As I near retirement (at least I think I am), I hope to return to woodcarving. I have always had a "bent" towards carving and whittling.  I recall carving things as a boy, that we played with. I also remember having an intense fascination with anything carved.  There was a gift shop at Bagnell Dam that was entirely Native American handcrafts. I recall we stopped a few times, and they had Kachina Dolls, which I soooo wanted to have - or better yet . . . make one myself. 

All of this took a turn for the more serious, when I ended up as an employee at the Ozark Mountain Woodcarving shop in Silver Dollar City.  That summer I was the gopher.  I did everything from mow lawns at our Reeds Spring store to being the janitor. And I loved every minute.  At the close of the year, Peter Engler came over and asked if I would be willing to be the demonstration carver for the last two weeks of the summer.  Bob Handly had been the steady demonstration carver, and he was leaving early, for law school. I skipped the pre-season football training of my Senior year in High School and jumped at the chance.  That was my first gainful employment as a woodcarver.  Sadly, the carving I produced wasn't all that nice, but I did finish one. 

For several more years, I was fortunate to be in that Ozark woodcarving culture, surrounded by genuine artists and craftsmen. I made lifetime memories and friends and developed skills that have been a "back-burner" calling, as I took a REAL job and made it thru a career in the normal workaday world.  As I opened this post, I now hope to return to a more steady diet of spending parts of most days, carving things I like and that others might appreciate.  Some I may offer on my webpage ChippedMemories.com and others I may find homes for in retail stores or outlets.

I have not blogged before, nor have I been a blog contributor.  But, I see possibilities opening up that have never before existed.  As I near retirement, I expect several of the things that are side interests, to become more prominent parts of my life. Woodcarving, distance running, fishing, fly tying, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, missions, and being a grandpa are things that I see happening more frequently and for longer durations. 

For that reason, I foresee opportunity blogging about these things - which obviously hold interest for many others, as well. I promise to begin fairly quickly with a few posts regarding woodcarving for beginners.  I'm happy to hear from you with any replies you might have.  I would ask that you not use foul language or any kind of adult content. Thanks for stopping by!