I just made these three bottle openers to give away to guides on our trips.   I thought these would be more appreciated then wine stoppers.   Gary

 

Success in My Vocations (Poem by Gary Bingham)

 

Dreams in my youth

Playing with boys on

The play ground

Leading a squad of

Boys to play attack

Other groups of boys in mock battles

Watching movies of

Army officers at parties

Drinking, smoking, dancing and

Socializing with pretty women

Dreams of being an Army Officer

 

Striving for success and advancement

Goals of survival

Out last that other SOB

Be ethical in decision making

Demand that others do the same

Stay focused on the job

Excel at unit/team performance

Take small steps at a time

Work towards family stability

Be persistent, patient and determined

Being consistent in delivering expectations

Know when to stop

Being fearless

When others are shooting, seek cover

Complete academics

Study constantly

Have life goals and achieve them.

 This is a bowl with a built in pedestal attached.  I modeled this after Merryll Saylan who likes to make these types of bowls.  I attended a presentation by her on March 2016.  Gary

Linda bought a new Subaru.

 

Linda’s Mother collected each year a silver snow flake.  These flakes total 50.  Linda spent a significant amount of time recently shining with special polish and hanging them in our alcove.  The are very pretty to look at.  

Gary

  New Pecan wood vase.  This wood is very hard to turn.  Very dry.  I made a different shape and finish as a result.  Gary

Turning Wood on A Lathe (a peom by Gary Bingham)

 

Turning Wood on A Lathe (a poem by Gary Bingham)

 

A hobby and for a small minority, a vocation

Wood secured to a spindle which moves in a circular motion at a high rate of speed

A wood turner standing nearby hopefully with a face shield and dust mask. 

The turner in many cases has a plan to produce a bowl, vase, ornament or other object

With or without embellishment

This activity involves many processes with a set of tools called chisels, resting on a piece of metal, called a banjo

The process is very physical and demanding

Involves constant decisions

Regarding which tools to use and how to use them

New techniques are learned along with ancient practices

Chips fly, dust envelopes the area

The process requires deep concentration.  A trance can occur in the mesmerizing stream of cut wood.

The process adds meaning to life through the power of creativity. 

Patience is required and the ability to deal with mistakes, failure, cracks. 

Correcting, resolving, overcoming design flaws is constant

The creative process is continued by sanding, applying finishes, polishing.

The joy of success in the finished product overcomes most life’s disappointments.