Magic

Early in our marriage until about 1990, Richard was always working with Wood. Judging by the projects he had completed before, he had been doing this for some time.

While on his Path of Life, he would simply pick up a stick or branch, take out his knife and start to whittle away. Magical things would appear as the chips and shavings would be cast this way and that. I remember the Ducks and Whistles well. Most of the time, we would be out in Nature, often at Pike Bay in Ojibway National Forest in Northern Minnesota.

I would watch intrigued. He seemed to subscribe to a similar school of thought as Michelangelo. Somewhere in that piece of wood, a form was waiting to be freed. He just had to find it. As the Chips fell, the form was evident.

He would also work on larger pieces which called for saws, rasps, sandpaper, paint or seal. In those years, he worked on wooden Decoys, a wooden Box, among others. Some of the smaller tools sat right by his chair.

Somewhere around 1990, he quit and hadn't done much since, until this Christmas. He did pick up other creative ventures, including gardening and the construction of natural wood structures for the garden. But I really had not realized how much I had missed his smaller wood projects.

With instructions of "no cost" and handmade for Christmas Giving, he scratched his head and came up with 2 ideas. They fit Melanie and me like gloves.

He made me a Walking Stick. He headed over to his Brother John's Woods which is only about 2-3 miles from here. He was looking for a relatively straight Shagbark Hickory Sapling amidst 2 or 3 about the same size. His intention was to "cut 1". As those Saplings grow, only 1 will survive anyway. He found just the strong shoot that he was looking for.

He brought the Sapling home and tucked it out of sight in the Garage. Over these last couple of weeks, he made visits to the workshop of the Elves and Fairies. While there, he cut off the Bark, fashioned a handle, and smoothed it down, but not to the point the character of the Wood or the actions of the Woodworker would be concealed. And there was my Walking Stick all set for adventures ahead.

And what did he do for Melanie? Richard made her a Cane Knife for harvesting Sorghum Cane which she had been wanting. But what should it be make out of? The wood needed to be strong and lightweight. He checked the woodpile we got from our Amish Neighbor who has a Sawmill. The Oak, while strong, seemed too heavy.

Then 1 day, while sitting in his Chair looking at the Fire in the Wood Stove against that Beautiful Rock Wall, his eyes drifted to the "lath" which he had used twice for support of the Rocks and Mortar while they "sat up". And now a bit of story about that "lath":

Bobby and Jodi (Hollis and Deleta's Son and Daughter in Law) had done some remodeling work on their House earlier this year. That House was where John Barton and Ethel Crawford raised their 4 boys; it is the House where Richard grew up. John built that House in about 1942. (Isn't that right, Hollis?) That little House has grown and changed over time. It has the distinct privilege of holding 4 generations of Crawfords.

Those laths were used as a basis for the plaster walls which John Barton Crawford used throughout 67 years ago. How can that be? In the remodeling, Hollis, the Treasure, is always looking for items which can be salvaged and especially those which might have Family Story. So he saved those laths and gave some to Richard.

After scratching his head, Richard concluded that lath would be perfect for Melanie's Cane Knife. It was strong and lightweight, although the wood is unknown. It came from the Crawford Home Place where we 3 (with others) had spent much treasured time. It had been used to support our Rock Wall as it "set"; that Rock Wall had been inspired by my Dad.

Once again, Richard headed back and forth to the the Garage where considerable work by the Elves and Fairies of Christmas must have been completed. He fashioned a handle, giving consideration to the size of Melanie's hands. He smoothed down the wood, but purposefully did not remove all of the markings from that former time when the house was constructed. Nail holes may be found as well as saw marks when the Lath was milled. The "graying" comes from natural weathering too.

Then he tied Green and Red Ribbons to both of his Creations and placed them along side the Christmas Tree. They surely did not fit "underneath" the Christmas Branch. Now, the Walking Stick and the Cane Knife with their delighted and surprised new owners will be embarking on some new Historical Experiences.

Somehow, these little Gifts seemed like "Magic" to me. Richard used Old and Found Treasures in the creation of something inspired and something new. He used his talents to "create". Not only are these ventures personally fulfilling and honoring, you surely can't buy these things in Stores. Why would you even try? ~~~~Note: Last photo is of John Barton Crawford's Brother Fred, his Wife Lora, and his Mother Renetta. They are standing in front of John Barton and Ethel Crawford's house which is under construction. The photo is believed to have been taken about 1942. (How about that date, Hollis and Deleta? Is there a picture of John and Ethel at this time?)