Tuesday, January 30, 2024

 BEAUTY AFTER A WINTER STORM 

Our recent storm in the Pacific Northwest was impressive. It kept us at home for more than a week.

Shoveling, stacking wood on the front porch, cooking, singing and playing music, reading good books, and talking with friends and family occupied Tom and Margaret's days while I warmed up under the woodstove, tired from investigating all the comings and goings of wildlife here along the creek. 

In the night, and sometimes even during the day, I often hear the hooting of the owls and, in my dreams, I think I see them, too. In the morning, I often find new tracks in the snow. I am a curious creature so, of course, I search for the creatures who made them. 

Two weeks ago, in the middle of the night, I was very frightened. A wild animal surprised me as I was making my midnight rounds. A fight ensued but, fortunately, Margaret and Tom jumped out of bed and came to my rescue when they heard my cries. In the dark, without any moonlight, it was difficult to see what exactly was chasing me but it looked very much like a young bobcat, not like my old friend Bob, the cat, but, rather, the wild kind. I bravely fought the intruder and, though I received a few scratches on my head, I was, otherwise, fine. As my Auntie Elise says, this is "The Wild Kingdom" down here on the creek. I guess I need to be more careful.

In my walks about the garden during the day, I can see Tom's artwork from a different perspective. Although the two feet of snow is slowly melting, I like to climb the mounds of snow in order to watch the birds at the feeders. I also creep along the paths Margaret creates for me so I can get to my favorite places under the shed and near the water. So many birds have come to the feeders and suet baskets - quail, juncos, twohees, sparrows, varied thrush, pine siskins, blue jays - they make my head spin as I watch them from my bed on the window ledge. A few mallards and wood ducks like to ride the small waves in the creek. The red-tailed hawk has made several meals of unsuspecting prey, a continuation of  the cycle of life which unfolds on a daily basis here along the creek. Several deer have been seen walking the well-worn path across the creek to the pasture beyond the old, broken barbed-wire fence. On the first day of sunshine after nearly 10 days of clouds, snow and freezing rain, Margaret and Tom walked to town. Along the way, they noticed a lone doe resting in the snow on the hillside. Based upon her size and color, she seems to be the same doe I often see foraging in the woods behind our property. 



 

 Some of Tom's sculptures include beautiful fused glass created by several local artists. The colorful glass is always so pretty in the dead of winter, especially on a gloomy, dark day. 


Margaret grew tired of just looking at white snow and created her own snow cone!
The red squirrel always comes out for breakfast.
I wish this salmon was real!
Stay warm and cozy for the rest of the winter. 
Yours truly,
JUNIOR BOY

Wednesday, February 2, 2022

 GROUNDHOG'S DAY

02022022

According to their website (www.cocorahs.org), the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow Network is a grassroots volunteer network of backyard weather observers of all ages and backgrounds working together to measure and map precipitation in their local communities. By using low-cost measurement tools, stressing training and education and utilizing an interactive Web-site, the network's aim is to provide the highest quality data for natural resource education and research applications. The only requirements to join are an enthusiasm for watching and reporting weather conditions and a desire to learn more about how weather can affect and impact our lives.

Tom's sister-in-law joined this volunteer network before Christmas. For her holiday gift, she requested a custom portable rain gauge holder. Using one of his favorite rodents in the family Sciuridae as his model, Tom created this steel holder. He also modified the gauge's attachment mechanism to make it easier to remove from the paws of the chubby little groundhog.



Patricia's gauge recorded 5.22" of measurable water
 at her home in Hood River for the month of January.
I'm happy to see my shadow on the wall.
Yours Truly,
JUNIOR BOY





Tuesday, February 1, 2022

 STARMAN and DISHDOG

Last summer, friends asked Tom to create a unique support for their new STARLINK satellite dish. Using steel pipe and recycled materials, Tom created 'Starman and Dishdog'.


