Subtitle: The Traveling Flowers
Sometimes joy looks like a guy named Chuck.
Chuck is a retired metal shop teacher...and he's spending his retirement years repurposing parts of refrigerators....water heaters...and other metal from the junkyard into flower sculptures.
At the end of the zoom call I got a tour of his own backyard junkyard and his shop....it was so impressive. I took a few screenshots along the way.
Apparently the skins of water heaters are very useful! Who knew?
Chuck knew!
If he didn't have the right tool or storage unit...he made it.
This rotating tool holder was impressive giving him two sided storage for his tools! I thought it was brilliant!
I believe he also made this cutting tool he uses to hand cuts the flowers....and he gave a demonstration. He made another tool to bend them into the shape he wanted and it has interchangeable parts for leaves. I was blown away!
Here's another one of Chuck's creations:
But the best part of this story Chuck wanted me to have one of his sculptures. They are going to travel by car back to Pennsylvania with Cherie and her husband where she will mail them to me. They are taking the scenic route...so Cherie is going to help me track their progress. They left Chuck's cabin last night near the Sequoia National Forest and spent the night at a spa in Hot Springs CA. Cherie sent photos of the flowers getting a little fresh air at the spa.....and I laughed out loud. What a delightful way to start my day! I'm going to have fun with this.
It's these kinds of connections and experiences that balance out a chaotic and mixed up world. And I'm going to savor it....and celebrate a guy named Chuck and his devoted and creative daughter!
I'm going to (loosely) track these traveling flowers...just because I can.
SOOOO grateful for the Chucks in this world. It IS these kinds of connections and experiences and people that shine light and love into a chaotic and mixed up world. My antennae are out nonstop these days, picking up just such signals of wonder and joy. I especially love the photo of Chuck at work with his cutting tool—flow and fulfillment radiating quietly from his absorption in meaningful work. THE. BEST.
ReplyDeleteYou nailed it Dotty....the world needs more Chucks! He oozes wonder and joy and I would love to spend a whole day with him in his shop! Better yet...I would love to be his neighbor!
DeleteOh, thank you for introducing us to Chuck! What a gem of a person, with creativity galore.
ReplyDeleteThank you! He's a gem indeed! Pure joy!
DeleteThis was such a fun read! Thanks for sharing your zoom call with us, MaryAnn. How wonderful to meet someone who creates art in such a unique way! I really appreciate his attention to detail and look forward to following the traveling flower trail! Chuck, if you happen to read this, I love what you're doing - spreading joy with your unique flower sculptures. So pretty and whimsical!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Judy. It really was a treat to meet him and get a window into his world of creativity. It's going to be so much fun to have some of his flowers in my home...especially now that I have seen where they have come from.
DeleteSuch a lovely story- what a gift friends can be.
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter!
Kathy
Indeed! Thanks Kathy! Happy Easter to you too!
DeleteAll I can say is”WOW”!
ReplyDeleteMe too!!!
DeleteLast summer Cherie and Dale showed up at one of my nephew's concerts (he has a band - The Michael Weber Show, I work the merchandise booth) in Kent, Ohio. I didn't know they were coming and if that wasn't enough of a surprise, they brought me one of Chuck's flower sculptures! It sits in one of my flower beds that is just below window height outside my sewing studio. I see it every day on my way to the mailbox and every time I look out the studio window. It always make me smile and brings me joy!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great story Patty! Lucky us! I asked if the sculpture could be outside...and Chuck said yes as long as I spray it every year with a sealer. Have you done that? I know the flowers are going to make me smile too!
DeleteAfter I give it a cleaning, I will spray mine before fall so it can sit outside all winter. Right now mine is surrounded with daffodils - my flowers are yellow too. I did get a piece of stone from my neighbor so my flowers sit up a bit higher. The stone was cut with a saw so it is flat on opposing sides.
DeleteI can picture them on on their pedestal surrounded by daffodils!
DeleteI read Cherie's blog and when she talked about the flowers I had to come to your blog and read more. That is so cute traveling flowers and I got to see Cherie's photos too I just started to be in touch with her about a year ago. I will put your blog in my feedly to follow.
ReplyDeleteCherie has a huge fan base...and now Chuck does too! Thanks for following along Karen!
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