Flutter's State of Confusion

Picture Perfect

~ Each week a theme will be posted up on Thursday, and you are invited to put up your best picture with that theme in mind, it should be just

 ONE and ORIGINAL,

 i.e not off the internet,

 Find out more or join here…

http://fotofriday.multiply.com/

Once again the challenge is to creatively provide some insightfulness into my perception, my life, my understanding of the term Hobby!

Now I have always been up for a challenge and have had many Hobbies in my life from playing sports and participating in drill team in my younger years, then moving into fishing, hunting, sewing, woodworking, painting, calligraphy, floral design, gardening, you name it. I’ve gone from collecting dolls, wind chimes, and angels to limiting what collects dust in my home anymore. 

So rather than display bits and pieces of all my likes throughout the years I was drawn to the relationship of one Hobby that has come up through the generations.  You see my grandfather was a carpenter, my brothers, and nephews are carpenters, etc.

My grandfather was a very special man. He was kind, soft spoken and strong. I would follow him around the apple orchard for hours, or sit at his feet on the front porch listening to stories of the old west and coming to Idaho by wagon train, or stagecoach. 

He built a merry-go-around in the orchard from an old wheel, not sure what kind of wheel for it was larger than a wagon wheel, long before school yards had merry-go-rounds.  My grandfather worked many years for the railroad, but his true love was carpentry, so in his later years of life he would build miniature wagons and toys with great detail and precision.  One of our most favorite things was an old rocking horse, from his unique design. Each of his children had one in their family and I remember distinctly rocking on that old horse and feeling like I was riding like the wind! Sometimes I even stood on the old rocking horse and pretended I was Annie Oakley...giggles! It provided many hours of fun and entertainment.

Some where along the line, as time moves on, we grew older,  things get old, and broken, the old rocking horse disappeared from our life. Nobody ever forgot that wonderful rocking horse and the hours of fun and laughter it provided.

About 10 years ago, my brother remembering our grandfather decided to make each of his grandchildren a rocking horse to carry on the tradition. Since I was alone, he basically adopted my grandchildren and made one for my first grand daughter. It’s a more modern and smaller design than the rocking horse my grandfather built, but I have to say it has brought the same fun, laughter and adventure to my now four grand daughters.

He built the horse, but it was my responsibility to make it unique. So with my limited skills of painting, I chose to do a simple tole painting design.  As you can see from the scuffs and chipped paint, this little horse has been ridden many hours, providing much laughter, and entertainment. Most of all, it brings a smile to my face and arouses that little corner of my heart that belongs to my grandfather tucked away in my memories to cherish forever.

Love Ya…Flutter