April 26, 2008
This past weekend there was an Artist Studio Tour in the Listowel, Ontario area. One of the artists participating was John, our “Extreme Birdhouse” guy!
After Rick was done work on Saturday, feeling that the rain was going to stay away for the afternoon, we took the drive north to see his work first hand.
As we turned onto the road that we thought was the right one, it wasn’t long before I saw a building in the distance that looked like the playhouse that he has posted here at LJ. I knew we were almost there!
(the playhouse that resembles the shed we saw from down the road)
The building we saw was indeed the shed that John is building. (Oops, no picture, sorry).
Turning into the driveway we knew we had the right place because there in the sky were too large birdhouses and sitting on display in the yard were his extreme creations as show in his recent blog.
Rick and I got a personal tour around the yard, seeing not only his birdhouse creations but the deck area that he has built and the pond that is in the process of creation. 
The birdhouses are SO much more impressive in person. You really can’t get the true sense of size until you are standing beside one.
Here, I’m looking up to the peak of one of his monster creations.
This one, (not the best picture, sorry) took John over two years to build, primarily because he didn’t like it. Didn’t like it?? It’s amazing!! I still haven’t figured out how it could get the “don’t like” label.
While we were there John has a few visitors stop by as they took the tour to the various artists in the region. 
Rick got some tips for building his next “extreme birdhouse” 
And then John gave us a tour of his work areas
He has one space set up for cutting the boards. This keeps the sawdust in one spot (great idea) and gathers the bedding material for his… (ready for this?) 45 cats!!! All are adorable, I might add.
John has a second space for the actual woodworking, with the tools all organized and ready to build, build, build.
And then, in this old barn is where his supply of reclaimed lumber is stored. It seems that his source of unwanted wood is endless and he has enough wood to make thousands of birdhouses – or at least hundreds of birdhouses in the size that he likes them!
I didn’t get any pictures of the inside of the barn, with all the wood, because one look inside took me back to my childhood memories, of the days when I spent hours in our old barn, with similar stonework, beams, and old stairs to the second floor. You will just have to envision the stall after stall after stall of piles of wood!
All in all, it was a glorious afternoon—a nice drive (although it was starting to get to be a LONG one), getting to meet John (what a wonderful man and an inspiration!!!) and getting to see these pieces of art in person.
Rick and I wish John lots of luck with his plans for the future—more plans for sale, more birdhouse requests, and more promotion of his amazing talent.
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
12 comments so far
Russel
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2033 posts in 818 days
posted 559 days ago
Very, very cool. Someday, I’m going wander around the world and see all this neat stuff. Just like you MsDeb.
-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.
MsDebbieP
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14096 posts in 1039 days
posted 559 days ago
wouldn’t it be nice to be able to travel and visit the members of LJ/ GT/ and HR??
I was talking with friends recently and said that I have no real interest in traveling.. and then I thought of a few LJ members that I would love to visit with in person.. and that discussion took me around the world!!
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Russel
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2033 posts in 818 days
posted 559 days ago
Yeah, I’d really like to meet quite a few of the folks and see their worlds. Unfortunately, if I did everything I wanted to do, then I’d have no time for the things I need to do.
I’m not really happy with that situation.
-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.
john
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1161 posts in 1260 days
posted 559 days ago
Thank you for posting this Debbie , it was a pleasure to finally be able to meet you and Rick . It,s too bad that everyone lives so far from each other . I can think of all kinds of Lumberjocks that i would like to meet .
I had a lot more people show up yesterday , i think it helped getting all the direction signs up . lol
-- John in Belgrave http://www.extremebirdhouse.com ....http://community.webshots.com/user/cranbrook2
MsDebbieP
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14096 posts in 1039 days
posted 559 days ago
yes that probably helped (the signs)!!! sheesh.. and the weather was beautiful yesterday.
Any favourite conversations from yesterday stand out for you?? comments/questions?
re: visiting, when I win my millions you can join us for our LJ visits :)
win.. oh wait – I have to buy a ticket right?? oh well…
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
john
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1161 posts in 1260 days
posted 559 days ago
I had a lot of great compliments and mostly they couldn,t believe the size of them . The main questions i got were how do you put them up and how do you clean them . lol
There were some people that had seen me in a few previous articles with my houses so they thrilled to finally be able to see them . All in all the best part of the weekend was meeting you and Rick . I think i will be getting lots of new visitors this summer .
-- John in Belgrave http://www.extremebirdhouse.com ....http://community.webshots.com/user/cranbrook2
MsDebbieP
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14096 posts in 1039 days
posted 559 days ago
sounds like it was a very successful weekend!
Our visit was my highlight as well :)
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
mrtrim
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1700 posts in 759 days
posted 559 days ago
dang ! wish i could go see them bird houses . id take my bird with me and show him too ! well maybe not , hed probably be bi#@hing all the way back about his miserable metal cage ! lol it looks like you guys had a great time !
MsDebbieP
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14096 posts in 1039 days
posted 558 days ago
you’re right MrTrim.. once you’ve been extreme.. there’s no going back to miserable!
we had a LOVELY time..
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Lee A. Jesberger
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3709 posts in 858 days
posted 558 days ago
Hi Ms. Executive Director.
I’m sure it was a thrill for you to get to see john’s work up close and personal.
His work is amazing.
I added a page for him on my site due to his talents and new found obsession:
http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com/Extreme_Bird_Houses.html
I hope it brings him a ton of work..
Lee
-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com
john
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1161 posts in 1260 days
posted 557 days ago
Thanks again Lee , that is the biggest compliment that i have ever got and of course to all the people who take the time to view my work . I am also very greatful to them . Thanks MsDebbie
-- John in Belgrave http://www.extremebirdhouse.com ....http://community.webshots.com/user/cranbrook2
Lee A. Jesberger
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3709 posts in 858 days
posted 556 days ago
John;
Pleasures mine my friend.
Lee
-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com