| Project by trifern | posted 448 days ago | 831 views | 1 time favorited | 18 comments |  |
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I had never seen one before, much less heard of one. That all changed the other day when my friend from down under enlightened me. This is what he wrote:
’The Fencepost Turtle’
While stitching up the hand of a 75 year old Queensland farmer, who got cut on a gate while working cattle, the rural doctor struck up a conversation with the old man. Eventually the topic got around to politics & the appointment of the Prime Minister of Australia.
“Well, ya know,” drawled the old farmer, “this fella is what they call a fencepost turtle.”
Not being familiar with the term, the doctor asked him what a fencepost turtle was.
The old farmer said, “when you’re driving along a country road and you come across a fence post with a turtle balanced on top, that’s called a fencepost turtle.”
The old farmer saw a puzzled look on the doctor’s face, so he continued to explain, “You know he didn’t get up there by himself, he definitely doesn’t belong up there, he doesn’t know what to do while he is up there, and you just gotta wonder what kind of dill put him up there in the first place!’‘
—Grumpy – “Always look on the bright side of life”- Monty Python_*
Ever since that day I’ve had my eyes pealed to the posts. And then I spotted him. Some may ask what kind of wood is he? I don’t know for sure. Rumor has it that he is an exotic hardwood born in Hawaii and later transplanted to Chicago, IL. They say he is an eloquent speaker but all I have seen him do is send out text messages. He is well polished in front of the camera though. Some call him the Messiah, I just call him B.O.
Thanks for the inpiration Grumpy!
-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.
18 comments so far
Christopher
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563 posts in 814 days
posted 448 days ago
That is so cool Trifern! i love your stuff!
-- "That Government is Best that Governs The Least."-Jefferson
TedM
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1843 posts in 627 days
posted 448 days ago
LOL! Too cool! You made my day and it’s only 8:36am! Thanks!
-- I'm a wood magician... I can turn fine lumber into firewood before your very eyes! - http://www.woodworkersguide.com
Ryan Shervill
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238 posts in 707 days
posted 448 days ago
I literally laughed out loud :)
The initial story was worth a good chuckle, but the entendre of the follow up was truly funny! :) Well done!
-- If you can't set a good example, at least serve as a horrible warning... www.rarewoodcreations.com
scottb
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3402 posts in 1221 days
posted 448 days ago
ok, so I had to read it twice (cause I thought it was gonna have something to do with his wound, or prevention thereof)... love the anecdote.
-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/
SteveKorz
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2030 posts in 608 days
posted 448 days ago
LOL… Trifern, that is great…. I’m passing that one along…
.... still laughing…
-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) †
Grumpy
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14920 posts in 745 days
posted 448 days ago
That turtle reminds me of something Joe Now what is it !!!!!!.
A very impressive piece of turning. Tell me more about the finish, is that painted on, surely not the grain or is it?.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
trifern
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7894 posts in 661 days
posted 448 days ago
Good day Grumpy. The piece is sealed with lacquer, painted with artist oil paints, highlights rubbed through to allow the grain to come through, and finished with a spray lacquer. The rings are symbolic of the main promises he has made and the the top center ring represents the promises he has delivered on – “0.”
-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.
thetimberkid
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1944 posts in 597 days
posted 447 days ago
Nice work!
Thanks for the post
Callum
-- For wood working podcasts with a twist check out http://thetimberkid.com/
rikkor
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11335 posts in 768 days
posted 447 days ago
“Fencepost Turtle” I like that.
jockmike2
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7302 posts in 1140 days
posted 447 days ago
Good one again Joe! Just great.
-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com
DAN
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6439 posts in 877 days
posted 447 days ago
Eye catching posting and title !!.
-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever
trifern
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7894 posts in 661 days
posted 447 days ago
Thanks for all the comments. This was a fun one. I liked getting the paints out for a change. I like how the grain still shows through in areas.
-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.
ChicoWoodnut
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895 posts in 709 days
posted 447 days ago
Ha!
Nice conversation piece for years to come. You can change the name to fit the times. Who’s on the post today?
Thanks for sharing.
-- Scott - Chico California http://chicowoodnut.home.comcast.net
sIKE
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1094 posts in 648 days
posted 447 days ago
Bawahahahahahaaha!
-- //FC - Round Rock, TX - "Experience is what you get just after you need it"
Woodhacker
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1145 posts in 617 days
posted 447 days ago
Very nice Joe! One of my sisters lives in Adelaide. I’ll have to ask her about these “turtles”.
-- Martin, Kansas
SteveKorz
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2030 posts in 608 days
posted 446 days ago
Joe- I’m still laughing about this… even more now that I understand what the rings mean on the piece… lol… that cracks me up… lol
-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) †
itsme_timd
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676 posts in 725 days
posted 444 days ago
Funny thing, few people realize how dangerous these turtles can be when they are allowed to stay on their “post” for too long!!!! ;-)
Grumpy and Joe on this one, an international collaboration of Lumberjocks, good stuff!
-- Tim D. - Woodstock, GA
StevenAntonucci
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179 posts in 832 days
posted 416 days ago
Good stuff. Great story.
-- Steven