------- Well if you have just come from my craft or my art and were interested for more your just a glutton for punishment. If this is your first stop I would recommend you go to the other two sections. If not, lets go. Basically I have an open shop policy. That means people can walk in and take their chances for a chat. Many do. This kind of work ethic has been handed down from generation to generation in many family clans. I often comment to the few who ask about the craft, that Passion, Patience and Perseverance, the 3 "P"s, are a very important part of the ingredients to the recipe of " doing the chores" If you really don't like what you do don't get into the business side of it, are words still ringing in my ears. The joy of acceptance is a marvelous thing but most of the time when your doing chores your alone but healthy, always remember that.
------- Well I tell you i've never used so many I's, me's, my's, etc. in all my life, in composing these three pieces but I guess that cant be helped when your just trying to express your true self from your heart. Having said all that I guess ill leave you with this little personal story and call it quits for the day.
------- My father loved to brook fish. Always caught his limit with the biggest and best of the day and if anyone around him were short he would help make their limit to make a mess, if he had the time, and quietly prided himself in doing so. Limit in those days was 21 trout over6". By the way a mess of native brook trout lightly floured, pan fried in butter for breakfast is the best. Catching good native brook trout in Vermont is coming to a sad end. Mostly soft hatchery stuff now. Good revenue for the state, that's another story. But I could never figure out how he was able to create such a reputation for brook trout fishing. These tales often repeated in the sheds of Vermonts north country. After many years with this riddle in my head, we found our selves on a pretty rugged brook in Northern Vermont one summer shortly after my return from Vietnam. Never, never, never, divulge your spots. He asked, up or down, like he always did, I always had the choice, (I heard him say and was told that he could follow anyone up or down, out of site, and still catch a limit). So up I went and down he went like always. Here was my chance. Had some training and experience under my belt. Now was the time. I tracked him. When he thought I was out of site he slowly very very quietly, low to the ground, next to the water, turn rocks, roll stumps, scratch, bait the hook, drop the line, one finger line hold, quick jerk sideways, WA- LA. When we meant back on the road an hour or so later he asked if I got anything. I felt like giving him a hug but I just showed him the few I got like I always did since the beginning, but he knew - he knew, and I thought I was trained by the best. ( Passing knowledge and wisdom along is not an easy task but it still happens once in a great while. ) Well thanks for stumbling in and being patient enough to persevere through this little maze and mess. You to must have a little passion for the craft as well. GODS SPEED
------- P.S. "If you see a brook in my work look for a pole, that's a little bit of me".
