How Can I Keep From Singing?

"How Can I Keep From Singing?" is a gorgeous old tune and a personal favorite. I recorded this some time ago on my classical guitar (sadly neglected in favor of the banjo much to my family's dismay!) The arrangement here is simple and a little different rhythm than the straight tune but I think you might enjoy it.

Pictures are mostly from Boy Scout Camp Orr...even the cave pictures which I did NOT take!
I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer!!!

Buckle of the Day

We were fortunate to have three guests from New Mexico come by and see us on their way to a family reunion in Tennessee. Margie Gale, a long-time buddy of Suzanne and her sister Caroline and her husband, Jim, stopped in Fort Smith both coming and going on their trip. To surprise them I made two buckles; one, another SAU Mulerider for Margie, an ASU graduate, and this New Mexico sun for Caroline and Jim.

Great to see you all and please do come again!!!

Brad's New Office

This is Bradford on the fourth day of his new job at Cromwell Architects and Engineers in Little Rock. He has a wonderful view as you can see with a window facing Markham Avenue and the Old State House right across the street.

Congratulations Bradford!!!!

Buckle of the Day

This buckle was made for Suzanne's dad, Barney G. Russell, of Magnolia, Arkansas.
It's of a Mulerider, mascot of Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia.
Happy Father's Day Barney!!!

Brad Flies the Coop!!!

Today, June 13, 2007 was a big day at the Spain house. After a couple of weeks vacation after graduation from the UA, Bradford moved to Little Rock to begin working for the Cromwell Firm, Architects and Engineers. (Cromwell's Website)

Brad, we love you and miss you already!!! Come home to visit often...and bring Katie with you!

Brad's Graduation

Bradford Spain's graduation from the University of Arkansas
(Click on the arrow to play a short video complete with sound!)

Custom Jigsaw Puzzles

The scroll saw is THE tool for making "jig saw" puzzles. These puzzles are cut out of the highest quality birch plywood and using the tiniest of blades. (I use 2/0 blades by the Flying Dutchman available from www.mikesworkshop.com) The photographs are by Arkansas' own Tim Ernst whose nature photography particularly of the Buffalo River region is known all over the country. I always cut special shapes or "figurals" that help enhance the theme of the picture and make the puzzle extra fun to put together. These have also been donated for Scout and school orchestra fund raising purposes and also given as gifts to friends and family.

When Tim and Pam Ernst came to Fort Smith last November I gave them a puzzle with one of his gorgeous fall photos of the Buffalo River. They loved it and you can read about it and see a photo of it in his on-line Cloudland Journal. I like to check on his journal often because he posts a lot of photos almost every day and they make you want to go camping and hiking. This puzzle is in his November, 2006 archive. Look for the 11/22/06 entry. Link is at www.cloudland.net

Inlayed Pocket Knives

Victorinox Swiss Army knives make great Scout gifts if you replace that red plastic with beautiful woods. They are inlayed with German silver or exotic woods. Some of the knives you see in the pictures were donated for auction fund raising purposes to a Wood Badge course. Others were made as gifts for friends. The Eagle Scout one was for my son.

Todd's Photostory For Eagle Scout Ceremony

This Photostory was shown at Todd's Eagle Scout ceremony --July, 2006
(Click on the arrow to play a short video complete with sound!)

Clocks and Plaques

These plaques make great little desk clocks. The Razorback District uses these as awards for Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, Venture leader and Scout Family of the Year.

I made the Eagle one for a young man's special Eagle ceremony.

The Bear was a gift for my wife, Suzanne, who is of course a "Bear".....Wood Badge Bear that is.

Miscellaneous Buckles

These are a few that couldn't really be categorized. The Girl Scout one is for a young lady who is receiving her Gold Award. The musical ones were for musician friends and the OSU one was for my nephew.

The Eagle ones with the Methodist Church logo were made as gifts from the church sponsor to their boys who earn Eagle.

Scout Logo Buckles

These buckles have the logos of Scouting on them...Cub Scouts, Webelos, Boy Scouts, Venturing, Order of the Arrow, etc.
Woods used are maple, walnut, cocobolo, padauk, purpleheart, yellowheart, canary wood and Peruvian walnut.

Scouting Wood Badge Buckles

Wooden Buckles

A few years ago I purchased a Dremel scroll saw with cash I received as a gift from my in-laws. That purchase began a hobby that I'm sure my family and friends would say I'm obsessed with but that little saw has made possible a huge variety of crafts. I have enjoyed giving them as gifts especially to deserving Scouters and boys who have attained the rank of Eagle Scout. As word has gotten around some of these buckles have become highly sought after and custom orders have sometimes been accepted.

Todd's Graduation ---2006

Todd's graduation from Southside High School--May 2006
Fort Smith, Arkansas

Gourd Banjos

This is my first gourd banjo! It was made in the summer of '06 from a locally grown gourd. The head is made of goatskin. It has a wonderful old-time, mellow "thumpy" sound.

To hear it played click the link! (The pictures that go with it are mostly Boy Scout Camp Orr and a few of my youngest son, some near Pinnacle Mountain State Park in Little Rock)
Gourd Banjo (Tune is Liza Jane)

Here is the second and much smaller gourd banjo next to the other one. The neck is a shorter "A" scale. It's fun to play but doesn't have the volume that the big one does. It makes a great backpacking/camping banjo though....weighs very little. .....AND it won't wake the neighbors!!!

You can hear another gourd banjo tune complete with pictures by clicking here.
(Tune is "Squirrel Heads and Gravy")

Gourd Banjo 2

If you would like to hear the smaller banjo, click here for a short audio: (Shortnin' Bread)

Small Gourd Banjo

Thanks for lookin' and listenin'