That's what Dad said to me this past weekend when we had lunch :-)
My Dad can make anything he puts his mind to, and I just don't say that cause he's my Dad ( aka hero).
( Dad and I, I am about 3 here, and as usual Dad has me in a fit of giggles)
When I was a kid, Dad always had a project on the go, and nothing was ever done "OK". We would tease him, call him a perfectionist, a fusspot, anal retentive - things were always finished perfectly. Dad is a measure twice cut once kinda guy.
I would say, "Dad, I'm wanting ( insert random object of my affection here)..." and before I had finished my sentence, Dad was drawing it up and measuring it out ( lord knows I did not get my math abilities [err inabilities] from Dad, I wish!)
Growing up, it was perfectly normal for our garage to be filled with car and motorbike skeletons, Dad would rebuild them, air paint them and sell them - I always wondered how he could part with them with all that work involved ( besides the motorbikes - a bad accident when my parents were dating led my mom to ban motorcycle riding) Often a car would stick around for a while, one of us would drive it, then it would be gone. On to a new project.
When Jason ( my brother ) and I wanted a tree house... well we were the only kids I knew who had a a two level tree house, complete with balcony and ladder leading to the second floor (*giggle - who has two floors in a tree house?)
(My first project with Dad - a snowman - I am a little shy of 18 months here. Nice hat Frosty!)
But it wasn't just tree forts - dad built our summer home ( soon to be my parents retirement home) from the ground up.
Not too shabby huh ?
Attention to detail, finishing and not stopping till 100% satisfied are all traits I got from Dad. Good things come to those who work hard for them. Just like Dad, when I think of a project in mind, I think of the WHOLE process, not just the finished product. I think about the techniques I want to use, or learn, the tools I will use, the finish i will give it - each step methodically. I enjoy every minute of the process.
I have always been crafty, enjoyed making pretty things. Like Dad I have always thought to myself, " I bet if I try I could make it" - who would have thought as an adult that would have taken me to enjoying Sunday shopping with Dad for tools ? Discussing techniques and materials and thoughts on building things. Little masterpieces, whether from sterling and stone, or steel and wooden beams.
I take after my old man ? I'm thinking that's a pretty darn kick ass compliment :-)
Running a business all on my own, being a go-getter & learning skills that don't involve crafting something with my hands - well that's all Mom, but that's another blog post all together ;-)
PS - I'm pretty sure the feisty in me comes from Mom too - thanks Mom
