The Captain's Coat

Believe it or not, I actually finished something!  Believe me it wasn't easy...working between all the chores around the place and, the relocationof our oldest son's family into their new place next door, and the visit by our grandsons for the past week, there's not much free time to set down to whittle and paint.  But, I thing the effort paid off with a really nice and colorful piece.

I don't know if you all have been following the "Turn" series presently showing on the AMC channel about General Washington's spy network, it sure sparked my interest.  I had just recently read BrianKilmead's book "The Secret Six" which was also about these same events but seeing the many uniforms whetted my appetite to try something along those lines.  Granted, my piece sort of stretches the facts a bit by giving a plains Indian the coat of a revolutionary officer but, hey!  It could have happened!

Anyway, while I've done similar carvings  before I tried to make this one a little more realistic, at least in the face.  I added that knife and sheath to fill up the area on the breast plate.  It also creates a bit of interest and addes another element of color.  The carving, including the base stands about 12" tall.  Brass nails were used for the buttons.

Hope you like it and there are more photos in the gallery and I look forward to your comments.

"Where'd They Go?"

First off we hope you're all having a great Memorial Day, celebrating the true meaning of what it stands for.  Being a vet myself it seems that with each passing year I become more aware of the sacrifices that have been made by those who've passed before and by those still with us and especially those in uniform.  Most will probably blow the whole thing off with BBQ and boat rides but to me it's  my Great Grandfathers, who fought in the Civil War, my Grandfather, who fought in the Spanish American War, my Dad who served in the National Guard during WWII, myself who did a stint with the US Army and our sons who both served and participated in the Desert Storm campaign while in the US Air Force and the US Army.  Proud?  You betcha!

As for what else we've been up to that has prevented us from our usual postings, it's a house full of in-laws and grand kids and a Spring full of chores.  We did manage to break away the other day to pay a visit to the Cowboy Hall of Fame in OKC on our way to pickup our grandsons who are up for a weeks visit.  While the place was full of bare walls while they gear up for the upcoming Prix de West show it was still enjoyable to wander and gaze at the many things on display that we've seen many times before.  Also, we snuck down to check out the Chuck Wagons setting up for the big Memorial Day Kids Fest which started Saturday.  Having a wagon ourselves it's great to see and talk about what's been going on with the wagon competitions around the country. Then it was off to the Stockyards to check out the Western stores and have a steak at the Cattleman's Steak House before heading down to pick up the boys.

Here are a couple of photos of that short trip:

That's Judy standing beneath Wilson Hurley's Yellowstone triptych in the great hall of the museum.  We were lucky enough to attend the banquet there honoring the annual Rodeo inductees a few years back where one of my pieces was auctioned off to raise funds for the museum.  Quite an honor.

Me, standing beneath the "Trail of Tears" plaster by James Earl Fraser inside the entrance of the Museum.  If you like the west and are in the area you owe it to yourself to make this museum a stop on your itinerary.

So, that's what's been going on around and about our place.  While we certainly haven't forgotten about those of you who follow these ramblings, time is getting short so we have to take time to work in the other important things in our remaining years.



Happy Memorial Day!

Jack Palance - Shane - Part 11

Jack Palance - Shane - Part 11 from Out West Woodcarving Videos on Vimeo.