Yes, there is a Santa Clause and he gave me a present that I will cherish....

That’s pretty cool, Bill. My Nic has shown a very little interest in woodworking except penmaking. I guess at age 20, I didn’t give two hoots about woodworking or my own Dad’s passions in the shop, so there is time, God willing.

I have hopes for the grandson, but I should probably wait till he has mastered the art of eating with a spoon before outfitting him with a bowl gouge.

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

Congratulations Bill. PS, It is not at all silly for you to feel elation that he wants to learn at his father’s hand.

-- Maplewood, MN

Wow! I envy your son. How I wish my father is still around. I got my woodworking genes from him. He was a construction foreman and knows all the tricks of the trade. I used to watch him set and sharpen his hand saw, hone his chisels and plane irons. I also got a chance to see him replace a handle on a hammer when I was barely a teen-ager. There were too many distractions during my teen age years. Got married. Unfortunately, he died before I got the itch. 16 years late.

I am sure your son will cherish the time he spent woodworking with you for the rest of his life. I know. One of the fondest memories I have of my father was him woodworking.

-- "Real jocks do it on a bench"

bill , i cant imagine a better gift ! wish i got one just like it . happy holidays

-- if you aint the lead dog the scenery never changes

Happy feeling I have for you. Nice Christmas present for sure. You tell him he get’s an “atta boy” s/f

-- www.flickr.com/photos/egamarine/

Merry Christmas!!!!!!
Wow – THAT is a GIFT among gifts.
Really struck a chord with me. Two weeks ago while in the shop my son (a 26 year old with nothing on his mind except cell phone – computers- girls and not necessarily in that order) strolled in and after watching a few minutes asked if he could try to turn something on the lathe…
After a little help setting up he made his first turning which didn’t turn out as he first imagined( I tried to assure him that’s woodworking)
He’s made a trip or two to the shop since and attempted to make a second candle stick – something about a matched pair has crossed his mind…. tried to tell him that’s why you put one on each end of the matle.. distance helps similarity! he’s still coming back. ya know… Merry Christmas to ME as well.

-- CaptnA - "When someone hurts you, write it in the sand so the winds of forgiveness will scatter the memory... "

Maybe if they made really hip lathe turning video games? Then youngsters today might figure out that the real thing in real life has much better graphics..Wink

Glad to hear your good news Cajunpen.

-- miles125, Alabama.."Architecture is frozen music""

i got goosebumps! What a wonderful surprise and gift!!

My heart is smiling for you

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

I agree that connecting with your son at a place where your interests are in common is very special. Enjoy your time.

Dalec

Nice…Bill!!

I saw the post and my first recation was ..”hey it’s not Christmas yet”.......but there’s an exceotion for that kind of present…..Enjoy that one man!!!

That’s not silly… it brought tears to my eyes. Merry Christmas indeed!

-- The opposite of war isn't peace. It's creation. -- Wood T's: http://www.printfection.com/snbcreative

What a great Christmas gift. To share a creative experience with your son has got to be one of the best things in the world. My boys are 30 and 32 and I relish the opportunity to share that kind of quality time with them. Good for you Bill.

-- If at first you don't succeed, try again. Then quit. No use being a darn fool about it.

That’s wonderful Bill. The feeling of WOW will never go away and that’s a great thing. I hope you and your son have a good long time to make sawdust together.

What a Christmas you are having.

Merry Christmas to you and yours.

-- Betsy - There is no strength where there is no struggle

good for you i have three boys and as well hope that i can ruin them but in this techy world it seems a crapshoot i thinky you just hit enjoy .

-- "when you think youre going to slow, slow down just a little bit more" .... Pop's

I spent some time in the saw dust factory with my Dad. And without a doubt, it is some of the very best times we had together. I only wish it could have been more….... I’m sure if he was still with us he would think the same. Most of the machines I own were his to start with. After his death them came to me. Now my son (when time permits) has joined in the adventure.

The time spent with your family, doing something of interest together can not be replaced. Enjoy your gift, you will both get something of value out of it.

-- Brian's Table Top Toys http://home.mountaincable.net/~bgraham/

That’s great news, Bill! Enjoy that time with your son!

-- Living on the square...

Great news. I was about 34 when I started “borrowing” my dads shop. Enjoy your time together.

-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com

Congratulations Cajunpen! This gives me hope for my children, sometimes it just takes time. I am excited to see your project, you know what would be neat, if the clock face were carved. If a guy had one of those slick carveright machines they could probably carve a really unique clock face that would be absolutely breathtaking. I don’t think I have ever seen something like that.

-- If knowledge is not shared, it is forgotten.

That’s Great…
Everyone tells me that I am taking up a lot of valuable room with having my little boy’s desk and work area out in my shop. But I love it when he gets his tool belt on and starts swinging his hammer when he’s out there with me. I don’t know how much money in elmers glue I have lost, but it is all worth it to me. God bless and I am happy to hear about your son. Have fun and remember patience. That’s why my dad never had us twins with him when he did stuff. Todd

Bill congratulation on your Christmas gift and the gift that keeps on giving.

He will always look at the clock and think of time you spent making it.

Surprise him with a hand tool or something that he can use on making the clock and have it always.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

That’s a great story especially around the holidays.Hope you and your son have a great time in the shop together.

-- Scott NM,http://www.shangrilawoodworks.com

Up till now we shared this…My son (31) as of a month ago is still not interested. I have so much to share. You are one lucky Lumberjock. I have thought about asking the high school about interested kids.

When he was a kid, we did build skateboard half pipes and the like together…I miss that.

-- Odie, Confucius say, "He who laughs at one's self is BUTT of joke".

My three 20-something sons have not shown much of an interest. Sports is it. But my daughter is the one who caught the bug and wants to build something of everything. I keep thinking of ways to keep her interest going.

Congrats, it is such a nice gift to be able to share.

Steve

-- Stevethepeeve -- I'm no rocket surgeon

Excellent, Bill, just excellent.

-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon

Your excitement really comes through in what you’ve told us Bill. Congratulations!

-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business.

Great news!

It’s nice to be able to share something like that

Gary

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

:-)

-- The significant problems we face cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them

My 13 yo grandson wanted a dart set. But we bought it at Woo0dcraft and glued them up today.
We will turn them on Christmas.

He picked through my supply of pen blanks for his wood.

-- No piece is cut too short. It was meant for a smaller project.

Thanks – to everyone that replied. Both of my boys and I have a great relationship, just nothing that we can share with each other (we do have football, but that doesn’t count). I am looking forward to spending some time in the shop with him. My oldest son lives right across the street from me and I am hoping that once he sees his brother building stuff in the shop with me that he will get the urge too. I’ll keep you posted on the progress.

-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/

Bill, I too get along quite well with my boys so I appreciate the additional pleasure when you can share something you love with them. To me there is nothing better that spending time with my kids doing something we all enjoy.

-- If at first you don't succeed, try again. Then quit. No use being a darn fool about it.