The lathe has sat neglected for a long while since my previous beginner flailings. I decided that it was time to try again. And it has been a good week. But That doesn't mean there is no risk.
Several months ago, I somehow attracted the attention of a tree trimmer. Subsequent to that, my driveway wood mound caught the attention of the local grass height measuring officer. So quick reorganizing and restacking in less visible places followed.
But I digress.
In the pile were some small pieces with deep cracks. That was irresistible to my Roy-ish daydreams and were pulled aside to be mangled with froe and wedge. They turned out to be otherwise solid.
When I got back to playing with spinning wood, I grabbed one of those small pieces -- spalted oak, I think -- to try rounding it. Amazingly enough, it went well. But then I had this 3/4" dowel maybe 5-6 inches long. What can I do with that?
(Tangent: I don't yet turn pens, but I now get the appeal.)
I decided to try a mushroom. Just as I was thinking, "I can probably get two out of this piece," the stem snapped. But the second attempt survived.
I left the day's successes (mushroom and tiny, but intact for the first time, bowl) out where they could be spotted when my wife came home from work.
She gushed over the mushroom, and immediately claimed it for her own. I warned her that this might not be the thing to encourage, but she won't hear it. And tonight, she showed off the 'shroom to a friend who as over.
I wonder how many mushrooms it will take before she realizes her mistake.