A chill in the air.

We spent the morning moving and piling the fire wood.
I love splitting and pilling fire wood. There's a chill in the air, it's fresh and smells great.

I love seeing the grain patterns revealed in the log as it splits.
I can't help myself, I have to set some aside for turning projects.
This is why it takes me forever to pile the fire wood, I sift through the wood slowly, imagining what I can make out of each log. I think I have enough mallet or candle stick material to last for years.

Some of the round birch logs are going to the local scout troop.
They use the white birch logs to make Christmas table center pieces. They sell them to raise money for the scout troop and local community charities.

As always - Thanks for following
Be safe and be creative
Best
Steve

Magic Fluke

We are in Sheffield, MA. A beautiful town in the Berkshire mountain area of western, MA.
We are staying with my wife's aunt, who recently purchased an old tavern/Inn built in 1740. The place is beautiful. The woodwork is incredible.
Yesterday we walked across a large field to visit the neighbors, Phyllis and Dale Webb. Phyllis and Dale own a company named the Magic Fluke Ukulele Company. Their store and workshop is next to my wife's aunts place.

On Friday my son found out that he'll be learning how to play the ukulele in his music class at school. I thought a trip to the Magic Fluke would help boost his interest.
The Webbs started their business out of their basement in 1999.
In the late nineties Dale jumped ship from the corporate world and worked his company full time. They then worked in an old gas station.
After eight years manufacturing in an old renovated gas station in New Hartford they moved in 2011 to a larger solar powered facility here in Sheffield Massachusetts, where they are enjoying the lively music and arts vibe of the Berkshires and welcome visitors to their store and factory. Their business has grown, their ukuleles are sold worldwide. Despite their success they remain very humble and are very gracious. When we arrived Phyllis met us at the door, made us feel very welcomed and proceeded to give us a tour of their facility. We were also welcomed by a 12 foot Ukulele that stands in the entrance. It was donated by the Ukulele hall of fame. The place is awesome''' My son was able to pick up and try various ukuleles. I forgot my camera, so I came back later to take some pictures. Mike, who works in the shop, gave a more detailed tour and talked about the process. It was very cool.
Their instruments sound great and play well, no wonder they're successful. After our tour we went to the local library where my son was able to borrow one of two ukuleles donated by the Webbs.
He's hooked'' Awesome