“So, is it all work and no play out there, Dave? Is OTG life just management and labour all the live-long day?”
Well, yes and no. If, by ‘play’ you mean casinos and dancing and party girls, then unfortunately not – no playing. But, if you mean enjoying your everyday work so that it seems less like work and somewhat more like play, then yes. Yes, we have a good time. Plus, we do ‘play’ in the conventional sense a bit. Wine and dinner parties mostly. Sometimes a bit more. And it is that kinda play I am writing about today.
I like to build crap and, of course, not being very good at it, I have lots of off-cuts. Plus, Sal likes to salvage wood and, if the wood is old, sea-washed milled wood, she is especially pleased. “Sweetie, I found this old lump of crap in the sea this morning. Can you make something?”
I always say no. “No, sweetie-back-at-ya, I cannot make anything out of that crap. I can barely make anything out of store-bought wood bought especially for the purpose. That stuff is pretty ugly and has barnacles on it for Gawd’s sake!”
“Well, I am gonna put it under the shed here and, when the mood strikes, see what you can do. OK?”
There is a lot of junky wood under the shed.
But, one day, the mood did strike. Don’t ask why. No idea. I made a dog. It was a pretty dopey dog but it was kinda fun. I gave it away. And then I made a few more dogs and gave them away. Then people hinted they wanted dogs…so I made a few more.
Then I made a turtle. Then a bear (NOT to be confused with a pig).
The Bear/Pig
Now I am gonna make a moose.
Moose Parts
“Why, Dave? Maybe you should give the casino-thing a try. Dancing girls is almost a sure thing. Wine, women and song, man! What’s not to like and…… well, ……little wooden dogs…ya know…kinda sad…..pathetic…”
I know. But the wood is here and it is free. The dancing girls are not.
Anyway, I expanded the repertoire to the odd bit of furniture. Some crude-built things a bit more practical but still fun….in an impractical sorta way.
Is this stuff fun? Yeah. Woo hoo!
Kinda. Don’t ask. I don’t get it.
But I like to see my bear when I go outside. I like to see my turtle at my neighbour’s house. It’s weird. But kinda fun.
Our Off the Grid Home 
Well we all have our dog dayz. I note no cougars or any type of cat at all. Bears! Do you have any resident bears? Ravens? Where are the freezer raiders or the aquatic transients? Nice benches.
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You are too kind. We do not have (it seems) resident bears but we do keep the bear hotline – a call-your-neighbour kinda thing when a bear is about. Same for cougars. Got a call the other day, “Bear headed south. Going for the orchards, I guess. That’s what they do. Keep a lookout!”
Ravens? You must be new to the blog. DO WE HAVE RAVENS!!! Sheesh!
The latest bench was not included. I had Sal sit on it for scale but she didn’t like the way her hair looked so wouldn’t post the picture. Mind you, I did focus on her…
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Just like you Dave, Weird, but kinda fun!
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Weird runs in the neighbourhood, PR. And you ain’t far away….jus sayin’.
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Next thing you know you’ll be dragging rocks up the hill to paint. I’ve got a turtle and a ladybug so far. Working on a family of turtles. These aren’t pebble size. They are rock big enough I can hardly carry them from lake shore to boat. Wayne thinks I’m crazy. – Margy
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Wayne’s likely right but it’s a common affliction. As I said, “I can’t explain it”. An OTG’ERS gotta go what an OTG’ers gotta do. We can’t help ourselves.
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Antiques Roadshow here I come!
Folk Art baby! I’ll tell them it was in my gandma’s barn and its at least 100 years old…….
$$$$$$$$$$$$$
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Folk art is no art. It’s junk art. Scavenger art. Off cuts. Firewood. Ok….kinda fun…
So…..want land?
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