SNEAK IN A SPRING

David and I had a good adventure yesterday,

 we took a little hike -almost a mile down this trail-

to arrive at this beautiful hidden gem--a freshwater spring! 

 After a brisk swim and some 

underwater explorations, we headed back down the trail

 to beat the afternoon rain. 

This is a native hibiscus, called a scarlet rosemallow, 

which is always a beautiful pop of red when you spot some!

This is a bass--the way the light reflected it made it look like a ghost!

And a selfie just because we were having fun!

I was so happy to be able to take a hike, to breathe and have only my usual MS pain without all the extras like anemia and know that perhaps the worst of this chapter of health is behind me!

 

LEARNING

So way back in September when I got sick, I had this cool piece of wood loaded to turn into a bowl.  Ten months later, and I am finally getting back to it with some help from my grandson!

This is a knot of Live Oak and as hard as a rock!  It has cool grain and I could 'see' a very primitive bowl when I originally loaded it.  Unfortunately, it has languished.  Well, David helped me clean up the long unused lathe area but first-

he told me I needed a hand grinder with a carving wheel to help make this job possible!  Hooray for Amazon!

He carved out a lot of the unwanted wood and showed me how to use the tool.  I gained confidence as I worked and appreciated his strength to spell me as I tired a lot quicker than he did!

In no time, the bowl I envisioned began to emerge!

I then had the pleasure of teaching him the technique for using a bowl gouge to hollow out the bowl portion of the piece.  

He was used to working with a metal lathe and there was a little bit of a learning curve but he is a very handy young man and picked it up in no time--especially when this was such a bear of a piece to learn on!  I hope to have this finished for my post on Wednesday !  

Today we head to church and then will pick up some Chinese take-out on the way home!

 

JUST LIFE

Bill met this pair at the pond the other day--they are Black Bellied Whistling Ducks;  they are a kind of tree nesting ducks but they don't quack, they really do whistle!

This guy was sunning on the driveway one morning warming up after the rain!  It is an Eastern Racer, one of the best snakes to have in your yard because while they startle you, they are good guards against rats and other vermin!

Inside, this has been the progress in the bathroom's renovation!  We are waiting now for the delivery of the glass shower doors!  Imagine, waiting for an order.....We are thrilled with our contractor's work-it looks just like we imagined!  

And if you haven't smiled yet this morning, you will now!  This is one of the early morning chats between father and son!

 

GOODBYE AND HELLO!

Eli found a scrap from my wood to make the candleholder and the chunk of wood for the planter he found while on a golf cart ride with Grandpa.  He works with tools well and enjoyed the first few coats of shellac!  Patience is acquired through much practice, you know!

He packed up his bounty and we headed north to out rondevous point after church so he could go back to real life.  

What a great week with him!

Today, I will be adding the other 5 blocks 

with gray stars at Quilt Group!