The shop became instantly full with the start of our latest project. It's a very large piece which is to be built in sections, both vertically and horizontally. Like many pieces we are doing these days we won't see it all together until the day it is assembled on site. We have two welders going steady as they fabricate the armature for a mine shaft and mountain. This piece will grow on a daily basis and it won't be long before we begin to sculpt the concrete. Stay tuned...
Work - life balance
When people see our considerable body of work I often get asked if I ever get a chance to relax or sleep. The answer is that while I love to work hard, and move fast, I also relax and get plenty of sleep. Our shop time is limited to eight hours a day - five days a week... with the exception of personal (non-paying) projects. That's my hobby. Janis & I seldom watch TV but most evenings we do enjoy sitting on our double recliner, together, with the dogs snuggled beside us. Janis' hobby is playing computer games. If I didn't get paid to do what I love I would still do it in the evenings. I am hardwired to create (non-stop) and so I often do a little reading, sketching or writing in the evenings when I am relaxing. We generally get a good seven or eight hours of sleep each night too. Although it is a real challenge to fit everything into 24 hours that we all get, Janis & I save a lot of time each day by working where we live. Because our shop (and work) is just out back in the yard we spend zero time commuting. That time really adds up for most people and that's our secret ingredient to getting plenty done each day and still have time for the family, for relaxing and also squeeze in a good night's sleep too.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving a whole month ahead of our American friends. Our harvest seasons is a little earlier. So this weekend is a holiday weekend and the shop is dark. Instead of working it is a time to gather with extended family and have some fun, and eat some turkey. We had a great time.
We have so much to be thankful for at our house. Everyone is well and happy. We get to do exactly the kind of work we enjoy. And we live in a beautiful part of the world with few cares or worries. Life is indeed very good!
Today, as our house was filled to the brim with family of all ages it made me smile. We are especially blessed to have a house big enough to fit them all in comfortably. There were twenty sitting at the dinner table.
The day was warm and and sunny so I took the opportunity this afternoon to give the kids a ride in the newly finished rail truck. I'm sure our neighbours chuckled at the loud ringing of the bell and tooting of the whistle as we tootled up and down the track a few times. The young kids sure enjoyed it and it made the adults in our crowd smile too!
It was indeed a day to be thankful for - as is every day. Happy Thanksgiving to all from our house!
