Spring Sneak Peak!
Spring seems to be on its way! At least yesterday, we got a sneak preview of what will hopefully be a sunny and warm period. The temperature reached 18 degrees, and although the sun did not shine constantly, it was light enough to evoke that wonderful spring feeling. And let's be honest, after months of grey, dull weather and temperatures around freezing point, a day like this feels like a gift.
Skipper thoroughly enjoyed his first spring day outside. We did too, as did the birds in the garden who suddenly seemed to whistle a lot more enthusiastically. Maybe I was imagining it, but it sounded like they were shouting their joy: "Finally, people! It's over! The sun is back!"
Unfortunately, as so often happens in the Netherlands, we cheered too soon. Today, we are back in the reality of rain, clouds, and temperatures that feel anything but spring-fresh. The cheerful vibes of yesterday have literally been washed away by the rain showers. No, it's not freezing, but my mood is somewhere around freezing.
Lifting My Mood With Pyrography
Fortunately, there is hope! Today, a new wired pyrography nib is arriving, and I am looking forward to continuing to work on my latest burning project. This time, it is Lex who is being immortalized on the wood, because yes, that darling has certainly not been forgotten, and also deserves a beautiful portrait. I'm sure that burning on the wood and seeing the portrait come to life will increase my mood to some degree!
And speaking of wood... What. A. Farce. Last week, I finally made the decision and ordered several basswood planks with live-edge. A decision that should have been made much earlier, but yeah, when something is almost impossible to find in the Netherlands - or the entire EU - it quickly becomes a frustration. And that is exactly what is going on. Simple basswood with live- edge is simply not available here. Seriously?! More than enough of those trees are growing within the EU, but that is not to be found. Sawmills have more than enough lime wood, but they cut everything into neat planks without bark, neatly 2cm thick and 20cm wide, but a plank of about 5cm thick with bark around it, that's not possible? Everything is for export, and no account is taken of hobbyists who want something different. Oh yes, there are some blocks to be found for the woodcarvers, for which you then have to pay an outrageously high price, like for all wood in the EU these days.
Ridiculous!
While politicians in Brussels and The Hague are pushing each other to beat the most virtuous environmental laws, I can't score six simple planks of basswood with live-edge anywhere. Not in the Netherlands. Not in Germany. Not in France. Nowhere in the EU. Ridiculous!
So where did I end up ordering it? Exactly, in America! While European governments bombard us with CO2 taxes, straw bans, and outrageously expensive plane tickets (“Think of the environment!”), I have to ship or plane my wood across the ocean. Yes, in the US they do understand that people want to use live-edge basswood for pyrography. The irony of this would almost make me laugh if it weren’t so ridiculously sad.
So now I have to wait until about February 28th before my heavily environmentally polluting, ocean-crossing planks arrive here. Not to mention the shipping costs I had to pay, but hey, anything to support an economy somewhere! But honestly? I still find it absurd that I have to ship wood from the other side of the world because pyrographers are simply not taken into account here and most of it is either exported or simply not sold. This keeps nagging at me. Maybe I should do something with that sometime... There must be more people in the Netherlands who want to do pyrography and run into the same problem?
Until The Next Update!
Anyway, that's what I've been doing lately. And also the reason why I'm not very active on Hive - the motivation to blog is currently a bit lower than the motivation to get started with wood and fire. But hey, sometimes creating offline is just as satisfying as sharing online.
Until the next update! Whenever that may be!
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The bird in the first picture is very beautiful, I'm amazed by it.
Even a little glimpse of light is enough to warm up people's hearts.
This is what counts.
You shouldn't worry too much about politics.
It's a lost cause, believe me.