passamaquoddy (gesundheit)

Last week I mentioned I wanted to do some unnecessary ornamentation to my sassafras Racine paddle.  Sunday was lovely,  but with temps in the 40s, the world was turning into a Slurpee. Given the lack of snowshoeable surfaces, we punted.  I spread out on the dining room table.  I’m not sure of how many spouses would allow their spouses to paint paddles on the dining room. Wife 1.2 indulges me, and I’m grateful.

So out came the 1-Shot.  I decided on dark brown just for yucks.  The black would seem harsh in this case,with so much surface area covered.  I got out the small pinstriping brush and got busy.  I didn’t transfer the pattern to the paddle, as I wanted it to be pretty free-flowing, even if it were non-symmetrical or a little clunky.  I sorta like the “clearly I’m not an artist” look.

It has been a while.  I think my hand is shaking a little more than it did the last time I did this.  I’m pretty sure I don’t have Parkinson’s or anything, but a little tremor was noticeable.  I’m not panicking, but it is another reminder that tempus is fugiting.

I probably spent an hour, maybe an hour and a half painting.   It’s interesting how time passes when you’re involved in an activity that can engrossing.  In retrospect, I probably should have waited until I had a day alone, as I was worthless to Wife 1.2 in any sort of conversation.  In my defense, I’m sure I grunted several times in her direction, probably admitting to some sort of larceny.

“Sweetpea, did you remember tomorrow is trash day?”

Grunt.

“Did you find the charger to your cell phone?”

Grunt.

“Did you remember to knock off that bank and get some cash to fund your drug habit? You’re running low on several opiates.”

Grunt.

Not proud if it.  Sorry, Wife 1.2.

It’s not a great job.  I wandered over the centerline of the paddle a bit here and there, and the line thickness isn’t as consistent as I would have liked it, but I wanted it to look hand-painted, not look like I stenciled it, even if it is imperfect.  I feel it does a decent job of approximating a Passamaquoddy design with some custom changes that just sorta happened.  My guess is that “just sorta happened” quite often when a Passamaquoddy artist was painting his own paddle. That’s why they’re like snowflakes: no two are alike.

My birchbark canoe is hibernating and hasn’t been down from the cradles in two years.  I was waiting for a canoe paddle that would be worthy of the bark boat.  I think I have one now.

Respectfully submitted,

Canoelover