June 2003 Meeting

The following is by Debra Faulkenberry, our club secretary, and published here with her permission. I was at the meeting but was too wrapped up in conversation and showing off to take any pictures. Too bad too because it was a beautiful home and a good time with food too good to pass up! My compliments and thanks to Don and his wife for the great hospitality Oh yeah, nice pumpkin pie Joe! <grin>

These are the email minutes of the First Annual BBQ of the Woodturner's Club in Springfield Mo. The attendance was pretty low. I'd guess we had about 12 woodturners and 2 wives that were not woodturners. One first-time visitor attended who was actually well known by a couple of the other woodturners and he even brought something to Show-and-Tell. Don Fuhr had turned a Taqua nut down to round and had carved a tiny leaf on the inside of the nut with a dremel. It was delicate and perfect in it's miniaturized dimensions. Andy Hilton brought a group of his fishing lures that he'd not only turned, but he'd painted and added eyes and hooks as well. Bass Pro look out! These were brightly colored and well shaped. What fish is going to be able to resist?

The Carlsons have a beautiful house with a small shop in the basement, which Don let us snoop around in. The man is so clean and organized it just makes me ill. He had pen blanks in little drawers marked with the name of the wood on the outside. He also had shelf space for many other turning blocks and an under-the-counter space for longer boards. The tools were organized and each was in it's place. There was no sawdust to be found. If it weren't for the turned pieces lying about, one would never think that the shop was ever used. The back yard, where the meal was held, was a showpiece pleasing to the eye. There was the famous "Oceanside" dining near the fountain where the fish were curiously coming to the top of the water expecting to be fed. The water lilies were in bloom as were the many other flowers set around. I even saw some tomatoes on the tomato plants. The majority of us sat near the door for easier access to the food. Nearly everyone had to go back for seconds on that brisket. It had been smoked for over 6 hours. Talk about wonderful!!! Don and Martha could put Buckingham's out of business. He said his secret was the pecan wood that he smokes with. We could have fed many more. Those who were missing were missing more than the fellowship with fellow woodturners. Joe even brought pumpkin pie and was dressed in a casual outfit. Who would have guessed that Joe had knees?

There was soda and chips enough for a threshing crew and even chocolate for those of us who are incomplete without it. We wrapped up around 9 and all hated to leave as the conversation was wood and turning. We all act like a bunch of addicts talking about our favorite new addiction. I personally enjoy talking about my wood creations and my finishes with people who don't flinch when I do so. Martha really impressed me with her ingenuity. Don saves her some of his wood shavings which she had in labeled ziplock bags which she says she uses for texture in some of her own crafting creations. I suspected that the "Guy Potpourri" that Joe had talked about some time back was in real danger of being created there. (Mahogany sawdust in a ziplock bag? I am NOT kidding.)

Deb