Select a nice, knot free pine board. Find a cool shady spot to set your chair-in the summertime. Draw the knife over the sandstone sharpening stone a few times and then lay it closeby for frequent "touch ups" on the old homemade knife. If it's quiet and easy liv'n you can even "talk" to the Master while you whittle. You also need a BIG tin can of ICED TEA handy. Pull the old cap bill down a little and start whittlin. Log chains, connected from one piece of wood, is always a challange to build. Upon completion of that particular project--might as well give it away. You'll be startin a new one tomorrow. Our local town--Olney, IL is known far and wide for it's WHITE SQUIRRELS. They are cute little dudes at that. Town has many of'm in it. The main north south street that runs south off of main street is ----WHITTLE AVENUE! Bower Park--1 block south of main is the reason Whittle got it's name. Old duffers used to set there in the park and WHITTLE! Thats been over 100 years ago or so since those old time days. I'd rather do my whittl'n out in the country at our place. Matt.24:44

-- hoot (hoot@pcinetwork.com), February 03, 2001

Answers

Hoot, You reminded me of a story my dad told. He was raised in Indiana and Illinois. When he was just a little boy back in the 20's, he went to the county fair. He had a few hard earned coins burning a hole in his pocket, and he thought long and hard about how best spend them. Outside one tent was a sign that read, "$1000 worth of advice for 10c." This was not to be missed, and he counted out his pennies. Inside were a couple of old men sitting there whittling. Dad waited expectantly. Finally, one of the men looked at him and said, "Son, always whittle away from you." One disappointed boy came out of that tent. But he always did follow that advice.

-- Nina in E TX (nchick4997@aol.com), February 03, 2001.

I used to love to whittle as a child....still have the scars on my fingers to prove it too :o). Never did really make anything...just a bunch of sharpened sticks. My Dad could whittle chains which absolutely fascinated me. I assume he learned it from my Grandpa. I sure do wish one of them had lived long enough to teach me to make a chain. My son really enjoys whittling(when mom isn't hovering over him telling him not to cut himself). I need to find an old timer to teach him how to make a chain. Lol...maybe he could teach the boy some patience at the same time.

-- Amanda in Mo (aseley@townsqr.com), February 03, 2001.