   
                                                                     
Kai approved so now I can go back to sleep.
Yours truly,
JUNIOR BOY



Friday, May 21, 2021

 BIRDBATH on BELMONT

For her birthday earlier this Spring, Margaret's sister hinted that she would love a custom birdbath in order to encourage feathered friends to her new garden. 

A few weeks later, a neighborhood crow claimed it as her (or his) own personal watering station. The crow moistens bits of bread to feed to its young.

 

Watching the birdies in my garden.
Yours Truly,
JUNIOR BOY

Thursday, May 20, 2021

WASH DAY DESIGNS IN WHITE SALMON

Recently, Margaret enjoyed a visit to a friend's garden in White Salmon, Washington. 

Her friend has a  pair of whimsical sculptures Tom created for her 20 years ago. Margaret had not previously seen them in place and didn't have any photographs of the artwork. The steel posts are embellished with fused class by friend Jess Caudill. 

She told me it was great fun to see the pair on their clothesline posts after so many years.

'WASH DAY' characters dancing atop the clothesline

I prefer to rest atop the swing by my creek.

Yours Truly,

JUNIOR BOY






Tuesday, August 14, 2018

MAX'S BIRD BATH


IN REMEMBRANCE OF
 MAX,
 THE BARN CAT

Our friend Steve recently informed us that
Max, his beloved barn cat, passed away. 

Though I never got to met Max, Tom told
 me that I looked a little like Max.
Max did not have a tail though. 
Tom told me Max was a 'Manx'.
I guess he wasn't supposed to have a tail.

MAX
Steve asked Tom to make a bird bath
in honor of Max. 
Steve removed a dead oak tree from his garden 
this year but saved the stump to serve as a pedestal.

Tom included two little deck
 chairs and a diving board for the birdies.



That evening after it was installed, Steve saw
 4 bluebirds, 3 goldfinches and four other birds
drink and splash in the water.

I think Max would have liked that.

Yours Truly,
Junior Boy






Monday, August 6, 2018

WEDDING TRELLIS


ROSE and KEVIN'S WEDDING TRELLIS

Today, Monday August 6th, 2018 at 11 o'clock,
Rose and Kevin
were married
at Blake Garden
 on the campus of the 
University of California, Berkeley.
blakegarden.ced.berkeley.edu

Two months ago, Rose came to visit her 
Auntie Linda and Uncle Greg. 
She met with Tom to discuss ideas for the design
of a trellis under which her marriage might take place.

Rose, Sparky and Tom

Following an afternoon consultation with Tom, 
Rose began to draw concept sketches
 incorporating unique components
meaningful to her and Kevin.
Tom suggested incorporating
decorative forged steel ornamentation
Rose also desired colorful handmade fused glass 
so Linda contacted local glass artist 
Andy Nichols who created seven beautiful pieces for Rose.
nicholsartglass@gorge.net

Rose's concept drawing

Building the 5-piece steel frame

Tom ordered the steel and got to work.

Tom realized that the trellis design required 
several special considerations:
First, the completed trellis needs to transported
 to San Francisco
 in Uncle Greg's camper, a space only 3 feet wide, 
6.5 feet long and 4 feet tall. 
Second, the trellis needs to be assembled 
(and then disassembled) quickly in a public space
 by 3 people who might have enjoyed 
a refreshing alcoholic beverage beforehand. Finally, 
it would be best if no tools were required at all.

So, Tom designed and built the frame in 5 pieces 
which telescope together without the use of any screws or bolts.
When finished, it required less than 5 minutes
 to assemble or disassemble.

Welding forged steel flowers
onto the frame

Forged flowers, reconfigured by Tom, were
added to the uprights and the top of the trellis.

Tom testing out the correct position for the 
'Sacred Heart' 


A special cricket high up inside the trellis just for Rose

 Tom, Auntie Linda and Uncle Greg 
creating their own hearts

Custom built, 5-piece trellis ready for shipping

Beautiful grotto, a perfect backdrop
for the wedding of these two special people

SPARKY, the 'ring bearer'

Congratulations Rose and Kevin!

YOURS TRULY,
JUNIOR BOY