I also took lots of patterns to glue on to the wood...I had to have at least 10 patterns for each jewelry box and many many scroll saw blades.... One vacation I learned two different printers might not make the same size pattern. I had spilled a drink on some pages  so I took a pattern to town and had someone print me some patterns to replace the wet wrinkled ones and they happened to be a little larger than all the ones I had already used for the one box...Didn't know that till I had scroll sawed out  a board to be glued on the next board and it was wider that the rest. Had to wait till I got back home to use the printer here...I thought I had planned on everything before we left home but wet patterns never entered my little mind...My wife mentioned one day, you know, our vacations almost seems like being home and working.  She also took her stained glass doings. Oh, where we went they always had lots to do but things like dancing parties and golf just didn't fit but the mini golf and the fishing tournaments almost every day was good. The horse back riding was okay but for a week I couldn't walk straight. Fun Valley is the name of the place in Colo if anyone is looking for a place to go about the first of May to the middle of "Sept..Elevation is over 8200 feet so the reason they close down then for the year...Over 900 hook ups plus cabins, trailers to rent and a motel in case one don't take his own roof and a bed. Large restaurant and gas station and laundry and a few churches are just some of the things available there on the property. Oh , they did reroute some of the south fork of the Rio Grande that goes through the property so you wouldn't have to buy a Colo fishing license but any other place you throw a hook in to the water don't forget to buy that license. In Texas every body driving down the road if someone comes up behind you just naturally pull over and let the faster cars go by..... But in Colo. do not pull over on to the shoulder or else if a highway patrol see you it is a big fine..... In the check in office at Fun Valley the biggest sign they have is to warn Texans of that law.....The shoulders along the highway in Colo. are important for they have to be in good shape to keep the highway in good shape so do heed their warning....

  Also if you are low on cash they will let you work while there to help pay for you stay there. Working in the cafe, restaurant, tending the horses, carpenter work, road work, changing sheets and cleaning duties, mowing and lots of other things for what ever a little city needs you can work. 

These are all short hours so a person can still enjoy their vacation...We didn't work there but lots of folks did. One day we would work with our tools making things , the next day we would get in the car and drive a different road for a half of a day , turn around and drive back in the other half of a day... We did learn and see every thing we could possibly see in exactly half of a days drive from Fun Valley. Really some days we did go way too far and then it took way in to the night before getting back to our camper. They also have a guard on the gate 24 hours a day which is people with their campers doing the duty which is good for all the little kids could be seen all over the area and no mom or dads along to tell  them anything.....I always thought this was great for kids needs this kind of learning... figure out things on their own.  They also have a fourth of July parade there on the property and a very big one it is ....They also have the cook outs of sorts like maybe two rows of campers will be asked to cook something and all meet with their food at this camper or trailer for supper or lunch. Just good ways to meet and greet.

 Used to be owned by a family who lived in Abilene Texas till recently and a conglomerant bought them out. I hope they treat people like the previous owners did.

   Cheers. 

I forgot to mention the mini golf, the paddle boats, darts ,horse back riding, and golf and a fishing on the property and a few other things was free.

Edited November 7, 20187 yr by Smallpatch
to add something

Great story Patch. Sounds like an enjoyable and rewarding place to visit. Thanks.

And this is them finished.

Very, very nice.

Beautiful boxes. 

Patch - love 'em.  Great story with plenty of time off to do your woodworking (and other stuff).

Hey Patch, great job on the boxes. We use to go camping all the time. In the spring, summer, and fall we would go about every other weekend. There were two lakes within 5 miles of the house many more within two hours of where we lived. 

 

Looking forward to more pictures of your work.