www.groeschen.com

May 14, 2006

WHIDBEY ISLAND, WASHINGTON -  Ok, so this woman called me up in tears because a woodpecker had attacked her totem carving. 

The totem was carved over 30 years ago by a fellow from Vancouver Island. He died last year.  Last May, the couple asked me to repair it. It was in dire need, completely hollow, ready to split apart, bottom was rotten etc. So I fixed it, rejuvinated the paint and wood a bit, trying to keep the cool aging affect. She loved it. That was last year.

So this woodpecker started drilling holes in her house...developing a pad hoping to attract the female woodpeckers, (that's what she said.) Anyway, she covered up the holes.  When she left the house the woodpecker went to work on  the totem.  



I said "Yes, I'll repair your totem, again".  I get within 10 blocks of her house, and the rear end goes out in my truck!  A horrible breakdown.  I get towed home, from Seattle across the ferry onto Whidbey. 

Bad news from the mechanic, truck  not worth fixing.  I'm thinking maybe I shouldn't repair her totem.  But she is bound and determined to get her totem fix, so her husband delivers the totem to my place.

I fixed it.  We'll see what happens next year.