One day, we went up to my GrandPal Phyllis's room to have a look around, and we saw many carved birds on display throughout her apartment. When we started to point them out, Phyllis began to tell us a story about them. She said that all of the carvings had been made by her husband, John.
John started carving in 1990. He liked working with wood, so he wanted to try carving. One of John's friends inspired him to begin and told him about the Carving Club. It was held at a community seniors' centre in Orangeville, where John learned to carve and work with wood. Although John liked to carve birds, one of his biggest accomplishments was making his own canoe.
John started the canoe in early spring and finished it in the middle of the fall. He worked on the craft for almost six hours each weekend, and during weekday evenings he would work on it for two or three hours. It took months for John to finish it. John's canoe was about sixteen feet long. The boat could hold three people at most. John varnished the canoe and then painted it red. He rarely became discouraged when he carved, but when the varnish did not dry clear, he became really frustrated. The canoe never broke because John took very good care of it. John had no particular reason for making the boat; it was simply a hobby. He kept it in a small garage. Just before John passed away, he gave the canoe to his granddaughter.
The tools John used for carving included a fine drill and different kinds of sharp knives. He never hurt himself with the tools because he was very careful. John worked on his carvings more after he retired because he wasn't as busy. He did not usually receive feedback from other people, although he displayed his carvings in competitions. John competed in a few contests and won third place in one or two of them. He carved small things, such as birds, indoors, but the canoe was the only thing he carved outside.
When Phyllis had time, John taught her how to work with wood and use the tools. Sometimes Phyllis would help John build and carve. She also liked to watch him because she enjoyed seeing him improve and wanted to be supportive. Phyllis was happy when John gave some of his carvings to their daughter and two of their grandchildren. John started one project that he did not finish because he became ill.
John's family, however, still has many of his completed carvings to help them remember him.