Mountain Lore Carvings

11/28/2025

Crucifix carved by my son Matthew. Basswood.

11/25/2025

Great class at the Goggleworks!! We carved Belsnickels in time for Christmas. The Belsnickel comes from the German Pelz Niklaus or St Nicklaus who wears furs. He is the German version of St Nicholas. He visits homes on the weeks before Christmas carrying a bag of goodies for good boys and girls and a switch for naughty ones to help encourage them to change their behavior before Christmas.

10/24/2025

10/14/2025

I carved this crucifix about 15 years ago. It has been outside in variyis gardens as we moved. It lost one arm and the other recently fell off. It’s in for repairs. Once finished, I will build it a new shelter and hope to have it outside in the spring.

10/10/2025

In my happy place. Working on my next masterpiece. This one, by far, is my toughest project to date. The Last Supper.

08/24/2025

After finishing my German Shepherd carving, I decided I need a small version for our Nativity Scene. Nathan made a model for me with his 3-D printer.

08/22/2025

08/21/2025

Matthew carved Chesty, the Marine Corps mascot.

08/21/2025

My second carving of the trip. A German Shepherd Dog in Austrian pine. #

08/19/2025

Finished my St Lawrence. St Lawrence was a deacon in the Roman church. In 258, he was serving as the treasurer of the church when the Roman Emperor Valerian ordered the Pope, and all bishops, priests, and deacons were to be put to death. Since Lawrence was the treasurer, they gave him three days to gather up sll the treasures of the church snd present them (begore he would be put to death also). Lawrence went back and gave all the valuables away to the poor, homeless, hungry, widows, etc.

Three days later, he returned to the Romans and when asked to produce the treasures of the church, he presented the poor, hungry, homeless, and widows. Those we serve are the treasures of the church.

If you’re wondering, that didn’t go over well and they burned Lawrence alive on the grill.

The carving shows the grill leaning against Lawrence and he is holding a bible and palms which indicate he was martyred.

06/07/2025

Photos from our class at Goggleworks today - Fun with Fungus. We made all kinds of mushrooms today - Hobbit homes, character mushrooms, mushroom garlic presses, and just mushrooms. We have a second session scheduled for June 21 with a couple spaces available.

03/28/2025

I decided that I’m going to carve the fifteen stations of the Scriptural Stations of the Cross. These stations are different from the traditional stations of the cross in that they are all based on biblical scripture which is important for a good Lutheran. This is station four- the denial of Peter. Jesus told Peter he would deny him three times before the c**k crowed (sunrise). I depicted this station with the roster crowing at sunrise. There will be three lines leading from the mouth of the roster representing the three denials of Peter. Peter is represented as the key and the rock on which the roster is standing - both of which are symbols of Peter.