Greatest job in the world!

I have the greatest job in the world! Not only do I get to design and build the neatest and coolest projects I can imagine, but I also get to help people realize they can do just about anything they can imagine too. In my workshops my primary goal is to inspire people - to have them realize that we are all capable of so much more than we think possible - we only need to believe and take the steps to make it so.

When I am on a job site, teaching a class, painting a mural, or whatever, I love to hand my brush or tool to someone and have them give it a try. What I do is not rocket science, not that difficult - especially when broken down to small steps or procedures. It works with those who work with me too for most of my projects are far too large for me to accomplish alone.

Yesterday we were working at the Fox & Hounds Pub project up on the top trim of the restaurant. The owners and their two boys came to look at our progress. Billy proudly showed his mom what he had carved the day before. Ken, his younger brother was also there. He was watching intently the job I was doing. I could read his mind like a book. He knew what his bother had done the day before and desperately wanted in on the same action. I held out my carving tool and motioned him up on the scaffold. He glanced back at his dad and got the needed nod and and he was up on the scaffold like a shot. Ken didn't need a second invitation. I showed him how I was carving the woodgrain and he confidently took the tool and began to carve. Ken, like his brother, had no doubt he could do the job at hand - even though he had never done such a task before. The look of joy and satisfaction on Ken's face was priceless and the biggest payment I could possibly relieve. Kids have this unwavering confidence in themselves , especially if encouraged just a little.

As adults we often lose this self confidence, denying ourselves so many opportunities in the process. One of my goals in life (which I enjoy immensely) is to awaken and foster this self confidence once more in all those I come in contact with. It sure beats working!

-grampa dan

Instant trees!

Sometimes we work for days and days on a project with the results hardly showing. Then in only a few hours everything comes together, seemingly in an instant. Today it was like that as we put the concrete layer on the trees around the fireplace.

Today was a busy one, complete with guest artist. Billy , the owner's son was visiting with his dad. He has shown a huge interest in the project from the very start. Today he watched us work for a few minutes... I offered him a carving tool and he jumped right in. Billy did a great job too!

Also carving today was Becky. She helped me out on the upper tree on the back sides until we got close to the ground. I then turned a good section of the root structure over to her with the simple instructions...  'Go wild and make it KNARLY!' Becky complied nicely and her first real effort at root carving turned out pretty spectacular.

With each project I know it will turn out pretty good. Even so I don't rest easy until it comes together in a major way. Things happen. Today, as we looked back at the end of the day I was so pleased with the look of the fireplace. There are still a few details to work on, the brickwork around the firebox, the upper area between the trees, and some little bits at the bottom under the roots, but it is looking pretty fine! I love it when a plan comes together!

-grampa dan

Steady progress at the pub

Things are coming along quickly at the Fox and Hounds. With the drywall almost complete we can begin painting in earnest. Today Sarah finished most of the second coat of base color. The color glazes will begin soon.

A complex project like the fireplace feature in the restaurant requires many steps and is very labor intensive. After the armature is welded it is time to attach the steel lath. This is a job that is tough on the hands and requires a high level of skill to be fast. It was Becky's first day at the task and she did pretty good. The wire lath must be tight and stable to make the next job of applying the concrete easier.

The trees that flank the fireplace are now totally ready for the concrete which will be underway tomorrow morning bright and early.

-grampa dan