. . . and at the end of the day . . .
It is a bit underwhelming for a feature woodworking item to be a birdhouse. After all, with the simplest of tools, materials and understanding one can go from concept to tree limb in a couple of hours. But this birdhouse has a larger narrative. It starts with a two-car caravan of five people on a summer road trip to visit a ranch in Montana.
The ranch sits almost as high as the city of Denver. It sprawls along a solitary section of the West Boulder river, with mountain and upper highland views. It is beautiful. But as is the case in many of the best of vacations, companionship was as splendid as the surroundings. Of particular note, our hosts. To some they easily became new, gracious and comfortable friends. To others in our group they are indeed, rarified soul-sustaining friends.
Prized among the memories are early evenings when everyone was together outdoors. The sound of the water shuffled by and dinner stewed patiently in the kitchen. The fish, trails and shops had all been conquered and telling of the days events were shared. All interlaced with reports of home - Washington, Montana, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
During one of those evenings the decision was made. It would be called a hostess gift, a thank you for fond memories and great accommodations. But in an admittedly selfish fashion, it was also a way to get something into that landscape. Something to be there when a certain band of companions can not. So the birdhouse was built with barn wood from the Wisconsin farm, with tools in Minnesota, paying homage to institutions our hosts and their guests hold dear. Washington State, Montana State, Gonzaga, Minnesota, Wisconsin...let the jenny wrens decide.
Minnesota! Ski-U-Mah!
The ranch sits almost as high as the city of Denver. It sprawls along a solitary section of the West Boulder river, with mountain and upper highland views. It is beautiful. But as is the case in many of the best of vacations, companionship was as splendid as the surroundings. Of particular note, our hosts. To some they easily became new, gracious and comfortable friends. To others in our group they are indeed, rarified soul-sustaining friends.
Prized among the memories are early evenings when everyone was together outdoors. The sound of the water shuffled by and dinner stewed patiently in the kitchen. The fish, trails and shops had all been conquered and telling of the days events were shared. All interlaced with reports of home - Washington, Montana, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
During one of those evenings the decision was made. It would be called a hostess gift, a thank you for fond memories and great accommodations. But in an admittedly selfish fashion, it was also a way to get something into that landscape. Something to be there when a certain band of companions can not. So the birdhouse was built with barn wood from the Wisconsin farm, with tools in Minnesota, paying homage to institutions our hosts and their guests hold dear. Washington State, Montana State, Gonzaga, Minnesota, Wisconsin...let the jenny wrens decide.
Minnesota! Ski-U-Mah!
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