Wasps and Clean-up and Fretboard Work

This has been a really tough week or so at Bear Meadows. There was an infestation of wasps, and I was stung twice in the head in one ouching; Dwain was stung five or six times. So the wasps had to go because when their numbers grew so large in the shop they sounded like an A-10 Tank Killer coming to do some killin'. Dwain, though, had a different experience, and my heart was heavy for him:

     "One of my saddest days at Bear Meadow, today. For several weeks Mark and I had been noticing yellow-jackets in the shop, not understanding where they were coming from. Then, over the last few days we discovered they had bored into one wall of the studio and formed a nest. I caulked the holes shut, then when that didn't stop the exodus of wasps into the shop, bought some foam insecticide to spray over the area where the holes had been bored. We caught them at the windows and screens by slipping a jar over each one, then sealing by sliding a cardboard over the mouth, then releasing them outside, hoping they would finally all exit.

     Still no stop in the bees entering the shop. Then, today, I found a small place where they were entering the studio, up in the mezzanine;, in a crack around an electrical outlet box. Hoping that stopping them there would do the job, I bought more spray, and insecticide-laden foam insulation to seal the box.
     But then Mark put his ear to the floor and could hear a steady buzz and chewing noise. So we had a full-scale invasion on our hands! Lacking the funds to hire an exterminator, I enlisted Mark in a retaliation. We bored holes and carefully sprayed two cans of insecticide into the walls of the cavity they were nesting in.

     After finishing, and cleaning up the spray that drained out, we decided to go over to Gretchen's house for dinner. but on the way over I was overcome by such an intense mourning and grieving for these thousands of lives we had just exterminated.

Of course, it simply could not be allowed to have them invading the shop. Sooner or later someone who was susceptible to anaphylactic shock was going to be bitten. Already, Mark had been bitten twice on the head, and I half a dozen times during the caulking. And I'm still swollen in the joints from it. So there was no way to co-habit with these little beasties.

     And yet I grieve them, and feel the studio is defiled by the sounds of their buzzing and dropping dead, even far into the dark of the evening when wasps are ordinarily quiescent. The puzzle of life is far from a pleasantry."

But we are over that now because Dwain did some things to get himself balanced, and then he called in an exterminator who seemed to know what he was about. And there were only four or five wasps today, and they just wanted to leave. So we let them.

Even though I could not build the work did not cease; I just shifted gears out of the shop and did some research and development. I got this idea that if I draw every part of the dulcimer in detail that I'd have to know clearly how to make it. So that is what I'm doing, drawing a dulcimer in an exploded view.

This started out as an exercise in my sketchbook, but then I remembered just how difficult making an accurate drawing really is. I don't mean that each peg must be drawn exactly like the other--although I would love to have that kind of accuracy as the plan develops, and I'll work towards that. But I really mean how each different part is living in the space that I create on the page. This is tough!


I'm not sure how I came up with the idea but I cannot imagine why I didn't see it before because by drawing each part and the tools needed to make it will reinforce what I've learned and help me keep of a log of what I've been doing--or will do.


This drawing is the sixth that I've done of the entire dulcimer. In the sixth drawing, though, the machine became a single bout. I don't think I got lazy--I have been going around the city a lot the last few days. I think that is just my favorite shape, for now. I am really liking the curves of the double bout that I'm working on now.

I'm going to have to just call this sexy, with its beautiful curves and lovely lines. I was telling Dwain today how making a dulcimer is like doing a drawing--only this is the ultimate subtractive method of mark making. Of course there is always the ability to add, which I had no clue about.

Today I repaired two cuts using shims that were less than .045 of an inch. I get them glued in, scraped down, and living as if they always lived where they sit. Amazing that this is possible and that I'm learning how to do it. I'll certainly look closer at other's instruments to see how they deal with the art problems that they face.

To make the drawings I had to have the right equipment. I needed graph paper, a compass, a ruler, special pens--all stuff I have at home in TN, where Val took this picture a couple of days ago. Home. I still cannot believe it. I have to say that I didn't go kicking and screaming to TN, but I was really reluctant to leave FL because of the natural treasures like the beach, swamps, oak hammocks--I could go on, really. Thank goodness Val is more far-seeing than I am!

The art supply store where I had to get the materials is just over two miles from here through leaf lined streets. So I went the first time to get a sketchbook and some white pencils to try at the shop. The sketchbook is going to be a compendium of information, experiences, and directions from an apprentice new to building dulcimers. Wouldn't you know that it was the very next day is when I started the exploded drawings. and needed to go back to the art store.

Again, it was really pretty out while we were off these past couple of days, so walking there was not a huge burden. I got to see police on horses. That would be the great duty to pull for a police officer. At least on the days like this where the weather is pleasantly cool and the sun comes out every once in a while. Plus, there were only few persons around.

Did I tell you I ran 8 miles the other day? I knew I was going to run and wanted to go a ways. So when I found the trail that runs beside the river I was beside myself with glee. Still, the trail could use some water and bathrooms. But I feel like a beast when I finish a long run without stopping--except for cars. Cars and bikes. Without much stopping, anyway.

So walking to and from places is just wonderful because there is so much to see and experience that cannot be done by car or bike.

I cannot imagine how much information we lost as a species as soon as the first pair of shoes was put on. It is all we can do now to get as from from nature as possible. There are so many times that I want to kick off my shoes and run naked through the grass, but this is NY; I don't want to get choked to death, or shot, or even tased--although it may be worth it for a tasing. Maybe.

I walked to the store and then on the way back I stopped for a lunch at this BBQ place that people rage about. And I do admit it was good.

But there was way too much food for any one normal human being--which means it was right for the average American. I must have been off of my game because I couldn't finish. I ate one half of the sandwich on the bread, and then I ate the other half without the bread. And I ate only about half of the fries. That was all I could eat!

After lunch I went to the public library and drew away from everyone as I got to sit in the private space of my iPhone with my earbuds in, and I got to people watch in a busy public space. I finished the fifth drawing at the library, and I headed home. But I got sidetracked at this music store where Val found a mandolin she liked. Thank goodness it turned out to be a little not great. They did have a bunch of other really nice instruments, too. But they had some not so great Chinese made ones. I wonder why.

I finally got home and started on the number six drawing. I made it to the top tonewood on the instrument, and I had just five parts left to add. But I realized that I left out two braces. So I messed this sixth drawing up, too. So I'll finish it and start another one. I'll keep going until I get right. And then I'll do the same for each section, like the peghead or tailblock.

I'm still working on the second instrument and am on the final cleanup for the body and top. I'll hopefully finish the fretboard in the next couple of days so that I can be done with this by next week. Were still two weeks or so behind, but life gets in the way of working, and I cannot beat myself up too much. I can only work in the shop and make sure I'm doing my homework and live with the results--which are so far beautiful!