Hackensack Minnesota is home of Paul Bunyan’s sweetie. Her name is Lucette and she guards the waterfront.
Hackensack has very little traffic unless all 300 residents are out and about at the same time, except during the Chain Saw Carving Festival when they block off downtown and you cannot find a parking spot anywhere even if it is raining.
Chain saw carvers come from far and wide to show off their work.
They carve back behind the fence, there are lots of chips flying.
I wandered around the back of the exhibit area… the area was roped off so I couldn’t get too close.
I so want this bench. It would replace my log bench that bleeds pine sap every summer. You have to watch were you sit or grab an old towel to sit upon. I am an expert at getting pine sap out of pants, a little skin so soft and then when the pitch has dissolved use some dawn dish soap and very hot water to get out the skin so soft.
The lemonade gal switched to some fancy kinds of coffee, it was a cold rainy day..her lips were as blue as Lucette’s dress. Many people were bundled up in winter outerwear.
Bears are a big thing up here in the northwoods.
The chain saw carvers both guys and gals (there was at least one gal) are true artists. Another lady and I decided that these bears looked too grumpy to be welcome bears…perhaps they are for people who live on the lake and have company to cook for every weekend just because they have a place on the lake:)
Those are some wonderful carvings.
ReplyDeleteMorning, oh my, what a wonderful place and incredible talent at carving, wow!!!!! Blessings Francine.
ReplyDeleteSometimes while driving around the back roads, we see wood carvings similar to these. It would be fun to see these in person. I know you and FG really enjoyed this - minus the rain and cold. Maybe I'll show this to John and he can carve up a few chunks of wood laying in our back yard!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteOh Papa would love to be there , Anything to do with wood working he enjoys , That Eagle he would just love . I will show your pics to Papa when he gets home from work . Looks like a fun day . Such talent in one place . Thanks for sharing . Have a good day !
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about the bench; I love it. The carvings are really nice - can't believe they are done with a chain saw. Watched a fellow do it once - it takes real talent.
ReplyDeleteThere is a chain saw festival here in the Bellingham area, too. I should go check it out, now that you've shown me how cool they can be! :-)
ReplyDeleteThose are great. Sure would take a lot of skill to do that.
ReplyDeleteI heard about this all over the radio - I do need to go sometime (very talented folks!)
ReplyDeleteToo cool!!
ReplyDeleteAbout how much was the bench if you don't mind me asking?
It did not have a price tag. It was most likely a $300 to $400 bench.
DeleteWonderful! I hope you are able to get the bench!
ReplyDeleteIt amazes me what those chain saw carvers do! Fun to see them work.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know Paul Bunyan had a sweetie! ;o)
That is a great bench, pitch free and very sweet. I see you could use it a time out bench for when you're feeling loony. I need those not welcome bears to guard my driveway, those who love me would disregard them and come on in, those who don't wouldn't get it and come on in anyway. So...never mind, I guess I don't need them.
ReplyDeleteI'll bet thi would be interesting for a carver like you. Chainsaw carving amazes me. I've used a chain saw forever and I know how hard it is to control.
ReplyDeleteI see carvers at the State Fair and wonder how they do it. The removing of material is so different than the additive process. We have a few more famous guys that have carvings throughout the state. I am not sure I would want to totally shut down my hearing from being around the chain saw noise.
ReplyDeleteMy father took up chainsaw carving when he was in his 70s. He got to be a pretty good carver too. He was carving (and working on a job with my husband) the day before he passed away in his sleep at 82. It's still tough to go out to "his work area" out back...
ReplyDeleteI mean my father-in-law.
DeleteThere is some real talent among those carvers. Beautiful work.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the bears look grumpy and also that the bench is gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteLove all the photos - thanks
That's a wonderful bench. And those are some amazing carvings.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the grumpy bears would scare the squirrels away from my bird feeders. Nah, they would just use them to reach the feeders more easily . . . . Fun visit to Hackensack!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like fun.... except the cold! You are right, the "Welcome" bear definitely looks ticked off about something!
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking us on your trip... from the comfort of my chair!
A woodcarver's dream!!! I really enjoyed this Connie...Thank you for taking us along!
ReplyDeleteLinda
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LOL! True. Having a lake home can facilitate instant friendships and loyal family members. ;)
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting festival! I've always wanted to see how they make one of those chain saw carvings you see around up here.
We have chain saw carvers here in Tennessee, especially in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg at the entrance to the Smoky Mountain National Park. They, too, do lots and lots of bears. The bears in your photo reminded me of those here.
ReplyDeleteWonderful carvings. One of my favorite carvings appeared in our area several years ago when we were required to have a 911 address visible on our property. I passed a house out in the country who had carved sort of a totem pole with a Viking's head on top and the house number carved on the bottom.
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