I couldn't bury these pictures in with all the chaos of the kids' Christmas spoils.
My Grandpa Jewkes made these really beautiful nut holders for Christmas. Although I did hear he had an apprentice this year... and lucky for me, I happen to know him very well. I love all the handmade gifts my Grandpa has made for me.
It's funny that I took this picture because my Aunt Denise had been taking pictures of Grandpa's hands earlier in the day. She laughed when she saw me snap this. I guess we both had the same thought.
Thanks Grandpa. Now if I could just remember what all these nuts are called.
***Update. At my Grandpa's funeral, my Aunt Denise told a story about the very first thing my Grandpa made as a 14 year old boy in woodshop. A bowl. He gave it to my Grandma Great (his mother) who, several years ago, gave that bowl to my Aunt Denise. When my Grandpa was trying to figure out what to give everyone for Christmas this year, he decided he was too tired and was just going to give us money. But my Aunt and my Dad suggested he make bowls. Just like he had when he was 14. My Dad said he didn't think he would be able to do it. But he got a call from him one day and said he needed his help getting something out of his car. When my Dad got to his house, he saw my Grandpa had bought a new lathe to spin the bowls with. My Dad said he had a big grin on his face and told him he was going to make everyone a nut bowl. But my Grandpa was too sick and tired to finish them. He worked for a couple of minutes and then had to rest for 10 or 15 minutes because he couldn't breathe and his hands hurt too much. He asked my Dad to help him finish them. And as my Dad recounted at the funeral, just like when he was teaching him how to build things as a little boy - handing him the right tools - my Grandpa told my Dad what to do (I think men call that "supervising") while my Dad finished the bowls. They finished the last one on Christmas Eve together. I can picture them working together, the roles reversed, in my Grandpa's workshop. And it brings tears to my eyes.
***Update. At my Grandpa's funeral, my Aunt Denise told a story about the very first thing my Grandpa made as a 14 year old boy in woodshop. A bowl. He gave it to my Grandma Great (his mother) who, several years ago, gave that bowl to my Aunt Denise. When my Grandpa was trying to figure out what to give everyone for Christmas this year, he decided he was too tired and was just going to give us money. But my Aunt and my Dad suggested he make bowls. Just like he had when he was 14. My Dad said he didn't think he would be able to do it. But he got a call from him one day and said he needed his help getting something out of his car. When my Dad got to his house, he saw my Grandpa had bought a new lathe to spin the bowls with. My Dad said he had a big grin on his face and told him he was going to make everyone a nut bowl. But my Grandpa was too sick and tired to finish them. He worked for a couple of minutes and then had to rest for 10 or 15 minutes because he couldn't breathe and his hands hurt too much. He asked my Dad to help him finish them. And as my Dad recounted at the funeral, just like when he was teaching him how to build things as a little boy - handing him the right tools - my Grandpa told my Dad what to do (I think men call that "supervising") while my Dad finished the bowls. They finished the last one on Christmas Eve together. I can picture them working together, the roles reversed, in my Grandpa's workshop. And it brings tears to my eyes.
1 comment:
I love nuts! became addicated to them this season. cracking is the best. Your Grandpa makes beautiful work and you take beautiful pictures!
Post a Comment