Wednesday Ate April 2015

The week is flying right by. Hump day already.

SO WHAT’S BEEN GOING ON ?

Well yesterday I made a commitment to donate two decoys to Ducks Unlimited for their annual fund raising auction NEXT THURSDAY. I called the poc & got a good vibe, response and favorable reaction so I will be taking hiatus from writing here after this one to devote more time to carving & painting the canvasback drake (see todays phot& black-bellied whistling duck before next Thursday. This is going to be a challenge as I need to squeeze in a job hunting trip to Houston part of next week. I will post pictures of completed works in the GALLERY for the inquiring mind out there.

I can do it. Besides, who knows. If I were to get a couple of sales, an order or solid leads as a direct result of this free dinner, things could take off. I need a new pattern book and a better painting guide book. Plus, I am buying & starting to collect cast study bills for the different species I am carving. I also bought a small ‘carbon fiber’ set of digital calipers (battery operated) for precise measurements transferring measurements from the casting to the carvings. The more carvings one does, the more serious it becomes. Yes, sure it is toughter but the good thing or upside is the better the detail of the bill, the higher the price that can be set.

Today FBNextGen turns 25. Months, not years. Yet anyway. I am sure her parents are waiting for that day.

Going to do a quick turn bike ride next.

The day is gloomy, there is a chance of rain I think 20% but the sun pokes thru for there are periods when one finds themself covering the eyes exclaiming ‘what is that brightness?’

A funny thing happened yesterday when I was power carving in the garage. I had the compressor going full bore, wide open & suddenly this smiling young dude yells ‘hey’. Startled, I turn & ‘HEY’ in my outdoor voice easily heard OVER the din of the compressor. His name was Wayne (not really) & he was working the ‘hood selling Iowa steaks from his colorfully painted little refrigerated truck. OK.

He shows me his ‘price list’ & I immediately choke, get sticker shock & the thought crosses my mind & then mention to Weiner that at these prices, I am going vegetarian. Maybe vegan. I mean they were VERY PROUD of them cows. I mean I could & would eat roadkill & with enough special sauce & garlic, I could probably choke it down & more important KEEP it down.

So he makes small talk & inquires about my ducks. He wants to see one finished, we go inside after I apologize for the mess & point out the ‘No wahini, no problem’ sign & he gets it.

He comes back with a box of four (4) NY strips for $30. They look nice for that price so I get my wallet & give him two (2) $20s. He has no change, I have nothing smaller because I went to the bank & that was all the ATM spits out. So no deal. He gets desperate, digs deeper. To the end QUICKLY, he makes the final offer a box of filets, a $100 value for $40. A box of eight (8) or ate.

Very well. We exchange cards & I get back to work thawing one little medallion for supper.

Happy ending.

That’s about it for now.

I should be catching up in about a week unless I need a break from carving, painting or things creative.

Or I need a break from partying like a 25 month old.

Biil out/extended.