A Birthday With Paul Bunyan

I think that it is fairly safe to say that my dad had a pretty special birthday this past September. He was asked to take part in the 75th anniversary party at the Paul Bunyan Logging Camp at the beautiful Carson Park in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The camp is truly a living piece of our region's rich logging history. My dad spent the afternoon carving and sharing his talent with people of all ages. One might call it work, but for my dad it was simply an excuse to do what he loves. My daughter (dad's boss) was able to take part in the fun and learn a little in the process. We even got a small spot on the local news. (Does the theory, "There are no small parts, only small actors" apply here?) The wonderful staff also took time out to sing happy birthday to my dad. We were all touched and very pleased with the outcome of the day. Enjoy some of the moments I was able to freeze in time.

The big guy himself:

A little fancy footwork:

Into his work:

See what a good actor my dad is?  He is actually going over a completed carving so the news guy could catch him in action:

Happy birthday to you!  Happy birthday to you!  Happy birthday dear Greg (or Dad or Papa)!  Happy birthday to you!

The last three photos are just some that I thought really respresented the history at this beautiful camp:

Northern Wisconsin State Fair 2009

Last summer my dad was given the opportunity to carve at the local fair. He always manages to draw a crowd, and the looks of amazement he receives is very rewarding (of course he doesn't get to see those looks, but I sure do)! Here are some action shots:

Carving in the Ozarks 2009

Last April, my dad was given the opportunity of taking part in Carving in the Ozarks. There were over 20 carvers gathered together to showcase their talents. Each one of them had a different style, but the same purpose: having fun and using their talents to raise money for charity. Here are some of the hundreds of pictures that I was able to capture:

On log selection day, My dad received some advice from his partner and grand-daughter, Beth. I'm certain he couldn't have done it without her:



My dad in action:







One of the completed projects:



Some of the gang:

To Give Credit Where Credit is Due

I have decided that in order to properly showcase my dad's amazing talent, I would create a blog dedicated to his carving endeavors. My father is a disabled Vietnam Marine Vet who has found an outlet for his "forced" early-retirement. Carving became a hobby for my father long before his disability surfaced. He started carving by hand in the early 1990's. His skill for carving songbirds and small animals was, in my humble opinion, amazing. In 1996 he took on the daunting task of chainsaw carving. His first carving took him weeks to perfect, but after that was completed he was bit by the chainsaw carving bug. Over the next several years, he "puttered around" with the art while working full-time on his "real" job. In 1999, he began carving on a full-time basis while he and my mother ran their gift shop in Branson, Missouri. At this point carving became his passion. In 2006, he battled, and defeated, cancer. He didn't return from the battle unscathed. He lost his larynx to the disease, but pushed on and learned to talk with a prosthetic voice-box. He beat the odds and never let it get him down. After recovering from surgery, he knew he could never return to his previous careers, but he was able to continue carving. Carving became his therapy. It keeps him strong and young despite the fact that he cannot work. He has been able to take part in several carving exhibitions over the past year and as long as he is able to lift that chainsaw I am certain he will be taking part in several more in the coming years. I will be posting pictures that I have captured at these events. Please enjoy and check back often to see where his passion takes him next!