2005

We wanted to do another cane, but most of us had been in the hospital and I suggested that we do a Medical cane.  Two of the people that signed up for it were having too many health problems for them to join in.   Consequently, I made the top and and two of the other segments.  Jim Nabors had just gotten out of the hospital after major surgery and of course carved a doctor in his scrubs.  Don Burgdorf carved a very attractive nurse, that would raise anyone's blood pressure.  I needed a top for the cane and couldn't think of anything more appropriate and than a urine bottle.  Wayne Newport made the anesthesiologist with the mallet to put you to sleep.  I also contributed the rather ugly nurse with the enema bottle and the rather ugly doctor on the bottom.

2004

Since it is a new year, I guess I had better include a couple of pictures of my first carving of the new year.  This guy looks almost as old as I am, don't think he will be winning many games this season.

2003

Here I'm standing next to Jim Nabors, on the right, showing off our latest Clown Cane.  Thinking about the Santa Claus cane that we did several years ago, I got the urge to do another one, but didn't want to repeat the Santa theme.  I was talking with Len Dillon and he said that he had never carved a clown and always wanted to do one.  So I said "that's it, we will do a clown cane".  Consequently, I got Joe Brott, Jim Nabors, Wayne Newport and Hank Brust, in addition to Len and myself and we started carving.

2002

This dove won First Place and Best of Show at the 2002 Nebraska State Fair.  Since I was pleased to have won First Place last year I decided to try again this year.  I was really surprised to find that it also won Best of Show, which included several types of woodworking in addition to wood carving.

I entered this carving in the 2001 Nebraska State Fair in Lincoln, Nebraska and was fortunate enough to win first place.  This is the first time that I have entered a carving in competition and was very pleased with the results.  A black & white version of this picture also appeared in the November/December 2001 issue of Chip Chats magazine.  While at the Fair I also met and talked with Shane Osborn, the pilot that landed his crippled airplane in China several months ago.  I told him that I hadn't realized just how important his mission was until I found out that he had an Air Force sergeant on board.

There are many fine carvers, but there are only a  handful that are excellent teachers.  Marty Dolphens is one of those.  This Mountain Man was carved in a recent class with Marty.  He had eight students ranging from experienced carvers to a lady who was doing only her third carving and everyone produced  a fine carving.  If you ever have the opportunity to attend one of Marty's classes you will   find that it is  well worth your time. Not only is he a good teacher, but he is fun to be around.

Joe Brott from Beaver Lake, NE, on the left, organized six carvers from the Internet into a group that carved six Santa Claus segments from a piece of wood approximately 2" x 2" x 6" with a 5/8" hole in the center.  Then one was mailed to each of the group.   Consequently,each of us now have a unique cane. The segments may be too small to see on the cane, so I have included the following close-ups.