In a message dated 97-12-24 00:19:59 EST, Bruce writes:

> but try revisiting some of your
>  work after 150 years and find out who had the last laugh.

I knew there was more behind your "oneryness" statement. My dad used that work
"onery" a lot too. Although he usually applied to to people, it may have been
inspired by the wood! I'm glad you replied. All you say is true in my view as
well.

I think the fact that I have always gone back to see the effect time has
wrought on my work is why I have been able to make any advancement at all. I
have seen my work  with 43 years of age on it, but not 150 years (Yet!). One
of my  best  works in wood completely avoided the whole issue of "the moment
that the tree is removed from its birthplace processes occur that ferment that
oneryness."  One winter when I was 5 years old I planted a Pin Oak acorn in
one of my mom's house plants. That tree got transplanted around the yard
several times as I grew up. It is now at least 40" in diameter and grows up
through the middle of my dad's workshop and art studio. I have lots of fun
returning home occasionally and reaching my arms around that tree. It was
about 20 years ago that I could no longer touch my finger tips on the other
side. When my dad and I built a timber-framed addition to the studio in the
1970s we allowed a foot of clearance all around where it passed through the
roof. We couldn't imagine a Pin Oak any bigger than that. It's now pressing
against the roof structure and I have to cut back some of the roof to allow
more room when I return there next May. One of the roots is knawing away that
the edge of the foundation too. The Pin Oak Woodworking Project is not yet
complete!

John