity and are examples of the turner's art. Stop by our shop to hold these pieces to get the true measure of the craftsmanship involved.

May all your turnings be true.

Peace, Ken

Migrations

Well, my last blog asked for a gentler, warmer Spring. Today (April 3), the temperature reached 51 F, and the snow is melting. That is not to say that Winter won't return for a while, but Spring is definately on the way. I can hardly wait to start with the flowers in the garden, but that is still some time away as the last frost in this area can come as late as the full moon in May.

Another sure sign that Spring is coming is the return of the Canada Geese, on their way from the wintering grounds in the Chesapeake Bay area to their Summer abodes in Northeastern Canada. I have heard them passing overhead the last few mornings and evenings when my dogs take me out for a walk. It has been foggy or snowing, so I couldn't see them. Finally, this morning, a flight of twenty Geese went by overhead, and they were "onk-onk" communicating with each other as they went by. Magnificant!

We are fortunate to live in the Two Bridges neighborhood of Conway Village. We are at the edge of the village, near the confluence of the Swift River into the Saco River. There are farms and marshlands just across the rivers, so we have many visitors of the wildlife variety within walking distance. I have seen Moose, Bear, Foxes, Coyotes, and many other mammals, and a tremendous variety of bird life, but my favorites are the Geese. When flying, they seem elegant. Added to that is the cooperative nature of their flight.

When Gokoo of Newton, Mass. brought the above artwork to our shop last summer, I just had to have it. It shows a pair of Geese in a Marquetry or Inlay of Wood genre. The picture is composed of many small pieces of wood that together form the images. It is one of several different Marquetry pieces that we have for sale. Gokoo has captured the essence of the Geese and their flight in his artwork.

So, Winter migrates into Spring, and the Geese migrate from South to North. Then the cycle of life changes, and reverses the migration. Then the cycle repeats. Neverending change that somehow stays the same.

Nice talking with you. Hope you have a great rest of the day. Bye.

Spring in New Hampshire

Many years ago, Mark Twain said, "If you don't like the weather in New England, wait 5 minutes." Well, we've been waiting since November and it keeps on snowing. This picture was taken on March 31, 2008 when another 3 inches of snow came down. The snowbanks along the roads and houses are still monstrous. I can hardly bear watching TV with all the ads designed for gardeners in gentler climes. I want green grass and flowers. Enough of all this snow.

This has been a record breaking year. The most snow in 135 years, and we are closing in on the all time record. Concord NH is where the offical records for the state are kept, and they have received 115 inches of snow. Here in North Conway, we have gotten over 144 inches (that is 12 FEET).

I am ready for spring, real spring, not this New Hampshire version.