A new carver in the making

[Colin-Partridge]

Hi gang,
I was explaining to my grandson Brandon that I am not as enthusiastic about carving as I used to be. He told me that maybe he had better learn so he can take over for me. What a wonderful and motivating thing it is to sit there and watch the concentration on his face. He is getting older now and doesnt want to spend as much time with grandpa as he used to. At one time I couldnt get out of the door without him and where ever I went he was always two steps behind me. I guess it happens to all of us their friends and growing up becomes more important that grandpa. I say this with a tear in my eye because I see him getting further away from me. So every chance I can get to spend time with him I grab it. The carving thing is right up there on his priorities so I get more time with him, and he thinks grandpa is the worlds best carver. I suppose thats the way it should be. I just thought I would share this with you my friends and if you have children or grandchildren it may be a chance to share some quality time together. I have posted a couple of pictures of Brandon working on a horse. Its in the "general carving" in the "Carver Galleries".
Colin

[Just Carving]

EXCELLENT!!!

I don't have children or grandchildren--ahh, but I do have 2 nieces, 2 nephews, 2 grandnieces and 1 one grandnephew. So, I sorta know what you're saying about kids and what happens when they grow up. But not to worry, they come back--only with a little one(s) of their own in tow for you to spoil!!!

Kudos to you Colin, and may all your grandchildren become "world best carvers" like their Grandpa! Wink

Bob

[rick-in-seattle]

Colin,
You are blessed.

keep him safe.
Rick

[BasketballJones]

Nice looking boy Colin. I am sure not only will he learn from you but you will learn something from him. That should put you back in the carving spirit. If you figure out a way to keep him young let me know. Enjoy.

Colin.....thanks for sharing your thoughts.

"teach a man how to fish, and you'll feed him for a lifetime"

Your grandson is very lucky to have such a great and inspiring teacher, and you will inspire him for a lifetime +.

My father had all four of us boys learn how to "weld our name on a metal plate, by age 7-8, I remember that pool of molten metal following the rod as if it was yesterday, I'm 50 now, enjoy working with wood instead of metal, but its my dads direction then, that leads me to my crafting enjoyment today.

Keep it going with your grandson, and I can't wait to see the picture of his first carving that he is giving to "Gramps".

Coffeeman

[squbrigg]

Well done Colin....passing the torch along like that. He's a fine looking boy and will make a great carver if he chooses to become one. The skills you are teaching him will always be with him, and he'll never forget who taught them to him! That is a big deal in the life of a Grandson! And of a Grandfather. You are giving him a gift that he will treasure to the end of his days and will no doubt pass many of those skills on to his own grandchildren when the time comes, as well as the story of where, who and how he came to learn them! Well done son!

Bob

[papasar]

Colin,
The pictures and your written words became a very real part of my morning prayers. As Rick put it, you are blessed. In the long run, it makes no difference if your grandson becomes a carver or not. What is important is the time that you spend with him. Those times and those lessons of example are never lost but become a part of who your grandson is to become. He may not realize it now, but in yrs to come he will cherish those times. It seems like we are put on the back-burner when they start to go their own way, but our job is to lay down the foundation. You are certainly using the right mortar. So don't worry about being replaced but enjoy watching the beautiful process of growing up.
We have 7 and 8/9ths grandkids up to 16 yrs old who I get to see almost every day. They are my greatest joys and I give thanks for them every day.
My education started with the first one 16 yrs ago and I'm still learning from each one of them every day.
Thanks for the great post!
Bill K.

[Kenny_S]

May he be Blessed with the talents of his Grandfather!

Yes Colin, I have a granddaughter(7 years old) who spends a lot of time with us and we cherish every second. We have another granddaughter who is almost 3 and a grandson who is almost 4 who we value their time also but the 7 year old, well, she is our "bud", right now.Loves to craft with her Nana and wood working with her Papa. She has decided on where we are going for vacation.

[Colin-Partridge]

Thanks guys for the beautiful words you are all very right I am truly blessed. If I had known grandchildren were going to be so much fun I would have had them first. I do cherish every second that I spend with him and I am sure he will remember but it is hard to accept that you are no longer number 1. I am very proud of all of his accomplishments you can ask anyone who is at the hockey arena when he is playing (I never miss a game). They all know when Brandon scores if they dont they soon will know. If he scores a hat trick as he has on occasion then everyone in a 50 mile radius will soon know you can bet that grandpa will spead the word fast. I love to watch him carve, look at the pictures he didnt even know I took them he was so into what he was doing. The only problem when they are that age is that the attention span is short. One ring on the door bell and his friends know he is at grandpa's and off he goes. That is youth though and I love to see him have fun. So if you get a chance to carve with your grandchildren do it and cherish the moment because the good lord only gives them to us for such a short while. Hope I am not boring you but grandchildren are really a gift from god.
Colin

[BasketballJones]

Not boring at all; in fact I envy you guys you have a true gift. Both my grandfathers died before I was born (while both my parents were kids). My Dad died when my oldest was 6 months so he never got to know him and the youngest like me never got to know his grandfather. I was a bit envious but thrilled that my two boys got to spend time with my father-in-law.

My father-in-law passed during my oldest Little League Championship series. My mother-in-law insisted he play during the 3 day/evening wake, though he didn't want to. Talk about criticism. The story has become sort of folklore around here over the last 4 years. My son, a very good player but not one of the top 5 on the team played the best 3 game series that anyone can remember. He literally played like a man (I'll spare you the highlights). My wife and I only saw 1 full inning of the series. The last inning, under the lights after the final night of the evening viewing. He made an unbelievalble diving catch and scored the winning run scoring from second sliding safely into home headfirst. Everyone came out of the dugout and ran from the bleachers to homeplate to celebrate but suddenly they stopped and looked at my son lying facedown on homeplate sobbing. We ran in thinking he was physically hurt. About 100 people on the field stopped silent in a circle as he layed on homeplate crying, soon they all had tears.

It was the most amazing thing I ever saw. He's never played like that again. He gets upset when the story is told, one can tell the story just not near him. He's told others (but never us) that my father-in-law played those games. The most amazing thing is people believe it. The people who keep that story going these past few years are the grandfathers at the field watching their grandsons play ball. Up until about a year ago, I thought it was the feat of the games that impressed those paps. But it was the fact that he played and my mother-in-law through all the criticism (though it was us who were flocked) wanted it to happen; and though Matt can't handle it now it was the love of baseball and his pap that can never be separated.

It's an off topic subject but it's a story that I hope you paps appreciate; as your passions and interests with your grandkids will always carry on within them.