StatCounter

Sunday, June 24, 2018

Wooden Boat Show

This weekend was the Wooden Boat Show and Summer Solstice Festival at North House Folk School. I hadn't been in a few years and needed to see what was new. It was a nice day to be by the lake as it was mostly sunny and cool. The activities are too many to list, but check out the link f you so desire.

The first thing I did was to check out the music which was being performed by Tom and Caleb. Tom is one of the fiddle players in the band I play in and I didn't even know Caleb played as I know him from other pursuits. They played perfect background tunes.
Our dance caller, Barb (on the right), is here with her twin sister appreciating the music.
There were exhibitors who are also teachers at the school. Everything from wooden toys, spoon carving, various other types of wood carving, weaving, felting, basket making, gunsmithing, metal forging, and wood turning.



 Then there are the boats. Kayaks, canoes, sailboats, rafts, runabouts, and some that may be undefinable, but they all float. Some for sale and others just for display.

Mark Hansen, founder of the school, has been working on an "Old Man's Pleasure Boat". I have stopped by his house a couple of times in the past few weeks to see the progress. It isn't done yet and he still needs to get the masts and sails on it, but he does have a little outboard motor in the meantime. It is two matched canoes and the rigging style used by the Polynesians to lash it all together. It is like Kon-Tiki meets the Boundary Waters. He is just going to use square sails attached to a couple of black spruce masts he has at home in the driveway.
Here are some of the other boats.


There were some lectures going on as well as a silent auction so there were not always a lot of people outside.

Of Course, when you get a bunch of older seafaring men and women around you get tales of bravery, adventure, and downright stupidity as told by those who may or may not have been involved. Nothing like sitting around a fire to bring out those stories.
The Solstice Pageant was in the evening and too late in the day for my level of energy. I will no doubt hear stories about how it went from those who were there and probably some who were not. That's small town living for you. For those of you on the north side of the equator the days will start to ever-so-slowly shorten now as those in the southern hemisphere can welcome back the light. Funny how it happens every year about this time.



19 comments:

  1. Yes it's a slightly depressing thought to think the days are already getting shorter, I love the long light evenings.

    Looks like a fascinating event to attend with lots to see and do.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow, thanks for posting this, it's not too far away from me!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am very, very fond of festivals and this looks like a beauty.
    I am enjoying our winter too (such as it is).

    ReplyDelete
  4. I remember attending big bonfires for summer solstice festivals in Germany.

    Those wooden canoes (kayaks?) in your third-to-last photo look like pieces of art!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I agree with Pixel Peeper, those kayaks(?) are stunning pieces of art aside from any functionality they have. The "Old Man's Pleasure Boat" is also excellent :)

    It's hard to believe the summer solstice is now history. It's freaking cold here. I know I'll regret saying that in about one week, as we are supposed to be getting a heat wave. A real one, this time, not just a weird day in the middle of the coldness.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sounds like an excellent outing to me!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Yep, I'm the same way. If things are too late, I either need to take a nap or I need to bow out.

    Getting old sucks.

    ReplyDelete
  8. LL Cool Joe, I really love the long days and often get less sleep than I should. I winter I want to hibernate.

    Karen, You should come up when you need a break from the city heat.

    Elephant's Child, Thanks! I loved your frost pictures.

    anne marie, It is such an organic medium, so readily available, and there is so much that can be done with it. Wood is a gift from the Goddess.

    Pixel Peeper, I think there is a long tradition of solstice celebrations in northern Europe. Yes, I would hesitate to put them in the water.

    jenny_o, It has been pretty cool here, too. I think we got near 80 once, but mostly 60s, but 50s, too. The Pleasure Boat would be great on Lake Ainslie on a calm day.

    Debra, It was a lovely way to spend an afternoon.

    Sioux, Yes, unfortunately I need my sleep now. Burning the candle at both ends is a young person's option.

    ReplyDelete
  9. It's strange to see photos of people wearing jackets. It's so hot here that I think I'll melt.

    Love,
    Janie

    ReplyDelete
  10. That is similar to our Common Ground Fair here in Maine - I am looking forward to attending this September.
    the Ol'Buzzard

    ReplyDelete
  11. This looks like so much fun. But the jackets are so strange to me. It was only 102 today whoo hoo.
    Like the booths the "felted Loon" ? is very sweet.
    I can't believe our days will be getting shorter now but nice for us as the sun sets our temps drop somewhat.

    cheers, parsnip

    ReplyDelete
  12. Looks like great fun. And all those boat pictures are getting me impatient for our upcoming trip to Cape Cod.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Janie, It's always cooler by the lake which is a great respite from the excessive heat south and west of here. Except most of the winter when it is warmer and damper by the lake. I did wear a long sleeve shirt.

    Ol'Buzzard, I would love to get out to that one. It looks like a good-sized event.

    angryparsnip, It was 48 when I was driving along the lake to work this morning. I think it might be up to 70 now. There are lots of quirky things to be found.

    Tom, There will be a lot of sails to see on the Cape. Have you ever gotten out to Nantucket?

    ReplyDelete
  14. I'm tempted to catch a flight - the mention of all that wood.
    Looks like fun, Jono.
    Be well, my friend.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wow, that's amazing - what a cool event! Those kayaks are beautiful. I have huge respect for anyone who does wonderful woodwork like that - I'm too impatient and I loathe sanding, so I'm afraid my woodworking is limited to framing. Give me an air nailer and some 2x4s and I'm a happy camper... ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Oh, the tales that were told, I can just imagine. From the coulda, woulda, shoulda to the You should try what my great-uncle did.

    ReplyDelete
  17. My husband has talked from time to time about building a wooden strip canoe (I think I've got the name wrong) and they are beautiful, but I think I am mostly relieved not to have one in progress in the basement.

    ReplyDelete