Ask Me About Wood Badge!

The illustrious Scoutmaster of Wood Badge course SR-890 (Boyd Darling) asked if I could come up with some pocket things for the staff to wear to help recruit participants for the course. Hmmmm.....not so sure...hard to scroll saw all those words on so many items. Then it hit me...you can transfer from a laser printer using a very hot iron....soldering iron hot... and there is just such an attachment for that purpose. Print them backwards and put them face down on the leather and iron quickly. After ruining several I finally got the hang of it and here is the result. These are on leather but the same technique can be used to transfer to cloth or wood too! ...opens up more possibilities!

Brad and Katy Come to Visit!

Brad and Katy came to Ft Smith to visit last night to visit and retrieve the truck that we borrowed from him to work on the rent house After playing dominoes last night and watching movies They packed up some of Brad's stuff in the truck and headed back this afternoon. They were going to visit friends in Altus including one guy whose family owns the Post winery. What a great day to drive in an un-airconditioned truck!!!....heat index to hit about 110!

Gale French Earns Wood Badge Beads!!!

Saturday, July 21st, wasn't just a big day for Harry Potter. It was also a big day for Gale French of the Buffalo Patrol, SR-789, when she was presented her Wood Badge beads by Scoutmaster Jamie Bowerman. The ceremony was held in the home of Jennifer and William Boyd (Bear, SR-374) and was also a birthday party for Gale. We had a great evening of food, fellowship and swimming!

Congratulations, Gale!!! We are very proud of your worthy accomplishment and your service to Scouting.

4th of July!!!---Betsy Ross Seen Sewing Flag!

Happy 4th of July!!!!
For a patriotic holiday flavor this Blog features Betsy Ross sewing a flag for the holiday....well, quilt maybe.

Also, on another happy event...the Chicken Hat has been found! I was afraid it was left at a campout but nope....here it is!

AND...here's a pic of my disc golf buddies...Todd and Andrew

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.