Extra, Extra, Read All About it...

Many people might dread the thought of going to work with their family - I love it. I get to spend my days with the people closest to me: my loving wife, my parents, my sister, various cousins, my in-laws - you name it. Of course, the family member I've worked with the longest is my father. I started painting historical murals with him when I was barely in my teens.

If you ever have the privilege of working with my father you will learn that he loves to tease... But if you are going to give you have to expect a little back. 

Consider the very first thing my father welded for the Scallywag Bay. It is a hollow log. And every time we get ready to mud he has the guys push it to the front of the shop... but there never seems to be enough time in the day to get to it and somehow it gets pushed to the back again. Dad thinks I'm doing it on purpose but that is just a ridiculous idea!

Today he sent me an email...

“You declare the most monstrous tree ever to come out of our shop your laughing place and yet keep pushing (against my repeated wishes) my beloved tiny little hollow log to the back yard unloved and forlorn. How can this be?”

— Dan Sawatzky

I declare my innocence! And to prove it I offer this photograph of the very same hollow log - complete with mud.

NO MUD BEFORE ITS TIME.

- Uncle Peter

Everyone Needs A Laughing Place

This week has been an exciting week as we continue to work on the Hangman's Tree. In order to ship it to Trinidad we are building the tree in three sections. Yesterday we removed the top section from the middle section and placed the middle section on top of the bottom section. (Say that three times fast.)

It has been a running joke in the shop that the tree is *only* a medium sized feature! It is difficult to get a sense of its scale when all tree pieces are on the ground. But when I backed the forklift away after stacking the middle up the guys and I just started laughing.

That is one great big medium sized feature!

I love my job.

- Uncle Peter

This Theme Park is a Blast!

It was another beautiful day in downtown Yarrow, British Columbia and we continue to mud our little hearts out. Today we finished the join line on the Hangman's Tree and then continued on with the roller coaster bases for Cultus Lake Phase II.

When we considered the design of these features, we wanted to find the sweet spot between variety and repetition. As a result, the bases have several unifying elements: they are the same size and shape and their iron rivet bands and wooden planks tie them together. This repetition will help to keep the look and feel of the park consistent.

However, each barrel also has unique elements that set it apart from its counterparts- some have labels or patches or particularly interesting woodgrain patterns. These details will add interest and a sense of discovery as guests stroll through the park.

As a bonus, they are a blast to make.

- Uncle Peter