Sometimes you have to love them and leave them – telenovela style.
Dear Good Hours.
I’ve come to re-understand a thing I thought I already knew. All of my creativity, my writing, my dungeon mastering, my comics and illustrations – they all are branches on a tree that has it’s roots nestled down deeply in my workbench. My 12’ long modified Roubo built from pine beams harvested from a century old barn. It’s an embarrassment of riches to own this bench, but I’d never let it go. Were I a Viking Chieftain I’d make my vassals swear on the wrath of Odin One-Eye this bench be the base of my funeral pyre so I could continue to enjoy it in Valhalla.
Merlin is new to the shop, but he’s enjoying the bench too. (I know right!! A real live Merlin, I’m a lucky dad, my oldest who designed him made me a resin model! So freaking awesome.)
I wrapped up and walked out to the shop this morning intending to work on this way behind schedule beast…
It’s a 1/4 size Dutch Tool Chest with drawers on the underside compartment intending to hold carving chisels. I’ve been slowly working on a matching pair of them. One for me and one for a man I owe a whole lot too. The build has been a bit of a slog though – and after I moved it to the main bench this morning Merlin and I had a discussion.
[Me] “I don’t know man. I don’t think I’m ready to just ‘cold open’ cut those tiny ass dovetails for the very topo drawer. Right now this whole thing feels overwhelming.”
[Merlin] “Hmmm… I think I understand the glitch here… It’s been a minute since you meaningfully came to this sanctuary, and another minute since you managed any meaningful work from here. I think maybe you managed to get your circuits wet – its happened to me a few times, I get it. Once you climb out of the rice bag and start to figure out if you can go back to work, it’s easier to start with something simple. – Do you have anything like a small One-Day-Build (TM Adam Savage) to get your sprockets oiled?”
[Me] “Well, when I was rage cleaning the tool chest of the mildew issue, I did fight the urge to side-quest and remake a couple of very damaged wedges on a couple of my beading planes. That would get me back in the game.”
[Merlin] “My dude. Fucking Do It!!”
[Me] “Fuck yes!”
[Merlin] “Two of those wedges are severely malfunctional. What will you do? Oh and why did you pull out an OK one?”
[Me) “ First, I’m gonna check the benevolent pile of scrap “precious” woods to see it we’ve got something special to work with. Then I’m gonna use the OK plane wedge as a template for the new ones.”
******
The Substack App is telling me this story is getting too long for the email… I’ve got words but they do not matter – so moving on… I will endeavor to post Part 2 tomorrow – my love to you all… Goodnight.
Love Derek
Ratione et Passionis
Oldwolf
(P.S.: If you have a chance, visit the Etsy store and pick up some stickers, art prints, or a digital comic book created completely from scratch by me! Find them HERE! Thank you so humbly for all the continued support1)
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