It's one degree outside...And I'm out there!!

We have been plunged into below zero temperatures the last couple days. I find myself at a complete loss for carving inspiration! Every year as I'm overly busy carving bears for everyone, I'm always thinking of other projects I'd like to try. But, by the time I finish with the bears, around mid-December, the snow hits and carving becomes more of a hassle than an art form. Have you ever tried to start a chainsaw in frigid weather? I'll tell you how it goes. After filling up the gas tank and poring in bar & chain oil that is more like the consistency of peanut butter, I give the pull cord a good yank only to find that the recoil is frozen and I find myself holding a chainsaw with a foot and a half of cord hanging out of it. Then I have to slowly nurse the cord back into place and try all over again. After about a half dozen of these exercises, the engine finally sputters to life if I'm lucky. I met a carver once who told me he owns an old railroad station that he carves in during the winter. How cool is that! But, as no old large buildings are available for me to carve in, I guess I'll have to think of something else.



My first idea is to simply get in all the carving I can from April to December and then sit back and let the winter go by without touching a chainsaw. To make this happen I would need to make and save (gasp) enough money to get me through those months of inactivity. Have I mentioned my saving record before? It is well below average, terrible really! I would have to give the money to someone I trusted and tell them to "keep it secret, keep it safe." I would love to make this a goal for 2010, but I'm almost afraid to because I've failed so horrible at it the last eight years of carving! I'm really going to have to determine if I have it in me to exercise the discipline this plan would require.



My second plan would also be pretty cool, but I'm not sure how I would work out the logistics of it. I think I would love to carve bears up here all summer and fall, then go to Florida and spend the winter months carving dolphins, sea captains, and those beautiful mythical creatures we call mermaids. Once again, probably not practical, but what fun that would be!

Ah, but for this winter you'll find me out in the frigid weather whenever I have to be. I'll be carving bears, moose ect...but I pretty sure I'll be imagining warmer weather, sandy beaches and something along the lines of the picture above.