I took early retirement due to health issues back in 2011. I had been hunting in Montana since 2000. Had the itch to try living somewhere else so loaded up the dog and my guns and off I went. Had to have something to do between hunting seasons so I decided to try and make furniture. I had done quite a bit of woodwork over the years but never anything I would say was worth trying to sell.but how hard can it be. I soon found out. South Eastern Montana had been having quite a few forest fires which made driving around and finding good cedars much easier. It was a lot like hunting. Drive around glassing sides of mountains looking for trees that were big enough to use. The really good ones tended to be in draws that went far up the side of the mountains which meant dragging them back down to the truck. It was pretty darn hard work for a 60 yr. old with bad knees and bad ankles but when I start something I try to finish it. I sold a couple of the pieces. Gave some to friends up there. The bench came home to my mom. She wasn't very happy I had moved so far away. I really enjoyed the challenge of making something of beauty out an old tree that was charred from fire and most people would think was of no value. I'm going back in September and going to bring some wood back with me because there are still a few projects I want to do. Hope my old bones will hang with me a little bit longer!
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